Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Koubun Suzuki

Masaaki Ogura

Hidehiko Watanabe

Kazuyoshi Fukushima

An image-forming-device management system includes an image-forming device, a data communication device and a central management device. A real-time clock circuit (RTC) of the data communication device compares a current time with a predetermined data transmission time. A CPU included in a part constantly supplied with electricity from a power source in the data communication device instructs a power-source controller to supply the electricity from the power source to a communication-related part including a network control unit (NCU), a modem and an image-forming-device interface, thereby activating the communication-related part. Subsequently, the CPU calls out the central management device by using the NCU, and transmits data acquired from the image-forming device in advance, to the central management device by using the modem.

Image-forming-device management system capable of operating in energy-saving mode

In an image forming device management system and method, a failure in any of a plurality of image forming devices on a first LAN is detected by a management apparatus. A failure message is transmitted from the management apparatus to a center system via a public switched telephone network when the failure is detected, the failure message including a failure code provided to identify the failure. The failure message, transmitted by the management apparatus, is received at the center system. A database of the center system is accessed by using the failure code of the received failure message so as to produce results of the accessing at the center system. A service department ID is extracted from the database based on the accessing results. A service request message is transmitted from the center system to a service department indicated by the service department ID.

Image forming device management system and method

An image-forming-device management system includes an image-forming-device, a data communication device and a central management device. A real-time clock circuit (RTC) of the data communication device compares a current time with a predetermined data transmission time. If the current time matches with the data transmission time, the RTC generates a data transmission request that requests for data transmission to the central management device. A CPU included in a part constantly supplied with electricity from a power source in the data communication device instructs a power-source controller to supply the electricity from the power source to a communication-related part including a network control unit (NCU), a modem and an image-forming-device interface, thereby activating the communication-related part. Subsequently, the CPU calls out the central management device by using the NCU, and transmits data acquired from the image-forming-device in advance, to the central management device by using the modem.

An order management system automatically places an order with one of a plurality of suppliers when order information is input by one of a plurality of orderers. A terminal unit is provided to each of the orderers. The terminal unit is used for inputting the order information being transmitted to a central management unit via a communication network. The central management unit manages order history information and section information with respect to each orderer. The central management unit calculates a total cost of previous orderers based on the order history information of one of the orderers sending the order information and order information sent from one of the orderers. Execution of an ordering process is permitted when the calculated total cost of the previous orders is within a budget of the orderer.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Koubun Suzuki