Abstract: An information processing apparatus controls one or more processes of one or more devices belonging to a group based on data transmitted through a network from one or more devices belonging to the same group. The apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory stores, on a group-by-group basis, policy data and a control flow. The circuitry makes the control flow effective, in a case in which at least one process to be executed when at least one condition is satisfied is permitted or is not prohibited to a user from whom a request for execution of the control flow is accepted, according the policy data. The circuitry controls the at least one process of the at least one device according to the control flow that is made effective, on a group-by-group basis.

Abstract: A system to control an access right to apparatus log information of a plurality of output apparatuses includes a memory to store group hierarchical information indicating a hierarchical relationship of a plurality of service-use groups including at least a first service-use group where a first service user belongs, and a second service-use group where a second service user belongs, and group relationship information associating the first service-use group with at least one service provider group where one service provider person belongs, and associating the second service-use group with at least another one service provider group where another service provider person belongs, and circuitry to determine the access right to the apparatus log information of any one of the plurality of output apparatuses for the first service user, the second service user, the one service provider person, and the another one service provider group selectively.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus controls one or more processes of one or more devices belonging to a group based on data transmitted through a network from one or more devices belonging to the same group. The apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory stores, on a group-by-group basis, policy data and a control flow. The circuitry makes the control flow effective, in a case in which at least one process to be executed when at least one condition is satisfied is permitted or is not prohibited to a user from whom a request for execution of the control flow is accepted, according the policy data. The circuitry controls the at least one process of the at least one device according to the control flow that is made effective, on a group-by-group basis.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus controls one or more processes of one or more devices belonging to a group based on data transmitted through a network from one or more devices belonging to the same group. The apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory stores, on a group-by-group basis, policy data and a control flow. The circuitry makes the control flow effective, in a case in which at least one process to be executed when at least one condition is satisfied is permitted or is not prohibited to a user from whom a request for execution of the control flow is accepted, according the policy data. The circuitry controls the at least one process of the at least one device according to the control flow that is made effective, on a group-by-group basis.

Abstract: A device, an information processing system, and a method for controlling an interactive operation of the device. The device is connected to at least one other device via a network and includes circuitry configured to transmit interaction information related to interactive operation of a local device to the at least one other device via the network, receive interaction information related to interactive operation of the at least one other device via the network, store a rule that associates the interactive operation of the at least one other device with the interactive operation of the local device to be executed by the local device, and control the interactive operation of the local device based on the stored rule. The information processing system includes at least one device including the device and the at least one other devices.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus controls one or more processes of one or more devices belonging to a group based on data transmitted through a network from one or more devices belonging to the same group. The apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory stores, on a group-by-group basis, policy data and a control flow. The circuitry makes the control flow effective, in a case in which at least one process to be executed when at least one condition is satisfied is permitted or is not prohibited to a user from whom a request for execution of the control flow is accepted, according the policy data. The circuitry controls the at least one process of the at least one device according to the control flow that is made effective, on a group-by-group basis.

Abstract: A system for managing an operation status of an output apparatus includes a memory to store apparatus log information of the output apparatus, and apparatus history information including information indicating a history of one or more groups that have possessed the output apparatus, and information indicating a placement period that the output apparatus has been possessed by each group, and circuitry to extract information indicating the one or more groups that have possessed the output apparatus for a given operation monitoring period, and information indicating the placement period that the output apparatus has been possessed by each group, and generate operation monitoring information for each group in the given operation monitoring period, based on the apparatus log information of the output apparatus, and the information of the placement period of the output apparatus in the given operation monitoring period for each group.

Abstract: A system to control an access right to apparatus log information of a plurality of output apparatuses includes a memory to store group hierarchical information indicating a hierarchical relationship of a plurality of service-use groups including at least a first service-use group where a first service user belongs, and a second service-use group where a second service user belongs, and group relationship information associating the first service-use group with at least one service provider group where one service provider person belongs, and associating the second service-use group with at least another one service provider group where another service provider person belongs, and circuitry to determine the access right to the apparatus log information of any one of the plurality of output apparatuses for the first service user, the second service user, the one service provider person, and the another one service provider group selectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires and displays device-usage record information, which is related to a usage record of at least one device. The image forming apparatus includes a processor, in communication with a memory, executing a process including acquiring uniqueness information of the image forming apparatus from a usage record information storage device via a network in response to accepting a user operation input via a user interface, the usage record information storage device being configured to receive data from the at least one device, generate the device-usage record information based on the received data, and to store the device-usage record information in association with the uniqueness information of the at least one device; acquiring, from the usage record information storage device, the device-usage record information stored in association with the acquired uniqueness information of the image forming apparatus; and outputting the acquired device-usage record information.

Abstract: A device controlling system controls devices connected via a network. The device controlling system includes a reserving unit configured to receive place identifying information for identifying a place and a usage time and date when the place is used, and make a reservation for usage of the place and a device arranged at the place on the usage time and date; and a device controller configured to bring the device to a power-on state based on the usage time and date and device identifying information for identifying the device on the network.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry to acquire information relating to an actual usage record of an output device in a customer environment, and predict an amount of usage of the output device for a predetermined period of time of a target year based on the acquired information. In predicting, the circuitry calculates an amount of usage of the output device for a year-ago predetermined period of time corresponding to the predetermined period of time of the target year, and predicts the amount of usage of the output device for the predetermined period of time of the target year as being equal to the calculated amount of usage of the output device for the-year ago predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A device controlling system controls devices connected via a network. The device controlling system includes a reserving unit configured to receive place identifying information for identifying a place and a usage time and date when the place is used, and make a reservation for usage of the place and a device arranged at the place on the usage time and date; and a device controller configured to bring the device to a power-on state based on the usage time and date and device identifying information for identifying the device on the network.

Abstract: A device managing apparatus for monitoring and managing a device connected to a data transmission path includes an obtaining part configured to obtain power consumption status data from the device, the power consumption status data indicating a power consumption status of a communication unit included in the device, a selecting part configured to select a communication method according to the power consumption status data obtained from the obtaining part, and a communicating part configured to perform data communications with the device by using the communication method selected by the selecting part.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit, a determining unit, and a merging unit. The storing unit stores control data including apparatus identifiers identifying communication apparatuses and requested information identifiers identifying information items specified in information acquisition requests for the communication apparatuses. The determining unit determines whether a specified communication apparatus specified in a newly-received information acquisition request is already registered in the control data. If the specified communication apparatus is already registered in the control data, the merging unit determines whether a requested information identifier specified in the newly-received information acquisition request is recorded in the control data for the specified communication apparatus.

Abstract: An electrostatic sprayer includes a temperature-humidity sensor which detects a humidity and a temperature of a space where the user is present, and a control section which provides control by adjusting an amount of the liquid transferred by a pressure pump and a voltage applied by a high voltage power supply based on the value detected by the temperature-humidity sensor.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit, a determining unit, and a merging unit. The storing unit stores control data including apparatus identifiers identifying communication apparatuses and requested information identifiers identifying information items specified in information acquisition requests for the communication apparatuses. The determining unit determines whether a specified communication apparatus specified in a newly-received information acquisition request is already registered in the control data. If the specified communication apparatus is already registered in the control data, the merging unit determines whether a requested information identifier specified in the newly-received information acquisition request is recorded in the control data for the specified communication apparatus.

Abstract: A device managing apparatus for monitoring and managing a device connected to a data transmission path includes an obtaining part configured to obtain power consumption status data from the device, the power consumption status data indicating a power consumption status of a communication unit included in the device, a selecting part configured to select a communication method according to the power consumption status data obtained from the obtaining part, and a communicating part configured to perform data communications with the device by using the communication method selected by the selecting part.

Abstract: A transverse fan includes a pair of end plates each having an annular shape, a plurality of blades annularly disposed between the end plates and a plurality of partition plates each having an annular shape and disposed at intermediate portions of the blades. Each of the partition plates has one side surface to which base ends of the blades are integrally secured to extend forward with a predetermined inclination and form a multi-blade impeller. A plurality of the multi-blade impeller are stacked axially so that each of the partition plates has another one side surface to which leading ends of the blades of adjacent multi-blade impeller are connected, and one of the end plate has one surface to which the leading ends of the blades of a leading end side one of the stacked multi-blade impellers are connected and another one of the end plates has one surface to which the base ends of the blades of a base end side one of the stacked multi-blade impellers is secured.

Abstract: A transverse fan in which a plurality of blades are disposed between disk- or ring-shaped end plates in a circumferential arrangement at fixed mounting pitches in a ring-shaped configuration. Partitions plates are disposed at intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction of the blades such that each of the blades is inclined at fixed angles with respect to a fan axis and mounted at unequal pitches. The transverse fan includes a plurality of multi-bladed impeller units disposed between the disk-shaped end plates. Each of the multi-bladed impeller units has one disk-shaped partition plate having one surface on which a plurality of blades are integrally disposed along a circumferential direction thereof at unequal pitches and inclined at predetermined angles so as to extend along the axial direction of the transverse fan. A plurality of the multi-bladed impeller units are integrally stacked coaxially with each other to form the transverse-fan.