Information processing apparatus and method for performing service provision process for providing printing service utilizing printing device using individual information thereof and contract identification information

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a communication interface for communicating with a printing device via a network, the printing device being configured to print on a printing medium;
• a controller configured to perform a service provision process for providing a service utilizing the printing device, the controller being configured to perform the service provision process using individual device information of the printing device and contract identification information associated with both the individual device information and service information related to provision of the service, the contract identification information being assigned for each service contract,
• the service provision process including:
• (a) registering a user in association with contract identification information associated with individual device information of a first printing device;
• (b) while the service is provided, updating the service information and the individual device information of the first printing device in association with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• (c) when the first printing device is replaced with a second printing device due to a malfunction of the first printing device and the provision of the service is continued utilizing the second printing device, updating which includes:
• maintaining the association of the contract identification information with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• discarding the association of the individual device information of the first printing device updated in the (b) updating with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• and
• associating individual device information of the second printing device with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• and
• (d) while the continued service is provided, updating the service information and the individual device information of the second printing device in association with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering.

A device management method for an information processing apparatus configured to handle a printing device using individual device information of the printing device and contract identification information associated with both the individual device information and service information related to provision of a service, the contract identification information being assigned for each service contract, the printing device being configured to print on a printing medium, the device management method comprising:

• (a) registering a user in association with contract identification information associated with individual device information of a first printing device;
• (b) while the service is provided, updating the service information and the individual device information of the first printing device in association with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• (c) when the first printing device is replaced with a second printing device due to a malfunction of the first printing device and the provision of the service is continued utilizing the second printing device,
• discarding the association of the individual device information of the first printing device updated in the (b) updating with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering, and
• associating individual device information of the second printing device with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• and
• (d) while the continued service is provided, updating the service information and the individual device information of the second printing device in association with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering.

A device management method for an information processing apparatus configured to handle a printing device using individual device information of the printing device and contract identification information associated with both the individual device information and service information related to provision of a service, the contract identification information being assigned for each service contract, the printing device being configured to print on a printing medium, the device management method comprising:

• (a) registering a user in association with contract identification information associated with individual device information of a first printing device;
• (b) while the service is provided, updating the service information and the individual device information of the first printing device in association with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• (c) when the first printing device is replaced with a second printing device due to a malfunction of the first printing device and the provision of the service is continued utilizing the second printing device, updating which includes:
• maintaining the association of the contract identification information with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• discarding the association of the individual device information of the first printing device updated in the (b) updating with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• and
• associating individual device information of the second printing device with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering;
• and
• (d) while the continued service is provided, updating the service information and the individual device information of the second printing device in association with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering.