Abstract:
A network device includes a processor; and a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the network device to perform: storing a first mail address and a second mail address; generating a first email to be addressed to the first mail address and a second email to be addressed to the second mail address, the first email having a first body including a URL, the second email having a second body including the URL; detecting a specific failure occurring in the network device; transmitting the first email to the first mail address and the second email to the second mail address when the specific failure is detected.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/407,590 filed Feb. 28, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/155,444 filed Jun. 4, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,161,124, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/216,387 filed on Aug. 12, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,306, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-245320 filed Aug. 13, 2001 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-100885 filed Apr. 3, 2002. The disclosures of the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a network terminal capable of notifying an administrator terminal about information on network terminals, such as printers connected to a network, by email. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Printers can be connected to a network and shared by several people on a network. Some network printers are able to notify the network administrator about problems such as a sheet size error or when the printer runs out of toner by sending information about the problem to the administrator in an email message. 
         [0006]      FIG. 15  is a schematic view representing an example of problem information to be sent to a network administrator by email. As shown in  FIG. 15 , conventional problem information includes status information  24  and node information  25 . The status information  24  indicates a summary of the printer condition. The node information  25  indicates the name, type, and location of the printer. The email message that notified the network administrator of the problem information will be referred to as the “notifying message”, hereinafter. The notifying message is automatically sent to the email address of the network administrator when a problem is generated at the printer. When the network administrator receives the notifying message, then he or she goes over to the printer indicated in the notifying message and solves the problem while referring to the notifying message. 
         [0007]    However, if the network administrator must go to the printer in order to solve problems, then it is very difficult for the network administrator to solve printer problems rapidly when the network extends over a large area and the problem printer is not at a location near the network administrator. 
         [0008]    Some networks include a printer server provided with a printer management tool that is capable of monitoring and manipulating the printer. The network administrator inputs a commanded to the printer management tool from the printer server, or from a terminal that has accessed to the printer server, to manipulate the printer and overcome problems in the printer. However, the network administrator must remember all the appropriate commands for manipulating the printer using the printer management tool. This makes the printer management tool troublesome and complex to use. 
         [0009]    Some printers are provided with a management page of a web-page format that can be accessed by specifying the address of the management web page. In this case, the network administrator accesses the web server in the printer from a terminal connected to the network and solves problems with the printer through the management web page. However, if the network administrator does not know or forgets the address of the management web page, then it will take time for the network administrator to access the management web page, resulting in a delay in solving the printer problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems and provide a terminal information notification system, a terminal information notification method, and a network terminal that facilitates confirmation of internal information or the cause of problems when problems occur or when internal information is to be confirmed or changed. 
         [0011]    To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a network device comprising: a processor; and a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the network device to perform: storing a first mail address and a second mail address; generating a first email to be addressed to the first mail address and a second email to be addressed to the second mail address, the first email having a first body including a URL, the second email having a second body including the URL; detecting a specific failure occurring in the network device; and transmitting the first email to the first mail address and the second email to the second mail address when the specific failure is detected. 
         [0012]    The present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for a network device, when executed by a processor of the network device, causing the network device to perform: storing a first mail address and a second mail address; generating a first email to be addressed to the first mail address and a second email to be addressed to the second mail address, the first email having a first body including a URL, the second email having a second body including the URL; detecting a specific failure occurring in the network device; and transmitting the first email to the first mail address and the second email to the second mail address when the specific failure is detected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description of the embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing functional groups in a printer of the network system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart representing a main routine performed by a control portion of the printer in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart representing a problem detection routine of the main routine shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5(   a ) is a schematic view showing a screen displaying an email message prepared by the printer and addressed to an administrator when it is set that an URL should be appended to the email message; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5(   b ) is a schematic view showing a screen displaying an email message prepared by the printer and addressed to an administrator when it is set that an URL should not be appended to the email message; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing an administrator registration screen for registering the email address and the like of the administrator in the  223 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart representing flow of processes performed in the control integration portion  231  when a message addressed to an administrator is prepared. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart representing flow of processes performed in the control integration portion when the printer generates a control page; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing a displayed screen of the control page generated by the web server; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing a screen displaying a modification of the email message shown in  FIG. 5(   a ); 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart representing a status report preparation routine of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing an email message addressed to the administrator transmitted as a status report to the administrator; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a schematic view showing an administrator registration screen for registering email address of the administrator; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart representing flow of processes performed in the control integration portion when a control page is generated; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a schematic view showing a conventional email message addressed to the administrator transmitted as a status report to the administrator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to the attached drawings. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a network system according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a printer  2 , an administrator terminal  3 , a user terminal  4 , and a mail server  5  are connected to a network  1 . The printer  2  serves as a network terminal of the present invention. The administrator terminal  3  is for performing network management operations such as settings and adjustments to the printer  2 . The user terminal  4  uses the printer  2 . The mail server  5  performs management operations such as exchange of email messages with the terminals across the network  1 . 
         [0032]    The administrator terminal  3  and the user terminal  4  are well-known personal computers installed with email and browser software to enable transmission and reception of email messages and viewing web pages via the network. The administrator terminal  3  and the user terminal  4  are also installed with a printer control software, commonly referred to as a printer driver, for using the printer  2 . The mail server  5  is a well-known personal computer installed with a SMTP server program for managing transmission of email messages and a POP3 server program for managing reception of email messages. 
         [0033]    To facilitate explanation, the embodiment will describe only one each of the printer  2 , the administrator terminal  3 , and the user terminal  4  connected to the network  1 . However, it should be noted that more than one of each can be connected to the network  1 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing functional groups in the printer  2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printer  2  includes an actuator portion  21 , a local area network (LAN) interface portion  22 , and a control portion  23 . The actuator portion  21  is for performing operations of sheet feed, printing, and the like. The LAN interface portion  22  is for managing exchanges between the printer  2  and the network  1 . The control portion  23  is for controlling various components of the printer  2 . 
         [0035]    The actuator portion  21  includes mechanisms such as a printing mechanism and a sheet feed mechanism. A sensor  211  is provided for each mechanism in order to detect problems in the corresponding mechanism. Output from the sensor  211  is input into the control portion  23 . Examples of sensor  211  include a cover open/closure sensor, a paper feed sensor (a paper jam sensor), a temperature sensor to be located in a thermally fixing section, a paper empty sensor, a software error sensor for sensing, for example, shortage of memory capacity, a paper size sensor for sensing the size of the paper and signaling when improper sized paper is loaded, and sensors for sensing an unloaded condition of ink cartridge or toner cartridge. 
         [0036]    The LAN interface portion  22  includes a network control portion  221 , a mail preparation portion  222 , and a mail settings memory  223 . The network control portion  221  controls transmissions exchanged between the network  1  and the printer  2 . The mail preparation portion  222  is responsible for preparing notification mail and appending the URL of a control page to the notification mail. The mail settings memory  223  stores settings such as the address of the transmission target of a notification mail and whether it is necessary to append a URL to the notification mail, or period at which the condition of the printer  2  is periodically notified to the network administrator. 
         [0037]    The control portion  23  includes a control integration portion  231 , a printer settings memory  232 , a problem detection portion  233 , a web server  234 , and a URL settings portion  235 . The control integration portion  231  processes commands and data that was transmitted over the network  1  from the administrator terminal  3  and the user terminal  4  and integrates operations of the actuator portion  21  and other components in the control portion  23  based on the commands and data. The printer settings memory  232  stores settings set for the printer  2 . The problem detection portion  233  constantly monitors output from the sensor  211  of the actuator portion  21  to detect problem detection signals output from the sensor  211  when a problem occurs in the actuator portion  21 . The web server  234  provides a setting screen, a controller page, and other pages in accordance request from terminals on the network  1 . The setting screen is for setting various settings of the printer  2 . The web server  234  generates the controller page, which is for performing operations to control the printer  2 . The URL settings portion  235  is for setting URL of the controller page each time the web server  234  generates the controller page. 
         [0038]    The control portion  23  and the LAN interface portion  22  are formed by well-known circuitry such as a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), an I/O, and a serial interface. The functional blocks within the control portion  23  and the LAN interface portion  22  are realized by execution of programs. 
         [0039]    When a problem such as a sheet size error occurs in the printer  2 , the printer  2  transmits a notification mail to the email address registered in the mail settings memory  223 . The notification mail specifies the location and type of the problem. 
         [0040]    The printer  2  transmits the notification mail to the email address at the notification timing, which is the period preregistered in the mail settings memory  223 , so that the user can know the condition in the printer  2 . The notification timing could be set for a period of timing such as every six hours. Alternatively, the notification timing could be set to every day, week, or month for example, wherein the time of day of the notification timing is also set. As a further alternative, the notification timing could be set for a single time on a specific day at a specific time. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart representing a main routine performed by the control portion  23  of the printer  2 . 
         [0042]    During the main routine of the printer  2 , first whether or not a print command has come over the network  1  from the user terminal  4  is monitored in S 10 . When it is judged that a print command has arrived (S 10 : YES), then a print routine is performed in S 12 . During the print routine, the actuator portion  21  is controlled in the normal manner based on received data. On the other hand, if no print command is received (S 10 : NO), then whether or not a problem has been notified by the problem detection portion  233  is judged in S 13 . If so (S 13 : YES), then a problem notification routine is performed in S 14 . 
         [0043]    Further, if no problem is detected (S 13 : NO), then it is judged in S 15  whether or not the notification timing that is registered in the mail settings memory  223  has been reached. If so (S 15 : YES), then a status report preparation routine is performed in S 16 . The status report preparation routine is for transmitting a notification mail that indicates the condition in the printer  2 . 
         [0044]    Whether or not the notification timing has been reached is judged in S 15  based on whether or not a status report notification has been set and on whether or not the set time has arrived or elapsed. Since the printer  2  is not constantly ON, the notification timing may arrive while the power of the printer  2  is turned OFF. Therefore, whether or not the set time has elapsed is confirmed in association with when the power is turned ON. If it is judged that the set time has elapsed, then a status report is sent to the administrator immediately. 
         [0045]    The main routine is repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing is every millisecond in the present embodiment. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart representing the problem detection routine executed in S 14  of the main routine shown in  FIG. 3 . The control integration portion  231  executes processes in the order indicated in the flowchart when a problem occurs. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when a problem occurs in the printer  2  and the problem detection portion  233  detects input of a problem detection signal from the sensor  211  of the actuator portion  21 , then in S 110  the control integration portion  231  determines which sensor  211  generated the problem detection signal, determines the location and content of the problem, and judges whether it is a problem that needs to be notified to the administrator. 
         [0048]    When it is judged that the problem needs to be notified to the administrator (S 110 : YES), then in S 120  it is confirmed whether or not the email address of the user of the user terminal  4  is stored in the mail settings memory  223 . When it is determined that the email address of the user is registered (S 120 : YES), then in S 130  the control integration portion  231  requests that the mail preparation portion  222  prepares a notification mail for the user. This notification mail will be referred to as an “email message addressed to the user” hereinafter. Next, it is confirmed in S 140  whether or not the email address of the administrator that uses the administrator terminal  3  is registered in the mail settings memory  223 . It should be noted that if it is determined that the email address of the user is not registered in the mail settings memory  223  (S 120 : NO), then it is confirmed in S 140  whether or not the email address of the administrator is registered in the mail settings memory  223  without requesting preparation of an email message addressed to the user. 
         [0049]    When it is confirmed that the email address of the administrator is registered in the mail settings memory  223  (S 140 : YES), then in S 150  the mail preparation portion  222  is requested to prepare a notification mail for the administrator. The notification mail for the administrator will be referred to as a “message addressed to the administrator” hereinafter. At this time, if addresses for more than one administrator are registered, then the mail preparation portion  222  is requested to prepare a separate message for each administrator. 
         [0050]    According to the present embodiment, the user&#39;s email address and the like is registered using the printer driver installed in the user terminal  4 . However, in contrast, the administrator&#39;s email address is registered using a manger registration screen provided to the administrator terminal  3  by the web server  234 . The embodiment could be modified so that the user&#39;s email address is registered using the web server  234  and the administrator&#39;s email address is registered using the printer driver. Registration need not be performed using a printer driver, but could alternatively be performed using a printer administrator application software installed in the administrator terminal  3  or the user terminal  4 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing an administrator registration screen for registering the email address and the like of the administrator in the  223 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the administrator registration screen  33  includes a server address registration space  14 , administrator address registration spaces  15 ,  16 , an administrator selection section  17 , a URL requirement setting category  18 , an permission domain registration space  19 , and a setting confirmation section  20 . The server address registration space  14  is where the INK PARTICLES address of the mail server  5  is registered. The administrator address registration spaces  15 ,  16  are where the email address of a plurality of administrators are registered. The administrator selection section  17  is for determining which administrator is to be notified for which problems. The URL requirement setting category  18  is for setting whether the URL of the controller page is to appended to email messages addressed to the administrator. The permission domain registration space  19  sets the controller page that can only be accessed by an administrator with a particular domain name. The setting confirmation section  20  is for designating whether the settings should definitely applied to email messages addressed to the administrator. 
         [0053]    The administrator registration screen  33  is supported by a graphic user interface that enables settings for the server address registration space  14 , the administrator address registration spaces  15 ,  16 , and the permission domain registration space  19  to be designated by merely inputting the IP address, an email addresses, and a domain name, respectively. A selection or requirement can be set in the administrator selection section  17  and the URL requirement setting category  18  by merely clicking on square frames at the immediate left of each category and then using the setting confirmation section  20  to confirm the settings. 
         [0054]    When the administrator&#39;s email address and the like are registered or set in the administrator registration screen  33  and the settings are confirmed using the setting confirmation section  20 , then the settings in each category are sent to the control integration portion  231  over the network control portion  221 . After the control integration portion  231  processes the settings, then the control integration portion  231  stores the settings in the mail settings memory  223 . 
         [0055]    It should be noted that the administrator registration screen  33  is stored in the memory as a piece of settings information of the administrator terminal  3 . The administrator registration screen  33  is retrieved from the memory for updating the settings. After settings are updated, then the settings information is sent over the network  1  to the printer  2  and stored in the mail settings memory  223  of the printer  2 . 
         [0056]    Although not shown in the drawings, several registration screens similar to the one shown in  FIG. 6  are prepared for registering a variety of setting information. The email address of the printer  2  can be registered using such a registration screen. The registered email address is inserted into the “From:” space of the header information  40  shown in  FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ) so that the administrator that receives the message addressed to the administrator will know where the message came from. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart representing flow of processes performed in the control integration portion  231  when a message addressed to an administrator is prepared. 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the mail preparation portion  222  prepares an email message addressed to an administrator, the control integration portion  231  first confirms in S 210  whether the mail settings memory  223  is set to append the URL to an email message addressed to an administrator. If it is set that the URL is to be appended (S 210 : YES), then in S 220  a request is made to the web server  234  to generate a control page. 
         [0059]    Next, in S 230  a request is made to the mail preparation portion  222  to append, to the email message addressed to the administrator, the URL of the control page determined by the URL settings portion  235 . In S 240 , it is requested that problem information be appended to the email message addressed to the administrator. The problem information includes location and content of the problem. As a result of the above steps, an email message that is addressed to an administrator is prepared and sent to the email address of the administrator. 
         [0060]    When the control integration portion  231  confirms that settings of the mail settings memory  223  indicate that the URL is not to be displayed (S 210 : NO), then in S 250  it is confirmed whether it is allowed to append the URL to only the notification mail with the particular domain name. If so (S 250 : YES), then in S 260  it is confirmed whether the particular domain name matches the registered domain name. If so (S 260 : YES), then in S 220  the control integration portion  231  requests the web server  234  to generate a control page. 
         [0061]    If it is confirmed that it is not allowed to append the URL to notification mail with the particular domain name (S 250 : NO) or it is confirmed the particular domain name does not match the registered domain name (S 260 : NO), then the mail preparation portion  222  is requested to append problem information to the email message addressed to the administrator, without requesting the web server  234  to generate a control page or requesting that the URL of the control page be appended to the email message addressed to the administrator. 
         [0062]    The processes of S 250  and S 260  can be modified, or new processes can be added, so that when the domain name in the email address of the printer  2  matches the notified domain name, then a request is made to the web server  234  to generate a control page and a request is made to the mail preparation portion  222  to append the URL of the control page determined by the URL settings portion  235  to the email message that is addressed to the administrator. 
         [0063]      FIG. 5(   a ) shows a screen displaying an email message addressed and send to an administrator when a problem occurs. As shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), the email message  30  addressed an administrator includes header information  40 , a status notification  6 , node information  7 , the URL display portion  8 , and other information  41 . The status notification  6  indicates the condition of the printer  2 . The node information  7  includes information such as the name, device type, and location of the printer  2 . The URL display portion  8  is a hypertext link to the URL of the control page. The other information  41  includes a page count and information indicating to the other administrator selected using the administrator selection section  17  of the administrator registration screen  33  shown in  FIG. 6  that a problem occurred. In this case, the other administrator is administrator  2 . 
         [0064]    Because the email message  30  addressed an administrator is configured in this manner, the administrator will be able to quickly grasp the condition of the printer  2  and details of problem generated at the printer  2 . Also, the administrator can access the control page by merely clicking on the URL display portion  8 . 
         [0065]    When it is set that an URL should not be appended to the email message, but the domain name of the administrator does not match the permission domain, then as shown in  FIG. 5(   b ), an email message  31  addressed an administrator is sent to the administrator along with the header information  40 . The email message  31  addressed an administrator includes only status notification  9 , node information  10 , and other information  41 , but has no URL for the control page appended thereto. 
         [0066]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart representing flow of processes performed in the control integration portion  231  when the printer  2  generates a control page. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the control page generation routine is started, then in S 310  the control integration portion  231  extracts elements used in the control page that corresponds to the problem content. Then the control integration portion  231  supplies the elements to the web server  234  in S 320 . The web server  234  combines the extracted elements to generate a control page. 
         [0067]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing a displayed screen of a control page  32  generated by the web server  234 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the control page  32  includes an error display portion  11 , an operation content selection portion  12 , and a transmit button  13 . The error display portion  11  indicates content of the problem that occurred in the printer  2 . The operation content selection portion  12  is for selecting the category of operation to be performed at the printer  2 . The transmit button  13  is for transmitting content of the selected operation to the printer  2 . 
         [0068]    The control page  32  is supported by a graphic user interface in the same manner as the administrator registration screen  33  and displays circular frames to the left of the operation categories of the operation content selection portion  12 . The administrator selects desired operation categories by clicking in the circular frames to the left of the operation categories. As a result, a black dot is displayed in the center of the clicked circular frame to indicate that the operation category was selected. The administrator can transmit the operation content to the printer  2  by merely clicking on the transmit button  13 . 
         [0069]    The operation content selected by the administrator is transmitted to the control integration portion  231  over the network  1  and the network control portion  221 . After processing the operation content, the control integration portion  231  controls to overcome the problem and stores new settings relating to the printer  2  in the printer settings memory  232 . 
         [0070]    Next, an explanation will be provided for operations of the network  1  including the printer  2  with the above-described configuration with reference to  FIG. 1 . When the user commands the user terminal  4  to execute a printing operation, then (1) the user terminal  4  transmits a print execution command to the printer  2 . The printer  2  starts printing operations when it receives the print execution command. If some sort of problem occurs at this time that prevents the printer  2  from printing, then the printer  2  generates a notification mail and a control page and (2) transmits the notification mail to the mail server  5 . 
         [0071]    The printer  2  is preset with the email addresses of the administrator that uses the administrator terminal  3  and the user that uses the user terminal  4  as transmission targets. Also, the administrator terminal  3  and the user terminal  4  are set to periodically access the mail server  5 . For this reason, when the printer  2  transmits email messages addressed to the administrator and the user, then (3) the administrator terminal  3  and (4) the user terminal  4  receive notification mail from the mail server  5 . 
         [0072]    The email message addressed to the administrator is appended with the URL link to the control page. When the administrator clicks on the URL link and (5) accesses the control page, then (6) the printer  2  provides the control page to the administrator terminal  3 . 
         [0073]    This configuration enables the administrator to quickly take care of problems when a problem occurs in the printer  2 . A network terminal can be realized that facilitates operations for overcoming problems. 
         [0074]    The embodiment describes the email message  30  addressed to the administrator shown in  FIG. 5(   a ) with an appended link that the administrator clicks to display the control page  32  shown in  FIG. 9 . However, email message  50  addressed to the administrator shown in  FIG. 10  is appended with alternative methods for overcoming problems in the printer  2 . In this case, the administrator needs to merely select one of the appended methods to overcome the problem at the printer  2 . The selected method is then newly set in the printer  2  and stored in the printer settings memory  232 . In the same manner as the control page  32 , when the administrator selects an operation category by clicking on the circular frame to the left of the operation category, then a black dot will be displayed in the center of the circular frame to indicate that the operation category was selected. The administrator merely needs to click on the transmit button  13  to transit the content of the desired operation to the printer  2 . As an alternative, a different URL can be listed for each method for handling a problem so that the user can transmit content of the desired operation to the printer  2  by merely clicking on the corresponding URL. In this case, in S 230  of  FIG. 7  the mail preparation portion  222  appends URLs to the different control functions of the printer  2  to the email message addressed to the administrator and S 220  of  FIG. 7  can be dispensed with. 
         [0075]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart representing flow of processes that correspond to the status report preparation routine in S 16  of  FIG. 3 , which are performed in the control integration portion  231  at a preset timing. 
         [0076]    When it is detected that the time has arrived to send out a status report and the status report preparation routine shown in  FIG. 11  is started, then in S 510  it is judged whether preparations are completed for tasks to prepare the status report. 
         [0077]    If so (S 510 : YES), then in S 520  the control integration portion  231  confirms whether the email address of the printer  2  is registered in the mail settings memory  223 . 
         [0078]    If so (S 520 : YES), then in S 530  the control integration portion  231  it is confirmed whether the email address of the administrator that uses the administrator terminal  3  is registered in the mail settings memory  223 . If so (S 530 : YES), then in S 540  the mail preparation portion  222  is requested to prepare a notification mail addressed to the administrator. When settings are registered for notifying status reports to a plurality of different administrator terminals, then the status report preparation routine of  FIG. 11  is executed separately based on settings for each administrator terminal. At this time, if the email addresses of more than one administrator are registered at the same notification timing, then requests are made to prepare notification mail for each administrator one after the other. 
         [0079]    When the email address of either the printer  2  or the administrator is not registered in the mail settings memory  223  (S 520  or S 530 : NO), then the control integration portion  231  ends the status report preparation routine without requesting that an email message be prepared addressed to the administrator. 
         [0080]    The printer  2  and the administrator are registered using the administrator registration screen provided by the web server  234  to the administrator terminal  3 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 13  is a schematic view showing an administrator registration screen for registering email address and the like of the administrator in the mail settings memory  223  so that the status report about the printer  2  can be periodically transmitted to the administrator. As shown in  FIG. 13 , an administrator registration screen  70  includes an administrator address registration portion  71 , a notification timing setting portion  72 , and a setting confirmation portion  73 . The administrator address registration portion  71  is for registering the email address for each administrator. The notification timing setting portion  72  is for setting timing at which the status report is to be sent to the administrator. The notification timing setting portion  72  enables setting a notification timing of daily, weekly, or monthly. For this reason, if the more than one administrator terminal  3  is connected to the network  1 , then a notification timing can be set separately for each administrator terminal  3 . The setting confirmation portion  73  is for the administrator to confirm that settings, such as the administrator&#39;s email address, are correct. 
         [0082]    The embodiment describes that settings, such as whether the URL of the control page should be appended to email messages addressed to the administrator and whether only an administrator having a particular domain name, are set according to settings of the administrator registration screen  33  shown in  FIG. 6 . However, the administrator registration screen  70  can be set up separately for these settings. 
         [0083]    It should be noted that the administrator registration screen  70  is supported by a graphic user interface. The administrator address registration portion  71  can be set by merely inputting the email address. Also, selections and settings about necessity can be set in the notification timing setting portion  72  by merely clicking in the circular frame to the left of the corresponding category or inputting the desired time. The setting confirmation portion  73  can be operated by merely clicking on the button that corresponds to the desired confirmation operation. 
         [0084]    When the email address of the administrator is registered and settings are entered in the administrator registration screen  70  and the settings confirmed, then the information from each setting category is transmitted to the control integration portion  231  through the network  1  and the network control portion  221 . After performed processes, the control integration portion  231  stores information in the mail settings memory  223 . 
         [0085]    The processes performed in the control integration portion  231  when preparing the email message addressed to the administrator are substantially the same as those represented in the flowchart of  FIG. 7 , but differ in that a request is made for preparation of a main page of the web server  234  instead of the control page. 
         [0086]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing an email message addressed to the administrator transmitted as a status report to the administrator. As shown in  FIG. 12 , an email message  60  addressed to the administrator includes header information  62 , date information  63 , node information  64 , a URL display portion  61 , a status information  65 , and consumables information  66 . The header information  62  shows the time and date that the email message was transmitted. The node information  64  includes information such as the name, device type, and location of the printer  2 . The URL display portion  61  shows the URL for linking to the main page. The status information  65  indicates use conditions of the printer  2 . The status information  65  indicates use conditions of consumable items such as toner. In the present example, the status information  65  is toner information. 
         [0087]    The information listed on the email message  60  addressed to the administrator can be in a predetermined format or can be selected by the administrator. When each administrator desires to be notified about different information, then the email message  60  can be modified to enable different settings for each administrator. In this case, information such as that selected by other administrators, such as the administrator  2 , can be added to the email message  60 . 
         [0088]    The email message  30  addressed to the administrator enables the administrator to periodically grasp the use condition of consumables and the status of the printer  2  and to access the main pages by merely clicking on the URL display portion  8 . 
         [0089]    When it is set that the URL should not be displayed and the domain name of the administrator does not match the permission domain name, then the email message addressed to the administrator is transmitted to the administrator without appending the URL of the main page. 
         [0090]    Next, a printer  2  according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
         [0091]    The printer  2  of the second embodiment differs from the printer  2  of the first embodiment only in a portion of the functions in the control portion  23  and in the method for generating the control page. Accordingly, explanation will be omitted for portions that are the same as in the first embodiment, and explanation for the second embodiment will focus on dissimilar areas. 
         [0092]    According to the second embodiment, the control integration portion  231  stores an ID appended to each type of problem that can occur in the printer  2 . When a problem occurs in the printer  2 , then the type of problem is determined and the corresponding ID is outputted to the web server  234  and the URL settings portion  235 . 
         [0093]    The web server  234  prestores a control page for each type of problem in one-to-one correspondence with each ID. When an ID is input from the control integration portion  231 , then the web server  234  selects the corresponding control page from the plurality of control pages. 
         [0094]    The URL settings portion  235  prestores, in one-to-one correspondence with the different problem types, URLs that correspond to each of the control pages stored in the web server  234 . When an ID is input from the control integration portion  231 , then the URL settings portion  235  supplies the corresponding URL to the mail preparation portion  222 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart representing flow of processes performed in the control integration portion  231  when a control page is generated. When the control page generation routine shown in  FIG. 14  is started, then the control integration portion  231  outputs in S 410  outputs the ID that corresponds to the problem that occurred in the printer  2  to the web server  234  and the URL settings portion  235 . Then, in S 420  the web server  234  selects the control page that corresponds to the problem and the URL settings portion  235  selects the URL that corresponds to the control page. The web server  234  waits for the administrator to access the selected control page. The mail preparation portion  222  appends the selected URL to an email message addressed to the administrator and transmits the email message to the email address of the administrator along with information about the problem. 
         [0096]    When the administrator receives the email message addressed to the administrator and clicks on the URL appended to the email message addressed to the administrator, then web server  234  provides the selected control page to the administrator terminal  3 . 
         [0097]    In the same manner as in the first embodiment, according to the second embodiment, when a problem occurs in the printer  2  operations for resolving the problem can be quickly undertaken. Also, a network terminal with simple operations for solving the problem can be realized. The printer  2  of the second embodiment prestores control pages. When a problem occurs. The printer  2  selects the corresponding control page and provides it to the administrator terminal  3 . Therefore, processes for preparing the control page are simpler than in the first embodiment, where a control page is generated each time a problem occurs. 
         [0098]    While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the attached claims. 
         [0099]    For example, the embodiments describe the present invention applied to a printer. However the present invention can be applied to a facsimile machine, a label printer, or a multifunction peripheral, which includes two or more of a printer function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function. 
         [0100]    The information notified from the network terminal to an administrator is not limited to problem information, but could any kind of information than can be notified using an email messages, such as information indicating an empty or near empty condition of consumables such as ink, toner, or recording sheets of the printer  2 . When the information relates to consumables, then the information could further include model name of the consumable and contact information on where to order the consumable. 
         [0101]    Also, if the network terminal includes a printer function, then the printer function can be used to printer out the notification mail when the notification mail is transmitted to the administrator terminal. 
         [0102]    Further, the network  1  need not be a wire LAN, but could be a wireless LAN or wireless technology such as BlueTooth can be used instead.