Abstract: A system includes a device and one or more information processing apparatuses. The device includes a device-information generator configured to generate device information on the device; and an analyzer determining unit configured to determine any one of the device and the one or more information processing apparatuses as an analyzer for the device information. The one determined as the analyzer includes an analysis unit configured to perform an analysis based on the device information; and a service determining unit configured to determine a service to the device based on a result of the analysis.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a hinge that has an automatically “closing” function using a simple structure. In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a hinge comprising a first member, a second member, and a curved part that connects the first member and the second member and pivots the first member or the second member, wherein the curved part includes a silicone rubber that generates strain while the first member and the second member are in an opened state, and biases the first member and the second member in a closing direction.

Abstract: An information processing system includes one or more information processing apparatuses for determining lifetimes of components, to be replaced by preventive maintenance, of respective electric devices. The information processing system includes a leading variable specifying unit configured to specify, based on variables that represent use states of the electric devices and failure data of the electric devices which have been obtained from the electric devices, a plurality of leading variables relevant to the lifetimes of the components; a lifetime matrix creating unit configured to classify a plurality of values of each of the leading variables into sections to create a lifetime matrix in which the lifetimes of the components are set with respect to combinations of the sections each of which relates to a different leading variable; and a lifetime outputting unit configured to determine the lifetimes of the components with respect to the respective electric devices.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a storage unit that stores and associates a cause of a failure that has occurred in an electronic device, state information of the electronic device at the time the failure has occurred in the electronic device due to the cause of the failure, and a measure to be implemented in response to the cause of the failure. The information processing system further includes at least one processor that performs an acquisition process for acquiring the state information of the electronic device, and a failure diagnosis process for determining the cause of the failure that has occurred in the electronic device and the measure to be implemented in response to the cause of the failure based on the acquired state information of the electronic device.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: An information processing system includes one or more information processing apparatuses for determining lifetimes of components, to be replaced by preventive maintenance, of respective electric devices. The information processing system includes a leading variable specifying unit configured to specify, based on variables that represent use states of the electric devices and failure data of the electric devices which have been obtained from the electric devices, a plurality of leading variables relevant to the lifetimes of the components; a lifetime matrix creating unit configured to classify a plurality of values of each of the leading variables into sections to create a lifetime matrix in which the lifetimes of the components are set with respect to combinations of the sections each of which relates to a different leading variable; and a lifetime outputting unit configured to determine the lifetimes of the components with respect to the respective electric devices.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry acquires, from equipment in which a fault has occurred, status information indicating a status of the equipment. The circuitry checks whether a maintenance person who is in an available state is present from among a plurality of maintenance persons. The circuitry identifies a type of the fault that has occurred in the equipment, based on the acquired status information. In a case in which no maintenance person who is in the available state is present from among the plurality of maintenance persons, the circuitry instructs the equipment to output a quick fix technique, which enables working around the fault of the identified type to enable continued use of the equipment.

Abstract: An information processing system includes at least one information processing apparatus. The information processing system includes a provisional cost calculator configured to apply failure history information to a failure prediction model to provisionally calculate a cost of the failure prediction model, the failure history information expressing failure history of at least one electronic device in which a failure has occurred, the failure prediction model including a symptom detection method for detecting a symptom of a failure to occur in the electronic device in association with a preventive action for preventing the failure to occur in the electronic device; and an adoption determiner configured to determine to adopt the failure prediction model by which a profit can be obtained, based on a result of the provisional calculation.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a storage unit that stores and associates a cause of a failure that has occurred in an electronic device, state information of the electronic device at the time the failure has occurred in the electronic device due to the cause of the failure, and a measure to be implemented in response to the cause of the failure. The information processing system further includes at least one processor that performs an acquisition process for acquiring the state information of the electronic device, and a failure diagnosis process for determining the cause of the failure that has occurred in the electronic device and the measure to be implemented in response to the cause of the failure based on the acquired state information of the electronic device.

Abstract: A system includes a device and one or more information processing apparatuses. The device includes a device-information generator configured to generate device information on the device; and an analyzer determining unit configured to determine any one of the device and the one or more information processing apparatuses as an analyzer for the device information. The one determined as the analyzer includes an analysis unit configured to perform an analysis based on the device information; and a service determining unit configured to determine a service to the device based on a result of the analysis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects the number of manuscript sheets; a calculating unit which calculates the anticipated number of sheets of recording media based on the detected number of sheets; a determining unit which determines whether the anticipated number of sheets calculated exceeds the predetermined number of sheets; and a bookbinding unit which binds multiple recording media, wherein the calculating unit calculates the anticipated number of sheets, further including a cover arranged on the outside of the multiple recording media which are stacked in an overlapping manner, and wherein the bookbinding unit binds multiple recording media without arranging the cover on the outside of the multiple recording media when an image is not formed on the cover if the determining unit determines that the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the predetermined number of sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects the number of manuscript sheets; a calculating unit which calculates the anticipated number of sheets of recording media based on the detected number of sheets; a determining unit which determines whether the anticipated number of sheets calculated exceeds the predetermined number of sheets; and a bookbinding unit which binds multiple recording media, wherein the calculating unit calculates the anticipated number of sheets, further including a cover arranged on the outside of the multiple recording media which are stacked in an overlapping manner, and wherein the bookbinding unit binds multiple recording media without arranging the cover on the outside of the multiple recording media when an image is not formed on the cover if the determining unit determines that the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the predetermined number of sheets.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of data processing units that form a network relaying apparatus has a memory controller, a network controller, a processor, and independently accessible first and second memories. The memory controller includes a header information register for storing header information such as a header start position in a packet and a header length; a header position detection circuit for detecting a header position in the packet based on the header information contained in the header information register; and an inter-data processing unit transfer circuit for sending and receiving a packet to and from another data processing unit. The data processing unit stores into the first memory a packet received from the network or a packet transferred from another data processing unit, and at the same time stores only a header portion of the packet into the second memory.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation for ameliorating nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) or epigastric dysfunction complaints is provided. The present invention uses an aminobenzamide compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is independently a lower alkoxyl group; R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, a lower acyl group, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group or a group represented by a formula --X--SO.sub.3 M where X is a lower alkylene group and M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a lower alkoxyl group; R.sup.5 is an amino group, a morpholino group or a lower alkylamino group, where the alkyl moiety of the lower alkylamino group may have a hydroxyl group; and n is an integer of 1 to 6.