System and method for providing report

Abstract

To provide a report that allows a user to visually recognize installation places of image forming apparatuses.SOLUTION: A system for providing a report includes: a collection unit that collects execution results of jobs executed in a plurality of image forming apparatuses; a specification unit that specifies installation places of image forming apparatuses from which the execution results are collected, from a plurality of candidate places including the office and a residence; and a providing unit that provides a report displaying information based on the execution results so as to allow a user to visually recognize the installation places of the image forming apparatuses from which the execution results are collected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for providing reports. [Background technology]

[0002] Systems for managing image forming devices capable of scanning, copying, printing, etc. have been put to practical use. Patent Document 1 proposes a system that acquires jobs stored in an image forming device and provides a report including a graph showing the usage amount for each type of job. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-10792 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, many companies have adopted location-independent work styles, such as working from home or a satellite office. For this reason, image forming devices used by users for work may be installed not only in offices, but also in satellite offices or the user's residence. An object of some aspects of the present invention is to provide a report that allows the location of an image forming device to be recognized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to some embodiments, a system for providing a report is provided, the system comprising: a collection means for collecting execution results of jobs executed on each of a plurality of image forming devices; an identification means for identifying the installation location of the image forming device where the execution results were collected from a plurality of candidate locations including an office and a residence; and a provision means for providing a report displaying information based on the execution results so that the installation location of the image forming device where the execution results were collected can be recognized. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the above embodiment, a report that enables the installation location of an image forming apparatus to be recognized can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a reporting system according to some embodiments. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an MFP according to some embodiments. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a method for collecting execution results in some embodiments. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of history information according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of how a report is provided in some embodiments. [Figure 7] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating example screens for providing reports in some embodiments. [Figure 8] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating example screens for providing reports in some embodiments. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates an example rate schedule for some embodiments. [Figure 10] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating example screens for providing reports in some embodiments. [Figure 11] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating example screens for providing reports in some embodiments. [Figure 12] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating example screens for providing reports in some embodiments. [Figure 13] 11A-11C are schematic diagrams illustrating example screens for providing reports in some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0009] With reference to FIG. 1, an overall configuration of a reporting system 100 according to some embodiments will be described. The reporting system 100 may be a system that provides a report. The reporting system 100 may include a client device 101, a plurality of multifunction peripherals (MFPs) 102, and a reporting server 103. In FIG. 1, the reporting system 100 is shown to include three MFPs 102, but the number of MFPs 102 is not limited to this. In FIG. 1, the reporting system 100 is shown to include one client device 101, but the number of client devices 101 is not limited to this. The following description of one MFP 102 may be applied to any of a plurality of MFPs 102 included in the reporting server 103.

[0010] The client device 101, the MPF 102, and the reporting server 103 can communicate with each other through a network 104. The network 104 may be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, a cellular network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), a frame relay line, a cable television line, a wireless line for data broadcasting, or any combination thereof. The network 104 may include the Internet. For example, the client device 101 and the MPF 102 may be connected to the Internet via an access point that provides a wireless LAN.

[0011] The client device 101 is a device that allows a user of the reporting system 100 to use the services provided by the reporting server 103. In the following description, a user of the reporting system 100 may be simply referred to as a user. A user may view a report provided by the reporting server 103. Such a user may be called a viewer.

[0012] The client device 101 may have a display for viewing reports generated by the reporting server 103. The client device 101 may be capable of providing a graphic user interface (GUI) to a user. The client device 101 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, etc.

[0013] The MFP 102 is a device having multiple main functions related to image formation (e.g., a print function, a scan function, and a copy function). The MFP 102 is an example of an image forming device capable of executing jobs related to image formation (e.g., a print job, a scan job, and a copy job). The reporting system 100 may include other image forming devices instead of or in addition to the MFP 102. For example, the reporting system 100 may include an image processing device, a copier, a facsimile, and the like. The MFP 102 transmits the execution results of jobs executed on the MFP 102 to the reporting server 103 via the network 104. The multiple MFPs 102 included in the reporting system 100 may be installed in various locations. For example, the MFP 102 may be installed in an office, a satellite office, a shared office, or the residence of a company where a person who inputs a job works. The MFP 102 installed in a residence may be used for telecommuting. The multiple MFPs 102 included in the reporting system 100 may be of various models. For example, the MFP 102 may be a large-sized copier for office use or a small-sized printer for home use.

[0014] The reporting server 103 collects job execution results from multiple MFPs 102 registered in the reporting server 103, and manages history information including these execution results. Furthermore, the reporting server 103 generates a report based on the history information, and provides it to a user via the client device 101. The MFPs 102 may be registered in advance in the reporting server 103 by an administrator of the reporting system 100.

[0015] The reports may be provided in any manner, for example the reporting server 103 may act as a web application server and provide reports in response to requests from a browser on the client device 101. Alternatively or additionally, the reporting server 103 may provide reports in response to requests from a dedicated application installed on the client device 101.

[0016] An example of the hardware configuration of the MFP 102 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The MFP 102 may have all of the components shown in Fig. 2, may not have some of them, or may have components not shown in Fig. 2.

[0017] The central processing unit (CPU) 201 is a processor that executes the overall operation of the MFP 102. The program memory 202 is a memory that stores various program codes and an application 203 for transmitting the execution results to the reporting server 103. The program memory 202 may be composed of a read-only memory (ROM) or the like. The work memory 204 is a memory for temporarily storing or buffering data (e.g., image data) during the operation of the MFP 102. The work memory 204 may be composed of a random access memory (RAM) or the like. The operation of the MFP 102 may be performed by the CPU 201 executing a program (e.g., application 203) read from the program memory 202 to the work memory 204. Alternatively, a part or all of the operation of the MFP 102 may be executed by a dedicated integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0018] The display unit 205 is a device for displaying information to a user. The display unit 205 may be configured, for example, as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The operation unit 206 is a device for acquiring input from a user. The operation unit 206 may be configured, for example, as a switch, a touch panel, or the like.

[0019] The network communication unit 207 is a device for communicating with other devices (e.g., the reporting server 103) through the network 104. The network connection unit 208 is a device for connecting to the network 104. The network connection unit 208 may be connectable to a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. For example, when the network connection unit 208 is connectable to a wired LAN, the network connection unit 208 may be configured with a connector for connecting a cable. When the network connection unit 208 is connectable to a wireless LAN, the network connection unit 208 may be configured with an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The flash memory 209 is a non-volatile memory for storing image data and the like received by the network communication unit 207.

[0020] The printer unit 210 is a device for providing a printing function. For example, the printer unit 210 prints image data received from an external device or image data stored in a memory card 214 on printing paper by a recording method such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method. The printer unit 210 may manage consumable information. The consumable information may include ink information related to the remaining amount of ink and paper information related to the number of loaded sheets of paper. The application 203 may access the printer unit 210 to obtain the consumable information.

[0021] Scanner unit 211 is a device for providing a scan function. For example, scanner unit 211 optically reads an original placed on an original table (not shown) to generate image data. Scanner unit 211 may convert the generated image data into a file format designated by a user. Scanner unit 211 may transmit the image data to an external device via network 104, or may store the image data in a hard disk drive (HDD, not shown) of MFP 102. The image data generated by scanner unit 211 may be printed by printer unit 210. This realizes a copy function.

[0022] Two-dimensional code reader unit 212 is a device that reads out information encoded in a two-dimensional code presented to MFP 102. Memory card mounting unit 213 is a device for receiving memory card 214 and accessing memory card 214. File data may be stored in memory card 214. File data may be added to memory card 214 from an external device connected to MFP 102 via network 104, and file data stored in memory card 214 may be edited and deleted. Bus 215 connects the above-mentioned components of MFP 102 to each other.

[0023] With reference to Fig. 3, a hardware configuration example of a computer 300 that may be used as the client device 101 and the reporting server 103 will be described. The computer 300 may have all of the components shown in Fig. 3, may not have some of them, or may have components not shown in Fig. 3. The client device 101 and the reporting server 103 may be virtual computers realized by the computer 300. A specific component (e.g., CPU 301) of the computer 300 that constitutes the reporting server 103 will be simply referred to as a specific component of the reporting server 103. The same applies to the client device 101.

[0024] The CPU 301 is a processor that executes the overall operation of the computer 300. The disk device 302 stores an application 303, a database 304, an operating system, and other files used by the CPU 301. The storage media reader 305 is a device for reading information such as files stored in an external storage medium such as an SD card. The memory 306 is a memory for temporarily storing or buffering data during operation of the computer 300. The memory 306 may be composed of a RAM or the like. The operation of the computer 300 may be performed by the CPU 301 executing a program (e.g., the application 303) read from the disk device 302 to the memory 306. Alternatively, a part or all of the operation of the computer 300 may be executed by a dedicated integrated circuit such as an ASIC.

[0025] The display unit 307 is a device for displaying information to a user. The display unit 307 may be configured with, for example, an LCD. The operation unit 308 is a device for acquiring input from a user. The operation unit 308 may be configured with, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, buttons, etc.

[0026] The network communication unit 309 is a device for communicating with other devices (for example, the MFP 102) through the network 104. The network connection unit 310 is a device for connecting to the network 104. The network connection unit 310 may be connectable to a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. For example, when the network connection unit 208 is connectable to a wired LAN, the network connection unit 310 may be configured with a connector for connecting a cable. When the network connection unit 310 is connectable to a wireless LAN, the network connection unit 310 may be configured with an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The universal serial bus (registered trademark) (USB) communication unit 311 is a device for communicating with a peripheral device connected to the MFP 102. The USB connection unit 312 is a device for connecting to the peripheral device. The bus 313 connects the above-mentioned components of the computer 300 to each other.

[0027] A method in which the reporting server 103 collects execution results from multiple MFPs 102 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The operation of one MFP 102 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Multiple MFPs 102 included in the reporting system 100 may execute S401 and S402 in Fig. 4.

[0028] In S401, the MFP 102 executes a job. The job to be executed may be any job that can be executed by an image forming apparatus, such as a print job, a scan job, or a copy job. The job may be input to the MFP 102 in any manner. For example, the job may be input from the client device 101 via a LAN, may be input via another device such as a print server, or may be input using the operation unit 206 of the MFP 102. The MFP 102 stores the execution result of the job in the work memory 204 for processing to be described later. In the following description, the execution result of the job is simply referred to as the execution result. The execution result of the job may include, for example, a setting value used when executing the job, the amount of consumables used by executing the job (for example, the size and number of sheets of paper used for printing), and an identifier of the person who input the job. The identifier of the person who input the job may be an account name for logging in to the MFP 102, or may be an account name for logging in to the client device 101 used to input the job to the MFP 102.

[0029] In S402, MFP 102 transmits the execution result stored in work memory 204 to reporting server 103. MFP 102 may transmit its own device identifier together with the execution result. The identifier of MFP 102 may be any character string that enables reporting server 103 to uniquely identify MFP 102. For example, the identifier of MFP 102 may be the serial number of MFP 102 (which may also be referred to as a model-specific number), or may be a character string assigned by reporting server 103 when MFP 102 is registered in reporting server 103. The identifier of MFP 102 may be a communication identifier possessed by MFP 102 (for example, a media access control (MAC) address or an internet protocol (IP) address).

[0030] The MFP 102 may transmit the execution results to the reporting server 103 each time a job is executed. Alternatively, the MFP 102 may collectively transmit accumulated execution results to the reporting server 103 periodically. The MFP 102 may actively transmit the execution results (so-called push transmission). Alternatively or in addition, the MFP 102 may transmit the execution results to the reporting server 103 in response to a request from the reporting server 103 (so-called pull transmission).

[0031] The MFP 102 may transmit the execution results to a device (e.g., a file server) different from the reporting server 103, and the reporting server 103 may acquire the execution results from this device. The reporting server 103 may acquire the execution results periodically, or may acquire the execution results in response to an instruction from a user.

[0032] MFP 102 installed in an office or a satellite office may transmit all job execution results to reporting server 103. MFP 102 installed in a residence may transmit only the execution results of jobs submitted via network 104 to reporting server 103. Alternatively, MFP 102 installed in a residence may transmit all job execution results to reporting server 103. In this case, reporting server 103 may not use the execution results of jobs submitted via network 104 for generating a report, which will be described later. In this way, the conditions that a job that transmits its execution result to reporting server 103 must satisfy may differ based on the installation location of MFP 102. Alternatively, the conditions that the execution result that reporting server 103 uses for generating a report must satisfy may differ based on the installation location of MFP 102.

[0033] The reporting server 103 receives the execution results transmitted in S402 from the MFPs 102. In this way, the reporting server 103 collects the execution results of the jobs executed by each of the multiple MFPs 102.

[0034] In S403, MFP 102 analyzes the collected execution results. Through this analysis, reporting server 103 may identify information that is not included in the execution results based on the execution results received from MFP 102. For example, reporting server 103 may identify the installation location of MFP 102, the date and time when the execution results were received, and the like.

[0035] An example of a method in which the reporting server 103 specifies the installation location of the MFP 102 will be described. The reporting server 103 may specify the installation location of the MFP 102 from a plurality of candidate locations. The plurality of candidate locations may be set in advance by an administrator of the reporting system 100 and stored in the reporting server 103. The plurality of candidate locations may include an office and a residence. Alternatively or in addition to this, the plurality of candidates may include a satellite office, a shared office, and the like.

[0036] The reporting server 103 may specify the installation location of the MFP 102 based on the IP address of the MFP 102. For example, the reporting server 103 may specify the installation location of the MFP 102 based on the IP address of the MFP 102. The IP address used to specify the installation location may be the source address of a packet used by the MFP 102 to transmit the execution result. The reporting server 103 may store a list of IP addresses of image forming devices installed in each of a plurality of candidate locations for each of the candidate locations. The list of IP addresses may be generated in advance by an administrator of the reporting system 100 and stored in the reporting server 103. The reporting server 103 may specify the installation location of the MFP 102 by comparing this list with the source IP address of a packet including the execution result.

[0037] The reporting server 103 may identify the installation location of the MFP 102 based on location information measured by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor of the MFP 102. The MFP 102 may transmit the location information measured by the GNSS sensor to the reporting server 103 together with the execution result of the job. The reporting server 103 may identify one candidate location that is geographically closest to the location information from among multiple candidate locations as the installation location of the MFP.

[0038] Reporting server 103 may store in advance a correspondence table between identifiers (e.g., device names and serial numbers) of MFPs 102 and installation locations, or may identify the installation location based on the identifier included in the execution result. Records in this correspondence table may be determined by reporting server 103 based on the method by which MFPs 102 are registered in reporting server 103. For example, MFPs 102 installed in an office, MFPs 102 installed in a satellite office, and MFPs 102 installed in a residence may be registered in different ways. Alternatively or in addition to this, an administrator may manually add records to this correspondence table.

[0039] The MFP 102 may store information indicating the installation location in its own flash memory 209, and may transmit the information indicating the installation location to the reporting server 103 together with the execution result.

[0040] In S404, the reporting server 103 stores the execution result received in S402 and the information identified by the analysis in S403 in its own disk device 302 as history information 500. The reporting server 103 may store all of the execution result and the identified information, or may store only a part of them. The reporting server 103 updates the history information 500 by repeatedly executing the operation of FIG. 4.

[0041] An example of history information 500 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, history information 500 is expressed in a table format. Alternatively, history information 500 may be expressed in another format. History information 500 may have a record for each execution result collected from MFP 102. Reporting server 103 may collect the execution results of all registered MFPs 102 in one table. Alternatively, reporting server 103 may divide multiple registered MFPs 102 into multiple groups and generate a table for each group. Reporting server 103 may divide multiple MFPs 102 into groups, for example, by company or organization.

[0042] Column 501 indicates the model name of MFP 102 that executed the job. Column 502 indicates the person who submitted the job. The person who submitted the job may be indicated by an account name for logging in to MFP 102, or may be indicated by an account name for logging in to client apparatus 101 used to submit the job to MFP 102. Information stored in columns 501-502 may be included in the information collected in S402.

[0043] Column 503 indicates the installation location of the MFP 102 that executed the job. As described above, the information stored in column 503 may be included in the information collected in S402, or may be information specified in S403.

[0044] Column 504 indicates the serial number of the MFP 102 that executed the job. Column 505 indicates the number of pages printed in the execution of the job. Column 506 indicates the number of pages printed in color in the execution of the job. Column 507 indicates the number of pages printed in monochrome in the execution of the job. Column 508 indicates the number of pages printed double-sided in the execution of the job. Column 509 indicates the size of the paper used in the execution of the job. The information stored in columns 505 to 509 may be included in the information collected in S402.

[0045] Column 510 indicates the execution date and time of a job. The execution date and time of a job may be the date and time when the reporting server 103 receives the execution result from the MFP 102. Alternatively, the execution date and time of a job may be the date and time when the MFP 102 starts executing the job or the date and time when the MFP 102 completes the job.

[0046] Columns 505-509 of history information 500 in Fig. 5 represent information when a print job is executed by MFP 102. Alternatively or in addition to this, history information 500 may include columns showing information when other jobs are executed. For example, history information 500 may include columns showing the number of sheets scanned by MFP 102, settings when scanning by MFP 102, etc.

[0047] 6, a method in which the reporting server 103 provides a report to the client device 101 will be described. In S601, the client device 101 requests the reporting server 103 to provide a report regarding the execution results of jobs of multiple MFPs 102 managed by the reporting server 103. This request may be made in response to a user operating the operation unit 308 of the client device 101.

[0048] In S602, the reporting server 103 generates a report based on the history information 500 stored in the disk device 302 in response to a request from the client device 101. In S603, the reporting server 103 responds with the generated report to the client device 101. In S604, the client device 101 displays the report received from the reporting server 103 on the display unit 307. In this way, the report is provided to the user (i.e., the viewer).

[0049] The report provided to the viewer by the reporting server 103 may be displayed on multiple screens on the client device 101. The screens may be graphic user interface (GUI) screens. That is, the client device 101 may be capable of receiving instructions from a user through the screens.

[0050] An example of a screen 700 for displaying a report will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The screen 700 includes a dashboard showing information of the report. In the dashboard, information included in the report is displayed in a graph or table so that it can be visually recognized by the user. The dashboard may include items that are frequently viewed by the viewer. Specifically, the screen 700 includes an object 701 for acquiring a designation of a period to be displayed from the user, and objects 702 to 704 for displaying information of the report. In the dashboard included in the screen 700, a plurality of items are displayed collectively in the objects 702 to 704. The objects of the GUI screen may also be referred to as graphic objects.

[0051] In the object 702, the execution history of jobs of a plurality of MFPs 102 is displayed in a table format. Specifically, each record in the table of the object 702 includes the name of the image forming device that executed the job, the name of the person who submitted the job, the installation location of the image forming device, and the number of pages for each printing mode. In this manner, in the object 702, information based on the execution result (e.g., the number of pages) is displayed so that the installation location of the MFP 102 where the execution result is collected can be recognized. The information based on the execution result may be information in which the execution result is aggregated. For example, the object 702 may display information in which the execution results of jobs executed by each MFP 102 within the period specified in the object 701 are aggregated (e.g., the total number of printed pages). In the object 703, the transition of the number of printed pages for each person who submitted the job is displayed by month. In the object 704, the ratio of the number of pages printed in color to the number of pages printed in monochrome is displayed in a pie chart.

[0052] Another example of a screen for displaying a report will be described with reference to FIG. 8. Screen 801 shown in FIG. 8(a) includes a stacked graph that sums up the costs required for job execution by installation location and by month. In the following description, the costs required for job execution will be referred to as execution costs. Screen 802 shown in FIG. 8(b) includes a pie chart that indicates the ratio of the total execution costs at each installation location. Screens 801 and 802 also display information based on the execution results (for example, execution costs or their ratios) so that the installation location of MFP 102 where the execution results were collected can be recognized. These graphs allow the viewer to recognize which installation location has the highest costs.

[0053] The reporting server 103 may obtain the execution cost by referring to the fee table 900 shown in FIG. 9. Column 901 of the fee table 900 indicates the type of print job executed by the MFP 102. In the example of FIG. 9, record 911 indicates the case where the print job is color printing, and record 912 indicates the case where the print job is monochrome printing. Column 902 indicates the unit price when the MFP 102 installed in the office executes the job. In the following description, the unit price when the job is executed represents the execution cost of the job. Column 903 indicates the execution cost of the MFP 102 installed in the satellite office. Column 904 indicates the execution cost of the MFP 102 installed in the residence. The fee table 900 may be determined in advance by the administrator of the reporting system 100 and stored in the reporting server 103. As shown in the fee table 900, the execution cost may differ depending on the installation location of the MFP 102. The difference in the execution cost may be due to the difference in the cost of purchasing consumables. Furthermore, the execution cost may differ for each type of job, as shown in the fee schedule 900. The job types are not limited to the examples shown in the fee schedule 900. For example, the execution cost may differ for each paper size.

[0054] Reporting server 103 determines the execution cost of a job based on the installation location of MFP 102 where the execution results were collected. For example, reporting server 103 refers to fee schedule 900 and determines that if MFP 102 is installed in an office, the execution cost of color printing one page is 10 yen and the execution cost of monochrome printing one page is 5 yen.

[0055] Thereafter, reporting server 103 calculates the execution cost of the job executed by MFP 102 based on the execution results collected from MFP 102 and the determined execution cost. For example, assume that a print job including 100 pages of color printing and 10 pages of monochrome printing is executed by MFP 102, and the execution results of this print job are collected and stored in history information 500. In this case, reporting server 103 calculates the execution cost of this print job as 100 (pages) x 10 (yen / page) + 10 (pages) x 5 (yen / page) = 1,050 yen.

[0056] Another example of a screen for displaying a report will be described with reference to FIG. 10. A screen 1000 shown in FIG. 10(a) shows the transition of the total number of pages per month of jobs submitted by one user ("Taro") to multiple MFPs 102 installed at multiple installation locations. The screen 1000 may be displayed in response to the user's designation of the user. For example, the screen 1000 may be displayed in response to the user clicking on the value (e.g., "Taro") in the column of the user included in the object 702. The screen 1000 displays information based on the execution results (e.g., the total number of pages per month) so that the installation location of the MFP 102 where the execution results are collected can be recognized. The user can recognize which MFP 102 at which the one user is using the most by referring to the screen 1000.

[0057] 10(b) shows the same information as screen 1000. In screen 1010, one person submits jobs to multiple MFPs 102 in one installation location (e.g., an office). By referring to screen 1010, the viewer can further recognize which MFPs 102 in one installation location are used most by the one person.

[0058] Screen 1020 shown in FIG. 10(c) displays information focusing on one installation location (e.g., an office) on screen 1010. For example, reporting server 103 may acquire a designation of a specific installation location from the viewer of the report through a GUI screen. When a specific installation location is designated by the viewer of the report, reporting server 103 may narrow down the report to information related to this specific installation location. Specifically, the line graph included in screen 1020 is narrowed down to information related to the office among the line graphs included in screen 1010. This improves the visibility of the graph. For an installation location where only one MFP 102 is displayed on screen 1020 (e.g., at home), the display of screen 1010 may be maintained even if the viewer designates this installation location.

[0059] A screen 1030 shown in FIG. 10(d) includes, in addition to the screen 1000, an icon 1031 for acquiring an instruction to register a favorite from the viewer. The reporting server 103 may include an item registered as a favorite by the viewer in the dashboard. For example, when the icon 1031 of the screen 1030 is pressed, the reporting server 103 may display a screen 1100 of FIG. 11 in which the items displayed in the object 703 of the screen 700 are replaced with the items displayed on the screen 1030. The dashboard of the screen 1100 includes the items of the screen 700 registered as favorites by the viewer. The method of acquiring an instruction to register a favorite from the viewer is not limited to pressing the icon 1031. For example, the reporting server 103 may acquire, from the viewer, a selection of an item "register to dashboard" from within a menu of a screen displayed on the client device 101.

[0060] Another example of a screen for displaying a report will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The screen 1200 shown in FIG. 12 differs from the screen 700 in FIG. 7 in that the column 1201 (job submitter) of the table displayed in the object 702 is displayed with an icon. That is, the report displayed on the screen 1200 includes one or more icons representing the submitter who submitted the job to the image forming apparatus whose execution result is collected. By using the icons, visibility is maintained even when multiple submitters are displayed in one field of the column 1201. When one of the one or more icons displayed in the object 702 is selected by the viewer, the reporting server 103 may narrow down the report to information about the submitter represented by the selected icon. For example, when an icon representing "Taro" is selected by the viewer, the reporting server 103 may display the screen 1000 narrowed down to information about "Taro". The screen 1200 may include a correspondence table between the icon and the submitter's name.

[0061] Another example of a screen for displaying a report will be described with reference to Fig. 13. A screen 1300 shown in Fig. 13 includes an object 1301 for showing the monthly change in the number of printed pages for a specific company. In order to display such an object 1301, the reporting server 103 may acquire an identifier of the company or organization to which the person who submitted the job belongs, along with the execution result. The screen 1300 may further include an object 1302 associated with the object 1301. In response to the viewer pressing the object 1302, the reporting server 103 may calculate the execution cost of the job submitted by the person who submitted the job who belongs to the company associated with the object 1301, and issue an invoice to the company.

[0062] According to the above-described embodiment, a report is provided in which information based on the execution results is displayed so that the installation location of the MFP 102 where the execution results were collected can be recognized. This allows the viewer of the report to recognize the job execution status for each installation location.

[0063] <Other embodiments> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0064] <Summary of the embodiment> [Item 1] 1. A system for providing reports, comprising: a collection unit for collecting execution results of jobs executed in each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; a specifying means for specifying an installation location of the image forming device from among a plurality of candidate locations including an office and a residence; a providing unit that provides a report displaying information based on the execution results so that the installation location of the image forming apparatus where the execution results are collected can be recognized. [Item 2] and acquiring means for acquiring an execution cost of the job based on the execution result and the determined execution cost, 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the report includes a total of the implementation costs per installation location. [Item 3] 3. The system according to item 1 or 2, wherein the identifying unit identifies the installation location of the image forming device from which the execution results were collected based on an IP address of the image forming device. [Item 4] The system according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the providing means, when a specific installation location is specified by a viewer of the report, narrows down the report to information relating to the specific installation location. [Item 5] The report includes a dashboard that displays multiple items at once, The system according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the providing means includes items registered by a viewer in the dashboard. [Item 6] the report further includes one or more icons representing users who submitted jobs to the image forming apparatus for which the execution results were collected; The system described in any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the providing means, when one of the one or more icons is selected by the viewer, narrows down the report to information regarding the submitter represented by the selected icon. [Item 7] 1. A method of providing a report, comprising: a collection step of collecting execution results of jobs executed by each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses by a collection means; a specifying step of specifying an installation location of the image forming device from among a plurality of candidate locations including an office and a residence; A method comprising: a providing step of providing a report in which information based on the execution results is displayed so that the installation location of the image forming device where the execution results are collected can be recognized by a providing means.

[0065] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 100 reporting system, 101 client device, 102 MFP, 103 reporting server

Claims

1. 1. A system for providing reports, comprising: a collection unit for collecting execution results of jobs executed in each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; a specifying means for specifying an installation location of the image forming device from among a plurality of candidate locations including an office and a residence; a providing unit that provides a report displaying information based on the execution results so that the installation location of the image forming apparatus where the execution results are collected can be recognized.

2. and acquiring means for acquiring an execution cost of the job based on the execution result and the determined execution cost, The system of claim 1 , wherein the report includes a total of the implementation costs by installation location.

3. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies the installation location of the image forming device from which the execution results are collected, based on an IP address of the image forming device.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the providing means, when a specific installation location is specified by a viewer of the report, narrows down the report to information relating to the specific installation location.

5. The report includes a dashboard that displays multiple items at once, The system of claim 1 , wherein the providing means includes items registered by a viewer in the dashboard.

6. the report further includes one or more icons representing users who submitted jobs to the image forming apparatus for which the execution results were collected; The system of claim 1 , wherein the providing means, when one of the one or more icons is selected by a viewer, narrows the report to information about the submitter represented by the selected icon.

7. 1. A method of providing a report, comprising: a collection step of collecting execution results of jobs executed by each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses by a collection means; a specifying step of specifying an installation location of the image forming device from among a plurality of candidate locations including an office and a residence; A method comprising: a providing step of providing a report in which information based on the execution results is displayed so that the installation location of the image forming device where the execution results are collected can be recognized by a providing means.

Images