JP2006221285A - Consumables ordering system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a consumables ordering system capable of alleviating burden of equipment and burden of maintenance operation in a user side for inventory management of consumables of OA equipments installed in each user side. <P>SOLUTION: In the consumables ordering system, each OA equipment 1 in each user side comprises a consumables consumption quantity notifying means for transmitting consumption quantity of the consumables which are consumed in own equipment until reduction of the consumables is detected when residual quantity of the consumables which are consumed by an operation of the own equipment reaches a predetermined threshold value to a consumables ordering proxy device as consumption quantity notification information together with user identification information, while the consumables ordering proxy device 2 orders the consumables for a specified user in a predetermined form in accordance with the corresponding user identification information when accumulated consumption quantity reaches to corresponding inventory quantity after comparing each accumulated consumption quantity of the consumables corresponding to each user with corresponding each inventory quantity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a consumables ordering system configured by connecting each OA equipment constituting a group of OA equipment belonging to each user and a consumables ordering agency device via a network.

  OA equipment groups such as printers, facsimile machines, copiers, and multifunction machines that are used by users at company sales offices are various types of paper such as recording paper loaded in paper feed cartridges and toner charged in toner cartridges. Operates while consuming consumables.

  In order to prevent the consumables necessary for the operation of each OA device from being lost, the user places an order and receives the consumables delivered to replenish the stock when the stock is almost out of stock. We are trying not to interfere.

  However, it is troublesome for the user to always perform ordering work taking care of the amount of consumables necessary for the operation of each OA device.

  As a technique for solving the problem, for example, Patent Document 1 is cited.

In the technology described in Patent Document 1, in an OA device and an automatic ordering terminal device connected to a network, the automatic ordering terminal device acquires consumables information of the OA device and calculates a supply amount of the consumables from the information. Automatic ordering of consumables by facsimile or e-mail.
JP 2000-194767

  However, the conventional consumable ordering system has a problem in that an automatic ordering apparatus must be individually installed and managed for each user because an automatic ordering apparatus is installed on the user side.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is not necessary to provide an automatic ordering device for consumables of each OA device installed on the user side on the user side, and the OA installed on each user side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a consumables ordering system that can reduce the equipment burden and maintenance work burden on the user side for inventory management of equipment consumables.

  The consumables ordering system according to claim 1 is configured such that each OA device constituting a group of OA devices belonging to each user specified by the user identification information and the consumables ordering agent device are connected via a network. In the consumables ordering system, each of the OA devices has a consumables remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables consumed by the operation of the own device, and the consumables remaining by the consumables remaining amount detecting means. Is detected as consumption notification information together with user identification information set in advance in the own device. A consumables consumption notification means for transmitting to the consumable ordering device, wherein the consumables ordering proxy device corresponds to each user identification information corresponding to each user. A user-specific inventory storage unit that sets and stores the inventory amount on the user side, a user-specific cumulative consumption storage unit that stores a cumulative consumption amount of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information, and the network When the consumption amount notification information is received from any one of the OA devices via the storage device, it is stored in the user-specific cumulative consumption amount storage unit corresponding to the user identification information notified by the consumption amount notification information. Consumption total means for cumulatively adding the consumption notified by the consumption notification information to each cumulative consumption, and each cumulative consumption stored in the user-specific cumulative consumption storage means, corresponding to each user When the accumulated consumption amount approaches the corresponding inventory amount by comparing each inventory amount stored in the inventory amount storage means, the previous information about the user specified by the corresponding user identification information Characterized in that a purchase order control means for ordering consumables in a predetermined form.

The consumables ordering system according to claim 2 is configured such that each OA device constituting the OA device group belonging to each user specified by the user identification information and the consumables ordering proxy device are connected via a network. Consumables ordering system, wherein each OA device is
Consumables remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables consumed by the operation of the own device, and when the consumables remaining amount detecting means detects that the consumables have been reduced to a predetermined threshold amount Consumable consumption amount notifying means for transmitting the consumption amount of the consumables consumed by the own device until detection to the consumables ordering agent device as consumption notification information together with user identification information set in advance in the own device; On the other hand, the consumables ordering agent device includes a user-specific stock amount storage unit that sets and stores a stock amount on each user side of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information corresponding to each user, Cumulative consumption storage means for each user storing the cumulative consumption of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information, and the consumption notification information from any of the OA devices via the network When received, the consumption amount notified by the consumption amount notification information to the cumulative consumption amount stored in the user-specific cumulative consumption amount storage means corresponding to the user identification information notified by the consumption amount notification information Consumption consumption means for cumulatively adding, consumption rate calculated based on the notification interval of the consumption notification information from each OA device and the consumption notified by the consumption notification information in each notification, the user The stock amount stored in the separate stock amount storage means corresponding to the user identification information of the notification source, and the cumulative consumption amount stored in the user-specific cumulative consumption amount storage means corresponding to the user identification information of the notification source User-specific predicted out-of-stock time storage means for storing the predicted out-of-stock time calculated based on the corresponding user identification information and the user request in association with each user-specific identification information When a user-requested ordering time storage means storing user time and any user-requested ordering time stored in the user-requested ordering time storage means, or in the user-specific predicted stockout time storage means Each predicted stock-out time stored is compared with each user-requested order-time stored in the user-specific desired order-time storage means, and the predicted stock-out time is earlier than the corresponding user-requested order-time. And an order control means for placing an order for the consumables for a user specified by the corresponding user identification information in a predetermined form.

  The consumables ordering system according to claim 3 is the consumables ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the ordering control by the ordering control means is for placing an order for the consumables for the user to be ordered. This information is output by the device itself or transmitted to another device on the supply source side of the consumables.

  The consumables ordering system according to claim 4 is the consumables ordering system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the ordering control by the ordering control means relates to the ordering of the consumables to the ordering user. It is performed by transmitting information.

  The consumables ordering system according to claim 5 is the consumables ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the consumables ordering agent device corresponds to each of the user identification information. And an order form storage unit for each user in which one of the order forms according to claim 3 or the order form according to claim 4 is set, and the order control of the consumables for the user to be ordered by the order control means is as follows: This is performed according to the form set in the user-specific order form storage means corresponding to the user.

  The consumables ordering system according to claim 6 is the consumables ordering system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each OA device is replaced when the consumables are replaced in its own device. The consumables ordering proxy device further includes a replacement notification means for transmitting a notification to the consumables ordering proxy device together with the user identification information to the consumables ordering proxy device. Based on the user identification information notified by the replacement notification information, it comprises an inventory quantity automatic update means for automatically updating the inventory quantity of consumables stored in the user-specific inventory quantity storage means. To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cumulative consumption amount of consumables consumed by the OA device on the user side is managed on the consumables ordering agent side, and compared with a preset inventory amount. When the user is about to run out of stock, consumables are automatically ordered. In this way, the consumables ordering agent device manages the consumables consumables consumed by each OA device operating on each user's side, so that each user side Management and maintenance work related to consumables can be reduced. In addition, all users who need to perform maintenance (software upgrade, installation, etc.) on the consumables ordering agent side only on the consumables ordering / supplier side on which the consumables ordering agent is installed. Various expenses for people to go around can be reduced. In addition, there is no need for users to deal with service personnel, etc., and each user also needs a space for placing a dedicated device for ordering consumables for OA equipment on their own (in-house, own office, etc.) There is an advantage to disappear.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the consumables ordering device automatically orders consumables when the user ordering time set in advance according to an instruction from the user arrives. Even before the order time arrives, if there is an error in the inventory judgment on the user side such that the predicted out-of-stock time comes before the user-requested order time, the consumables are automatically ordered. . In this way, the consumables ordering agent device manages the consumables consumables consumed by each OA device operating on each user's side, so that each user side Management and maintenance work related to consumables can be reduced. In addition, all users who need to perform maintenance (software upgrade, installation, etc.) on the consumables ordering agent side only on the consumables ordering / supplier side on which the consumables ordering agent is installed. Various expenses for people to go around can be reduced. In addition, there is no need for users to deal with service personnel, etc., and each user also needs a space for placing a dedicated device for ordering consumables for OA equipment on their own (in-house, own office, etc.) There is an advantage to disappear.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to place an order directly without asking for user confirmation, so that it is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to place an automatic order with a corresponding reduction in the management burden on the user side.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since an indirect order is made via user's confirmation after asking for confirmation from the user, it is possible to realize a certain order that is confirmed without confirmation from the user. The effect becomes.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, since the order form can be set for every user, the effect that the consumable goods order in the form suitable for each user's request | requirement is attained is acquired.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the OA device on the user side, the consumables ordering agent side knows that the consumables ordered / delivered have been exchanged, and the corresponding inventory quantity can be automatically updated. As a result, it is possible to reduce the management burden of consumables inventory management for each user in the consumables ordering agency device.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration including a consumables ordering system according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

  The system shown in the figure is a consumables ordering system according to the present invention, that is, a consumables consumed by a large number of user-side systems 1000, 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, etc. and various OA devices included in each of the user-side systems. The system includes an ordering agency / supplier side system 6000 for performing ordering / supplying (replenishment) on behalf of the user side system connected via the Internet 4000 which is one of the networks.

  In the following description, only the user side system 1000 will be specifically described as representing each user side system, but the same applies to other user side systems.

  The user-side system 1000 includes information processing terminals and OA devices interconnected via a LAN 500 that is one of the networks. The LAN 500 is also connected to the Internet 4000 via the router device 5002.

  In this case, the information processing terminal is a PC (personal computer) such as PC 5001, 5001a, 5001b. The OA equipment includes the multifunction machine 1 and the printer apparatus 1a. Specifically, the consumables consumed by the OA equipment included in the user-side system 100 are consumed in equipment including the image forming apparatus such as the printer apparatus 1a, the multifunction machine 1, the copying machine, and the facsimile apparatus. There is a recording paper supplied to the paper supply cartridge. There is also a cartridge that contains a recording agent for forming an image on a recording sheet. Specifically, the recording agent cartridge is an ink cartridge in the case of an ink jet method, and a toner cartridge (sometimes handled as a process cartridge including a developing device) in the case of an electrophotographic method.

  The MFP 1 included in the user-side system 1000 can transmit and receive image data to and from the facsimile apparatus 2001 on the PSTN 2000 via the PSTN 2000. The MFP 1 is connected to the LAN 5000 and connected to the Internet 4000 via a router device 5002 that performs packet conversion. The MFP 1 transmits and receives image data to and from the personal computer 4002 on the Internet 4000, and the Internet 4000. E-mail with the network facsimile machine 4001 and ITU-T recommendation T.264. The image data can be transmitted and received by real-time network facsimile communication based on H.38. Further, the multifunction device 1 can exchange image data with personal computers (PCs) 5001a, 5001b, 5001c, etc. on the LAN 5000.

  In other words, the multifunction device 1 is provided with a function as a normal facsimile device via a public line, a network facsimile device, a scanner device for the PC 5001a and the like, a printer device for the PC 5001a and the like, a copier, and the like. .

  Such a multifunction device 1 includes a recording paper cartridge and a toner cartridge that store recording papers of various sizes, and operates while consuming consumables, that is, recording paper and toner. The same applies to the printer apparatus 1a.

  Conventionally, the person in charge of consumables management of the user-side system 1000 always pays attention not to run out of in-system consumables for each OA device so that the operation of various OA devices in the system is not hindered. It is necessary to order and replenish it before it is completely exhausted if the inventory is low, and if it runs out of stock, it will interfere with the system, specifically the business of the company or office. Come on.

  Therefore, the burden on the consumables manager is large, and as shown in Patent Document 1, the consumption amount of the consumables in the OA equipment in the user side system 1000 is grasped and the inventory amount is compared. It is conceivable to provide an automatic ordering terminal device for ordering in the system 1000. However, in the method of Patent Document 1 in which an automatic ordering terminal device is provided in the user-side system 1000, consumables for OA equipment in the system are automatically The burden on the user side for ordering is too great and is difficult to use in a small user side system.

  Therefore, in the best mode for carrying out the present invention, instead of providing an automatic ordering terminal device in each user-side system, the consumable ordering agency device 2 in charge of a plurality of user-side systems is provided with an ordering agency / supply. It is arranged on the supplier side system 6000 side so that the consumables ordering agent device 2 collectively manages the consumables ordering for each of the plurality of user side systems.

  However, for that purpose, it is necessary for each OA device in each user side system and the consumables ordering agency device 2 to perform mutually necessary information exchange processing.

  The information exchange process will be described in detail below with a focus on the exchange between the multifunction device 1 that is one of the OA devices in the user-side system 1000 and the consumables ordering agent device 2, but before that, the multifunction device The block configurations of 1 and proxy device 2 will be described.

  First, FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the multifunction machine 1.

  In the figure, a CPU 502 is a central processing unit that controls each part of the apparatus, performs various data processing, and performs protocol control based on a control program written in a ROM 503 while using a RAM 504 as a work area. .

  The ROM 503 is a read-only memory that stores various data necessary for control such as a control program for the CPU 502 to control each part of the apparatus and font data corresponding to each character code.

  The RAM 504 is a random access memory used as a work area for the CPU 502 as described above.

  An EEPROM (electrically rewritable read-only memory) 505 is a memory for storing various information necessary for the operation of the apparatus and holding the stored contents even when the apparatus is turned off. Replacement with a backed up SRAM (static RAM) or a magnetic disk device is also possible.

  The clock circuit 506 always keeps track of the current date and time, and the CPU 502 can know the current date and time (date and time) by reading the clock circuit 506 via the system bus 514.

  The operation display unit 507 is provided with various keys for accepting operation input from the user, and includes a display such as a liquid crystal display device, and displays an operation state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages. It is.

  A reading unit 508 is for obtaining image data by reading a document.

  The image forming unit 509 is for printing out image data on recording paper.

  The image processing unit 510 performs encoding / decoding processing of raw image data and decoding / decoding of encoded compressed data, binarization processing, scaling processing, reduction / enlargement processing, and image correction processing. Then, various processes relating to image data handled by the multi-function device 1, such as rearrangement processing of the pixel order in each main scanning line constituting the image data, addition processing of additional information such as character string information of transmission date / time and reception date / time, are performed.

  The LAN communication control unit 510 is a so-called NIC (Network Interface Card), and is connected to the LAN 5000 so that various information can be exchanged by a higher protocol by the exchange of the TCP / IP protocol by the CPU 502 on the LAN protocol. It is for making. Specifically, the higher-level protocol includes e-mail reception using the POP protocol, e-mail transmission using the SMTP protocol, and the like.

  The communication control unit 512 is connected to the PSTN 2000 via the NCU unit 513 and controls communication with the counterpart communication terminal. The communication control unit 512 controls the NCU unit 513 to detect a ringing voltage pulse detected by the NCU unit 513, a DTMF signal, a tone signal, and a call at the time of transmission. Further, the communication control unit 512 has a modem, and demodulates reception data (modulated) received from the counterpart communication terminal, or conversely modulates and transmits transmission data at the time of transmission. . Specifically, ITU-T recommendation T.I. A low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging G3 facsimile control signals based on G.30 and a high-speed modem function mainly for exchanging document image data. 17, V.R. 33, V.R. 34, V.R. 29, V.R. It has 27ter modem functions.

  The NCU unit 513 is connected to the PSTN 2000, and closes the line and detects a ringing signal (ringing).

  The system bus 514 is a signal line including a data bus, an address bus, a control bus, an interrupt signal line, and the like for the above-described units to exchange data.

  The multi-function device 1 having the above configuration is converted into a toner image, transferred and formed on a recording paper as a printer device, a receiving device of a facsimile device, or a copying machine, and the image formation is described above. As described above, this is performed by the image forming unit 9. Each time the image forming operation is performed, the toner in the toner cartridge (not shown) and the recording paper in the paper feeding cartridge (not shown) of various recording paper sizes (A4, A3, B4, etc.) Will be consumed.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a block configuration of the proxy device 2.

  The proxy device 2 shown in the figure is a configuration in which the image forming unit 509 and the image reading unit 508 are omitted from the configuration of the multifunction machine 1 shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the CPU 602 is a central processing unit that controls each part of the apparatus based on a control program written in the ROM 603, performs various data processing, and performs protocol control while using the RAM 604 as a work area. is there.

  The ROM 603 is a read-only memory that stores various data necessary for control such as a control program for the CPU 602 to control each part of the apparatus and font data corresponding to each character code.

  The RAM 604 is a random access memory used as a work area for the CPU 602 as described above.

  An EEPROM (electrically rewritable read-only memory) 605 is a memory for storing various information necessary for the operation of the apparatus and holding the stored contents even when the apparatus is turned off. Replacement with a backed up SRAM (static RAM) or a magnetic disk device is also possible.

  The clock circuit 606 always counts the current date and time, and the CPU 602 can know the current date and time (date and time) by reading the clock circuit 606 via the system bus 514.

  The operation display unit 607 is provided with various keys for accepting an operation input from the user, and includes a display such as a liquid crystal display device, and displays an operation state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages. It is.

  The image processing unit 610 encodes and compresses raw image data and decodes / decodes the encoded compressed data, binarization processing, scaling processing, reduction / enlargement processing, and image correction processing. Then, various processes relating to the image data handled in the proxy device 2 are performed, such as a rearrangement process of the pixel order in each main scanning line constituting the image data, an additional process of adding additional information such as character string information of transmission date / time and reception date / time.

  The LAN communication control unit 610 is a so-called NIC (Network Interface Card), is connected to the Internet 4000 via the LAN 700, and exchanges various information according to the higher level protocol by the exchange of the TCP / IP protocol by the CPU 602 over the LAN protocol. It is intended to enable exchanges and the like. Specifically, the higher-level protocol includes e-mail reception using the POP protocol, e-mail transmission using the SMTP protocol, and the like.

  The communication control unit 612 is connected to the PSTN 2000 via the NCU unit 613 and controls communication with the counterpart communication terminal. The communication control unit 612 controls the NCU unit 613 to detect a ringing voltage pulse detected by the NCU unit 613, a DTMF signal, a tone signal, and a call at the time of transmission. Further, the communication control unit 612 has a modem, and demodulates the reception data (modulated) received from the counterpart communication terminal, or conversely modulates and transmits the transmission data at the time of transmission. . Specifically, ITU-T recommendation T.I. A low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging G3 facsimile control signals based on G.30 and a high-speed modem function mainly for exchanging document image data. 17, V.R. 33, V.R. 34, V.R. 29, V.R. It has 27ter modem functions.

  The NCU unit 613 is connected to the PSTN 2000, and closes the line and detects a ringing signal (ringing).

  The system bus 614 is a signal line including a data bus, an address bus, a control bus, an interrupt signal line, and the like for the above-described units to exchange data.

  The proxy device 2 having the above configuration communicates with each OA device of each user such as the multifunction device 1 in the user-side system 1000 via the Internet 4000, while a facsimile via the consumables order receiving terminal device 3 and the PSTN 2000. Exchange is performed by communication or electronic mail communication via the Internet 4000. Necessary information is notified by e-mail to the ordering manager in the user side system.

  FIG. 4 shows the contents stored in the EEPROM 605 of the MFP 1 having the configuration shown in FIG.

  In the figure, the storage area 605a of the EEPROM 605 stores the network address of the consumables ordering substitute device for the multifunction device 1 (the substitute device 2 in the best mode for carrying out the present invention).

  In the storage area 605b, the mail address of the ordering manager in the user system 1000 is set and stored. In FIG. 1, the mail address is set in advance as a received mail address in the electronic mail application installed in the PC 6001 (for ordering work).

  FIG. 5 shows the contents stored in the EEPROM 605 of the substitute device 2 having the configuration shown in FIG.

  In the storage area 605a of the EEPROM 605, a consumables ordering substitution request source user group management table is set and stored.

  6 and 7 show specific contents of the table 605a. The table 605a shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is a single table, and since it has a large number of fields and does not fit in one figure, the two figures are described separately including overlapping contents. It is possible to grasp as one table by associating the contents that have been made.

  In these figures, a table 605a includes “user name”, “ordering form setting flag Fo”, “mail” corresponding to “user identification code” as user identification information corresponding to each user of the user-side system 1000 or the like. Each field of “address” is stored.

  The “user name” is character string information for making it easy to grasp each user who is difficult to understand with the “user identification code”, and is set and stored in advance by the administrator of the proxy device 2.

  The “ordering form setting flag Fo” is information in which the value 0 indicates “direct ordering” and the value 1 indicates “ordering via the user”, and is previously assigned by the administrator of the proxy device 2 according to the corresponding “user identification code”. It is set and stored in accordance with the location desired by the specified user.

  The “mail address” is set and stored in the OA device on the user side as shown in the storage area 505b of FIG. 4, and is the mail address of the person who manages the ordering work of consumables on the user side (according to the procedure described later). Is notified from the user-side OA device). The registration of the “mail address” is not notified from the user OA device each time according to the procedure described later, but is received in advance by the administrator of the proxy device 2 as one piece of setting information from each user, and the proxy device 2 may be registered in the “mail address” field of the table 506a. However, in that case, the flexibility of changing the mail address of the consumables order manager on the user side is somewhat impaired as compared with the case where notification is received each time according to the procedure described later.

  In the table 605a, one or a plurality of “consumable item identification codes” is set corresponding to each user (identification code). The “consumables identification code” is information for identifying one or a plurality of consumables used in each OA device included in the user side system, and identifies the type of toner cartridge such as toner A and toner B. Or information for identifying the type (size, paper quality, etc.) of recording paper such as recording papers A and B.

  In addition, the corresponding “consumable name” corresponding to each consumable item (identification code) corresponding to each user (identification code) and the “number of OA devices” in the user system using the corresponding consumable item are In addition to being set and stored in advance, the “cumulative consumption” thus far is stored, and is added and updated by a processing procedure described later.

  Also, corresponding to each consumable item (identification code) corresponding to each user (identification code), “real stock quantity”, “consumption final notification time”, “predicted stock out time”, and “user request order” "Time" is also stored.

  The “real stock quantity” is composed of “stock quantity” and “mid-delivery quantity”. The “inventory amount” is set in correspondence with the amount of consumables actually stocked (placed) on the corresponding user side system side. The “in-delivery amount” corresponds to the amount of consumables that are not actually stocked on the user side system side but are currently being delivered to be stocked.

  The “consumption final notification time” indicates the time (including date) when the consumption amount is notified from the user (identification code) side for the corresponding consumable item (identification code) by the procedure described later. “200401231125” means “January 23, 2004 11:25”. The definition is the same for “predicted stock out time” and “user request order time” described later.

  The “predicted out-of-stock time” is information for predicting the time when the corresponding “consumables” are out of stock (substantially the same amount as the stock amount) calculated by the procedure described later.

  The “user request order time” is information to be compared with the “predicted out-of-stock time”, is notified in advance by the corresponding user (consumables order manager of the side system), and is preset / registered in the proxy device 2 It is information that was doing.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a consumables consumption notification processing procedure in the multifunction device 1 as the user-side OA device and an order management processing procedure in the consumables ordering agent device 2. Note that the consumables consumption notification processing procedure on the MFP 1 side in FIG. 8 is performed by the printer device 1a in the user side system 1000 and various OA devices in the system such as the user side systems 1000a, 1000b, and 1000c in FIG. The proxy device 2 monitors the notification from each of the OA devices in the determination S201 (No loop).

  In FIG. 8, the multifunction device 1 checks the consumption status of each consumable in its own device, that is, confirms the remaining amount of each consumable (Processing S101). (No loop in decision S102).

  When the determination in S102 is Yes, information indicating consumption is specified for the consumable item (type) that is below the threshold remaining amount (processing S103), and a consumption notification process is performed (in processing S104 and processing S101). Return.

  In the determination S103, for example, when the consumable type is toner (cartridge), the consumption information is “1”. When the consumable type is recording paper A (paper feed cartridge A), the consumption information is the number obtained by subtracting the number detected as the remaining amount from the maximum number that can be replenished to the paper feed cartridge A. .

  In the consumption notification process in step S104, the user identification code, the consumable type code, the consumption information, and the mail address are addressed to the network address of the storage area 505a in FIG. 4 (the proxy device 2 corresponding to the device). Notification is made according to a predetermined procedure on the TCP / UDP / IP protocol. The predetermined procedure may be performed by e-mail in which necessary information is described in the text.

  In that case, the user identification code is registered as the “user identification code” in the table 605a of FIGS. 6 and 7 on the substitute device 2 side, and is notified to the consumables manager of the user side system on the own device side in advance. Information set and stored in the device.

  The consumable product type code is information indicating the type of consumable product for which the judgment S102 is Yes, and should be compared with the “consumable product type code” in the table 605a of FIGS.

  The consumption information is information specified in step S103.

  The e-mail address is the e-mail address of the consumables ordering manager in the system to which the own device belongs and is preset and stored in the storage area 505b of FIG.

  On the other hand, the proxy device 2 waits until there is a notification corresponding to the process 104 on the OA device (in this case, the multifunction device 1) (No loop in the determination S201), and if there is a notification (the determination S201). Yes), the notified user identification code is checked against the table 605a in FIGS. 6 and 7 to identify the user (side system) (processing S202).

  The notified “mail address” is registered in the “mail address” field corresponding to the user (identification code) specified in the table 605a (step S203). As described above, this field can be manually registered in response to contact from another user.

  Further, the consumable product type is specified by the notified “consumable product type code” (processing S204), the consumption is specified by the notified “consumption information” (processing S205), and specified in the processing S202 in the table 605a. The consumption amount specified in step S205 is added to the “cumulative consumption amount” corresponding to the consumable product type specified in step S204 corresponding to the user who has performed (step S206).

  In other words, the difference between the “real inventory amount” and the “cumulative consumption amount” in the table 605a for a specific type of consumable indicates the amount of the consumable of that type currently in stock on the user side. For the comparison, the “real inventory quantity” needs to be accurately set, and the administrator of the substitute device 2 determines the correct “real inventory quantity” for each of the various consumables in each user system. Set in advance while confirming with the supplier.

  After the process 206 in the proxy device 2, the process proceeds to S207 in FIG.

  In the process S207, the corresponding “consumption final notification time” in the table 605a is read (process S207). Then, the current time is acquired from the clock circuit 506 (processing S208). Then, the consumption rate specified by the process S205 is divided by the difference between the current time acquired in the process S208 and the “consumption final notification time” read in the process S207, thereby calculating the consumption rate (process S209).

  Then, the value obtained by subtracting the “cumulative consumption” from the total of the corresponding “real inventory quantity”, that is, the “inventory quantity” and the “delivery quantity” is divided by the consumption speed calculated in the process S209 to obtain the inventory. The time until the product runs out is predicted, and the predicted time is added to the current time to predict the stock-out time (processing S210). The predicted time is set as the “predicted stock-out time” and the table 605a. (Processing S211). In addition, as a method of acquiring the “predicted out-of-stock time”, it may be acquired as statistical information for a longer period.

  As described above, after obtaining, calculating, and registering necessary information, the order necessity determination process based on the information is performed (process S212), and when the result of the determination process is “order required” (Yes in decision S213) After performing the order control process (step S214), if it is determined that “ordering is not required” (No in decision S213), the process proceeds to step S215 without doing anything.

  In step S215, the current time acquired in step S208 is registered in the table 605a as a new “consumption final notification time” (step S215). And it returns to judgment S201 of FIG. The time registered in the process S215 is read out by the process 207 at the next notification of consumption of the same user and the same type of consumables.

  As a specific process procedure of the order necessity determination process in the process S212 of FIG. 9, any of the process procedures of FIG. 10 or FIG. 11 can be applied.

  In the procedure of FIG. 10, it is confirmed whether the “cumulative consumption” updated in step S206 of FIG. 9 is substantially the same amount as the “real stock amount” (step S401). (Yes in judgment S402), it is judged that the user has used up the user side stock, and it is judged as “order required” (processing S403). When the determination S402 is No, it is determined that there is still a margin in the user-side inventory and it is determined that “ordering is not required” (processing S404).

  In the determination in the process S401, “order required” may be determined when the “cumulative consumption amount” still has a sufficient margin (for example, 80%) with respect to the “real inventory amount”. Further, the margin may be set for each user (side system) according to a place desired by each user. In that case, each user inventory management policy can be flexibly handled.

  On the other hand, in the procedure of FIG. 11, the current time is read from the clock circuit 506 (process S501) and compared with the “user request order time” in the table 605a (process S502). Thereby, it is determined whether the current time has reached the user request order time, that is, whether the order time has arrived (determination S503), and if it has arrived (Yes in determination S503), it is determined that “ordering required” ( Process S504).

  In the case of No in the determination S503, the “predicted out-of-stock time” is further read from the table 605a (processing S505), and it is determined whether or not it will arrive earlier than the corresponding “user-specified ordering time” (determination S506). If it has arrived (Yes in determination S507), it is determined that “order required”.

  When the determination S507 is No, it is determined that “ordering is not required”.

  For consumables of a specific type used by a specific user, when it is possible to predict a situation in which the user's inventory will run out, which is no longer than the order time specified by the user, the order time specified by the user Even before the arrival of the item, it is possible to prevent the user from running out of stock by determining “order required”.

  The order necessity determination process in FIG. 11 for the specific type of consumables used by a specific user is performed only when there is a consumption amount notification for the specific type of consumables used by the specific user. Instead, it may be performed periodically, for example, every 24 hours. In that case, the procedure of FIG. 11 is performed for each of the various consumables corresponding to each user, and the order similar to the process S214 of FIG. 9 is performed for each user / consumable combination determined to be “ordering required”. Perform control processing. In that case, regarding orders for the same user, different types of consumable orders may be integrated and handled as a single order.

  Next, FIG. 12 shows a specific processing procedure of the order control process in the process S214 of FIG.

  In the figure, first, the value of the corresponding order form setting flag Fo in the table 605a is confirmed with the user to be processed (specified by the process S202 in FIG. 8) (process S301), and the confirmed value is directly ordered. If the value is “0” indicating “Yes” (determination S302: Yes), the order information is created (process S303) and output in a predetermined form (process S304).

  If the order is via the user in the determination S302 (No in the determination S302), order confirmation information is created (processing S305), and the created information is sent to the corresponding “mail address” in the table 605a by e-mail. Send by.

  In this way, for each user (side system), depending on the user's desire, the user can place an order directly to the consumable supplier without going through the user, or the consumable supplier after confirmation by the user. It is possible to place an order for consumables in any ordering form that allows the user to place an order.

  Note that the order information created in step S303 is information indicating at least the user, the consumable type, and the order quantity. In this case, as the order quantity, if the value set as “inventory quantity” in the table 605a is selected, the “inventory quantity” for each consumable item set according to the place desired by the user is set. Every time the corresponding “cumulative consumption” is reached, the user's inventory returns to “inventory”, and the OA device can be used without running out of consumables. In addition, the order confirmation information created in step S305 is sent to the trader side after determining whether or not the order content is acceptable and information indicating at least the user, the consumable type, and the order quantity. Contains information prompting them to

  Specifically, the predetermined output form in the process S304 is output by facsimile transmission via the PSTN 2000 or e-mail transmission via the Internet 400 to the consumables order receiving terminal device 3 of FIG. . It is also conceivable that the proxy device 2 itself has a configuration corresponding to the image forming unit 510 of the multifunction machine 1 in FIG. 2 and prints out the order contents.

  FIG. 13 shows the ordering agent / supplier side work procedure and the user side work procedure for the ordering information output in step S304 of FIG.

  In the figure, when the ordering agent / supplier receives an order by automatic output in step S304, the order is accepted (work procedure 101). Then, for example, the contents of the order such as “user identification code 0000, A Corporation, three toner cartridges A” are confirmed (work procedure 102), and the ordered consumable is sent to the user (work procedure 103). Then, since the consumables that have been shipped and delivered can be regarded as inventory on the user side, update setting is made as the corresponding “delivery amount” in the table 605a (work procedure 104). Then, sending information is sent by e-mail or fax (work procedure 105) to notify the user that the consumables have been shipped.

  Then, the user side receives the delivery information and also receives the consumables delivered (work procedure 106), and confirms that the consumables have been received to the ordering agent / supplier side by replying by facsimile or e-mail as the received information. Reply (work procedure 107).

  Upon receiving the receipt information, the ordering agent / supplier side incorporates the in-delivery quantity set in the work procedure 104 into the corresponding “inventory quantity” (work procedure 108). In this case, the corresponding “cumulative consumption” in the table 605a is reset to zero. The corresponding “user request order time” in the table 605a is also changed based on the current time and the period until the next order specified in advance by the user.

  As a result, the user / consumables that have been ordered this time are automatically ordered regularly so that the user's inventory is not exhausted.

  In the case where the determination S302 in FIG. 12 is No, the ordering is not performed by the trader but by the user himself / herself. Even in this case, it is necessary to manage the inventory amount of consumables by the user. Since it is left to the proxy device 2, the user can easily perform consumables ordering work by confirming the contents of the order and placing an order with the supplier if there is no particular problem.

  The work procedure 107 and the work procedure 108 on the user side in FIG. 12 can be incorporated into the ordering system according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

  FIG. 14 shows a procedure for that.

  In the figure, the multifunction device 1 performs the consumables replacement notification processing procedure, while the substitute device 2 performs the inventory quantity automatic update processing.

  In other words, the multifunction device 1 confirms whether or not each consumable in the device has been replaced (No loop in processing S601 and determination S602). That is, it is monitored whether the attachment or detachment of the toner cartridge or the paper feed cartridge is detected by a predetermined sensor.

  If there is a replaced consumable (Yes in determination S602), the type of the replaced consumable is specified (process S603), and a replacement notification process is performed (return to processes S604 and S601). .

  In the exchange notification process in step S604, the user identification code and the consumable type code are sent to the network address of the storage area 505a in FIG. 4 (the proxy device 2 corresponding to the device) and predetermined on the TCP / UDP / IP protocol. Notify by following the procedure. The predetermined procedure may be performed by e-mail in which necessary information is described in the text.

  In that case, the user identification code is registered as the “user identification code” in the table 605a of FIGS. 6 and 7 on the substitute device 2 side, and is notified to the consumables manager of the user side system on the own device side in advance. Information set and stored in the device.

  The consumable product type code is information indicating the type of consumable product for which the determination in step S602 is Yes, and should be compared with the “consumable product type code” in the table 605a in FIGS.

  On the other hand, the proxy device 2 waits for notification in response to the processing 604 on the OA device (in this case, the multifunction device 1) (No loop in determination S701), and if there is notification (determination S701). Yes), the notified user identification code is checked against the table 605a in FIGS. 6 and 7 to identify the user (side system) (step S702).

  Then, the consumable product type is specified by the notified “consumable product type code” (processing S704), and the “delivering” corresponding to the consumable product specified in the processing S704 corresponding to the user specified in the processing S702 in the table 605a. After “quantity” is incorporated into the corresponding “inventory quantity”, that is, after “in-delivery quantity” is added to “inventory quantity”, “in-delivery quantity” is reset to 0 (processing S704), and then to determination S701 Return. The corresponding “cumulative consumption” is reset to zero.

  When the corresponding “delivery amount” is 0 and a consumable replacement notification is received from the user-side OA device (multifunction device 1), normal consumption on the user side after the delivery is completed until the next delivery. Since it can be determined that the product is consumed, the corresponding “cumulative consumption” is maintained without being reset to zero.

  Thereby, the “inventory amount” can be automatically updated by automatically incorporating “in-delivery amount” into “inventory amount”.

  As described above, in the automatic ordering system according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention, consumables for various OA devices used by each user even if each user does not arrange a terminal for ordering consumables. Thus, it is possible to automatically order so that the user's inventory does not run out, and it is possible to provide a service that can save labor for managing consumables inventory of OA equipment at each user at low cost.

  Although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is a figure shown about the system configuration | structure containing the consumable goods ordering system which concerns on the best form for implementing this invention. It is a figure shown about the block configuration of the multifunctional machine as one of the OA equipment which comprises the consumable goods ordering system which concerns on the best form for implementing this invention. It is a figure shown about the block structure of the consumable goods ordering agent apparatus which comprises the consumable goods ordering system which concerns on the best form for implementing this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents stored in an EEPROM of the multifunction machine of FIG. 2. It is a figure shown about the memory content of EEPROM of the consumables ordering substitute apparatus of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating specific contents of a consumables ordering substitution request source user group management table together with FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating specific contents of a consumables ordering substitution request source user group management table together with FIG. 6. 5 is a flowchart showing a consumables consumption notification processing procedure in a multifunction peripheral as a user-side OA device and an order management processing procedure in a consumables ordering agent device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the order management processing procedure in the consumable ordering agency device together with FIG. 8. It is a flowchart which shows about the specific process sequence of the necessity determination process of an order in a consumable goods ordering agent apparatus. It is a flowchart shown about another example of the specific process sequence of the necessity determination process of an order in a consumable goods ordering agent apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows about the specific process sequence of the order control process in a consumable goods ordering agent apparatus. It is a figure which shows about the relationship of the work procedure in each of the user side in connection with the consumable goods ordering system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and an ordering agent and supplier side. 5 is a flowchart showing a consumables replacement notification processing procedure in a multifunction peripheral as a user-side OA device and a stock quantity automatic update processing procedure in a consumable ordering agency device.

Explanation of symbols

1000 User side system 6000 Ordering agency / Supplier side system 1 Multi-function machine (OA equipment)
2 Consumables ordering device

Claims (6)

A consumables ordering system configured by connecting each OA device that constitutes an OA device group that belongs to each user specified by user identification information and a consumables ordering proxy device via a network,
Each OA device is
Consumables remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables consumed by the operation of the own machine,
The consumption amount of the consumables consumed by the own device until the consumable item remaining amount detecting means detects that the consumable item has been reduced to a predetermined threshold amount is preset in the own device. While comprising consumables consumption notification means for transmitting to the consumables ordering agency device together with user identification information as consumption notification information,
The consumable ordering agency device is:
A user-specific stock amount storage means for setting and storing a stock amount on each user side of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information corresponding to each user;
A cumulative consumption amount storage means for each user storing the cumulative consumption amount of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information;
When the consumption notification information is received from any one of the OA devices via the network, the user-specific cumulative consumption storage means corresponds to the user identification information notified by the consumption notification information. Consumption accumulation means for cumulatively adding the consumption notified by the consumption notification information to the stored cumulative consumption;
Each cumulative consumption amount stored in the user-specific cumulative amount storage means is compared with each inventory amount correspondingly stored in the user-specific stock amount storage means, so that the cumulative consumption amount corresponds to the inventory amount. An expendable supplies ordering system comprising: an order control means for placing an order for the expendable supplies for a user specified by corresponding user identification information when approaching. A consumables ordering system configured by connecting each OA device that constitutes an OA device group that belongs to each user specified by user identification information and a consumables ordering proxy device via a network,
Each OA device is
Consumables remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables consumed by the operation of the own machine,
The consumption amount of the consumables consumed by the own device until the consumable item remaining amount detecting means detects that the consumable item has been reduced to a predetermined threshold amount is preset in the own device. While comprising consumables consumption notification means for transmitting to the consumables ordering agency device together with user identification information as consumption notification information,
The consumable ordering agency device is:
A user-specific stock amount storage means for setting and storing a stock amount on each user side of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information corresponding to each user;
A cumulative consumption amount storage means for each user storing the cumulative consumption amount of the consumables corresponding to each of the user identification information;
When the consumption notification information is received from any one of the OA devices via the network, the user-specific cumulative consumption storage means corresponds to the user identification information notified by the consumption notification information. Consumption accumulation means for cumulatively adding the consumption notified by the consumption notification information to the stored cumulative consumption;
The consumption rate calculated based on the notification interval of the consumption notification information from each OA device and the consumption notified by the consumption notification information in each notification, the user who is the notification source in the user-specific inventory storage means The stock quantity stored corresponding to the identification information, and the predicted out-of-stock time calculated based on the cumulative consumption stored corresponding to the user identification information of the notification source in the user-specific cumulative consumption storage means A predicted stock-out time storage unit for each user that stores the corresponding user identification information in association with each other;
User-specific ordering time storage means for storing user-requested ordering time in association with identification information for each user;
When any user request order time stored in the user-specific request order time storage means has arrived, or corresponding to each predicted stock-out time stored in the user-specific predicted stock-out time storage means, When each user request order time stored in the user-specific request order time storage means is compared, and the predicted out-of-stock time arrives earlier than the corresponding user request order time, it is specified by the corresponding user identification information An expendable supplies ordering system comprising order control means for placing an order for the expendable supplies for a user in a predetermined form.   The ordering control by the ordering control means is performed by outputting information related to the ordering of the consumable item for the user to be ordered by the own device or by transmitting it to another device on the supply source side of the consumable item. The consumables ordering system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that   3. The consumables ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the ordering control by the ordering control unit is performed by transmitting information related to the ordering of the consumables to a user who is an ordering target. The consumable ordering agency device includes a user-specific order form storage unit that sets the order form according to claim 3 or the order form according to claim 4 corresponding to each of the user identification information. In addition,
The order control of the consumables for the user to be ordered in the order control means is performed in a form set in the order form storage means for each user corresponding to the user. The consumables ordering system described in any of the above. Each of the OA devices further includes a replacement notifying unit that, when the consumable is replaced in its own device, transmits the replacement to the consumables ordering proxy device together with the user identification information as replacement notification information,
The consumables ordering agent device is stored in the stock quantity storage means for each user corresponding to the user identification information notified by the replacement notification information based on the replacement notification information notified from each OA device. 6. The consumable item ordering system according to claim 1, further comprising an inventory amount automatic updating means for automatically updating the consumable item inventory amount.

Images