JP2014095996A - Management server, method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management server configured to determine effect of replacement in replacing an information processing apparatus including many consumables with another information processing apparatus, and to provide a method thereof and a program.SOLUTION: The management server includes: management means for determining an estimated endurance period of consumables equipped in each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses, by use of a consumption degree of the consumables equipped in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, for management; first detection means for detecting an image processing apparatus having consumables with the estimated endurance period shorter than a threshold; second detection means for detecting an image processing apparatus of the same model; deciding means which decides an image processing apparatus detected by the second detection means and determined to have the estimated consumables endurance period shorter than the threshold when replaced with the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means, as an image processing apparatus to be replaced; and output means for outputting information so as to identify changes in the estimated endurance period.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing consumables in a plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  Conventionally, there is a document that discloses a technique for effectively using consumables for an image processing apparatus having consumables inside the apparatus. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.) According to this technology, it is possible for a certain apparatus to check the degree of consumption of consumables of another apparatus and to exchange the consumables with the other apparatus.

JP-A-2005-202120

  However, if the consumable item is replaced with another device every time the consumption increases, the time and labor of the replacement increase, and the device cannot be used during the replacement. Here, in the case where the frequency of use is greatly different in each of the plurality of image processing devices, it is better to replace the entire device that has been consumed with a device that has not been consumed than to replace the consumables between the devices, There are cases where there is little time and downtime during which replacement is not possible or unavailable.

  However, in the prior art, there are a large number of consumables in the device, and the degree of wear of each consumable is different. Therefore, a method for determining whether it is preferable to replace the device or to replace it. Was not even supposed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the management server that manages a plurality of image processing apparatuses according to the present invention uses each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses by using the consumption progress of the consumables included in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses. A management means for obtaining and managing a predicted durability period of the consumables to be provided, a first detection means for detecting an image processing apparatus having a consumable article having a predicted durability period shorter than a threshold, and the first detection means to detect The second detection means for detecting an image processing apparatus of the same model as the image processing apparatus obtained and the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means are used to obtain the consumption progress degree. According to the second detection means, it is determined that the shortest period of the predicted durability period of the consumables included in the two image processing apparatuses after the replacement is longer than the predicted durability period of the consumables shorter than the threshold. Replacing the detected image processing apparatus as an image processing apparatus for which replacement is recommended, the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means, and the image processing apparatus determined by the determination means And an output means for performing an output capable of identifying a change in the predicted durability period.

  According to the present invention, even when replacing an image processing apparatus having a large number of consumables, the user can easily grasp the effect relating to the degree of wear when the apparatuses are used by exchanging them.

A conceptual diagram of the system is shown. It is a figure showing the H / W structure of a management server. It is a figure showing the H / W structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure showing the data stored in HDD of a management server. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation method of the prediction durable period of a consumable. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for recommending replacement of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the screen for recommending replacement | exchange of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the screen for recommending replacement | exchange of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure showing the data stored in HDD of a management server.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a system according to the present invention. The system includes a plurality of image processing apparatuses such as the image processing apparatuses 101 and 102, and an information processing terminal 103 and 104, and a management server 105, which are connected by a network. Hereinafter, the image processing apparatus 101 will be described as a representative. Here, the management server 105 may be a server installed on the Internet.

  The image processing apparatus 101 can receive a print request from an information processing terminal and print out an image, or can read an image using a scanner provided in the apparatus and print the read image. . In addition, the image processing apparatus 101 transmits the degree of wear of the entire apparatus, the degree of wear of consumables (parts, cartridges, etc.) inside the apparatus to the management server 105. The degree of wear may be the number of uses (counter value) or may be expressed as a percentage of the average life. As the degree of wear of the entire apparatus, for example, a total counter value that is a value counted every time a specific process (printing process or the like) is performed from the time of installation of the apparatus can be used. The transmission timing of the consumption level to the management server 105 may be transmitted periodically, or may be a timing after executing an event that increases the consumption level, such as print processing. Further, the image processing apparatus 101 can receive and use setting values such as functions used in the apparatus from the management server.

  The management server 105 can receive and manage various wear levels from the image processing apparatus 101. Further, it is possible to collectively manage setting values for use in the image processing apparatus 101 and transmit them to each apparatus. In addition, the management server 105 can provide the setting value of the image processing apparatus being managed and the degree of wear of each apparatus via the network. For example, the user of the system accesses the management server 105 from a Web browser provided in the information processing apparatuses 103 and 104 to check the consumption level and setting value of the image processing apparatus 101 through the screen of the information processing apparatuses 103 and 104. it can. Note that the network here is not particularly limited as long as the devices in the system can communicate with each other such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the management server 105. The management server 105 includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, an HDD 213, and a network I / F 214. The CPU 211 controls the entire apparatus and can control data exchange with the RAM 212, HDD 213, and network I / F 214. In addition, the CPU 211 expands the control program (command) read from the HDD 213 in the RAM 212 and executes the command stored in the RAM 212.

  The HDD 213 stores a control program (instruction) that can be executed by the CPU 211 and realizes processing to be described later unique to the present invention. In addition, the HDD 213 can store a consumption level received from the image processing apparatus 101, a setting value used in the image processing apparatus 101, and the like.

  The RAM 212 can expand an instruction stored in the HDD 213 and read it from the CPU 211, and can store various data necessary for executing the instruction.

  The network I / F 214 is an I / F for performing network communication with devices in the system, and transmits data reception to the CPU 211 and transmits data on the RAM 212 to the network.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 101.

  The image processing apparatus 101 includes a controller 310, a printer 301, a scanner 302, and an operation unit 303. The controller 310 includes a CPU 311, RAM 312, HDD 313, network I / F 314, printer I / F 315, scanner I / F 316, operation unit I / F 317, and expansion unit I / F 318. The CPU 311 can exchange data with the RAM 312, HDD 313, network I / F 314, printer I / F 315, scanner I / F 316, and operation unit I / F 317. In addition, the CPU 311 expands the command read from the HDD 313 in the RAM 312 and executes the command stored in the RAM 312.

  The HDD 313 can store instructions that can be executed by the CPU 311, a consumption level transmitted to the management server 105, setting values used in the apparatus, and the like. The RAM 312 can expand an instruction stored in the HDD 313 so that the instruction can be read from the CPU 311 or can store various data necessary for executing the instruction. The network I / F 314 is an I / F for performing network communication with devices in the system, and transmits data reception to the CPU 311 or transmits data on the RAM 312 to the network.

  The printer I / F 315 is an I / F that transmits the image data transmitted from the CPU 311 to the printer 301 and transmits the printer status received from the printer 301 to the CPU 311. The scanner I / F 316 transmits an image reading instruction transmitted from the CPU 311 to the scanner 302, transmits image data received from the scanner 302 to the CPU 311, and transmits a state received from the scanner 302 to the CPU 311. F.

  The operation unit I / F 317 transmits an instruction from the user input from the operation unit 303 to the CPU 311 and transmits screen information for the user to operate to the operation unit 303.

  The printer 301 prints image data received from the printer I / F on paper, and transmits the printer status to the printer I / F. In accordance with the image reading instruction received from the scanner I / F 316, the scanner 302 reads the paper placed on the scanner and converts it into digital data and transmits it to the scanner I / F 316, or transmits the scanner status to the scanner I / F 316. .

  The operation unit 303 enables the image processing apparatus 101 to be operated from the user. For example, it includes a liquid crystal screen having a touch panel, provides an operation screen to the user, and accepts an operation from the user.

  The expansion unit I / F 318 is a unit that allows a unit that adds a function to the image processing apparatus 101 to be connected. For example, when stapling on paper printed from the printer 301, when a unit for realizing this is connected through the expansion unit I / F, the CPU 311 detects that the unit is connected, and an appropriate instruction is given to the unit. I do.

  FIG. 4A is an arrangement diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the HDD 213 of the management server 105.

  The HDD 213 includes a program storage area 401, an apparatus common data storage area 402, an apparatus individual data 403, a consumable data storage area 404, and a unit data storage area 405.

  The program storage area 401 stores a command group of programs executed by the management server 105. The CPU 211 reads an instruction from this area, develops it in the RAM 212, and executes the instruction.

  The apparatus common data storage area 402 is an area for storing data such as setting values commonly used by image processing apparatuses in the system. The apparatus individual data storage area 403 is an area for storing different data for each image processing apparatus in the system, such as the degree of wear of each consumable provided in each apparatus. The consumable data storage area 404 is an area for storing data such as information for specifying each consumable provided in the image processing apparatus. The unit data storage area 405 is an area for grouping parts including consumables provided in the image processing apparatus and storing data for managing them as a unit.

  FIG. 4B is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the device common data storage area 402.

  The apparatus common data storage area 402 includes a plurality of setting data for use in the image processing apparatus 101. Each setting data 410 includes a setting ID 411 for uniquely specifying the setting, a setting name 412 indicating the name of the setting, and a setting value 413 indicating the setting content corresponding to the setting ID.

FIG. 4C is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the device individual data storage area 403.
The device individual data storage area 403 can store a plurality of device individual data 430. The device individual data 430 includes a set of device specifying data 440 unique to each image processing device and consumable data 450 corresponding to a plurality of consumables in the device.

  The apparatus specifying data 440 includes an apparatus name 441 of the image processing apparatus, a model name 442 indicating the model, an installation location 443 indicating the installation location of the apparatus, an installation date 444 indicating the installation date / time and a rental deadline, and a collection date / time 445. It consists of information such as date and time 445. The consumable data 450 includes information such as a consumable ID 451 for specifying a consumable, a consumable degree 452, a consumable use start date 453, and the like.

  Here, the wear level 452 may store, for example, a percentage in which the wear level when the consumable needs to be replaced is 100%. In addition, any method may be used as long as it is a data holding method that reveals the current consumption level with respect to the consumption level that needs to be replaced, such as remembering as a pair the number of times the replacement is required and the current usage count.

  FIG. 4D is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the consumable data storage area 404.

  The part data storage area 404 is composed of a plurality of consumable data 460. The consumable data 460 includes information such as a consumable ID 461 corresponding to the consumable ID 451 in the device individual data 430, a consumable name 462 corresponding to the consumable ID 461, and a unit ID 463 indicating a unit to which the consumable belongs. Composed.

  FIG. 4E is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the unit data storage area 405.

  The unit data storage area 405 is composed of a plurality of unit data 470. The unit data 470 includes a unit ID 471 corresponding to the unit ID 463 in the consumable data 460 and a unit name 472 indicating the name of this unit.

  By managing the data as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to manage the setting values used in the image processing apparatus 101, the names of consumables of each unit provided in each apparatus, and the degree of consumption. It becomes.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a process for calculating the durability period of each consumable provided in the image processing apparatus 101 by the management server 105. The CPU 211 executes the above-described control program, and the calculation processing is realized using various information stored in the HDD 213 of the management server 105. It is assumed that the CPU 211 of the management server 105 advances the processing by writing necessary temporary data and processing results in the RAM. Note that this calculation may be performed for individual consumables according to a request from a user who uses the system, or the management server 105 may automatically calculate all consumables for all devices periodically. .

  First, the CPU 211 reads the consumable data 450 corresponding to the consumable to be calculated from the HDD 213 and expands it in the RAM 212 (S501). Next, the CPU 211 calculates the usage period of the consumables on a monthly basis from the consumable use start date 453 and the current date and time (S502). Subsequently, the CPU 211 calculates and manages the degree of progress of consumption per month by dividing the degree of consumption 452 by the usage period calculated in S502 (S503). Finally, the CPU 211 calculates and manages the predicted endurance period of the consumable item on a monthly basis by dividing the remaining consumption level of the consumable item by the consumption progress degree calculated in S503 (S504).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing by the management server 105 for analyzing whether or not a plurality of image processing apparatuses existing in the system should be replaced in consideration of the degree of wear. The CPU 211 executes the above-described control program, and the analysis processing is realized using various information stored in the HDD 213 of the management server 105. It is assumed that the CPU 211 of the management server 105 advances the processing by writing necessary temporary data and processing results in the RAM.

  First, in step S601, the CPU 211 calculates a predicted durability period for all the consumables included in the apparatus for each image processing apparatus existing in the system by the method illustrated in FIG. It is detected whether there is an image processing apparatus with a short period. In this embodiment, the predicted endurance period of the consumable with the shortest predicted endurance period among all the consumables in the apparatus is regarded as the predicted endurance period of the entire apparatus, and the endurance period of the entire apparatus is predetermined. Assume that a device shorter than the threshold is detected. For example, an example in which a device having a remaining predicted durability period shorter than 3 months is detected can be considered.

  Next, in S602, when there is no image processing apparatus with a short predicted durability period in the image processing system, the CPU 211 ends this processing. If an image processing device with a short predicted durability period is detected in S602, the processing from S603 onward is performed for each detected device.

  In S604, the CPU 211 refers to the model name 442 and the consumable data 450 stored in the device individual data storage area 403, is the same model as the detected device, and the same unit as the device included in the device. Is detected. In S604, when a device of the same model as that of the device having a short predicted durability period and the same unit as the device is detected, the process proceeds to S605, and the processing from S606 is performed for each detected device. In S604, if a device of the same model as that of the device having a short predicted durability period and the same unit as the device is not detected, the process proceeds to S610.

  In S <b> 607, the CPU 211 calculates a predicted durability period of the entire device for the device detected in S <b> 604 by the same calculation method as in S <b> 601, and determines whether or not replacement of the device can be recommended. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an effect by exchanging the device detected in S604 with the device detected in S601. In this embodiment, whether or not there is an effect is determined if the predicted durability period of the device detected in S604 is longer than the predicted durability time of the device detected in S601. If it is possible to determine whether or not, other criteria may be used. For example, even if the predicted endurance period of the device detected in S604 is longer than the predicted endurance period of the device detected in S601, it is possible to determine that there is no effect if there is no difference of a certain period or more. It is.

  In S610, the CPU 211 refers to the model name 442 and the consumable data 450 stored in the device individual data storage area 403, and is the same model as the device detected in S601, but the units provided in the device are different. Detect device. In S611, if no corresponding device is detected in S610, it is determined that a device that should be recommended for replacement has not been detected, and the process ends. On the other hand, when a corresponding apparatus is detected in S610, the process proceeds to S612, and the process shown in S613 is performed for each detected apparatus.

  In S613, it is determined whether it is possible to recommend replacement of the device by the same processing as in S607.

  Note that although the process of S613 is similar to the process of S607, it may be a different process depending on circumstances. For example, since the process of S607 is exchange between models of the same model and the same unit is mounted, the labor for replacement is relatively small. However, since the unit is different in the process of S613, there is no need to replace the unit when replacing the device. Arise. For this reason, it is conceivable that the criterion used in S613 is made stricter than the criterion used in S607. Specifically, it is conceivable that the determination criterion performed in S613 is determined that the effect of replacement is effective only when the endurance period is two months or longer than in the case of S607.

  In step S620, the CPU 211 finally determines a device that is recommended for replacement for each device that is a recommended candidate in the repeated processing in step S606 or S612. In the present embodiment, among the devices that are recommended candidates in S606 or S612, those that have the longest predicted durability period are recommended as final replacement candidates.

  In the present embodiment, only the same model device is selected as a candidate for the image processing device recommended for replacement, but it is not always necessary to select only the same model device. In S620, as will be described later in the second embodiment, the top several units that have a longer predicted durability period may be recommended as replacement candidates. When the system administrator actually decides to replace a device, it decides whether or not to replace the device, considering the installation location from among the replacement candidates, and which device to replace. become able to.

  FIG. 7A shows an example of a screen for presenting information about an image processing apparatus with a high degree of wear determined in FIG. 6 and an image processing apparatus recommended to be exchanged with this apparatus to the system administrator. FIG.

  This screen is generated by the management server 105, output in a format such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), and is displayed through the Web browser provided in the information processing terminal 103. May be provided. For example, if a display device can be connected to the management server 105, it may be displayed and output, or screen data may be transferred to the image processing device 101 or the like using a network and displayed on the operation unit 303. This screen shows the screen when the number of devices recommended for replacement is one as a result of the determination shown in the procedure shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 701 denotes a column indicating the name of the image processing device to be displayed, and data of the device name 441 corresponding to each image processing device to be displayed is displayed in each row of this column. Reference numeral 702 denotes a column indicating the model of the image processing apparatus to be displayed, and data of the model name 442 corresponding to each image processing apparatus is displayed in each row of this column. Reference numeral 703 denotes a column indicating the installation location of the image processing apparatus to be displayed, and data of the installation location 443 corresponding to each image processing apparatus is displayed in each row of this column.

  Reference numeral 704 denotes a column that displays the predicted endurance period of each image processing apparatus calculated in S601 or S607 and S613.

  Reference numeral 705 denotes a column that displays a predicted durability period when an image processing apparatus with a high degree of wear (a predicted durability period is short) and an image processing apparatus recommended to be replaced are temporarily replaced. The predicted endurance period in this case is obtained by calculating the consumption progress used in the calculation of S504 in FIG. 5 using the consumption progress of the apparatus after replacement. That is, the remaining consumption level of the target consumable is divided by the consumption progress level of the apparatus after replacement. By calculating in this way, it is possible to calculate the predicted endurance period after replacement even in replacement between devices with different degrees of wear progress.

  Reference numeral 706 denotes a column that displays the degree of extension of the predicted endurance period for both the image processing apparatus with a high degree of wear and the image processing apparatus recommended to be replaced with this apparatus. Taking the display content of FIG. 7 as an example, the minimum predicted endurance period in both devices is 2 months before replacement, but the minimum predicted endurance period is extended to 5 months by replacement. The For this reason, when the two devices are viewed as a pair, the predicted endurance period is extended by three months by exchanging them. This display makes it easy to identify that the predicted durability period has been improved by replacing the device.

  Reference numerals 707 and 708 are lines for displaying information about an image processing apparatus with a high degree of wear and an image processing apparatus recommended to be replaced with this apparatus. By displaying the information of each device in units of rows, it is possible to easily confirm information such as the model and installation location of each device and the influence on each device due to replacement. Reference numeral 709 denotes a button to be pressed when it is desired to confirm the effect of exchanging both image processing apparatuses in more detail rather than in units of apparatuses.

  It should be noted that the content displayed on this screen is not necessarily limited to the above content, and other information can be displayed as long as it is information stored in the management server 105. For example, by displaying the collection date / time 444 of each device stored in the device individual data storage area 403 and displaying it, even if the endurance period 704 before replacement is short, the device whose collection date / time is approaching is not replaced. It is possible for the user of the system to make the determination.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when the detail button 709 is pressed in FIG. When this button 709 is pressed, the units provided in both image processing apparatuses to be exchanged and the effect of the apparatus exchange for each unit are displayed.

  711 is a column indicating the unit name of the unit to be displayed. In each row of this column, a list of unit names provided in both image processing apparatuses to be exchanged is displayed, and this information is stored in the unit data storage area 405. This is obtained from the stored unit name 472. In this example, a printer unit, a scanner unit, a finisher unit, and the like are displayed.

  Reference numeral 712 denotes a column indicating the effect of replacing each unit to be displayed. Each row of this column displays the result of calculation of information corresponding to 706 in units, not in units. This makes it possible to check the exchange effect in units, not as a whole device, if necessary.

  Reference numeral 713 denotes a button to be pressed when it is desired to confirm the effect of replacing both image processing apparatuses in more detail than in units of units.

  FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when the detail button 713 is pressed in FIG. 7B. When this button 713 is pressed, the consumables provided in the specified unit of both image processing apparatuses to be replaced and the effect of the apparatus replacement for each consumable unit are displayed.

  Reference numeral 721 denotes a column indicating the names of consumables to be displayed. In each row of this column, a list of consumable names provided in the designated units of both image processing apparatuses to be replaced is displayed. This is obtained from the consumable name 462 stored in the product data storage area 404.

  Reference numeral 722 denotes a column indicating the effect of replacing each consumable item to be displayed. In each row of this column, the result of calculation of information corresponding to 706 is displayed for each consumable unit, not for each device. As a result, if necessary, it is possible to check the replacement effect in units of individual consumables, not as a whole device or unit.

  Note that the display screen may be configured so that only one of the detailed displays in FIGS. 7B and 7C can be referred to.

  In this way, by determining a device with a high degree of wear and a device that is recommended to be exchanged, and providing the user of the system together with the effect of exchanging these pieces of information, an image processing device having a large number of consumables is provided. Even in exchange, the user can easily grasp this effect.

(Example 2)
Example 1 shows an image processing apparatus with a high degree of wear and a method for presenting information related to an image processing apparatus recommended to be exchanged with this apparatus when only one apparatus is recommended to be exchanged. It was. However, the number of image processing apparatuses recommended for replacement is not necessarily one, and there may be a plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a display screen for presenting information related to an image processing device with a high degree of wear and an image processing device recommended to be replaced with this device when there are a plurality of devices recommended to be replaced. . This screen is a modification of the display screen of FIG. Reference numerals 801 to 807 and 811 denote columns for displaying the same information as in the first embodiment in each row.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus that has been determined to be highly consumed and needs to be replaced is displayed in the row 808. Further, devices that are recommended to be replaced with the device represented by the line 808 are displayed as a display that can be easily identified as devices recommended to be replaced below the line 808, such as 809 and 810.

  As a result, even when there are multiple recommended devices, it is possible to check a list of devices that have a high degree of wear and devices that are recommended to be replaced with this device, and information about these devices and the effects of the replacement. Thus, the user of the system can easily determine the effect of the exchange.

  In this embodiment, not only the replacement effect 807 but also the predicted endurance period after replacement of an image processing apparatus that has been determined to be replaced with a high degree of wear is predicted endurance for each apparatus for which a plurality of replacements are recommended. You may display according to a period. Depending on the consumables that have caused the expected endurance period, long downtime may be required for replacement. Therefore, a display that can select a combination of replacements so that the predicted endurance periods of the respective devices become substantially equal after the replacement of the devices is advantageous to the user of the system.

(Example 3)
In the first embodiment, in S620, an apparatus having the longest predicted durability period as the entire apparatus is selected as a method for determining an image processing apparatus that is recommended to be replaced. However, among the consumables provided in the image processing apparatus, there are consumables that have a high cost of the consumables themselves and that require a lot of trouble when being replaced. Considering the degree of wear of such consumables as a priority, the frequency of ordering expensive consumables and the trouble of exchanging consumables are reduced. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the cost for each consumable item and the labor for replacement are taken into consideration when selecting a device that is recommended for replacement.

  FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the consumable data storage area 404 in the present embodiment. Since 404, 461, 462, and 463 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, a consumable item cost 901 and a consumable item replacement cost 902 are added to the consumable item data 460.

  The consumable item cost 901 indicates the cost of the consumable item itself corresponding to the consumable item ID 461 stored in the consumable item data 460. The cost here may be, for example, the price of the consumable item itself, or any value that can represent a relative value from some standard or other consumable item cost.

  The consumable item replacement cost 902 indicates the cost of work for exchanging the consumable item corresponding to the consumable item ID 461 stored in the consumable item data 460. The cost here may be, for example, the standard replacement time of the consumable item itself, or may be a relative value from some reference or a numerical value that can express the cost of the consumable item.

  In the present embodiment, the processing for determining whether or not it is possible to recommend replacement of a target device in the system with a device with a high degree of wear as described in S607 and S613 of the first embodiment is as follows.

  The CPU 211 calculates the predicted endurance period of all the consumables provided in the apparatus by the method shown in FIG. Next, the CPU 211 searches the RAM 212 for a consumable having the shortest predicted endurance period from the predicted endurance period and stores it in the RAM 212 as the shortest endurance period data. Thereafter, the CPU 211 multiplies the predicted endurance period of each consumable item stored in the RAM 212 by the consumable item cost 901 corresponding to each consumable item, and further adds the consumable item cost 901 corresponding to each consumable item. Multiply and store in RAM 212. That is, the estimated durability period of each consumable is weighted by the cost of the consumable and the replacement cost of the consumable. In addition, the CPU 211 adds all the weighted predicted durability periods for the consumables and stores them in the RAM 212 as the weighted durability of the entire apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the process of S620 of the first embodiment is also changed as follows.

  The CPU 211 first selects a device having the longest shortest endurance period of each device out of the devices determined to be recommended in S607 or S613, and a device in which the difference between the shortest endurance period and the shortest endurance period of this device is below a certain level. To detect. Next, the CPU 211 reads the weighted durability for each of these devices, and determines device candidates that recommend replacement in descending order of the weighted durability. That is, when there are a plurality of devices having a long minimum durability period, a device having a long predicted durability period of a consumable item having a high consumable cost or a high consumable replacement cost is preferentially recommended.

  In this embodiment, when recommending a plurality of image processing apparatuses, the CPU 211 makes a recommendation using the screen shown in FIG. 8 as in the second embodiment, and starts from the top in descending order of the weighting durability described above. Display the replacement target devices side by side. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to recommend in order of the apparatus which seems to have relatively high durability of the entire apparatus.

  As described above, the estimated durability period of the consumables is further weighted in consideration of the consumables cost and the replacement cost of the consumables, so that the image processing apparatus can be effectively used in the entire system.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a system configured by appropriately combining the above-described embodiments and functions thereof.

Claims (13)

A management server for managing a plurality of image processing apparatuses,
A management unit that obtains and manages the predicted durability period of the consumables provided in each of the plurality of image processing devices using the consumption progress of the consumables provided in each of the plurality of image processing devices;
First detection means for detecting an image processing apparatus having a consumable with a predicted durability period shorter than a threshold;
Second detection means for detecting an image processing apparatus of the same model as the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means;
When the replacement is performed with the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means, the predicted endurance period of the consumables included in the two image processing apparatuses after replacement determined using the consumption progress degree Determining means for determining the image processing apparatus detected by the second detection means determined to be longer than the predicted durability period of the consumables shorter than the threshold as an image processing apparatus that recommends replacement;
And an output means for performing an output capable of identifying a change in the predicted durability period when the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means is replaced with the image processing apparatus determined by the determination means. Management server characterized by   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit prioritizes an apparatus having a long predicted durability period of a consumable having a higher replacement cost than other consumables when determining an image processing apparatus recommended for replacement. The management server described.   The determination unit is configured to detect an image processing device in which the same unit is mounted in the same type of image processing device as the image processing device detected by the first detection unit; Image processing for which replacement is recommended when the second detection unit detects an image processing device of the same model as the image processing device detected by the first detection unit and in which a different unit is mounted. The management server according to claim 1, wherein the determination criteria for determining a device are different.   The output means further outputs an image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means and an installation location of the image processing apparatus determined by the determination means. 2. The management server according to item 1.   The output means is further extended from a predicted durability period of consumables shorter than the threshold value by exchanging the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means with the image processing apparatus determined by the determination means. The management server according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a period is output.   The output means further includes at least one of a unit and a consumable product whose predicted durability period is extended by exchanging the image processing apparatus detected by the first detection means with the image processing apparatus determined by the determination means. The management server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management server is output. A method in a management server for managing a plurality of image processing devices,
A management process for obtaining and managing the predicted durability period of the consumables provided for each of the plurality of image processing devices using the consumption progress of the consumables provided for each of the plurality of image processing devices;
A first detection step of detecting an image processing apparatus having a consumable with a predicted durability period shorter than a threshold;
A second detection step of detecting an image processing device of the same model as the image processing device detected in the first detection step;
When replaced with the image processing device detected in the first detection step, the predicted endurance period of the consumables included in the two image processing devices after replacement determined using the degree of consumption progress A determination step of determining the image processing device detected in the second detection step, in which the short period is determined to be longer than the predicted durability period of the consumables shorter than the threshold, as an image processing device recommended for replacement;
An output step for performing an output capable of identifying a change in the predicted durability period when the image processing device detected in the first detection step and the image processing device determined in the determination step are replaced. A method characterized by.   8. In the determination step, when determining an image processing apparatus that is recommended for replacement, priority is given to an apparatus that has a long predicted durability period of a consumable having a high replacement cost compared to other consumables. The method described in 1.   In the determination step, an image processing device in which the same unit is mounted in an image processing device of the same model as the image processing device detected in the first detection step is detected in the second detection step; Replacement is recommended when an image processing device of the same type as the image processing device detected in the first detection step and an image processing device in which a different unit is mounted is detected in the second detection step. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein criteria for determining an image processing apparatus are different.   The output step further outputs an installation location of the image processing device detected in the first detection step and the image processing device determined in the determination step. The method of any one of these.   In the output step, the predicted endurance period of consumables shorter than the threshold is extended by replacement of the image processing device detected in the first detection step and the image processing device determined in the determination step. 11. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that a period is output.   In the output step, at least one of a unit and a consumable item whose predicted durability period is extended by replacement of the image processing device detected in the first detection step and the image processing device determined in the determination step. The method according to claim 7, wherein: is output.   The program for functioning a computer as a means of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6.

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