Remote maintenance system and method for computer peripherals

Abstract

A remote maintenance system for computer peripherals includes at least one user system including at least one computer and at least one computer peripheral on which remote maintenance is performed and which includes a memory for storing maintenance data for identifying a model and for adjusting an operating condition of the apparatus, a source script file generator, located at a remote maintenance provider site and arranged to create a source script file including instructions for instructing at least one of operations of reading and writing the maintenance data, and a source script file transmitter for transmitting the created source script file to a link method, such as Internet, connecting the computer and the user system. The computer includes an instruction selector for generating a model-specific script file by selecting an arbitrary instruction, a download manager for downloading the model-specific script file, a maintenance application executor for transmitting the model-specific script file to the computer peripherals. The computer peripherals includes a maintenance executor which executes at least one of the operations of reading and writing the maintenance data in accordance with the instruction in the model-specific script file upon a receipt of the model-specific script file, and a result feedback manager for transmitting the result of the maintenance operation to the computer.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A remote maintenance system for computer peripherals, comprising:

at least one computer;

at least one computer peripheral coupled to said at least one computer and including a first memory for storing maintenance data including identification information for identifying said at least one computer peripheral and programmed parameters for adjusting an operating condition of said at least one computer peripheral, the at least one computer communicating information from a remote maintenance provider's site to the at least one peripheral;

source script file generating means provided at the remote maintenance provider's site for generating a source script file including instructions for instructing at least one of operations of reading and writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral and for providing the source script file to the at least one computer; and

first data receiving and transmitting means provided at the remote maintenance provider's site for receiving information from a link method for connecting between said data receiving and transmitting means and said at least one computer and for transmitting said source script file created by said source script file generating means to said link method;

wherein said at least one computer includes:

second data receiving and transmitting means for receiving said source script file sent from said first data receiving and transmitting means via said link method and for transmitting data to said link method and to said at least one computer peripheral;

selecting means for selecting an instruction for a model of said at least one computer peripheral connected to said at least one computer from among said instructions included in said source script file and for generating a model-specific script file including said selected instruction;

a second memory for storing said model-specific script file;

downloading means for downloading said model-specific script file including said selected instruction into said second memory; and

maintenance application execution means for executing at an arbitrary time a maintenance application for transmitting said downloaded model-specific script file to said at least one computer peripheral after said model-specific script file is downloaded into said second memory;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further comprises:

maintenance executing means for executing at least one of reading and writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral in accordance with said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file; and

result feedback means for determining whether said maintenance executing means has properly executed said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data in accordance with said selected instruction and for transmitting a result of said determination to said at least one computer.

2. The remote maintenance system for peripherals according to claim 1, wherein each one of said instructions included in said source and model-specific script files includes model specification information for specifying a model of said at least one computer peripheral to which said instructions are applicable, said identification information stored in said first memory includes model identification information, and said at least one computer peripheral further comprises:

verifying means for verifying said model specification information against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral before said maintenance executing means starts said execution of at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data;

first maintenance execution control means for controlling said maintenance executing means to continue said execution of at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data when said model specification information included in said instruction of said model-specific script file is verified against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral by said verifying means and to stop said execution of at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data when said model specification information included in said instruction of said model-specific script file is failed to be verified against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral by said verifying means.

3. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 2, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer peripheral further comprises:

first bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory, and for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory using said replacement data only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory differs from said replacement data.

4. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 3, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

5. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 4, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

6. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 5, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

7. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 6, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

8. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 5, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

9. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 4, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

10. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 3, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

11. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 2, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer further includes:

a fifth memory; and

first maintenance data request means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses, for requesting said at least one computer peripheral to transmit said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses;

said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first maintenance data transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said computer;

said at least one computer further includes:

second bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data stored in said fifth memory of said at least one computer at said location specified by said target bit and said memory addresses, for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses using said replacement data according to said selected instruction only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said fifth memory differs from said replacement data, and for transmitting said written maintenance data back to said at least one computer peripheral so that said maintenance execution means executes a writing operation of said written maintenance data.

12. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 11, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

13. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 12, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

14. The remote maintenance system for said at least one computer peripherals according to claim 13, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

15. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 14, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

16. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 13, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

17. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 12, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

18. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 11, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

19. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 2, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

20. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 19, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

21. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 20, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

22. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 21, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

23. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 20, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

24. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral according to claim 19, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

25. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 2, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

26. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 1, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance and memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, and said at least one computer further comprises:

first state restoring instruction means for sending at arbitrary time a state restoring command to said at least one computer peripheral after maintenance execution means executes at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data, said state restoring command restoring a state of said at least one computer peripheral to a previous state of said same;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a third memory for storing information including said memory addresses, included in said instruction of said model-specific script file, and associated data;

second maintenance execution control means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses, for storing said memory addresses and data representing a present state of said maintenance data, stored in said first memory at said location specified by said memory addresses, into said third memory when said selected instruction is determined as to execute a writing operation, said present state being regarded as a previous state after being stored into said third memory, and, then, for enabling said maintenance execution means to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory address;

first state restoring means for restoring a state of said maintenance data stored in said first memory to a previous state using said memory addresses and said previous state stored in said third memory when said at least one computer peripheral receives a state storing command sent from said first state storing instruction means of said at least one computer.

27. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 26, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer peripheral further comprises:

first bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory, and for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory using said replacement data only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory differs from said replacement data.

28. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 27, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

29. The remote maintenance system for said at least one computer peripherals according to claim 28, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

30. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 29, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

31. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 30, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

32. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 29, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

33. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 28, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

34. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 27, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

35. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 26, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer further includes:

a fifth memory; and

first maintenance data request means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses, for requesting said at least one computer peripheral to transmit said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses;

said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first maintenance data transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer;

said at least one computer further includes:

second bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data stored in said fifth memory of said at least one computer at said location specified by said target bit and said memory addresses, for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses using said replacement data according to said selected instruction only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said fifth memory differs from said replacement data, and for transmitting said written maintenance data back to said at least one computer peripheral so that said maintenance execution means executes a writing operation of said written maintenance data.

36. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 35, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

37. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 36, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

38. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 37, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

39. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 38, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

40. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 37, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

41. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 36, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

42. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 38, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

43. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 26, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

44. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 43, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

45. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 44, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

46. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 45, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

47. The remote maintenance system for said at least one computer peripherals according to claim 44, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

48. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 43, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

49. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 26, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

50. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 1, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data and memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

third maintenance execution control means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses, and for transmitting said memory addresses and a present state of said maintenance data, stored in said first memory at a location specified by said memory addresses, to said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data, said present state being regarded as a previous state when being transmitted to said at least one computer, and, then, for enabling said maintenance execution means to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses;

wherein said at least one computer further comprises:

a fourth memory for storing data in a predetermined file form;

first data reformatting means for reformatting data representing said memory addresses and previous state, sent by said third maintenance execution control means, into said predetermined file form and for storing said reformatted data representing said memory addresses and present state into said fourth memory with making a linkage with said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file;

second state restoring instruction means for sending at arbitrary time a state restoring command to return to said previous state of said maintenance data at said memory addresses to said at least one computer peripheral after maintenance execution means executes at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data, said state restoring command restoring a state of said at least one computer peripheral to a previous state of said same stored in said fourth memory of said at least one computer;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes;

second state restoring means for restoring a state of said maintenance data stored in said first memory to a previous state using said memory addresses and said previous state stored in said predetermined file form in said fourth memory of said at least one computer when said at least one computer peripheral receives a state storing command sent from said first state storing instruction means of said at least one computer.

51. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 50, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory, and for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory using said replacement data only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory differs from said replacement data.

52. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 51, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

53. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 52, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

54. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 53, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

55. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 44, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

56. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 53, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

57. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 52, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

58. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 51, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

59. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 50, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer further includes:

a fifth memory; and

first maintenance data request means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses, for requesting said at least one computer peripheral to transmit said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses;

said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first maintenance data transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer;

said at least one computer further includes:

second bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data stored in said fifth memory of said at least one computer at said location specified by said target bit and said memory addresses, for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses using said replacement data according to said selected instruction only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said fifth memory differs from said replacement data, and for transmitting said written maintenance data back to said at least one computer peripheral so that said maintenance execution means executes a writing operation of said written maintenance data.

60. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 59, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

61. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 60, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

62. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 61, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripherals further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

63. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 62, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

64. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 61, wherein said computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

65. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 60, wherein said computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

66. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 59, wherein said at least on computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

67. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 50, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

68. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 67, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

69. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 68, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

70. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 69, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

71. The remote maintenance system for said at least one computer peripherals according to claim 68, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

72. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral according to claim 67, wherein computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

73. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 50, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

74. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 1, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit writing operations, and said at least one computer peripheral further comprising:

first bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory, and for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory using said replacement data only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory differs from said replacement data.

75. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 74, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

76. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 75, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

77. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 76, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripherals further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

78. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 77, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

79. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 76, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

80. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral according to claim 75, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

81. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral according to claim 74, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

82. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 1, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and computer further includes:

a fifth memory; and

first maintenance data request means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses, for requesting said at least one computer peripheral to transmit said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses;

said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first maintenance data transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer;

said at least one computer further includes:

second bit-unit data writing means for examining data of said maintenance data stored in said fifth memory of said at least one computer at said location specified by said target bit and said memory addresses, for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses using said replacement data according to said selected instruction only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said fifth memory differs from said replacement data, and for transmitting said written maintenance data back to said at least one computer peripheral so that said maintenance execution means executes a writing operation of said written maintenance data.

83. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 82, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

84. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 83, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

85. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 84, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

86. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 85, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

87. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 84, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

88. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 83, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

89. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 82, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

90. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 1, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitting means for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting means for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitting means, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

91. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 90, further comprising:

access method file generating means provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first receiving and transmitting means;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selecting means for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitting means for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiving and transmitting means over said link method.

92. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 91, wherein said access method selecting means automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitting means for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selecting means, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitting means to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiving and transmitting means when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitting means for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitting means to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitting means through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitting means.

93. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 92, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

94. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral, according to claim 92, wherein said facsimile number transmitting means for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral, regardless of conditions whether said access method is busy when said facsimile number is stored.

95. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 91, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said computer peripherals is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

96. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 90, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said computer peripherals is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

97. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals, according to claim 90, wherein said link method is Internet.

98. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 1, wherein said computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

99. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals, according to claim 1, wherein said link method is Internet.

100. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral, according to claim 1, wherein said first memory is an erasable programmable memory.

101. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral, according to claim 1, wherein said first memory is a flash memory.

102. The remote maintenance system for computer peripheral, according to claim 1, wherein said first memory is a nonvolatile memory.

103. A remote maintenance system for computer peripherals, comprising:

at least one computer;

at least one computer peripheral coupled to said at least one computer and including a first memory for storing maintenance data including identification information for identifying said at least one computer peripheral and programmed parameters for adjusting an operating condition of said at least one computer peripheral, the at least one computer communicating information from a remote maintenance provider's site to the at least one peripheral;

source script file generator provided at the remote maintenance provider's site for generating a source script file including instructions for instructing at least one of operations of reading and writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral and for providing the source script file to the at least one computer; and

first data receiver and transmitter provided at the remote maintenance provider's site for receiving information via a link method connecting said first data receiver and transmitter and said at least one computer and for transmitting said source script file created by said source script file generator via said link method;

wherein said at least one computer comprises:

second data receiver and transmitter for receiving said source script file sent from said first data receiver and transmitter via said link method and for transmitting data via said link method and to said at least one computer peripheral;

selector for selecting an instruction for a model of said at least one computer peripheral connected to said at least one computer from among said instructions included in said source script file and for generating a model-specific script file including said selected instruction;

a second memory for storing said model-specific script file;

download manager for downloading said model-specific script file including said selected instruction into said second memory; and

maintenance application executor for executing at an arbitrary time a maintenance application for transmitting said downloaded model-specific script file to said at least one computer peripheral after said model-specific script file is downloaded into said second memory;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further comprises:

maintenance executor for executing at least one of reading and writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral in accordance with said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file; and

result return manager for determining whether said maintenance executor has properly executed said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data in accordance with said selected instruction and for transmitting a result of said determination to said at least one computer.

104. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein each one of said instructions included in said source and model-specific script files includes model specification information for specifying a model of said at least one computer peripheral to which said instructions are applicable, said identification information stored in said first memory includes model identification information, and said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

verifying manager for verifying said model specification information against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral before said maintenance executor starts said execution of at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data;

first maintenance execution controller for controlling said maintenance executor to continue said execution of at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data when said model specification information included in said instruction of said model-specific script file is verified against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral by said verifying manager and to stop said execution of at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data when said model specification information included in said instruction of said model-specific script file is failed to be verified against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral by said verifying manager.

105. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance and memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, and said computer further includes:

first state restoring instruction generator for sending at arbitrary time a state restoring command to said at least one computer peripheral after maintenance executor executes at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data, said state restoring command restoring a state of said at least one computer peripheral to a previous state of said same;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a third memory for storing information including said memory addresses, included in said instruction of said model-specific script file, and associated data;

second maintenance execution controller for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses, for storing said memory addresses and data representing a present state of said maintenance data, stored in said first memory at said location specified by said memory addresses, into said third memory when said selected instruction is determined as to execute a writing operation, said present state being regarded as a previous state after being stored into said third memory, and, then, for enabling said maintenance executor to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory address;

first state restoring executor for restoring a state of said maintenance data stored in said first memory to a previous state using said memory addresses and said previous state stored in said third memory when said at least one computer peripheral receives a state storing command sent from said first state storing instruction generator of said at least one computer.

106. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data and memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

third maintenance execution controller for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses, and for transmitting said memory addresses and a present state of said maintenance data, stored in said first memory at a location specified by said memory addresses, to said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data, said present state being regarded as a previous state when being transmitted to said at least one computer, and, then, for enabling said maintenance executor to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses;

wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a fourth memory for storing data in a predetermined file form;

first data reformatting manager for reformatting data representing said memory addresses and previous state, sent by said third maintenance execution controller, into said predetermined file form and for storing said reformatted data representing said memory addresses and present state into said fourth memory with making a linkage with said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file;

second state restoring instruction generator for sending at arbitrary time a state restoring command to return to said previous state of said maintenance data at said memory addresses to said at least one computer peripheral after maintenance executor executes at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data, said state restoring command restoring a state of said at least one computer peripheral to a previous state of said same stored in said fourth memory of said at least one computer;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes;

second state restoring executor for restoring a state of said maintenance data stored in said first memory to a previous state using said memory addresses and said previous state stored in said predetermined file form in said fourth memory of said computer when said at least one computer peripheral receives a state storing command sent from said first state storing instruction generator of said at least one computer.

107. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit writing operations, and said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first bit-unit data writing executor for examining data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory, and for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory using said replacement data only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory differs from said replacement data.

108. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said computer further includes:

a fifth memory; and

first maintenance data request manager for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses, for requesting said at least one computer peripheral to transmit said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses;

said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

first maintenance data transmitter for transmitting said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer;

said at least one computer further includes:

second bit-unit data writing executor for examining data of said maintenance data stored in said fifth memory of said at least one computer at said location specified by said target bit and said memory addresses, for writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses using said replacement data according to said selected instruction only when data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said fifth memory differs from said replacement data, and for transmitting said written maintenance data back to said at least one computer peripheral so that said maintenance executor executes a writing operation of said written maintenance data.

109. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral represents operating condition statuses, error statuses, a history of engineering changes, and technical data, and said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file includes address information for specifying a location of said maintenance data in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at which desired information of said maintenance data is stored, wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

second maintenance data transmitter for determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, for reading said maintenance data stored in said first memory at said location specified by said address information included in said selected instruction, and for transmitting said read maintenance data to said at least one computer when said instruction instructs said reading operation;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

a sixth memory for storing data in said predetermined file form;

second data reformatting manager for receiving said maintenance data transmitted by said second maintenance data transmitter, for reformatting said received maintenance data into said predetermined file form, and for transmitting said reformatted maintenance data into said sixth memory.

110. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 109, further comprising:

access method file generator provided at said remote maintenance provider's site for generating an access method file including a plurality of access methods, to be used selectively, and for transmitting said access method file to said link method using said first data receiver and transmitter;

and wherein said at least one computer further includes:

access method selector for selecting an access method among from said plurality of said access methods included in said access method file list received via said link method and for preparing a file transmitting condition in accordance with said selected access method; and

maintenance data file transmitter for determining whether said file transmitting condition is prepared in accordance with said selected access method, and for transmitting maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral to said remote maintenance provider's site using said prepared access method and said second receiver and transmitter over said link method when said file transmitting condition is prepared.

111. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 110, wherein said access method selector automatically search and store a facsimile number of a facsimile apparatus of said remote maintenance provider's site, included in said access method file, upon receiving said access method file, said at least one computer further includes:

facsimile number transmitter for determining whether said access method is busy and whether said facsimile number is stored by said access method selector, when said maintenance data file is stored into said sixth memory, for transmitting said facsimile number and said maintenance data file to said at least one computer peripheral when said access method is busy and when said facsimile number is stored, and for activating said maintenance data file transmitter to transmit said maintenance data file to said link method using said second receiver and transmitter when said access method is not busy and when said facsimile number is not stored;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes:

a facsimile modem;

maintenance data file facsimile transmitter for transmitting said maintenance data file of said at least one computer peripheral sent by said facsimile number transmitter to said facsimile apparatus at said remote maintenance provider's site using said facsimile number transmitted by said facsimile number transmitter through said facsimile modem, upon receiving said facsimile number and said maintenance data file sent by said facsimile number transmitter.

112. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 103, wherein said at least one computer is a standard personal computer including a standard operating system therein and said at least one computer peripheral is a multi-function peripheral apparatus selectively including at least one of functions of scanning, printing, a facsimile, and copying.

113. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals, according to claim 103, wherein said link method is Internet.

114. A remote maintenance method for remotely maintaining computer peripherals including

at least one computer;

at least one computer peripheral coupled to said computer and including a first memory for storing maintenance data including identification information for identifying said at least one computer peripheral and programmed parameters for adjusting an operating condition of said at least one computer peripheral, the at least one computer communicating information between a remote maintenance provider's site to the at least one computer peripheral;

said remote maintenance method comprising the steps of:

generating a source script file at said remote maintenance provider's site, including instructions of an execution of at least one of operations of reading and writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral;

transmitting said source script file generated by said source script file generating step to a link method for transmitting data to said at least one computer;

receiving at said at least computer, said source script file transmitted by said step of transmitting over said link method;

selecting at said at least one computer an instruction for a model of said at least one computer peripheral connected to said at least one computer from among said instructions included in said source script file and generating a model-specific script file including said selected instruction;

storing said model-specific script file into a second memory;

downloading said model-specific script file including said selected instruction into said second memory;

executing at an arbitrary time a maintenance application and transmitting said downloaded model-specific script file to said at least one computer peripheral after said step of downloading said model-specific script file into said second memory;

executing at least one of reading and writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral in accordance with said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file; and

determining whether said step of executing said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data in accordance with said selected instruction have been properly executed and transmitting a result of said determination to said at least one computer.

115. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 114, wherein each one of said instructions included in said source and model-specific script files includes model specification information for specifying a model of said at least one computer peripheral to which said instructions are applicable, said identification information stored in said first memory includes model identification information, and said at least one computer peripheral further includes the steps of:

verifying said model specification information against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral before starting said step of executing at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data;

controlling said step of executing at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data to continue when said model specification information included in said instruction of said model-specific script file is verified against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral by said step of verifying and to stop when said model specification information included in said instruction of said model-specific script file is failed to be verified against said model identification information included in said identification information stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral by said step of verifying.

116. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 114, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance and memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, and said at least one computer further includes the steps of:

sending at arbitrary time a state restoring command to said at least one computer peripheral after said step of executing at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data, said state restoring command restoring a state of said at least one computer peripheral to a previous state of said same;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes the steps of:

storing information including said memory addresses, included in said instruction of said model-specific script file, and associated data into a third memory;

first determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses, storing said memory addresses and data representing a present state of said maintenance data, stored in said first memory at said location specified by said memory addresses, into said third memory when said selected instruction is determined as to execute a writing operation by said step of first determining, said present state being regarded as a previous state after being stored into said third memory by the step of storing, and, then, for enabling said step of executing said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses;

restoring a state of said maintenance data stored in said first memory to a previous state using said memory addresses and said previous state stored in said third memory when said at least one computer peripheral receives a state storing command sent by the step of sending from said at least one computer.

117. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 114, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data and memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, said at least one computer peripheral further includes the steps of:

second determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses, and transmitting said memory addresses and a present state of said maintenance data, stored in said first memory at a location specified by said memory addresses, to said computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data by said step of second determining, said present state being regarded as a previous state when being transmitted to said at least one computer by the step of transmitting, and, then, for enabling said step of executing said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data and said memory addresses;

wherein said at least one computer further includes the steps of:

storing data in a predetermined file form into a fourth memory;

reformatting data representing said memory addresses and previous state, sent by said step of transmitting, into said predetermined file form and storing said reformatted data representing said memory addresses and present state into said fourth memory with making a linkage with said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file;

sending at arbitrary time a state restoring command to return to said previous state of said maintenance data at said memory addresses to said at least one computer peripheral after said step of executing at least one of said operations of reading and writing said maintenance data, said state restoring command restoring a state of said at least one computer peripheral to a previous state of said same stored in said fourth memory of said at least one computer;

and wherein said at least one computer peripheral further includes the steps of;

restoring a state of said maintenance data stored in said first memory to a previous state using said memory addresses and said previous state stored in said predetermined file form in said fourth memory of said at least one computer when said at least one computer peripheral receives a state storing command sent by said step of sending from said at least one computer.

118. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 114, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer peripheral further includes the steps of:

first examining data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory, and writing said data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory using said replacement data only when said step of first examining clarifies that data of said maintenance data at said target bit of said memory addresses in said first memory differs from said replacement data.

119. The remote maintenance system for computer peripherals according to claim 114, wherein, when said selected instruction included in said model-specific script file instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral, said selected instruction includes replacement data for changing a portion of said maintenance data, memory addresses for specifying a location of said maintenance data to be changed in said first memory, a target bit in said memory addresses, and either one of a byte-unit and bit-unit data writing operations, and said at least one computer further includes:

a fifth memory;

said at least one computer further includes the steps of:

third determining whether said selected instruction instructs an operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses;

requesting said at least one computer peripheral to transmit said maintenance data stored in said first memory of said at least one computer peripheral at said location specified by said memory addresses to said fifth memory of said at least one computer when said instruction is determined as to execute said operation of writing said maintenance data using said replacement data, said memory addresses, and said target bit in said memory addresses by said step of determining;