| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer a consumable article in use from an image forming apparatus positioned close to an image forming apparatus with a consumable article shortage and using the same kind of consumable articles, when the consumable article shortage occurs. <P>SOLUTION: A management server 4 includes: a retrieval unit 55 for retrieving an image forming apparatus which uses a consumable article of the same kind as a consumable article on which a consumable article shortage event occurs, in an apparatus database 42a with multiple image forming apparatuses registered therein, when the consumable article shortage event is received; and a request transmission unit 58 for transmitting a first display request for displaying a first alert message to notify a user of the image forming apparatus detected by the retrieval unit 55 to the image forming apparatus 1 with the consumable article shortage event, and also transmitting a second display request for displaying a second alert message to announce the detachment of the consumable article to the image forming apparatus 2 detected by the retrieval unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT |
