Image forming system and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To transmit log data relating to an operation of an image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to a server and cause a storage device of the server to reliably store the data.SOLUTION: In an image forming system S according to the present invention, a control unit 21 of an image forming device 10 causes a memory unit 18 to store log data of the image forming device 10, and when a log data generation period reaches a certain period, determines whether or not a data amount of log data for the certain period is equal to or less than a preset allocated capacity, and if it is equal to or less than the allocated capacity, causes a communication unit 14 to transmit the log data for the certain period equal to or less than the allocated capacity to a server 30, and if it exceeds the allocated capacity, creates log data equal to or less than the allocated capacity based on the log data for the certain period, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the created log data equal to or less than the allocated capacity to the server 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs data communication with a server, and an image forming system including the image forming apparatus and the server, and more particularly to a technique for collecting log information related to the operation of the image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] In image forming devices, an image reading unit reads an image from a document and an image forming unit forms the image on recording paper. Some image forming devices also have a function to generate and store log data related to the operation of the image forming device. The log data is analyzed to ensure proper maintenance of the image forming device. For example, a user can connect a USB memory stick to the image forming device, store the log data on the USB memory stick, and then take the USB memory stick to a service technician.

[0003] On the other hand, in the remote management system described in Patent Document 1, when a relay management server accepts a connection for remote panel operation from a user terminal and an image forming device, it sends a liveness confirmation message to the relay server. When the relay server receives the liveness confirmation message from the relay management server, it checks whether the connection capacity handled by the relay server has reached its upper limit and replies with a message indicating that a new request can be accepted or a message indicating that a new request cannot be accepted. When the relay management server receives a message indicating that a new request can be accepted, it transfers the accepted connection to the relay server that returned the message indicating that a new request can be accepted, and when it receives a message indicating that a new request cannot be accepted, it sends a liveness confirmation message to another relay server. This allows the remote panel function to continue even if the relay server's capacity is exceeded. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-220077 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, when the log data of the image forming apparatus is stored in a USB memory as described above and the USB memory is left with a service person or the like, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of security, considering the possibility of the USB memory being lost.

[0006] Alternatively, the log data of the image forming device may be transmitted to a server via a network and stored there. However, when transmitting and storing log data of multiple image forming devices to a server, it is necessary to properly manage the server's available storage capacity and the log data communication time. For example, if the server's available storage capacity is insufficient, the log data of the image forming device cannot be stored, and if the communication time for the log data becomes too long, other data communication may be hindered.

[0007] In Patent Document 1, connections for remote panel execution from user terminals and image forming devices are distributed to multiple relay servers via a relay management server. It is conceivable to apply the technology in Patent Document 1 to distribute, send, and store log data of image forming devices to multiple servers, but in this case, since the log data of each image forming device is distributed to multiple servers, it becomes difficult to collectively manage the log data of each image forming device.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to enable log data related to the operation of an image forming device to be transmitted from the image forming device to a server and reliably stored in the server's storage device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An image forming system according to one aspect of the present invention is an image forming system comprising a server and an image forming device which exchanges data with the server, wherein the image forming device comprises a first communication unit which exchanges data with the server, a first memory unit, and a first control unit which generates log data relating to the operation of the image forming device and stores it in the first memory unit, and when the log data generation period reaches a predetermined period, creates log data by dividing the log data for the predetermined period into pieces of data equal to or less than a predetermined amount of data, and causes the first communication unit to transmit the divided log data to the server; and the server comprises a second communication unit which exchanges data with the image forming device, a second memory unit, and a second control unit which, when the divided log data is received by the second communication unit, stores the received log data in the second memory unit.

[0010] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that exchanges data with a server, and includes: a first communication unit that exchanges data with the server; a first memory unit; and a first control unit that generates log data relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus and stores it in the first memory unit, and when the log data generation period reaches a predetermined period, creates log data by dividing the log data for the predetermined period into pieces of data equal to or less than a predetermined amount of data, and causes the first communication unit to transmit the divided log data to the server. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit log data relating to the operation of an image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to a server and to store the data reliably in a storage device of the server. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration of an image forming apparatus and a configuration of a server in the image forming system. [Figure 2A]10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for controlling transmission and reception of log data from an image forming apparatus to a server. [Figure 2B] 2B is a flowchart showing a control procedure following FIG. 2A. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a warning screen displayed on the display unit of the server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An image forming apparatus and an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration of an image forming apparatus and a server in the image forming system. The image forming system Sy of this embodiment includes one or more image forming apparatuses 10 and a server 30, which are connected to each other via a network N (such as the Internet or an intranet). In this embodiment, the image forming system Sy includes multiple image forming apparatuses 10.

[0014] In the image forming system Sy, the image forming device 10 is an MFP (multi-function peripheral) that combines multiple functions such as a copy function and a scanner function. The image forming device 10 includes a display unit 11, an operation unit 12, a touch panel 13, a communication unit 14, an image reading unit 15, an image forming unit 16, a storage unit 18, an input unit 22, and a control unit 19. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

[0015] The display unit 11 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

[0016] A touch panel 13 is superimposed on the screen of the display unit 11. The touch panel 13 detects contact (touch) with the user's finger or the like on the touch panel 13 together with the contact position, and outputs a detection signal indicating the coordinates of the contact position to the control unit 21 of the control unit 19. This makes it possible to operate a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like displayed on the screen of the display unit 11 through the touch panel 13. Therefore, the touch panel 13 functions as an operation unit into which user operations are input to the screen of the display unit 11.

[0017] The operation unit 12 includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad, a decision key, a start key, etc. The operation unit 12 receives various instructions based on the operation of each key by the user.

[0018] The image reading unit 15 has a scanner that optically reads an image of a document, and generates image data that represents the image of the document.

[0019] The image forming unit 16 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposure device that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image, and a transfer device that transfers the toner image (image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum to recording paper, and prints an image represented by the image data on the recording paper.

[0020] The communication unit 14 is a communication interface that includes a communication module such as a LAN chip, etc. The communication unit 14 is connected to the server 30 via a network (such as an intranet) N, and performs data communication with the server 30.

[0021] The storage unit 18 is a large-capacity storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores various application programs and various data.

[0022] The input unit 22 is, for example, a USB interface, and inputs data from a USB memory or the like.

[0023] The control unit 19 is composed of a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 19 functions as a control unit 21 when a control program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 18 is executed by the processor.

[0024] The control unit 21 is responsible for overall control of the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 19 is also connected to the display unit 11, operation unit 12, touch panel 13, communication unit 14, image reading unit 15, image forming unit 16, storage unit 18, and input unit 22. The control unit 21 controls each of the above components and transmits and receives signals or data to and from each of the components.

[0025] The control unit 21 functions as a processing unit that executes various processes, and also has a function of controlling the display unit 11 and the communication unit 14.

[0026] The server 30 is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network N, and transmits and receives data to and from the image forming apparatus 10. The server 30 includes a display unit 31, an operation unit 32, a communication unit 34, a storage unit 38, and a control unit 39, and these components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

[0027] The communication unit 34 is a communication interface, and is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network N to send and receive data to and from the image forming apparatus 10.

[0028] The storage unit 38 is a storage device such as an SSD or HDD, and stores programs and various data.

[0029] The control unit 39 is composed of a processor, RAM, ROM, etc. The control unit 39 functions as a control unit 41 when a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 38 is executed by the processor.

[0030] The control unit 41 is responsible for overall control of the server 30. The control unit 39 is also connected to the display unit 31, the operation unit 32, the communication unit 34, and the storage unit 38. The control unit 41 controls each of the above components and transmits and receives signals or data to and from each of the components.

[0031] The control unit 41 functions as a processing unit that executes various processes, and also has the function of controlling the display unit 31 and the communication unit .

[0032] In image forming apparatus 10, for example, a user places an original document on image reading unit 15 and operates the start key of operation unit 12. Control unit 21 causes image reading unit 15 to read the image of the original document and causes image forming unit 16 to print the image of the original document on recording paper in accordance with a copy instruction received by operation unit 12 in response to the operation of the start key.

[0033] In addition, during operation of the image forming device 10, the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 generates multiple types of log data, such as (i) creating log data indicating the number of sheets of recording paper, color or monochrome, etc., each time an image of an original is formed on a recording paper, (ii) creating log data indicating an error each time an error occurs, (iii) counting the total number of sheets of recording paper used for image formation and creating log data indicating the total number of sheets of recording paper used, and (iv) counting the amount of toner used and creating log data indicating the amount of toner used, and stores the log data in the memory unit 18 according to the type of log data.

[0034] Then, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads the log data from the storage unit 18 at a predetermined timing, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the log data to the server 30 via the network N.

[0035] In the server 30, when the log data is received by the communication unit 34, the control unit 41 stores the log data in the storage unit 38. A service technician accesses the server from an external PC and obtains from the server 30 the log data that has been read from the storage unit 38 by the control unit 41. Alternatively, the service technician operates the server 30 to read the log data from the storage unit 38 and display it on the screen of the display unit 31, and then refers to the log data. This allows the service technician to remotely grasp the operating status of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0036] Each of the image forming devices 10 transmits the acquired log data to the server 30. Therefore, a large amount of log data from each image forming device 10 is transmitted from each image forming device 10 to the server 30 via the network N and stored in the storage unit 38 of the server 30. For this reason, the server 30 needs to accurately manage the free storage capacity of the storage unit 38 or the communication time for the log data. For example, if the free storage capacity of the storage unit 38 is insufficient, the log data of the image forming device 10 cannot be stored, and if the communication time for receiving the log data becomes too long, other data communications may be hindered.

[0037] Therefore, in the image forming system Sy of this embodiment, a storage capacity (hereinafter referred to as the allocated capacity) of the storage unit 38 of the server 30 is set to be allocated for storing the log data of one image forming apparatus 10, and the allocated capacity of the storage unit 38 of the server 30 is always secured for each image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 generates log data during operation of the image forming apparatus 10 and stores it in the storage unit 18, determines whether the amount of log data saved for a predetermined fixed period (for example, a specified period specified by the server 30) is equal to or less than the allocated capacity, and if the amount of log data for the fixed period is equal to or less than the allocated capacity, causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the log data for the fixed period to the server 30 via the network N.

[0038] Furthermore, when the amount of log data for a certain period of time exceeds the allocated capacity, the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 divides the log data for the certain period of time to create multiple pieces of log data that are less than the allocated capacity, and transmits the created multiple pieces of log data that are less than the allocated capacity from the communication unit 14 to the server 30 via the network N at different transmission timings.

[0039] In addition, the control unit 41 of the server 30 calculates the communication time of the log data received from the image forming device 10, and if this communication time exceeds a predetermined specified time, the control unit 41 causes the communication unit 34 to send to the image forming device 10 an instruction to stop sending the log data to be received, to resend the log data to be received with a reduced data volume, or to shorten the specified period.

[0040] Next, the process of transmitting log data from the image forming apparatus 10 to the server 30 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0041] In the server 30, a serviceman operates the operation unit 32, and the operation unit 32 receives a storage capacity (allocated capacity) WY of the storage unit 38 to be allocated for storing the log data of each image forming device 10. The control unit 41 transmits the received allocated capacity WY from the communication unit 34 to each image forming device 10 via the network N (S101). The allocated capacity WY is received and set for each image forming device 10. As described above, the allocated capacity WY is the storage capacity of the storage unit 38 of the server 30 that is allocated for storing the log data of one image forming device 10.

[0042] Furthermore, in the server 30, when a designated period T2 is accepted by the operation unit 32 through an operation by a serviceman on the operation unit 32, the control unit 41 causes the communication unit 34 to transmit the designated period T2 to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network N (S102). The designated period T2 is, for example, seven days. The designated period T2 is received by the communication unit 34 of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0043] In the image forming apparatus 10, the communication unit 34 receives the allocated capacity WY, and the control unit 21 acquires the allocated capacity WY (S201).

[0044] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 generates the above-described multiple types of log data during operation of the image forming apparatus 10, and stores the log data in the storage unit 18 separately for each type of log data (S202). Then, the control unit 21 determines whether the log data generation period Δt has reached a predetermined fixed period T1 (S203). If the designated period T2 has been received by the communication unit 34, the control unit 21 sets the designated period T2 as the fixed period T1. If the designated period T2 has not been received by the communication unit 34, the control unit 21 sets a period previously set in the control unit 21 (for example, a period (e.g., 30 days) accepted by the user via the operation unit 12 or the touch panel 13) as the fixed period T1.

[0045] The control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 continues generating and storing log data until the log data generation period Δt reaches a predetermined period T1 (e.g., 30 days) (S203, "No"). When the control unit 21 determines that the log data generation period Δt has reached the predetermined period T1 (S203, "Yes"), it reads various log data from the storage unit 18 during the operation of the image forming apparatus 10, determines the data volume DT1 of the various log data during the period T1 (S205), and determines whether the determined data volume DT1 is equal to or less than the allocated capacity WY (S206). Note that the control unit 21 counts the period T1 only while the image forming apparatus 10 is operating. When the image forming apparatus 10 temporarily stops operating, the control unit 21 temporarily stops counting the period T1. When the image forming apparatus 10 resumes operating, the control unit 21 resumes counting the period T1 from the value at the time of the temporary stop.

[0046] When the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 determines that the data volume DT1 of various log data during the fixed period T1 is equal to or less than the allocated capacity WY (S206 "Yes"), it causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the various log data stored during the fixed period T1 (including acquisition time information indicating the acquisition time of the various log data) and data volume information indicating the data volume DT1 (the total data volume of all the various log data) to the server 30 via the network N (S207).

[0047] After S207, the control unit 21 continues the process of transmitting the various log data and data volume information stored for a certain period T1 to the server 30 unless an instruction to stop communicating the log data is received from the server 30 by the communication unit 14 (S208 "No"), and terminates the process shown in Figure 2A when the transmission of the log data, etc. is completed.

[0048] Meanwhile, in the server 30, when the communication unit 34 receives various log data and data amount information for the fixed period T1 (S103), the control unit 41 starts storing the various log data in the storage unit 38 (S104).

[0049] Furthermore, the control unit 41 determines the amount of data per unit time received by the communication unit 34, i.e., the communication speed, and calculates the communication time S required to communicate the various log data from the communication speed and the data amount DT1 of the log data (S106), and determines whether the communication time S is equal to or less than a predetermined specified time SK (S107). The specified time SK is, for example, 30 minutes.

[0050] If the control unit 41 of the server 30 determines that the communication time S is less than or equal to the specified time SK (S107 "Yes"), the communication of the various log data will be completed within the specified time SK, so the control unit 41 continues receiving and storing the various log data (S108), and when the storage of the various log data in the memory unit 38 is completed, the process shown in Figure 2A is terminated.

[0051] Therefore, if the communication time S of various log data of a data amount DT1 that is less than the allocated capacity WY during a certain period T1 is less than the specified time SK, the various log data during the certain period T1 is transmitted and received from the image forming device 10 to the server 30 and stored in the memory unit 38.

[0052] Furthermore, in S206, if the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines that the data volume DT1 of the various log data for the fixed period T1 exceeds the allocated capacity WY (S206 "No"), it divides the various log data for the fixed period T1 into a plurality of log data pieces that are equal to or smaller than the allocated capacity WY (S209). Here, the control unit 21 divides the various log data for the fixed period T1 into a plurality of log data pieces that are equal to or smaller than a predetermined data volume. The predetermined data volume is, for example, the data volume obtained when the various log data for the fixed period T1 is divided into hourly units based on the time of generation (in this case, the fixed period T1 is, for example, 6 hours), or the data volume obtained when the various log data for the fixed period T1 is divided into daily (24-hour) units (in this case, the fixed period T1 is, for example, 7 days).

[0053] Alternatively, the control unit 21 may divide log data equal to or less than the allocated capacity WY based on the various log data for the fixed period T1 as follows: For example, if the allocated capacity WY is 1 GB and the data volume DT1 of the various log data for the fixed period T1 is 2 GB, the data volume DT1 of the various log data for the fixed period T1 is divided into two 1 GB log data pieces.

[0054] Each of the above divisions is performed on the condition that the log data created by the division is equal to or less than the allocated capacity WY.

[0055] The control unit 21 determines the data volume DT1 for each piece of divided log data. Then, the control unit 21 causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the divided pieces of log data (including acquisition time information indicating the acquisition time of each piece of log data) and the data volume information indicating the data volume DT1 to the server 30 via the network N in a predetermined order (S210). The predetermined order may be, for example, in the order of earliest time the log data was generated.

[0056] In the server 30, when the communication unit 34 starts receiving the divided log data and data amount information (S103), the control unit 41 starts storing the divided log data in the memory unit 38, starting with the first received divided log data (S104). In this case, the control unit 41 determines whether the communication time S is equal to or less than the specified time SK for each divided log data, starting with the first received divided log data (S106, S107). If the communication of the divided log data ends within the specified time SK ("Yes" in S107), the control unit 41 continues storing the divided log data (S108). When the storage process in the memory unit 38 for all of the series of divided log data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 is completed, the process shown in FIG. 2A ends.

[0057] Here, if the remaining capacity of the storage unit 38 runs out during the storage process of the series of divided log data and the storage process cannot be continued, the control unit 41 causes the communication unit 34 to transmit to the image forming apparatus 10 an instruction to stop communication of the log data, unstorable data information indicating the divided log data that could not be stored, and retransmission time information indicating the time to retransmit the divided log data that could not be stored. For example, if the server 30 is configured to delete each log data stored in the storage unit 38 every three hours, starting with the oldest one, the retransmission time information is the time three hours after the time when the storage process could not be continued.

[0058] Then, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the communication unit 14 receives the log data communication stop instruction, the unstorable data information, and the retransmission time information, the control unit 21 stops the transmission process of the divided log data, and transmits the divided log data indicated by the unstorable data information again from the communication unit 14 to the server 30 at the time indicated by the retransmission time information. After this transmission, the server 30 performs the processes of S103 to S108.

[0059] In the image forming device 1, after S210, the control unit 21 continues the process of sending each of the divided log data and data volume information to the server 30 unless an instruction to stop communication of the log data is received from the server 30 by the communication unit 14 (S208 "No"), and ends the process shown in Figure 2A when transmission of all of the divided log data, etc. is completed.

[0060] On the other hand, if the control unit 41 of the server 30 determines that the communication time S of the log data received from the image forming apparatus 10 exceeds the specified time SK (S107 "No"), it transmits an instruction to stop communication of the log data or an instruction to reduce the data amount DT1 of the log data to the image forming apparatus 10 from the communication unit 34 over the network N (S110). After this, the processing in the server 30 proceeds to S103.

[0061] In the image forming apparatus 10, when the communication unit 14 receives an instruction to stop communication of the log data or an instruction to reduce the data amount DT1 of the log data ("Yes" in S208, S211 in FIG. 2B), the control unit 21 stops transmission of the log data by the communication unit 14 (S212). If the received instruction is an instruction to stop communication of the log data ("Stop instruction" in S213), the process ends here.

[0062] If the received instruction is an instruction to reduce the data volume DT1 of the log data ("Reduction Instruction" in S213), the control unit 21 further divides the log data to be communicated (S209). For example, the control unit 21 further divides the log data to be communicated in two to create two divided log data with half the data volume. The control unit 21 determines the data volume DT1 for each divided log data, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit each divided log data (including acquisition time information indicating the acquisition time of the various log data) and data volume information indicating the data volume DT1 to the server 30 via the network N (S210). After this, the processing in the image forming apparatus 10 proceeds to S208.

[0063] Meanwhile, in the server 30, when the communication unit 34 receives the further divided log data and its data amount information (S103 "Yes"), the server 30 executes the processes from S104 onwards.

[0064] As a result, according to the above embodiment, when log data relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the server 30, it can be reliably stored in the memory unit 38 of the server 30.

[0065] Next, a further embodiment of the process when the image forming apparatus 10 transmits log data to the server 30 will be described below. In this further embodiment, the process is performed in the same manner as the above-described embodiment except for the process described below.

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, when the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 determines that the data volume DT1 of various log data for the fixed period T1 exceeds the allocated capacity WY (S206 "No"), it divides the various log data for the fixed period T1 and transmits each divided log data from the communication unit 14 to the server 30 in the above-described predetermined order (S210). However, in a further embodiment, when the control unit 21 determines that the data volume DT1 of various log data for the fixed period T1 exceeds the allocated capacity WY (S206 "No"), it transmits a request to transmit the priority of the various log data from the communication unit 14 to the server 30.

[0067] In the server 30, when the communication unit 34 receives a request to transmit the priority of the various log data, the communication unit 34 transmits the priority indicated for each type of the log data to the image forming apparatus 10 based on the priority for each type of log data previously stored in the control unit 41 or the priority input by a service technician through the operation unit 32. For example, in the case where the above-mentioned (i) log data generated each time an image of a document is formed on recording paper, (ii) log data indicating an error generated each time an error occurs, (iii) log data indicating the total number of sheets of recording paper used, and (iv) log data indicating the amount of toner used are recorded, the priorities are set as follows: first priority is (i), second priority is (ii), third priority is (iv), and fourth priority is (iii).

[0068] In the image forming apparatus 10, when the communication unit 34 receives the priorities of various log data, the control unit 21 divides the log data for a certain period T1 for each type to which a priority is set based on the priority of the log data, and calculates the data volume of the divided log data. Then, the control unit 21 starts transmitting the divided log data to the server 30 via the communication unit 14 in order of priority. Note that this division is also performed on the condition that the log data created by the division is equal to or less than the allocated capacity WY.

[0069] Furthermore, in this further embodiment, if the remaining capacity of the memory unit 38 runs out during the storage process of the series of divided log data and it becomes impossible to continue the storage process, the control unit 41 of the server 30 causes the communication unit 34 to transmit to the image forming device 10 an instruction to stop communicating the log data, unstorable data information indicating the divided log data that could not be stored, and retransmission time information indicating the time at which the divided log data that could not be stored should be retransmitted.

[0070] Then, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the communication unit 14 receives the log data communication stop instruction, the unstorable data information, and the retransmission time information, the control unit 21 stops the transmission process of transmitting divided log data in order of priority, and transmits the log data indicated by the unstorable data information again to the server 30 from the communication unit 14 at the time indicated by the retransmission time information. After this transmission, the server 30 performs the processes of S103 to S108.

[0071] The control unit 41 of the server 30 may cause the communication unit 34 to transmit the priority together with the allocated capacity WY to the image forming device 10 when transmitting the allocated capacity WY to the image forming device 10 in S101. In this case, the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 holds the priority when the result of S206 is No, and therefore divides various log data for the fixed period T1 and transmits the divided log data in order according to the priority, without transmitting a transmission request for the priority to the server 30.

[0072] Furthermore, when the control unit 41 of the server 30 determines that the communication time S of the log data received from the image forming device 10 exceeds the specified time SK (S107 "No"), it may transmit an instruction to stop communication of the log data or an instruction to reduce the data volume DT1 of the log data to the image forming device 10 (S110), and may also cause the communication unit 34 to send an instruction to shorten the above-mentioned specified period T2 to the image forming device 10.

[0073] In this case, in the image forming device 10, when the communication unit 14 receives an instruction to shorten the period, the control unit 21 shortens the current fixed period T1 in accordance with the content of the instruction to shorten the period, for example, to shorten the current fixed period T1 by 50%, sets a new fixed period T10 after the shortening, and generates and transmits subsequent log data based on the new fixed period T10.

[0074] Alternatively, instead of the above, when the communication unit 14 receives an instruction to shorten the period, the control unit 21 may cause the display unit 11 to display a warning screen G1 such as the example shown in Fig. 3, and prompt the user to input a new fixed period T10. Thereafter, when the user inputs a new fixed period T2 by operating the operation unit 12 or the touch panel 13, the control unit 21 sets the new fixed period T10, and thereafter generates and transmits log data based on the new fixed period T2.

[0075] This promotes the generation of log data with a data volume that fits within the allocated capacity WY.

[0076] Furthermore, the configurations and processes of the above-described embodiment explained using FIGS. 1 to 3 are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these configurations and processes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 10 Image forming device 11 Display section 12 Control section 13 Touch Panel 14 Communications Department 15 Image reading unit 16 Image forming unit 18 Memory section 19 Control Unit 21 Control section 22 Input section 30 servers 31 Display section 32 Operation section 34 Communications Department 38 Memory section 39 Control Unit 41 Control Unit

Claims

1. An image forming system including a server and an image forming apparatus that performs data communication with the server, the image forming apparatus, a first communication unit that performs data communication with the server; a first storage unit; a first control unit that generates log data relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus and stores it in the first storage unit, and when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the log data was generated, creates log data by dividing the log data for the predetermined period into pieces of log data equal to or smaller than a predetermined data amount, and causes the first communication unit to transmit the divided log data to the server; The server a second communication unit that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus; A second storage unit; a second control unit that, when the divided log data is received by the second communication unit, stores the received log data in the second storage unit.

2. The first control unit of the image forming apparatus acquiring an allocated capacity transmitted from the server and received by the first communication unit, and determining whether the amount of log data for the certain period is equal to or less than the allocated capacity; When the amount of log data for the certain period is equal to or less than the allocated capacity, the log data for the certain period is transmitted to the server by the first communication unit without dividing the data, and When the data amount of the log data for the certain period exceeds the allocated capacity, the log data for the certain period is divided into a plurality of log data items equal to or less than the allocated capacity, with the allocated capacity being the predetermined data amount, and the divided plurality of log data items equal to or less than the allocated capacity are transmitted to the server by the first communication unit; The second control unit of the server 2. The image forming system of claim 1, wherein the allocated capacity is transmitted to the image forming device by the second communication unit, and when log data for a certain period of time that is less than the allocated capacity or multiple log data that is less than the allocated capacity created by the division is received by the second communication unit, the received log data is stored in the second storage unit.

3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the first control unit of the image forming device causes the first communication unit to transmit each of the plurality of log data items that are equal to or less than the divided allocated capacity to the server at mutually different times.

4. The first control unit of the image forming apparatus The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the priority of multiple types of log data sent from the server and received by the first communication unit is obtained, and the multiple log data that is less than the divided allocated capacity is sent to the server by the first communication unit in order of priority.

5. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit of the image forming apparatus counts the predetermined period only when the image forming apparatus is in operation.

6. The second control unit of the server 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein when log data for a certain period of time that is less than the allocated capacity or multiple log data that is less than the divided allocated capacity is received by the second communication unit, the communication speed for receiving the log data is determined, and the communication time for the received log data is calculated from the communication speed and the data amount of the received log data, and if the communication time exceeds a predetermined specified time, the second communication unit transmits an instruction to the image forming device requesting that the transmission of the log data to be received be stopped or that the log data to be received be resent with a reduced data amount.

7. a second control unit of the server causing the second communication unit to transmit the designated period to the image forming apparatus; 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit of the image forming apparatus generates log data relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus, using the specified period as the predetermined fixed period.

8. An image forming apparatus that performs data communication with a server, a first communication unit that performs data communication with the server; a first storage unit; an image forming apparatus comprising: a first control unit that generates log data relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus and stores it in the first storage unit; and, when the log data generation period reaches a predetermined fixed period, creates log data by dividing the log data for the fixed period into pieces of data equal to or less than a predetermined data amount; and causes the first communication unit to transmit the divided log data to the server.

9. The first control unit acquiring an allocated capacity transmitted from the server and received by the first communication unit, and determining whether the amount of log data for the certain period is equal to or less than the allocated capacity; When the amount of log data for the certain period is equal to or less than the allocated capacity, the log data for the certain period is transmitted to the server by the first communication unit without dividing the data, and 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, when the data volume of the log data for the certain period exceeds the allocated capacity, the log data for the certain period is divided into multiple log data pieces that are equal to or less than the allocated capacity, with the allocated capacity being the predetermined data volume, and the divided multiple log data pieces that are equal to or less than the allocated capacity are transmitted to the server by the first communication unit.

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