Printing system wherein printer connected to one computer is managed by another computer over a network

Abstract

A printing system includes a network, a first computer connected to the network, a second computer connected to the network, and a printer connected to the network. The first computer instructs the printer to print. The printer includes a printer controller and a printer engine. The printer controller includes an individual printer management part for managing the printer, and an individual printer information DB part. The second computer includes a total printer management service processing part for managing a plurality of printers including the printer connected to the network, and a total printer management information DB part. The second computer communicates with the printer controller and/or the first computer over the network to manage the printer to cope with trouble in the printer, order consumable items and replacement parts for the printer, and update programs and data for using the printer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A printing system comprising a network, and a first computer, a second computer and a printer connected to said network, wherein 
 the first computer instructs the printer to print;    said printer being composed of a printer controller and a printer engine, said printer controller having an individual printer management part for managing said printer and an individual printer information DB part;    said second computer having a total printer management service processing part for managing a plurality of printers including said printer and a total printer management information DB part;    the printer controller receiving information on occurrence of a trouble in the printer engine and contents of the trouble; based on the receiving, the first computer receiving said information on occurrence of the trouble in the printer engine and contents of the trouble from the printer controller; the first computer inquiring a method of coping with said trouble from the printer controller; the printer controller transmitting the same contents as said inquiry to the second computer; the total printer management service processing part of the second computer retrieving and obtaining a reply to the inquiry from the total printer management information DB part, then transmitting said reply to the printer; the printer transmitting said reply to the first computer.