Abstract: In a system in which a host computer performs lifetime management for components of a plurality of copiers, components whose lifetimes are to be managed can be freely selected copier by copier and, as a result, warning reports can be transmitted with a reduced number of communication sessions. The copiers are each equipped with a device for management, so that counting can be performed for their individual components and interlock counts for such counting can be freely specified. The host computer compares a count received through communication with a threshold value to issue a report within the host computer. Within one copier, during a period after a component PM call is issued and before a component is replaced, even if another component becomes a target of a component PM call, the component PM call is not issued. When a component replacement report is received, a report of a component PM call is automatically deleted from an urgency report list.

Abstract: In a management system in which a plurality of copiers are managed by a host computer, each copier is provided with a device that is connected to the host computer so as to manage the copier. The device can be initialized from the copier without advance registration in the host computer. To achieve this, when a serviceperson, having set up the copier, enters a registration code and executes initialization, the device communicates with the host computer and transmits thereto an initialization report. On receiving the initialization report, the host computer creates a database, and subsequently sets the device using predetermined values in the database and assigns thereto a copier ID number. When communication has been completed without errors, the device returns the copier ID number to the copier. To register the copier, an operator of the host computer opens a screen of a list of non-registered pieces of equipment to be managed in order to select and register the corresponding copier on that screen.

Abstract: In a maintenance management system in which communications control devices of electronic photocopiers are connected through public telephone lines or the like with a host computer of a maintenance company that manages the photocopiers, preventive-maintenance-oriented, omission-free instructions for maintenance work are obtained by determining items of work to be performed based on how many times maintenance has been performed or based on a count of copies produced. For example, in the case where maintenance work to be performed on a first occasion includes items of work belonging to a work item setting area of a second order of precedence within a maintenance table, if items of work that need to be performed do not agree with those specified in the table, items of work of a first order of precedence are added.

Abstract: A device for management is attached to a copier, and the device for management is connected to a host computer at a management center via a telephone line. In a database of the host computer are provided a field for calculating an MCBJ since resetting or in a predetermined period, and a field for calculating a total MCBJ of copiers of a same model. Based on comparison between results obtained in these two fields, a warning is issued. Moreover, an MCBJ of a copier in a predetermined period is retained in the database for three consecutive such periods, so that a trend of the MCBJ of the copier is traced. A rising tendency of the MCBJ is judged from a combination of two trend-indicating values, one comparing an MCBJ two periods before with a current MCBJ and the other comparing the MCBJ two periods before with an MCBJ one period before. If the rising tendency exceeds a predetermined factor, a warning is issued.

Abstract: In a management system in which electronic photocopiers are linked through a network with a host computer at a maintenance company that manages the photocopiers and with another host computer at a lease company that performs charging and other tasks related to the use of the photocopiers, registration to the latter host computer and setting thereupon of transmission times of periodical reports can be performed without any inconvenience. Data including the ID number of a copier and the code of the maintenance company are transmitted from a communications control device provided in the copier to the host computer of the lease company. This host computer, when the received ID number and code have not been registered, puts the ID number and code on a list of unregistered copiers, and makes the device transmit data every day until the copier is registered.