Patent Publication Number: US-2011051194-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus and method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a technique for dealing with history information about an image forming apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional image forming apparatuses including multifunction peripherals have a function of outputting histories about jobs, histories about operations, and information about various types of settings, in other words information stored in the multifunction peripherals, into files at each periodical interval. In an environment in which a plurality of multifunction peripherals is managed, destinations to which files are output from the multifunction peripherals are unified to analyze the output files. 
     However, when a power of the multifunction peripheral is off, or when the multifunction peripheral is in an abnormal state, it may fail to periodically output a file. Further, when a large number of multifunction peripherals are managed, it can be a troublesome job for a user to check whether the files have been correctly output from all the multifunction peripherals. 
     In recent years, a technique has been discussed in which data managing software that operating on a client&#39;s side apparatus monitors a shared folder in a file server connected via a local area network (LAN) and notifies a user if contents of the shared folder is changed (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-301689). 
     However, according to the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-301689, the client apparatus which includes data managing software specialized for monitoring the shared folder is to be used, and the data managing software is to be activated when the files are periodically output. Therefore, when the data managing software is not activated, or when the data management software is in an abnormal state, it can be hardly detected whether the files are being periodically output. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes an output unit configured to periodically output a file to a storage region of a storage device and to share the storage region with another apparatus, a check unit configured to check whether a periodical output of the file to the storage region performed by a plurality of apparatuses is successful based on a number of the files stored in the storage region, and a post-processing unit configured to perform post-processing based on a result of the check performed by the check unit. 
     Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates storage regions of a file server. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example for setting an application unit. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example for setting a periodical file output. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example for setting a periodical file output check. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example for setting post-processing. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the storage regions in the file server after the post-processing has been performed. 
         FIG. 8  (including  FIGS. 8A and 8B ) is a flowchart illustrating processing for outputting the files. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a system according to an exemplary embodiment. The system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses (a first image forming apparatus  1 , a second image forming apparatus  2 , and a third image forming apparatus  3 ) and a file server  4  which is an example of a storage device. The image forming apparatus  1 , the image forming apparatus  2 , the image forming apparatus  3  and the file server  4  are communicably connected with each other via a network  5 . 
     Each of the image forming apparatus  1 , the image forming apparatus  2 , and the image forming apparatus  3  has a similar configuration, and, for example, realizes an application unit  11  described below. The file server  4  includes a shared storage region capable of storing files output from the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The file server  4  is not limited to the file server. In other words, the file server  4  may be a fourth image forming apparatus (not illustrated) including a storage unit or a storage server on the Internet. The network  5  may be, for example, the LAN, a wireless LAN, or the Internet. 
     The present exemplary embodiment describes a system in which the application unit  11  realized by each of the plurality of the image forming apparatuses outputs to the file server  4  information about a history of the image forming apparatus in which the application unit  11  is included (history information corresponding to the image forming processing) as a data file at a periodical interval which is common to the image forming apparatuses and set in advance. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  includes a print unit  20 , a control unit  123  (e.g., central processing unit (CPU)), a storage unit  124  (e.g., memory, hard disk drive (HDD)), a network communication unit  125 , and a user interface unit  126 . 
     The control unit  123  controls entire operations performed by the image forming apparatus. The storage unit  124  stores information about processing performed by the application unit  11 , and information about processing other than processing performed by the application unit  11 , in other words, information that can be used in the image forming apparatus are stored. The storage unit  124  may include an external storage apparatus such as an external HDD, and an external universal serial bus (USB). 
     The network communication unit  125  is connected to the network  5  to receive data from external apparatuses and to transmit data to the external apparatuses. The user interface unit  126  includes a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and the like, and receives an instruction from a user, and displays data (e.g., screen data). 
     When the control unit  123  performs processing according to a procedure of a program stored in the storage unit  124 , for example, processing performed by the application unit  11  according to a flowchart described below can be realized. 
     Similar to the image forming apparatus  1 , each of the file server  4  and an information terminal device described below includes a control unit and a storage unit. When the control unit performs processing according to a procedure of a program stored in the storage unit, a function of the file server  4  such as a storage function and a function of each information terminal device can be realized. 
     The application unit  11  includes a file output unit  121 , a schedule management unit  122 , a file output check unit  127 , a determination unit  128 , and a post-processing unit  129 . In the present exemplary embodiment, only the application unit  11  is illustrated, however, a plurality of applications may be included. 
     The file output unit  121  acquires information stored in the storage unit  124 , and outputs the information as a data file. Further, the file output unit  121  outputs the data file to the file server  4  via the network communication unit  125  and the network  5 . More specifically, the file output unit  121  outputs the information stored in the storage unit  124  as the data file (hereafter, referred to as “file output”). 
     The schedule management unit  122  detects that a previously set periodical interval has elapsed and previously set time has come. For example, there is a detection method performed by monitoring a clock (not illustrated) in the image forming apparatus, and a method performed by the application unit  11  measuring an elapsed time if the clock is not provided. An adequate detection method can be adopted. 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, when the schedule management unit  122  detects that the previously set periodical interval has elapsed, the file output unit  121  outputs a file to the file server  4 . 
     However, the application unit  11  cannot output the file in a certain aspect. A certain aspect is, for example, a case where the application unit  11  is in an abnormal state, when the image forming apparatus  1  is in the abnormal state, when a power of the image forming apparatus  1  is off when the periodical interval has elapsed, and when the image forming apparatus  1  is in a power saving mode when the periodical interval has elapsed. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, a case where the file output unit  121  cannot output the file when the periodical interval has elapsed is referred to as “file output failure”. 
     The file output check unit  127  checks the number of the files output to the storage region in the file server  4  at every periodical interval, determines whether an image forming apparatus that has failed the file output exists among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and checks whether the file is successfully output at the periodical interval (the periodical output is successful). In the present exemplary embodiment, performing the periodical output check of success is referred to as a “file output check”. 
     The determination unit  128  determines whether the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included (image forming apparatus  1 ) is to perform the file output check among the plurality of image forming apparatuses. When the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included corresponds to any one of the image forming apparatuses described below, the determination unit  128  determines that the own image forming apparatus performs the file output check. As for a determination method to be performed by the determination unit  128 , appropriate methods can be combined for use.
     An image forming apparatus that has first output a file during the periodical file output of the present time   An image forming apparatus that has newly output the file to the storage region in which the file output check has been already completed   An image forming apparatus that has detected existence of a storage region whose suspension expired   

     The post-processing unit  129  performs previously set post-processing according to a result of the file output check. For example, the post-processing unit  129  notifies a user of the result of the file output check and changes an attribute value of the file stored in the storage region in the file server  4  according to the result of the file output check. 
     Considering the above description, outlines of operations performed by the application unit  11  will be described. When the schedule management unit  122  detects that the periodical interval has elapsed, the file output unit  121  outputs the file to the storage region in the file server  4 . The determination unit  128  determines whether the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included (i.e., the application init  11 ) is the image forming apparatus (application) to perform the file output check. When the determination unit  128  determines that the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included is the apparatus to perform the file output check, the file output check unit  127  performs the file output check. Finally, the post-processing unit  129  performs the post-processing based on the results of the file output check. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a screen indicating the storage regions in the file server  4 . 
     The storage region display unit  201  displays a structure of the storage region in the file server  4 . According to the present exemplary embodiment, the periodical interval of the file output is set to once a day, and the application unit  11  generates a folder having a name representing a date when the file is output at each periodical interval. The processing performed by the file server  4  can be realized when the application unit  11  gives an instruction to the file server  4 . For example, generation of the folder is realized in a manner such that the application unit  11  transmits information about the instruction to generate the folder to the file server  4  via the network  5 , and the file server  4  that has received the information generates the folder. 
     A stored file display unit  202  displays a list of files stored in the storage region in the file server  4 . According to the present invention, the application unit  11  generates the file having an Internet protocol (IP) address of the image forming apparatus  1  as a file name (in this example, “csv” is used as an extension) and outputs the files. 
     The storage regions in the file server  4  illustrated in  FIG. 2  are an example and not limited thereto. For example, the storage region may not be structured by the folders at each periodical interval, but a date when the file is output may be used as a file name. A screen for displaying the storage regions can be displayed on the user interface unit  126 , a display unit (not illustrated) provided to the file server  4 , or a display unit provided to an external device (not illustrated). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a tool for setting the file output. The tool is activated by an information terminal device (not illustrated). According the present exemplary embodiment, the tool for setting is described as an example on assumption of a case where the system includes a large number of the image forming apparatuses. However, the image forming apparatus may be individually set via the user interface unit  126 . Appropriate setting methods can be adopted. 
     A device list display unit  301  is a region for displaying a list of the image forming apparatuses which are targets (management target) to be managed by the system. In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatuses  1 ,  2 , and  3  are displayed. A method for adding the image forming apparatus to the list is not limited to the method described in the present exemplary embodiment. A method for manually adding the image forming apparatus via an addition button, or a method for automatically adding the image forming apparatus connected to the network  5  may be adopted. 
     A setting button  302  for the periodical file output transfers the screen to a screen illustrated in  FIG. 4  for setting the periodical file output described below. A setting button  303  for the periodical file output check transfers the screen to a screen illustrated in  FIG. 5  for setting the periodical file output check described below. A setting button  304  for the post-processing transfers the screen to a screen illustrated in  FIG. 6  for setting the post-processing described below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a screen for setting the periodical file output. The file output unit  121  outputs the file to an output destination at each periodical interval specified via this screen. 
     In an execution interval specification portion  401 , an interval for outputting the file, such as “Weekday”, “Daily”, “Weekly”, and “Monthly”, is specified by the user. In an execution time specification portion  402  is used for specifying time for outputting the file. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment,  FIG. 4  illustrates the screen on which “Daily” is specified as the execution interval. Setting items can be changed according to the execution interval selected on the execution interval specification portion  401 . For example, when “Weekly” is selected as the execution interval, the setting items for setting an execution day of the week and execution time are displayed. When a large number of the image forming apparatuses are the management targets, each image forming apparatus may output the file at a time which is slightly shifted from the time specified on the execution time specification portion  402 , to avoid too many accesses to the file server  4  at the same time. 
     An output destination specification portion  403  is used for specifying the storage region (i.e. an output destination) to which the file is output. In the present exemplary embodiment, the file server  4  is specified. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the file output unit  121  generates a folder having a name representing a date when the file is output to the storage region specified by the output destination specification portion  403  when outputting the file, as necessary. 
     An account specification portion  404  used for specifying a user name and a password that are used for outputting the file to the storage region specified by the output destination specification portion  403 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a screen for setting the file output check. When the determination unit  128  determines that the file output check is performed, the file output check unit  127  performs the file output check by the file output check method specified via this screen. 
     A specification region  501  is used for specifying the method for checking the file output. In the present exemplary embodiment, the user can specify the method from two methods described below.
     COMPARE WITH NUMBER OF MANAGEMENT DEVICES   COMPARE WITH NUMBER OF FILES THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCEEDED PREVIOUS TIME   

     When “COMPARE WITH NUMBER OF MANAGEMENT DEVICES” is specified, the file output check unit  127  performs the file output check by comparing the number of the files stored in the storage region with the number of the management target image forming apparatus. The number of the management target image forming apparatus is stored in the storage unit  124  of each image forming apparatus, when the setting of the file output check is performed via the screen in  FIG. 5 . When the settings of the file output check is performed via the screen, a file in which the number of image forming apparatuses is described may be disposed in the storage region in the file server  4 , and the file output check unit  127  may read the file when performing the file output check. In an environment in which the number of the management target image forming apparatuses does not change much, the user specifies “COMPARE WITH NUMBER OF MANAGEMENT DEVICES” to perform the file output check. 
     When “COMPARE WITH NUMBER OF FILES THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCEEDED PREVIOUS TIME” is specified, the file output check unit  127  performs the file output check by comparing the number of the files stored in the storage region on which the file output check is performed this time with the number of the files stored in the storage region which is determined that the file output check has been successfully performed at the previous time or earlier. 
     For example, when the file output check is performed on the storage region, a “20090117” folder, the file output check unit  127  compares the number of the files stored in a folder, which is “20090116” or earlier and has successfully output the files, with the number of the files stored in the “20090117” folder. In an environment in which the number of the management target image forming apparatuses periodically changes, the user specifies “COMPARE WITH NUMBER OF FILES THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCEEDED PREVIOUS TIME” so that the file output check may be performed by comparing the number of the files stored in the storage region with relative values. 
     A specification region  502  for specifying a failure criterion is used for specifying determination of whether the periodical output is successful (or failed) when a probability (matching) for matching the number of the files of the target specified in the specification region  501  and the number of the files stored in the storage region is a certain percent or more (or less than a certain percent). 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, the user can specify a maximum value and a minimum value as the matching. As the maximum value, when a strict determination is applied, a higher value (e.g., 100%) is specified and when the strict determination is not applied, a lower value is specified. For example, in an environment in which it is determined as acceptable if eight out of ten management target image forming apparatuses can output the files, the user may specify 80%. 
     On the other hand, by specifying the minimum value, which is an example of a threshold value, a case where the matching ratio is obviously low and it is highly likely that an error is due to the image forming apparatus which output the file can be eliminated from a case which is determined as an error in the periodical output by the file output check unit  127 . 
     For example, although “Weekly” is specified via the execution interval specification portion  401  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when one out of ten management target image forming apparatuses erroneously outputs the file on holiday, the periodical output can be avoided to be determined as a failure by specifying the minimum value. More specifically, in order to avoid exceptional determination in which it is determined as a failure since the matching ratio has an extremely low value (in this example, 10%), the minimum value (e.g., 11%) may be specified as necessary. 
     A suspension specification region  503  is used for specifying suspension of the determination in a case where it may be determined as a failure of the periodical output, but the file output check unit  127  does not determine that as the failure within a predetermined term, that is, during suspension. 
     For example, even when the file output is failed since the power of the image forming apparatus is off at the time of outputting the file, if recovery processing is available for outputting the file when the power is turned on, the recovery processing can be performed during the suspension by providing with about a two days suspended term. 
     Therefore, according to the specification, if the recovery processing for the file output failure is available, the file output check unit  127  can check the file output considering the recovery processing. 
     A restoration instruction region  504  is used for specifying whether to give an instruction to attempt restoration of the file output to the image forming apparatus that has failed the file output. When the instruction to restore is given, according to the result of the file output check, the post-processing unit  129  transmits information about a command for instantly outputting the file to the image forming apparatus that has failed the file output. With this specification, timing for performing the recovery processing for the file output can be given to the image forming apparatus that has failed the file output, so that the restoration can be performed depending on a cause of the failure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a screen for setting the post-processing. The post-processing unit  129  performs the post-processing using a post-processing method specified via the screen after the file output check has been performed. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the user can specify a method out of five methods described below.
     NOTIFY FILE OUTPUT CHECK RESULT   CHANGE FOLDER NAME BASED ON FILE OUTPUT CHECK RESULT   COMPRESS FOLDER WHEN BEING DETERMINED AS SUCCESS   SET FILE ATTRIBUTE TO READ-ONLY WHEN BEING DETERMINED AS SUCCESS   DELETE UNNECESSARY FILE WHEN BEING DETERMINED AS SUCCESS   

     When “NOTIFY FILE OUTPUT CHECK RESULT” is specified, the post-processing unit  129  notifies a notification destination (mail address) specified using a notification setting button via a screen for setting the notification destination (not illustrated) of a result of the file output check. With this configuration, for example, by specifying the notification destination of a manager of the image forming apparatus  1 , the manager can check the result of the file output without checking the file server  4 . 
     When “CHANGE FOLDER NAME BASED ON FILE OUTPUT CHECK RESULT” is specified, the post-processing unit  129  changes a folder name of the file server  4  based on the result of the file output check (refer to  FIG. 7 ). According to the configuration for changing the folder name, the user can determine whether the periodical output is successful without checking the files in the folder. 
     When “COMPRESS FOLDER WHEN BEING DETERMINED AS SUCCESS” is specified, the post-processing unit  129  compresses the folder when the periodical output is determined to be successful. With the configuration, a consumption capacity in the storage region (i.e. a disk) of the file server  4  can be suppressed. 
     When “SET FILE ATTRIBUTE TO READ-ONLY WHEN BEING DETERMINED AS SUCCESS” is specified, the post-processing unit  129  sets the attribute of the file stored in the folder to read-only when the periodical output is determined to be successful. With this configuration, the files can be prevented from being falsified as much as possible. 
     When “DELETE UNNECESSARY FILE WHEN BEING DETERMINED AS SUCCESS” is specified, the post-processing unit  129  deletes unnecessary files having no meaning in the folder when the periodical output is determined to be successful. When there is no history of image processing performed by the image forming apparatus, the file having no contents may be output. By deleting the files having no meaning, only necessary files can be stored in the file server  4 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a screen when the post-processing “CHANGE FOLDER NAME BASED ON FILE OUTPUT CHECK RESULT” is performed after the file output check has been performed on the file server  4 . 
     When the image forming apparatus  1  outputs the file into a “20090119” folder, since the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included satisfies a condition “An image forming apparatus that has first output the file during the periodical file output of the present time”, the determination unit  128  determines to perform the file output check. According to a result of the file output check performed on a “20090118” folder, all image forming apparatuses have output the files thereinto. Thus, the post-processing unit  129  changes the folder name to “20090118_OK”. 
     According to the result of the file output check performed on the folders earlier than the “20090118” folder, for example, the file output check performed on a “20090115” folder is determined to be failed. Thus, the post-processing unit  129  changes the folder name to “20090115_NG”. 
     Regarding a “20090117” folder, according to the result of the file output check, the file output is determined to be failed. However, since “two days” is set as a suspended term, the post-processing unit  129  does not change the folder name from “20090117” to “20090117_NG” but to “20090117_during suspension” in two days. 
     Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the user can check whether the periodical output is successful only by viewing the storage region (display portion). Regarding notation of the folder name for facilitating the check of success, in other words, for recognizing the result of the check, terms or symbols (e.g., “O” or “X”) other than “OK” or “NG” as described above may be used. 
       FIG. 8  (including  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B ) is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the application unit  11  when outputting the file. 
     In step S 101 , the schedule management unit  122  detects that a time for outputting the file has come. In step S 102 , the file output unit  121  outputs the file into the storage region in the file server  4  set via the screen illustrated in  FIG. 4 . When the file is output, if a folder having a name that represents a current date does not exist, the file output unit  121  generates a folder and outputs the file into the generated folder. 
     In step S 103 , the determination unit  128  performs the file output check determination to determine whether the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included is to perform the file output check. More specifically, the determination unit  128  checks whether there exists any folder having a name including “during suspension” in the storage region in the file server  4 . When the folder exists (YES in step S 103 ), the date and time when the folder was generated is compared with the current date and time to check whether the suspended term specified via the screen illustrated in  FIG. 5  has elapsed. 
     In other words, the determination unit  128  checks whether a predetermined term has elapsed on the term checked by the image forming apparatus  127 . When a suspension-expired folder exists (YES in step S 103 ), then in step S 104 , the determination unit  128  determines that the file output check is performed and specifies the suspension-expired folder to a “file output check target”. 
     Accordingly, an arbitrary image forming apparatus automatically detects the suspension-expired folder and can perform the file output check again. On the other hand, when there is no suspension-expired folder (NO in step S 103 ), the determination unit  128  sequentially performs processing in step S 105 . 
     In step S 105 , the determination unit  128  checks an order that the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included outputs the file among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and more specifically, checks whether the image forming apparatus has first output the file. Further, more specifically, the determination unit  128  checks whether the image forming apparatus has first output the file by determining whether the file output unit  121  generates the folder of the current date in step S 102 . 
     In step S 106 , the determination unit  128  determines whether the image forming apparatus has first output the file. 
     When the image forming apparatus has first output the file (YES in step S 106 ), then in step S 107 , the determination unit  128  determines that the image forming apparatus is to perform the file output check and specifies the folder for the previous term as the “file output check target”. 
     For example, when “Daily” is specified for a execution interval illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the determination unit  128  specifies the folder for the previous day, which is the folder for the previous term, as the “file output check target”. More specifically, when the image forming apparatus in which the determination unit  128  is included first outputs the file, among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, to a second storage region, which is an output destination of a following file to be output after the file is output to the first storage region, the determination unit  128  determines to check whether the periodical output to the first storage region has been successful. According to the present exemplary embodiment, whether the image forming apparatus has first output the file is determined by the generated folder, however the method is not limited to the method described above. 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the image forming apparatus has not first output the file (NO in step S 106 ), then in step S 108 , the determination unit  128  checks whether the folder name of the output destination to which the file is output this time includes “_NG”, or “_during suspension”. 
     When the folder name includes “_NG”, or “_during suspension” (YES in step S 108 ), then in step S 109 , the determination unit  128  determines to perform the file output check on the folder described above, and specifies the folder into which the file is output this time as the “file output check target”. 
     Accordingly, when the image forming apparatus performs certain recovery processing and outputs the file to the folder that has been failed in the past, if the folder has been already determined to have been failed, the file output check can be performed again and a new result of the file output check can be reflected thereon. On the other hand, when the folder name does not include “_NG”, or “_during suspension” (NO in step S 108 ), the determination unit  128  then performs processing in step S 110 . 
     In step S 110 , the file output check unit  127  checks whether there exists any folder on which the file output check is to be performed via step S 104 , S 107 , or S 109  as the “file output check target”. When the folder exists (YES in step S 110 ), in step S 111 , the file output check unit  127  performs the file output check on the folder. When no folder exists (NO in step S 110 ), the processing is ended. 
     In step S 112 , according to the result of the file output check, the file output check unit  127  determines whether the periodical output is successful. When it is determined that the periodical output is successful (YES in step S 112 ), then in step S 113 , the post-processing unit  129  changes the name of the folder on which the file output check has been performed by adding “_OK” according to the settings displayed on the screen illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     In step S 114 , the post-processing unit  129  deletes unnecessary files according to the settings displayed on the screen illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In step S 115 , the post-processing unit  129  changes the file attribute to read-only. In step S 116 , the post-processing unit  129  compresses capacities of the folders. 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the periodical output is failed (NO in step S 112 ), then in step S 117 , the file output check unit  127  refers to the current date and time and the suspended term to check whether the current date and time is within the suspended term. 
     When the current date and time is within the suspended term (during the suspension) (YES in step S 117 ), then in step S 118 , the post-processing unit  129  changes the folder name by adding “_during suspension” according to the settings displayed on the screen illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     On the other hand, when the current date and time is out of the suspended term (NO in step S 117 ), then in step S 119 , the file output check unit  127  attempts the restoration processing, for example requesting the file output, on the image forming apparatus that has failed the periodical output. When the restoration processing is not performed, in step S 120 , the post-processing unit  129  notifies the user of the result of the file output check according to the settings on the screen illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Then in step S 121 , the folder name is changed by adding “_NG”. 
     Then the processing returned to step S 110 , and the above described processing is repeatedly performed until the file output can be checked on all the “file output check targets”. 
     The respective application units  11  of the plurality of image forming apparatuses perform the file output check determination in steps S 103 , S 106 , and S 108  when outputting the files. With this configuration, even if one image forming apparatus is in an abnormal state, other image forming apparatuses can check the file output. 
     Further, according to the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus determined to be within the suspended term in step S 117  may be different from the image forming apparatus determined to be out of the suspended term in step S 103 . Thus, even when the image forming apparatus determined to be within the suspended term is in the abnormal state, determination of whether the suspended term is expired can be performed on another image forming apparatus not in the abnormal state. 
     Therefore, according to the configuration described above, without providing with an application specialized for monitoring whether the periodical output is successful, the failure of the periodical output can be detected. Further, even one image forming apparatus is in the abnormal state, another image forming apparatus can detect the failure of the periodical output. 
     The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, a process in which a software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus via a network or a recording medium of various types, and then a computer of the system or apparatus (or devices such as CPU or MPU) reads out the program and executes it. In such a case, the recording medium where the program is stored as well as the program are included in the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions. 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-198784 filed Aug. 28, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.