Image forming device management system and method
First Claim
1. An image forming device management system comprising a customer system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the image forming device management system comprising:
- monitoring means, provided in the management apparatus, for monitoring operating conditions of the image forming devices on the LAN;
storing means, provided in the management apparatus, for storing results of the monitoring of the operating conditions by the monitoring means;
failure detecting means, provided in the management apparatus, for detecting a failure in any of the image forming devices on the LAN;
first message means, provided in the management apparatus, for transmitting a failure message to the center system via the network when the failure is detected by the failure detecting means, the failure message including a data provided to identify the failure;
retrieval means, provided in the center system, for receiving the failure message transmitted by the first message means, and for accessing a database of the center system using the data of the received failure message to produce results of the accessing; and
second message means, provided in the center system, for extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results produced by the retrieval means, and for transmitting a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an image forming device management system and method, a failure in any of a plurality of image forming devices on a first LAN is detected by a management apparatus. A failure message is transmitted from the management apparatus to a center system via a public switched telephone network when the failure is detected, the failure message including a failure code provided to identify the failure. The failure message, transmitted by the management apparatus, is received at the center system. A database of the center system is accessed by using the failure code of the received failure message so as to produce results of the accessing at the center system. A service department ID is extracted from the database based on the accessing results. A service request message is transmitted from the center system to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An image forming device management system comprising a customer system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the image forming device management system comprising:
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monitoring means, provided in the management apparatus, for monitoring operating conditions of the image forming devices on the LAN;
storing means, provided in the management apparatus, for storing results of the monitoring of the operating conditions by the monitoring means;
failure detecting means, provided in the management apparatus, for detecting a failure in any of the image forming devices on the LAN;
first message means, provided in the management apparatus, for transmitting a failure message to the center system via the network when the failure is detected by the failure detecting means, the failure message including a data provided to identify the failure;
retrieval means, provided in the center system, for receiving the failure message transmitted by the first message means, and for accessing a database of the center system using the data of the received failure message to produce results of the accessing; and
second message means, provided in the center system, for extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results produced by the retrieval means, and for transmitting a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A center system for use in an image forming device management system comprising a customer system and the center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the center system comprising:
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retrieval means for receiving a failure message transmitted by the management apparatus via the network, and for accessing a database of the center system using a data contained in the received failure message so as to produce results of the accessing; and
message means for extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results produced by the retrieval means, and for transmitting a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A management method for an image forming device management system comprising a customer system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the management method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring operating conditions of the image forming devices on the LAN by the management apparatus;
storing results of the monitoring of the operating conditions of the image forming devices;
detecting a failure in any of the image forming devices on the LAN by the management apparatus;
transmitting a failure message from the management apparatus to the center system via the network when the failure is detected, the failure message including a data provided to identify the failure;
receiving the failure message, transmitted by the management apparatus, at the center system;
accessing a database of the center system using the data of the received failure message so as to produce results of the accessing;
extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results; and
transmitting a service request message from the center system to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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18. A management method for a center system in an image forming device management system comprising a customer premise system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming-devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the management method comprising:
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receiving a failure message transmitted by said at least one management apparatus via the network;
accessing a database of the center system using a data contained in the received failure message to produce results of the accessing;
extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results; and
transmitting a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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19. An image forming device management system comprising a customer system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices ad at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the image forming device management system comprising:
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a monitoring unit provided in said at least one management apparatus and configured to monitor operating conditions of the image forming devices on the LAN;
a storing unit provided in said at least one management apparatus and configured to store results of the monitoring of the operating conditions by the monitoring unit;
a failure detecting unit provided in said at least one management apparatus and configured to detect a failure in any of the image forming devices on the LAN;
a first message unit provided in said at least one management apparatus and configured to transmit a failure message to the center system via the network when the failure is detected by the failure detecting unit, the failure message including a data provided to identify the failure;
a retrieval unit provided in the center system and configured to receive the failure message transmitted by the first message unit, and to access a database of the center system using the data of the received failure message to produce results of the access; and
a second message unit provided in the center system and configured to extract a service department ID from the database based on the access results produced by the retrieval unit, and to transmit a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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20. A center system for use in an image forming device management system comprising a customer system and the center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the center system comprising:
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a retrieval unit configured to receive a failure message transmitted by said at least one management apparatus via the network, and to access a database of the center system using a data contained in the received failure message to produce results of the access; and
a message unit configured to extract a service department ID from the database based on the access results produced by the retrieval unit, and to transmit a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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21. A management apparatus for use in an image forming device management system comprising a customer system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of image forming devices and the management apparatus connected onto a LAN at customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the management apparatus comprising:
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monitoring means for monitoring operating conditions of the image forming devices on the LAN;
storing means for storing results of the monitoring of the operating conditions by the monitoring means;
failure detecting means for detecting a failure in any of the image forming devices on the LAN; and
message means for transmitting a failure message to the center system via the network when a failure is detected by the failure detecting means, the failure message including a data provided to identify the failure;
whereinthe management apparatus is configured such that the management apparatus can be selectively set in one of an auto message mode or a manual message mode, and, when the management apparatus is set in the auto message mode, the message means automatically transmits the failure message to the center system upon occurrence of the failure, and, when the management apparatus is set in the manual message mode, the message means transmits the failure message to the center system in response to a manual operation performed on the management apparatus by an operator. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A device management system comprising a customer system and a center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the device management system comprising:
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monitoring means, provided in the management apparatus, for monitoring operating conditions of the devices on the LAN;
storing means, provided in the management apparatus, for storing results of the monitoring of the operating conditions by the monitoring means;
failure detecting means, provided in the management apparatus, for detecting a failure in any of the devices on the LAN;
first message means, provided in the management apparatus, for transmitting a failure message to the center system via the network when the failure is detected by the failure detecting means, the failure message including a data provided to identify the failure;
retrieval means, provided in the center system, for receiving the failure message transmitted by the first message means, and for accessing a database of the center system using the data of the received failure message to produce results of the accessing; and
second message means, provided in the center system, for extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results produced by the retrieval means, and for transmitting a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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24. A center system for use in a device management system comprising a customer system and the center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the center system comprising:
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retrieval means for receiving a failure message transmitted by the management apparatus via the network, and for accessing a database of the center system using a data contained in the received failure message so as to produce results of the accessing; and
message means for extracting a service department ID from the database based on the accessing results produced by the retrieval means, and for transmitting a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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25. A center system for use in a device management system comprising a customer system and the center system linked by a network, the customer system having a plurality of devices and at least one management apparatus connected onto a LAN at a customer location, the center system having one or a plurality of computers, the center system comprising:
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a retrieval unit configured to receive a failure message transmitted by said at least one management apparatus via the network, and to access a database of the center system using a data contained in the received failure message to produce results of the access; and
a message unit configured to extract a service department ID from the database based on the access results produced by the retrieval unit, and to transmit a service request message to a service department indicated by the service department ID.
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Specification