System for indicating to network user the cost of service provided to each device on network
First Claim
1. A method for managing a plurality of server units connected via a network to a management unit, wherein the plurality of server units are image forming apparatuses, the method comprising:
- detecting, at the management unit, a client unit sending a service request for a first server unit, the first server unit being one of the plurality of server units connected to said network configured to operate in any of a plurality of operational states, said client device having an associated display unit;
calculating an estimated change in an operational state of said first server unit that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the first server unit, wherein the change in the operational state is a change in a resource amount due to an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus;
assigning, by the management unit, a first priority to the first server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the first server unit;
calculating an estimated change in an operational state of a second server unit among said plurality of server units connected to the network that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the second server unit;
assigning, by a management unit, a second priority to the second server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the second server unit;
storing in a storage unit an indication of the first priority and a first identifier of said first server unit, and an indication of the second priority and a second identifier of said second server unit; and
sending to the client unit, by the management unit, a list comprising the first identifier and the first priority of the first server unit, and the second identifier and a second priority of a second server unit of the plurality of server units, said list being in a format displayable on the display unit;
wherein said first priority and said second priority are respectively based on operational state changes of the first server unit and the second server unit as calculated by the management unit; and
wherein for the assigning of the first and second priorities, a higher priority is associated with a smaller increase in the power consumption and a lower priority is associated with a larger increase in the power consumption.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Managing printer and copier server units connected to a network by enabling the user of a personal computer connected to the network to know print costs depending on the environmental load. Server units provide document print and copy services to each network connected client unit, typically personal computers. The server units can operate in any of several operational states, including for example, a standby state, a sleep state and a run state. Upon receiving a service request from the client unit, a management unit estimates the change in operational state for each connected server unit, assigns a priority to the various server units based on the estimated operational state changes, and provides the information for selection by the user requesting the print or copy service.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for managing a plurality of server units connected via a network to a management unit, wherein the plurality of server units are image forming apparatuses, the method comprising:
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detecting, at the management unit, a client unit sending a service request for a first server unit, the first server unit being one of the plurality of server units connected to said network configured to operate in any of a plurality of operational states, said client device having an associated display unit; calculating an estimated change in an operational state of said first server unit that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the first server unit, wherein the change in the operational state is a change in a resource amount due to an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus; assigning, by the management unit, a first priority to the first server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the first server unit; calculating an estimated change in an operational state of a second server unit among said plurality of server units connected to the network that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the second server unit; assigning, by a management unit, a second priority to the second server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the second server unit; storing in a storage unit an indication of the first priority and a first identifier of said first server unit, and an indication of the second priority and a second identifier of said second server unit; and sending to the client unit, by the management unit, a list comprising the first identifier and the first priority of the first server unit, and the second identifier and a second priority of a second server unit of the plurality of server units, said list being in a format displayable on the display unit; wherein said first priority and said second priority are respectively based on operational state changes of the first server unit and the second server unit as calculated by the management unit; and wherein for the assigning of the first and second priorities, a higher priority is associated with a smaller increase in the power consumption and a lower priority is associated with a larger increase in the power consumption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 18)
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6. A method for managing a plurality of server units connected via a network to a management unit and a client unit connected to the network, the client unit being configured to send a service request to any of the plurality of server units, and the server unit being configured to operate in any of a plurality of operational states, said method comprising:
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calculating an estimated change in an operational state due for execution of the service by the server unit, wherein the change in the operational state is a change in a resource amount due to an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus; obtaining an execution cost of the service for said server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state; and sending, from the management unit to the client unit, a list comprising an indication of the execution cost and an identifier of said server unit, said list being in a format displayable on the display unit; wherein the plurality of server units are image forming apparatuses; and wherein for the assigning of the first and second priorities, a higher priority is associated with a smaller increase in the power consumption and a lower priority is associated with a larger increase in the power consumption. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 19)
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11. A management apparatus configured to manage a plurality of server units and a client unit, the client unit being configured to send a service request to any of the plurality of server units, each of the plurality of server units being configured to operate in any of a plurality of operational states, the management apparatus comprising:
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a network connection connecting the management apparatus to a network, said network being connected to each of the plurality of server units and the client unit; means for calculating an estimated change in an operational state occurring due to execution of the service for each of the plurality of server units, wherein the change in the operational state is a change in a resource amount due to an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus; and means for assigning a priority to each of the plurality of server units based on the estimated change in the operational state for each of the plurality of server units; a storage unit configured to store an indication of the priority of each of the plurality of server units and an identifier associated with each of the plurality of server units; and means for sending to the client unit a list comprising an indication of the priority of each of the plurality of server units, said list being in a format displayable on the display unit; wherein the plurality of server units are image forming apparatuses; and wherein for the assigning of the first and second priorities, a higher priority is associated with a smaller increase in the power consumption and a lower priority is associated with a larger increase in the power consumption. - View Dependent Claims (16, 20)
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12. A computer program product comprising a machine readable non-transitory medium including a program of instructions for managing a plurality of server units connected via a network to a management unit, wherein the plurality of server units are image forming apparatuses, and wherein the program of instructions upon being executed on a computer causes the computer to perform activities comprising:
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detecting the management unit, a client unit sending a service request for a first server unit, the first server unit being one of the plurality of server units connected to said network capable of operating in a plurality of operational states, said client device having an associated display unit; calculating an estimated change in an operational state of said server unit that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the first server unit, wherein the change in the operational state is a change in a resource amount due to an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus; assigning, by a management unit, a first priority to the first server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the first server unit; calculating an estimated change in an operational state of a second server unit among said plurality of server units connected to the network that would occur due to execution of the service corresponding to the service request by the second server unit; assigning, by a management unit, a second priority to the second server unit based on the estimated change in the operational state of the second server unit; storing in a storage unit an indication of the first priority and a first identifier of said first server unit, and an indication of the second priority and a second identifier of said second server unit; and sending to the client unit, by the management unit, a list comprising the first identifier and the first priority of the first server unit, and the second identifier and a second priority of a second server unit of the plurality of server units; wherein said first priority and said second priority are respectively based on operational state changes of the first server unit and the second server unit as calculated by the management unit, said list being in a format displayable on the display unit; and wherein for the assigning of the first and second priorities, a higher priority is associated with a smaller increase in the power consumption and a lower priority is associated with a larger increase in the power consumption. - View Dependent Claims (17, 21)
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Specification