Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of types of operation control information of the image forming apparatus that indicate deterioration of a toner in the image forming apparatus or deterioration of a component of the image forming apparatus. An index value calculating unit calculates an index value indicating a state of the image forming apparatus based on the acquired operation control information. An abnormality judging unit judges whether the image forming apparatus abnormality has occurred and predicts an occurrence of a failure that requires maintenance of the image forming apparatus due to deterioration of the toner in the image forming apparatus or deterioration of the component of the image forming apparatus based on the index value.

Abstract: A data collecting unit receives a plurality of types of status data from an image forming apparatus and stores the status data in a status database. A data generating unit generates a plurality of types of target data for determining a maintenance sign, based on the status data. A first determining unit determines whether each of the status data exceeds a predetermined reference value. A second determining unit performs weighted majority decision based on a determination result from the first determining unit and a weight value set for each of the status data, and determines whether there is a maintenance sign taking all the status data into consideration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of types of operation control information of the image forming apparatus; an index value calculating unit that calculates an index value indicating a state of the image forming apparatus based on the acquired operation control information; an abnormality judging unit that judges whether the image forming apparatus abnormality has occurred and predicts an occurrence of a failure based on the index value; and a detection pattern position detecting unit that detects a position of a detection pattern on an image carrier carrying a toner image. The detection pattern is formed on the image carrier carrying the toner image. The detection pattern position detecting unit detects the position of the detection pattern formed on the image carrier. The index value calculating unit uses information based on position detection data as the operation control information of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus effectively reduces its maintenance cost and prevents a failure of the image forming apparatus in a period of busy use by the user, which includes a failure prediction distinction device configured to predict a failure based on an internal state signal, a maintenance time determination device configured to determine a time when maintenance is needed based on the internal state signal, and a maintenance need distinction device configured to distinguish whether or not maintenance is needed based on a result from the failure prediction distinction device at the maintenance time determined by the maintenance time determination device.

Abstract: A demand prediction apparatus connected to an order reception record storage unit for storing an order reception record of a product and an association information storage unit for storing association information associating products with each other, first acquires identification information of a product for which demand prediction is to be performed. The demand prediction apparatus specifies a product associated with the product having the acquired identification information based on the association information stored in the association information storage unit, and acquires an order reception record of the specified product from the order reception record storage unit. The demand prediction apparatus derives a demand prediction function that is fitted to the order reception record, by using the acquired order reception record.

Abstract: Disclosed are a demand forecasting method, a demand forecasting program, and a demand forecasting system that can adequately forecast a demand for a commodity. A management computer calculates a trend function with respect to demand values. The management computer then calculates the ratio of the demand values to a trend curve, and calculates a logarithm of the ratio. Then, the management computer approximates the calculated natural logarithm curve with a periodic model, and converts the logarithmic scale of the acquired periodic model to a normal scale. Demand forecasting is performed using a demand forecasting model acquired by combining a periodic change model of the normal scale with a trend curve (trend function).

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.