Abstract: A monitoring device system that includes a user apparatus, including a monitoring device application, and an image forming apparatus. The user apparatus includes an application information sending unit configured to send application information corresponding to the monitoring device application to the image forming apparatus, and a notice information control unit configured to acquire information about the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an application information item corresponding to the received application information from the user apparatus, and a communication control unit configured to send the information about the image forming apparatus to the user apparatus in response to a user selecting the displayed application information item at the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A management apparatus includes: a receiver that receives, via a network, status data based on control system data for stabilizing image forming from an image forming apparatus formed by image forming units; an inference unit that determines abnormality occurrence symptom, and calculates an index of the abnormality occurrence symptom, of the image forming units based on the received status data; a replacement part information acquisition unit that acquires information including a replacement date from a maintenance management system via the network when receiving a diagnosis request from a terminal of a maintenance person; a judgment table generator that calculates weight information of the symptom determination index value; a integrated diagnostic information generator for the image forming units based on the symptom determination index value and the weight information; and a integrated diagnostic information notification unit transmitting the integrated diagnostic value information to the terminal of the ma

Abstract: A consumable supply management system, connected to an image forming apparatus storing an apparatus identification data and using a consumable supply, includes a system controller and a management information storage. The management information storage stores management information including the apparatus identification data and a delivery-completed flag. The system controller includes a remaining amount information recording unit, a search unit, a delivery instruction unit, and an information clearing unit. The remaining amount information recording unit stores the management information to the management information storage when notification of remaining amount of the consumable supply is received. The search unit searches management information. The delivery instruction unit determines to deliver or suspend a delivery of a spare consumable supply in view of information clearing status of the management information and status of the delivery-completed flag.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a failure prediction unit, an image identification unit, a simulated-image generating unit, and an output unit. The failure prediction unit prepares an index value indicating a condition of the image forming apparatus based on multidimensional signal, obtained by monitoring the image forming apparatus, and compares the index value with a first threshold value to predict a failure mode of the image forming apparatus. The image identification unit identifies types of abnormal images based on the failure mode predicted by the failure prediction unit. An identified abnormal image is predicted to be appear a given time later. The simulated-image generating unit generates a simulated image of the identified abnormal image. The output unit outputs the identified abnormal image as the simulated image.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, computer program, and product, each capable of detecting a state of an apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices. When at least one of the plurality of devices is determined to be in a first state, a second state of at least one of the plurality of devices is determined. When a state of the apparatus is determined to be in the first state, the second state of another apparatus is determined.

Abstract: A management apparatus includes: a receiver that receives, via a network, status data based on control system data for stabilizing image forming from an image forming apparatus formed by image forming units; an inference unit that determines abnormality occurrence symptom, and calculates an index of the abnormality occurrence symptom, of the image forming units based on the received status data; a replacement part information acquisition unit that acquires information including a replacement date from a maintenance management system via the network when receiving a diagnosis request from a terminal of a maintenance person; a judgment table generator that calculates weight information of the symptom determination index value; a integrated diagnostic information generator for the image forming units based on the symptom determination index value and the weight information; and a integrated diagnostic information notification unit transmitting the integrated diagnostic value information to the terminal of the ma

Abstract: A maintenance support device, supporting a maintenance work by providing a maintenance worker with information useful for a maintenance object, includes: a data storage unit; a characteristic acquiring unit that acquires a narrowing-down useful characteristic value; an information receiving unit that receives maintenance execution information; a storage process executing unit that executes a process of storing the maintenance execution information in association with execution timing information; and a graph image providing unit that forms a graph image in which a graph indicating a change in a plurality of narrowing-down useful characteristic values and a mark representing the execution timing are drawn in two dimensional coordinates including a value axis which is a coordinate axis for representing a value magnitude of the narrowing-down useful characteristic value and an operation axis which is a coordinate axis for representing the number of operation times or an operation time of the maintenance object.

Abstract: A device management apparatus is connected to an image forming apparatus via a first network. The device management apparatus includes a sending unit that sends identification information of the device management apparatus; a monitor unit that periodically acquires status information from the image forming apparatus in response to a request to execute a first process sent by the image forming apparatus that has received the identification information, and records the status information in a storing unit; a diagnosing unit that diagnoses fault prediction of the image forming apparatus based on the status information in response to a request to execute a second process sent by the image forming apparatus from which the status information is acquired; and a transferring unit that transfers, to a remote monitor device via a second network, report information including diagnosis results obtained by the diagnosing unit.

Abstract: A plurality of weak discriminators output determinations results about a status of an apparatus. Weight values are individually assigned to the determination results. By performing majority vote of the weighted determination results, the status of the apparatus is determined. The determination results are displayed on a single status indicating screen such that portions corresponding to a normal status are indicated in white while portions corresponding to an anomalous status are indicated in one or more colors other than white. The areas of the portions differ from one another depending on magnitudes of weight assigned to the determination results corresponding to the portions.

Abstract: A monitoring device system that includes a user apparatus, including a monitoring device application, and an image forming apparatus. The user apparatus includes an application information sending unit configured to send application information corresponding to the monitoring device application to the image forming apparatus, and a notice information control unit configured to acquire information about the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an application information item corresponding to the received application information from the user apparatus, and a communication control unit configured to send the information about the image forming apparatus to the user apparatus in response to a user selecting the displayed application information item at the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a measuring part to measure an area in which a recording agent is to be adhered on a recording medium, for each of segmented regions on the recording medium, a computing part to compute an accumulated area by accumulating the measured area for each segmented region with respect to plural recording media, and a storing part to store the computed accumulated area. A rotating part rotates an image to be formed on the recording medium using the recording agent if the accumulated value in the storing part exceeds a threshold value, and an image forming part forms the rotated image on the recording medium.

Abstract: A printed document managing method, a printed document managing program, an image forming apparatus, and a printed document managing system are provided. In the system of the present invention, a complex device reads a sheet ID recorded on a wireless IC chip attached to an original paper sheet, using a first reading unit. The complex device also reads a sheet ID recorded on a wireless IC chip attached to a paper sheet on which copying is to be performed. The complex device then records output history data having the sheet ID of the original paper sheet associated with the sheet ID of the paper sheet on which copying is to be performed, and transmits the output history data to a managing computer. The managing computer then records the output history data in an output history data storing unit.

Abstract: A consumable supply management system, connected to an image forming apparatus storing an apparatus identification data and using a consumable supply, includes a system controller and a management information storage. The management information storage stores management information including the apparatus identification data and a delivery-completed flag. The system controller includes a remaining amount information recording unit, a search unit, a delivery instruction unit, and an information clearing unit. The remaining amount information recording unit stores the management information to the management information storage when notification of remaining amount of the consumable supply is received. The search unit searches management information. The delivery instruction unit determines to deliver or suspend a delivery of a spare consumable supply in view of information clearing status of the management information and status of the delivery-completed flag.

Abstract: A plurality of weak discriminators output determinations results about a status of an apparatus. Weight values are individually assigned to the determination results. By performing majority vote of the weighted determination results, the status of the apparatus is determined. The determination results are displayed on a single status indicating screen such that portions corresponding to a normal status are indicated in white while portions corresponding to an anomalous status are indicated in one or more colors other than white. The areas of the portions differ from one another depending on magnitudes of weight assigned to the determination results corresponding to the portions.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming an image on a paper supplied from a paper storage part of an image forming device includes the steps of reading paper information recorded in a radio IC chip attached to a paper provided in the paper storage part, recording information of a reading order of the read paper information in relation to the paper information, by paper information storage means of the image forming device, recording newly read paper information in the paper information storage means, and performing a printing process by using a paper profile based on paper information whose reading order recorded in the paper information storage means is most recent among read paper information, by printing means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a failure prediction unit, an image identification unit, a simulated-image generating unit, and an output unit. The failure prediction unit prepares an index value indicating a condition of the image forming apparatus based on multidimensional signal, obtained by monitoring the image forming apparatus, and compares the index value with a first threshold value to predict a failure mode of the image forming apparatus. The image identification unit identifies types of abnormal images based on the failure mode predicted by the failure prediction unit. An identified abnormal image is predicted to be appear a given time later. The simulated-image generating unit generates a simulated image of the identified abnormal image. The output unit outputs the identified abnormal image as the simulated image.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming an image on a paper supplied from a paper storage part of an image forming device includes the steps of reading paper information recorded in a radio IC chip attached to a paper provided in the paper storage part, recording information of a reading order of the read paper information in relation to the paper information, by paper information storage means of the image forming device, recording newly read paper information in the paper information storage means, and performing a printing process by using a paper profile based on paper information whose reading order recorded in the paper information storage means is most recent among read paper information, by printing means.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming an image on a paper supplied from a paper storage part of an image forming device includes the steps of reading paper information recorded in a radio IC chip attached to a paper provided in the paper storage part, recording information of a reading order of the read paper information in relation to the paper information, by paper information storage member of the image forming device, recording newly read paper information in the paper information storage member, and performing a printing process by using a paper profile based on paper information whose reading order recorded in the paper information storage member is most recent among read paper information, by printing member.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, computer program, and product, each capable of detecting a state of an apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices. When at least one of the plurality of devices is determined to be in a first state, a second state of at least one of the plurality of devices is determined. When a state of the apparatus is determined to be in the first state, the second state of another apparatus is determined.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a communication unit connecting the device to a support center via a communication line and receiving and transmitting information by a communication with the support center. An error detecting unit detects an error of the device. A first warning unit controls, when the error is detected, an operation/display unit to display a repair call activation menu that indicates a defective condition of the device and enables a user to decide whether activation of a repair call transmitting function is allowed. A second warning unit controls a warning device to produce at least a warning sound indicating the defective condition of the device. When the defective condition of the device continues for a time, exceeding a predetermined period, without taking any repairing action, a warning executing unit executes either one of the warning controls of the first and second warning units or both.