Image forming device management system

Abstract

An image forming device management system includes a plurality of image forming devices, a central service station which provides a maintenance service for the image forming devices, and a communication control unit which is connected to each of the image forming devices by a signal line, the communication control unit connecting one of the image forming devices to the central service station via a communication network. In the system, each of the image forming devices includes a message unit which outputs a signal line separation message when the image forming device has no signal from the central service station or the communication control unit over a predetermined period.

1 . An image forming device management system including: 
 a plurality of image forming devices;    a central service station for providing a maintenance service for the image forming devices; and    a communication device for connecting one of the image forming devices to the central service station via a communication network,    wherein each of the image forming devices comprises:    remote message means for transmitting a remote message through the communication device to the central service station when a maintenance service of the image forming device is initiated or terminated by a serviceman; and    a non-volatile memory for retaining a content of a serviceman visit flag, the serviceman visit flag indicating whether the maintenance service of the image forming device is initiated or terminated by the serviceman.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the image forming devices further comprises: 
 means for transmitting a serviceman request through the communication device to the central service station when the image forming device requires a serviceman service; and    request inhibition means for inhibiting said means from transmitting the serviceman request when the serviceman visit flag retained by the memory indicates that the maintenance service of the image forming device is initiated.    
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the image forming devices further comprises: 
 statistical data storage means for storing statistical data including a continuous jam count output by a continuous jam counter, a long-period jam time count output by a long-period jam counter, and a door-open time count output by a door-open time counter; and    means for initializing the statistical data of the statistical data storage means when the serviceman visit flag retained by the memory indicates that the maintenance service of the image forming device is terminated.    
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the image forming devices further comprises means for controlling the remote message means to transmit a remote message indicating an end of the maintenance service, to the central service station when the remote message means does not transmit the remote message over a predetermined period after a start of the maintenance service of the image forming device by the serviceman.  
   
   
       5 . An image forming device management system including: 
 a plurality of image forming devices;    a central service station for providing a maintenance service for the image forming devices; and    a communication device for connection one of the image forming devices to the central service station via a communication network,    wherein each of the image forming devices comprises:    first request means for outputting a mode shift request to the image forming device, the mode shift request initiating a shift of the image forming device to a maintenance mode;    maintenance mode start means for setting the image forming device in the maintenance mode in response to the mode shift request output by the first request means;    first remote message means for transmitting a first remote message through the communication device to the central service station in response to the mode shift request output by the first request means, the first remote message indicating a start of a maintenance service of the image forming device;    second request means for outputting a maintenance end request to the image forming device, the maintenance end request terminating the maintenance mode of the image forming device; and    second remote message means for transmitting a second remote message through the communication device to the central service station in response to the maintenance end request output by the second request means, the second remote message indicating an end of the maintenance service of the image forming device.    
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the image forming devices further comprises remote message inhibition means for inhibiting the first remote message means from transmitting a remote message through the communication device to the central service station when a mode shift request is output again by the first request means after the first remote message is transmitted by the first remote message means and before the second remote message is transmitted by the second remote message means.  
   
   
       7 . An image forming device management system including: 
 a plurality of image forming devices;    a central service station for providing a maintenance service for the image forming devices; and    a communication device for connecting one of the image forming devices to the central service station via a communication network,    wherein each of the image forming devices comprises:    first request means for outputting a mode shift request to the image forming device,    first display means for displaying a first mode shift key in response to the mode shift request output by the first request means,    second request means for initiating a shift of the image forming device to a maintenance mode when the first mode shift key displayed by the first display means is turned ON;    maintenance mode start means for setting the image forming device in the maintenance mode when the shift of the image forming device to the maintenance mode is initiated by the second request means;    first remote message for transmitting a first remote message through the communication device to the central service station when the shift of the image forming device to the maintenance mode is initiated by the second request means, the first remote message indicating a start of a maintenance service of the image forming device;    third request means for outputting a maintenance end request to the image forming device, the maintenance end request terminating the maintenance mode of the image forming device; and    second remote message means for transmitting a second remote message through the communication device to the central service station in response to the maintenance end request output by the second request means, the second remote message indicating an end of the maintenance service of the image forming device.    
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the image forming devices further comprises display inhibition means for inhibiting the first display means from displaying the first mode shift key when a mode shift request is output again by the first request means after the first remote message is transmitted by the first remote message means and before the second remote message is transmitted by the second remote message means.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the image forming devices further comprises second display means for displaying a second mode shift key after the first remote message is transmitted by the first remote message means, the third request means outputting the maintenance end request to the image forming device when the second mode shift key displayed by the second display means is turned ON.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the communication device is a data communication device connected to each of the image forming devices, the data communication device connecting one of the image forming devices to the central service station via a communication mark.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the communication device comprises a communication control unit connected to each of the image forming devices, the communication control unit connecting one of the image forming devices to the central service station via a communication network.