DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS, DISTRIBUTION METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

• US 20100036904A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakamoto, Hisashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0733 in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0781 Error filtering or prioritizing based on a policy defined by the user or on a policy defined by a hardware/software module, e.g. according to a severity level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1294 Status or feedback related to information exchange

Abstract

A distribution apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a work required for a device based on information received from the device. A first distribution unit is configured to distribute image data for a display of information relating to the required work detected by the detection unit to the device. A determination unit is configured to determine whether the device has shifted its operation into a maintenance state, based on information received from the device to which the first distribution unit has distributed the image data. A second distribution unit is configured to distribute a subsequent part of the image data that follows a part having been displayed immediately before the device shifts its operation into the maintenance state, if the determination unit determines that the device has shifted its operation into the maintenance state, to a terminal apparatus of a worker who performs the work.

Claims

1. A distribution apparatus comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a work required for a device based on information received from the device;

a first distribution unit configured to distribute image data for a display of information relating to the required work detected by the detection unit to the device;

a determination unit configured to determine whether the device has shifted its operation into a maintenance state based on information received from the device to which the first distribution unit has distributed the image data; and

a second distribution unit configured to distribute a subsequent part of the image data that follows a part having been displayed immediately before the device shifts its operation into the maintenance state, if the determination unit determines that the device has shifted its operation into the maintenance state, to a terminal apparatus of a worker who performs the work.

2. The distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selection unit configured to select either the device or the terminal apparatus as a distribution destination of the image data for the display of the information relating to the work, based on a place where the work for the device is to be performed if the detection unit detects the work required for the device,

wherein, if the selection unit selects the terminal apparatus as the distribution destination of the image data, the first distribution unit prioritizes the terminal apparatus over the device in distributing the image data.

3. The distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire attribute information of the worker who performs the work,

wherein the first distribution unit distributes image data associated with the attribute information acquired by the acquisition unit and registered in a database.

4. The distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inquiry unit configured to inquire either the device or the terminal apparatus about a status of the device,

wherein the second distribution unit distributes image data corresponding to the status obtained by the inquiry unit.

5. The distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the information from the device that has received the image data distributed from the first distribution unit is at least one of information indicating a power off state of the device, information indicating removal of a predetermined board from the device performed by the worker, and information indicating disconnection of infrared communication between the device and the terminal apparatus of the worker who performs the work for the device.

6. A distribution method comprising:

detecting a work required for a device based on information received from the device;

instructing distribution of image data for a display of information relating to the required work to the device if the work required for the device is detected;

determining whether the device has shifted its operation into a maintenance state based on information from the device that has received the image data; and

distributing a subsequent part of the image data that follows a part having been displayed immediately before the device shifts its operation into the maintenance state, if it is determined that the device has shifted its operation into the maintenance state, to a terminal apparatus of a worker who performs the work.

7. The distribution method according to claim 6, further comprising:

selecting either the device or the terminal apparatus as a distribution destination of the image data for the display of the information relating to the work, based on a place where the work for the device is to be performed if the work required for the device is detected, and

if the terminal apparatus is selected as the distribution destination of the image data, instructing distribution of the image data by prioritizing the terminal apparatus over the device.

8. The distribution method according to claim 6, further comprising:

acquiring attribute information of the worker who performs the work, and

instructing distribution of image data associated with the acquired attribute information and registered in a database.

9. The distribution method according to claim 6, further comprising:

inquiring either the device or the terminal apparatus about a status of the device, and

instructing distribution of image data corresponding to the obtained status.

10. The distribution method according to claim 6, wherein the information from the device that has received the distributed image data is at least one of information indicating a power off state of the device, information indicating removal of a predetermined board from the device performed by the worker, and information indicating disconnection of infrared communication between the device and the terminal apparatus of the worker who performs the work for the device.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing a control program that causes a computer to execute a distribution method, comprising:

computer-executable instructions for detecting a work required for a device based on information received from the device;

computer-executable instructions for instructing distribution of image data for a display of information relating to the required work to the device if the work required for the device is detected;

computer-executable instructions for determining whether the device has shifted its operation into a maintenance state based on information from the device that has received the image data; and

computer-executable instructions for distributing a subsequent part of the image data that follows a part having been displayed immediately before the device shifts its operation into the maintenance state, if it is determined that the device has shifted its operation into the maintenance state, to a terminal apparatus of a worker who performs the work.