Patent ID: 6141507
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A service system for managing a plurality of image forming apparatuses each being capable of outputting, when a factor to be reported occurs, information representative of said factor, said service system comprising:a plurality of terminal units each being situated at a particular service station;a plurality of central control units configured to manage said image forming apparatuses by remote control, each central control unit covering a respective area and being connected to the image forming apparatuses lying in said area and one of said plurality of terminal units, said plurality of central control units each comprising information collecting and storing means for collecting and storing information received from said image forming apparatuses apparatus by apparatus, said plurality of central control units each analyzing said information and selectively sending necessary information to the terminal unit connected thereto;an information collecting and storing unit connected to said plurality of central control units by a communication network and configured to collect the information stored in said information collecting and storing means of each of said plurality of central control units via said communication network and storing said information; anda data processing unit configured to download desired information from said information collecting and storing means of said plurality of central control units or from said information collecting and storing unit and editing said information.