Patent ID: 7415420
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A customer support center that supports a customer, based on apparatus management information of office apparatuses manufactured by a plurality of manufacturers, and installed at a premises of the customer, comprising: a data collection unit coupled to a plurality of office systems through a network and configured to collect through the network the apparatus management information, cost information, and supply information on the office apparatuses of a plurality of office systems, each of which includes one or more office apparatuses, at least one of the office systems including two or more office apparatuses, an analysis database that stores the apparatus management information, the cost information, and the supply information separately for each of the office systems, and a data analysis unit that analyzes the information stored in the analysis database separately for each of the office systems wherein the data analysis unit generates information relative to a peak usage of each of the office apparatuses, usage statistics per organizational unit, usage statistics per individual, and costs associated with the office apparatuses and associated materials, using the information stored in the analysis database, and further prepares graphical representations for each of the office systems.