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.

Provided is a data transmission system for detecting and predicting the occurrence of problems in image processing of a printing job before starting printing. A gateway registers a printing job that is received from a user terminal in memory, then transmits the printing job to a MFP. The MFP transmits printing data information to the gateway indicating the data amount in time when an image processing unit performs image processing on the printing job. The user terminal transmits printing data information to the gateway indicating the data amount in time when a simulated image processing unit perform a simulation process on the printing job. The gateway compares the printing data information, and when there is a difference in data amounts, registers problem information in memory indicating that there is a problem in image processing by the simulated image processing unit or the image processing unit.

A controller in a control device is configured to perform: acquiring a first value from a printer, the first value being related to a residual quantity of printing material remaining in a first cartridge at a first calendar date; acquiring a second value from the printer, the second value being related to a residual quantity of printing material remaining in a second cartridge at a second calendar date, the second cartridge being attached to the printer later than detachment of the first cartridge; estimating a third calendar date using the first value, the second value, the first calendar date, and the second calendar date, the third calendar date being a calendar date when a third value related to the residual quantity of printing material remaining in the second cartridge is assumed to be smaller than a prescribed quantity; and executing an output process according to the third calendar date.

A method monitors a color standard for a machine for processing printing material. The color standard results from various parameters of the printing operation and correspondingly associated set points. The color standard may be modified and individually adapted to every machine. The machine is equipped such that current values of the parameters of the color standard are measured and forwarded to a computer. The computer compares these values and predefined set points of the color standard, and based on this information, makes an assessment of the color and quality level achieved in the printing operation. The computer outputs control signals based on the monitoring. The control signals influence the machine control and/or the determining of the current values of the parameters of the color standard in a feedback loop. The color standard is modifiable by the operator by a different selection and weighting of the parameters and the set points.

The present disclosure relates to cloud-based document quality assurance. One example embodiment includes a method for evaluating document quality. The method includes receiving, by a cloud server, document data associated with an image forming device. The method also includes accessing, by the cloud server, a cloud service. Further, the method includes performing, by the cloud service, a data-segment comparison between the document data and reference document data from a quality assurance database. In addition, the method includes generating, by the cloud service, a quality assurance report based on the data-segment comparison between the document data and the reference document data.

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 method of submitting an event relating to MFP device activity to an analytics service. The method of submitting an event to an analytics service comprises a receiving step of receiving a command in a first format. A writing step is provided to write a value of the received command to a stored property. A monitoring step is provided to monitor the property to determine whether or not the property has changed. A transmission step is provided to, in the case that it is determined that a stored property has changed, transmit an event corresponding to the updated property to the analytics service in accordance with a second format.

The present disclosure relates to formulation and implementation of rules associated with printing devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes monitoring, by a computing device, events associated with one or more printing devices. The method also includes identifying, by the computing device, a correlation between a first event type of the monitored events and a second event type of the monitored events. Further, the method includes formulating, by the computing device, a rule based on the correlation. According to the rule, when the first event type occurs, the computing device causes the second event type to occur in response. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the rule should be implemented on the one or more printing devices. The method further includes implementing, by the computing device, the rule on the one or more printing devices.

A method of generating a status report from an image forming device comprises: recording an error notification in real time from the image forming device; analyzing the error notification received, wherein analyzing the error notification comprises: detecting a sequential pattern in the recorded error notification; and analyzing the sequential pattern detected; sending a request to the image forming device for a first status report if the sequential pattern detected in the error notification matches one of pre-stored sequential patterns corresponding to an error for which the first status report is requested; receiving the first status report using bidirectional communication protocols; analyzing data in the first status report; diagnosing the image forming device based on the data analyzed; and generating an action request.

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.