Installation location management system and installation location management method

• US 8,416,435 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Nukaga, Ryohei
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DUNG D
• Application Number:
  US11/877,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20080151290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

There is provided an installation location management system includes a management device (MD) and an information processing device (IPD). A MD includes a map information memory storing map information associating coordinate information with character string information, a map image information output unit outputting the information to the IPD, a coordinate information receiving unit receiving IPD'"'"'S coordinate information from the IPD, a character string information obtaining unit using the map information and the coordinate information and a character string information transmitting unit sending the information to the IPD. A IPD includes a map image information receiving unit, a map image output unit using the map image information, a coordinate information receiving unit receiving an input of the coordinate information about the IPD, a coordinate information transmitting unit sending the information to the MD, a character string information receiving unit and a character string information memory.

Claims

1. An installation location management system, comprising:

a management device that comprises;

a map information memory that stores map information, the map information associating coordinate information with character string information which represents a location;

a map image information output unit that outputs, in response to receiving an instruction from an information processing device to update installation location information of the information processing device including identification information of the information processing device, map image information to the information processing device connected via a communication system, the map image information associating identification information of information processing devices with their respective locations;

a controller which restricts updating of the installation location information of the information processing device by rejecting any update starting requests from other information processing devices while the management device is processing the instruction to update the installation location information of the information processing device identified by the identification information;

a coordinate information receiving unit that receives, from the information processing device and in response to the output of the map image information, coordinate information about a location where the information processing device is installed;

a character string information obtaining unit that uses the map information stored in the map information memory and the coordinate information received by the coordinate information receiving unit to obtain the character string information; and

a character string information transmitting unit that sends, to the information processing device in response to the reception of the coordinate information, the character string information obtained by the character string information obtaining unit; and

the information processing device that comprises;

a map image information receiving unit that receives the map image information that the management device outputs;

a map image output unit that outputs a map image in accordance with the received map image information;

a coordinate information receiving unit that receives an input of the coordinate information about the installation location of the information processing device;

a coordinate information transmitting unit that sends the received coordinate information to the management device;

a character string information receiving unit that receives the character string information associated with the coordinate information and sent from the management device; and

a character string information memory that stores the received character string information.

2. The installation location management system according to claim 1,

wherein the map image output unit of the information processing device outputs the map image in a printed form, and

wherein the coordinate information receiving unit of the information processing device reads location information noted on the printed map image and, based on the read location information, receives the coordinate information.

3. The installation location management system according to claim 1,

wherein the map information memory of the management device stores the identification information in association with the map image information, and

wherein the map image information output unit of the management device outputs the map image information that is associated with the identification information.

4. An installation location management method, comprising:

a managing process, executed by a management device, that comprises;

storing map information, the map information associating coordinate information with character string information which represents a location;

outputting, in response to receiving an instruction from an information processing device to update installation location information of the information processing device including identification information of the information processing device, map image information to the information processing device connected via a communication system, the map image information associating identification information of information processing devices with their respective locations;

restricting updates of the installation location information of the information processing device by rejecting any update starting requests from other information processing devices while the management device is processing the instruction to update the installation location information of the information processing device identified by the identification information;

receiving, from the information processing device and in response to the outputting of the map image information, coordinate information about a location where an information processing device is installed;

using the stored map information and the received coordinate information to obtain the character string information; and

sending, in response to receiving the coordinate information, the obtained character string information to the information processing device; and

an information processing process that comprises;

receiving the map image information that is output in the managing process;

outputting a map image in accordance with the received map image information;

receiving an input of the coordinate information about the installation location of the information processing device;

sending the received coordinate information to the managing process;

receiving the character string information which is sent in the managing process and associated with the coordinate information; and

storing the received character string information.