Image forming system, computer, computer program product, computer readable storage medium, management method, inspection method and system

• US 20040252324A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohta, Yasutoshi
• Application Number:
  US10/858,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00015 Reproducing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00029 Diagnosis, i.e. identifying a problem by comparison with a normal state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00053 out of service, i.e. outside of normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00066 using a program downloaded or received from another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming system applicable for usage for predicting the failure of an apparatus and making a diagnosis on an apparatus. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium and a computer configured to manage the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is configured to send internal information to the computer, and the computer is configured to send an inspection program depending on the determination based on the received internal information.

Claims

1. An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium; and

a computer configured to manage said image forming apparatus;

wherein;

said image forming apparatus is configured to send internal information to said computer; and

said computer is configured to send an inspection program depending on a determination based on the internal information.

2. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein:

said internal information includes static information.

3. An image forming system according to claim 2, wherein:

said static information includes at least one of an identification information of said image forming apparatus and a number of recording mediums discharged from said image forming apparatus.

4. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein:

said image forming apparatus is further configured to execute said inspection program, and to send an inspection result obtained by execution of said inspection program to said computer; and

said computer is further configured to make a diagnosis based on the inspection result.

5. An image forming system according to claim 4, wherein:

said computer is further configured to send a procedure request depending on a result of the diagnosis.

6. An image forming system according to claim 4, wherein:

said computer is further configured to output a diagnosis result depending on a result of the diagnosis.

7. An image forming system according to claim 4, wherein:

said computer is further configured to order a component of said image forming apparatus depending on a result of the diagnosis.

8. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein:

the inspection program is configured to be storable in said image forming apparatus.

9. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein:

the inspection program includes a migration agent program.

10. A computer for use with an image forming apparatus that is configured to form an image on a recording medium, and send internal information to the computer, comprising:

a first control configured to send an inspection program to the image forming apparatus depending on a determination based on the internal information.

11. A computer according to claim 10, wherein:

the internal information includes static information.

12. A computer according to claim 11, wherein:

the static information includes at least one of an identification information of the image forming apparatus and a number of recording mediums discharged from the image forming apparatus.

13. A computer according to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus is further configured to execute the inspection program, and send an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program to the computer, and the computer further comprising:

a second control configured to make a diagnosis based on the inspection result.

14. A computer according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third control configured to output a procedure request depending on a result of the diagnosis.

15. A computer according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third control configured to output a diagnosis result depending on a result of the diagnosis.

16. A computer according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third control configured to order a component of the image forming apparatus depending on a result of the diagnosis.

17. A computer according to claim 10, wherein:

the inspection program is configured to be storable in the image forming apparatus.

18. A computer according to claim 10, wherein:

the inspection program includes a migration agent program.

19. A computer program product for a computer for use with an image forming apparatus that is configured to form an image on a recording medium and send internal information to the computer, to enable the computer to execute a process, wherein the process comprises:

sending an inspection program to the image forming device depending on a determination based on the internal information.

20. A computer program product according to claim 19, wherein:

the internal information includes static information.

21. A computer program product according to claim 20, wherein:

the static information includes at least one of an identification information of the image forming apparatus and a number of recording mediums discharged from the image forming apparatus.

22. A computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to execute the inspection program, and send an inspection result obtained by the execution of the inspection program to the computer, the process further comprising:

making a diagnosis of the inspection result.

23. A computer program product according to claim 22, the process further comprising:

outputting a procedure request depending on a result of the diagnosis.

24. A computer program product according to claim 22, the process further comprising:

outputting a diagnosis result depending on a result of the diagnosis.

25. A computer program product according to claim 22, the process further comprising:

ordering a component of the image forming apparatus depending on a result of the diagnosis.

26. A computer program product according to claim 19, wherein:

the inspection program is configured to be storable in the image forming apparatus.

27. A computer program product according to claim 19, wherein:

the inspection program includes a migration agent program.

28. A computer-readable storage medium wherein:

the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program product according to claim 19.

29. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:

a first control configured to execute an inspection program sent from a network and to output an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program to the network.

30. An image forming apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

a storage configured to store the inspection program.

31. An image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the inspection program includes a migration agent program, and

the image forming apparatus further comprises a second control configured to execute the inspection program using a device as an agent of the image forming apparatus.

32. An image forming apparatus according to claim 29, for use with a computer configured to communicate with the image forming apparatus over the network and configured to manage the image forming apparatus, wherein:

the image forming apparatus further comprises a second control configured to send internal information to the computer; and

the computer is configured to send an inspection program depending on a determination based on the internal information.

33. An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

the internal information includes static information.

34. An image forming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein:

the static information includes at least one of an identification information of the image forming apparatus and a number of recording mediums discharged from the image forming apparatus.

35. An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

the computer is further configured to make a diagnosis based on the inspection result.

36. An image forming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein:

the computer is further configured to send a procedure request depending on a result of the diagnosis.

37. An image forming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein:

the computer is further configured to send a diagnosis result depending on a result of the diagnosis.

38. An image forming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein:

the computer is further configured to order a component of the image forming apparatus depending on a result of the diagnosis.

39. A management method for managing an image forming apparatus that is configured to form an image on a recording medium, and output internal information, the management method comprising:

receiving the internal information; and

sending to the image forming apparatus an inspection program depending on a determination based on the internal information.

40. A management method according to claim 39, wherein:

the internal information includes static information.

41. A management method according to claim 40, wherein:

the static information includes at least one of an identification information of the image forming apparatus and a number of recording mediums discharged from the image forming apparatus.

42. A management method according to claim 39, wherein the image forming apparatus is further configured to execute the inspection program, and send an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program to a computer, the management method further comprising:

making a diagnosis based on the inspection result.

43. A management method according to claim 42, further comprising:

outputting a procedure request depending on a result of the diagnosis.

44. A management method according to claim 42, further comprising:

outputting a diagnosis result depending on a result of the diagnosis.

45. A management method according to claim 42, further comprising:

ordering a component of the image forming apparatus depending on a result of the diagnosis.

46. A management method according to claim 39, wherein:

the inspection program is configured to be storable in the image forming apparatus.

47. A management method according to claim 39, wherein:

the inspection program includes a migration agent program.

48. An inspection method comprising:

forming an image on a recording medium by an image forming apparatus;

executing an inspection program sent to the image forming apparatus from a network for inspecting the image forming apparatus; and

sending an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program in the image forming apparatus to the network.

49. An inspection method according to claim 48, further comprising:

storing the inspection program in the image forming apparatus.

50. An inspection method according to claim 48, wherein:

the inspection program includes a migration agent program; and

the inspection method further comprises executing the inspection program using a device as an agent.

51. An inspection method according to claim 48, further comprising:

sending internal information of the image forming apparatus to the network, wherein

the inspection program is sent depending on a determination based on the internal information.

52. An inspection method according to claim 51, wherein:

the internal information includes static information.

53. An inspection method according to claim 52, wherein:

the static information includes at least one of an identification information of the image forming apparatus and a number of recording mediums formed discharged from the image forming apparatus.

54. A management method comprising:

sending internal information from an image forming apparatus to a network;

receiving at a computer on the network the internal information from the network; and

sending an inspection program to the image forming apparatus depending on a determination based on the internal information, from the network.

55. A management method according claim 54, further comprising:

receiving at the image forming apparatus the inspection program from the network; and

executing the inspection program at the image forming apparatus.

56. A management method according to claim 55, further comprising:

outputting an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program, to the network.

57. A management method according to claim 56, further comprising:

receiving at the computer the inspection result from the network; and

making a diagnosis based on the inspection result.

58. A system comprising:

an apparatus; and

a computer configured to manage the apparatus, wherein;

said apparatus is configured to send internal information to said computer; and

said computer is configured to send an inspection program depending on a determination based on the internal information, to said apparatus.

59. A system according to claim 58, wherein:

said apparatus is configured to execute the inspection program.

60. A system according to claim 59, wherein:

said apparatus is configured to send an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program, to said computer.

61. A system according to claim 60, wherein:

said computer is configured to make a diagnosis based on the inspection result.

62. An image forming system comprising:

means for forming an image on a recording medium; and

means for managing said means for forming an image;

wherein;

said means for forming an image includes means for sending internal information to said means for managing; and

said means for managing includes means for sending an inspection program to said means for forming an image depending on a determination based on the internal information.

63. A computer for use with an image forming apparatus having means for forming an image on a recording medium, and means for sending internal information to the computer, comprising:

means for sending an inspection program to said means for forming an image depending on a determination based on the internal information.

64. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:

means for executing an inspection program sent from a network; and

means for sending an inspection result obtained by execution of the inspection program.