Patent Publication Number: US-2018039452-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus, usage record information output method, and information processing system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-153007, filed on Aug. 3, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a usage record information output method, and an information processing system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There is a known technology of recording the usage amount of, for example, an image forming apparatus in the image forming apparatus, and printing out printed matter according to the usage amount. 
     In the related art, there is a system for storing and providing print accounting information. This system records at least one of a plurality of events in a printing device; updates the stored print accounting information at every period induced by an event, based on the recorded plurality of events; and creates a report of each period including print accounting information that can be read by a person and print accounting information that is encoded (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-102922 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, a usage record information output method, and an information processing system, in which one or more of the disadvantages of the related art are reduced. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for acquiring and displaying device-usage record information, which is related to a usage record of at least one device, the at least one device including the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a processor, in communication with a memory, executing a process including acquiring uniqueness information of the image forming apparatus from a usage record information storage device via a network in response to accepting a user operation input via a user interface, the usage record information storage device being configured to receive data from the at least one device, generate the device-usage record information based on the received data, and to store the device-usage record information in association with the uniqueness information of the at least one device; acquiring, from the usage record information storage device, the device-usage record information stored in association with the acquired uniqueness information of the image forming apparatus; and outputting the acquired device-usage record information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an example of a hardware block diagram of a computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a hardware block diagram of a multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an example of a process block diagram of a counter accumulation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an example of a process block diagram of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram of an example of counter settings according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram of an example of daily data according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram of an example of monthly data according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a configuration diagram of an example of customer information according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a configuration diagram of an example of device information according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an example of a counter accumulation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a sequence diagram of an example of a display process and a print process of a report according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an image diagram of an example of a usable application list screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an image diagram of an example of a report displayed on an operation panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a sequence diagram of an example of a display process and a mail sending process of a report according to anther embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 16  is a configuration of an example of the information processing system according to anther embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the image forming apparatus of the related art that records the usage amount within the apparatus, in order to record the usage amount of a long period of time, there is a need to prepare a storage, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), etc., that can record large volumes of data. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the related art, which records the usage amount within the apparatus, when multiple types of usage amounts need to be stored, there is a need to prepare a storage having an even larger capacity. 
     A problem to be solved by an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily output information relevant to the usage record of the image forming apparatus, without increasing the recording capacity of the image forming apparatus. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     &lt;System Configuration&gt; 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an information processing system according to a first embodiment. In an information processing system  1  of  FIG. 1 , a customer environment is coupled to a counter accumulation device  20  via a network  40  such as the Internet. 
     The customer environment is a network environment on the customer side. Note that a customer may be an organization such as a company, a group, and a department, or an individual user. The customer environment includes a multifunction peripheral  10 , one or more electronic devices  12 , an intermediary device  14 , and a firewall  16 , which are coupled to each other via a network  50  such as a Local Area Network (LAN), etc. 
     The multifunction peripheral  10  is an example of an image forming apparatus. The multifunction peripheral  10  is a multifunction printer including, for example, a print function, a scan function, a copy function, and a fax function. Furthermore, the electronic device  12  is also an example of an image forming apparatus. The electronic device  12  is, for example, a laser printer, a projector, an electronic whiteboard, a videoconferencing device, a camera, an industrial device or a medical device including a communication function, etc. 
     Furthermore, the intermediary device  14  collects, from the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 , information (counter value) indicating the usage record of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 , and collectively sends the counter values to the counter accumulation device  20 . Note that the multifunction peripheral  10  may send the counter values to the counter accumulation device  20  without involving the intermediary device  14 . There are cases where the information processing system  1  does not include the intermediary device  14 . Note that the counter value sent to the counter accumulation device  20  is also referred to as a lifetime counter value, which is a value that is continuously counted every time a corresponding function is used, from when the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  is manufactured to the present time point. 
     The counter accumulation device  20  accumulates the counter values of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  received from the customer environment, as described below. Furthermore, the counter accumulation device  20  acquires uniqueness information of the device (the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 ) from the multifunction peripheral  10 , and provides a counter value corresponding to the uniqueness information to the multifunction peripheral  10 . The multifunction peripheral  10 , which has received the counter value, displays a report of the usage amount of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  as follows, based on the counter value provided from the counter accumulation device  20 . 
     Note that the information processing system  1  of  FIG. 1  is one example; there may be one or more intervening server devices (a proxy server or a gateway server, etc.) between the customer environment and the counter accumulation device  20 . The counter accumulation device  20  may be implemented by being distributed over a plurality of information processing apparatuses. Furthermore, part of or all of the functions of the counter accumulation device  20  may be included in another server device. 
     As described above, in the information processing system  1  according to the present embodiment, information indicating the usage record of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  is collected in the counter accumulation device  20 . The multifunction peripheral  10  specifies the uniqueness information of the device (device-uniqueness information) to acquire the counter value from the counter accumulation device  20 . The multifunction peripheral  10  can display a report of the usage amount of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  as described below, based on the acquired counter value. 
     &lt;Hardware Configuration&gt; 
     &lt;&lt;Computer&gt;&gt; 
     One or more information processing apparatuses implementing the counter accumulation device  20  of  FIG. 1  is implemented by a computer having a hardware configuration, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is an example of a hardware block diagram of a computer. A computer  500  illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes an input device  501 , a display device  502 , an external interface (I/F)  503 , a Random Access Memory (RAM)  504 , a Read-Only Memory (ROM)  505 , a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  506 , a communication I/F  507 , and a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)  508 , which are coupled to each other by a bus B. Note that the input device  501  and the display device  502  may have a configuration of being coupled and used when necessary. 
     The input device  501  includes a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, etc., and is used by the user for inputting various operation signals. The display device  502  includes a display, etc., and displays processing results obtained by the computer  100 . 
     The communication I/F  507  is an interface that connects the computer  500  to various networks. Accordingly, the computer  500  is able to perform data communication via the communication I/F  507 . 
     The HDD  508  is a non-volatile storage device for storing programs and data. Examples of the stored programs and data include an OS that is the basic software for controlling the entire computer  500 , and application software (hereinafter, simply referred to as an “application”) for providing various functions in the OS. Note that the computer  500  may use a drive device (for example, a solid state drive (SSD)) using a flash memory as the storage medium, instead of the HDD  508 . 
     The external I/F  503  is an interface between the computer  500  and an external device. An example of the external device is a recording medium  503   a.  Accordingly, the computer  500  is able to read and/or write in the recording medium  503   a  via the external I/F  503 . Examples of the recording medium  503   a  are a flexible disk, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory. 
     The ROM  505  is a non-volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can store programs and data even after the power is turned off. The ROM  505  stores programs and data such as a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) that is executed when the computer  500  is activated, OS settings, and network settings, etc. The RAM  504  is a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) for temporarily storing programs and data. 
     The CPU  506  is an arithmetic device for controlling the entire computer  500  and implementing functions of the computer  500 , by loading the programs and data from the storage devices such as the ROM  505  and the HDD  508 , into the RAM  104 , and executing processes. The counter accumulation device  20  is able to implement various processes described below, by the hardware configuration of the computer  500 , for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     &lt;&lt;Multifunction Peripheral&gt;&gt; 
     The multifunction peripheral  10  of  FIG. 1  is implemented by a computer having a hardware configuration, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is an example of a hardware block diagram of the multifunction peripheral  10 . The multifunction peripheral  10  illustrated in  FIG. 3  includes a controller  601 , an operation panel  602 , an external I/F  603 , a communication I/F  604 , a printer  605 , and a scanner  606 . 
     The controller  601  includes a CPU  611 , a RAM  612 , a ROM  613 , a NVRAM  614 , and a HDD  615 . The ROM  613  stores various programs and data. The RAM  612  temporarily stores programs and data. The NVRAM  614  stores, for example, setting information. Furthermore, the HDD  615  stores various programs and data. 
     The CPU  611  controls the entire multifunction peripheral  10  and implements functions of the multifunction peripheral  10 , by loading the programs, the data, and setting information from the ROM  613 , the NVRAM  614 , and the HDD  615 , into the RAM  612 , and executing processes. 
     The operation panel  602  includes an input unit for accepting input from a user, and a display unit for displaying information. The external I/F  603  is an interface between the multifunction peripheral  10  and an external device. An example of the external device is a recording medium  603   a.  Accordingly, the multifunction peripheral  10  is able to read and/or write in the recording medium  603   a  via the external I/F  603 . Examples of the recording medium  603   a  are an integrated circuit (IC) card, a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, and a USB memory. 
     Furthermore, the communication I/F  604  is an interface that couples the multifunction peripheral  10  to the network  50 . Accordingly, the multifunction peripheral  10  is able to perform data communication via the communication I/F  604 . The printer  605  is a printing device for printing print data onto a conveyed object. Examples of a conveyed object are paper, a coat sheet, cardboard, an Over Head Projector (OHP) film, a plastic film, prepreg, and copper foil, etc., and the conveyed object is not limited to paper. Furthermore, the scanner  606  is a reading device for reading image data (electronic data) from an original document. Note that descriptions of the hardware configuration of the electronic device  12  of  FIG. 1  is omitted. 
     &lt;Software Configuration&gt; 
     &lt;&lt;Counter Accumulation Device&gt;&gt; 
     The counter accumulation device  20  according to the present embodiment is implemented by, for example, the process blocks illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is an example of a process block diagram of the counter accumulation device  20  according to the present embodiment. The counter accumulation device  20  executes programs to implement the process blocks as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The counter accumulation device  20  illustrated in  FIG. 4  implements a communicating unit  21 , an information storage unit  22 , a counter setting storage unit  23 , a counter accumulation processing unit  24 , a counter storage unit  25 , and a counter provision processing unit  26 . The communicating unit  21  performs data communication with external devices. For example, the communicating unit  21  performs data communication with the multifunction peripheral  10  and the intermediary device  14 . 
     The information storage unit  22  stores customer information and device information described below. According to the customer information and device information, it is possible to identify the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  that is installed in the customer environment, and to identify the daily data and the monthly data of the identified multifunction peripheral  10  or electronic device  12 . The counter setting storage unit  23  stores counter settings described below. The counter settings are information necessary for accumulating the counter values at the counter accumulation processing unit  24 . The counter accumulation processing unit  24  stores the daily data and the monthly data of each of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  in the counter storage unit  25 , based on the counter setting. Note that the counter accumulation processing unit  24  may further store the daily data and the monthly data of each customer environment, in the counter storage unit  25 . 
     The counter storage unit  25  stores the daily data and the monthly data of each of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 . The counter storage unit  25  may store the daily data and the monthly data of each customer environment. 
     The counter provision processing unit  26  provides the daily data and the monthly data of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  stored in the counter storage unit  25 , in response to a request specifying the uniqueness information of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 . Furthermore, the counter provision processing unit  26  may provide, to the multifunction peripheral  10 , the daily data and the monthly data of each customer environment stored in the counter storage unit  25 , in response to a request specifying the uniqueness information of a customer from the multifunction peripheral  10 . Furthermore, the counter provision processing unit  26  may provide, to the multifunction peripheral  10 , the daily data and the monthly data of a customer environment associated with the uniqueness information of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 , in response to a request specifying the uniqueness information of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 . 
     &lt;&lt;Multifunction Peripheral&gt;&gt; 
     The multifunction peripheral  10  according to the present embodiment is implemented by, for example, the process blocks illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is an example of a process block diagram of the multifunction peripheral  10  according to the present embodiment. The multifunction peripheral  10  executes programs to implement the process blocks as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The multifunction peripheral  10  illustrated in  FIG. 5  implements a communicating unit  31 , a device information acquiring unit  32 , a report output processing unit  33 , and a counter acquisition processing unit  34 . The communicating unit  31  performs data communication with external devices. For example, the communicating unit  31  performs data communication with the electronic device  12 , the intermediary device  14 , and the counter accumulation device  20 . 
     The device information acquiring unit  32  acquires device information such as a device number (device ID) and a media access control (MAC) address, etc., from the device main body. The device information is an example of uniqueness information of the device (device-uniqueness information). The report output processing unit  33  generates a later-described report from, for example, daily data and monthly data of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  acquired from the counter accumulation device  20 , and displays the report on the operation panel  602 . Furthermore, the report output processing unit  33  causes the printer  605  to print out the generated report. 
     The counter acquisition processing unit  34  acquires, from the counter accumulation device  20 , the daily data or the monthly data of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 , requested from the report output processing unit  33 , and provides the acquired data to the report output processing unit  33 . 
     &lt;&lt;Settings, Data, and Information&gt;&gt; 
       FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram of an example of counter settings. The counter settings include the items of device ID, MAC address, daily data ID, monthly data ID, and monthly data calculation date. The device ID is an example of device information acquired from the main body of the device. The MAC address is an example of device information for uniquely identifying the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  in the communication network. The daily data ID is an example of identification information for uniquely identifying the daily data of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  identified by the device ID and the MAC address. The monthly data ID is an example of identification information for uniquely identifying the monthly data of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12  electronic device  12  identified by the device ID and the MAC address. The monthly data calculation date indicates the monthly data calculation date for a customer, required for creating the monthly data, etc. 
       FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram of an example of daily data. The daily data includes the items of daily data ID, day/month/year, and various counter values. The daily data ID is an example of identification information for uniquely identifying the daily data. The day/month/year indicates the date on which the various counter values in the daily data have been counted. The various counter values are daily counter values, including different types of counter values such as total, per function, per color, per sheet size, etc. 
       FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram of an example of monthly data. The monthly data includes the items of monthly data ID, month/year, and various counter values. The monthly data ID is an example of identification information for uniquely identifying the monthly data. The month/year indicates the month in which the various counter values in the monthly data have been counted. The various counter values are monthly counter values, including different types of counter values such as total, per function, per color, per sheet size, etc. 
       FIG. 9  is a configuration diagram of an example of customer information. The customer information includes the items of customer ID, name, address, telephone number, and mail address. The customer ID is an example of identification information for uniquely identifying the customer. The name, address, telephone number, and mail address are the name, the address, the telephone number, and the mail address of the customer. The customer information is used, for example, for displaying the name, the address, the telephone number, and the mail address of the customer, in a report. 
       FIG. 10  is a configuration diagram of an example of device information. The device information includes the items of device ID, customer ID, MAC address, daily data ID, and monthly data ID. In the device information, the customer ID, the device ID, and the MAC address are associated with each other, and therefore the customer environment and the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  installed in the customer environment are associated with each other. 
     Furthermore, in the device information, the customer ID, the daily data ID, and the monthly data ID are associated with each other, and therefore the customer and the daily data and the monthly data of the customer are associated with each other. Furthermore, in the device information, the device ID, the MAC address, the daily data ID, and the monthly data ID are associated with each other, and therefore the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 , and the daily data and the monthly data of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 , are associated with each other. 
     &lt;Processes&gt; 
     &lt;&lt;Counter Accumulation Process&gt;&gt; 
     The counter accumulation device  20  of the information processing system  1  according to the present embodiment performs a counter accumulation process by, for example, the procedures illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an example of a counter accumulation process. 
     The counter accumulation processing unit  24  of the counter accumulation device  20  stands by at step S 11 , until a counter value is received from the multifunction peripheral  10  or the intermediary device  14  in the customer environment. When the counter accumulation processing unit  24  of the counter accumulation device  20  receives a counter value, the process proceeds to step S 12 , and the counter accumulation processing unit  24  reads the counter settings of  FIG. 6 , from the counter setting storage unit  23 . 
     In step S 13 , the counter accumulation processing unit  24  stores, in the counter storage unit  25 , a record of daily data created by attaching a daily data ID to the received counter value, based on the counter settings read in step S 12 . 
     In step S 14 , the counter accumulation processing unit  24  determines whether the monthly data calculation date has elapsed, based on the counter settings read in step S 12 . When the monthly data calculation date has not elapsed, the counter accumulation processing unit  24  skips the process of step S 15  and returns to step S 11 . 
     When the monthly data calculation date has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S 15 , and the counter accumulation processing unit  24  creates the monthly data from the daily data items of one month. Then, the counter accumulation processing unit  24  stores a record of the created monthly data in the counter storage unit  25 . 
     Note that in the example of the flowchart of  FIG. 11 , after storing the record of the daily data in the counter storage unit  25 , when the monthly data calculation date of the customer has elapsed, the monthly data is created based on the daily data; however, the present embodiment is not limited as such. For example, the counter accumulation processing unit  24  may create the monthly data from the daily data at a timing when the monthly data is requested from the multifunction peripheral  10 . Furthermore, the counter accumulation processing unit  24  may create weekly data instead of monthly data. 
     &lt;&lt;Display Process and Print Process of Report&gt;&gt; 
     The information processing system  1  according to the present embodiment performs a display process and a print process of a report by, for example, the procedures illustrated in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12  is a sequence diagram of an example of a display process and a print process of a report. 
     In step S 21 , for example, a user such as the administrator in the customer environment operates the multifunction peripheral  10  to activate a report output application. The report output application can be activated by having the user select an icon  1002  in the report output application, in a usable application list screen  1000  displayed on the operation panel  602 , for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     In step S 22 , the device information acquiring unit  32  of the multifunction peripheral  10  acquires device information such as a device ID and a MAC address, as device-uniqueness information from the main body of the device. In step S 23 , the counter acquisition processing unit  34  of the multifunction peripheral  10  specifies, in a request, the device information acquired by the device information acquiring unit  32  in step S 22 , and sends the request to the counter accumulation device  20  to acquire counter data such as daily data and monthly data. 
     In response to the request to acquire counter data from the multifunction peripheral  10  specifying the device information, the counter provision processing unit  26  of the counter accumulation device  20  reads, from the counter storage unit  25 , counter data corresponding to the device information specified in the request. Then, in step S 24 , the counter provision processing unit  26  returns the counter data corresponding to the device information to the multifunction peripheral  10 . For example, the counter provision processing unit  26  may return the counter data of the latest month in step S 24 . 
     In step S 25 , the report output processing unit  33  of the multifunction peripheral  10  generates a report based on the counter data returned from the counter accumulation device  20  in step S 24 . The report may include a graph and a table. In step S 26 , the report output processing unit  33  displays the report generated in step S 25  on the operation panel  602 , for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  is an image diagram of an example of the report displayed on the operation panel  602 . 
     In step S 27 , when the report output processing unit  33  accepts a print request for the report from the user, the process proceeds to step S 28 , and the report output processing unit  33  passes the display data of the report to the printer  605  and causes the printer  605  to print out the report. 
     Note that in step S 23 , the counter acquisition processing unit  34  of the multifunction peripheral  10  may specify the device information of another electronic device  12  specified by the user, and request the counter accumulation device  20  to acquire counter data such as daily data and monthly data. In this case, in step S 26 , the multifunction peripheral  10  does not display its own report, but displays the report of the other electronic device  12 . 
     There are various methods of having the user specify the device information of another electronic device  12 ; for example, the multifunction peripheral  10  may acquire device-uniqueness information from the electronic device  12  coupled to the network  50 , and the user may select the device-uniqueness information. 
     For example, the multifunction peripheral  10  makes a request for the device-uniqueness information to the electronic device  12 , which is coupled to the network  50  by broadcasting or multicasting, and acquires the device-uniqueness information from the electronic device  12 . Furthermore, the multifunction peripheral  10  may accept the device-uniqueness information of the electronic device  12  input by a user. 
     Other Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment, in the process illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the report displayed on the operation panel  602  is printed out. The multifunction peripheral  10  may send the report displayed on the operation panel  602  by mail, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 15  is a sequence diagram of an example of a display process and a mail sending process of a report. The processes of steps S 31  through S 36  are the same as the processes of steps S 21  through S 26  of  FIG. 12 . 
     In step S 37 , when the report output processing unit  33  accepts a request to send the report by mail from the user, the process proceeds to step S 38 , and the report output processing unit  33  sends the report by mail. The destination of the mail transmission may be, for example, a mail address in the customer information of  FIG. 9  or a mail address input to the operation panel  602 . 
     In the information processing system  1  of  FIG. 1 , the counter accumulation device  20  is coupled to the network  40  such as the Internet outside the customer environment. Said differently, the information processing system  1  of  FIG. 1  is an example in which the counter accumulation device  20  is provided in what is termed as a cloud environment. Note that the counter accumulation device  20  may be provided inside the customer environment as illustrated in  FIG. 16  (on-premise environment). 
       FIG. 16  is a configuration of an example of the information processing system  1  according to another embodiment. In the information processing system  1  illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the multifunction peripheral  10 , one or more of the electronic devices  12 , and the counter accumulation device  20  are coupled to each other via the network  50  in the customer environment. Note that the hardware configuration, the software configuration and the processes of the information processing system  1  illustrated in  FIG. 21  are the same as those of the information processing system  1  illustrated  FIG. 1 , and therefore descriptions of these contents are omitted. 
     (Overview) 
     As described above, according to the information processing system  1  of the present embodiment, the counter values are not accumulated in the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 , but the counter values are accumulated in the counter accumulation device  20 , and therefore counter values of a long period of time and multiple types of counter values can be stored, without increasing the recording capacity of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the counter accumulation device  20 . 
     Furthermore, according to the information processing system  1  of the present embodiment, the counter value is stored in association with the device-uniqueness information of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 . The multifunction peripheral  10  can easily acquire the counter value of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  from the counter accumulation device  20 , by sending a request for a counter value specifying the device-uniqueness information of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 , without using another identifier such as a user ID. The multifunction peripheral  10  can create a report of the usage status of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  from the acquired counter values of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 , and display the report on the operation panel  602  or print out the report. The report of the usage status is based on, for example, per quarterly term, per half-year, per month, per day, accounting, per color, per application, and the environment (kWh and Co 2 ), etc., of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12 . 
     As described above, according to the information processing system  1  of the present embodiment, the report of the usage status of the multifunction peripheral  10  and the electronic device  12  can be easily displayed on the operation panel  602  of the multifunction peripheral  10 , without increasing the recording capacity of the multifunction peripheral  10  or the electronic device  12 . 
     The present invention can be implemented in any convenient form, for example using dedicated hardware, or a mixture of dedicated hardware and software. The present invention may be implemented as computer software implemented by one or more networked processing apparatuses. The network can comprise any conventional terrestrial or wireless communications network, such as the Internet. The processing apparatuses can compromise any suitably programmed apparatuses such as a general purpose computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone (such as a WAP or 3G-compliant phone), and so on. Since the present invention can be implemented as software, each and every aspect of the present invention thus encompasses computer software implementable on a programmable device. The computer software can be provided to the programmable device using any storage medium for storing a processor readable code such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD ROM, a magnetic tape device, or a solid state memory device. 
     The hardware platform includes any desired kind of hardware resources including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and a hard disk drive (HDD). The CPU may be implemented by any desired kind of any desired number of processor. The CPU may be implemented by one or more processors. The RAM may be implemented by any desired kind of volatile or non-volatile memory. The HDD may be implemented by any desired kind of non-volatile memory capable of storing a large amount of data. The hardware resources may additionally include an input device, an output device, or a network device, depending on the type of the apparatus. Alternatively, the HDD may be provided outside of the apparatus as long as the HDD is accessible. In this example, the CPU, such as a cache memory of the CPU, and the RAM may function as a physical memory or a primary memory of the apparatus, while the HDD may function as a secondary memory of the apparatus. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily output information relevant to the usage record of the image forming apparatus, without increasing the recording capacity of the image forming apparatus. 
     The multifunction peripheral  10  is an example of an image forming apparatus. The counter accumulation device  20  is an example of a usage record information storage device. 
     The device information acquiring unit  32  is an example indicating the function of acquiring device-uniqueness information. The counter acquisition processing unit  34  is an example indicating the function of acquiring device-usage record information. The report output processing unit  33  is an example indicating the function of outputting the device-usage record information. The counter storage unit  25  is an example indicating the function of storing the device-usage record information. The counter provision processing unit  26  is an example indicating the function of providing the device-usage record information. 
     Furthermore, the device-usage record information is not limited to a counter value. The device-usage record information includes the time of usage, the data amount of captured images, the number of pages of captured images, the communication data amount, the time of outputting data, and the data amount. 
     The information processing system  1  according to the present embodiment is one example, and there may be various examples of system configurations according to the application and the purpose. 
     The image forming apparatus, the usage record information output method, and the information processing system are not limited to the specific embodiments described in the detailed description, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.