Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and server device

Abstract

To efficiently obtain appropriate analysis accuracy according to the history of operations of an image forming apparatus by adjusting the level of collection of data related to the history of operations of the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming system 100 having an image forming apparatus PR and a server device SV is provided. The image forming apparatus PR comprises collection means ECTL05, ECTL06 that collect operation history data related to the history of operations of the image forming apparatus PR on the basis of collection data settings that are settings related to collection of data, and transmit the collected operation history data to the server device SV. The server device SV comprises analysis means SCTL01, SCTL02 that analyze the operation history data, and collection data setting means SCTL05 that performs notification to the image forming apparatus PR so that the collection data settings are changed on the basis of results of analysis conducted by the analysis means SCTL01, SCTL02.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system, an image forming device, and a server device that transmit data regarding the operation history of an image forming device, such as a copier, printer, facsimile machine, or a multifunction device equipped with multiple of these functions, to a server device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system has been proposed for analyzing the operation history of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer on a server and notifying users or dealers of the need for preventive maintenance and emergency maintenance.

[0003] Patent Document 1 proposes the following mechanism: An analysis program installed on a server analyzes the operation history of an image forming device, and notifies users and dealers when it is time to replace paper feed rollers, fixing devices, etc. Then, the appropriateness of the maintenance content is determined, and the accuracy of the analysis program is improved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-71657 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above-mentioned systems generally collect predetermined data from image forming devices and analyze it using a cloud service. Cloud services generally use a pay-per-use system based on server resources (storage, memory, execution time). Therefore, it is important for the system to be able to reduce operational costs while maintaining analytical accuracy.

[0006] Conventional systems are designed so that the predetermined data collected from image forming devices is the minimum necessary to maintain a certain level of analytical accuracy. However, there is a need for a system that can flexibly respond to changes in the required analytical accuracy depending on factors such as the operating history of the image forming device.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to adjust the collection level of data relating to the operation history of an image forming apparatus, thereby making it possible to efficiently obtain an appropriate analysis accuracy according to the operation history of the image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object is achieved by the image forming system, image forming apparatus, and server device according to the present invention. In summary, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a server device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a collection unit that collects operation history data relating to the operation history of the image forming apparatus based on a collection data setting that is a setting related to data collection, and transmits the collected operation history data to the server device, and the server device comprises an analysis unit that analyzes the operation history data, and a collection data setting unit that notifies the image forming apparatus to change the collection data setting based on the analysis result of the analysis unit.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server device, the image forming apparatus having a collection means for collecting operation history data relating to the operation history of the image forming apparatus based on a collected data setting, which is a setting related to data collection, and transmitting the collected operation history data to the server device, wherein the collection means changes the collected data setting based on a notification received by the image forming apparatus from the server device in response to the collection means sending the operation history data to the server device.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server device capable of communicating with an image forming device, the server device comprising: an analysis means for receiving operation history data relating to the operation history of the image forming device, which is collected in the image forming device based on a collection data setting, which is a setting related to data collection, and analyzing the received operation history data; and a collection data setting means for notifying the image forming device to change the collection data setting based on the analysis results of the analysis means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to adjust the collection level of data relating to the operation history of the image forming apparatus, and efficiently obtain an appropriate analysis accuracy according to the operation history of the image forming apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining image information analysis processing. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing functional blocks of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining double-sided conveyance control. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the control of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing functional blocks of an image forming system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a contract plan setting screen in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the control of the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing functional blocks of an image forming system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a maintenance information collection screen in the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The image forming system, image forming apparatus, and server apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [Example 1] <Explanation of image forming device: Figure 1> The schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is a tandem color laser printer employing an intermediate transfer method, capable of forming a full-color image on a sheet-shaped recording material S using an electrophotographic method. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer PR according to this embodiment. Because the printer PR primarily uses paper as the recording material S, the recording material S is sometimes referred to as paper, but the recording material S is not limited to paper. The recording material S may also be made of materials other than paper or materials containing materials other than paper, such as synthetic paper or film made primarily of synthetic resin, or special paper such as metal-deposited paper with a metal layer.

[0015] The printer PR has four image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK that form toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) respectively as multiple image forming units. These image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged side by side along the direction of movement of the image transfer surface of an intermediate transfer belt 11, which is disposed substantially horizontally, as described below. The printer PR is configured to output color images by superimposing the four color toner images formed by the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK. Note that elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations and provided for each color may be generally described by omitting the Y, M, C, or K suffixes to the reference numerals indicating that the element is for one of the colors.

[0016] In this embodiment, the image forming station P is configured to include a photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a cleaning device 6, etc., which will be described later. In this embodiment, in each image forming station P, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2 as a process means acting on the photosensitive drum 1, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6 are integrally configured to form a process cartridge 5 that is detachable from the apparatus main body 9. An exposure device (laser unit) 3 is disposed below the process cartridge 5. In this embodiment, the apparatus main body 9 of the printer PR is the portion of the printer PR excluding the process cartridges 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K.

[0017] The photosensitive drum 1, a rotatable drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (photoconductor) serving as an image carrier, is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R1 (clockwise) in the figure by a driving force transmitted from a drum drive motor (not shown) serving as a driving means. The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential of a predetermined polarity (negative in this embodiment) by a charging roller 2, a roller-type charging member serving as a charging means. During charging, a predetermined charging voltage (charging bias) of the same polarity (negative in this embodiment) as the charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 1 is applied to the charging roller 2 by a charging voltage application means (not shown). The surface of the charged photosensitive drum 1 is scanned and exposed by an exposure device 3 serving as an exposure means based on an image signal, forming an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) on the photosensitive drum 1. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed (visualized) by a developing device 4 serving as a developing means, which supplies toner as a developer, forming a toner image (toner image, developer image) on the photosensitive drum 1. The developing device 4 includes a developing roller 41 as a developer carrier (developing member) and a developing container 42 containing toner. The developing roller 41 is driven to rotate by a driving force transmitted from a drum drive motor (not shown) serving as a driving means. The developing roller 41 carries the toner in the developing container 42 and transports it to a developing section, which faces (contacts) the photosensitive drum 1, where the toner adheres to the photosensitive drum 1 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. During development, a predetermined developing voltage (developing bias) having the same polarity (negative in this embodiment) as the charge polarity of the photosensitive drum 1 is applied to the developing roller 41 by a developing power supply (not shown) serving as a developing voltage applying means. In this embodiment, toner charged with the same polarity as the charge polarity of the photosensitive drum 1 (negative in this embodiment) adheres to the exposed section (image section) of the photosensitive drum 1, which has been uniformly charged and then exposed to light, thereby reducing the absolute value of the potential (reverse development method). In this embodiment, the normal charge polarity of the toner, which is the main charge polarity of the toner during development, is negative.

[0018] An intermediate transfer unit 7 is disposed opposite the four photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. The intermediate transfer unit 7 includes an intermediate transfer belt 11, three tension rollers 12, 13, and 14, and four primary transfer rollers 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. The intermediate transfer belt 11, which is a rotatable endless belt serving as an intermediate transfer member, is disposed opposite the four photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. The intermediate transfer belt 11 is stretched over and tensioned by a plurality of tension rollers, including a tension roller 12, a drive roller 13, and a secondary transfer opposing roller 14. The drive roller 13 is driven to rotate by a driving force transmitted from a belt drive motor (not shown) serving as a driving means. The intermediate transfer belt 11 rotates (circulates) in the direction of arrow R2 (counterclockwise) in the figure by the driving force transmitted from the drive roller 13. Primary transfer rollers 10, which are roller-type primary transfer members serving as primary transfer means, are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11, corresponding to the respective photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. The primary transfer rollers 10 are pressed against the photosensitive drums 1 and come into contact with the photosensitive drums 1 via the intermediate transfer belt 11, forming a primary transfer portion (primary transfer nip portion) N1, which is the contact portion between the photosensitive drums 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 11. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred (primary transfer) onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 11 at the primary transfer portion N1 by the action of the primary transfer rollers 10. During primary transfer, a predetermined primary transfer voltage (primary transfer bias) of a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner (positive polarity in this embodiment) is applied to the primary transfer roller 10 by a primary transfer power supply (not shown) serving as primary transfer voltage application means. For example, when a full-color image is formed, the toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black formed on each photosensitive drum 1 are sequentially transferred so as to be superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 11. As a result, the four color toner images are transported to a secondary transfer section N2, which will be described later, in a superimposed state on the intermediate transfer belt 11.

[0019] A secondary transfer roller (secondary transfer outer roller) 15, which is a roller-type secondary transfer member serving as secondary transfer means, is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11 at a position facing the secondary transfer opposing roller (secondary transfer inner roller) 14. The secondary transfer roller 15 is pressed toward the secondary transfer opposing roller 14 and abuts against the secondary transfer opposing roller 14 via the intermediate transfer belt 11, forming a secondary transfer portion (secondary transfer nip portion) N2, which is a contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the secondary transfer roller 15. At the secondary transfer portion N2, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is transferred (secondarily transferred) by the action of the secondary transfer roller 15 onto the recording material S being conveyed while being sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the secondary transfer roller 15. During the secondary transfer, a predetermined secondary transfer voltage (secondary transfer bias) of a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner (positive polarity in this embodiment) is applied to the secondary transfer roller 15 by a secondary transfer power supply (not shown) serving as a secondary transfer voltage application means. A recording material (transfer material, recording medium, sheet) S such as recording paper is transported from a paper feed unit 20 to the secondary transfer unit N2. The paper feed unit 20 has a paper feed cassette 21 serving as a recording material storage unit, a paper feed roller 22 serving as a paper feed member, a transport roller 23 serving as a transport member, and a separation roller 24 serving as a separation transport member. The recording material S stored in the paper feed cassette 21 is sent out of the paper feed cassette 21 by the paper feed roller 22. The recording materials S fed by the paper feed roller 22 are separated and transported one by one by the transport roller 23 and the separation roller 24. Then, the recording material S conveyed from the paper supply unit 20 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit N2 by a pair of registration rollers 25 as a synchronous conveying member in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11.

[0020] The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to a fixing device 30 serving as a fixing means. The fixing device 30 has a fixing film 31 serving as a fixing rotor with a heat source provided on its inner circumferential surface, and a pressure roller 32 serving as a pressure rotor. The recording material S bearing the unfixed toner image is heated and pressurized while being sandwiched between the fixing film 31 and the pressure roller 32 and transported, and the toner image is fixed (melted and fixed) onto the surface of the recording material S. In the case of single-sided printing, the recording material S with the fixed toner image is discharged (output) to the outside of the apparatus main body 9 (outside the machine) by a pair of discharge rollers 33 serving as a discharge member, and is stacked on a tray 8 serving as a discharge unit provided on the top surface of the apparatus main body 9.

[0021] Furthermore, toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the primary transfer (primary transfer residual toner) is removed from the photosensitive drum 1 and collected by a cleaning device 6 serving as cleaning means. The cleaning device 6 has a cleaning blade 61 serving as a cleaning member and a waste toner container 62 that stores toner. The cleaning device 6 uses the cleaning blade 61 to scrape the primary transfer residual toner from the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 1 and collects it in the waste toner container 62. Furthermore, deposits such as toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 11 after the secondary transfer (secondary transfer residual toner) are removed from the intermediate transfer belt 11 and collected by a belt cleaning device 16 serving as intermediate transfer body cleaning means.

[0022] A conveying path sensor 27 is disposed as a recording material detection means on the conveying path of the recording material S from the registration roller pair 25 to the secondary transfer unit N2. The conveying path sensor 27 is a sensor for determining whether a jam has occurred due to a conveying abnormality such as early arrival or delay. When the printer PR determines that a jam has occurred, it displays a message to that effect on the operation display unit PR02 (FIG. 2) provided on the printer PR. The printer PR also displays information on the operation display unit PR02 regarding means for clearing the jam as necessary.

[0023] The printer PR is also configured to perform double-sided printing (automatic double-sided printing). In double-sided printing, the recording material S, on whose first side an image has been formed after passing through the fixing device 30, is not discharged outside the machine, but an image is formed on its second side. That is, the recording material S, on whose first side an image has been formed after passing through the fixing device 30, is conveyed in a direction toward the reversing point 201. The double-sided flapper 55 can switch the conveying direction of the recording material S between the discharge direction and the direction toward the reversing unit. When double-sided printing is performed, the double-sided flapper 55 switches the conveying direction of the recording material S to the direction toward the reversing unit before the leading edge of the recording material S, on whose first side an image has been formed, in the conveying direction reaches the double-sided flapper 55. After passing the reversing point 201, the recording material S is conveyed in a direction to be discharged outside the machine by the reversing roller pair 50. After the trailing edge of the recording material S in the conveying direction passes the reversing point 201, the reversing roller pair 50 temporarily stops while the recording material S is positioned at the reversing roller pair 50. Then, as the reversing roller pair 50 rotates in the opposite direction, the recording material S is conveyed toward the duplex conveying path 52. The recording material S is conveyed sequentially within the duplex conveying path 52 by the duplex conveying roller pair 51 and the refeed roller pair 53 to a refeed standby point 202 and a junction point 200. The reversing roller pair 50, the duplex conveying roller pair 51, and the refeed roller pair 53 are rotated by a driving force transmitted from a duplex conveying motor 92 (FIG. 2) serving as a driving means. The duplex conveying path 52 merges with the conveying path of the recording material S between the conveying roller 23 and the registration roller pair 25 at the junction point 200. The recording material S, which has been turned over after passing through the duplex conveying path 52, is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion N2 by the registration roller pair 25. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is then transferred to the second surface of the recording material S. The toner image transferred to the second surface of the recording material S is fixed to the recording material S by the fixing device 30. Furthermore, the double-sided flapper 55 switches the conveying direction of the recording material S to the discharge direction, whereby the recording material S with images formed on both sides is discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

[0024] In this embodiment, an image reading unit 90 serving as a detection means is provided in the double-sided conveying path 52. The image reading unit 90 is configured to include a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 93 as an image reading means, a light-emitting element (not shown), and the like. The image reading unit 90 starts reading the recording material S being conveyed through the double-sided conveying path 52 and the image on the recording material S at a predetermined timing. The image reading unit 90 converts the read image into a time-series digital pixel signal and stores it in a memory (not shown) as scanned image data.

[0025] <Hardware configuration: Figure 2> 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the image forming system 100 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 has a printer PR, a server SV, and a monitoring tool MT.

[0026] The printer PR includes a video controller PR01, an operation display unit PR02, and a printer engine PR03. The operation display unit PR02 of the printer PR includes an operation panel and operation buttons (not shown). The operation panel may function as a display unit for displaying information and an input unit for inputting information. The operation buttons function as an input unit for inputting information. The video controller PR01 transmits print data (image information) and print instructions sent from a host computer (external device) such as a personal computer (not shown) to the printer engine PR03. The printer engine PR03 includes an engine control unit ECTL having a CPU 80 as an arithmetic processing unit, ROM 81 and RAM 82 as storage units, a system bus PR04, and an IO port PR05. The printer engine PR03 also includes various devices for executing the aforementioned process of forming an image on a recording material S, such as the image forming units P, intermediate transfer unit 7, secondary transfer roller 15, fixing device 30, various drive units, and various power supplies. The CPU 80 loads the programs and various data stored in the ROM 81 into the RAM 82 and executes the programs by using the RAM 82 as a work area. The engine control unit ECTL is connected to the IO port PR05 via a bidirectionally accessible system bus PR04. This allows bidirectional access between the engine control unit ECTL and the IO port PR05. The IO port PR05 is connected to various devices of the printer PR, such as the conveyance path sensor 27, the duplex conveyance motor 92, and the CIS 93. The CPU 80 controls the various devices of the printer PR via the IO port PR05. This allows the engine control unit ECTL to perform various operations, such as image formation. Note that FIG. 2 shows the conveyance path sensor 27, the duplex conveyance motor 92, and the CIS 93, which are of particular interest in this embodiment, as examples of devices connected to the engine control unit ECTL via the IO port PR05. However, the devices connected to the engine control unit ECTL via the IO port PR05 are not limited to these.

[0027] The server SV has a server control unit SCTL equipped with a computing device 85 and a storage device 86. The server SV is connected to the printer PR and the monitoring tool MT via a bidirectionally accessible network. This allows bidirectional access between the server SV and each of the printer PR and the monitoring tool MT. The computing device 85 executes programs stored in the storage device 86 and reads and writes various data. A CPU, GPU, etc. may be directly assigned to the computing device 85, and RAM, HDD, SSD, etc. may be directly assigned to the storage device 86, or a virtual environment such as a virtual machine may be assigned. The server control unit SCTL of the server SV can exchange information with the engine control unit ECTL of the printer PR via the video controller PR01 of the printer PR. The server control unit SCTL of the server SV can also exchange information with the monitoring tool control unit MCTL of the monitoring tool MT via a network such as the Internet.

[0028] The monitoring tool MT includes a monitoring tool control unit MCTL for receiving information from the server control unit SCTL and an operation display unit MDSP for displaying the received information. The monitoring tool MT is configured, for example, as a personal computer. Here, the operation display unit MDSP of the monitoring tool MT is configured with a display, keyboard, mouse, etc. (not shown). Specifically, the functions of the monitoring tool MT are realized, for example, by the personal computer executing software installed on the personal computer. Note that the form of the monitoring tool MT is not limited to a personal computer or a server, but may also be a virtual environment such as a virtual machine, a tablet terminal, or a dedicated device. Each of these can be considered an example of an information processing device.

[0029] <Explanation of image information analysis process: Figure 3, Table 1> In this embodiment, the engine control unit EXTL and the server control unit SCTL detect an image defect called a "vertical streak," in which a streak-like toner image that is not the original image is formed on the recording material S. A specific detection algorithm will be described with reference to Fig. 3(a). Fig. 3(a) is a schematic diagram for explaining the vertical streak detection algorithm in this embodiment.

[0030] First, original image information to be formed on the recording material S and actual image information read by the image reading unit 90 are acquired. The original image information can be acquired, for example, from a memory (such as the RAM 82) of the engine control unit ECTL, and the actual image information can be acquired, for example, from a memory (not shown) of the image reading unit 90. Then, to align the two images, the position at which the difference between the two images is minimized is determined. Image alignment can be performed using any method, such as a known method. After alignment, the image obtained by subtracting the actual image from the original image is used as the analysis target image. Next, a filter that emphasizes vertical edges, such as a Sobel filter, is applied to the analysis target image, and the vertical image density variation of the edge-enhanced image data is used as the "feature amount." The vertical image density variation can be determined using any method, such as a deviation calculation method known in the art. Then, for example, if the feature amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it can be determined that the image is defective. Here, the vertical direction is a direction substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the recording material S (the direction of movement of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, the sub-scanning direction), and the horizontal direction is a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rotation axis (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 1. Furthermore, the image density is expressed by 256 density levels from 0 to 255.

[0031] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the vertical streaks are caused by contamination of the fixing device 30 (for example, toner adhering to the surface of the fixing film 31).

[0032] In this embodiment, vertical streak detection using the above algorithm is performed in several detection modes shown in Table 1. In "Type 1," the feature values ​​calculated by the engine control unit ECTL are transmitted to the server control unit SCTL, resulting in a small amount of data to be transmitted and a small amount of calculations to be performed by the server control unit SCTL, but the analysis accuracy is low. On the other hand, in "Type 2" and "Type 3," the image data detected by the engine control unit ECTL is transmitted to the server control unit SCTL, and the feature values ​​are calculated by the server control unit SCTL. This increases the amount of data to be transmitted and the amount of calculations to be performed by the server control unit SCTL, but improves the analysis accuracy. In Type 2, the feature values ​​are calculated by both the engine control unit ECTL and the server control unit SCTL. That is, the feature values ​​for the entire image region are calculated by the engine control unit ECTL and transmitted to the server control unit SCTL, and image data for a partial image region is transmitted to the server control unit SCTL, and the server control unit SCTL calculates the feature values ​​for that partial region. In this way, Type 2 compensates for the low analysis accuracy of Type 1 by having the server control unit SCTL perform a detailed analysis of a partial image region. Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram illustrating the image region for which feature values ​​are calculated. The "image region" in Table 1 indicates the image region for which feature values ​​as shown in Figure 3(b) are calculated, and analysis using the entire image region leads to improved analytical accuracy compared to analysis using only a partial image region. Furthermore, the "resolution" in Table 1 indicates the unit for performing the image processing described above, and a smaller value leads to improved analytical accuracy compared to a larger value. The partial image region can be selected as appropriate depending on the desired analytical accuracy, etc., but in the example shown in Figure 3(b), it is an area approximately 1 / 4 of the image in the vertical direction.

[0033] [Table 1]

[0034] <Explanation of functional blocks: Figure 4, Figure 5, Tables 2 to 7> The functions of the engine control unit ECTL, video controller PR01, server control unit SCTL, and monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the function blocks of the engine control unit ECTL, video controller PR01, server control unit SCTL, and monitoring tool control unit MCTL.

[0035] The functions of the engine control unit ECTL are realized, for example, by the CPU 80 executing processing based on programs stored in the ROM 81 and data stored in the RAM 82. The functions of the video controller PR01 are realized, for example, by a CPU (not shown) serving as an arithmetic processing unit in the video controller PR01 executing processing based on programs and data stored in a ROM or RAM (not shown) serving as a storage unit. The functions of the server control unit SCTL are realized, for example, by a processing unit 85 executing processing based on programs and data stored in a storage unit 86. The functions of the monitoring tool control unit MCTL are realized, for example, by a CPU (not shown) serving as an arithmetic processing unit in the monitoring tool MT executing processing based on programs and data stored in a ROM or RAM (not shown) serving as a storage unit. However, all or part of these functions may be realized by hardware circuits such as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) or an FPGA (field-programmable array).

[0036] The engine control unit ECTL has a function of controlling double-sided conveyance, a function of analyzing image information, a function of collecting basic data related to the operation history, a function of collecting extended data related to the operation history, and a function of managing the collection level.

[0037] The server control unit SCTL has the functions of analyzing image defects from basic data, analyzing image defects from extended data, determining the content of countermeasures, transmitting the content of countermeasures, determining the collection level, and transmitting the collection level.

[0038] The monitoring tool control unit MCTL has a function to display the content of the countermeasures.

[0039] Next, each function will be explained in turn.

[0040] -Double-sided transport control function The engine control unit ECTL has a duplex conveyance control unit ECTL01 as a duplex conveyance control means and a drive control unit ECTL02 as a drive control means as functional blocks for performing duplex conveyance control. The duplex conveyance control unit ECTL01 performs duplex conveyance control in the following order: Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the duplex conveyance path 52 in the printer PR to explain the duplex conveyance control. 1. The double-sided flapper 55 is controlled to convey the first sheet of recording material S1, on whose first side an image has been formed, in the direction toward the reversal point 201 (FIG. 5(a)). 2. The drive control unit ECTL02 is instructed to drive the double-sided conveying motor 92, and the first recording material S1 is conveyed through the double-sided conveying path 52 in the direction toward the re-feed standby point 202. Also, the second recording material S2 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit N2 to form an image on its first side (FIG. 5(b)). 3. The drive control unit ECTL02 is instructed to drive the double-sided conveying motor 92, and the first sheet of recording material S1 is made to wait at the re-feed waiting point 202. Meanwhile, the second sheet of recording material S2, which has an image formed on its first side, is conveyed in the direction toward the reversal point 201 (FIG. 5(c)). 4. The drive control unit ECTL02 is instructed to drive the double-sided conveying motor 92, the first recording material S1 is re-fed to the registration roller pair 25 by the re-feed roller pair 53, and image formation (secondary transfer) on the second side begins (FIG. 5(d)). 5. The double-sided flapper 55 is controlled to transport the first recording material S1, on which an image has been formed on the second side, in the direction toward the pair of discharge rollers 33, and discharge it outside the apparatus. The drive control unit ECTL02 is also instructed to drive the double-sided transport motor 92, and the second recording material S2 is transported through the double-sided transport path 52 in the direction toward the junction point 200. Then, the second recording material S2 is transported to the secondary transfer portion N2 to form an image on its second side. Thereafter, the third recording material S3 is transported to the secondary transfer portion N2 to form an image on its first side (FIG. 5(e)).

[0041] - Image information analysis function The engine control unit ECTL has two functional blocks for analyzing image information: an image analysis unit ECTL03 as an image analysis unit and a detection control unit ECTL04 as a detection control unit. When the leading edge of the recording material S, conveyed along the duplex conveying path 52 under the control of the duplex conveying control unit ECTL01, reaches the image reading unit 90, the detection control unit ECTL04 reads the image using the CIS 93. The detection control unit ECTL04 then transfers the scanned image data to the image analysis unit ECTL03. The image analysis unit ECTL03 associates the image data transferred from the detection control unit ECTL04 with the image reading date and time and stores the data in RAM 82. It also calculates feature amounts using the Type 1 detection mode shown in Table 1 and stores the results in RAM 82. The feature amounts (basic data) are an example of data related to the operation history of the image forming apparatus (operation history data). The following description assumes that the scanned image data size is h pixels vertically (sub-scanning direction) × w pixels horizontally (main scanning direction).

[0042] · Ability to collect basic data The engine control unit ECTL has a basic data collection unit ECTL05 as a functional block for collecting basic data. The basic data collection unit ECTL05 transmits the feature values ​​(basic data) stored by the image analysis unit ECTL03 to a communication unit PCTL01, which serves as communication means, of the video controller PR01. The collection level setting reflecting unit ECTL08 (described later) determines whether or not to transmit the feature values. If "disabled" is specified, the basic data transmission process is not performed. When the feature values ​​are transmitted from the basic data collection unit ECTL05, the communication unit PCTL01 notifies the server control unit SCTL of the image capture date and time and the feature values. The server control unit SCTL stores the received image capture date and time and the feature values ​​in the storage device 86. The basic data collection unit ECTL05 may transmit the image capture date and time and the feature values ​​directly to the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 of the server control unit SCTL (described later) via the communication unit PCTL01 of the video controller PR01. An example of the stored basic data is shown in Table 2. "n" in Table 2 is the integer part of w÷10 (corresponding to the resolution of 10 pixels in Table 1).

[0043] [Table 2]

[0044] Ability to collect extended data The engine control unit ECTL has an extended data collection unit ECTL06 as an extended data collection means, which is a functional block that collects extended data. The extended data collection unit ECTL06 extracts image data (extended data) of a specified area from the image data saved by the image analysis unit ECTL03 and transmits it to the communication unit PCTL01 of the video controller PR01. However, the area designation is performed by the collection level setting reflection unit ECTL08 (described later). If the specified area is "0 (none)," the extended data transmission process is not performed. Furthermore, when the communication unit PCTL01 receives the extended data from the extended data collection unit ECTL06, it notifies the server control unit SCTL of the image reading date and time and the image data. The image data (extended data) of the specified area is an example of data (operation history data) related to the operation history of the image forming apparatus. The server control unit SCTL stores the received image reading date and time and image data in the storage device 86. The extended data collection unit ECTL06 may transmit the image reading date and time and image data directly to the extended data analysis unit SCTL02 of the server control unit SCTL (described later) via the communication unit PCTL01 of the video controller PR01. An example of the saved extended data is shown in Table 3.

[0045] [Table 3]

[0046] - Ability to manage collection levels The engine control unit ECTL has a collection level setting receiver ECTL07 as collection level setting receiving means and a collection level setting reflector ECTL08 as collection level setting reflecting means, as functional blocks that manage the collection level of operation history data. The collection level setting receiver ECTL07 receives a collection level setting from a collection level setting transmitter SCTL06 of the server control unit SCTL, which will be described later. The collection level setting in this embodiment instructs the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and the extended data collection unit ECTL06 as to whether basic data should be collected and the area of ​​extended data collection, respectively, and is expressed as a command to the engine control unit ECTL. When the collection level setting receiver ECTL07 receives a command instructing the collection level setting, the collection level setting reflector ECTL08 sets (changes) the basic data collection level and the extended data collection level as shown in Table 4. The collection level settings are as follows: "Level 1" has the lowest analysis accuracy, "Level 2" has a higher analysis accuracy than "Level 1," and "Level 3" has the highest analysis accuracy. On the other hand, collection level settings with higher analytical accuracy tend to use more system resources and increase operational costs.

[0047] [Table 4]

[0048] -Ability to analyze image defects from basic data The server control unit SCTL has a basic data analysis unit SCTL01 as a basic data analysis means, which is a functional block that analyzes image defects from basic data. The basic data analysis unit SCTL01 calculates the average Ai (i = 1 to n) of the most recent X sheets for the feature amounts received from the basic data collection unit ECTL05 (stored in the storage device 86). In this embodiment, X = 100, and if the number of data is less than X, Ai is not calculated. The basic data analysis unit SCTL01 also calculates Vi = max(Ai) - min(Ai), and analyzes image defects due to vertical streaks for Vmax = max(Vi) based on the criteria shown in Table 5, and stores the analysis results in the storage device 86, linking them to the date and time of image reading.

[0049] [Table 5]

[0050] -Ability to analyze image defects from extended data The server control unit SCTL has an extended data analysis unit SCTL02 as an extended data analysis means, which is a functional block that analyzes image defects from extended data. The extended data analysis unit SCTL02 calculates feature amounts for each pixel from the image data received from the extended data collection unit ECTL06 (stored in the storage device 86), and calculates the average Aj (j = 1 to w) of the most recent X sheets. In this embodiment, X = 100, and if the number of data is less than X, Aj is not calculated. The extended data analysis unit SCTL02 also calculates Wj = max(Aj) - min(Aj), and analyzes image defects due to vertical streaks for Wmax = max(Vj) based on the criteria shown in Table 5, and stores the analysis results in the storage device 86, linking them to the image reading date and time.

[0051] - Function to determine countermeasure content The server control unit SCTL has a countermeasure determination unit SCTL03 as a countermeasure determination means, which is a functional block that determines the countermeasure. The countermeasure determination unit SCTL03 determines the countermeasure based on the analysis results of the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02. In this embodiment, the fixing device 30 is used as an example of a unit where an image defect occurs, and the countermeasure determination unit SCTL03 determines the countermeasure according to the criteria shown in Table 6. The countermeasure determination unit SCTL03 notifies the monitoring tool MT of the determined countermeasure. As shown in Table 6, the countermeasure determination unit SCTL03 integrates the analysis results of the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02. If either analysis result indicates a "caution" warning, the unit issues a "replacement of the fixing device is recommended" command. If both analysis results indicate a "caution" warning, the unit issues a "replacement of the fixing device is strongly recommended" command.

[0052] [Table 6]

[0053] - Function to send countermeasure details The server control unit SCTL has a countermeasure content sending unit SCTL04 as a countermeasure content sending means (notification means) as a functional block that sends countermeasure content. The countermeasure content sending unit SCTL04 transmits the countermeasure content decided by the countermeasure content deciding unit SCTL03 via the network to a countermeasure content receiving unit MCTL01 of the monitoring control unit MCTL, which will be described later. The monitoring tool MT may temporarily store the countermeasure content received from the server control unit SCTL in a memory unit of the monitoring tool MT. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned countermeasure content is transmitted as a command to the monitoring tool MT, which serves as a notification client device.

[0054] - Function to display countermeasure details The monitoring tool control unit MCTL has functional blocks for displaying countermeasures: a countermeasure receiving unit MCTL01 as a countermeasure receiving means, a countermeasure reflecting unit MCTL02 as a countermeasure reflecting means, and a display control unit MCTL03 as a display control means. In this embodiment, the display content of the operation display unit MDSP of the monitoring tool MT is changed based on the state of the image defect, specifically the analysis results of the basic data and extended data. The countermeasure receiving unit MCTL01 receives the countermeasures from the countermeasure sending unit SCTL04 of the server control unit SCTL (or acquires them from the memory unit of the monitoring tool MT). In this embodiment, the countermeasures are displayed on the operation display unit MDSP of the monitoring tool MT as instructions to the dealer, such as "Replacement of the fixing unit recommended" or "Replacement of the fixing unit strongly recommended." When the countermeasure receiving unit MCTL01 receives the "Replacement of the fixing unit recommended" command, the countermeasure reflecting unit MCTL02 instructs the display control unit MCTL03 to display information indicating "Replacement of the fixing unit recommended" on the operation display unit MDSP. The display control unit MCTL03, for example, simply displays a message that replacement of the fixing device 30 is recommended, or, in addition to or instead of this, displays preparatory instructions such as ordering a replacement fixing device 30 on the operation display unit MDSP. Furthermore, when the countermeasure content receiving unit MCTL01 receives the "Replacement of the fixing device is strongly recommended" command, the countermeasure content reflecting unit MCTL02 instructs the display control unit MCTL03 to display information indicating "Replacement of the fixing device is strongly recommended" as the countermeasure content on the operation display unit MDSP. The display control unit MCTL03, for example, simply displays a message that replacement of the fixing device 30 is strongly recommended, or, in addition to or instead of this, displays instructions to dispatch a service representative and replace the fixing device 30 on the operation display unit MDSP. This allows the dealer to check the necessary countermeasures from the display on the operation display unit MDSP.

[0055] Ability to determine collection level settings The server control unit SCTL has a collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 as a collecting level setting determination means (collected data setting means) as a functional block that determines the collecting level setting. The collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collecting level setting based on the analysis results of the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02. In this embodiment, the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collecting level setting in accordance with the criteria shown in Table 7. As shown in Table 7, the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 integrates the analysis results of the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the analysis results of the extended data analysis unit SCTL02. Then, the collecting level setting is increased according to the number of times that "caution" is determined.

[0056] [Table 7]

[0057] - Ability to send collection level settings The server control unit SCTL has a collecting level setting transmission unit SCTL06 as a collecting level setting transmission means, which is a functional block that transmits the collecting level setting. The collecting level setting transmission unit SCTL06 transmits the collecting level setting determined by the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 to the collecting level setting reception unit ECTL07 of the engine control unit ECTL via the communication unit PCTL01 of the video controller PR01.

[0058] In this way, the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 of the server SV notifies the printer PR of the collection level setting determined based on the analysis results of the basic data and extended data via the collection level setting transmission unit SCTL06. As a result, the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and extended data collection unit ECTL06 of the printer PR change the collection level setting, which is a setting related to data collection, via the collection level setting reception unit ECTL07 and collection level setting reflection unit ECTL08. The basic data collection unit ECTL05 and extended data collection unit ECTL06 then collect operation history data based on this collection level setting and transmit the collected operation history data to the server SV.

[0059] <Explanation of the operation of the control unit: Figure 6> The operations of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment.

[0060] The procedure of the flowchart in FIG. 6 starts when the engine control unit ECTL (printer engine PR03) receives a print instruction. Upon receiving the print instruction, the engine control unit ECTL controls each device of the printer PR to form an image on the first side of the recording material S by the image forming process described above (S001). Next, the engine control unit ECTL instructs the double-sided flapper 55 to guide the first recording material S1 in a direction toward the pair of reversing rollers 50, and conveys the first recording material S1 to the double-sided conveying path 52 (S002). Next, when the leading edge of the recording material S1 in the conveying direction reaches the image reading unit 90, the engine control unit ECTL executes image reading using the CIS 93 (S003). Next, the engine control unit ECTL causes the image analysis unit ECTL03 to store the read image data and the calculated feature amounts in the RAM 82 (S004). Thereafter, the engine control unit ECTL notifies the server control unit SCTL of at least one of the feature amounts and image data in the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and the extended data collection unit ECTL06 according to the collection level setting (S005) (S006L1, S006L2, S006L3). That is, when the collection level setting is level 1, the basic data collection unit ECTL05 notifies the server control unit SCTL of the feature amounts (S006L1). When the collection level setting is level 2, the basic data collection unit ECTL05 notifies the server control unit SCTL of the feature amounts, and the extended data collection unit ECTL06 notifies the server control unit SCTL of the image data (S006L2). When the collection level setting is level 3, the extended data collection unit ECTL06 notifies the server control unit SCTL of the image data (S006L3). Next, the server control unit SCTL analyzes image defects in the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02 based on the received feature amounts and image data (S007). That is, the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 analyzes image defects based on the feature amounts received from the basic data collection unit ECTL05. Also, the extended data analysis unit SCTL02 analyzes image defects based on the image data received from the extended data collection unit ECTL06.

[0061] Next, the server control unit SCTL determines the content of measures based on the analysis results of the basic data and the extended data in the measure content determination unit SCTL03, and transmits the determined content to the monitoring tool control unit MCTL (S008). In this embodiment, the measure content determination unit SCTL03 determines the content of measures according to the criteria shown in Table 6. Next, the monitoring tool control unit MCTL receives the content of measures in the measure content receiving unit MCTL01. Then, the monitoring tool control unit MCTL reflects the received content of measures in the control of the operation display unit MDSP by the display control unit MCTL03 in the measure content reflection unit MCTL02 (S009). In this embodiment, the display control unit MCTL03 displays instructions to the dealer on the operation display unit MDSP in accordance with commands indicating the content of measures, such as "Replacement of fixing device recommended" or "Replacement of fixing device strongly recommended."

[0062] Next, the server control unit SCTL determines a collecting level setting based on the analysis results of the basic data and extended data in the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05, and transmits the setting to the engine control unit ECTL (S010). In this embodiment, the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collecting level setting according to the criteria shown in Table 7. Next, the engine control unit ECTL receives the collecting level setting in the collecting level setting receiving unit ECTL07. Then, the engine control unit ECTL reflects the received collecting level setting in the control (setting of whether to collect basic data, setting of the extended data collection area) by each of the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and the extended data collection unit ECTL06 in the collection level setting reflection unit ECTL08 (S011).

[0063] For convenience of explanation, the steps S008 to S009 and the steps S010 to S011 are described in series, but these steps may be executed in the reverse order or may be executed substantially simultaneously.

[0064] Next, the engine control unit ECTL controls each device of the printer PR to form an image on the second side of the recording material S by the image forming process described above, and then discharge the recording material S outside the apparatus (S020).

[0065] Thereafter, if there is an instruction to print the next recording material S (S021), the engine control unit ECTL returns to image formation on the first side of the recording material S (S001), otherwise the control ends.

[0066] As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming system 100 dynamically adjusts the collection level setting based on the analysis results of the operation history data. Specifically, in this embodiment, the setting of whether to collect basic data by the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and the setting of the extended data collection area by the extended data collection unit ECTL06 are dynamically adjusted based on the analysis results of the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the analysis results of the extended data analysis unit SCTL02. This makes it possible to optimize operation costs while flexibly responding to changes (changes) in the required analysis accuracy depending on the operation history, etc.

[0067] [Example 2] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming system and image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the image forming system and image forming apparatus of embodiment 1. Therefore, in the image forming system and image forming apparatus of this embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of embodiment 1 are assigned the same reference numerals as those of embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 determines the collection level setting based on the analysis result of the operation history data and contract plan information as information specifying an adjustment pattern for the collection level (collection level setting) of the operation history data.

[0069] <Explanation of functional blocks: Figure 7> 7 is a schematic diagram showing the functional blocks of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment. This embodiment is mainly different from the first embodiment in that the image forming system 100 determines the collection level setting using the contract plan setting unit MCTL04.

[0070] In this embodiment, the monitoring tool control unit MCTL has a contract plan setting unit MCTL04 as a contract plan setting means (adjustment pattern specifying means) as a functional block that acquires information specifying an adjustment pattern for the collection level setting. The contract plan setting unit MCTL04 constitutes a maintenance setting information collecting unit MCTL06 as a maintenance setting information collecting means. The adjustment pattern for the collection level setting is information indicating the relationship between the analysis result of the operation history data and the collection level setting. In other words, the adjustment pattern for the collection level setting is information indicating a rule for adjusting the collection level setting according to the analysis result of the operation history data. In the first embodiment, the image forming system 100 was provided with only one adjustment pattern for the collection level setting, but in this embodiment, multiple adjustment patterns for the collection level setting are provided, and one is selected and used according to the contract plan.

[0071] In this embodiment, the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 (storage unit of the monitoring tool MT) stores contract plan information indicating the contract plan (contract details) concluded between the dealer and the user as information specifying the adjustment pattern for the collection level setting. The contract plan information is an example of maintenance setting information, which is information regarding the conditions for maintenance of the image forming apparatus that have been set in advance. The contract plan information stored in the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 is transmitted to the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 via the network. In this embodiment, the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 (storage unit 86 of the server control unit SCTL) stores adjustment patterns for the collection level setting for each contract plan. In this embodiment, the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines (determines) the collection level setting using the adjustment pattern for the collection level setting selected according to the contract plan information, along with the analysis results of the basic data and extended data.

[0072] The collection level settings in this embodiment are the same as those shown in Table 4 in the first embodiment. That is, the collection level settings are such that "Level 1" has the lowest analytical accuracy, "Level 2" has a higher analytical accuracy than "Level 1," and "Level 3" has the highest analytical accuracy. On the other hand, collection level settings with higher analytical accuracy tend to use more system resources and increase operational costs. Therefore, dealers typically provide services by signing more expensive contract plans with users for adjustment patterns that use more collection level settings with higher analytical accuracy.

[0073] Table 8 shows patterns of adjusting collection level settings according to the analysis results of the basic data and extended data and the contract plan. The method of determining the collection level setting based on the analysis results of the basic data and extended data (unknown, good, normal, caution) in this embodiment is the same as in embodiment 1. In addition, in this embodiment, there are five contract plans, contract plan A to contract plan E, with contract plan A being the cheapest and plan E being the most expensive.

[0074] [Table 8]

[0075] FIG. 8 shows an example of an operation screen for setting a contract plan in the contract plan setting unit MCTL04. The functions of the monitoring tool MT are realized, for example, by a personal computer executing software installed on the personal computer. For example, an operator can input information into the monitoring tool MT by operating the UI (user interface) screen displayed on the operation screen MDSP using a keyboard, mouse, etc. In the example of FIG. 8, there are check boxes in the column for each contract plan, and by selecting one of the check boxes, the adjustment pattern for the collection level setting to be applied to the target user's printer PR can be set. As an example, FIG. 8 shows the state in which Plan B is selected.

[0076] Although this embodiment shows an example in which the monitoring tool MT is configured as a personal computer, the monitoring tool MT may be, for example, a dedicated device having an operation screen.

[0077] Also, in the example of Table 8 (and FIG. 8), in Plan A and Plan E, the collection level setting is constant regardless of the analysis result of the operation history data. In this way, the multiple preset collection level setting adjustment patterns may include an adjustment pattern in which the collection level setting is not dynamically adjusted based on the analysis result of the operation history data.

[0078] <Explanation of the operation of the control unit: Figure 9> The operations of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment.

[0079] 9(a) is a procedure for setting contract plan information, which is initiated in the monitoring tool control unit MCTL (monitoring tool MT) when, for example, the printer PR is installed. Specifically, for example, based on an operation of the monitoring tool MT by an operator at a dealer, the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 sets contract plan information selected according to the contract plan (contract details) concluded between the dealer and the user (S101).

[0080] The procedure of the flowchart in FIG. 9(b) is similar to the procedure of the flowchart in FIG. 6 and is initiated when the engine control unit EXTL (printer engine PR03) receives a print instruction. In the flowchart in FIG. 9(b), the same step numbers are assigned to processes that are the same as or correspond to the processes in the flowchart in FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a procedure (S102) is added in which the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 acquires contract plan information from the contract plan setting unit MCTL04. Also, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the acquired contract plan information is analyzed in the process of S007.

[0081] Specifically, the server control unit SCTL acquires feature amounts and image data from the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and the extended data collection unit ECTL06 in the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02, respectively, according to the collection level setting (S005, S006L1 to S006L3). Furthermore, the server control unit SCTL acquires contract plan information from the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 in the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 (S102). Next, similar to the first embodiment, the server control unit SCTL analyzes image defects based on the received feature amounts and image data in the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02 (S007). Furthermore, the server control unit SCTL analyzes the contract plan information acquired from the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 in the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05, and determines (decides) an adjustment pattern for the collection level setting (S007).

[0082] Then, the server control unit SCTL determines the collecting level setting in the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 based on the analysis results of the basic data and extended data and the adjustment pattern of the collecting level setting selected according to the contract plan information, and transmits it to the engine control unit EXTL (S010). In this embodiment, the collecting level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collecting level setting according to the criteria shown in Table 8. The processes of S008, S009, S020, and S021 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0083] For convenience of explanation, the steps S008 to S009 and the steps S010 to S011 are described in series, but these steps may be executed in the reverse order or may be executed substantially simultaneously.

[0084] In this way, in this embodiment, the collection level setting is dynamically adjusted based on the analysis results of the operation history data and information specifying the adjustment pattern for the collection level setting (in this embodiment, conditions preset by the contract plan information as maintenance setting information). This makes it possible to optimize operation costs in accordance with the requests of individual users while flexibly responding to changes (variations) in the required analysis accuracy according to the operation history, etc.

[0085] In this embodiment, the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 is provided in the monitoring tool MT, but this is not limiting and may be provided in, for example, the engine control unit ECTL. In this case, the contract plan information can be set from the operation display unit PR02 of the printer PR, rather than from the monitoring tool MT. Also, for example, the image forming system 100 may acquire contract plan information in cooperation with another cloud system (contract system).

[0086] [Example 3] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming system and image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the image forming systems and image forming apparatus of embodiments 1 and 2. Therefore, in the image forming system and image forming apparatus of this embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of embodiments 1 and 2 are assigned the same reference numerals as those of embodiments 1 and 2, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0087] In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 determines an appropriate notification client device based on the analysis results of the operation history data and information on whether a service technician will be dispatched, which is information specifying the notification client device to which the countermeasure content will be notified. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image forming system 100 changes the countermeasure content depending on the determined notification client device. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image forming system 100 changes the collection level setting depending on the determined notification client device.

[0088] <Explanation of functional blocks: Figure 10> FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the functional blocks of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment. This embodiment differs from embodiment 2 mainly in the following three points. First, the image forming system 100 uses a dispatch availability information setting unit MCTL05 to acquire service technician dispatch availability information, such as whether a service technician can respond immediately, as maintenance setting information. Second, the image forming system 100 receives and analyzes contract plan information and dispatch availability information as maintenance setting information in a countermeasure content determination unit (notification destination determination unit) SCTL03. Finally, the image forming system 100 receives and analyzes contract plan information and dispatch availability information as maintenance setting information in a collection level setting determination unit SCTL05.

[0089] In this embodiment, the monitoring tool control unit MCTL has a contract plan setting unit MCTL04 as a contract plan setting means, which is a functional block that acquires information specifying an adjustment pattern for the collection level setting. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the monitoring tool control unit MCTL has a dispatch feasibility information setting unit MCTL05 as a dispatch feasibility information setting means (notification destination designation means), which is a functional block that acquires information specifying a client device to be notified of countermeasure content. The contract plan setting unit MCTL04 and the dispatch feasibility information setting unit MCTL05 constitute a maintenance setting information collection unit MCTL06 as a maintenance setting information collection means. Thus, in this embodiment, the maintenance setting information collection unit MCTL06 not only collects the contract plan information described in the second embodiment using the contract plan setting unit MCTL04, but also collects dispatch feasibility information using the dispatch feasibility information setting unit MCTL05. The contract plan information and the dispatch feasibility information are each examples of maintenance setting information, which is information regarding preset conditions for maintenance of the image forming device.

[0090] In this embodiment, the dispatch availability information setting unit MCTL05 acquires information about the days of the week and time periods as information about when a service technician is available to be dispatched. For example, when installing a printer PR, a dealer's operator sets information about the days of the week and time periods when a service technician is available based on operations on the monitoring tool MT. FIG. 11 shows an example of an operation screen for setting information about the days of the week and time periods when a service technician is available to be dispatched. In the example of FIG. 11, there are check boxes for each day of the week, and by selecting one of the check boxes, the day of the week when a service technician is available to be dispatched to the target user's printer PR can be set. In addition, there is a field for selecting a time period for each day of the week, and by selecting one of the time periods (every hour in the illustrated example), the time period when a service technician is available to be dispatched to the target user's printer PR can be set. FIG. 11 shows a state in which a service technician is set to be available to be dispatched from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

[0091] The server control unit SCTL determines the "maintenance status" in the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 based on the dispatch availability information (day of the week, time period) received from the dispatch availability information setting unit MCTL05 and the current date and time (day of the week, time). In this embodiment, if the current date and time correspond to the day of the week and time period when the serviceman is available for dispatch, the maintenance status is set to "dispatch available." On the other hand, if the current date and time do not correspond to the day of the week and time period when the serviceman is available for dispatch, the maintenance status is set to "dispatch not available."

[0092] In this embodiment, the server control unit SCTL determines the countermeasure content and the notification client device in the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 based on the analysis results of the basic data and extended data and the maintenance status. Thus, in this embodiment, the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 functions as a countermeasure content determination unit and also functions as a notification destination determination unit. In this embodiment, the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 determines the countermeasure content and the notification client device according to the criteria shown in Table 9. If the maintenance status is "dispatchable," a command such as "fixing unit replacement recommended" or "fixing unit replacement strongly recommended" is sent to the monitoring tool MT based on the image quality status, specifically the analysis results of the basic data and extended data described in Embodiments 1 and 2. In other words, in this case, a command indicating the countermeasure content is transmitted to the monitoring tool MT as the notification client device. On the other hand, if the maintenance status is "dispatchable," a command to display instructions for cleaning the fixing unit is sent to the printer PR based on the image quality status, specifically the analysis results of the basic data and extended data described in Embodiments 1 and 2. In other words, in this case, a command indicating the countermeasure content is transmitted to the printer PR as the notification client device.

[0093] In this embodiment, when the server control unit SCTL is "dispatchable," the server control unit SCTL transmits the countermeasure content to the countermeasure content receiving unit MCTL01 of the monitoring control unit MCTL via the network, as in the first and second embodiments. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the server control unit SCTL is "dispatchable," the server control unit SCTL transmits the countermeasure content to the engine control unit ECTL via the countermeasure content transmitting unit SCTL04. That is, in this case, the countermeasure content transmitting unit SCTL04 transmits the countermeasure content to the countermeasure content receiving unit ECTL09, which serves as a countermeasure content receiving means of the engine control unit ECTL, via the communication unit PCTL01 of the video controller PR01. The countermeasure content receiving unit ECTL09 transmits the received countermeasure content to the countermeasure content reflecting unit ECTL10, which serves as a countermeasure content reflecting means of the engine control unit ECTL. Based on the received countermeasure content, the countermeasure content reflecting unit ECTL10 controls the printer PR to display the countermeasure content on the operation display unit PR02 to notify the user.

[0094] An example of a countermeasure in the case of "unavailable for dispatch" is to execute a measure to eliminate or reduce the image defect, typically based on a user operation. Specifically, for example, the countermeasure display unit ECTL10 may prompt the user to execute a cleaning operation (cleaning mode) of the fixing device 30, which is pre-installed in the printer PR. In this case, for example, the countermeasure reflecting unit ECTL10 transmits to the operation display unit PR02 a command to display guidance on the operation display unit PR02 for executing the cleaning operation of the fixing device 30. A specific method of the cleaning operation of the fixing device 30 may be to form an image (solid black image) with a high image printing rate (image ratio) on both sides of the recording material S by double-sided printing.

[0095] This makes it possible to reduce the occurrence of image defects even in situations where a service technician cannot be dispatched immediately due to other reasons, such as the day of the week or time of day when a service technician is unavailable, and is also expected to reduce the possibility of a service technician being called out.

[0096] In this embodiment, a method involving user operation has been given as an example of a method for cleaning the fixing device 30, but other methods not involving user operation may be used to eliminate or reduce image defects. Specifically, one example is that the engine control unit EXTL fine-tunes the image density so that image defects become less noticeable.

[0097] [Table 9]

[0098] In this embodiment, the server control unit SCTL changes the collection level setting in the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 depending on the notification client device to which the countermeasure content is notified. In this embodiment, when the maintenance status is "dispatch possible" and the countermeasure content is sent to the monitoring tool MT, the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collection level setting according to the criteria shown in Table 8, as in the second embodiment. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the maintenance status is "dispatch not possible" and a countermeasure instruction is sent to the printer PR, the collection level setting is determined according to the criteria shown in Table 10. The collection level settings shown in Table 10 have some collection level values ​​set higher than those shown in Table 8. This allows the system to autonomously take countermeasures using data acquired by the detection means provided in the printer PR, thereby obtaining more accurate data and improving the accuracy of the judgment by the analysis means. Furthermore, if improving analysis accuracy tends to improve the judgment results of the image quality defect condition, improving analysis accuracy can be expected to reduce the possibility of a service call being requested.

[0099] [Table 10]

[0100] <Explanation of the operation of the control unit: Figure 12> The operations of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the engine control unit ECTL, the server control unit SCTL, and the monitoring tool control unit MCTL in this embodiment.

[0101] 12(a) is a procedure for setting maintenance setting information (contract plan information, dispatch availability information) that is started in the monitoring tool control unit MCTL (monitoring tool MT) when, for example, installing a printer PR. Specifically, based on operations on the monitoring tool MT by, for example, an operator at a dealer, the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 sets the contract plan information, and the dispatch availability information setting unit MCTL05 sets the dispatch availability information (S201).

[0102] The procedure of the flowchart in FIG. 12(b) is similar to the flowcharts in FIGS. 6 and 9(b), and is initiated when the engine control unit EXTL (printer engine PR03) receives a print instruction. In the flowchart in FIG. 12(b), the same step numbers are assigned to processes that are the same as or correspond to the processes in the flowcharts in FIGS. 6 and 9(b) described in the first and second embodiments, respectively, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate. This embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that a procedure (S202) is added in which the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL and the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 acquire maintenance setting information (contract plan information, dispatch availability information). This embodiment also differs from the first and second embodiments in that the acquired maintenance setting information (contract plan information, dispatch availability information) is analyzed in the process of S007. This embodiment also differs from the first and second embodiments in that a procedure (S203) is added in which the countermeasure content (notification destination) determination unit SCTL03 determines a notification client device based on the dispatch availability information. In addition, in this embodiment, the procedure (S008P, S008P, S008M, S009M) of determining and transmitting the countermeasure content depending on the notification client device is different from that in embodiments 1 and 2. In addition, in this embodiment, the processing in S010 is different from that in embodiments 1 and 2 in that the collection level setting is determined depending on the notification client device.

[0103] Specifically, the server control unit SCTL acquires feature amounts and image data from the basic data collection unit ECTL05 and the extended data collection unit ECTL06 in the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02, respectively, depending on the collection level setting (S005, S006L1-S006L3). Furthermore, the server control unit SCTL acquires contract plan information and dispatch feasibility information from the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 and the dispatch feasibility information setting unit MCTL05 in the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 and the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 (S202). Next, the server control unit SCTL analyzes image defects based on the received feature amounts and image data in the basic data analysis unit SCTL01 and the extended data analysis unit SCTL02, as in the first and second embodiments (S007). The server control unit SCTL also analyzes the manual availability information acquired from the dispatch availability information setting unit MCTL05 in the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 to determine (decide) the maintenance status (S007). Furthermore, the server control unit SCTL also analyzes the contract plan information acquired from the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 in the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 to determine (decide) the adjustment pattern for the collection level setting (S007).

[0104] Furthermore, the server control unit SCTL, in the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03, selects (determines) whether the notification client device is the printer PR or the monitoring tool MT, depending on the maintenance status, which is the analysis result of the dispatch readiness information (S203). If the maintenance status is "dispatchable," the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 selects the monitoring tool MT as the notification client device to be notified of the countermeasure content. Then, the server control unit SCTL, in the countermeasure content transmission unit SCTL04, notifies the monitoring tool MT of instructions for the countermeasure to be executed by the serviceman as the countermeasure content (S008M). As a result, the monitoring tool MT receives the countermeasure content at the countermeasure content reception unit MCTL01 (S009M). Furthermore, the monitoring tool MT, in the countermeasure content reflection unit MCTL02 and display control unit MCTL03, performs processing to display the countermeasure content on the operation display unit MDSP of the monitoring tool MT, in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments (S009M). On the other hand, if the maintenance status is "unavailable," the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 selects the printer PR as the notification client device to which the countermeasure content will be notified. Then, the server control unit SCTL notifies the printer PR, via the countermeasure content transmission unit SCTL04, of instructions for the countermeasure to be performed by the user (S008P). As a result, the printer PR receives the countermeasure content via the countermeasure content reception unit ECTL09 (S009P). The printer PR also performs processing in the countermeasure content reflection unit ECTL10 to display the countermeasure content on the operation display unit PR02 of the printer PR (S009M). In this case, the countermeasure content reflection unit ECTL10 controls the operation display unit PR02 to display, for example, guidance for the user to perform an operation method for cleaning the fixing device 30. In this embodiment, the countermeasure content determination unit SCTL03 determines the countermeasure content and the notification client device according to the criteria shown in Table 9.

[0105] Furthermore, the server control unit SCTL determines the collection level setting in the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 based on the maintenance status (notification client device), the analysis results of the basic data and extended data, and the contract plan information (S010). In this embodiment, if the maintenance status is "dispatchable" and the notifying client device is the monitoring tool MT, the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collection level setting according to the criteria shown in Table 8, as in the second embodiment. Also, in this embodiment, if the maintenance status is "dispatchable" and the notifying client device is the printer PR, the collection level setting determination unit SCTL05 determines the collection level setting according to the criteria shown in Table 10. The processes of S011, S012, S020, and S021 are the same as those of the second embodiment.

[0106] For ease of explanation, the steps S203 to S009P and S009M and the steps S010 to S011 are described in series, but these steps may be executed in the reverse order or may be executed substantially simultaneously.

[0107] As described above, in this embodiment, the content of the countermeasure and the notification client device are determined based on the analysis results of the operation history data and information specifying the notification client device for the countermeasure content (in this embodiment, a condition preset based on the dispatch availability information as maintenance setting information). In other words, in this embodiment, appropriate content of the countermeasure and the notification client device can be determined taking into consideration the schedule of the service technician. This allows the user to take measures to eliminate or reduce image defects themselves, even in situations where a service technician is unavailable. Furthermore, since the possibility of a service technician being called is reduced, it is expected that the dealer's service costs will also be reduced. In this case, if countermeasures are to be taken in situations where a service technician is unavailable, the level of collection of operation history data can be increased to improve the accuracy of the judgment.

[0108] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the days of the week and time periods when service personnel are available are set to fixed values, but the service personnel's availability status may also be updated in real time through dialogue (communication) between the server and the monitoring tool.

[0109] In this embodiment, the contract plan setting unit MCTL04 and the dispatch feasibility information setting unit MCTL05 are provided in the monitoring tool MT, but this is not limiting and they may be provided, for example, in the engine control unit ECTL. In this case, the contract plan information and operation feasibility information can be set not from the monitoring tool MT but from the operation display unit PR02 of the printer PR. Also, for example, the image forming system 100 may acquire the contract plan information and operation feasibility information in cooperation with another cloud system (contract system).

[0110] [others] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0111] In the above-described embodiment, the collection level setting is determined based on the analysis results of image defects. However, the collection level setting may also be determined based on the analysis results of paper feed defects, such as the jam rate, or the analysis results of the status of replacement parts, such as the fixing device and intermediate transfer body. The jam rate can be calculated, for example, from the rate of jams (paper jams, early arrival, delays, etc.) occurring for a predetermined number of prints. The status of replacement parts can be determined, for example, from the cumulative usage of the replacement parts (operation time, such as rotation time, number of rotations, etc.). Furthermore, the specific content of the collection level setting is not limited to those described in the above-described embodiment, and other parameters, such as the data collection frequency and the length of data acquired at one time, may also be adjusted. Furthermore, the collection level setting may be determined based on multiple analysis results.

[0112] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, notification (alert) is explained as being made by display, but this is not limiting, and notification may be made by sound or light emission.

[0113] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image reading unit is provided on the double-sided conveying path, but an image reading unit may also be provided so that the image can be read in the case of single-sided printing.

[0114] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus is not limited to an electrophotographic type, but may be of another image forming type, such as an inkjet type.

[0115] Furthermore, the notification described in the above embodiment as being performed by the printer may be performed on a display unit of a host computer such as a personal computer connected to the printer. Similarly, the input of information described in the above embodiment as being performed by the printer may be performed on an operation unit of a host computer such as a personal computer connected to the printer.

[0116] In addition, the image forming system may have multiple printers connected to a server or a monitoring tool so that they can communicate with each other. In this case, by performing information processing in the server or the monitoring tool in association with the printer identification information, it is possible to perform control similar to that in the above-described embodiment for each printer. Multiple servers and monitoring tools may also be provided.

[0117] That is, the following technical idea can be derived from the above-described embodiment.

[0118] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system 100 including an image forming apparatus (printer) PR and a server apparatus (server) SV capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus PR. The image forming apparatus PR includes collection means (basic data collection unit ECTL05, extended data collection unit ECTL06) that collects operation history data (basic data, extended data) related to the operation history of the image forming apparatus PR based on a collection data setting that is a setting related to data collection, and transmits the collected operation history data to the server apparatus SV. The server apparatus SV includes analysis means (basic data analysis unit SCTL01, extended data analysis unit SCTL02) that analyzes the operation history data, and collection data setting means (collection level setting determination unit SCTL05) that notifies the image forming apparatus PR to change the collection data setting based on the analysis results of the analysis means SCTL01, SCTL02.

[0119] In one embodiment, the collection data setting can be changed between a first collection data setting and a second collection data setting. The operation history data includes information regarding the timing (such as date and time) at which the operation history data was acquired and information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus at the acquisition timing (such as the degree of image defects). The amount of operation history data per acquisition timing or per predetermined period is smaller for the first collection data setting (e.g., Level 1 of the collection level setting) than for the second collection data setting (e.g., Level 2 or Level 3 of the collection level setting).

[0120] In one embodiment, the image forming apparatus PR has an image reading means (CIS93) capable of acquiring image data from a recording material S used for image formation in the image forming apparatus PR. Furthermore, the collection means ECTL05 and ECTL06 collect, in the case of the first collection data setting, data including feature amounts calculated based on the image data as operation history data and transmit the data to the server apparatus SV, and in the case of the second collection data setting, collect data including part or all of the image data as operation history data and transmit the data to the server apparatus SV. Then, the analysis means SCTL01 and SCTL02 obtain an analysis result indicating the degree of image defects based on the feature amounts and part or all of the image data. For example, the collected data setting means SCTL05 notifies the image forming device PR that the collected data setting should be the first collected data setting (e.g., level 1 of the collection level setting) when the degree of image defect indicated by the analysis result is a first degree, and notifies the image forming device PR that the collected data setting should be the second collected data setting (e.g., level 2 or level 3 of the collection level setting) when the degree of image defect indicated by the analysis result is a second degree worse than the first degree.

[0121] In one embodiment, the image forming system 100 further includes, in the collected data setting means SCTL05, a designation means (contract plan setting unit MCTL04) for designating a change rule for the collected data setting (an adjustment pattern for the collection level setting). This designation means may be provided in an information processing device (monitoring tool MT) that can communicate with the server device SV, or may be provided in the image forming device PR. The change rule may include information regarding the contract plan setting between the user of the image forming device PR and the maintenance person (dealer, etc.) of the image forming device PR.

[0122] In one embodiment, the server SV further includes a countermeasure determination unit (countermeasure determination unit SCTL03) that determines countermeasures based on the analysis results of the analysis units SCTL01 and SCTL02, and a notification unit (countermeasure transmission unit SCTL04) that notifies the notification client device of the countermeasures. The countermeasures may include at least one of replacing components of the image forming device PR (e.g., replacing the fixing device 30, intermediate transfer belt 11, paper feed rollers 22, etc.), cleaning or adjusting components of the image forming device PR (e.g., cleaning or adjusting the fixing device 30, intermediate transfer belt 11, paper feed rollers 22, etc.), and changing operational settings related to image formation in the image forming device PR (e.g., adjusting image density). The notification client device may be an information processing device (monitoring tool MT) capable of communicating with the server SV, or the image forming device PR.

[0123] In one embodiment, the server apparatus SV further includes a notification destination determining unit (a countermeasure content determining unit SCTL03 having the function of the notification destination determining unit) that changes the notification client apparatus to which the notification unit SCTL04 notifies the countermeasure content. For example, the notification destination determining unit SCTL03 can change the notification client apparatus to which the countermeasure content is notified between an information processing device (monitoring tool MT) that can communicate with the server apparatus SV and the image forming apparatus PR. In one embodiment, the image forming system 100 further includes, in the notification destination determining unit SCTL03, a designation unit (dispatch availability information setting unit MCTL05) that designates a change rule (dispatch availability information) for the notification client apparatus to which the countermeasure content is notified. This designation unit may be provided in the information processing device (monitoring tool MT) that can communicate with the server apparatus SV, or in the image forming apparatus PR. The change rule may also include information regarding the timing (day of the week, time period, etc.) when the maintenance person (dealer) of the image forming apparatus PR can perform maintenance operations on the image forming apparatus PR. The countermeasure content determination means SCTL03 can change the countermeasure content depending on the notification client to which the countermeasure content is to be notified. The collected data setting means SCTL05 can notify the image forming apparatus PR so that the collected data setting is changed depending on the notification client device to which the countermeasure content is to be notified.

[0124] In other words, the image forming system 100 further includes a maintenance setting information collecting means (maintenance setting information collecting unit MCTL06) that collects maintenance setting information related to preset maintenance contents of the image forming apparatus PR. The notification destination determining means SCTL03 can change the notification client apparatus to which the countermeasure contents are to be notified based on the maintenance setting information, and the countermeasure content determining means SCTL03 can change the countermeasure contents based on the maintenance setting information. Furthermore, the collected data setting means SCTL05 may notify the image forming apparatus PR so that the collected data settings are changed based on the maintenance setting information. The maintenance setting information collecting means MCTL06 may be provided in an information processing apparatus (monitoring tool MT) that can communicate with the server apparatus SV, or may be provided in the image forming apparatus PR.

[0125] According to another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus PR capable of communicating with a server apparatus SV is provided. The image forming apparatus PR includes collection units ECTL05 and ECTL06 that collect operation history data related to the operation history of the image forming apparatus PR based on a collection data setting, which is a setting related to data collection, and transmit the collected operation history data to the server apparatus SV. The collection units ECTL05 and ECTL06 change the collection data setting based on a notification received by the image forming apparatus PR from the server apparatus SV in response to the collection units ECTL05 and ECTL06 transmitting the operation history data to the server apparatus SV. In one embodiment, the collection data setting can be changed between a first collection data setting and a second collection data setting. The operation history data includes information related to the acquisition timing of the operation history data and information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus PR at the acquisition timing. The amount of operation history data acquired at each acquisition timing or per predetermined period is smaller for the first collection data setting than for the second collection data setting.

[0126] According to another aspect of the present invention, a server device SV capable of communicating with an image forming device PR is provided. The server device SV includes analysis units SCTL01 and SCTL02 that receive operation history data related to the operation history of the image forming device PR, which is collected in the image forming device PR based on a collection data setting, which is a setting related to data collection, and analyze the received operation history data. A collection data setting unit SCTL05 notifies the image forming device PR to change the collection data setting based on the analysis results of the analysis units SCTL01 and SCTL02. In one embodiment, the collection data setting can be changed to a first collection data setting or a second collection data setting. The operation history data includes information related to the acquisition timing of the operation history data and information indicating the state of the image forming device PR at the acquisition timing. The amount of operation history data acquired at each acquisition timing or per predetermined period is smaller for the first collection data setting than for the second collection data setting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 100 Image forming system SV Server PR printer MT Monitoring Tools SCTL Server Control Unit ECTL Engine control unit MCTL Monitoring Tool Control Unit

Claims

1. An image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a server device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the image forming device includes a collection unit that collects operation history data relating to an operation history of the image forming device based on a collection data setting that is a setting relating to data collection, and transmits the collected operation history data to the server device; The server device is characterized in that it comprises an analysis means for analyzing the operation history data, and a collected data setting means for notifying the image forming device so that the collected data setting is changed based on the analysis results of the analysis means.

2. the collected data setting is changeable between a first collected data setting and a second collected data setting; The image forming system described in claim 1, characterized in that the operation history data includes information regarding the acquisition timing of the operation history data and information indicating the state of the image forming device at the acquisition timing, and the amount of operation history data per acquisition timing or specified period is smaller for the first collection data setting than for the second collection data setting.

3. the image forming apparatus has an image reading means capable of acquiring image data from a recording material used for image formation in the image forming apparatus, the collection means, in the case of the first collection data setting, collects data including a feature calculated based on the image data as the operation history data and transmits the data to the server device, and in the case of the second collection data setting, collects data including a part or all of the image data as the operation history data and transmits the data to the server device; 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the analysis means obtains the analysis result indicating the degree of image defects based on the feature amount and part or all of the image data.

4. The image forming system of claim 3, wherein the collected data setting means notifies the image forming device to change the collected data setting to the first collected data setting when the degree of image defect indicated by the analysis result is a first degree, and notifies the image forming device to change the collected data setting to the second collected data setting when the degree of image defect indicated by the analysis result is a second degree worse than the first degree.

5. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein said collected data setting means further comprises designation means for designating a rule for changing said collected data setting.

6. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the designation unit is provided in an information processing device that can communicate with the server device.

7. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the designation unit is provided in the image forming apparatus.

8. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the change rule includes information regarding a contract plan setting between a user of the image forming device and a maintenance person for the image forming device.

9. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the server device further comprises: a countermeasure content determination means for determining countermeasure content based on the analysis result of the analysis means; and a notification means for notifying the notification client device of the countermeasure content.

10. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the countermeasures include at least one of replacing components constituting the image forming device, cleaning or adjusting components constituting the image forming device, and changing operational settings related to image formation in the image forming device.

11. 10. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the notification client device is an information processing device capable of communicating with the server device.

12. 10. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the notification client device is the image forming device.

13. 10. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the server device further comprises a notification destination determining unit for changing the notification client device to which the notification unit notifies the countermeasure content.

14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the notification destination determination means can change the notification client device to which the countermeasure content is to be notified to an information processing device that can communicate with the server device and the image forming device.

15. 14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein said notification destination determining means further comprises designating means for designating a change rule for a notification client device to be notified of said countermeasure content.

16. 16. The image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the designation unit is provided in an information processing device that can communicate with the server device.

17. 16. The image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the designation unit is provided in the image forming apparatus.

18. 16. The image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the change rule includes information regarding a timing when a maintenance person for the image forming device is allowed to perform maintenance operations on the image forming device.

19. 14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the countermeasure content determining unit changes the countermeasure content depending on a notification client to which the countermeasure content is to be notified.

20. 14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the collected data setting unit notifies the image forming device so that the collected data setting is changed in accordance with a notification client device to which the countermeasure content is to be notified.

21. The server device further comprises a countermeasure content determination means for determining countermeasure content based on the analysis result of the analysis means, a notification means for notifying a notification client device of the countermeasure content, and a notification destination determination means for changing the notification client device to which the notification means notifies the countermeasure content; the image forming system further includes a maintenance setting information collecting unit that collects maintenance setting information relating to maintenance details of the image forming apparatus that have been set in advance, the notification destination determining means changes the notification client device to be notified of the countermeasure content based on the maintenance setting information; 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the countermeasure content determining unit changes the countermeasure content based on the maintenance setting information.

22. 22. The image forming system according to claim 21, wherein the collected data setting unit notifies the image forming device so that the collected data setting is changed based on the maintenance setting information.

23. 22. The image forming system according to claim 21, wherein the maintenance setting information collecting unit is provided in an information processing device that can communicate with the server device.

24. 22. The image forming system according to claim 21, wherein the maintenance setting information collecting means is provided in the image forming apparatus.

25. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server device, a collection unit that collects operation history data relating to the operation history of the image forming apparatus based on a collection data setting that is a setting relating to data collection, and transmits the collected operation history data to the server device; The image forming device is characterized in that the collection means changes the collection data setting based on a notification received by the image forming device from the server device in response to the collection means sending the operation history data to the server device.

26. A server device capable of communicating with an image forming device, an analysis unit configured to receive, in the image forming apparatus, operation history data relating to the operation history of the image forming apparatus, which data has been collected based on a collection data setting, and to analyze the received operation history data; a collected data setting unit that notifies the image forming apparatus so that the collected data setting is changed based on the analysis result of the analysis unit; A server device comprising:

Images