Method and system for managing apparatus

• US 8,117,561 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hozumi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Takele, Meseker
• Application Number:
  US11/882,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 715/825, 715/810, 715/841
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00501 Tailoring a user interface [UI] to specific requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report

Abstract

A storage unit is configured to store screen element data on screen elements included in an operation screen of each apparatus. A receiving unit is configured to receive screen design data on the screen elements that forms the operation screen and setting data on settings for each apparatus. A screen drawing unit is configured to draw the operation screen by obtaining required screen elements from the screen element data based on the screen design data and the setting data. The receiving unit accumulates log data received from the apparatus. The screen drawing unit updates the screen design of the operation screen based on the log data and the screen element data.

Claims

1. An apparatus management system comprising:

an apparatus configured to perform a process in response to an operation on an operation screen; and

a management device that is connected to the apparatus via a network, and configured to manage the apparatus, wherein

the apparatus includes

a first displaying unit configured to display the operation screen and configured to receive an input from the operation screen,

a first storage unit configured to store therein screen element data on screen elements that configure the operation screen, screen design data on the screen element data that configures the operation screen, setting data on settings for the apparatus, and log data on a log of an operation performed by a user on the operation screen,

a first screen drawing unit configured to create the operation screen based on the screen element data and the screen design data, and configured to draw a created operation screen on the first displaying unit, and

a first transmitting unit configured to transmit the screen design data and the setting data to the management device,

the management device includes

a second displaying unit configured to display thereon the operation screen,

a second storage unit configured to store therein the screen element data that configures the operation screen for a plurality of apparatuses,

a second receiving unit configured to receive the screen design data and the setting data from the apparatus, and

a second screen drawing unit configured to create the operation screen from the screen element data based on the screen design data and the setting data received by the second receiving unit, and configured to draw a created operation screen on the second displaying unit,

the first transmitting unit configured to transmit, when there is an operation input by the user on the operation screen, a new log data in which the operation input is recorded to the management device,

the second receiving unit further receives the new log data from the apparatus, the second screen drawing unit configured to update the operation screen displayed on the second displaying unit based on the received new log data and the screen element data stored in the second storage unit, and configured to draw an updated operation screen on the second displaying unit,

the second screen drawing unit drawing a same operation screen as a current operation screen displayed by the apparatus, the same operation screen drawn based on an operation screen information received from the apparatus, and

the second screen drawing unit configured to receive a notification of operation log message along with the received new log data, update the display on the second display unit based on the received notification of operation log message and store the received new log data the log data and the new log data being a record of an operation history of the apparatus, wherein

the first transmitting unit transmits an inquiry about an operational information of the management device to a second transmitting unit of the management device at predetermined intervals,

upon receiving the inquiry, the second transmitting unit transmits the operational information to the apparatus, and

the first screen drawing unit creates a new operation screen on the first displaying unit based on the transmitted operation information, and

wherein the first displaying unit is further configured to switch between the operation screen created by the second screen drawing unit and the operation screen created by the first screen drawing unit in response to a user input.

2. The apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the management device further includes

an input receiving unit configured to receive an operation input by an operator on the operation screen displayed on the second displaying unit;

and

the second transmitting unit configured to transmit operational information on the operation input received by the input receiving unit to the apparatus, and

the apparatus further includes a screen updating unit configured to update the operation screen displayed on the first displaying unit based on the operational information received from the management device and the screen design data and the screen element data stored in the first storage unit.

3. The apparatus management system according to claim 2, wherein the management device further includes a creating unit configured to create operation-screen information including the screen design data on a new operation screen that is obtained by changing the operation screen based on the operation input received by the input receiving unit,

the second transmitting unit transmits the operation-screen information created by the creating unit to the apparatus, and

the screen updating unit updates the operation screen displayed on the first displaying unit based on the operation-screen information and the screen element data.

4. The apparatus management system according to claim 3, wherein the creating unit creates the operation-screen information that includes a storing location of the screen element data that configures the new operation screen,

the second receiving unit receives a download request with the storing location specified from the apparatus,

upon receiving the download request from the apparatus, the second transmitting unit downloads the screen element data to the apparatus that transmitted the download request,

the first transmitting unit transmits the download request to the management device, the apparatus further includes a first receiving unit configured to receive the screen element data stored in the specified location as a response to the download request from the management device, and

the screen updating unit extracts the screen design data on the new operation screen from the operation-screen information, and updates the operation screen displayed on the first displaying unit based on extracted screen design data and the screen element data.

5. The apparatus management system according to claim 4, wherein the first transmitting unit determines whether the screen element data is stored in the first storage unit based on the screen design data received from the management device, and if the screen element data is not stored in the first storage unit, transmits the download request to the management device.

6. The apparatus management system according to claim 3, wherein the first transmitting unit transmits an inquiry about the operation-screen information to the management device at predetermined intervals, and

upon receiving the inquiry, if there is the operation-screen information, the second transmitting unit transmits the operation-screen information to the apparatus.

7. The apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the second storage unit accumulates the log data received from the apparatus,

the management device further includes a rearranging unit configured to analyze a usage state of the screen element data stored in the second storage unit based on the log data accumulated in the second storage unit at predetermined intervals, and to create screen design data on the operation screen in which screen elements are rearranged based on the usage state,

the second transmitting unit transmits the screen design data created by the rearranging unit to the apparatus, and

the apparatus further includes a screen updating unit configured to update the operation screen displayed on the first displaying unit based on the screen design data received from the management device and the screen element data.

8. The apparatus management system according to claim 7, wherein the management device further includes a notifying unit configured to transmit a notification indicating that the screen design data on the operation screen in which the screen elements are rearranged is created to the apparatus,

the second receiving unit receives a download request with a storing location of the screen element data and the screen design data specified from the apparatus,

the first transmitting unit transmits the download request to the management device, and the second transmitting unit transmits the screen design data created by the rearranging unit and the screen element data to the apparatus as a response to the download request.

9. The apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the management device creates information based on operations performed by an operator of the management device and an order of the performed operations.

10. The apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein when information on operations performed by an operator of the management device is received by the apparatus, the apparatus analyzes the received information and sequentially executes the operations included in the received information.

11. The apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the second screen drawing unit obtains the log data from the received notification of operation log message.

12. A method of managing an apparatus in an apparatus management system that includes an apparatus configured to perform a process in response to an operation on an operation screen and a management device that is connected to the apparatus via a network and configured to manage the apparatus, the method comprising:

storing including the management device storing screen element data that configures the operation screen for a plurality of apparatuses;

receiving screen design data on the screen element data that configures the operation screen and setting data on settings for the apparatus;

drawing including

creating the operation screen from the screen element data based on the screen design data and the setting data received at the receiving, and

drawing created operating screen on a displaying unit, wherein

the receiving includes receiving a new log data on an operation performed by a user on the operation screen from the apparatus,

the drawing includes updating the operation screen based on the received new log data received at the receiving and the screen element data stored at the storing, the drawing further including drawing a same operation screen as a current operation screen displayed by the apparatus, the same operation screen drawn based on an operation screen information received from the apparatus, and

the receiving further includes receiving a notification of operation log message along with the received new log data, updating the display on the operation screen based on the received notification of operation log message and the received new log data and stored the received new log data the log data and the new log data being a record of an operation history of the apparatus,

receiving an operation input by an operator on the operation screen about an operational information of the management device at predetermined intervals;

transmitting the operation information to the apparatus; and

switching a display of the apparatus between the operation screen created from the screen element data during the drawing and an operation screen created by the log data received.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

creating operation-screen information including the screen design data on a new operation screen that is obtained by changing the operation screen based on the operation input; and

transmitting the operation-screen information to the apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the storing includes accumulating the log data received from the apparatus,

and the method further including, rearranging including analyzing a usage state of the screen element data based on accumulated log data, and creating screen design data on the operation screen in which screen elements are rearranged based on the usage state;

and transmitting the screen design data created at the second creating to the rearranging.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the receiving further includes receiving the log data from the received notification of operation log message.

16. An apparatus management system comprising:

an apparatus configured to perform a process in response to an operation on an operation screen; and

a management device that is connected to the apparatus via a network, and configured to manage the apparatus, wherein

the apparatus includes

a first displaying means for displaying the operation screen and receiving an input from the operation screen,

a first storing means for storing therein screen element data on screen elements that configure the operation screen, screen design data on the screen element data that configures the operation screen, setting data on settings for the apparatus, and log data on an operation performed by a user on the operation screen,

a first screen drawing means for creating the operation screen based on the screen element data and the screen design data, and drawing a created operation screen on the first displaying means, and

a first transmitting means for transmitting the screen design data and the setting data to the management device,

the management device includes

a second displaying means for displaying thereon the operation screen, a second storing means for storing therein the screen element data that configures the operation screen for a plurality of apparatuses,

a second receiving means for receiving the screen design data and the setting data from the apparatus, and

a second screen drawing means for creating the operation screen from the screen element data based on the screen design data and the setting data received by the second receiving means, and drawing a created operation screen on the second displaying means,

the first transmitting means includes a transmitting means for transmitting, when there is an operation input by the user on the operation screen, a new log data in which the operation input is recorded to the management device,

the second receiving means includes a receiving means for receiving the new log data from the apparatus,

the second screen drawing means includes an updating means for updating the operation screen displayed on the second displaying means based on received new log data and the screen element data stored in the second storing means, and draws an updated operation screen on the second displaying means, the second screen drawing means drawing a same operation screen as a current operation screen displayed by the apparatus, the same operation screen drawn based on an operation screen information received from the apparatus, and

the second screen drawing means receives a notification of operation log message along with the received new log data from the receiving means, and the updating means updates the display on the second displaying means based on the received notification of operation log message and the updating means stored the received new log data in the second storing means the log data and the new log data being a record of an operation history of the apparatus, wherein

the first transmitting means transmits an inquiry about an operational information of the management device to a second transmitting means of the management device at predetermined intervals,

upon receiving the inquiry, the second transmitting means transmits the operational information to the apparatus, and

the first screen drawing means creates a new operation screen on the first displaying means based on the transmitted operation information, and

wherein the first displaying means is further configured to switch between the operation screen created by the second screen drawing means and the operation screen created by the first screen drawing means in response to a user input.

17. The apparatus management system according to claim 16, wherein the second screen drawing means receives the log data from the notification of operation log message received from the receiving means.