Image forming apparatus and method for outputting information of the image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a communication section configured to communicate an external storage device which has a storage section that stores designated information for at least designating information which is output from an apparatus, an operation state information storage section configured to store operation state information representing an operation state of an operation module for operating a corresponding device provided inside the apparatus, a detection section configured to detect whether or not communication can be made with the external storage device through the communication section, an information obtaining section configured to, when the detecting section detects that communication can be made with the external storage device, obtain the designated information at least from the external storage device, and an information outputting section configured to, based on the designated information, output the operation state information to the external storage device through the communication section.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a communication section configured to communicate an external storage device which has a storage section that stores designated information for at least designating information which is output from an apparatus;    an operation state information storage section configured to store operation state information representing an operation state of an operation module for operating a corresponding device provided inside the apparatus;    a detecting section configured to detect whether or not communication can be made with the external storage device through the communication section;    an information obtaining section configured to obtain at least the designated information from the external storage device when the detecting section detects that communication can be made with the external storage device; and    an information outputting section configured to, based on the designated information, output the operation state information stored in the operation state information storage section to the external storage device through the communication section.    
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a password information storage section configured to store password information for judging whether or not the outputting of the operation state information is allowed to the external storage device; and    a password information authentication section configured to judge whether or not the password information stored in the password information storage section and password information obtained by the information obtaining section from the storage section of the external storage device through the communication section match each other; wherein,    when these password information are judged as being matched, the information outputting section outputs the operation state information.    
     
     
         3 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the designated information is time/date information representing a time and date at which previous operation state information is output, the operation state information is stored in the operation state information storage section in connection with the stored time/date information, and the information output section outputs only the operation state information corresponding to a time and date later than the time and date represented by the time/date information.  
     
     
         4 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the designated information is select information for selecting operation state information which is output out of the operation state information relating to the respective devices and the information output section outputs only the operation state information representing the select information.  
     
     
         5 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a coding section configured to code the operation state information which is output by the information outputting section to the external storage device.    
     
     
         6 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a communication means for communicating an external storage device which has a storage means for storing designated information for at least designating information which is output from an apparatus;    operation state information storage means for storing operation state information representing an operation state of an operation module for operating a corresponding device provided inside the apparatus;    detection means for detecting whether or not communication can be made with the external storage device through the communication means;    information obtaining means for obtaining at least the designated information from the external storage device when the detection means detects that communication can be made with the external storage device; and    information outputting means for, based on the designated information, outputting the operation state information stored in the operation state information storage means to the external storage device through the communication means.    
     
     
         7 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising 
 password information storage means for storing password information for judging whether or not the outputting of the operation state information is allowed to the external storage device; and    password information authentication means for judging whether or not the password information stored in the password information storage means and password information obtained by the information obtaining means from the storage means of the external storage device through the communication means match each other, wherein,    when it is judged that these password information are matched, the information outputting means outputs the operation state information.    
     
     
         8 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the designated information is time/date information representing a time and date at which previous operation state information is output, the operation state information is stored in the operation state information storage means in connection with the stored time/date information, and the information outputting means outputs only the operation state information corresponding to a time and date later than the time and date represented by the time/date information.  
     
     
         9 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the designated information is select information for selecting the operation state information output out of the operation state information relating to the respective devices and the information outputting means outputs only the operation state information represented by the select information.  
     
     
         10 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising 
 coding means for coding the operation state information output by the information outputting means to the external storage device.    
     
     
         11 . A method for outputting information from an image forming apparatus for outputting, to an external storage device, operation state information representing an operation state relating to respective devices provided inside the apparatus, comprising: 
 detecting that communication can be made with the external storage device;    obtaining designated information for designating information at least output from the external storage device; and    outputting operation state information to the external storage device based on the designated information.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising 
 judging whether or not password information obtained together with the designated information and initially stored password information match each other, wherein, when these password information match each other, the operation state information is output.