Method for switching image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, and switching system
US11593045B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 2021 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0645
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method includes an accepting step of causing an information processing apparatus to accept a request for switching a contracted device from a first image forming apparatus to a second image forming apparatus, the contracted device being an image forming apparatus allowed to use contracted consumables accommodating printing materials based on a contract, an enablement-establishing step of causing the information processing apparatus to establish a first enabled state in which the second image forming apparatus is allowed to use a contracted consumables, in response to acceptance of the request, and an enablement-continuing step of causing the information processing apparatus to establish a second enabled state in which the first image forming apparatus is allowed to continuously use the contracted consumables that has been previously used in the first image forming apparatus for a predetermined period, in response to acceptance of the request.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.