JP2011090534A - System and method for retrieving store - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a store retrieval system which can retrieve a store suitable for a user from a plurality of stores of consumables without requiring the user to previously input an order destination of the consumables. <P>SOLUTION: The store retrieval system includes an MFP 100 having a replaceable toner cartridge 10 in its inside and a server 300 connected to the MFP 100 through a communication line 700. The MFP 100 has a communication means for transmitting information of the toner cartridge 10 to the server and for receiving store information dealing with the toner cartridge 10 from the server. The server includes a storage means for storing the store information and a control means for retrieving store information suited to the MFP 100 from the store information stored in the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a store search system including an image forming apparatus capable of facsimile communication and a server having a plurality of consumable store information.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus having a scanner function, a facsimile communication function, and a printing function,
The apparatus has consumables such as toner as a developer. The toner cartridge for storing the toner is replaceable, and the user must replace the toner cartridge by himself / herself. Therefore, there has been a method of prompting the user to place an order for consumables when the consumables of the image forming apparatus are finished or approaching the end.

  On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-188042 (Patent Document 1) is provided with a remaining amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of a printing recording material such as toner, and when the remaining amount falls below a set value, A technique is disclosed that enables automatic transmission to a stored vendor.

JP-A-9-188042

  However, the method of prompting the user to place an order for consumables has a problem in that it is not easy to use because the user needs to input an ordering destination for consumables in advance or the user needs to check and enter it. On the other hand, in the technology that enables automatic transmission to a prestored vendor according to Patent Document 1, the store is a predetermined store and may become a store unsuitable for the user. There was also a problem that this was not easy to use.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that it is not necessary to previously input a consumables supply destination to the user, and further, a suitable store for the user can be searched from among a plurality of consumables stores. It is to provide a dealer search system that can do this.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a store search system comprising an image forming apparatus having a replaceable consumable inside and a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line. The image forming apparatus includes a communication unit that transmits replacement information of the consumables to the server and receives dealer information that handles the consumables from the server. The server stores the dealer information. It has a storage means for storing, and a control means for retrieving dealer information suitable for the image forming apparatus from the dealer information stored in the storage means.

  According to the present invention, the server stores the store information in the storage unit, and the control unit for retrieving the store information suitable for the image forming apparatus from the store information stored in the storage unit is provided. The user does not need to manage the information of the consumables store and does not need to input the consumables store in advance. Furthermore, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a store search system that can search for a store suitable for the user from a plurality of stores instead of a predetermined store.

It is a block diagram which shows the store search system regarding 1st Embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram in an MFP 100 according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram in the computer 200 regarding 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram in the store information server 300 regarding 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram explaining the transition of the process regarding 1st Embodiment. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box 400 that represents the state of consumables of the MFP 100. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the content of a message displayed in a dialog box 400. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of data stored in a server storage unit 33 of a store information server 300. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which produces the store information list 40 which the store information server 300 performs. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a web page 500. FIG. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an MFP 600 according to a second embodiment. It is a sequence diagram explaining the transition of the process regarding 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the Web page 510 which displays the store list regarding 2nd Embodiment. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an order form Web page 520. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the Web page 530 which displays the store list regarding 3rd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a dealer search system according to the first embodiment. A multi function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP) 100 as an image forming apparatus has a scanner function, a facsimile communication function, and a printer function. The MFP 100 has a consumable item such as a toner cartridge 10 that stores toner as a developer in a printer function portion.

  The computer 200 is a personal computer that is connected to the network 700 together with the MFP 100 and is used with the MFP 100. The computer 200 transmits print data to the printer function part of the MFP 100. Also, information such as consumable replacement information and printing error status is received from the MFP 100. The store information server 300 includes a server storage unit 33 described later that stores a list of store information of consumables. The dealer information server 300 receives a request for disclosure of information related to the consumable goods dealer via the network 700, and transmits information related to the consumable goods dealer to the request source.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment. The MFP storage unit 2 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and stores various data and programs. The MFP communication unit 3 performs communication via the network 700 under the control of the MFP control unit 4. As will be described later, the communication performed by the MFP communication unit 3 transmits a disclosure request for information on consumables stores to the store information server 300 and receives store information from the store information server 300. MFP control unit 4 includes a microprocessor, and controls each unit in MFP 100 according to a program stored in MFP storage unit 2 to perform information processing. Further, the MFP 100 detects the state of the consumables in the MFP 100 including the printing unit 5 responsible for the printer function and the remaining state of the toner as a consumable, and a sensor as sensor means for detecting the consumable that needs to be replaced. 6, a toner cartridge 10 for storing consumable toner, a Web control unit 7 for generating a Web page 11 to be described later, and a FAX unit 8 for performing FAX communication as a facsimile communication function.

  The data stored in the MFP storage unit 2 includes the telephone number information 9 of the own station for the FAX unit 8 to perform FAX communication, which will be described later, and the Web page 11 generated by the Web control unit 7. The Web page 11 displays store information searched by the store information server 300 as will be described later. The scanner unit as a scanner function is not shown.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram in the computer 200 according to the first embodiment. The application 23 is software for a user to create a document and execute printing. The printer driver 22 is software that performs actual print data processing and controls the MFP 100 when the user executes printing from the application 23. The print spooler (Print Spooler) 24 is software that temporarily stores and sequentially executes print jobs generated in an overlapping manner. The print monitor 25 is software that performs bidirectional communication with the MFP 100 via the communication unit 21. The status monitor 26 is software that displays what state the MFP 100 is in cooperation with the print monitor 25.

  Further, the Web browser (Browser) 27 is software that starts upon receiving an address designation from the status monitor 26 and displays the Web page 11 stored in the MFP 100 on the display unit 28. The display unit 28 displays a screen for the user to perform a GUI (Graphical User Interface) operation. The communication unit 21 performs communication via the network 700. And the control part 20 controls each part in the computer 200 according to the program stored in the memory | storage part which is not shown in figure.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram in the store information server 300 relating to the first embodiment. The server storage unit 33 stores various data and programs. As shown in FIG. 8A, the data stored in the server storage unit 33 includes a telephone directory database 35 as a telephone directory storage unit that stores addresses and telephone numbers in association with each other, as shown in FIG. 8B. Includes a location reference information section 36 as address location storage means for storing the address and location information (x, y) provided by the National Land Planning Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Further, the server storage unit 33 includes an MFP position information unit 37 that stores the position where the MFP 100 is installed as position information (x, y) as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8D, the server storage unit 33 corresponds to the store name, address, FAX phone number, and store information of location information (x, y) that handle the toner cartridge 10 as a consumable item. And store information section 38 as store location storage means for storing the information. Then, as a result of a search to be described later, the server storage unit 33, as shown in FIG. 8E, the consumables store name, address, FAX telephone number, the location where the MFP 100 is installed, and the location of the store Stores a store information list 40 that stores the corresponding distance (m).

  The server communication unit 31 performs communication via the network 700. Further, the search unit 32 searches for a store suitable for the MFP 100, that is, a store with a short distance, from the store information stored in the store information unit 38 of the server storage unit 33, as will be described later. Further, the conversion unit 34 converts the telephone number information 9 from the MFP 100 into address information installed in the MFP 100 using the telephone directory database 35, and further converts the position reference information unit 36 from the address information. It is used and converted into position information (x, y). The server control unit 30 stores this in the MFP position information unit 37 of the server storage unit 33. Furthermore, the server control unit 30 controls each unit in the store information server 300 according to a program (not shown) stored in the server storage unit 33.

  Next, operations related to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing transitions related to the first embodiment. First, the user performs a necessary operation from an input means (not shown) in order to print a document created by the application 23 on the computer 200 (step 101). The user can perform a GUI operation on the display unit 28. The control unit 20 of the computer 200 converts print data into a format that can be processed by the MFP 100 using the printer driver 22. The control unit 20 controls the print spooler 24 and the print monitor 25, and transmits print data from the communication unit 21 to the MFP 100 via the network 700 (step 102). MFP 100 receives print data from MFP communication unit 3, and MFP control unit 4 controls printing unit 5 to perform printing (step 103).

  The MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 acquires the remaining toner state stored in the toner cartridge 10 by the sensor 6. If the state detected by the sensor 6 has not yet been completed, or if there is no toner, the MFP controller 4 stores the “toner low” or “no toner” state in the MFP, assuming that the toner cartridge 10 needs to be replaced. Store in part 2 (step 104).

  The control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the status monitor 26 and periodically acquires the state of the MFP 100 using the print monitor 25. That is, the MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 acquires the “toner low” or “no toner” state of the MFP 100 from the MFP storage unit 2, and transmits it from the MFP communication unit 3 to the computer 200 via the network 700. The control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the print monitor 25 and acquires the “toner low” or “no toner” state of the MFP 100 via the communication unit 21 (step 105).

  The control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the status monitor 26. Since the received MFP 100 status is “toner low” or “no toner”, the dialog box 400 is displayed on the display unit 28, and the user is informed of the status of the MFP 100. Notify and prompt for some input (step 106).

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box 400 that represents the state of consumables of the MFP 100. FIG. 4A shows a “toner low” state, and FIG. 4B shows a “no toner” state. The control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the status monitor 26 to display the dialog box 400 on the display unit 28. FIG. 6A shows a dialog box 400 when the state of the MFP 100 is “toner low”, and displays a message 401 “toner will be exhausted soon”. FIG. 6B shows a dialog box 400 when the state of the MFP 100 is “no toner”, and displays a message 405 “No toner, please replace with new toner”. “Search dealer” button 402 is a button that is selected when the user desires to purchase consumables from the dealer, and “OK” button 403 is a button that is selected in other cases. These are selected by input means (not shown) of the computer 200.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the content of the message displayed in the dialog box 400. A storage unit (not shown) of the computer 200 stores the state of the MFP 100, the message displayed in the dialog box 400, and the relationship for each consumable type. These contents are displayed on the display unit 28 by analyzing the state of the MFP 100 received by the control unit 20 of the computer 200 via the communication unit 21, reading it from a storage unit (not shown), and controlling the status monitor 26.

  Returning to FIG. 5, in step 106, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 displays the dialog box 400 shown in FIG. 6 as described above, and displays the message 401 if the state of the MFP 100 is “toner low”. If the state of the MFP 100 is “no toner”, a message 405 is displayed. Then, a “search dealer” button 402 and an “OK” button 403 are displayed on the display unit 28 to prompt the user to input.

  When the user selects the “search for a store” button 402 (steps 107 and 108), the control unit 20 of the computer 200 activates the status monitor 26 and the web browser 27 (step 109), and the MFP storage unit 2 of the MFP 100 has them. The address of the web page 11 is opened (step 110). The Web page 11 displays dealer information, and its address is, for example, “http://169.254.xxx.xxx/hanbaiten.html”. “169.254.xxx.xxx” is the IP address of the MFP 100.

  Upon detecting this, the MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 transmits to the store information server 300 that the consumable that needs to be replaced is the toner cartridge 10 and the telephone number information 9 of its own station (step 111). The telephone number information 9 is a telephone number used in facsimile communication.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of data stored in the server storage unit 33 of the store information server 300. In the server storage unit 33, as described above, location reference information including location information (x, y) provided by the telephone directory database 35 shown in FIG. 8A and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's National Land Planning Bureau shown in FIG. Is stored in the position reference information section 36. Upon receiving the telephone number information 9 from the MFP 100, the server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the conversion unit 34 and refers to the telephone directory database 35 based on the telephone number information 9 of the MFP 100. Conversion to the address of the MFP 100 is performed. The address of MFP 100 is the address where MFP 100 is installed. Thereafter, the server control unit 30 similarly controls the conversion unit 34 to refer to the location reference information unit 36 from the address and convert the location information (x, y) where the MFP 100 is installed. Then, the server control unit 30 stores the position information (x, y) where the MFP 100 is installed in the MFP position information unit 37 of the server storage unit 33. Thereby, the server control unit 30 can acquire the position information (x, y) where the MFP 100 is installed (step 112).

  Next, in the server storage unit 33 of the store information server 300, store information of a store that handles the toner cartridge 10 as a consumable part of the MFP 100 shown in FIG. Stored. The store information section 38 includes position information (x, y). The server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the search unit 32 to store the location information (x, y) of the MFP 100 stored in the MFP location information unit 37 and the store information unit 38 as described below. Based on the location information (x, y), the store information list 40 of the store located near the location information (x, y) of the MFP 100 is created (step 113). As a result of the search by the search unit 32, the store information list 40 calculates the distance (m) between the position where the MFP 100 is installed and the position of the store as shown in FIG. They are displayed in the order of closeness and stored in the server storage unit 33.

  Here, the procedure for creating the store information list 40 performed by the store information server 300 described in steps 112 to 113 will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of creating the store information list 40 performed by the store information server 300. First, the MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 controls the MFP communication unit 3 to request publication in the toner cartridge 10 as a consumable, the telephone number information 9 of the own station as a facsimile communication function, and the store information list 40. Send the specified number of items that specify the number of stores extracted. Then, the server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the server communication unit 31 to receive the toner cartridge 10 from the MFP 100, the telephone number information 9, and the designated number specifying the number of items extracted from the store information. (Step 200).

  Next, the server control unit 30 controls the search unit 32 for the received telephone number information 9 of the MFP 100 to search whether it is in the telephone directory database 35 (step 201). If the telephone number information 9 is found in the telephone directory database 35, the process proceeds to step 205, and if not found, the process proceeds to step 203 (step 202).

  When the telephone number information 9 is not found, the server control unit 30 uses the telephone directory database 35 to identify the area (XX city in the XX prefecture) from the area code and the local code of the telephone number information 9. (Step 203). And the server control part 30 specifies a position (x, y) from the said area (XXX prefecture XX city) using the position reference information part 36 (step 204). In the phone book database 35, the address of the center of the area, for example, the address of the city hall, is recorded as an address that matches only the area code and the city code, and the location reference information section 36 stores the area ( The position (x, y) of the city hall is stored in the position column of XX prefecture (XX city).

  If the telephone number information 9 is found in step 202, the server control unit 30 extracts the address (XX prefecture XX city △△ town △△) that matches the telephone number information 9 from the telephone directory database 35 (step ***). 205).

  Next, the server control unit 30 controls the search unit 32 for the extracted address (XX prefecture XX city △△ town △△) to search whether it is in the position reference information unit 36 (step) 206). If the address (XX city XX city ΔΔ town ΔΔ) is found, the process proceeds to step 208, and if not found, the process proceeds to step 204 (step 207).

  When the address (XX prefecture XX city △△ town △△) is found in the position reference information unit 36, the server control unit 30 extracts the extracted address as the position (x, y) where the MFP 100 is installed. The position information (x, y) corresponding to (XX prefecture XX city ΔΔ town ΔΔ) is extracted (step 208).

  In step 207, when the address (XX city XX city △△ town △△) is not found in the location reference information unit 36, the server control unit 30 uses the location reference information unit 36 to identify the region ( The position (x, y) is specified from XX prefecture (XX city) (step 204).

  Finally, the server control unit 30 calculates the distance between the location information (x, y) where the MFP 100 is installed and the location information (x, y) from the store information unit 38 of the server storage unit 33. . The dealers closest to the place where the MFP 100 is installed, in the order of short distance, are extracted as the dealers suitable for the MFP 100 by the designated number received in the step 200 and stored in the dealer information list 40 (step 209). . Thus, the server control unit 30 can create the store information list 40 as a result of the search, and can store it in the server storage unit 33.

  Returning to FIG. 5, in step 114, the server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the server communication unit 31 to return the store information list 40 stored in the server storage unit 33 to the MFP 100. The MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 controls the MFP communication unit 3 to receive the store information list 40 transmitted by the store information server 300 (step 114). Then, the MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 controls the Web control unit 7 to create the Web page 500 shown in FIG. 10 using the store information list 40 and stores the Web page 11 in the MFP storage unit 2. To do. Then, the MFP control unit 4 controls the MFP communication unit 3 to transmit the Web page 11 stored in the MFP storage unit 2 to the computer 200 (step 115).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the web page 500. On the Web page 500, an address 501 for displaying dealer information and a dealer list 502 are displayed. The store list 502 displays store information including a store name, an address, a telephone number, and a distance from a position where the MFP 100 is installed. The store information is displayed in order from the shortest distance. Then, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the Web browser 27 to display the Web page 500 on the display unit 28 by browsing the Web page 500 generated by the MFP 100 (Step 116).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the server 300 stores the store information in the server 300, and the MFP 100 from among the store information stored in the server storage unit 33. Since the server control unit 30 for searching for suitable dealer information is provided, there is no need for the user to search for a consumable dealer and the user-friendliness is improved.

  Furthermore, since the store information is centrally stored in the server storage unit 33 of the server 300, the sales stored in the server storage unit 33 even when changes such as addition or deletion occur in the store information. Only by changing the store information, it is possible to display without burdening the user. Further, since the server 300 can manage the store information, the user only has to select an ordering party. Therefore, there is an effect that the user does not need to search for an ordering party and does not need to have an ordering party list.

  Further, the designated number of toner cartridges 10 as the consumables, the telephone number information 9 and the designated number of items for extracting the dealer information are transmitted from the MFP 100 to the dealer information server 300, and the dealer information server 300 matches the MFP 100 accordingly. Since the store information suitable for the user's request is searched, a store search system suitable for the user's request can be provided.

  Furthermore, since the server 300 can narrow down the dealer information to dealers with a short distance as dealer information suitable for the MFP 100 and allow the user to select from among them, flexibility for the user is recognized, and the orderee information is 1 It has the effect that it is not restrained by the system which has only one.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of the MFP 600 according to the second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The difference from the first embodiment is that an order form Web page 63, which is one of the Web pages, is added to the MFP storage unit 62. The order form web page 63 is generated by the web control unit 7 and stored as a predetermined format for inputting the order form. The order form web page 63 is displayed on the computer 200 under the control of the MFP control unit 64 when the user selects the “order form” button 503 as the order form reception field on the web page 510 shown in FIG. Displayed on the unit 28.

  An operation related to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process transition related to the second embodiment. Steps 100 to 113 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, consumables order processing is then performed.

  In step 114, the MFP control unit 64 of the MFP 600 controls the MFP communication unit 3 to receive the store information list 40 transmitted by the store information server 300. Thereafter, the MFP control unit 64 of the MFP 600 controls the Web control unit 7 to create the Web page 510 shown in FIG. 13 using the store information list 40. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a Web page 510 that displays a store list relating to the second embodiment. The present embodiment is different in that an “order form” button 503 serving as a link to order form creation described later is displayed. Then, the MFP control unit 64 stores the created web page 11 in the MFP storage unit 62. Further, this is transmitted to the computer 200 (step 115).

  Receiving this, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the display unit 28 to display the store information on the Web page 11 (step 116). Here, the user selects a specific sales store (step 117), and selects an “order form” button 503 to be a link to the order form addressed to the sales store from an input means (not shown) (step 118). Then, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the communication unit 21 to transmit information on the store selected by the user to the MFP 600. For example, when identification numbers 01, 02, and 03 are assigned to the store A, the store B, and the store C, respectively, when the user selects the “order slip” button 503 of the store A, the sales of the store A The identification number 01 is transmitted to the MFP 600 as the store information (step 119).

  The MFP control unit 64 of the MFP 600 controls the Web control unit 7 to create the order form Web page 63 describing the store name and consumable name of the store A selected by the user. At the same time, the MFP control unit 64 reads the FAX telephone number of the store A from the Web page 11 created in step 115 and stores it in the MFP storage unit 62 (step 120). Further, the MFP control unit 64 transmits the order form Web page 63 to the computer 200 via the MFP communication unit 3 (step 121). Upon receiving this, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 displays it on the display unit 28 (step 122).

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the order form Web page 520. An order form 504 and an “order” button 505 are displayed in the Web page 520 on the display unit 28 of the computer 200. The user inputs the quantity of consumables, the name, address, and telephone number of the consumables from input means (not shown) of the computer 200 (step 123) and selects the “order” button 505 (step 124). Then, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the communication unit 21 and transmits order form information to the MFP 600 (step 125). After that, when receiving the order form information from the computer 200, the MFP control unit 64 of the MFP 600 controls the FAX unit 8, and the sales order A selected by the user in step 117 from the MFP communication unit 3 is received from the MFP communication unit 3. Send a fax to the address. In this case, the MFP control unit 64 reads the FAX telephone number addressed to the store A stored in step 120 from the MFP storage unit 62 and transmits it by FAX (step 126). As a result, the user can select the store himself / herself and can easily create an order form and send it by FAX.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when displaying the consumables store list, the “order sheet” button 503 is provided as an order sheet reception field, and the order sheet linked by selecting this is displayed. Since the means is provided, an order form corresponding to the type of consumables can be displayed. Further, since the FAX transmission can be performed by reading the FAX telephone number of the store A selected by the user from the store information list 40, the user-friendliness is improved.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, when the consumables store list is displayed on the display unit 28 of the computer 200, the store name, address, telephone number, and distance from the MFP installation position are displayed. In the third embodiment, the price of the consumables and the delivery date of the store are further displayed.

  In the third embodiment, the drawings described in the first embodiment are used, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are described with the same reference numerals. In the store information unit 300 of the store information server 300, store information that stores in advance the store name, address, FAX telephone number and position information (x, y) of consumables is stored in the store information unit 38. Stored. Further, the store information section 38 includes the price of consumables set by the store and the delivery date set by the store. The price is stored in advance in a price list (not shown) for each store and for each consumable. The delivery date is stored in advance in a delivery date list (not shown) for each store and for each consumable item. The price and delivery date may correspond to the distance between the location where MFP 100 is installed and the store.

  In FIG. 4, the server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the search unit 32 to create the store information list 40, and then uses the price list (not shown) and the delivery date list (not shown) to illustrate. Create a store information (price / delivery date) list.

  Next, an operation related to the third embodiment will be described. In FIG. 5, steps up to step 112 described in the first embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In step 113, the server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the search unit 32, and the position information (x, y) based on the position information (x, y) where the MFP 100 is installed. A store information list 40 of stores located near is created. As a result of the search by the search unit 32, the store information list 40 is displayed in the order of the shortest distance, where the distance (m) between the position where the MFP 100 is installed and the store location is calculated.

  Furthermore, the server control unit 30 uses the price list (not shown) and the delivery date list (not shown) to add the price of consumables set by the dealer and the delivery date set by the dealer. Note that the display order may be displayed in the order from the shortest distance, or may be rearranged so as to be displayed in order of price or delivery date. The store information (with price / delivery date) list (not shown) created in this way is stored in the server storage unit 33 (S113).

  The server control unit 30 of the store information server 300 controls the server communication unit 31 to return the store information (with price / delivery date) list stored in the server storage unit 33 to the MFP 100. The MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 controls the MFP communication unit 3 to receive the store information (with price / delivery date) list transmitted by the store information server 300 (step 114). Then, the MFP control unit 4 of the MFP 100 controls the Web control unit 7 to create the Web page 530 shown in FIG. 15 using this store information (with price / delivery date) list and transmit it to the computer 200. (Step 115).

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a Web page 530 that displays a store list according to the third embodiment. On the Web page 530, an address 501 for displaying dealer information and a dealer list 502 are displayed. The dealer list 502 displays dealer information including a dealer name, an address, a telephone number, a distance from a position where the MFP 100 is installed, a price 506 of the consumable, and a delivery date 507 of the dealer. Then, the control unit 20 of the computer 200 controls the web browser 27 to display the web page 530 on the display unit 28 by browsing the web page 530 generated by the MFP 100 (step 116).

  In addition, the desired price and the desired delivery date are transmitted from the MFP 600 to the dealer information server 300 in addition to the designated number of telephone number information 9 and the number of dealer information extracted. 300 can also search for store information suitable for the desired price and the desired delivery date.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the store information displayed on the display unit 28 of the computer 200 includes not only the store name, address, telephone number, and the distance between the user and the store but also the setting of the consumable item. Since the price and the delivery date set by the store are also displayed, the user can select a store, so that the selection criteria are increased, which is advantageous for the user in terms of convenience and convenience. Although the present invention has been described with respect to an MFP, it can also be applied to a facsimile, a mobile phone, and a fixed phone.

4 MFP control unit 6 Sensor 10 Toner cartridge 20 Control unit 30 Server control unit 35 Phonebook database 100 MFP
200 Computer 300 Dealer information server

Claims (16)

An image forming apparatus having replaceable consumables therein;
In a store search system comprising a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line,
The image forming apparatus includes communication means for transmitting exchange information of the consumables to a server and receiving dealer information handling the consumables from the server,
The server includes storage means for storing the dealer information, and control means for searching the dealer information suitable for the image forming apparatus from the dealer information stored in the storage means. Dealer search system. The image forming apparatus includes sensor means for detecting a consumable item that needs to be replaced among the consumable items,
2. The store search system according to claim 1, wherein the consumable replacement information transmitted by the communication means is a consumable that needs to be replaced detected by the sensor means. The communication unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the phone number of the local station together with replacement information of the consumables,
The dealer search system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means of the server searches the dealer information from the telephone number. The server includes a telephone directory storage unit that stores an address and a telephone number in association with each other, an address location storage unit that stores an address and a location in association with each other, and a store location storage unit that stores a store location. ,
4. The store search according to claim 3, wherein the control unit searches for the shortest store from the telephone number using the phone book storage unit, the address location storage unit and the store location storage unit. system. The communication means of the image forming apparatus further transmits a designated number for designating the number of extractions of the store information,
4. The store search system according to claim 3, wherein the control means of the server searches the store information based on the designated number.   2. The store search system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores the store information received by the communication unit.   The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores the store information received by the communication unit, and further stores the store in the storage unit for a computer connected via the communication line. 2. The store search system according to claim 1, further comprising image forming apparatus control means for transmitting information.   8. The store search system according to claim 7, wherein the store information stored in the storage means is stored in a Web page format.   2. The sales according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores store information received by the communication unit, and an order form reception field is displayed in the store information. Store search system. The dealer information includes a dealer's facsimile telephone number,
Further, the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores store information received by the communication unit;
The dealer search system according to claim 9, further comprising a control unit that facsimile-transmits an order form to the dealer when an order form is input after selection of the order form reception field. The image forming apparatus has storage means for storing store information received by the communication means,
The store search system according to claim 1, wherein the store information includes a price or a delivery date of the consumables. A consumable information receiving step of receiving replacement information of the consumable from an image forming apparatus having a replaceable consumable inside;
A store information storage step for storing store information for handling the consumables;
A store information search step for searching the store information suitable for the image forming apparatus from the store information stored by the store information storage step;
A dealer search method characterized by including a dealer information transmission step of transmitting the dealer information searched in the dealer information search step to the image forming apparatus. The consumable information receiving step receives a telephone number of the image forming apparatus together with the consumable replacement information.
The dealer search method according to claim 12, wherein the dealer information search step searches the dealer information from the telephone number. The store information retrieval step includes a phone book storage step for storing an address and a telephone number in association with each other, an address location storage step for storing an address and a location in association with each other, and a store location storage for storing a store location. Including steps,
14. The dealer search method according to claim 13, further comprising searching for the shortest dealer from the telephone number. The consumable information receiving step receives a designated number for designating the number of extraction of the store information together with the consumable replacement information,
14. The store search method according to claim 13, wherein the store information search step searches the store information based on the designated number received in the consumable information reception step. The dealer search method according to claim 15, wherein the dealer information searched in the dealer information search step includes a price or a delivery date of a consumable item.

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