Remote management system and information processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019364160-A1
Application number	US-201916418437-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 21, 2019
Priority date	May 25, 2018
Publication date	Nov 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The remote maintenance server includes a processor that operates as a connection inquiry receiving unit that receives an inquiry from the one or more image forming apparatuses, the inquiry inquiring which connection server to connect, a connection destination selecting unit that selects a connection server as a connection destination in response to the inquiry with reference to the connection management table, the connection destination being a connection server having a smaller number of connections, and a connection information reply sending unit that sends, in reply, connection information to an image forming apparatus, which has sent the inquiry, the connection information being an IP address or FQDN of the connection server selected by the connection destination selecting unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A remote management system, comprising:
a database; a remote maintenance server; one or more connection servers; and one or more image forming apparatuses, the database, the remote maintenance server, and the one or more connection servers being connected to each other via a network, the one or more image forming apparatuses being connected via Internet, the database storing a connection management table, the connection management table describing a combination of a name of each of the one or more connection servers and a current number of connections from the one or more image forming apparatuses to each of the one or more connection servers, the remote maintenance server including a processor that operates as
a connection inquiry receiving unit that receives an inquiry from the one or more image forming apparatuses, the inquiry inquiring which connection server to connect,
a connection destination selecting unit that selects a connection server as a connection destination in response to the inquiry with reference to the connection management table, the connection destination being a connection server having a smaller number of connections, and
a connection information reply sending unit that sends, in reply, connection information to an image forming apparatus, which has sent the inquiry, the connection information being an IP address or FQDN of the connection server selected by the connection destination selecting unit,
each of the one or more image forming apparatuses including a processor that operates as
a connection inquiry unit that sends the inquiry to the remote maintenance server, the inquiry inquiring which connection server to connect, and obtains the connection information, and
a connection establishing unit that establishes connection to the connection server specified on a basis of the connection information obtained from the remote maintenance server.

2 . The remote management system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a load distribution apparatus being one end point; and one or more connection management servers that manages the one or more connection servers, the one or more connection management servers being connected from the load distribution apparatus, the load distribution apparatus and the one or more connection management servers being connected between the one or more connection servers and the Internet, the load distribution apparatus being connected between the Internet and the one or more connection management servers.

3 . The remote management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the connection management table further describes, in addition to the combination of the name of each of the one or more connection servers and the current number of connections from the one or more image forming apparatuses to each of the one or more connection servers, a version of software of each of the one or more connection servers.

4 . The remote management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the connection management table further describes, in addition to the combination of the name of each of the one or more connection servers and the current number of connections from the one or more image forming apparatuses to each of the one or more connection servers, a type of each of the one or more image forming apparatuses connected.

5 . The remote management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the connection management table further describes, in addition to the combination of the name of each of the one or more connection servers and the current number of connections from the one or more image forming apparatuses to each of the one or more connection servers, presence or absence of a gateway agent.

6 . An information processing method of a remote management system including a database, a remote maintenance server, one or more connection servers, and one or more image forming apparatuses, the database, the remote maintenance server, and the one or more connection servers being connected to each other via a network, the one or more image forming apparatuses being connected via Internet, the information processing method comprising:
by the database, storing a connection management table, the connection management table describing a combination of a name of each of the one or more connection servers and a current number of connections from the one or more image forming apparatuses to each of the one or more connection servers; by a connection inquiry unit of each of the one or more image forming apparatuses, sending an inquiry to the remote maintenance server, the inquiry inquiring which connection server to connect; by a connection inquiry receiving unit of the remote maintenance server, receiving the inquiry from the one or more image forming apparatuses, the inquiry inquiring which connection server to connect; by a connection destination selecting unit of the remote maintenance server, selecting a connection server as a connection destination in response to the inquiry with reference to the connection management table, the connection destination being a connection server having a smaller number of connections; by a connection information reply sending unit of the remote maintenance server, sending in reply, connection information to an image forming apparatus, which has sent the inquiry, the connection information being an IP address or FQDN of the connection server selected by the connection destination selecting unit; by a connection inquiry unit of each of the one or more image forming apparatuses, obtaining the connection information; and by a connection establishing unit of each of the one or more image forming apparatuses, establishing connection to the connection server specified on a basis of the connection information obtained from the remote maintenance server.

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Nishikai Kazuki
• Nakamura Takeshi
• Goshima Satoshi
• Park Dukil
• Obayashi Yuichi
• Nakamura Takumi
• Nakajima Koki
• Nakashima Yasuo

Classifications

• H04N1/32523

  a plurality of output devices · CPC title

• H04N1/32545

  Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices · CPC title

• H04N1/00244 Primary

  with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324) · CPC title

• H04N1/00344 Primary

  with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus (monitoring H04N1/00002) · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title