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Remote diagnosis system and method for an image forming apparatus

  • US 6,032,001 A
  • Filed: 07/27/1998
  • Issued: 02/29/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A remote diagnosis system, comprising:

  • a plurality of image forming apparatuses each having a respective trouble informing device which provides data including a trouble indicator indicative of a problem with a respective image forming apparatus of said plurality of image forming apparatuses;

    a data communication apparatus, connected to each of said plurality of image forming apparatus, which receives said data from said respective image forming apparatus; and

    a central controller, connected to the data communication apparatus, which receives said data from said data communication apparatus,wherein each of said respective trouble informing device includes a trouble classifying device which classifies a cause of said trouble indicator which has occurred in said respective image forming apparatus, and wherein said data communication apparatus collects data classified by said trouble classifying device,wherein said trouble classifying device classifies troubles which cause said respective image forming apparatus to be inoperative as urgent information data, when said trouble occurs,wherein said trouble classifying device classifies causes of troubles which do not cause said respective image forming apparatus to be inoperative as non-urgent information data, when said trouble occurs, andwherein said trouble informing device transmits said urgent information to said central controller prior to said non-urgent information.

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