An image forming apparatus capable of generating a failure report and an operating method of the image forming apparatus are provided. In an example, the image forming apparatus is capable of obtaining, from a user, information about a failure of the image forming apparatus that is undetectable by the image forming apparatus and reporting the failure, based on the obtained information about the failure of the image forming apparatus.

Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.

An information processing apparatus that can appropriately delete data of an image forming apparatus used when remote support for an image forming apparatus is performed. The information processing apparatus provides remote support to an image forming apparatus through a relay server. For the remote support, the information processing apparatus acquires data used for remote support from the image forming apparatus through the relay server. The information processing apparatus controls execution of a deletion process of data cached in the information processing apparatus within the acquired data. In a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the information processing apparatus performs a deletion process of cache data when the remote support ends or when logged into the relay server.

An information distribution system includes an electronic device; and a server system including at least one information distribution apparatus that communicates with the electronic device via a network. The electronic device includes an information requester configured to transmit, to the server system, a request to distribute information, the request being transmitted together with identification information of the electronic device; and an information displayer configured to display, on a display device, the information transmitted from the server system. The server system includes a contract information acquirer configured to acquire contract information relating to a contract for a service provided to the electronic device; an information generator configured to identify the contract information of the electronic device based on the identification information, and generate the information according to the contract information; and an information distributor configured to distribute the information generated by the information generator, to the electronic device.

An information processing apparatus manages an image forming apparatus installed in a building having a plurality of areas. The information processing apparatus includes an installation area information storage device, containing installation area information indicating each of the areas where the image forming apparatus is installed, a communication device that makes communication with an external apparatus, and a control device including a processor, and configured to acts as a controller, when the processor executes an operation control program. The controller transmits, when an abnormality detection device, provided in each of the areas to detect an abnormality that has occurred in the area, detects the abnormality, a command notice to turn off power for the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the abnormality has occurred, from the communication device to the image forming apparatus, according to the installation area information stored in the installation area information storage device.

An image forming apparatus manages restart setting information that defines settings related to restarting of remote connection with a computer, controls remote connection, and changes the restart setting information according to an instruction. When remote connection is terminated as a result of a function that terminates remote connection being executed, if the restart setting information includes a setting for automatically restarting remote connection, remote connection is automatically restarted and, if the restart setting information includes a setting for not automatically restarting remote connection, remote connection is not automatically restarted.

An information distribution system includes an electronic device; and a server system including at least one information distribution apparatus that communicates with the electronic device via a network. The electronic device includes an information requester configured to transmit, to the server system, a request to distribute information, the request being transmitted together with identification information of the electronic device; and an information displayer configured to display, on a display device, the information transmitted from the server system. The server system includes a contract information acquirer configured to acquire contract information relating to a contract for a service provided to the electronic device; an information generator configured to identify the contract information of the electronic device based on the identification information, and generate the information according to the contract information; and an information distributor configured to distribute the information generated by the information generator, to the electronic device.

An information processing apparatus that can appropriately delete data of an image forming apparatus used when remote support for an image forming apparatus is performed. The information processing apparatus provides remote support to an image forming apparatus through a relay server. For the remote support, the information processing apparatus acquires data used for remote support from the image forming apparatus through the relay server. The information processing apparatus controls execution of a deletion process of data cached in the information processing apparatus within the acquired data. In a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the information processing apparatus performs a deletion process of cache data when the remote support ends or when logged into the relay server.

A fax function diagnosis method and an apparatus for performing the method are provided. The fax function diagnosis method includes receiving a diagnosis request to diagnose a fax function of an image forming apparatus, diagnosing the fax function of the image forming apparatus by transmitting or receiving a test page, and performing an operation based on a result of the diagnosing.

A diagnostic apparatus includes a first acquiring unit that acquires sound information, a second acquiring unit that acquires operation information indicating a component in operation among a plurality of components of an analysis target apparatus, and a display unit that, when the acquired sound information is reproduced, displays operating states of the plurality of components at the time point when the reproduced sound is acquired, using the operation information.