An image forming apparatus including a plurality of processing units capable of performing different support processing for a user asking for support, and a remote support apparatus operated by an operator are connected via a communication path. The remote support apparatus transmits to the image forming apparatus a request to perform the support using the selected processing unit, or a request to switch the processing unit to a selected specific processing unit and a request to perform the support. The image forming apparatus allows the processing unit which follows the request to perform the support, to perform the support, and switches the processing unit according to the request to switch the processing unit to allow the switched processing unit to perform the support. Further, the image forming apparatus returns a result which should be returned, among results of the performed support, to the remote support apparatus.

According to one embodiment, a maintenance system includes an image pickup unit and a control unit. The image pickup unit picks up images of respective regions of a target apparatus defined beforehand. The control unit acquires image data picked up by the image pickup unit and calculates parameters of the target apparatus on the basis of the image data.

A terminal device including a detection unit that detects a sound, and an output unit that outputs information regarding a detection method of detecting the sound by the detection unit.

According to one embodiment, a system for providing error assistance for a device is disclosed. The error assistance is provided to an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) of a user. The system includes a server configured to receive an input, including one or more identifiers for the device, from the OHMD of the user or a mobile device of the user. The identifiers may include at least one of a serial number of the device, an identifier scanned from a tag of the device, and an error code identifying the device error. The server identifies the device and device error based on the identifiers. The server determines instructions for fixing the device error and generates an augmented display to provide on the OHMD of the user. The augmented display includes an image, icon, text, audio, or video, representative of a part of the device or an instruction for repairing the device.

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for analyzing operational sensor data of a device collected by a mobile endpoint device operating with the device are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving the operational sensor data, a time stamp, a location of the device and a device identification (ID) from the mobile endpoint device, wherein the operational sensor data is collected by the mobile endpoint device from the device when the mobile endpoint device initiates a communication session with the device and transmitting the operational sensor data to a management service, wherein the operational sensor data is analyzed to determine a cause of a failure of the device when the device fails.

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for analyzing operational sensor data of a device collected by a mobile endpoint device operating with the device are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving the operational sensor data, a time stamp, a location of the device and a device identification (ID) from the mobile endpoint device, wherein the operational sensor data is collected by the mobile endpoint device from the device when the mobile endpoint device initiates a communication session with the device and transmitting the operational sensor data to a management service, wherein the operational sensor data is analyzed to determine a cause of a failure of the device when the device fails.