Remote Monitoring Patents (Class 399/8)
  • Patent number: 11954383
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a communicator that executes external communication via a communication path; a hardware processor that detects a threat in the image processing device, and cuts off the communication by the communicator upon detecting the threat; a transmitter that executes communication, after the hardware processor detects the threat, to transmit a notification that the threat has been detected to a defined destination via another communication path; and a receiver that executes communication to receive communication restoration trigger information via another communication path. Once the receiver receives the communication restoration trigger information, the hardware processor executes a communication control to restore the communication by the communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sugiura, Takeshi Hibino
  • Patent number: 11949820
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is communicably connected to one or more image forming apparatuses each including: an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium; an image reading device that reads the image to obtain read image data; and an image forming controller that executes a first inspection and detects in the read image data an image defect corresponding to a predetermined inspection item at a first cycle, the information processing apparatus including: a processing controller that: acquires inspection source data based on the read image data obtained from at least one of the image forming apparatuses, and executes a second inspection to inspect the inspection source data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Genda
  • Patent number: 11822836
    Abstract: A device is configured to obtain startup information of a consumable purchasing program, and download and start up the consumable purchasing program. The consumable purchasing program obtains printer information indicating a printer to be used by the device from a printing application. The consumable purchasing program check the printer information obtained from the printing application against consumables database, generate a list of the consumables compatible with the printer, and display a purchase procedure screen configured to receive a purchasing instruction to purchase a consumable included in the list. The consumable purchasing program performs a purchase procedure of the consumable when receiving the purchasing instruction through the purchase screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fuyuko Ito, Satoki Nagao
  • Patent number: 11669036
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. A mount unit is able to mount a consumable. A communication unit is able to communicate with a server system. A request unit requests, to the server system via the communication unit, service-related information related to the consumable. A reception unit receives, via the communication unit, the service-related information transmitted from the server system with respect to the request. A determination unit determines, in a case in which a state of the communication unit has shifted from a first state in which communication with the server system is disabled to a second state in which communication with the server system is enabled, whether a request for the service-related information by the request unit is required, based on a reception history of the service-related information of the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Sahara
  • Patent number: 11573505
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a cartridge, and a controller. The cartridge is attachable to the main casing. The cartridge includes a cartridge memory configured to store identification information. The controller is configured to perform a rewriting process to rewrite the identification information to information indicating that the cartridge is the normal cartridge, in a case where the controller receives a cancellation instruction to instruct to cancel the service contract and the identification information, which is stored in a cartridge memory of the cartridge attached to the main casing, indicates that the cartridge is the contract cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11366993
    Abstract: Provided is a management apparatus includes: an acquisition unit acquiring remaining-quantity information indicating a remaining quantity of a consumable included in the image forming apparatus; a database storing the remaining-quantity information and image forming apparatus identification information in association with each other, and storing user identification information and a usage history of the image forming apparatus by the user in association with each other; a calculation unit reading the usage history from the database based on externally-designated user identification information, calculating a predicted usage quantity of the consumable in an image forming apparatus having externally-designated apparatus identification information based on the read usage history, reading the remaining-quantity information from the database based on the externally-designated apparatus identification information, generating required information on the consumable based on the read remaining-quantity information and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsubasa Takaoka
  • Patent number: 11235584
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a liquid accommodation body into which liquid contained in a liquid container is configured to be poured, a printing section that performs printing by discharge of liquid supplied from the liquid accommodation body, a counting section that performs counting relating to an amount of consumption of liquid with which a liquid container was contained and counting relating to an amount of consumption of liquid per predetermined period of time, and a delivery request section that, based on a counting result yielded by the counting section, sends the server apparatus a delivery request for a liquid container by a time that is earlier by a delivery period of a liquid container than an estimated timing of completion of consumption of liquid with which a liquid container was contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Hirai, Ryo Oguchi, Shunichi Hizawa, Shuichi Koganehira
  • Patent number: 11231678
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is an apparatus that forms an image on paper and provided with a sensor section, a determination section, and an estimation section. The sensor section outputs a signal indicating a state of the paper. The determination section determines whether or not each of a plurality of error conditions relating to a paper error is satisfied based on the signal output by the sensor section. The estimation section estimates an occurrence factor of the paper error based on a satisfaction pattern of the plurality of error conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Miyake
  • Patent number: 11200473
    Abstract: An information processing device according to aspects of the present disclosures configured to determine whether a managed device is a mobile device or a stationary device. When it is determined that the managed device is the mobile device, a first threshold value is set as a threshold value, and when it is determined that the managed device is the stationary device, a second threshold value is set as the threshold value. When it is determined that the remaining amount of the consumable is equal to or less than the threshold value, the information processing device issues a notification regarding the remaining amount of the consumable associated with the managed device. The notification is issued earlier in a case where the threshold value is the first threshold value than in a case where the threshold value the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaro Sato
  • Patent number: 11190650
    Abstract: A management apparatus receives a data set from a target device that is one of a plurality of devices, the data set including a data type, a data body, and identification information of the target device; each time the data set is received, calculates scheduled transmission time for the target device based on reception time of the data set and on the identification information and the data type; estimates a load of the management apparatus at the scheduled transmission time based on the scheduled transmission time and on next transmission time of the data set for the plurality of devices other than the target device; and in a case where the load is higher than a particular level, transmit, to the target device, corrected transmission time as next transmission time for the target device, the corrected transmission time being obtained by adding a correction value to the scheduled transmission time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11117762
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a memory configured to store a machine-learned model produced by performing machine learning using teaching data associating image data generated by reading a document by an image reading device with device abnormality information on abnormality of the image reading device; and when the image reading device reads a document, a processor configured to obtain the device abnormality information based on generated image data and the machine-learned model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Kanada
  • Patent number: 11095778
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of analyzing a failure of an IC that has a high degree of independence and in which no recording area can be added to an internal memory. The image forming apparatus has a controller equipped with a storage device. Execution results of a plurality of event processes for events relating to the controller are recorded in the storage device. What is recorded in the storage device is output from the controller. A scope of what is recorded in the storage device is specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11023624
    Abstract: A multifunctional printer (MFP) which has a first transceiver circuit which is configured to receive wireless broadcast signals from a second transceiver circuit, where the wireless broadcast signal identifies the second transceiver, where the first transceiver circuit is powered by the MFP, and where the first transceiver circuit is configured to determine a first distance that the second transceiver circuit is away from the first transceiver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Pugh, Duc Phu Truong
  • Patent number: 10983742
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure has items relating to function control. The image forming apparatus includes a setting section and a classification section. The setting section sets item content for each function. The classification section classifies an item into a first item group depending on a change frequency of the item contents. The first item group is defined such that information indicating a change in item content of the group is sent to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kato, Muneki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10911628
    Abstract: In a client machine that collects first data that is operation information of an apparatus and second data related to a use situation of a plurality of pieces of hardware including a processor, a memory, and a storage, control is performed so that, in a case where the client machine is in a power-saving state at a timing when data that is collected in the apparatus is transmitted to an external system, recovery from the power-saving state is performed and transmission of the first data is not restricted, and transmission of the second data is restricted, and in a case where the client machine is not in the power-saving state at the timing, the transmission of the first data and the transmission of the second data are not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimito Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10824377
    Abstract: An information processing system includes: a delivery unit that delivers consumable items to plural machines; a determination unit that determines a specific organization, which is capable of offering a specific consumable item, from plural organizations in accordance with inventory information when the delivery unit is suspended, the inventory information indicating an inventory of the consumable items stored in each of the organizations having a certain scale and serving as a unit managing the plural machines; and a display control unit that makes control to display the determined specific organization as a place where the specific consumable item is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Fukumura
  • Patent number: 10802772
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions for an information processing apparatus including: a processor; a display; and a memory storing at least one set of printer information. First and second type printers transmit status information to the information processing apparatus. The status information from the first type printer includes first information. The status information from the second type printer includes second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10757285
    Abstract: There is provided a storage medium storing a printing control program that causes a processor controlling a printing apparatus which has a normal state, in which electric power is supplied to a display device, and a power saving state, in which the electric power is not supplied to the display device, to execute a process. The process includes causing a printing mechanism to execute a printing process in a state in which the electric power is not supplied to the display device when a first key that is a physical key is operated in the power saving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Kimura, Masato Tsukioka
  • Patent number: 10750052
    Abstract: A method of controlling an image forming apparatus is provided. The method includes requesting a remote support service from a terminal or a server connected to the terminal, receiving a request for an access authorization regarding an operation related to the remote support service from the terminal, granting the access authorization to the terminal based on a user input or a pre-set setting, receiving a control command for the remote support service from the terminal, and executing an operation corresponding to the control command according to the access authorization granted to the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mok-hwa Lim, Sun-young Park, Cheol-yon Won
  • Patent number: 10725449
    Abstract: A management device manages information on a control device configured to build a three-dimensional object and acquires from the control device that is a management target of the management device, device information including a status detected in the control device that is the management target, via a network. The management device analyzes the acquired device information in determination of an error based on the detected status and an output mode for outputting the error. The management device issues a notification including the error in the control device that is the management target based on an analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuhei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10691389
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus collects data produced in association with processing carried out by the information processing apparatus, and buffers the collected data in a first data format. The first data format is different from a second data format used for transmission to an external server apparatus. The information processing apparatus converts the format of the buffered data from the first data format to the second data format before transmitting the buffered data to the server apparatus. Then, the information processing apparatus transmits the data in the second data format to the server apparatus as an event log of the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimito Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10607123
    Abstract: A remotely-operated apparatus remotely operated by an external terminal notifies the external terminal of a first transition command when a server cooperation process which is a cooperation process with a server is performed. The first transition command is a command indicating that a display mode of the external terminal, in which a remote operation screen used for remotely operating the remotely-operated apparatus is displayed on a display part of the external terminal, should be changed from a transmitted image use mode in which a transmitted image screen is displayed to a browser use mode in which a browser screen is displayed. Further, the remotely-operated apparatus notifies the external terminal of a second transition command indicating that the display mode should be changed from the browser use mode to the transmitted image use mode when occurrence of a specific event inside or outside the remotely-operated apparatus is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsunori Okada
  • Patent number: 10552896
    Abstract: Methods and systems for virtually managing product inventory from an application on a smart device through at least one of a bar code scanning feature, an integration of a virtual toolbox component and a shopping cart component, and a checkout selection option to request a purchase order associated with a user token authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Fisher Family Dynasty Trust
    Inventors: Kevin Roundtree, Trent Fisher, Robert Lord
  • Patent number: 10509352
    Abstract: When an image forming apparatus such as an MFP runs out of supplies, such as paper or toner, the user will need to load paper in the paper tray or replace the toner cartridge. However, the user occasionally has difficulty in opening the paper tray or the front cover because his/her hands are carrying the additional supplies. For example, the user may have to put the belonging down to open up the paper tray or the front cover. The image forming apparatus reacts to the user's desire in a mechanical manner by opening the paper tray or the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoko Maruyama, Kaoru Fukuoka, Hideyuki Matsuda, Jun Shiraishi, Hiroyuki Ohno
  • Patent number: 10474084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to determine that a toner container was replaced during power off in a case where identification information acquired from a toner container and identification information stored in a nonvolatile memory do not match each other when power is turned on. In a case where the replaced toner container does not satisfy a replacement condition and does not contain a black toner, the image forming apparatus permits the execution of printing in a monochrome print mode, and suspends the execution of printing in the color print mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10379792
    Abstract: An operation display apparatus for shared use between a first and a second apparatus each being capable of operating independently, the operation display apparatus including a display, a manipulation device, and a processor, wherein the processor performs: allowing the display to selectively show either of display data received from the first apparatus through a first display interface and display data received from the second apparatus through a second display interface; transmitting operation information of an operation on the manipulation device to the first apparatus through a first input-output interface and to the second apparatus through a second input-output interface; detecting through the first or second display interface whether at least either one of the first and second apparatus enters power saving mode; and prohibiting the transmission of operation information to the first or second apparatus when at least either one of the first and second apparatus enters power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Hisataka Funakawa
  • Patent number: 10356203
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a method receives, at a first node of multiple nodes, each node connected to a common network bus, a health message from a second node. The health message includes a log of health messages from other nodes. Each node sends health messages at a frequency known to the plurality of nodes. The method further compares, at the first node, the log of messages from other nodes in the received health message to a log of health messages previously received from other nodes stored by the first node. Based on the comparison, determining a health status of each node. Using embodiments of the present method and system, computing units can form dynamic fault-tolerant groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventor: Samuel Beilin
  • Patent number: 10341501
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus which acquires, at a monitoring timing, device information which is a target of collection from a device includes a status information acquisition unit configured to acquire from the device, status information that includes information representing a power supply state of the device; and a monitoring interval setting unit configured to set a monitoring interval which is an interval of the monitoring timing in accordance with the power supply state denoted by the status information which has been acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshie Imai, Ryosuke Kakio, Kazuaki Naito, Masato Iguchi
  • Patent number: 10326906
    Abstract: A management server that manages a network device (e.g., an MFP) using NETCONF registers, in the MFP, designation of a condition under which the MFP is to notify the management server of an event, receives, from the MFP, a first notification indicating that a transition is made from a first state in which a session enabling the event notification is established to a second state in which the session needs to be disconnected and a second notification indicating return to the first state, and re-registers the designation of the condition in the MFP in response to reception of the second notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Sato
  • Patent number: 10281841
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a cylinder having an opening and accommodating carbon powder, a transmission member having a pipe portion sleeved onto the cylinder, an end portion and at least one outlet communicating with the opening, a powder guiding member having a main body disposed at the end portion and blades extended from the main body radially, a powder storing cover having a cover body sleeved onto the pipe portion, a powder exiting passage located under the powder guiding member and a powder exit provided on the bottom side of the cover body and communicating with the powder exiting passage, and a spring. As a result, when the blades stir the spring, the carbon powder accumulating in the powder exiting passage can be vibrated, so the carbon powder remaining near the powder exit can be effectively reduced and the powder exit can be prevented from being blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-His Chuang, Zheng-Yi Xiao
  • Patent number: 10209656
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first printer section configured to form an image on a sheet using decolorable toner which is decolored by heating thereof, a second printer section configured to form an image on the sheet using non-decolorable toner, a heating section configured to heat the sheet on which the image is formed, and a controller configured to control the operation of the image forming apparatus based on an electric energy value which is an integrated value of power consumed within a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 10200556
    Abstract: In a case where an image forming apparatus is connected to an information processing apparatus, correction information is generated through comparison between time information obtained by the image forming apparatus and time information obtained by the information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus transmits, to the information processing apparatus, time information indicating a time at which setting information is updated in the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus corrects the received time information with the correction information. The information processing apparatus determines whether to update setting information stored in the information processing apparatus with received setting information, based on the corrected time information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10042301
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an image processing apparatus which is provided with an application controller, a display unit, and a controller. The application controller executes an application. The display unit configured to display display information which indicates that an error is generated when the application is not normally executed. The controller configured to determine a display location of the display information in accordance with a process state of the application when the error is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Mimura
  • Patent number: 10013223
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for routing a plurality of print jobs and generating a schedule to process the plurality of print jobs. A routing server routes the plurality of print jobs to a plurality of print shops to process the plurality of print jobs within a pre-defined period. The routing server receives a first capacity from each of the plurality of print shops. The routing server routes a first set of print jobs from the plurality of print jobs to the plurality of print shops based on the request and the received first capacity. In an embodiment, a first cost of routing the first set of print jobs is less than a pre-defined first threshold. An application server generates the schedule for processing the first set of print jobs based on one or more second constraints. The first set of jobs are submitted based on the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ketki Kulkarni, Pallavi Manohar
  • Patent number: 9989899
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit for feeding a recording material, and a calculating unit for calculating a degree of deterioration of the feeding unit, while making correction depending on stiffness of the recording material and a content of a filler contained in the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shun-ichi Ebihara, Tomonori Shida, Michio Sugano
  • Patent number: 9983839
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a volatile first storage, a non-volatile second storage, a host controller, a guest controller, an emulator that emulates access to the first storage and the second storage by the host controller such that the guest controller accesses the first storage and the second storage, and an application portion that controls the host controller to access the first storage and the second storage. Any one of the application portion and the emulator includes a transfer portion that stores data that is stored in a predetermined region of the second storage in a certain region of the first storage before the application portion stops the second storage. The emulator includes an access destination converter that converts access to the second storage by the guest controller into access to the certain region of the first storage after the second storage is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Hosono, Shigeyuki Ueda, Tadashi Suzue
  • Patent number: 9971292
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage and a controller. When it is determined that a temperature detected by a temperature detector is equal to or higher than a reference temperature, the controller stops a wireless communication between an RFID tag and a reader/writer. In addition, when a predetermined condition for determining that the detected temperature is lower than the reference temperature is satisfied, the controller starts the wireless communication between the RFID tag and the reader/writer, and causes the reader/writer to update information stored in the RFID tag to update information that was stored in the storage between a time point when it was determined that the temperature detected by the temperature detector is equal to or higher than the reference temperature and a time point when the predetermined condition was satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Hayamizu
  • Patent number: 9967414
    Abstract: A management system includes: a management server; one or more image forming apparatuses that notify the management server of information on a remaining amount of toner; and one or more terminals, in which the management server makes a toner remaining amount history by combining the information on the remaining amount of toner with time and date information, detects, based on the toner remaining amount history, that toner replacement has been performed when an increase rate of the remaining amount of toner exceeds a threshold value, and determines, based on the contract value, whether the remaining amount of toner before the toner replacement is not more than the contract value when the toner replacement is detected, and notifies the one or more terminals of that the performed toner replacement corresponds to a contract violation when the remaining amount of toner before the toner replacement is more than the contract value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9826122
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including applications and system side software for providing system side services to the applications is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: an authentication module for displaying an authentication screen on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, wherein the authentication module allows the image forming apparatus to display a screen for using the image forming apparatus instead of the authentication screen if authentication data input from the authentication screen satisfies an authentication condition, and wherein the authentication module is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the system side software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shohhei Moroi
  • Patent number: 9811037
    Abstract: In some examples, a device authenticates a first consumable product installed in the device, sends a first identifier of the authenticated first consumable product over a network to an engine, receives, over the network from the engine, a list of identifiers for consumable products classified as non-authentic, and in response to installation of a second consumable product in the device that stores an identifier in memory, determines whether the identifier of the second consumable product matches one of the identifiers in the received list of identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul L. Jeran, Shell S. Simpson, Stephen D. Panshin, Jefferson P. Ward
  • Patent number: 9741258
    Abstract: Techniques for conditional presentation of auxiliary information are provided. In one example, a computer-implemented method comprises determining, by a device operatively coupled to a processor, feedback information for a user in response to a media presentation, wherein the feedback information is indicative of a mental state of the user during presentation of the media presentation. The computer-implemented method can further comprise determining content of the media presentation associated with the mental state of the user, and determining auxiliary information about the content based on the mental state of the user. The computer-implemented method can further comprise providing, by the device, the content to a user device during the presentation of the media presentation and for rendering at the user device in association with presentation of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Malolan Chetlur, Vijay Ekambaram, Vikas V. Joshi, Ashok Pon Kumar Sree Prakash, Sharad Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 9705860
    Abstract: A device administration apparatus includes an apparatus information obtainer that obtains via a network, apparatus information stored in a device, a judger that judges whether or not the device is an administration object based on the obtained apparatus information, and an administrator that administers use of the device, if the judger judges that the device is an administration object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Takayuki Doui
  • Patent number: 9602678
    Abstract: A method used in first and second information processing apparatuses in communication with an image forming apparatus. The method includes a transfer step of transferring print setting information for controlling the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to the second information processing apparatus, an acquisition step of acquiring the print setting information transferred in the transfer step from the second information processing apparatus, an input step of inputting the print setting information acquired in the acquisition step into a printer driver in a form that can be identified by the printer driver; and a print control step of controlling a printing operation by using the print setting information inputted in the input step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 9602682
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in a case where in a remote control instruction received from an information processing apparatus that controls a maintenance, a screen to be displayed next is a restricted screen, if a predetermined input is not accepted from a user of the image forming apparatus, does not display the restricted screen to the operation unit, and if the predetermined input is accepted, does display the restricted screen to the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Mutsuno
  • Patent number: 9547262
    Abstract: A fixing device detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes: a pair of rotatable members forming a nip configured to fix a toner image on a recording material by heat and pressure; a receiving portion capable of receiving information corresponding to the width of a recording material from an external terminal so as to limit a use of the fixing device; and a storing portion configured to store the information received by the receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiya Hirayama, Kenichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9535808
    Abstract: A system for performing failure signature recognition training for at least one unit of equipment. The system includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured by computer code to receive sensor data relating to the unit of equipment and to receive failure information relating to equipment failures. The processor is further configured to analyze the sensor data in view of the failure information in order to develop at least one learning agent for performing failure signature recognition with respect to the at least one unit of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Mtelligence Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander B. Bates, Paul Rahilly, Scott Macnab
  • Patent number: 9477343
    Abstract: A method for moving content and an electronic device thereof is provided. The method includes detecting at least two touches, selecting content corresponding to locations at which the at least two touches are detected, detecting a combined shape of touch entities corresponding to the at least two touches if the detected at least two touches are released, and moving the selected content to a location at which the combined shape of the detected at least two touch entities is changed, wherein the touch entities include at least one of a user's finger, a stylus pen, and an extra touch tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-Woo Park, Nam-Hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 9443234
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processing section that processes an image, a plug-in adding section that adds a plug-in, the plug-in being a function executed in corporation with the image processing section, an additional-charging-information adding section that adds additional charging information as the plug-in is added by the plug-in adding section, the additional charging information being set for a job included in the plug-in, and a charging section that charges for a job on a basis of the additional charging information, in a case where the job to be executed is included in at least one job included in the additional charging information and the job to be executed is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD
    Inventor: Takanori Masui
  • Patent number: 9438680
    Abstract: A method, and associated system, for enforcing compliance with data definitions in an information or conceptual model. The method includes storing a set of data models, which define model parameter definitions, having a content based on data definitions of the conceptual model. A validator is positioned between a registry service and services use data definitions to define their data parameters. The registry service stores registered services in a service repository. The validator processes a registration request from one of the services that includes the data definitions for the parameters of the service. The processing includes accessing the data models and comparing each of the data definitions to a corresponding model parameter definition. When the registration request is determined compliant with the conceptual model, the service is deployed to the service registry. Typically, only registration requests processed by the validator are deployed to the service registry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ORACLE AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paris E. Bingham, Jr., Michael J. Wookey
  • Patent number: 9389816
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus without bothering a user, even when it is necessary to disconnect and restart the image forming apparatus which has been connected to the information processing apparatus so as to transmit and receive maintenance work data for performing the maintenance work on the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus is required to be disconnected and reconnected after restarting the image forming apparatus during connection with the information processing apparatus, identification information for identifying an information processing apparatus to be reconnected is stored in a storage section. The image forming apparatus is reconnected to the information processing apparatus identified by the identification information stored in the storage section after the image forming apparatus is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Nishiyama