Electronic instrument and management method

An electronic instrument adapted to communicate with a second electronic instrument, the electronic instrument comprising:

• an acquisition section configured to acquire identification information from an item accompanying a managed article installed in the electronic instrument, the identification information being read-only information uniquely assigned to the managed article, the managed article being installed in the second electronic instrument before being installed in the electronic instrument;
• a storage section configured to store the identification information acquired by the acquisition section;
• a state detection section configured to detect an error relating to the managed article used by the electronic instrument,
• an inquiry section configured to inquire the second electronic instrument as to whether the identification information acquired from the managed article installed in the electronic instrument by the acquisition section is already stored in the second electronic instrument;
• and
• a processing section configured to perform processing in response to a result of inquiry by the inquiry section,
• the storage section being configured to associate and store the identification information acquired by the acquisition section and state information which indicates the error relating to the managed article detected by the state detection section, and
• the processing section being further configured to verify whether the error is reproduced in the electronic instrument when the state information includes error information indicating that the error occurred in the second electronic instrument.

A management method for managing a managed article between first and second electronic instruments configured to communicate with each other, comprising:

• acquiring identification information from the managed article installed in the first electronic instrument, the identification information being read-only information uniquely assigned to the managed article, the managed article being installed in the second electronic instrument before being installed in the first electronic instrument;
• storing the identification information in a storage section of the first electronic instrument;
• detecting an error relating to the managed article used by the electronic instrument;
• associating and storing the identification information acquired by an acquisition section and state information which indicates the error relating to the managed article detected by a state detection section;
• inquiring from the first electronic instrument to the second electronic instrument as to whether the identification information acquired from the managed article installed in the first electronic instrument is already stored in the second electronic instrument;
• performing processing in accordance with a result of inquiry by the first electronic instrument;
• and
• verifying whether the error is reproduced in the electronic instrument when the state information includes error information indicating that the error occurred in the second electronic instrument.

A management method for managing a managed article between first and second electronic instruments configured to communicate with each other, comprising:

• acquiring identification information from an item accompanying the managed article installed in the first electronic instrument, the identification information being read-only information uniquely assigned to the managed article, the managed article being installed in the second electronic instrument before being installed in the first electronic instrument;
• storing the identification information in a storage section of the first electronic instrument;
• detecting an error relating to the managed article used by the electronic instrument;
• associating and storing the identification information acquired by an acquisition section and state information which indicates the error relating to the managed article detected by a state detection section;
• inquiring from the first electronic instrument to the second electronic instrument as to whether the identification information acquired from the managed article installed in the first electronic instrument is already stored in the second electronic instrument;
• performing processing in accordance with a result of inquiry by the first electronic instrument;
• and
• verifying whether the error is reproduced in the electronic instrument when the state information includes error information indicating that the error occurred in the second electronic instrument.