Patent ID: 8543015

Claim:
A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus being characterized by having: a receiver to receive toner cartridge replacement information indicating that a toner cartridge has been replaced with a new one, from an image forming apparatus which can be accessed by the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus via a line of communication; an information obtainer to obtain remaining toner information of the toner cartridge having been replaced, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver; a time determiner to: adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to the point of time of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner obtained by the information obtainer is less than a predetermined value; and adjust the time to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge to another point of time than that of receiving the toner cartridge replacement information, if the amount of remaining toner is greater than the predetermined value; and a transmitter to output an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge in accordance with the determination of the time determiner.