Patent ID: 7421214
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A centralized monitoring system for managing maintenance information of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a database unit adapted to register a device identifier, as master information, the device identifier identifying a device including an image forming apparatus or a local monitoring apparatus that communicates with both the image forming apparatus and a server system; an obtaining unit adapted to obtain a device identifier sent by the device; a responding unit adapted to, in response to said obtaining unit obtaining the device identifier, respond to a notification source device so that the notification source device communicates maintenance information indicating an operation status of the image forming apparatus even if the obtained device identifier is not registered in said database unit; and a re-determination unit adapted to check again to determine whether the obtained device identifier is registered in said database unit again after it has once been determined that the obtained device identifier is not registered in said database unit.