Image data management system and computer-readable recording medium

• US 7,218,769 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagao, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, AARON W
• Application Number:
  US10/660,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 382141-152, 348125-134, 348 86-112, 3562371-2376, 705/4
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A control unit of an image data management system receives image information and information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other, from an image photographing device via a communication unit, and stores the received information in a storage unit. The control unit receives an acquisition request for acquiring the image information and the information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other, from a terminal device via the communication unit, reads out the image information and the information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit, in accordance with the acquisition request, and sends the read-out information to the terminal device which has sent the acquisition request via the communication unit.

Claims

1. An image data management system comprising:

a communication unit for sending and receiving information between a terminal device and an image photographing device;

a storage unit for storing information received by said communication unit; and

a control unit for controlling said communication unit and said storage unit,

wherein said control unit;

receives image information of a device having a damage and/or a problem and information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other, from said image photographing device;

stores the received image information and information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other, in said storage unit;

sends the image information and the information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other and stored in said storage unit, to an analysis-use terminal device for conducting an analysis on a damage and/or a problem of a device;

receives response information for responding to the sent image information and information regarding the image information from said analysis-use terminal device;

stores the received response information in said storage unit in association with the image information and the information regarding the image information, which correspond to the response information;

receives an acquisition request for acquiring the image information, the information regarding the image information, and the response information, which are associated with one another, from said terminal device;

reads out the image information, the information regarding the image information, and the response information, which are associated with one another and stored in said storage unit, in accordance with the received acquisition request; and

sends the read-out image information, information regarding the image information, and response information, which are associated with one another, to said terminal device which has sent the acquisition request.

2. The image data management system according to claim 1,

wherein said control unit:

generates component information indicating a component necessary for repairing the damage of the device and/or removing the problem of the device, based on the received response information; and

sends the generated component information to an order receiver terminal device.

3. The image data management system according to claim 2,

wherein said control unit generates the component information, in accordance with a generation request for the component information from said analysis-use terminal device.

4. The image data management system according to claim 1,

wherein:

said storage unit stores device type classification information for classifying .devices by their device types; and

said control unit reads out the device type classification information and the information regarding the image information, which are stored in said storage unit, and

stores information on a damage point and/or a problem point which is included in the read-out information regarding the image information, in said storage unit device-type by device-type, based on the device type classification information.

5. The image data management system according to claim 1,

wherein:

said storage unit stores device structure classification information for classifying components of a device by elements of the device; and

said control unit reads out the device structure classification information and the information regarding the image information, which are stored in said storage unit, and

stores information on a damage point and/or a problem point which is included in the read-out information regarding the image information, in said storage unit element by element, based on the device structure classification information.

6. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a computer to perform:

a step of receiving image information of a device having a damage and/or a problem and information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other, from an image photographing device;

a step of storing the received image information and information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other, in a storage unit;

a step of sending the image information and the information regarding the image information, which are associated with each other and stored in said storage unit, to an analysis-use terminal device for conducting an analysis on a damage and/or a problem of a device;

a step of receiving response information for responding to the sent image information and information regarding the image information, from said analysis-use terminal device;

a step of storing the received response information in said storage unit, in association with the image information and the information regarding the image information, which correspond to the response information;

a step of receiving an acquisition request for acquiring the image information, the information regarding the image information, and the response information, which are associated with one another, from a terminal device;

a step of reading out the image information, the information regarding the image information, and the response information, which are associated with one another and stored in said storage unit, in accordance with the received acquisition request; and

a step of sending the read-out image information, information regarding the image information, and response information, which are associated with one another, to said terminal device which has sent the acquisition request.