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:
Sep. 25, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 20, 2009
Tetsuichi Satonaga, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Masayasu Takano, Ebina, JP;
Noriyuki Matsuda, Ebina, JP;
Akiko Seta, Ebina, JP;
Koji Adachi, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Kaoru Yasukawa, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Tetsuichi Satonaga, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Masayasu Takano, Ebina, JP;
Noriyuki Matsuda, Ebina, JP;
Akiko Seta, Ebina, JP;
Koji Adachi, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Kaoru Yasukawa, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a prediction unit, an inquiry unit and a request unit. The inquiry unit judges whether or not the prediction unit deals with a type of a consumable item used in image formation processing. The request unit transmits use history information to a consumable item management apparatus and requests the consumable item management apparatus to predict a remaining usable period of the consumable item when the inquiry unit judges the prediction unit does not deal with the type of the consumable item in the image formation processing. The use history information indicates a use history of the consumable item. The prediction unit predicts the remaining usable period of the consumable item using the use history information in the image formation processing when the inquiry unit judges the first prediction unit deals with the type of the consumable item used in image formation processing.