Patent ID: 8718494
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A consumable supply management system comprising: the image forming apparatus comprising: a management device that is communicably connected to the image forming apparatus so as to manage the consumable supply of the image forming section, wherein, when the extension mode is set by the extension setting section of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus transmits information indicating the amount of variation of the specified indicator to the management device as determination information of the determination section, and the management device performs management of the consumable supply based on the determination information transmitted by image forming apparatus, wherein the determination section of the image forming apparatus further determines, based on the detected amounts of variation of each of the plurality of indicators, that the detected amounts of variation of the respective plurality of indicators have reached one of a plurality of attainment levels, the plurality of attainment levels set from an initial use stage of the consumable supply to a stage when the amounts of variation respectively reach the plurality of first lifespan values, wherein the image forming apparatus transmits, to the management device, date and time information when it is determined that the detected amounts of variation have reached one of the plurality of attainment levels, wherein the management device includes: wherein, when the extension mode is set by the extension setting section of the image forming apparatus, the prediction section predicts an attainment date when the specified indicator is expected to reach the extended lifespan value, and the notification section notifies the attainment date to the image forming apparatus as an extended predicted expiration date of the consumable supply.