Abstract:
A management system in which at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed are connected via a management server, wherein the management server comprising:
       an information acquisition section for acquiring from the management apparatus, a host ID which discerns the management apparatus, and from the apparatus to be managed, acquiring a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, a host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and an apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed;   a memory section for memorizing the apparatus information in a database; and   a storage control section for creating a plurality of hierarchies structured with upper and lower hierarchies each other in the database, and saves the apparatus information into a lower hierarchy based on the host ID and the device ID acquired from the management apparatus.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-325647, which was filed to Japan Patent Office on Dec. 18, 2007, and all the contents of this application shall be incorporated here by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    A present invention relates to a control program, which operates by a management system, which includes a management server that connects a management apparatus and an apparatus to be managed, a management method and the management server. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A copying machine and a MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)(these are hereafter generically called an image forming apparatus), which include a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function and a scanner function, have popularized. Since this image forming apparatus has a high operating ratio, has many expendable parts- and needs to perform maintenance and check periodically, the image forming apparatus and the management apparatus are connected via communication network. The management apparatus acquires a printing number-of-sheets value of each size of form (counter value), defect information, such as jam, a toner residual quantity, a scanner counter value and information regarding the image forming apparatus of a firmware program version (hereafter, called apparatus information) from the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is managed based on the apparatus information. 
         [0004]    When there is a large number of the image forming apparatuses and when managing the image forming apparatus for every sales company, a method of providing the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus being a managing subject of the apparatus to be managed to each management apparatus by installing a management server between the management apparatus and the image forming apparatus and storing the apparatus information of all the image forming apparatus in this management server is used. 
         [0005]    As an example of such management system, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-340239 discloses a configuration that re-determines whether the apparatus discernment is registered in the database after it is determined that an acquired apparatus discernment is not registered in the database after the central control system acquires the apparatus discernment notified from a device and responds in order to have a device from which a notification was transmitted perform a notification of the apparatus information corresponding to an acquisition of the apparatus discernment in the management system, which includes the central control system (the management server) between a sales company side system and a group of the image forming apparatuses of a customer side. 
         [0006]    In a management system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-340239, collectively performing a central control of a plurality of the image forming apparatuses is made possible by storing the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus in the database of a central control system. However, since a structure of the database is one hierarchy, and the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus of managing subject of each sales company and the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus of non-managing subject are intermingled and stored in the database, there was a problem that a management became complicated. 
         [0007]    A method of providing the management server for every managing subject (for example, for every sales company) is also considered for the above-mentioned problem. However, in this method, a problem of cost of building the management server and cost of maintenance become high occurs. 
         [0008]    Making the management less complicated is possible by having information of every managing subject to one element of the database and displaying only the apparatus information for the managing subject. However, since the management server is required to confirm and determine the element of all registered apparatus information, a problem of a management server load becoming large occurs. 
         [0009]    In a management system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-340239, since the image forming apparatus was required to wait for the response from the central control system when the image forming apparatus accesses the central control system, there was a problem that it took time until series of operations (for example, registering operation) has finished. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The aspects of the present invention are any one of the computer readable storage mediums and the image forming apparatus described as follows.
   (1) According to a management system reflecting an aspect of the present invention, a management system in which at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed are connected via a management server, wherein the management server comprising:   
 
         [0012]    an information acquisition section for acquiring from the management apparatus, a host ID which discerns the management apparatus, and from the apparatus to be managed, acquiring a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, a host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and an apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed; 
         [0013]    a memory section for memorizing the apparatus information in a database; and 
         [0014]    a storage control section for creating a plurality of hierarchies structured with upper and lower hierarchies each other in the database, and saves the apparatus information into a lower hierarchy based on the host ID and the device ID acquired from the management apparatus.
   (2) According to a management system reflecting an aspect of the present invention, a management system in which at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed are connected via a management server, wherein the management server comprising:   
 
         [0016]    an information acquisition section for acquiring from the management apparatus, a host ID which discerns the management apparatus and a device ID which discerns an apparatus to be managed which the management apparatus manages, and from the apparatus to be managed, acquiring a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, a host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and an apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed; 
         [0017]    a memory section for memorizing the apparatus information in a database; and 
         [0018]    a storage control section for creating a plurality of hierarchies structured with upper and lower hierarchies each other in the database based on the host ID and the device ID acquired from the management apparatus and saves the apparatus information into a lower hierarchy.
   (3) According to a management method reflecting another aspect of the present invention, a management method for a management system in which at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed are connected via a management server,   
 
         [0020]    wherein the management method comprising: 
         [0021]    transmitting a host ID which discerns the management apparatus from the management apparatus to the management server, 
         [0022]    creating a first hierarchies based on the host ID acquired from the management apparatus into the database on the management server, 
         [0023]    transmitting a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, a host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and a apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed from the apparatus to be managed to the management server, 
         [0024]    creating a second hierarchy which belongs to the first hierarchy relating to the host ID based on the host ID and device ID acquired from the apparatus to be managed, and saving the apparatus information into the second hierarchy on the management server.
   (4) According to a management method reflecting another aspect of the present invention, a management method for a management system in which at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed are connected via a management server,   
 
         [0026]    wherein the management method comprising: 
         [0027]    transmitting a host ID which discerns the management apparatus and a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed that is managed by the management apparatus, from the management apparatus to the management server, 
         [0028]    creating a first hierarchies based on the host ID acquired from the management apparatus, 
         [0029]    creating a second hierarchy which belongs to the first hierarchy relating to the host ID based on the host ID and device ID acquired from the management apparatus on the management server, 
         [0030]    transmitting the device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, the host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and an apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed from the apparatus to be managed to the management server, and 
         [0031]    saving the apparatus information into the second hierarchy which belongs to the first hierarchy relating to the host ID on the management server.
   (5) According to a computer readable recording medium reflecting another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable recording medium storing a program which causes a management server which is connected to at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed,   
 
         [0033]    acquiring from the management apparatus, a host ID which discerns the management apparatus, 
         [0034]    acquiring from the apparatus to be managed, a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, a host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and an apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed, 
         [0035]    creating a plurality of hierarchies structured with upper and lower hierarchies each other in the database based on the host ID acquired from the management apparatus and the device ID acquired from the apparatus to be managed, and 
         [0036]    saving the apparatus information into a lower hierarchy.
   (6) According to a computer readable recording medium reflecting another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable recording medium storing a program which causes a management server which is connected to at least one management apparatus and at least one apparatus to be managed,   
 
         [0038]    acquiring from the management apparatus, a host ID which discerns the management apparatus and a device ID which discerns an apparatus to be managed that is managed by the management apparatus, 
         [0039]    acquiring from the apparatus to be managed, a device ID which discerns the apparatus to be managed, a host ID of the management apparatus managing the apparatus to be managed, and an apparatus information which indicates a status of the apparatus to be managed, 
         [0040]    creating a plurality of hierarchies structured with upper and lower hierarchies each other in the database based on the host ID and the device ID acquired from the management apparatus, and 
         [0041]    saving the apparatus information into a lower hierarchy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  illustrates a figure schematically showing a configuration of a management system related to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  illustrates a figure schematically showing other configuration of the management system related to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram showing a configuration of a management apparatus related to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram showing a configuration of a management server related to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus related to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart showing a registration procedure of the management apparatus related to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart showing a registration procedure of the image forming apparatus and a storing procedure of apparatus information related to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flow chart showing the registration procedure of the management apparatus and the image forming apparatus related to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart showing the storing procedure of the apparatus information related to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 10  illustrates a flow chart showing a perusal procedure of the apparatus information related to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0052]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is to provide a management server to which one or a plurality of management apparatuses and one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to efficiently manage a plurality of image forming apparatuses by providing an information acquisition section for acquiring a host ID, or host ID and device ID from a management apparatus, and for acquiring a host ID, a device ID and apparatus information from the image forming apparatus, a database for storing the apparatus information, and a storage control section for storing apparatus information of the image forming apparatus into a directory of every image forming apparatus by creating the directory for every image forming apparatus under the directory of every image forming apparatus based on a host ID and a device ID from the image forming apparatus, creating a directory of every management apparatus based on a host ID and a device ID from the management apparatus and creating directory of every image forming apparatus after creating a directory for every management apparatus based on the host ID from the management apparatus. 
         [0053]    A management system, a management method, and a control program related to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate figures schematically showing a configuration of the management system of this embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram showing a configuration of a management apparatus of this embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram showing a configuration of a management server of this embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus of this embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart showing a registration procedure of the management apparatus.  FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a registration procedure of the image forming apparatus and a storing procedure of apparatus information. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a management system  10  of this embodiment of the present invention includes a management apparatus  20  installed in a managing side (for example, each sales company), an apparatus to be managed installed in a side to be managed (for example each user or each company) (considered as an image forming apparatus  40  in this embodiment of the present invention), and a management server  30  installed in between the management apparatus  20  and the image forming apparatus  40 . These are mutually connected via communication networks, such as the Internet. 
         [0055]      FIG. 1  illustrates a basic configuration of the management system  10  of this embodiment of the present invention. Quantity and connection form of the management apparatus  20  and the image forming apparatus  40  are arbitrary. In  FIG. 1 , only the management apparatus  20  is provided in the managing side. However, a configuration in which a server and a database are provided in addition to the management apparatus  20  may be considered. Although only the image forming apparatus  40  is provided in the managed side in  FIG. 1 , a configuration in which a base monitoring apparatus  50  for supervising a plurality of the image forming apparatus  40  is provided may be considered as shown in  FIG. 2 . Hereafter, each configuration factor will be described in detail. 
       [Management Apparatus] 
       [0056]    The management apparatus  20  includes a control section  21 , a memory section  22 , a display section  23 , an operation section  24 , and a communication control section  25  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0057]    The control section  21  is configured by CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). CPU reads a various programs memorized in ROM, and extracts to RAM. Then, CPU controls operation of each section of the management apparatus  20  according to an extracted program by an operation of the operation section  24 . 
         [0058]    The memory section  22  is configured by a flash memory and hard disk, and memorizes various data. Particularly in this embodiment of the present invention, the memory section  22  memorizes information for discerning an apparatus itself (a serial number of the machine, MAC (Media Access Control) information, and information set up arbitrarily are hereafter called a host ID). In addition to that, the memory section  22  memorizes information related to the image forming apparatus  40  being a managing subject, which has been acquired from the management server  30  (A value for a number of printing sheets for every sheet size (counter value), JAM defect information, a toner residual quantity, a scanner counter value, and a firmware program version are hereafter called apparatus information). 
         [0059]    The display section  23  is configured by a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and an organic electroluminescence display. The display section  23  displays a screen for registering the management apparatus  20  to the management server  30  and a screen of a web site, which the management server  30  provides. 
         [0060]    The operation section  24  is configured by a keyboard and a mouse. The operation section  24  performs an operation for registering the management apparatus  20  to the management server  30 , and an operation for perusing and acquiring the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus  40  by using the web site screen provided by the management server  30 . 
         [0061]    The communication control section  25  is configured by NIC (Network Interface Card) and a modem, and connects the management apparatus  20  to a communication network. Particularly in this embodiment of the present invention, the communication control section  25  transmits the host ID to the management server  30 , and controls access to the web site provided by the management server  30 . 
       [Management Server] 
       [0062]    The management server  30  includes a control section  31 , a memory section  32 , and a communication control section  33  as shown in  FIG. 4 . This management server  30  can create a directory for storing the apparatus information acquired from the image forming apparatus  40 . A HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) server, and, especially, a WebDAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol for the WWW) server are preferable for the management server  30 . 
         [0063]    The control section  31  is configured by CPU, ROM, and RAM. CPU reads various programs memorized by ROM and extracts to RAM. Then, CPU controls the operation of each section of the management server  30  according to the extracted program. The control section  31  functions as an information acquisition section  31   a  and a storage control section  31   b.    
         [0064]    The information acquisition section  31   a  acquires the host ID from the management apparatus. In addition to that, the information acquisition section  31   a  acquires the host ID and the information that discerns the image forming apparatus  40  (Information set up at the time of manufacture, such as a mechanical serial number or MAC information, is hereafter called device ID) and the apparatus information of this image forming apparatus  40  from the image forming apparatus  40 . The storage control section  31   b  searches the host ID and the device ID from the memory section  32  (database), creates a multi-tiered hierarchy directory to the memory section  32  based on the host ID and the device ID, and stores the apparatus information in a device ID directory. 
         [0065]    The information acquisition section  31   a  and the storage control section  31   b  may be configured as a hardware, may be configured as a control program for functioning the information acquisition section  31   a  and the storage control section as a computer, or may be configured to operate the control program on the control section  31 . 
         [0066]    The memory section  32  is configured by a flash memory and hard disk, and functions as a database, which memorizes various data. Particularly in this embodiment of the present invention, the memory section  32  memorizes the apparatus information with the multi-tiered hierarchy created based on the host ID and the device ID. This memory section  32  may be provided in the management server  30 , and may be separated from the management server  30 . 
         [0067]    The communication control section  33  is configured by NIC and a modem, and connects the management server  30  to the communication network. Particularly in this embodiment of the present invention, a web site for the management apparatus  20  to peruse and acquire the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus  40  is provided. 
         [0068]    Although the management server  30  is configured so as to include the control section  31 , the memory section  32 , and the communication control section  33  in  FIG. 4 , a display section and an operation section for an operator to operate may be provided as well. 
       [Image Forming Apparatus] 
       [0069]    The image forming apparatus  40  includes a control section  41 , a scanner section  42 , an image processing section  43 , a printer section  44 , a memory section  45 , a display and operation section  46  and a communication control section  47  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0070]    The control section  41  is configured by CPU, ROM, and RAM. CPU reads the various programs memorized by ROM, and extracts to RAM by an operation of the display and operation section  46 . Then, CPU controls an operation of each section of the image forming apparatus  40 , and manages a state of each section according to the extracted program. 
         [0071]    The scanner section  42  reads information recorded on a document, and is configured by a light source for scanning the document, a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) for converting a light reflected on the document into an electric signal, and an A/D converter for A/D converting the electric signal. 
         [0072]    The image processing section  43  performs a various image processing, such as expansion/reduction, rotation, frequency conversion, color conversion to YMCK data from RGB data and tone correction, to an image read by the scanner section  42  (hereafter, called a scanned image). 
         [0073]    The printer section  44  includes an image forming section for forming an image to be printed on a transfer paper, a transfer section for transferring a formed image onto the transfer paper, a fixing section for fixing a transferred image, a conveyance section for conveying the transfer paper, a cleaning section for cleaning the image forming section, the transfer section and fixing section. The printer section  44  forms the image and outputs on the transfer paper with an electronic photographic method based on an inputted data. The printer section  44  is also provided with a method for monitoring the toner residual quantity and a counter for counting a printing number of sheets of the transfer paper of each size of form. Then, the printer section  44  transmits the apparatus information such as the toner residual quantity and a counter value to the control section  41 . 
         [0074]    The memory section  45  is configured by a flash memory and a hard disk, and memorizes various data and setting conditions. Particularly in this embodiment of the present invention, the memory section  45  memorizes the device ID of the apparatus information of each section and of the apparatus itself, and the host ID of management apparatus  20 . 
         [0075]    The display and operation section  46  is configured by having an operation section of a pressure-sensitive type (touch panel) onto which a transparent electrode is arranged in lattice shape on the liquid crystal display or the organic electroluminescence display. The display and operation section  46  detects XY coordinates of a emphasis pushed with fingers and a touch pen in a voltage value, and outputs to the control section  41  by making a detected position signal into a manipulate signal. 
         [0076]    The communication control section  47  is configured by NIC and a modem, and connects the image forming apparatus  40  to the communication network. Particularly in this embodiment of the present invention, the communication control section  47  controls a transmission of the host ID, the device ID and the apparatus information to the management server  30 . 
         [0077]    In  FIG. 5 , the image forming apparatus  40  is considered as a multi function peripheral, which includes the scanner section  42 , the image processing section  43  and the printer section  44 . However, the image forming apparatus  40  may be a scanner, a printer and a copy machine. Further, the image forming apparatus  40  may be configured to have an finishing apparatus, which performs ADF (Auto Document Feeder), a hole punch, a staple and a binding. 
         [0078]    Hereafter, a procedure of registering the management apparatus  20  to the management server  30  using the management system  10  of the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 6 . The management server  30  and the memory section  32  (database) are shown separately in  FIG. 6  ( FIGS. 7-10  are also the same) in order to make a database process easy to understand. 
         [0079]    First, in (1), the control section  21  of the management apparatus  20  accesses the management server  30  using the communication control section  25 , transmits a predetermined ID and password and logs into the management server  30 . 
         [0080]    Next, in (2), the management server  30  compares the ID and password transmitted from the management apparatus  20  to the ID and the password memorized by the memory section  32 . Then, the management server  30  authenticates the management apparatus  20  and notifies an authentication result to the management apparatus  20 . 
         [0081]    Next, in (3), the authenticated management apparatus  20  transmits the host ID (here, referred to as “ABC”), which is memorized by the memory section  22  in advance, or is inputted from the operation section  24 , to the management server  30 . Then, the authenticated management apparatus  20  performs a registration request to the management server  30 . Although a transmission method of the host ID is not particularly limited, for example, in a case when the management server  30  is a HTTP server (especially WebDAV server), it may be arranged so that a web screen is created in the management server  30  side, and is displayed by a web browser of the management apparatus  20  so that the host ID can be written in onto the web screen. 
         [0082]    Next, in (4), the information acquisition section  31   a  of the management server  30  acquires the transmitted host ID, and the storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the host ID “ABC” to the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0083]    In a case when the host ID “ABC” is found on the database as a search result of (5), a process ends. On the other hand, in a case when the host ID “ABC” is not found on the database as a search result of (5), the storage control section  31   b  creates a directory of “ABC” in (6). Then, the process ends. 
         [0084]    Next, the registration of the image forming apparatus and the storing procedure of the apparatus information are explained with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0085]    First, when a service personnel sets up the image forming apparatus  40  to a user&#39;s site, the service personnel sets up information (IP address) of a base monitoring apparatus  50  to the image forming apparatus  40  by operating the display and operation section  46  when there is information of the management server  30  (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and IP (Internet Protocol) address), the host ID of the management apparatus  20  (the above-mentioned “ABC”), and the base monitoring apparatus  50 . 
         [0086]    Next, in (1) and (2), the control section  41  of the image forming apparatus  40  acquires the apparatus information from each section, and notifies the host ID, the device ID and the apparatus information to the management server  30  (or the base monitoring apparatus  50 ) in a predetermined timing. 
         [0087]    Next, in (3), the information acquisition section  31   a  of the management server  30  acquires the transmitted host ID, and the storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the host ID “ABC” to the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0088]    In case when the host ID “ABC” is not found on the database as a search result of (4), a management is determined to be unprepared. Therefore, the control section  31  notifies an error to the image forming apparatus  40 . On the other hand, in case when the host ID “ABC” is found on the database, the storage control section  31   b  performs a search of a device ID “0001” to the memory section  32  (database) in (5). 
         [0089]    In case when the device ID “ 00011 ” is not found on the database as a search result of (6), the storage control section  31   b  creates a “0001” directory under an “ABC” directory to the database in (7). 
         [0090]    After creating the directory in (7), or in case when the device ID “0001” is found on the database in (6), the storage control section  31   b  stores the apparatus information to ABC/0001 directory of the database, and the process ends after that in (8). 
         [0091]    Thus, when the host ID is transmitted from the management apparatus  20 , the storage control section  31   b  of the management server  30  creates the host ID directory to the memory section  32  (database). When the host ID, the device ID, and the apparatus information are transmitted from the image forming apparatus  40 , the storage control section  31 b of the management server  30  creates the device ID directory to a lower hierarchy of the host ID directory. Since the storage control section  31   b  of the management server  30  performs control for storing the apparatus information in the device ID directory, the apparatus information can be memorized in a form that is easy to manage. Thereby, a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be managed by the management apparatus  20  efficiently. 
         [0092]    Next, a management system, a management method, and a control program related to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a flow chart showing a registration procedure of a management apparatus and an image forming apparatus.  FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart showing a procedure of storing apparatus information of the image forming apparatus. 
         [0093]    In the above-mentioned first embodiment of the present invention, when the host ID is transmitted from the management apparatus  20 , the storage control section  31   b  of the management server  30  creates the host ID directory to the memory section  32  (database). And when the device ID is transmitted from the image forming apparatus  40 , the storage control section  31   b  of the management server  30  creates the device ID directory to the memory section  32  (database). However, in this configuration, a person who unjustly acquired the host ID is able to create the device ID directory in the database by transmitting the host ID and the device ID from the image forming apparatus  40 . There is a possibility that the apparatus information may be unjustly or accidentally registered. 
         [0094]    Accordingly, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the device ID directory is created in the database only with an instruction from the management apparatus  20  so that such impropriety will not occur. Hereafter, a procedure of registering the management apparatus  20  and the image forming apparatus  40  into the management server  30  will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0095]    First, as the same as the first embodiment of the present invention, in (1), the control section  21  of the management apparatus  20  accesses the management server  30  using the communication control section  25 , transmits a predetermined ID and password, and logs in to the management server  30 . 
         [0096]    Next, in (2), the management server  30  compares the ID and password transmitted from the management apparatus  20 , and the ID and password memorized by the memory section  32 . Then, the management server  30  authenticates the management apparatus  20 , and notifies the authentication result to the management apparatus  20 . 
         [0097]    Next, in (3), the authenticated management apparatus  20  transmits the host ID (here, referred to as “ABC”), which is memorized by the memory section  22  or is inputted from the operation section  24 , to the management server  30 , and performs a registration request of the management apparatus  20  to the management server  30 . With this, in (4), the device ID (here, referred to as “0001”), which is memorized by the memory section  22  in advance or is inputted from the operation section  24 , is transmitted to the management server  30 , and a registration request of the image forming apparatus  40  is performed to the management server  30 . A transmission method of the host ID and the device ID is not particularly limited. However, in case when the management server  30  is a HTTP server (especially WebDAV server) as the same as the above mentioned first embodiment of the present invention, it may be arranged so that a web screen is created in the management server  30  side, and is displayed by a web browser of the management apparatus  20  so that the host ID can be written in onto the web screen. 
         [0098]    Next, in (5), the information acquisition section  31   a  of the management server  30  acquires the host ID and device ID, which were transmitted. Then, the storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the host ID “ABC” to the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0099]    In case when the host ID “ABC” is not found on the database as a search result of (6), the storage control section  31   b  creates a directory of “ABC” to the database in (7). 
         [0100]    After the directory has been created in (7), or when the host ID “ABC” is found on the database in (6), the storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the device ID “0001” to the memory section  32  (database) in (8). 
         [0101]    When the device ID “0001” is found on the database as a search result of (9), the process ends. When the device ID “0001” is not found on the database, the storage control section  31   b  creates a “0001” directory under the “ABC” directory to the database, and process ends after that. 
         [0102]    Next, the storing procedure of the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0103]    First, as the same as the first embodiment of the present invention, when a service personnel sets up the image forming apparatus  40  to a user&#39;s site, the service personnel sets up information (IP address) of the management server  30  (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and IP (Internet Protocol) address)and the host ID of the management apparatus  20  (the above-mentioned “ABC”) by operating the display and operation section  46 . When there is a base monitoring apparatus  50  the service personnel sets up information (IP address) of the base monitoring apparatus  50  to the image forming apparatus  40  by operating the display and operation section  46 . 
         [0104]    Next, in (1) and (2), the control section  41  of the image forming apparatus  40  acquires the apparatus information from each section, and notifies the host ID, the device ID, the apparatus information to the management server  30  (or the base monitoring apparatus  50 ) at a predetermined timing. 
         [0105]    Next, in (3), the information acquisition section  31   a  of the management server  30  acquires the host ID and the device ID, which have been transmitted. The storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the host ID “ABC” to the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0106]    When the host ID “ABC” is not found on a database as a search result of (4), the management is determined to be unprepared, and the control section  31  notifies an error to the image forming apparatus  40 . On the other hand, when the host ID “ABC” is found on the database, the storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the device ID “00011” to the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0107]    In case when the device ID “00011” is not found on the database as a search result of (6), the control section  30  determines that the management apparatus  20  is not considering the device ID as the managing subject and notifies an error to the image forming apparatus  40 . On the other hand, when the device ID “00011” is found on the database as a search result of (6), the storage control section  31   b  stores the apparatus information to the ABC/0001 directory of the database, and the process ends after that. 
         [0108]    Thus, when the host ID and the device ID are transmitted from the management apparatus  20 , the storage control section  31   b  of the management server  30  creates the host ID directory and the device ID directory to the memory section  32  (database). When the host ID, the device ID and the apparatus information are transmitted from the image forming apparatus  40 , since the storage control section  31   b  of the management server  30  performs a control for storing the apparatus information to the device ID directory, the apparatus information can be memorized in a form that is easy to be managed. Thereby, a plurality of image forming apparatuses  40  is efficiently manageable with the management apparatus  20 . Since the host ID directory and the device ID directory are created by a request from the management apparatus  20 , a problem of the device ID directory being unjustly or accidentally created in the database can be prevented. 
         [0109]    Next, a management system, a management method and a control program related to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a flow chart showing a perusal procedure of the apparatus information of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0110]    The above-mentioned first and second embodiments of the present invention described the procedure of storing the apparatus information to the memory section  32  (database) of the management server  30 . However, in the third embodiment of the present invention, a procedure of perusing the stored apparatus information will be described. Hereafter, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0111]    First, as the same as the first and the second embodiments of the present invention, in (1), the control section  21  of the management apparatus  20  accesses the management server  30  using the communication control section  25 , transmits predetermined ID and password, and logs in to the management server  30 . 
         [0112]    Next, in (2), the management server  30  compares the ID and the password transmitted from the management apparatus  20  with the ID and the password memorized by the memory section  32 . Then, the management server  30  authenticates the management apparatus  20 , and notifies the authentication result to the management apparatus  20 . 
         [0113]    Next, in (3), the authenticated management apparatus  20  transmits the host ID (here, referred to as “ABC”) inputted from the operation section  24  to the management server  30 , and performs an acquisition request of information to the management server  30 . A transmission method of the host ID is not particularly limited. However, as the same as the first and second embodiments of the present invention, when the management server  30  is the HTTP server (especially WebDAV server), it may be arranged so that a web screen is created in the management server  30  side, and is displayed by a web browser of the management apparatus  20  so that the host ID can be written in onto the web screen. 
         [0114]    Next, in (4), the information acquisition section  31   a  of the management server  30  acquires the transmitted host ID. The storage control section  31   b  performs a search of the host ID “ABC” to the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0115]    When the host ID “ABC” is not found on the database as a search result of (5), an error is notified to the management apparatus  20  and the process ends. When the host ID “ABC” is found on the database, the data in the “ABC” directory is acquired from the memory section  32  (database) in (6) and (7). Then the acquired data is transmitted to the management apparatus  20  in (8). 
         [0116]    Next, in (9), the management apparatus  20  displays the data transmitted from the management server  30  onto the display section  23 . A display form of this data is not particularly limited. The display form may be configured so that the transmitted data may be displayed on a screen created on the management apparatus  20  side. When the management server  30  is the HTTP server (especially WebDAV server), the display form may be configured so that a web screen on which the data in the “ABC” directory is created in the management server  30  side, is displayed by the web browser of the management apparatus  20 , and performs a perusal and acquiring of the data. 
         [0117]    A case of acquiring the data in the host ID directory was illustrated in the above-mentioned flow. However, acquiring the data in the device ID directory is also possible. In that case, an information acquisition request is performed by specifying the host ID and the device ID in (3). And the management server  30  may search the device ID directory under the host ID directory from the memory section  32  (database). 
         [0118]    Each above-mentioned embodiment showed the case where the directory for every image forming apparatus was created under the directory for every management apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and two or more hierarchies may be created to the memory section  32  (database). For example, three or more hierarchies may be created, such as creating the directory for every group under the directory for every management apparatus, and creating the directory for every image forming apparatus under that. 
         [0119]    Each above-mentioned embodiment showed the case where the apparatus information was stored. However, it is equally applicable to the case when storing arbitrary information required for managing the apparatus to be managed with the management apparatus  20 . Each above-mentioned embodiment showed the case where the image forming apparatus  40  as the apparatus to be managed was managed. However, it is equally applicable to an arbitrary apparatus to be managed that is managed by the management apparatus  20 . 
         [0120]    According to the management system, the management method and the control program of each above-mentioned embodiment, at least one apparatuses to be managed are efficiently manageable. 
         [0121]    The reason is that the management of the apparatus information can easily be performed by providing a management server between at least one management apparatuses and at least one apparatuses to be managed, and configuring the database of the management server into a multi-tiered hierarchy structure by providing 
         [0122]    the information acquisition section for acquiring the host ID, the device ID and the apparatus information, and the storage control section for storing the apparatus information by creating a plurality of hierarchy, for example, by creating the directory for every apparatus to be managed under the directory for every management apparatus, based on the database for registering the apparatus information, the host ID and the device ID. 
         [0123]    In the storage control section, the directory for every apparatus to be managed is created under the directory for every management apparatus based on the host ID and device ID, which were transmitted from the apparatus to be managed, and the directory for every apparatus to be managed is created under the directory for every management apparatus based on the host ID and device ID, which were transmitted from the management apparatus after the directory for every management apparatus was created in the database based on the host ID transmitted from the management apparatus. As described above, since a directory cannot be created in the database until the host ID is transmitted from the management apparatus, unjust registration and erroneous registration can be prevented.