Abstract: According to one embodiment, provided is a component management device includes a detection unit, a correlation determination unit, and an update unit. The detection unit detects a first-class component whose used amount exceeds the threshold value and which is used without causing a failure, and detects a first-class device that is a device including the detected first-class component and not causing a failure related to the first-class component. The correlation determination unit determines the presence or absence of a correlation with respect to a first correlation that is a correlation between the used amount of the detected first-class component and an operating condition of the first-class device. When it is determined that there is no correlation for the first correlation, the update unit determines a first update value that is an update value of the threshold value based on the used amount of the first-class component in the first-class device.

Abstract: A maintenance support apparatus includes one or more processors and a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including: storing both (a) acceptable maintenance levels associated with a user that are related to an apparatus and (b) estimated failure levels corresponding to a plurality of diagnosis algorithms correlated with a plurality of maintenance works; acquiring operation log data of the apparatus and diagnose the operation log data according to each of the plurality of diagnosis algorithms; determining whether maintenance of the apparatus is necessary, based on a comparison between (a) the estimated failure levels corresponding to the one or more maintenance tasks identified when diagnosing the operation log data and (b) the acceptable maintenance levels of the user; and providing a notification indicating whether maintenance of the apparatus is necessary.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an indication management device includes voice acquisition means, indication recognition means, importance degree determination means, and output control means. The voice acquisition means acquires a voice which is input by a voice input terminal. The indication recognition means recognizes details of an indication from the voice acquired by the voice acquisition means. The importance degree determination means determines a degree of importance of the indication from the voice acquired by the voice acquisition means. The output control means controls output of indication details to an output device in accordance with the degree of importance determined by the importance degree determination means.

Abstract: A maintenance support device includes a memory that stores work result information that corresponds to a maintenance work that has been performed to solve a failure of an image processing apparatus. A processor is configured to acquire, and store in the memory, first work result information corresponding to a first maintenance work performed to solve a first failure type. After the first work result has been stored, the processor acquires, and stores in the memory, second work result information corresponding to a second maintenance work performed to solve a second failure type. It is then determined whether the first failure type matches the second failure type. Upon determining that the first and second failure types match, the first work result information is then updated to indicate that the first maintenance work has not been successful.

Abstract: A maintenance support system includes a network interface, a memory, and a processor configured to, upon receipt of first information indicating a status of a first apparatus via the network interface, store the first information in the memory, upon receipt of second information indicating a status of a second apparatus via the network interface, store the second information in the memory, and determine a priority of on-site maintenance between the first and second apparatuses based on the first and second information stored in the memory.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, provided is a component management device includes a detection unit, a correlation determination unit, and an update unit. The detection unit detects a first-class component whose used amount exceeds the threshold value and which is used without causing a failure, and detects a first-class device that is a device including the detected first-class component and not causing a failure related to the first-class component. The correlation determination unit determines the presence or absence of a correlation with respect to a first correlation that is a correlation between the used amount of the detected first-class component and an operating condition of the first-class device. When it is determined that there is no correlation for the first correlation, the update unit determines a first update value that is an update value of the threshold value based on the used amount of the first-class component in the first-class device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, provided is a component management device includes a detection unit, a correlation determination unit, and an update unit. The detection unit detects a first-class component whose used amount exceeds the threshold value and which is used without causing a failure, and detects a first-class device that is a device including the detected first-class component and not causing a failure related to the first-class component. The correlation determination unit determines the presence or absence of a correlation with respect to a first correlation that is a correlation between the used amount of the detected first-class component and an operating condition of the first-class device. When it is determined that there is no correlation for the first correlation, the update unit determines a first update value that is an update value of the threshold value based on the used amount of the first-class component in the first-class device.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus includes a controller including a processor. The processor has programmed instructions to acquire maintenance operation information indicating (i) a failure that occurred with an image forming apparatus and (ii) content of a maintenance operation performed on the image forming apparatus to fix the failure, determine whether predetermined information included with the maintenance operation information exceeds a threshold value, and generate support information based on the maintenance operation information that indicates the content of the maintenance operation in response to the predetermined information exceeding the threshold value. The support information is accessible by a maintenance person when performing future maintenance on the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a display device, a network interface, and a processor configured to generate a first screen for display on the display device and through which one or more potential errors of the image processing apparatus are selectable, and control the network interface to transmit error information for the selected error(s) to another apparatus. The errors include a first error type for which an abnormal noise is made by the image processing apparatus. The processor is further configured to, when the first error type is selected, generate a second screen for display on the display device and through which reference sounds potentially corresponding to the abnormal noise are selectable. When a reference sound is selected, sound information corresponding to the selected reference sound is included in the transmitted error information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a display device, a network interface, and a processor configured to generate a first screen for display on the display device and through which one or more potential errors of the image processing apparatus are selectable, and control the network interface to transmit error information for the selected error(s) to another apparatus. The errors include a first error type for which an abnormal noise is made by the image processing apparatus. The processor is further configured to, when the first error type is selected, generate a second screen for display on the display device and through which reference sounds potentially corresponding to the abnormal noise are selectable. When a reference sound is selected, sound information corresponding to the selected reference sound is included in the transmitted error information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a display, a network interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to generate a first screen on which at least one malfunctioning part candidate of the apparatus is presented in a selectable manner, and control the interface to transmit error information corresponding to a selected malfunctioning part candidate to another apparatus. When a first malfunctioning part candidate corresponding to a particular sound output by the image processing apparatus that is not working properly is selected on the first screen, the processor generates a second screen on which one or more reference sounds potentially corresponding to the particular sound are presented in a selectable manner. When a reference sound is selected as corresponding to the particular sound on the second screen, the processor includes sound information corresponding to the selected reference sound in the error information.

Abstract: A maintenance support system includes a network interface, a memory, and a processor configured to, upon receipt of first information indicating a status of a first apparatus via the network interface, store the first information in the memory, upon receipt of second information indicating a status of a second apparatus via the network interface, store the second information in the memory, and determine a priority of on-site maintenance between the first and second apparatuses based on the first and second information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A maintenance support device includes a memory that stores work result information that corresponds to a maintenance work that has been performed to solve a failure of an image processing apparatus. A processor is configured to acquire, and store in the memory, first work result information corresponding to a first maintenance work performed to solve a first failure type. After the first work result has been stored, the processor acquires, and stores in the memory, second work result information corresponding to a second maintenance work performed to solve a second failure type. It is then determined whether the first failure type matches the second failure type. Upon determining that the first and second failure types match, the first work result information is then updated to indicate that the first maintenance work has not been successful.

Abstract: A management system includes an information processing apparatus that stores management information about cartridges that store consumables and is configured to update the stored management information, and an image forming apparatus configured to print an image on a sheet using the consumables stored in an attached cartridge, storing cartridge information about a cartridge that has been previously attached to the image forming apparatus, and configured to, when a cartridge is attached, retrieve cartridge information from the attached cartridge as first cartridge information and the stored cartridge information as second cartridge information, and transmit the first and second cartridge information to the processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the cartridge information, the processing apparatus determines whether the attached cartridge is a refilled cartridge, and if so, updates the management information so that the cartridge is identified as a refilled cartridge.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an image reading device, a storage device, and a control unit. The image reading device reads an image on a sheet. The storage device stores information. The control unit that determines a detection area of an encoded image based on a teacher image which is an image read from a predetermined teacher sheet by the image reading device, records information indicating the detection area in the storage device, detects an encoded image in the detection area among the images read from a sheet to be read after the teacher sheet, and decodes the detected encoded image.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, the image forming apparatus comprises a display section, a connection section and a controller. The connection section connects with a device having a storage section. The controller detects connection and disconnection with the connection section and does not display a first screen displayed on the display section due to the connection with the device if the disconnection is detected.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an indication management device includes voice acquisition means, indication recognition means, importance degree determination means, and output control means. The voice acquisition means acquires a voice which is input by a voice input terminal. The indication recognition means recognizes details of an indication from the voice acquired by the voice acquisition means. The importance degree determination means determines a degree of importance of the indication from the voice acquired by the voice acquisition means. The output control means controls output of indication details to an output device in accordance with the degree of importance determined by the importance degree determination means.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an image reading device, a storage device, and a control unit. The image reading device reads an image on a sheet. The storage device stores information. The control unit that determines a detection area of an encoded image based on a teacher image which is an image read from a predetermined teacher sheet by the image reading device, records information indicating the detection area in the storage device, detects an encoded image in the detection area among the images read from a sheet to be read after the teacher sheet, and decodes the detected encoded image.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an image reading device, a storage device, and a control unity. The image reading device reads an image on a sheet. The storage device stores information. The control unit that determines a detection area of an encoded image based on a teacher image which is an image read from a predetermined teacher sheet by the image reading device, records information indicating the detection area in the storage device, detects an encoded image in the detection area among the images read from a sheet to be read after the teacher sheet, and decodes the detected encoded image.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus includes a control section configured to receive original image data, analyze the original image data to acquire address information included in the original image data, and generate a two-dimensional code corresponding to the acquired address information. A printer is then controlled to print the generated two-dimensional code and the original image data.