JP4682993B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a program.

In the image forming apparatus, techniques for dealing with failures have been studied. For example, as a conventional technique described in the publication, there is a technique for accumulating in a database each time an event set in advance as a collection target is generated in order to facilitate the investigation of the cause when a failure occurs and displaying it as a log later ( For example, see Patent Document 1.)
As another technique, there is a technique that facilitates failure analysis by leaving an operation history performed through an operation unit as operation history information (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-136428 JP 2002-283683 A JP 2003-216310 A JP 2005-31154 A

  Incidentally, operation information is also increasing in recent image forming apparatuses. As a factor that increases the operation information, for example, the number of (local) user interfaces specific to the image forming apparatus is increased. Further, for example, the operation information increases when an operation is performed from the terminal device connected to the network to the image forming apparatus, such as a facsimile transmission instruction from the terminal device. Due to the increase in the operation information, for example, it has been a problem that the cause investigation at the time of the occurrence of a failure becomes very slow.

  The present invention has been made to solve such technical problems, and the object of the present invention is to select information to be stored in order to investigate the cause of a failure that occurs and to be used for storing the information. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that effectively uses a storage area.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an information generation unit that generates information about a job related to image formation, a holding unit that holds information generated by the information generation unit, and a predetermined number. And selecting means for selecting information to be stored from the information held in the holding means according to the selection condition, and storing means for storing the information selected by the selecting means.

In the image forming apparatus, a detecting unit that detects an error code indicating a failure state generated when a failure occurs, and a specifying unit that identifies a job causing the failure based on the error code detected by the detecting unit The selecting means selects information related to the job specified by the specifying means.
In the image forming apparatus, the selection unit changes the selection condition depending on whether or not the error code is detected by the detection unit.

In the image forming apparatus, the selection unit expands the range of selection when an error code is detected as compared to when no error code is detected.
In the image forming apparatus, the information generated by the information generating unit is operation information at the time of execution of a job related to image formation or job operation information.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus and one or more terminal devices connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. Authentication means for authenticating the user, operation information generation means for generating operation information of the terminal device by the user authenticated by the authentication means, and holding operation information generated by the operation information generation means Means for selecting operation information to be stored from operation information held in the holding means in accordance with a predetermined selection condition, and for each user authenticated by the authentication means, the operation information selected by the selection means Storage means for storing.

  In order to solve the above problems, a program according to the present invention is generated in a computer when an error occurs, an information generation function for generating information on a job related to image formation, a holding function for holding the generated information, and the like. A detection function that detects an error code that indicates the status of the failure, a specific function that identifies the job that caused the failure based on the detected error code, and information related to the job identified from the retained information A selection function to be selected and a storage function to store the selected information are realized.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to store information that is determined to be stored based on the result obtained by executing the job, and to quickly identify the cause of the failure .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to store information that is determined to be stored, store information related to the job that caused the failure, and quickly identify the cause of the failure. .

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction machine 10 as an example of an image forming apparatus.
An image forming system to which this embodiment is applied includes a multifunction machine 10 having various functions such as a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and is connected to the multifunction machine 10 via a network, and performs processing related to image information. It has a plurality of terminal devices (two terminal devices 11A and 11B in FIG. 1) to instruct.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the multifunction machine 10 includes a holding unit 21 that holds operation information or operation information, and a selection condition storage unit that stores selection conditions used when selecting information to be stored in the storage unit 24 described later. 22. In addition, the multifunction machine 10 includes a selection unit 23 that selects information that meets the selection condition from the information held by the holding unit 21 and a storage unit 24 that stores the selected information. Further, the multifunction machine 10 includes a classification unit 25 that classifies information generated by an operation information generation unit 28 or an operation information generation unit 30 described later according to a predetermined classification, and a classification condition storage unit 26 that stores classification conditions. Have.

Furthermore, the multifunction device 10 detects an error code generated when a failure occurs, specifies a job that causes the failure, a specifying unit 27 as an example of a detecting unit and a specifying unit, and a job relating to image formation. And an operation information generation unit 28 as an example of information generation means for generating operation information at the time of execution. Furthermore, the multifunction machine 10 includes an authentication unit 29 that authenticates the users of the terminal devices 11A and 11B, and an operation information generation unit 30 as an example of an information generation unit that generates operation information of the terminal devices 11A and 11B. Configured.
The terminal devices 11A and 11B are composed of personal computers, for example.

In FIG. 2, the holding unit 21 is configured by storage means such as a hard disk. The holding unit 21 classifies information to be acquired by a classification unit 25 described later and temporarily holds the information. Information held by the holding unit 21 will be described later with reference to FIG.
The selection condition storage unit 22 includes storage means such as an EEPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM) or a flash memory, for example. The selection condition storage unit 22 stores selection conditions for selecting information to be stored in the storage unit 24. The selection condition may be input from an operation panel (not shown) or from the outside.

The selection unit 23 is realized, for example, when a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like executes a selection process (Step 106 in FIG. 3). The selection unit 23 selects information to be stored from the information held in the holding unit 21 using the selection condition stored in the selection condition storage unit 22. Here, if the information to be stored is described in more detail, for example, the information related to the job specified by the specifying unit 27 described later is applicable. For example, when the information held by the holding unit 21 exceeds a certain amount with respect to the holding capacity, or when an error is detected or an application change instruction to be described later is received, the selection unit 23 performs predetermined timing. Operate to select information.
The storage unit 24 is configured by storage means such as a hard disk. The storage unit 24 stores information selected by the selection unit 23. Note that the storage unit 24 may be the same storage unit as the holding unit 21.

The classification unit 25 is realized, for example, when a CPU or the like executes a classification process (step 103 in FIG. 3). The classification unit 25 classifies the acquired information according to the classification conditions stored in the classification condition storage unit 26 described later, and outputs the information to the holding unit 21.
The classification condition storage unit 26 is configured by storage means such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, for example. The classification condition storage unit 26 stores the classification conditions used when the classification unit 25 classifies the acquired information. Here, the classification condition is a condition determined for the purpose of information classification for failure analysis, and corresponds to each user, each application, each job, and the like.

The specifying unit 27 is realized, for example, when a CPU or the like executes a specifying process (step 205 in FIG. 5). The identification unit 27 identifies the job that caused the error based on an error code output from a component such as a copy control unit, a scanner unit, a facsimile transmission / reception unit, or a printer control unit when an error occurs.
The motion information generation unit 28 is realized, for example, when a CPU or the like executes a motion information generation process (step 201 in FIG. 5). The motion information generation unit 28 acquires internal motion information when the component operates, converts the information into a format suitable for holding by the holding unit 21 and the like, and outputs it.

The authentication unit 29 is realized, for example, when the CPU or the like executes an authentication process (step 101 in FIG. 3). The authentication unit 29 performs user authentication of the user of the multifunction machine 10.
The operation information generation unit 30 is realized, for example, when a CPU or the like executes an operation information generation process (step 102 in FIG. 3). The operation information generation unit 30 acquires operation information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication unit 29, converts the operation information into a format suitable for holding by the holding unit 21 and the like, and outputs it.

(Storage of operation information by the user)
A procedure for storing operation information in the storage unit 24 when the MFP 10 having the above configuration is operated by a user will be described below.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing when the MFP 10 stores an operation by the user as operation information in the storage unit 24. FIG. 4 shows an operation generated by the operation information generation unit 30. It is a figure which shows the example of information.

  In FIG. 3, user authentication of the user who operates the multifunction device 10 at the beginning of the program is performed by the authentication unit 29 (authentication process) (step 101). User authentication is performed by a known authentication method using a user code and a password input via an operation panel (not shown). User authentication may be performed using an IC card. When the user authentication is successful, for example, “Login” is written in the application column of the table shown in FIG. 4, “Login” is written in the operation column, and “A” is written in the user column. If user authentication is not possible, the user column is set to the user “unauthenticated 1” and the subsequent processing is performed.

Subsequently, when the multifunction device 10 is operated by the user, the operation information generation unit 30 outputs the operation information to the classification unit 25 (operation information generation step) (step 102).
The classification unit 25 that has acquired the operation information classifies the operation information according to the classification condition stored in the classification condition storage unit 26 (classification process) (step 103). Specifically, for example, when an instruction to classify by user, application, and job is stored in the classification condition storage unit 26 as the classification condition, the classification unit 25 uses the acquired operation information according to the classification condition as a user. Classified by application, application, and job.

Here, to classify by user, all the operation information from login to logout is regarded as the operation of the authenticated user based on the user information accompanying the operation information when sent from the operation information generating unit 30. Classify.
Specifically, in the user session column in FIG. 4, the same value is taken from login to logout from the same terminal device 11 </ b> A. When the user is automatically logged out by the timer, the value of the user session is updated. In the case of an unauthenticated user, the new operation is a different unauthenticated user.

The classification for each application means that the operations performed by the user are classified by application (execution program for each function). In this embodiment, for example, it is classified by application such as a copy (copy) operation, a scan operation, a facsimile transmission instruction, or a printer output instruction. One unit of application employs from application selection to termination (selection of another application).
In the application session column, the operation of the same application in the same user session is realized by taking the same value. Even if an operation for another application occurs during one application, the same value is maintained if the previous operation is retained when the original application is returned. When the auto clear mechanism is activated due to a timeout or the like and the setting disappears, that fact is stored in a memory (not shown), and the value of the application session is updated.

The classification by job means that the operation by the user is classified for each work unit (job). In the present embodiment, for example, operation information from the start of operation of each application such as copying, scanning, facsimile transmission / reception, printer output, etc. until a start button (not shown) on an operation panel (not shown) is pressed is a unit ( Job). Note that pressing of the start button is detected as a job start instruction, and the subsequent operations are operations for another job.
The value in the job session field is fixed when the start button is pressed. At that time, a job session is registered as shown in (1) of FIG. 4 for the user session and the application session that are the same and the job session is not fixed.

The operation information and user information classified by the classification unit 25 are sent to the holding unit 21 and held in the holding unit 21 according to the classification (holding step) (step 104).
For example, when a copy application is selected from a menu button (not shown), “menu” is written in the application column, “copy selection” is written in the operation column, and user “A” is written in the user column. Next, when the tray A4 is selected, “copy” is written in the application column, “A4 tray selection” is written in the operation column, and the user “A” is written in the user column. Subsequently, when 5 is pressed with a numeric keypad (not shown), “copy” is written in the application field, “5 copies” is written in the operation field, and user “A” is written in the user field. When a start button (not shown) is pressed, “copy” is written in the application column, “start” is written in the operation column, “1” is written in the job column, and user “A” is written in the user column.

The identifying unit 27 determines whether or not the user has instructed another type of operation (determination step) (step 105). Here, another type of operation (different operation) corresponds to, for example, a case where the user changes the operation content from a copy operation to a facsimile transmission operation.
For example, when the user A selects the facsimile transmission screen as another application, “menu” is written in the application column, “facsimile transmission” is written in the operation column, and the user “A” is written in the user column.
When a different operation by the user is not detected (step 105: N), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 102).

On the other hand, when the specifying unit 27 detects a different operation by the user (step 105: Y), the operation information held in the holding unit 21 is moved to the storage unit 24 using this as a trigger.
Here, for example, when it is desired to save only information on the facsimile transmission failure, only the information that matches the job number of the job that failed in facsimile transmission is saved, and information not related to facsimile transmission is deleted.

When there are a plurality of conditions to be stored, each session is determined for each condition. Judgment is performed at the stage where it can be determined whether or not the condition is met. If all the conditions are not met, it is deleted from the memory. The information held in the holding unit 21 is stored in the storage unit 24.
Based on the selection condition stored in the selection condition storage unit 22, the selection unit 23 selects operation information that matches the selection condition from the operation information held in the holding unit 21 and outputs the operation information to the storage unit 24 ( (Selection step) (Step 106).

The storage unit 24 stores the operation information acquired from the selection unit 23 (storage process) (step 107).
Thereafter, as long as the user continues the operation (unless the user logs out) (determination step: step 108: Y), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 102).
On the other hand, when the user logs out (step 108: N), if the power of the multifunction machine 10 is not turned off (step 109: N), the process returns to the authentication step (step 101). When the user logs out, “Login” is written in the application column, “Logout” is written in the operation column, and “A” is written in the user column.
When the power is turned off (step 109: Y), this program ends.

As shown in FIG. 4, the holding unit 21 includes the generation time of operation information related to an operation (event), the type of application that directly caused the event, the operation, the job, the user who performed the operation, the user session, Operation information such as application session and job session is retained. That is, the holding unit 21 holds operation information every time an operation occurs, with the application type, operation, job number, and user name as the basic skeleton.
By holding operation information as shown in FIG. 4, the correspondence between each operation and the user, application, and job is classified by the value of the session (user session, application session, job session). Thereby, it becomes possible to store retroactively based on the event obtained as a result of the operation.

In the embodiment described above, the selection process (step 106) in the selection unit 23 is started when the user instructs another type of operation in the determination process (step 105). However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this.
For example, the selection may be started when the amount of operation information held in the holding unit 21 is equal to or greater than a certain ratio with respect to the holding capacity of the holding unit 21. Thereby, the overflow of information in the holding unit 21 is eliminated, and the amount of operation information processed by the selection unit 23 can be limited. Therefore, the selection operation performed by the selection unit 23 in the selection step (step 106) can be performed smoothly.

In addition, the selection unit 23 may start the selection process (step 106) when a predetermined time has elapsed since the last operation by the user authentication or the user. Thus, the program can continue processing even when the user leaves the multifunction device 10 during the operation, such as when the multifunction device 10 has not been operated for a predetermined time.
Further, for example, for a specific operation having a large influence range such as an operation related to a specification setting that defines the operation of the multifunction machine 10, all the operation information held in the holding unit 21 is not selected by the selection unit 24. You may make it memorize | store in the memory | storage part 24. FIG. When a failure occurs, it is often difficult to remember what setting changes have been made in the past, but when a problem occurs by storing all the specific operation information having a large influence range in the storage unit 24 A quick cause investigation can be realized.

(Storage of operation information in each component)
Next, a procedure for storing internal operation information during operation of each component in the storage unit 24 will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing when the MFP 10 stores the operation information of each component. FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation information generated by the operation information generation unit 28. FIG.

When the MFP 10 is operated by the user and components such as a copy control unit, a scanner unit, a facsimile transmission / reception unit, and a printer control unit operate, the operation information generation unit 28 generates the operation of the component as operation information, 25 (operation information generation step) (step 201).
The classification unit 25 that has acquired the operation information classifies the operation information according to the classification condition stored in the classification condition storage unit 26 (classification process) (step 202).

The operation information classified by the classification unit 25 is sent to the holding unit 21 and held in the holding unit 21 according to the classification (holding step) (step 203).
The identifying unit 27 determines whether or not to detect an error code output from the component (determination step) (step 204).
When no error code is detected (step 204: N), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 201).

On the other hand, when the identifying unit 27 detects an error code (step 204: Y), the identifying unit 27 identifies the job that caused the error based on the detected error code (identifying step) (step 205). ).
The selection unit 23 selects the operation information related to the job specified by the specifying unit 27 from the operation information held by the holding unit 21, and associates the selected operation information with the specified job. To the storage unit 24 (selection step) (step 206).

The storage unit 24 stores the operation information acquired from the selection unit 23 (storage process) (step 207).
Thereafter, as long as the component continues to operate (determination step: step 208: Y), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 201).
On the other hand, when the user finishes the operation (step 208: N), this program ends.

Next, generation of operation information when the multifunction machine 10 processes a copy and facsimile transmission designating a document in the multifunction machine 10 in parallel will be described with reference to FIG.
As can be seen from the display in the application column of FIG. 1-No. 9 and no. 16-No. Reference numeral 20 denotes a copy operation. 10-No. Reference numeral 14 denotes a facsimile transmission operation.

A job is generated when a normal start button (not shown) is pressed. No. “Job Create” indicating that a job has been generated is written in the operation column 1.
In the application column, “Copy” indicating a copy application for generating a job is written. The job component indicated as “Job” in the component column assigns No. 1 as the job ID. As a result, “1” is displayed in the Job column.
In the operation information generation step (step 201) in FIG. 1 is generated by the operation information generation unit 28. The generated motion information is classified by the classification unit 25 (step 202), and held by the holding unit 21 in accordance with the classification (step 203).

Since no error is detected (step 204: N), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 201).
“Document Create” for generating a document to be used for copying is “No. It is written in the second action column. A document generation request is called from the Copy application shown in the application column to the Document component shown in the component column. In response, a document is generated by the Document component. An ID (not shown) is uniquely determined for the document.
And No. of FIG. 2 is generated (step 201), classified by the classification unit 25 (step 202), and held by the holding unit 21 according to the classification (step 203).

Since no error is detected (step 204: N), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 201).
No. 3, the Scan application issues a scan start instruction to the Scan component from the Copy application. Upon receiving this instruction, the Scan component scans one page and two pages (Nos. 4 and 5).
In parallel with this, the Copy application issues a print instruction to the Print component (No. 6), and upon receiving this instruction, the Print component completes printing of the first page (No. 7).
Since no error is detected during this period, step 201 to step 204 are repeated, 3 to No. 7 operation information is generated.

A paper jam occurred before the printing of the second page was completed, and the operation column was set to “Jam happed”. The operation information shown in FIG.
The identifying unit 27 detects the error code (step 204: Y), and based on the detected error code, the identifying unit 27 identifies the job that caused the error (identifying step) (step 205).
The selection unit 23 selects the operation information related to the job specified by the specifying unit 27 from the operation information held by the holding unit 21, and associates the selected operation information with the specified job. To the storage unit 24 (selection step) (step 206).

The storage unit 24 stores the operation information acquired from the selection unit 23 (storage process) (step 207).
Thereafter, as long as the component continues to operate (determination step: step 208: Y), the process returns to the operation information generation step (step 201).
When the component does not continue operation (determination step: step 208: N), the process is terminated.

The Copy application interrupts the job (No. 9), and the generated operation information is held according to the classification category (step 203).
The facsimile transmission process instructed in parallel with the copy operation has started.
No. 10, the FAX transmission application issues an instruction to generate a job to the job component. In step 11, the document is opened to read out the document transmitted by facsimile. Then, no. 12-No. In step 14, the FaxSend component performs facsimile transmission processing.
During this time (No. 10 to No. 14), the operation information is generated (step 201), classified (step 202) and held (step 203).

When it is detected that the jam has been released, No. 4 is detected. 15 is generated (step 201).
Since it may not be possible to specify which user has performed for which job to cancel the jam, no job, user, or application is set.
For example, a paper jam may occur even if there are no jobs, or a paper jam may occur when a plurality of job sheets are contained in the multi-function peripheral 10, so what is processing within a single job? I can't say that. In the example shown in FIG. 8 is an operation for a job. If a plurality of sheets of paper are being printed, No. 8 is set for each job. The fact that 8 jam has occurred is left as information.

Since the jam is released, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit (not shown), and when the start button (not shown) is pressed, the job is resumed (No. 16). The Print component performs the remaining print processing (No. 17), and upon completion of printing (No. 18), the Copy application completes the job (No. 19).
The operation information during this time is generated (step 201), classified (step 202), and held (step 203) in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, the operation information is classified by the classification unit 25, and the information is held in the holding unit 21 in the format shown in FIG. In this way, the selection unit 23 selects only information with a job ID of 1 and information not related to the job, or selects only information with a user ID of 5 based on the user ID. Only job information (information matching the job indicated by the log No. 8) can be selected.

In the above embodiment, the storage of the operation information in the storage unit 24 is triggered by the detection of an error code. That is, the error code is stored in the storage unit 24 when detected. Here, at the time of normal termination, the operation information held in the holding unit 21 may be discarded, or only important information may be stored in the storage unit 24. For example, with the facsimile transmission / reception function as a trigger, the successful transmission of the facsimile to the outside may be used as a trigger.
Moreover, it is good also considering the transmission success at the time of mail transmission as a trigger. For operations that lead to information leakage due to incorrect input, it is possible to selectively store the success of the operation as a trigger, and store a series of operations from the start to the end without mixing other information. Can do. Thereby, it becomes effective information when the operation information is analyzed later.

According to the present embodiment, operation information and operation information to be stored can be selected and stored, and the storage area of the storage unit 24 can be used effectively. In an image forming system in which the multifunction machine 10 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 11A and 11B via a network, it is desirable that the terminal devices 11A and 11B store operation information. However, according to the present embodiment, the storage unit 24 of the multifunction machine 10 can store operation information inside the multifunction machine 10 that is increased by connecting a plurality of terminal devices by effectively using the storage area. . Further, operation information generated from the plurality of terminal devices 11A and 11B can also be stored.
Further, by narrowing down the amount of information to be stored in the storage unit 24, it becomes possible to store operation information for a long period in the storage unit 24 having a limited storage area. Can be prevented from being lost.

According to the present embodiment, by classifying and holding operation information and operation information to be stored, it should be stored based not only on information that can be determined at the generation stage but also on the result of classification. The determined information can be stored. Further, by selecting and storing a series of information, it is easy for a user who uses the information stored in the storage unit 24 to understand.
For example, although there was no problem in operation for a while after the setting change, a series of information is selected and stored for failures that occur when a specific operation is performed. Is possible.

According to the present embodiment, the operation of the component at the time of execution can be traced using the operation information stored in the storage unit 24.
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to store operation information related to a job that causes a failure.
For example, even if a failure has a low occurrence frequency, the operation information related to the job that caused the failure is stored in the storage unit 24. 10 can be used.
According to the present embodiment, operation information performed by an authenticated user can be classified and stored, and stored based on the classified result as well as operation information that can be determined at the acquisition stage. It is possible to store operation information determined to be necessary.

  A program corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is recorded on an information recording medium such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or these programs are distributed and recorded via a network such as the Internet. Can be read out and executed by a general-purpose computer or the like included in the multifunction device 10, so that the computer or the like can function as a part of the multifunction device 10.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 1. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow when the multifunction device stores an operation performed by a user as operation information. It is a figure which shows the example of the operation information produced | generated in the operation information production | generation part shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing when the multifunction peripheral stores operation information of each component. It is a figure which shows the example of the motion information produced | generated by the motion information generation part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... MFP (image forming apparatus), 11A, 11B ... Terminal device, 21 ... Holding part, 22 ... Selection condition storage part, 23 ... Selection part, 24 ... Storage part, 25 ... Classification part, 26 ... Classification condition storage part , 27 ... identification unit, 28 ... operation information generation unit (information generation unit), 29 ... authentication unit, 30 ... operation information generation unit (information generation unit)

Claims (4)

Information generating means for generating the operation of the component as operation information each time the component constituting the apparatus operates based on the job;
Holding means for holding the motion information generated by the information generating means;
Detecting means for detecting an error code indicating the status of the fault generated when the fault occurs;
Specifying means for specifying the specific job that caused the failure based on the error code detected by the detecting means;
Selection means for selecting, from the operation information held in the holding means, operation information at the time of occurrence of a failure of the specific job and specific operation information that is operation information when the specific job operates normally ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: storage means for storing the specific operation information selected by the selection means. A classification unit for classifying the operation information generated by the information generation unit based on a condition determined for the purpose of information classification for failure analysis;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit holds the operation information classified by the classification unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the classification unit classifies the operation information based on at least one of a condition for each user, each application, and each job. On the computer,
An information generation function for generating the operation of the component as operation information each time the component constituting the image forming apparatus operates based on a job;
A holding function for holding the generated operation information;
A detection function for detecting an error code indicating the status of the failure generated when the failure occurs;
A specific function for specifying the specific job that caused the failure based on the detected error code;
A selection function for selecting, from the stored operation information, operation information at the time of failure of the specific job and specific operation information that is operation information when the specific job has operated normally ;
A storage function for storing the selected specific operation information is realized.

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