IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,687,990
Granted Patent B2
US 12,687,990 · App. 18/349,539 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and printing system

Inventors: Naohiro Kaneko (Matsumoto, JP); Hiroshi Kaiho (Matsumoto, JP); Hideaki Kitazawa (Suwa, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
G06F3/121G06F3/126G06F3/1273G06F3/1285
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,687,990
App. No.
18/349,539
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A server apparatus is connected to a printer in a communicable manner. The printer includes a first printer and other printers. The server apparatus includes a first acquisition section that acquires, when an error occurs in the first printer, error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printer, a second acquisition section that acquires, when the error occurrence information is acquired, a first action log indicating the printing action of the first printer, and a normal action log indicating the printing actions of the other printers, which perform the printing actions normally, a comparator that compares the first action log with the normal action log, and an estimator that estimates an item relating to the error from the items contained in the first action log based on the result of the comparison performed by the comparator.

Claims (38)

1 . An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a communicable manner,

the plurality of printing apparatuses including a first printing apparatus and, a second printing apparatus, and a third printing apparatus,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

a first acquisition section that is configured to, when an error occurs in the first printing apparatus, acquire error occurrence information indicating that the error occurred from the first printing apparatus;

a second acquisition section that is configured to, in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, acquire a first action log indicating a printing action of the first printing apparatus and a normal action log indicating a printing action of the second printing apparatus, which performs the printing action normally;

a comparator configured to compare the first action log with the normal action log;

an estimator configured to estimate an item relating to the error that occurred in the first printing apparatus from items contained in the first action log based on a result of the comparison performed by the comparator;

a third acquisition section that is configured to, in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, acquires first characteristic information indicating characteristics of the first printing apparatus, second characteristic information indicating characteristics of the second printing apparatus, and third characteristic information indicating characteristics of the third printing apparatus, and

a selector that is configured to select the second printing apparatus from which the normal action log is acquired based on the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information,

wherein the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information each contain environment information representing an environment in which the printing apparatus is installed.

2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information each contain at least one of a serial number of the printing apparatus, a model of the printing apparatus, a set value for the printing apparatus, and print data representing an image to be printed by the printing apparatus.

3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein

the selector is configured to select from the second printing apparatus and the third printing apparatus, as the printing apparatus from which the normal action log is acquired, based on which of the second and third printing apparatuses has characteristic information containing a larger number of items common to the items contained in the first characteristic information.

4 . A method for controlling an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a communicable manner,

the plurality of printing apparatuses including a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus and a third printing apparatus,

the method comprising:

acquiring error occurrence information indicating that the error occurred from the first printing apparatus;

in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, performing the following:

acquiring a first action log indicating a printing action of the first printing apparatus;

acquiring first characteristic information indicating characteristics of the first printing apparatus, second characteristic information indicating characteristics of the second printing apparatus, and third characteristic information indicating characteristics of the third printing apparatus;

selecting the second printing apparatus from which a normal action log is to be acquired based on the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information; and

, in respect to the selection, acquiring the normal action log indicating a printing action of the second printing apparatus, which performs the printing action normally;

comparing the first action log with the normal action log; and

estimating an item relating to the error that occurred in the first printing apparatus from items contained in the first action log based on a result of the comparison in the comparison of the first action log with the normal action log,

wherein the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information each contain environment information representing an environment in which the printing apparatus is installed.

5 . A printing system comprising:

a plurality of printing apparatuses; and an information processing apparatus connected to the plurality of printing apparatuses in a communicable manner,

wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses includes a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus, and a third printing apparatus, and

the information processing apparatus includes

a first acquisition section that is configured to, when an error occurs in the first printing apparatus, acquire error occurrence information indicating that the error occurred from the first printing apparatus,

a second acquisition section that is configured to, in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, acquire a first action log indicating a printing action of the first printing apparatus and a normal action log indicating a printing action of the second printing apparatus, which performs the printing action normally,

a comparator that is configured to compare the first action log with the normal action log,

an estimator that is configured to estimate an item relating to the error that occurred in the first printing apparatus from items contained in the first action log based on a result of the comparison performed by the comparator;

a third acquisition section that is configured to, in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, acquire first characteristic information indicating characteristics of the first printing apparatus, second characteristic information indicating characteristics of the second printing apparatus, and third characteristic information indicating characteristics of the third printing apparatus, and

a selector that is configured to select the second printing apparatus from which the normal action log is acquired based on the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information,

wherein the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information each contain environment information representing an environment in which the printing apparatus is installed.