The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2001
Tetsuya Miida, Tokyo, JP;
Yayoi Katagiri, Saitama, JP;
Hiroshi Nishida, Kanagawa, JP;
Takehiro Nishiura, Tokyo, JP;
Eiji Shinohara, Kanagawa, JP;
Tatsuto Torikai, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Hosoda, Kanagawa, JP;
Keisuke Kataoka, Kanagawa, JP;
Sachiko Misumi, Tokyo, JP;
Atsushi Hanai, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuya Miida, Tokyo, JP;
Yayoi Katagiri, Saitama, JP;
Hiroshi Nishida, Kanagawa, JP;
Takehiro Nishiura, Tokyo, JP;
Eiji Shinohara, Kanagawa, JP;
Tatsuto Torikai, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Hosoda, Kanagawa, JP;
Keisuke Kataoka, Kanagawa, JP;
Sachiko Misumi, Tokyo, JP;
Atsushi Hanai, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A transmission device sends status information representing status of a copier to a center through a PSTN. In the center, the status information of each copier is analyzed, and suggestion information selected based on a result of the analysis is provided to a terminal of the user of the copier concerned. In this case, the user is informed by an e-mail or through a Web page with using the terminal. The information includes: a suggestion to multiply the copier, replace the currently-used copier with a new copier, performance information regarding a model of the currently-used copier, information regarding a timing for replenishing/replacing an expendable supply (such as a toner unit, etc.), a suggestion to purchase the expendable supply, and the like.