Report generation apparatus, report generation system, and computer program product

Abstract

A report generation apparatus includes a user information storage unit that stores therein user identification information for identifying a user and regional information on a region where the user is located, so as to associated with each other; a regional information obtaining part that receives user identification information and obtains regional information associated with the received user identification information from the user information storage part; and a generator that obtains device management information relating to usage of a device and generates a report using the obtained device management information and the obtained regional information.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device management apparatus that generates and outputs a report on a device, the apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 obtain regional information that is associated with user identification information for identifying a user and includes a name of a region where the user is located, time zone of the region, and currency information of the region, 
 obtain device management information relating to usage of a device including a usage period, 
 convert the usage period into a period in the time zone that is included in the regional information and is associated with the user identification information of the user, 
 calculate the cost for usage of the device for the converted period, and 
 output a report on the calculated cost. 
   
     
     
         3 . The device management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the regional information includes a language used in the region, and   the circuitry is configured to output the report whose content is described in the language used in the region.   
     
     
         4 . The device management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the device management information includes a numerical value relating to usage of the device,   the currency information includes a name of a currency and exchange rate of the currency, and   the circuitry is configured to calculate the cost for the usage of the device for the converted period using the numerical value and the exchange rate of the currency and outputs the report in which the name of the currency is used as a currency unit.   
     
     
         5 . The device management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to obtain the usage period from the user.   
     
     
         6 . The device management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive input of the user identification information and obtain the regional information associated with the received user identification information. 
     
     
         7 . The device management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein obtaining the device management information includes obtaining stored information relating to output of the device and obtaining requested information including the usage period. 
     
     
         8 . The device management apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the stored information indicates usage of the device for plural time periods, and   the calculating includes determining usage of the device during the converted period based on the stored information and calculating the cost for the determined usage of the device.   
     
     
         9 . A device management method comprising:
 obtaining regional information that is associated with user identification information for identifying a user and includes a name of a region where the user is located, time zone of the region, and currency information of the region,   obtaining device management information relating to usage of a device including a usage period,   converting the usage period into a period in the time zone that is included in the regional information and is associated with the user identification information of the user,   calculating the cost for usage of the device for the converted period, and   outputting a report on the calculated cost.