Distribution apparatus, distribution method, and computer-readable medium

• US 8,849,890 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakamoto, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eskandarnia, Arvin
• Application Number:
  US12/512,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202
• 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:

detection means for detecting a maintenance work required for a device based on failure information received from the device;

first distribution means for distributing data for a display of information relating to the required maintenance work detected by the detection means to the device;

determination means for determining whether the device has shifted its operation into a specific state based on received information from the device to which the first distribution means has distributed the data, wherein the received information is different from said received failure information and is information indicating that a display unit of the device cannot provide the display based on the data distributed by the first distribution means for a worker who performs the maintenance work for the device; and

second distribution means for distributing a subsequent part of the data that follows a part having been displayed, based on the data distributed by the first distribution means, immediately before the device shifts its operation into the specific state, determined by the determination means, to a terminal apparatus of the worker, wherein the terminal apparatus is different form the device to which the first distribution means has distributed the data,

wherein the distribution of the data by the first distribution means and the subsequent part of the data by the second distribution means is for solving the same failure information received from the device.

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

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

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

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

acquisition means for acquiring attribute information of the worker,

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

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

inquiry means for inquiring either the device or the terminal apparatus about a status of the device,

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

5. The distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received information is at least one of information indicating a power off state of the device, information indicating removal of a predetermined board from the device, and information indicating disconnection of infrared communication between the device and a terminal apparatus of a worker who performs the maintenance work for the device.

6. A distribution method comprising:

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

distributing data for a display of information relating to the required maintenance work to the device if the work required for the device is detected;

determining whether the device has shifted its operation into a specific state based on received information from the device that has received the data, wherein the received information is different from said received failure information and is information indicating that a display unit of the device cannot provide the display based on the data distributed for a worker who performs the maintenance work for the device; and

distributing a subsequent part of the data that follows a part having been displayed, based on the data distributed, immediately before the device shifts its operation into the specific state to a terminal apparatus of the worker, wherein the terminal apparatus is different from the device to which the data has been distributed to,

wherein the distribution of the data and the subsequent part of the data is for solving the same failure information received from the device.

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

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

if the terminal apparatus is selected as the distribution destination of the data, instructing distribution of the 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, and

instructing distribution of 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 data corresponding to the obtained status.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program that causes a computer to execute a distribution method, comprising:

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

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

computer-executable instructions for determining whether the device has shifted its operation into a specific state based on received information from the device that has received the data, wherein the received information is different from said received failure information and is information indicating that a display unit of the device cannot provide the display based on the data distributed for a worker who performs the maintenance work for the device; and

computer-executable instructions for distributing a subsequent part of the data that follows a part having been displayed, based on the data distributed, immediately before the device shifts its operation into the specific state to a terminal apparatus of the worker, wherein the terminal apparatus is different from the device to which the data has been distributed to,

wherein the distribution of the data and the subsequent part of the data is for solving the same failure information received from the device.