Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and printing system

A method for controlling an information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a communicable manner,

• the plurality of printing apparatuses including a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus and a third printing apparatus,
• the method comprising:
• acquiring error occurrence information indicating that the error occurred from the first printing apparatus;
• in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, performing the following:
• acquiring a first action log indicating a printing action of the first printing apparatus;
• acquiring first characteristic information indicating characteristics of the first printing apparatus, second characteristic information indicating characteristics of the second printing apparatus, and third characteristic information indicating characteristics of the third printing apparatus;
• selecting the second printing apparatus from which a normal action log is to be acquired based on the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information;
• and
• , in respect to the selection, acquiring the normal action log indicating a printing action of the second printing apparatus, which performs the printing action normally;
• comparing the first action log with the normal action log;
• and
• estimating an item relating to the error that occurred in the first printing apparatus from items contained in the first action log based on a result of the comparison in the comparison of the first action log with the normal action log,
• wherein the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information each contain environment information representing an environment in which the printing apparatus is installed.

A printing system comprising:

• a plurality of printing apparatuses;
• and an information processing apparatus connected to the plurality of printing apparatuses in a communicable manner,
• wherein the plurality of printing apparatuses includes a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus, and a third printing apparatus, and
• the information processing apparatus includes
• a first acquisition section that is configured to, when an error occurs in the first printing apparatus, acquire error occurrence information indicating that the error occurred from the first printing apparatus,
• a second acquisition section that is configured to, in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, acquire a first action log indicating a printing action of the first printing apparatus and a normal action log indicating a printing action of the second printing apparatus, which performs the printing action normally,
• a comparator that is configured to compare the first action log with the normal action log,
• an estimator that is configured to estimate an item relating to the error that occurred in the first printing apparatus from items contained in the first action log based on a result of the comparison performed by the comparator;
• a third acquisition section that is configured to, in response to the acquiring of the error occurrence information indicating that the error has occurred from the first printing apparatus, acquire first characteristic information indicating characteristics of the first printing apparatus, second characteristic information indicating characteristics of the second printing apparatus, and third characteristic information indicating characteristics of the third printing apparatus, and
• a selector that is configured to select the second printing apparatus from which the normal action log is acquired based on the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information,
• wherein the first characteristic information, the second characteristic information, and the third characteristic information each contain environment information representing an environment in which the printing apparatus is installed.