An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with an external controller, a reception unit configured to receive, in a case where a predetermined error related to the communication occurs, log information on the predetermined error from the external controller, and a storage control unit configured to store, in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus, the log information received from the external controller and log information indicating an operation of the image forming apparatus corresponding to a timing at which the predetermined error has occurred.

A print management device includes: an estimation unit that estimates a completion prediction time of a print process that is planned in advance according to a processing capability of a printing device, the estimation unit estimating, in response to occurrence of an abnormality in the printing device, the completion prediction time based on actual performance information on the processing capability from a start of printing by the printing device to the occurrence of the abnormality and a recovery time determined in advance, the recovery time being a time needed for dealing with the abnormality; and a notification unit that notifies the completion prediction time estimated by the estimation unit.

A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus. The supporting program is configured to support a printing program of an operating system of the information processing apparatus. The printing program of the operating system is configured to process data so as to display a print setting screen on a display of the information processing apparatus, Service information which is information related to a service applicable to the external printer is stored in the external printer. The supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to obtaining the service information, generating, based on the obtained service information, notification data indicating a notifying image to a user, and displaying the notifying image on the print setting screen displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus by outputting the generated notification data to the printing program of the operating system.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores a support program for an information processing device connectable to a printer. The information processing device includes: a display; a computer; and a memory. The memory stores an operating system in which a general-purpose printing program corresponding to the printer and supported by the support program is embedded. The general-purpose printing program is configured to manage data for displaying a print settings screen on the display. The support program, when executed by the computer, causes the information processing device to perform: when a request is issued from the general-purpose printing program in response to the printer being selected: acquiring; generating; and transferring. The acquiring acquires status information indicating a status of the printer. The generating generates notification data indicating a notification content to be provided to a user. The transferring transfers the notification data to display the notification content on the print settings screen.

An information processing apparatus is capable of communicating via a universal serial bus (USB) cable with a USB host device configured to transmit a first control transfer command at a start of communication. The information processing apparatus includes one or more controllers configured to function as a unit configured to acquire and hold predetermined data in response to having received the first control transfer command from the USB host device and a unit configured to transmit the held predetermined data to the USB host device on the basis of having received a second control transfer command from the USB host device.

A computer determines whether PDL data contained in a print job, which is obtained via a communication interface or an external interface, matches pre-conversion PDL data stored in a conversion rule in a non-volatile memory. When a type of converted PDL data associated with the pre-conversion PDL in the conversion rule matches a type of PDL data determined in a PJL converting process, PJL data that conversion is held is converted to the converted PDL data associated with the pre-conversion PJL data that matches the held PDL data in the conversion rule.

A printer, capable of appropriately extending an existing replacement recommendation time of a component determined based on a life prescribed for the component, includes: a time determination unit (timer), a comparison examination unit (comparator), and a notification unit (notifier). The timer determines a time at which replacement of a component is recommended based on tendency information indicating a deterioration tendency of the component with respect to an operation status. The tendency information is generated from collection and storage of information on the operation status collected from a plurality of printers and information on a degree of deterioration at a disposal time of the component. The comparator compares a time output by the time determination unit with a predetermined life of the component, and examines whether to perform recommendation for component replacement. The notifier notifies of information on recommendation for component replacement based on an examination result of the comparator.

An information processing apparatus capable of providing address information of a line desired by a user. The information processing apparatus causes the user to select a line corresponding to the address information to be set in the near field wireless communication information, and sets the address information of the selected line in the near field wireless communication information, so as to transmit the near field wireless communication information, in which the address information of the line desired by the user is set, by near field wireless communication.

Examples for determining printing device functionality based on consumption and payment are described herein. In some examples, signals indicative of an amount of utilized print consumable by a printing device and signals indicative of payment for the amount of utilized print consumable are received at a computing device. Signals to cause the printing device to alter a functionality based on the signals indicative of an amount of utilized print consumable and the signals indicative of payment for the amount of utilized print consumable are transmitted by the computing device.

A system and method for minimizing customer churn in device service businesses commences with execution of a customer service contract. Ongoing customer data capture is made for each contract. Customer data includes contract events, environmental events, service events, device usage analytics and personnel events. Machine learning is applied to captured customer data, which machine learning is based on a state of customer data at the time of contract determination. Customer data is assigned weights, and aggregate data for each customer is compared to a preselected threshold level. Customers above a threshold are deemed happy and customers below the threshold are deemed to be at risk. Remedial measures relative to at risk customer data generates levels of automated remediation followed by remedial measure suggestions to an administrator when not sufficiently successful.