Abstract:
A disclosed portable apparatus is connectable to a client terminal connected to a network and has a program stored therein for causing the client terminal to function as a device information acquisition unit and an analysis unit. The device information acquisition unit is configured to obtain operational information on a device that is assigned a network address and connected to the network, and the analysis unit is configured to delete at least a part of information on the network address which information is obtained together with the operational information, to analyze the obtained operational information, and to output results of the analysis of the operational information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a technology for obtaining operational information on devices connected to a network. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In recent years, total cost of ownership (TCO) has been a keyword in reducing costs incurred relating to the ownership of devices. For example, the TCO of electronic devices, for example, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, can be calculated by obtaining information including the purchase prices of the image forming apparatuses and the number of pages printed and thereby obtaining the running costs incurred by expendable supplies such as toner and paper. 
         [0005]    To obtain running costs of electronic devices used by a client, it is necessary to obtain the operational information on the electronic devices. Such operational information is normally obtained by visiting the site where the electronic devices are installed. 
         [0006]    Also, with the advancement of computer technologies, it has become possible to obtain the operational information on electronic devices via a network (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2). Technologies disclosed in the patent documents 1 and 2 provide a program, apparatus, or system that is simply configured and makes it possible to monitor multifunction image forming apparatuses connected to a LAN by using a general-purpose network and existing facilities. In the disclosed technologies, the simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used for monitoring the multifunction image forming apparatuses. SNMP is a network management protocol. A network management model using SNMP includes a management apparatus called an SNMP manager and SNMP agents provided in devices to be managed by the SNMP manager. The SNMP manager sends requests to the SNMP agents and the SNMP agents return information requested. An SNMP agent in an SNMP-enabled device retains a management information base (MIB) that is management information on the SNMP-enabled device itself. Information items contained in the MIB are assigned standardized numbers called object identifiers (OID). The SNMP manager sends a request with OIDs specified to the SNMP agent and thereby obtains information from the SNMP agent. 
         [0007]    [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-213110 (page 1) 
         [0008]    [Patent document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-318843 (page 1) 
         [0009]    It is preferable to make the process of obtaining a total cost of ownership as efficient as possible. When multiple devices are used in an office of a client (client&#39;s office), it is troublesome and time-consuming to go around in the client&#39;s office to obtain the information on the devices. 
         [0010]    On the other hand, when obtaining operational information of devices via a network of the client, it is necessary to connect a computer for obtaining the operational information on the devices to the network. However, it is troublesome to configure the network settings of the computer each time to obtain the operational information of devices. Also, for security reasons, it is not desirable to connect a computer of an outsider to a corporate network. 
         [0011]    Further, operational information of devices of a client must be managed with the greatest possible care. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides a device information acquisition apparatus and a device information acquisition program that substantially obviate one or more problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0013]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a device information acquisition apparatus and a device information acquisition program that make it possible to efficiently obtain operational information on devices connected to a network in an office of a client, thereby to calculate a total cost of ownership of the devices, and to adequately manage the obtained operational information. 
         [0014]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a portable apparatus that is connectable to a client terminal connected to a network and has a program stored therein for causing the client terminal to function as a device information acquisition unit and an analysis unit, wherein the device information acquisition unit is configured to obtain operational information on a device that is assigned a network address and connected to the network; and the analysis unit is configured to delete at least a part of information on the network address assigned to the device which information is obtained together with the operational information, to analyze the obtained operational information, and to output the results of the analysis of the operational information. 
         [0015]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides a portable apparatus having a program stored therein for causing a client terminal connected to a network to obtain and analyze operational information on a device that is assigned a network address and connected to the network. The program includes a device information acquisition code unit configured to cause the client terminal to obtain the operational information on the device; and an analysis code unit configured to cause the client terminal to delete at least a part of information on the network address assigned to the device which information is obtained together with the operational information, to analyze the operational information, and to output the results of the analysis of the operational information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary functional configuration of an exemplary client terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary functional configurations of the exemplary client terminal and an exemplary USB memory according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary process of obtaining and analyzing information on a device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary process of analyzing obtained information on a device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating exemplary screens displayed on the exemplary client terminal; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating exemplary screens displayed on the exemplary client terminal; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating exemplary screens displayed on the exemplary client terminal; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating exemplary network connection status data; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating exemplary cost status data; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating a screen that shows details of usage status of a device; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  shows an exemplary network connection status table; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  shows an exemplary cost status table; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a drawing used to describe an exemplary process of nullifying address information. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0031]    An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 14 . In this embodiment, a USB memory and a client terminal are used to obtain information on network devices connected to a network. For example, a service person visits a client&#39;s office with a USB memory, obtains information on image processing apparatuses  30  (hereafter, may be referred to just as devices or network devices) connected to a local area network (LAN) of the client, and analyzes the obtained information to optimize the use of the image processing apparatuses  30 . 
         [0032]    Some of the image forming apparatuses  30  are SNMP-enabled and each of the SNMP-enabled image forming apparatuses  30  has an MIB containing its operational information. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an MIB contains a vendor name indicating the manufacturer of the corresponding image forming apparatus  30 , a model name used as a model identifier, a MAC address or a media access control address, and a serial number. Also, an MIB contains a total count indicating the number of pages printed by the corresponding image forming apparatus  30 . The total count is the sum of the number of pages printed (print count) using the print function, the number of pages copied (copy count) using the copy function, and the number of pages output (fax count) using the facsimile function. 
         [0033]    An SNMP manager in a client terminal  20  is used to obtain information in MIBs. The client terminal  20  is a computer in the client&#39;s office. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the client terminal  20  includes a control unit  21 , an output unit  22  such as a display, and an input unit  23  including, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device. 
         [0034]    The control unit  21  includes a CPU and a storage unit (such as a RAM or a ROM) and communicates with network devices via a network. Also, the control unit  21  performs, for example, a step of obtaining operational information, a step of deleting a part of address information, a step of storing the obtained operational information, and a step of analyzing the operational information. The control unit  21  performs the above steps by executing a device information acquisition program and thereby functions, for example, as a device information acquisition unit, an analysis unit, and an obtained operational information storing unit. 
         [0035]    The client terminal  20  also includes an external interface  24  and a communication interface  25 . The external interface  24  is used to connect a USB memory  10 . The communication interface  25  communicates with network devices via a local area network. The client terminal  20  further includes a data storage unit such as a hard disk drive. A spreadsheet program described later is stored in the data storage unit. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the USB memory  10  contains an installer  11 , a count acquisition tool  12 , and an analysis macro tool  13 . The installer  11  is used to install an integrated device operation management utility  210  into the client terminal  20 . The integrated device operation management utility  210  runs on the client terminal  20  and functions as an SNMP manager. 
         [0037]    The count acquisition tool  12  is an application program for sending/receiving data to/from the integrated device operation management utility  210 . The count acquisition tool  12  and the integrated device operation management utility  210  function together as a device information acquisition unit. The count acquisition tool  12  obtains information on network devices connected to a LAN from the integrated device operation management utility  210  and stores the obtained information in a device information storage unit  15  of the USB memory  10 . 
         [0038]    The USB memory  10  also includes a device master data storage unit  16 . The device master data storage unit  16  contains master data on network devices available in the market. For example, the master data includes attribute information of each of the network devices and the attribute information is associated with the model name of the corresponding network device. The attribute information includes items such as recommended number of pages, black-and-white printing cost per page, color printing cost per page, release month and year, percentage of black-and-white pages, and percentage of color pages. 
         [0039]    The analysis macro tool  13  is a program that runs on the spreadsheet program  220 . The analysis macro tool  13  performs various calculations in conjunction with the spreadsheet program  220  executed by the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  and thereby functions as an analysis unit. 
         [0040]    An exemplary process of obtaining and analyzing information on network devices using the above described system is described below with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0041]    First, the USB memory  10  is connected to the external interface  24  of the client terminal  20 . Then, an authentication step (step S 1 - 1 ) for logging into a security area of the USB memory  10  is performed. More specifically, when detecting the connection of the USB memory  10 , the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  outputs a screen  400  shown in  FIG. 6  to the output unit  22 . Then, the “Security area” button on the screen  400  is clicked on and a screen  410  shown in  FIG. 6  is output to the output unit  22 . The “Password” entry field is provided on the screen  410 . A specified password is entered in the “Password” entry field and the “OK” button is clicked. The control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  compares the entered password and a password retained in the USB memory  10 . 
         [0042]    When the passwords match, the control unit  21  authorizes the access to the security area in the USB memory  10  and outputs a screen  420  shown in  FIG. 6 . The screen  420  includes launch buttons for the application programs stored in the USB memory  10 . The “Installer” launch button on the screen  420  is clicked on and the installer  11  stored in the USB memory  10  installs the integrated device operation management utility  210  into the client terminal  20  (step S 1 - 2 ). 
         [0043]    Next, the “Count acquisition tool” launch button on the screen  420  is clicked on and the count acquisition tool  12  stored in the USB memory  10  is started (step S 1 - 3 ). 
         [0044]    When the count acquisition tool  12  is started, the client terminal  20  outputs a screen  500  shown in  FIG. 7  to the output unit  22 . The screen  500  includes the “Obtain new data” button, the “Obtain count” button, the “Start analysis” button, the “Obtain from existing file” button, and the “Quit,” button. In this exemplary process, the “Obtain new data” button is clicked on to generate new data. Meanwhile, to reanalyze existing data, the “Obtain from existing file” button is used. When the “Obtain new data” button is clicked on, a screen  510  shown in  FIG. 7  is output to the output unit  22 . The screen  510  includes the “Data name” entry field, the “Comment” entry field, and the “Number of operating days per month” entry field. The “Data name” entry field is used to enter a file name of generated data. The “Comment” entry field is used to enter comments when necessary and the “Number of operating days per month” entry field is used to enter the number of operating days per month. After necessary information is entered in the entry fields, the “OK” button is clicked on. 
         [0045]    When the “OK” button is clicked on, a screen  520  shown in  FIG. 7  is output to the output unit  22 . On the screen  520 , the data name entered on the screen  510  is displayed. 
         [0046]    Next, the “Obtain count” button on the screen  520  is clicked on. When the “Obtain count” button is clicked on, the control unit  20  starts the integrated device operation management utility  210  installed in the client terminal  20  and outputs a screen  530  shown in  FIG. 8  to the output unit  22 . The screen  530  is an entry screen used to set up conditions for searching for and monitoring target network devices. The range of network addresses to be searched is obtained by interviewing the client. 
         [0047]    When searching for network devices in the same network segment as that of the client terminal  20 , the “Local network” check box on the screen  530  is selected and specification of other conditions is not necessary. In this case, network devices are searched for within the IP address range identified by a subnet mask. 
         [0048]    Also, IP addresses can be specified one by one by entering each of the IP addresses in the “Address” entry field on the screen  530  and clicking on the “Add” button. When the “Add” button is clicked on, the entered IP address is added to the list box on the right side. In this case, network devices with the IP addresses shown in the list box are searched for. 
         [0049]    When also searching for network devices in other network segments, the “Range specification” check box is selected. To add a network segment, a start address and an end address are entered in the “Start address” and “End address” entry fields, respectively. When the “Add” button is clicked on, the entered IP address range is added to the list box on the right side. In this case, network devices are searched for within the IP address ranges shown in the list box. After the conditions are set up on the screen  530 , the “OK” button is clicked on. 
         [0050]    When the “OK” button is clicked, the count acquisition tool  12  obtains information on the image forming apparatuses  30  (step S 1 - 4 ). More specifically, the SNMP manager implemented by the integrated device operation management utility  210  obtains the information on the network devices having IP addresses specified on the screen  530 . Here, it is assumed that IP address ranges are specified. In this case, the SNMP manager sends ping packets to the LAN and receives responses from network devices connected to the LAN. Based on the responses, the SNMP manager obtains and lists the IP addresses of network devices in operation, and stores the IP address list in the device information storage unit  15 . 
         [0051]    Then, the SNMP manager sends a request with OIDs specified to each of IP addresses that are in the obtained IP address list and also in the specified IP address ranges to obtain information in the corresponding MIB (MIB information). When receiving the request, the SNMP agent of each of SNMP-enabled network devices returns a response containing the MIB information. The MIB information includes a vendor name, a model name, and a total count. 
         [0052]    The count acquisition tool  12  obtains the MIB information of the SNMP-enabled network devices from the SNMP manager and stores the MIB information in the device information storage unit  15 . 
         [0053]    After the IP addresses and the MIB information (device information) are obtained, a screen  540  shown in  FIG. 8  is output to the output unit  22  of the client terminal  20 . Then, the “Start analysis” button on the screen  540  is clicked on to start the analysis of the device information. When the “Start analysis” button is clicked on, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  starts the spreadsheet program  220  (step S 1 - 5 ). 
         [0054]    The spreadsheet program  220  performs various calculations in conjunction with the analysis macro tool  13 . More specifically, the control unit  21  imports the device information stored in the device information storage unit  15  into the spreadsheet program  220  (step S 1 - 6 ). 
         [0055]    The control unit  21  compares the model names in the MIB information in the device information with the model names in the device master data stored in the device master data storage unit  16  and imports the attribute information with matching model names into the spreadsheet program  220  (step S 1 - 7 ). 
         [0056]    Then, the analysis macro tool  13  generates network connection status data  151  shown in  FIG. 9 . The network connection status data  151  includes items such as address, model name, vendor name, total count, recommended number of pages, black-and-white printing cost per page, black-and-white printing cost per page obtained by interview, color printing cost per page, color printing cost per page obtained by interview, paper cost per sheet obtained by interview, release month and year, and month and year of purchase obtained by interview. The address, the model name, the vendor name, and the total count are obtained from the MIB information. The recommended number of pages, the black-and-white printing cost per page, the color printing cost per page, and the release month and year are obtained from the device master data. 
         [0057]    Also, the analysis macro tool  13  generates cost status data  152  shown in  FIG. 10 . The cost status data  152  includes items such as address, model name, vendor name, number of months in service, estimated number of pages printed per month, black-and-white printing cost per page, black-and-white printing cost per page obtained by interview, color printing cost per page, color printing cost per page obtained by interview, paper cost per sheet obtained by interview, percentage of black-and-white pages, percentage of color pages, current number of black-and-white pages printed, current number of color pages printed, current black-and-white printing cost, current color printing cost, and current total cost. The black-and-white printing cost per page, the color printing cost per page, the percentage of black-and-white pages, and the percentage of color pages are obtained from the device master data. 
         [0058]    The number of months in service can be calculated from the month and year of purchase obtained by interview and the current month and year. The estimated number of pages printed per month can be calculated by dividing the total count by the number of months in service. The current number of black-and-white pages printed and the current number of color pages printed are calculated by multiplying the estimated number of pages printed per month with the percentage of black-and-white pages and the percentage of color pages, respectively. 
         [0059]    Next, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  outputs a screen  600  shown in  FIG. 11 . The screen  600  shows the details of usage status of the network devices and includes a network connection status table  610  and a cost status table  620 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the network connection status table  610  is generated based on the network connection status data  151 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the cost status table  620  is generated based on the cost status data  152 . 
         [0060]    After generating the network connection status table  610  and the cost status table  620 , the control unit  21  nullifies the address information in the tables (step S 1 - 8 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the control unit  21  replaces high-order digits of the addresses in the network connection status table  610  and the cost status table  620  with 0s and thereby nullifies the address information. 
         [0061]    Next, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  performs an analysis step (step S 1 - 9 ). In the analysis step, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  performs the sub-steps shown in  FIG. 5  using the analysis macro tool  13 . 
         [0062]    First, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  performs an obtained by interview information registration sub-step (step S 2 - 1 ). In the obtained by interview information registration sub-step, the control unit  21  adds information items obtained by interview and entered in the network connection status table  610  to the network connection status data  151 . 
         [0063]    Meanwhile, for a network device that is not SNMP-enabled, “Not supported” is displayed in the total count field. In such a case, the total count is entered manually in the network connection status table  610  by using the input unit  23 . 
         [0064]    The black-and-white printing cost per page obtained by interview and the color printing cost per page obtained by interview are contractual printing prices and obtained by interviewing the client. The paper cost per sheet obtained by interview is the price per sheet of paper used by the client and is obtained by interviewing the client. The month and year of purchase obtained by interview is the month and year of purchase of a network device and is obtained by interviewing the client. 
         [0065]    The above information items obtained by interview are entered in the network connection status table  610  and the entered information items are added by the control unit  21  to the network connection status data  151 . The control unit  21  also calculates some of the information items in the cost status data  152  as described below. The number of months in service in the cost status data  152  is calculated based on the month and year of purchase obtained by interview in the network connection status table  610 . The estimated number of pages printed per month is calculated by dividing the total count by the number of months in service. 
         [0066]    The black-and-white printing cost per page obtained by interview, the color printing cost per page obtained by interview, and the paper cost per sheet obtained by interview are automatically obtained from the corresponding values in the network connection status table  610 . 
         [0067]    For each of the percentage of black-and-white pages and the percentage of color pages, 50% is specified as the initial value. The initial value can be changed as needed. The current number of black-and-white pages printed and the current number of color pages printed are obtained based on the percentage of black-and-white pages and the percentage of color pages. 
         [0068]    Next, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  performs a running cost confirmation sub-step (step S 2 - 2 ). The running cost confirmation sub-step is performed to find out disproportionate concentration of print jobs on some of the devices with high printing costs. In the running cost confirmation sub-step, the control unit  21  sorts the devices in descending order of printing costs per page. When the output rate (estimated number of pages printed per month/total estimated number of pages printed per month) of a highly-ranked device is larger than a reference value, the control unit  21  outputs an alarm. In this embodiment, reference values are obtained based on the number of devices in the LAN. For example, the reference value for the first-ranked device is obtained by “2/number of devices” and the reference value for the second-ranked device is obtained by “4/number of devices”. When the output rate exceeds the corresponding reference value, the values of the current black-and-white printing cost, the current color printing cost, and the current total cost are displayed in red. 
         [0069]    Next, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  performs a long-time used device confirmation sub-step (step S 2 - 3 ). In the long-time used device confirmation sub-step, the control unit  21  identifies devices that are in service more than 30 months and displays the values of the number of months in service of the identified devices in red. 
         [0070]    Further, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  performs a recommended number of pages confirmation sub-step (step S 2 - 4 ). In this sub-step, the control unit  21  compares the estimated number of pages printed per month and the recommended number of pages per month. When the estimated number of pages printed per month of a device is larger than the recommended number of pages per month of the device, the control unit  21  displays the value of the estimated number of pages printed per month in red. After completing the above sub-steps, the control unit  21  terminates the analysis step. 
         [0071]    The above embodiment has the advantages described below. 
         [0072]    As described, in the above embodiment, the USB memory  10  containing the installer  11 , the count acquisition tool  12 , and the analysis macro tool  13  is used. The USB memory  10  is connected to the client terminal  20  in the client&#39;s office to obtain the operational information of devices connected to the client&#39;s network. Thus, the USB memory  10  makes it possible to obtain the operational information of devices without connecting an additional computer to the client&#39;s network. In other words, the USB memory  10  eliminates the need to carry a computer and thereby makes it possible to efficiently obtain operational information of devices. Also, the above embodiment eliminates the need to configure network settings of a computer each time to obtain the operational information of devices and thereby makes it possible to reduce the workload and time for obtaining the operational information of devices. Further, according to the above embodiment, the client terminal  20  existing in the client&#39;s office is used to obtain the operational information of devices. This reduces the security concern to the client. 
         [0073]    In the above embodiment, after generating the network connection status table  610  and the cost status table  620 , the control unit  21  nullifies the address information in the tables by deleting a part of each of the addresses (step S 1 - 8 ). For example, the control unit  21  replaces the high-order digits of each of the addresses with 0s. Thus, the above embodiment makes it possible to adequately manage the operational information obtained from devices in the client&#39;s office. For example, even when a service person takes the obtained operational information back to his/her office to analyze the operational information in more detail, since the network information (IP addresses) of the client&#39;s office is nullified, the information of the client is protected securely. 
         [0074]    In the above embodiment, when the “Obtain count” button is clicked on, the integrated device operation management utility  210  installed in the client terminal  20  is started. Then, an entry screen (the screen  530 ) is displayed to set up conditions for searching for and monitoring target network devices. After the conditions are specified on the screen  530 , the SNMP manager implemented by the integrated device operation management utility  210  obtains the information on the target network devices according to the specified conditions. More specifically, the SNMP manager sends ping packets to the target network devices and thereby obtains the information in the MIBs of the target network devices. Thus, the above embodiment makes it possible to efficiently obtain device information using the conventional SNMP protocol. Also, since the above embodiment obtains device information via a network, it is possible to obtain the information on devices connected to a remote network. Further, the above embodiment makes it possible to obtain operational information on devices having specified IP addresses. 
         [0075]    In the above embodiment, the USB memory  10  is connected to the external interface  24  of the client terminal  20 . Then, the authentication step is performed to log into the security area of the USB memory  10  (step S 1 - 1 ). This authentication step improves the information security. 
         [0076]    In the above embodiment, the analysis macro tool  13  and the spreadsheet program  22  are used for the analysis step. The analysis step includes the running cost confirmation sub-step (step S 2 - 2 ), the long-time used device confirmation sub-step (step S 2 - 3 ), and the recommended number of pages confirmation sub-step (step S 2 - 4 ). These sub-steps make it possible to grasp the operational status of electronic devices connected to a client&#39;s network and to propose a plan to reduce the total cost of ownership. 
         [0077]    The above embodiment may also be implemented as described below. 
         [0078]    In the above embodiment, the USB memory  10  containing the installer  11 , the count acquisition tool  12 , the analysis macro tool  13  is used to obtain operational information of devices. However, any recording medium other than a USB memory may be used as long as information security can be ensured. 
         [0079]    In the above embodiment, the spreadsheet program  22  in the client terminal  20  is used for the analysis step. However, the spreadsheet program  220  may be installed in the USB memory  10 . Also, the spreadsheet program  220  in another computer may be used for the analysis step. In this case, the device information stored in the device information storage unit  15  may be supplied to the spreadsheet program  220  by connecting the USB memory  10  to the other computer. 
         [0080]    In the above embodiment, the control unit  21  of the client terminal  20  outputs the screen  600 . The screen  600  includes the network connection status table  610  and the cost status table  620  that show the detailed operational information on devices and are used for analyzing the operational information. For the analysis of the operational information, a layout chart may also be used. For example, the layout chart of devices in the client&#39;s network is prepared and corresponding IP addresses are mapped onto the devices. The total count or the number of output pages of each of the devices in an area specified on the layout chart is obtained. Together with a table containing device names associated with suitable numbers of output pages, the layout chart may be used to recommend replacement devices. 
         [0081]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a device information acquisition apparatus and a device information acquisition program that make it possible to efficiently obtain operational information on devices connected to a network in an office of a client, thereby to calculate a total cost of ownership of the devices, and to adequately manage the obtained operational information. Embodiments of the present invention thereby make it possible to reduce the workload for obtaining the operational information on devices and to improve the information security. 
         [0082]    The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0083]    The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No. 2006-036552, filed on Feb. 14, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.