A terminal device includes an acquisition unit that acquires image information, a display unit that displays the image information acquired by the acquisition unit, a detection unit that detects pitch information by performing frequency analysis on the image information displayed by the display unit, and a control unit that controls the display unit to display the pitch information detected by the detection unit. The control unit adjusts saturation or shade of the image information displayed by the display unit.

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.

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.

A system tracks the exact amount of ink remaining in printhead cartridges used in printers connected to a network. Each printer stores a history of cartridges that have been used in the printer. Each cartridge stores a status indicator that indicates whether the cartridge has been used before in any printer. When a printer receives a previously-used cartridge, the printer broadcasts a request for information about that cartridge from the other printers. Each printer having the matching printhead identification number in its history reports over the network the last recorded ink dot count associated with the matching printhead identification number. The requesting printer chooses the most up-to-date response based on the highest dot count or the latest time-stamp. The requesting printer then updates its memory using the dot count from the most up-to-date response and begins counting dots from that updated count for subsequent print jobs performed using the installed cartridge.

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.

A system tracks the exact amount of ink remaining in printhead cartridges used in printers connected to a network. Each printer stores a history of cartridges that have been used in the printer. Each cartridge stores a status indicator that indicates whether the cartridge has been used before in any printer. When a printer receives a previously-used cartridge, the printer broadcasts a request for information about that cartridge from the other printers. Each printer having the matching printhead identification number in its history reports over the network the last recorded ink dot count associated with the matching printhead identification number. The requesting printer chooses the most up-to-date response based on the highest dot count or the latest time-stamp. The requesting printer then updates its memory using the dot count from the most up-to-date response and begins counting dots from that updated count for subsequent print jobs performed using the installed cartridge.

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 system tracks the exact amount of ink remaining in printhead cartridges used in printers connected to a network. Each printer stores a history of cartridges that have been used in the printer. Each cartridge stores a status indicator that indicates whether the cartridge has been used before in any printer. When a printer receives a previously-used cartridge, the printer broadcasts a request for information about that cartridge from the other printers. Each printer having the matching printhead identification number in its history reports over the network the last recorded ink dot count associated with the matching printhead identification number. The requesting printer chooses the most up-to-date response based on the highest dot count or the latest time-stamp. The requesting printer then updates its memory using the dot count from the most up-to-date response and begins counting dots from that updated count for subsequent print jobs performed using the installed cartridge.

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.

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.