System, method, apparatus and program for collecting and providing information
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G06F-017/30
G06F-015/16
출원번호
US-0983532
(2001-10-24)
등록번호
US-7340501
(2008-03-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Miida,Tetsuya
Katagiri,Yayoi
Nishida,Hiroshi
Nishiura,Takehiro
Shinohara,Eiji
Torikai,Tatsuto
Hosoda,Hiroshi
Kataoka,Keisuke
Misumi,Sachiko
Hanai,Atsushi
출원인 / 주소
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
대리인 / 주소
Morrison & Foerster LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
6인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
A transmission device sends status information representing status of a copier to a center through a PSTN. In the center, the status information of each copier is analyzed, and suggestion information selected based on a result of the analysis is provided to a terminal of the user of the copier conce
A transmission device sends status information representing status of a copier to a center through a PSTN. In the center, the status information of each copier is analyzed, and suggestion information selected based on a result of the analysis is provided to a terminal of the user of the copier concerned. In this case, the user is informed by an e-mail or through a Web page with using the terminal. The information includes: a suggestion to multiply the copier, replace the currently-used copier with a new copier, performance information regarding a model of the currently-used copier, information regarding a timing for replenishing/replacing an expendable supply (such as a toner unit, etc.), a suggestion to purchase the expendable supply, and the like.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An information apparatus, comprising: a connector configured to connect the apparatus to a communications network, a first storage unit configured to store customer information, the customer information comprising information regarding a customer and information regarding a p
What is claimed is: 1. An information apparatus, comprising: a connector configured to connect the apparatus to a communications network, a first storage unit configured to store customer information, the customer information comprising information regarding a customer and information regarding a product used by the customer, a second storage unit configured to store product suggestion information, a first receiver configured to control the connector and receive product status information, the product status information representing a past or present state of the product used by the customer, a third storage unit configured to store the product status information received by the first receiver, a second receiver configured to control the connector and receive a request signal for requesting product suggestion information, a customer-authentication unit configured to identify a customer sending the request signal received by the second receiver based on customer information stored in the first storage unit, a status analyzer configured to retrieve from the third storage unit product status information of the product used by the customer specified by the customer-authentication unit and to analyze the retrieved product status information, a selector configured to select from the second storage unit product suggestion information relating to a future use of the product based on the analysis performed by the status analyzer, and a transmitter configured to control the connector and transmit to the customer the product suggestion information selected by the selector, wherein the product is configured to perform a plurality of functions, the product status information comprises usage frequency information indicating the frequency with which at least one of the functions is performed, the status analyzer analyzes status of functions having a relatively higher usage frequency, and the selector selects product suggestion information suggesting a product that is configured to optimally perform functions having a relatively higher usage frequency. 2. An information apparatus, comprising: a connector configured to connect the apparatus to a communications network, a first storage unit configured to store customer information, the customer information comprising information regarding a customer and information regarding a product used by the customer, a second storage unit configured to store product suggestion information, a first receiver configured to control the connector and receive product status information, the product status information representing a past or present state of the product used by the customer, a third storage unit configured to store the product status information received by the first receiver, a second receiver configured to control the connector and receive a request signal for requesting product suggestion information, a customer-authentication unit configured to identify a customer sending the request signal received by the second receiver based on customer information stored in the first storage unit, a status analyzer configure to retrieve from the third storage unit product status information of the product used by the customer specified by the customer-authentication unit and to analyze the retrieved product status information, a selector configured to select from the second storage unit product suggestion information relating to a future use of the product based on the analysis performed by the status analyzer, and a transmitter configured to control the connector and transmit to the customer the product suggestion information selected by the selector, wherein the product is configured to perform a plurality of functions, the product status information comprises usage frequency information indicating the frequency with which at least one of the functions is performed, the status analyzer analyzes status of functions having a relatively lower usage frequency, and the selector selects product suggestion information suggesting how to use the product to perform functions having a relatively lower usage frequency. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product comprises an image data processor, the apparatus comprises a product-information storage unit configured to store product information comprising information representing performance level of the image data processor, the product status information represents an amount of process done by the image data processor, the status analyzer analyzes whether the amount of process exceeds a first level for the image data processor based on the performance level of the image data processor, and the selector selects the product suggestion information which suggests that the image data processor should be increased in number, when the status analyzer indicates that the amount of process exceeds the first level for the image data processor. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the product comprises an image data processor, the apparatus further comprises a product-information storage unit configured to stores product information comprising information representing performance level of the image data processor, the product status information represents the amount of process done by the image data processor, the status analyzer analyzes whether the amount of process exceeds a first level for the image data processor based on the performance level of the image data processor, and the selector selects the product suggestion information representing suggestion for upgrading the image data processor by replacing the image data processor with another image data processor which is configured to optimally perform the more frequently performed functions. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the product comprises an image data processor, the product status information represents consumption of an expendable element in the image data processor, the status analyzer analyzes the product status information to determine whether the expendable element should be replaced, and the selector selects the product suggestion information indicating that the expendable element should be replaced, and another product suggestion information representing an order form for buying new expendable element. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the product comprises an image data processor, the product status information represents consumption of expendable element in the image data processor, the status analyzer analyzes the product status information to determine whether the expendable element should be replaced with a new expendable element, and an ordering unit configured to controls the connector to transmit order information to a vendor of the expendable element, in a case where the result of analysis done by the status analyzer indicates that the expendable element should be replaced with a new expendable element.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (15)
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Yamada Hirokazu (Osaka JPX) Hamano Kanako (Osaka JPX) Ito Hideo (Osaka JPX), Management system for managing maintenance information of image forming apparatus.
Motoyama, Tetsuro; Niro, Masaichi, Method and system for remote diagnostic, control and information collection based on various communication modes for sending messages to a resource manager.
Schuetze, Hinrich; Pirolli, Peter L.; Pitkow, James E.; Chi, Ed H.; Li, Jun, System and method for visually representing the contents of a multiple data object cluster.
Weinberger Joseph (13 Guernsey La. East Brunswick NJ 08816) Bricault Gary (Rochester NY) Laird James (Rochester NY), System for automatically monitoring copiers from a remote location.
Watanabe, Hidehiko; Kakii, Hiroshi; Jimbo, Junya; Chiyo, Naoki, Information distribution system, information distribution apparatus, electronic apparatus and information distribution method.
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