Inventors:
Yuki Uchida - Wayne NJ
Toshihiro Kudara - River Edge NJ
Hitoshi Sekine - Sunnyvalle CA
Hisashi Ishijima - Fort Lee NJ
Assignee:
Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Tokyo
Ricoh Corporation - West Caldwell NJ
International Classification:
G03G 1500
Abstract:
A method and a system for facilitating service for image forming devices such as copiers, fax machines and printers. A main service center receives a service request from a user, such as via an Internet home page that the main service center maintains. Based on the service requests and databases for user information and information regarding local service centers, the main service centers identifies the local service center(s) that are suitable for meeting the service request, in term of the type of devices and territories they service and other factors. The user, the main service center, and the one or more local service centers transmit information among themselves to track the service request and responses by the user and one or more local service centers and to ensure that the requested service is appropriately supplied.