Digital computer and system for recording information on operations

Abstract

A main controller stores levels and information to be stored in accordance with the levels. An operation screen is used to enter operation information for operating a complex machine 1. A scanner engine and a plotter engine execute operations based on the operation information. A memory records only information on operations in a level corresponding to the entered level information among the operations performed by the complex machine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A digital computer, comprising: 
 an operation execution unit which operates in accordance with instruction information for instructing operations; and    a historical information recording unit which extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of log levels stepwise indicative of contents in the operations executed by the operation execution unit and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         2 . The digital computer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a log level storage unit which stores the log levels and log items to be recorded in association with the log levels, wherein 
 the historical information recording unit extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of the log items corresponding to the log levels and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         3 . The digital computer according to  claim 2 , further comprising a log level selection unit which selects a log level from plural log levels on the basis of the instruction information, wherein 
 the historical information recording unit extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of a log item corresponding to the log level selected by the log level selection unit and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         4 . The digital computer according to  claim 3 , wherein the operation execution unit includes at least one engine, the log level selection unit selects a log level on the basis of an engine employed in an operation executed by the operation execution unit, and 
 the historical information recording unit extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of a log item corresponding to the log level selected by the log level selection unit and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         5 . The digital computer according to  claim 4 , wherein the engine is at least one of a plotter engine for use in printing operations and a scanner engine for use in image reading operations, and 
 the log level selection unit selects a different log level in accordance with one of the plotter engine and the scanner engine.    
     
     
         6 . The digital computer according to  claim 5 , wherein the engine is the plotter engine, and the log items are information on output operations of the plotter engine.  
     
     
         7 . The digital computer according to  claim 6 , wherein the information on output operations contains information on one or more of the number of drafts output by the plotter engine, a time required for output and a color of used toner.  
     
     
         8 . The digital computer according to  claim 5 , wherein the engine is the scanner engine, and the log items are information on operations for reading images by the scanner engine.  
     
     
         9 . The digital computer according to  claim 8 , wherein the information on operations for reading images contains information on one or more of the number of scans, a scanning speed and a read image.  
     
     
         10 . The digital computer according to  claim 3 , wherein the operation execution unit includes at least one application, 
 the log level selection unit selects a log level on the basis of information on an application for use in operations executed by the operation execution unit, and    the historical information recording unit extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of a log item corresponding to the log level selected by the log level selection unit and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         11 . The digital computer according to  claim 10 , wherein the application includes one or more of a copy application for executing copying in an image formation apparatus, a print application for executing printing, a scan application for executing image reading and a facsimile application for executing facsimile, and 
 the log level selection unit selects a different log level in accordance with the copy application, the print application and the facsimile application.    
     
     
         12 . The digital computer according to  claim 11 , wherein the application is the copy application, and the log items are information on copy operations executed by the copy application.  
     
     
         13 . The digital computer according to  claim 12 , wherein the information on copy operations contains information on one or more of the number of copies, presence/absence of variable magnification of images and monochromic/color images.  
     
     
         14 . The digital computer according to  claim 11 , wherein the application is the print application, and the log items are information on print operations executed by the print application.  
     
     
         15 . The digital computer according to  claim 14 , wherein the information on print operations contains information on one or more of the number of prints, presence/absence of variable magnification of images and monochromic/color images.  
     
     
         16 . The digital computer according to  claim 11 , wherein the application is the facsimile application, and the log items are information on facsimile operations executed by the facsimile application.  
     
     
         17 . The digital computer according to  claim 16 , wherein the information on facsimile operations contains information on one or more of the number of faxed pages, destinations of facsimile, dates of transmission and amounts of transmitted data.  
     
     
         18 . The digital computer according to  claim 3 , wherein the instruction information includes user information on a user who entered the instruction information, the log level selection unit selects a log level on the basis of the user information, and 
 the historical information recording unit extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of a log item corresponding to the log level selected by the log level selection unit and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         19 . The digital computer according to  claim 18 , wherein there are a plurality of users, and the users are divided into at least one group, 
 the log level selection unit selects a log level on the basis of a group that contains the user who entered the instruction information.    
     
     
         20 . The digital computer according to  claim 2 , wherein the instruction information includes level information for indicating log levels stored in the log level storage unit, and 
 the historical information recording unit extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of a log item corresponding to the level information and records historical information on the extracted operations.    
     
     
         21 . The digital computer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a manipulation unit which manipulates the operation execution unit, wherein the manipulation unit includes an input unit which enters the instruction information.  
     
     
         22 . The digital computer according to  claim 1 , further comprising an input unit which receives the instruction information via a communication unit from external information devices.  
     
     
         23 . The digital computer according to  claim 22 , wherein the communication unit utilizes the Internet.  
     
     
         24 . The digital computer according to  claim 22 , wherein the communication unit utilizes local area network.  
     
     
         25 . A system for recording information on operations, comprising: 
 a plurality of digital computers, each including 
 an operation execution unit which operates in accordance with instruction information for instructing operations;  
 a log level storage unit which stores log levels of operations executed by the operation execution unit and log items corresponding to the log levels; and  
 a historical information recording unit which extracts operations to be recorded from operations executed by the operation execution unit on the basis of the log items corresponding to the log levels among historical information on operations executed by the operation execution unit and records historical information on the extracted operations; and  
   at least one manager including 
 a receiving unit which receives information transmitted from the multiple digital computers; and  
 a recording unit which records the received information.  
   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the manager includes a management server for collecting information transmitted from the multiple digital computers.  
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the manager includes a remote central manager which integrally manages the information collected by the management server.  
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the digital computer includes a transmitting unit which transmits information on the basis of simple object access protocol, and the receiving unit receives information on the basis of simple object access protocol.  
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the digital computer includes a transmitting unit which includes a simple object access protocol proxy, and the receiving unit includes a simple object access protocol listener.  
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the digital computers are connected to the manager via the Internet.  
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the digital computers are connected to the manager via wire or wireless.  
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the digital computers transmit information in an extensible markup language format to the manager.