JP5935567B2 - Equipment, program, and information management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device, a program, and an information management system.

  Conventionally, log information relating to processing executed by the image forming apparatus has been recorded for the purpose of grasping the usage status and facilitating cause analysis when a failure occurs. Some image forming apparatuses have an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) as a storage destination of an image read from a document, but the capacity thereof is smaller than that of a general-purpose computer. Therefore, it is recommended that a server (hereinafter referred to as “log server”) for centrally managing log information be installed. When a log server is installed, log information regarding processing executed by the image forming apparatus is transferred to the log server and stored in the log server.

  However, the installation of a log server from the beginning of the introduction of the image forming apparatus is avoided especially for small users with a small number of installed image forming apparatuses. For such a user, it is conceivable to record log information in the image forming apparatus. However, simply transferring the function of the log server to the image forming apparatus may cause the storage capacity of the image forming apparatus to be insufficient. Therefore, when recording log information in the image forming apparatus, it may be possible to record the log information in a format different from that of the log server.

  However, the installation of the log server was avoided at the beginning of the introduction, but with the increase in the number of installed image forming apparatuses, there may be a user who wants to install the log server. For such users, if the log information recorded in the image forming apparatus before the installation of the log server can be appropriately transferred to the log server, it is possible to grasp the past usage situation and the like, which is convenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to migrate information managed before a change in system configuration in accordance with the changed system configuration.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention is a device, a setting information storage unit that stores setting information indicating a transfer destination of log information related to processing executed by the device, and the log information. Receiving the log information transferred from the first transfer unit and the first transfer unit that transfers the log information to information with a smaller amount of information than the log information. A conversion unit that stores a conversion result in an information storage unit; a restoration unit that restores a part of the log information based on information stored in the information storage unit in response to a change in the setting information; A second transfer unit configured to transfer a part of the log information to an information management apparatus connected via a network indicated by the changed setting information.

  Information managed before the change of the system configuration can be migrated according to the changed system configuration.

It is a figure which shows the example of an initial system configuration | structure in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed in an original system configuration. It is a figure which shows an example of log information. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of consumption coefficient information of a print job. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of local log information. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a local user information storage part. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed at the time of recovery | restoration of the present value of the frequency of use. It is a figure which shows the example of an update of a local user information storage part. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example after a change. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information management apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the information management apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed with the change to a server mode. It is a figure which shows an example of the log information produced | generated based on local user information. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed regarding the job after the change to a server mode. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user information storage part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an initial system configuration example according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, one or more image forming apparatuses 10 are connected to a network 30. The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine that realizes two or more functions among printing, scanning, copying, and fax transmission / reception in a single casing. However, it may be a device that realizes any one function. In addition, a device other than the image forming apparatus 10 such as a projector may be used.

  In the initial system configuration, the image forming apparatus 10 may not be connected to the network.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes hardware such as a controller 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a modem 14, an operation panel 15, a network interface 16, and an SD card slot 17.

  The controller 11 includes a CPU 111, a RAM 112, a ROM 113, an HDD 114, an NVRAM 115, and the like. The ROM 113 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 112 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 111 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 112. The HDD 114 records programs and various data used by the programs. In the NVRAM 115, various setting information and the like are recorded.

  The scanner 12 is hardware (image reading means) for reading image data from a document. The printer 13 is hardware (printing means) for printing print data on printing paper. The modem 14 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 15 is hardware including input means such as buttons for accepting input from the user, display means such as a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The network interface 16 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 17 is used for reading a program recorded on the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, not only the program recorded in the ROM 113 but also the program recorded in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed. The SD card 80 may be replaced by another recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory). That is, the type of recording medium corresponding to the positioning of the SD card 80 is not limited to a predetermined one. In this case, the SD card slot 17 may be replaced by hardware corresponding to the type of recording medium.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a local user information storage unit 131, a consumption coefficient storage unit 132, a setting information storage unit 133, and the like. These storage units can be realized using the HDD 114, the NVRAM 115, or the like.

  The local user information storage unit 131 stores attribute information and the like (hereinafter referred to as “local user information”) of each user who uses the image forming apparatus 10. For example, when the user is different for each image forming apparatus 10, the user whose local user information is stored in the local user information storage unit 131 of each image forming apparatus 10 is different. The local user information includes the number of usable degrees (usable amount) for each user that is consumed in accordance with execution of processing in the image forming apparatus 10 (in this embodiment, execution of a job). The usable frequency is an example of information for restricting the use of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, each user is permitted to use the image forming apparatus 10 within the range of the upper limit of the usable frequency given to the user. A value (that is, remaining amount) calculated by “upper limit value−consumption amount” is referred to as “current value”. The consumption amount is a consumption amount of the degree of availability by the user, and is an example of an index value indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The consumption is initialized to “0 (zero)” at regular intervals (for example, every month). In other words, the current value recovers to the upper limit value every certain period. Therefore, the upper limit value is an upper limit value for a certain period. Hereinafter, the certain period that is the effective period of the upper limit value is referred to as a “unit period”.

  Note that the consumption amount and the current value are reversed with respect to the upper limit value. Therefore, it can be said that the current value is also an example of an index value indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The consumption coefficient storage unit 132 is information (hereinafter referred to as “consumption coefficient information”) that indicates a weighting coefficient for the consumption amount of the usable frequency with respect to attribute values for attribute items that constitute job attribute information (execution conditions). Remember. The job attribute information differs for each job type (for example, for each print job, scan job, and copy job). Therefore, the consumption coefficient information is stored for each job type, for example.

  The setting information storage unit 133 stores parameter values preset for the image forming apparatus 10 (hereinafter referred to as “setting information”). In the present embodiment, a parameter called “system operation mode” is used. The system operation mode is a parameter indicating whether or not an information management apparatus 20 described later is installed. A mode corresponding to a state in which the information management apparatus 20 is not installed is referred to as a “serverless mode”. The mode corresponding to the state where the information management apparatus 20 is installed is referred to as “server mode”. In the initial system configuration, the information management apparatus 20 is not installed. Accordingly, in the initial system configuration, the system operation mode of each image forming apparatus 10 is set to “serverless mode”.

  The image forming apparatus 10 also includes an authentication unit 121, a job execution unit 122, a setting management unit 123, a log transfer unit 124, a user information update unit 125, and the like. These units are realized by processing executed by the CPU 111 by a program installed in the image forming apparatus 10.

  The authentication unit 121 authenticates the operator of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, when the user name and password input on the login screen displayed on the operation panel 15 match the user name and password stored in the local user information storage unit 131, the authentication of the user is successful. The authentication unit 121 stores the user name of the authenticated user in the RAM 112 as a login user name. When logout is instructed by the user, the authentication unit 121 deletes the login user name from the RAM 112.

  The job execution unit 122 performs control for causing the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a print job received via the network, a scan job, a copy job, a FAX job, or the like input via the operation panel 15. The setting management unit 123 functions as an access unit to setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 133. For example, when receiving a parameter name from the access source, the setting management unit 123 acquires a value corresponding to the parameter name from the setting information storage unit 133 and returns it to the access source.

  The log transfer unit 124 transfers log information regarding the executed job to a transfer destination corresponding to the value of the system operation mode. When the value of the system operation mode is “serverless mode”, the log transfer unit 124 transfers the log information to the user information update unit 125.

  The user information update unit 125 converts the log information transferred from the log transfer unit 124 into information having a smaller amount of information than the log information, and converts the conversion result to the user who requested execution of the job related to the log information. Store as part of local user information. The reason why the local user information is updated based on the log information is because the local user information includes information depending on the job execution status. The user information update unit 125 also restores part of the log information based on the information included in the local user information.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed by the image forming apparatus 10 in the initial system configuration will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed in the initial system configuration.

  In step S101, the job execution unit 122 requests the log transfer unit 124 to record log information regarding the executed job.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of log information. FIG. 5 shows items constituting the log information and examples of values of the respective items. In FIG. 5, the log information includes items such as a user name, date and time, application name, count number, color mode, printing surface, paper size, and paper type.

  The user name is the user name of the job execution request source. Regarding a job input via the operation panel 15, the user name of the job execution request source is a login user name. The user name of the execution request source of a job input via a network such as a print job is the login user name in the computer that is the job transmission source.

  The date / time is the date / time indicating the time when the job was executed. The application name is the name of an application program that causes the image forming apparatus 10 to function as the job execution unit 122 for the current job, and corresponds to the type of job on a one-to-one basis. It can be seen from the application name that FIG. 5 shows log information relating to the print job. The count number is the number of sheets used in the print job. The color mode is information indicating color printing or monochrome printing. The printing surface is information indicating whether the printing surface is single-sided or double-sided. The paper size is the size of the paper used in the print job. The paper type is the type of paper used in the print job.

  Note that the application name and subsequent items are attribute information of the job, and items may differ depending on the type of job.

  Subsequently, the log transfer unit 124 inquires of the setting management unit 123 about the value of the system operation mode (S102). The setting management unit 123 acquires the value of the system operation mode from the setting information storage unit 133 and returns it to the log transfer unit 124 (S103). Here, “serverless mode” is returned.

  Since the system operation mode is “serverless mode”, the log transfer unit 124 transfers the log information to the user information update unit 125 (S104).

  Upon receiving the log information, the user information update unit 125 converts the log information into a format that matches the local user information that has a smaller amount of information than the log information (S105). For example, the job attribute information included in the log information is converted into the consumption amount of the usable frequency. For conversion of the consumption amount of the job attribute information, the consumption coefficient information stored in the consumption coefficient storage unit 132 is referred to. Since the log information shown in FIG. 5 is job information related to a print job, the consumption coefficient information of the print job is referred to in this embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of consumption coefficient information of a print job. In FIG. 6, the consumption coefficient information includes a coefficient for calculating the consumption per sheet according to the value of the attribute item of the print job (for each value of the attribute item). For example, in FIG. 6, coefficients of “2”, “1”, “1”, “2”, “2”, “1” are set in order for color, monochrome, A4, A3, double-sided, single-sided, etc. An example is shown.

  For example, in the case of the print job in the log information shown in FIG. 5, the consumption of the usable frequency is: count number × color coefficient × single-side coefficient × A4 coefficient = 1 × 2 × 1 × 1 = 2 frequency (2 Point).

  As a result, for example, in step S105, the log information in FIG. 5 is converted as shown in FIG. The converted log information is hereinafter referred to as “local log information”.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of local log information. The local log information shown in FIG. 7 has items of user name and consumption. For the user name, the value included in the log information is used as it is. The consumption amount is a consumption amount calculated by the above calculation.

  Subsequently, the user information update unit 125 updates the local user information storage unit 131 with the local log information (S106).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the local user information storage unit. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the local user information storage unit 131 stores a user name, a password, an upper limit value, a current value, a history, and the like for each user.

  The upper limit value and the current value are the upper limit value and the current value of the usable frequency. The history is a history of current values at the end of the period for each unit period. In FIG. 8, “201203 = 7; 20124 = 5” indicates that the current value at the end of March 2012 was “7” and the current value at the end of April 2012 was “5”. Note that there is only a history of two unit periods for convenience.

  In step S106, the current value of the record including the user name (“AAA”) in the local log information is updated. That is, the consumption value included in the local log information is subtracted from the current value. Therefore, based on the example of FIGS. 7 and 8, the current value for “AAA” in FIG. 8 was “12” before the update, but “2” of the consumption in FIG. 7 is subtracted. , “10”.

  This completes the processing related to recording log information. That is, the log information history for each job as shown in FIG. 5 is not stored in the image forming apparatus 10. This is to reduce the consumption of the storage capacity of the HDD 114 or NVRAM 115 regarding the log information as much as possible. Accordingly, the amount of information stored in the local user information storage unit 131 is designed to be as small as possible. That is, the history of local user information stores not only the current value history for each job but the current value history for each unit period. As a result, the capacity required for storing the history is also greatly reduced.

  Next, a processing procedure executed when the current value of the usable degree is restored, such as at the end of a unit period or at the start of a new unit period, will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed when the current value of the usable degree is restored.

  In step S <b> 111, the user information update unit 125 updates the history value of each record based on the current value of each record stored in the local user information storage unit 131. Subsequently, the user information update unit 125 sets an upper limit value of the record for the current value of each record (S112).

  For example, when the process of FIG. 9 is executed at the time shown in FIG. 8, the local user information storage unit 131 is updated as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an update example of the local user information storage unit. In FIG. 10, focusing on the record with the user name “AAA”, the history value is updated to “201203 = 7; 20124 = 5; 201205 = 10”. That is, a part “201205 = 10” is added. This part indicates that the current value at the end of May 2012 was “10”. That is, FIG. 10 shows an example in which the process of FIG. 9 is executed at the end of May.

  Next, a case where the system configuration is changed as shown in FIG. 11 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example after the change. In FIG. 11, the same parts as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, an information management apparatus 20 is newly installed. The information management apparatus 20 is connected to the network 30 so that it can communicate with each image forming apparatus 10.

  The information management apparatus 20 is one or more computers that centrally manage log information of jobs executed in each image forming apparatus 10 and user information of each user.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The information management device 20 in FIG. 12 includes a drive device 200, an auxiliary storage device 202, a memory device 203, a CPU 204, and an interface device 205, which are mutually connected by a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the information management apparatus 20 is provided by a recording medium 201 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 201 on which the program is recorded is set in the drive device 200, the program is installed from the recording medium 201 to the auxiliary storage device 202 via the drive device 200. However, it is not always necessary to install the program from the recording medium 201, and the program may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 202 stores the installed program and stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 203 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 202 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 204 executes functions related to the information management apparatus 20 in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 203. The interface device 205 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 13, the information management apparatus 20 includes a log management unit 211, a user management unit 212, a report information generation unit 213, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 204 by a program installed in the information management apparatus 20.

  The information management apparatus 20 also uses a log storage unit 221, a user information storage unit 222, a consumption coefficient storage unit 223, a report information storage unit 224, and the like. Each of these units can be realized by using the auxiliary storage device 202 or a storage device connected to the information management device 20 via a network.

  The log management unit 211 receives job log information transferred from the image forming apparatus 10 and stores the log information in the log storage unit 221. Based on the log information, the user management unit 212 calculates the consumption amount of the availability level, and updates the current value of the availability level stored in the user information storage unit 222 with the consumption amount.

  The report information generation unit 213 analyzes the log information group to which the date and time belongs to the analysis period for each predetermined analysis period, and generates information indicating the analysis result (hereinafter referred to as “report information”). The generated report information is stored in the report information storage unit 224. The predetermined period may be appropriately changed according to the setting by the user, such as one month or two weeks. The log information analysis refers to, for example, calculating a total value of values of a certain item for log information in which any item is common among log information belonging to the same analysis period, This means that log information is classified based on any item.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed when the system operation mode in the setting information of the image forming apparatus 10 is changed to “server mode” in accordance with the changed system configuration will be described. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed in accordance with the change to the server mode.

  In step S <b> 201, the setting management unit 123 accepts a setting change request for changing the system operation mode from “serverless mode” to “server mode”. The setting change request is input, for example, via a setting screen that the setting management unit 123 displays on the operation panel 15.

  Subsequently, the setting management unit 123 updates the value of the system operation mode in the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 133 to “server mode” (S202). Subsequently, the setting management unit 123 notifies the user information update unit 125 that the system operation mode has been changed to “server mode” (S203).

  In response to the change of the system operation mode to the “server mode”, the user information update unit 125 sends the local user information stored in the local user information storage unit 131 to the information management apparatus 20 in step S204 and subsequent steps. Run the migration process.

  Step S204 and subsequent steps are executed for each user whose local user information is stored in the local user information storage unit 131 and for each user's local user information history. Each history refers to every unit period in which the history of local user information is updated. Hereinafter, the user to be processed, the local user information of the user, and the history to be processed are referred to as “target user”, “target local user information”, and “target history”, respectively.

  In step S204, the user information update unit 125 generates log information based on the target local user information and the target history (S204).

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of log information generated based on local user information. FIG. 15 shows an example of log information generated when the first line in FIG. 10 is the target local user information and “201203 = 7” is the target history. The log information shown in FIG. 15 basically has the same format as the log information shown in FIG. However, in the local user information, job attribute information is omitted from the information included in the original log information. Therefore, in step S204, log information is generated in a range that can be restored based on the local user information. Therefore, in the log information shown in FIG. 15, the value of the application name is empty or invalid, and does not include job attribute information.

  On the other hand, the user name of the target local user information is given to the user name of the generated log information. The date and time and the count are restored based on the target history. For example, the end date and time of the corresponding unit period of the target history is given. The count number is given by subtracting the current value of the target history from the upper limit value of the target user. That is, the log information is generated by assuming that the job for the consumption amount consumed in the unit period is executed at the end date and time of the unit period. However, if it is a date and time within a unit period corresponding to the target history, a date and time related to a time other than the end date and time of the unit period may be given to the date and time of the log information. Alternatively, log information may be generated for each of a plurality of dates and times within the unit period. For example, the unit period may be equally divided according to the value of consumption, and log information having a date and time within the period may be generated for each divided period. In this case, a plurality of log information is generated based on one local user information. Further, the count number of each log information is “1”.

  Further, for each unit period included in the target local user information, based on the ratio between the unit period of the upper limit value of the usable frequency and the analysis period in which the report information generation unit 213 of the information management device 20 generates report information. The consumption for each unit period obtained based on the history value (current value at the end of the unit period) is divided or integrated into the value of the analysis period unit, and any of the analysis periods is determined based on the value of the analysis period unit. Log information relating to such time may be generated.

  For example, when the unit period is 1 month and the analysis period is 2 weeks (0.5 months), the ratio of the two periods is 2: 1. Therefore, in this case, the consumption amount obtained based on the current value at the end of the unit period is divided into two. For each value divided into two, log information having the value as a counter value is generated. When the unit period is 1 month and the analysis period is 2 months, the ratio of the two periods is 1: 2. Therefore, in this case, the consumption determined based on the current value at the end is integrated every two unit periods. For each integrated value, log information using the value as a counter value is generated.

  Subsequently, the user information update unit 125 requests the log transfer unit 124 to record the generated log information (S205). The request is input to the log transfer unit 124 via the same interface (for example, API (Application Program Interface)) as the request to the log transfer unit 124 by the job execution unit 122 in step S101 of FIG.

  Subsequently, the log transfer unit 124 inquires of the setting management unit 123 about the value of the system operation mode, similarly to step S102 of FIG. 4 (S206). The setting management unit 123 acquires the value of the system operation mode from the setting information storage unit 133 and returns it to the log transfer unit 124 (S207). Here, “server mode” is returned.

  Since the system operation mode is “server mode”, the log transfer unit 124 transfers the log information to the log management unit 211 of the information management apparatus 20 (S208). Note that the IP address of the information management device 20, the port number corresponding to the log management unit 211, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) corresponding to the log management unit 211, and the like are set in step S201, for example, and the setting information storage unit 133 is stored.

  The log management unit 211 stores the received log information in the log storage unit 221 (S209). Since the log storage unit 221 has a sufficient storage capacity for storing log information for each job, for example, the log information as received is stored in the log storage unit 221.

  The information stored in the local user information storage unit 131 is stored in the log storage unit 221 of the information management device 20 by executing steps S204 to S209 for each local user information and each history of local user information. To be migrated. Note that the user information update unit 125 may delete the local user information restored to the log information from the local user information storage unit 131 in step S204. By doing so, the consumption of the storage capacity in the HDD 114 or the NVRAM 115 in the image forming apparatus 10 can be reduced.

  Next, a processing procedure executed for a job executed after the system operation mode is changed to “server mode” will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed with respect to the job after the change to the server mode. In FIG. 16, the same steps as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  In step S301, the job execution unit 122 requests the log transfer unit 124 to record log information regarding the executed job. The content of step S301 is the same as that of step S101 of FIG. Therefore, for example, the log transfer unit 124 is requested to record log information as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the same processing procedure as in steps S206 to S209 described in FIG. 14 is executed. In the case of FIG. 16, the log information to be processed in these steps is different from the case of FIG. 14 in that job attribute information is included.

  In step S210, the log management unit 211 transfers the log information received in step S208 to the user management unit 212 (S210).

  Based on the log information, the user management unit 212 calculates the consumption amount of the usable frequency (S211). The method described in step S105 in FIG. 4 is used for calculating the consumption amount. The consumption coefficient is acquired from the consumption coefficient storage unit 223 of the information management apparatus 20.

  Subsequently, the user management unit 212 updates the current value of the record of the target user in the user information storage unit 222 based on the calculated consumption (S212).

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user information storage unit. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the user information storage unit 222 does not have a history item among the items included in the local user information storage unit 131 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10. This is because in the information management apparatus 20, log information for each job is stored in the log storage unit 221 and there is no need to restore log information based on user information. The meanings of other items included in the user information storage unit 222 are the same as the items of the local user information storage unit 131.

  In step S212, the current value is updated by subtracting the consumption calculated in step S211 from the current value of the record of the target user.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the system operation mode is changed from the “serverless mode” to the “server mode”, the log is based on the local user information stored in the image forming apparatus 10. Information is restored, and the log information is transferred to the information management apparatus 20. Therefore, local user information stored for each image forming apparatus 10 before installation of the information management apparatus 20 can be shifted in accordance with the management form in the information management apparatus 20.

  In the local user information, a consumption item may be provided instead of the current value item. Further, in the history of local user information, the consumption amount for each unit period may be recorded instead of the upper limit value for each unit period.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the current value or consumption amount of the usable frequency is used as an example of information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus 10. Information indicating the usage status of the user may be expressed.

  In addition, the present embodiment may be applied to devices other than the image forming apparatus 10 as long as the device can generate log information according to the execution of processing and can transfer the log information via a network. .

  In the present embodiment, the log transfer unit 124 is an example of a first transfer unit and a second transfer unit. The user information update unit 125 is an example of a conversion unit and a restoration unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Controller 12 Scanner 13 Printer 14 Modem 15 Operation panel 16 Network interface 17 SD card slot 20 Information management apparatus 80 SD card 111 CPU
112 RAM
113 ROM
114 HDD
115 NVRAM
121 Authentication Unit 122 Job Execution Unit 123 Setting Management Unit 124 Log Transfer Unit 125 User Information Update Unit 131 Local User Information Storage Unit 132 Consumption Coefficient Storage Unit 133 Setting Information Storage Unit 200 Drive Device 201 Recording Medium
202 Auxiliary storage device 203 Memory device 204 CPU
205 interface device 211 log management unit 212 user management unit 213 report information generation unit 221 log storage unit 222 user information storage unit 223 consumption coefficient storage unit 224 report information storage unit B bus

JP 2011-59631 A

Claims (5)

Equipment,
A setting information storage unit that stores setting information indicating a transfer destination of log information related to processing executed by the device;
A first transfer unit that transfers the log information to a transfer destination indicated by the setting information;
A converter that receives the log information transferred from the first transfer unit, converts the log information into information having a smaller amount of information than the log information, and stores a conversion result in the information storage unit;
A restoration unit that restores a part of the log information based on information stored in the information storage unit according to the change in the setting information;
A second transfer unit configured to transfer a part of the restored log information to an information management apparatus connected via a network indicated by the changed setting information; The log information includes information indicating a point in time when processing related to the log information is executed,
The conversion unit converts the log information into an index value indicating a usage status of the device for a certain period, stores the index value in the information storage unit,
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restoration unit restores a part of the log information regarding any point in time within the certain period related to the index value stored by the conversion unit.   The restoration unit divides or integrates the index value for each fixed period into the analysis period units based on a ratio between the fixed period and an analysis period in which the information management apparatus analyzes the log information. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a part of log information relating to any point in time of the analysis period is restored based on the index value of the analysis period unit. On the equipment,
Log information related to processing executed by the device is transferred to the transfer destination indicated by the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit.
A conversion procedure for receiving the log information transferred in the first transfer procedure, converting the log information into information having a smaller information amount than the log information, and storing the conversion result in an information storage unit;
A restoration procedure for restoring a part of the log information based on the information stored in the information storage unit according to the change of the setting information;
A program for executing a second transfer procedure for transferring a part of the restored log information to an information management apparatus connected via a network indicated by the changed setting information. An information management system including a device and an information management device connected to the device via a network,
The equipment is
A setting information storage unit that stores setting information indicating a transfer destination of log information related to processing executed by the device;
A first transfer unit that transfers the log information to a transfer destination indicated by the setting information;
A converter that receives the log information transferred from the first transfer unit, converts the log information into information having a smaller amount of information than the log information, and stores a conversion result in the information storage unit;
A restoration unit that restores a part of the log information based on information stored in the information storage unit according to the change in the setting information;
An information management system comprising: a second transfer unit configured to transfer a part of the restored log information to the information management device indicated by the changed setting information.

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