Patent ID: 7102780
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data communication apparatus that has a connecting means that can connect a plurality of image forming apparatuses, each having a counter for counting the number of formed images, regularly obtains counter information representing values of the counters from the image forming apparatuses connected by said means, and regularly transmits, at longer intervals than an interval of obtaining the counter information, the obtained counter information with model number information of the image forming apparatuses from which the counter information is obtained as maintenance contract management data to a central management apparatus that remotely controls the image forming apparatuses through a communication line such as a public circuit, comprising: model number information setting means for setting the model number information of the image forming apparatuses connected by the connecting means according to a requirement from the central management apparatus; counter information obtaining means for regularly obtaining the counter information representing the value of the counter from the image forming apparatuses by the connecting means; a first memory and a second memory storing the counter information obtained by said counter information obatining means for each of the image forming apparatuses so as to correspond to the model number information that is previously set by the model number information setting means and matches the model number information of the image forming apparatuses from which the counter information is obtained; counter information writing control means for, when obtaining the counter information by the counter information obtaining means, prior to writing the counter information to the first memory, for the counter information of each of the image forming apparatuses obtained a previous time by the counter information obtaining means and already contained in the first memory, moving the counter information contained in the first memory so as to correspond to the model number information that matches the model number information of the image forming apparatuses from which the counter information is obtained this time to the second memory and writing the counter information to the second memory so as to correspond to the model number information thereof for each of the image forming apparatuses, and thereafter writing the counter information obtained this time by the counter information obtaining means to the first memory for each of the image forming apparatuses so as to correspond to the model number information that is previously set by the model number information setting means and matches the model number information of the image forming apparatuses from which the counter information is obtained this time; counter abnormality detecting means for comparing the counter information obtained this time by the counter information obtaining means with the counter information obtained the previous time, the model number of the counter information thereof matching the model number of the image forming apparatuses from which the counter information is obtained this time, and detecting the counter information as counter abnormality when there is a contradiction between the counter information obtained this time and the counter information obtained the previous time; and counter abnormality information transmitting means for, when the counter abnormality is detected by said counter abnormality detecting means, transmitting counter abnormality information to the central management apparatus with each of the counter information obtained this time and the counter information obtained the previous time obtained by the counter information obtaining means and the model number information of the image forming apparatuses from which the counter information is obtained this time.