JP2009237771A - Optimum equipment simulation system and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system allowing a server manager to present data according to a request of a client to a customer without providing predetermined contents to the client. <P>SOLUTION: This network system has: a client device; and an information processor connected to the client device via a network. The information processor acquires static information, dynamic information, and request information from the client device. The information processor has an information creation part, and creates information to be provided to the client device based on the information acquired in an information acquisition part. The created information is provided according to access from the client device to an information provision part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system including a client device and a server device connected to the client device via a network. In particular, the present invention relates to a network system and an information processing apparatus that perform a process of determining and proposing an optimum apparatus for a customer who has introduced a client apparatus by performing a simulation on the performance of the client apparatus.

  Conventionally, it is known to remotely monitor the state of a device installed in a client and perform necessary processing on the device. For example, a system is known that remotely monitors the amount of consumables such as paper and toner related to the device and collects charges according to the amount of use of the device. Further, not only the above-described remote monitoring but also information acquired from the device arranged in the client is stored in the storage unit of the server device, and the client periodically receives information based on the stored information. An office system that transmits information to the Internet is also known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-331112 A

In the system as described above, the server processes the collected data and periodically provides it to the client. For example, the operating status of the client device, the remaining amount of consumables, etc. are periodically provided to the client at intervals of, for example, one week, 10 days, or 1 month.
However, such a system provides contents predetermined by the server operator to the client, and there are few systems that can respond precisely to the contents requested by the client. The contents provided to the client are mainly data relating to the operating status of the system.

  However, even if such an operating status of the system is provided, the client cannot always effectively use the data. In addition, a device installed in a client is appropriately replaced with a new model for reasons such as performance degradation due to secular change, relative performance degradation due to the release of a new model, failure or expiration of a lease period. Even in such a case, simply providing the operating status of the system is insufficient for the client to select an appropriate model.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a network system and an information processing apparatus capable of presenting various comparison results between the current organic species and another model to the client, and further presenting the optimum replacement content to the client. With the goal.

  The present invention is realized by a network system including a client device and an information processing device connected to the client device via a network. The information processing apparatus includes an information acquisition unit that acquires static information, dynamic information, and request information from the client apparatus. Further, the information processing apparatus has an information creation unit, and creates information to be provided to the client device based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit. The information processing apparatus has an information providing unit. The information providing unit provides the information created by the information creating unit in response to an access from the client device.

  The information processing apparatus performs a simulation on the performance of the client apparatus based on the static information and the information, and performs a process of determining an optimum apparatus for the client based on the simulation result. Based on the result of this processing, an optimum device is proposed for the client.

  As described above, the present invention not only presents the data collected by the information processing apparatus to the client but also responds finely to the content requested by the client. Since the optimum device for the client is determined based on the simulation result, the optimum replacement content can be provided to the client based on this result.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system 100 according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, an example in which a client PC 106 and an MFP 104 are installed as the client device 102 will be described.

  The client PC 106 is connected via a network 108 to a PS (Printing System) asset management server (hereinafter simply referred to as a server) 110 provided on the server side. Similarly, the MFP 104 is connected to the server 110 via the network 108.

  The client PC 106 and the MFP 104 have predetermined remote communication software installed. The remote communication software transmits the operating statuses of the client PC 106 and the MFP 104 to the server 110 via the network 108. Client PC 106 and MFP 104 also receive data provided from server 110. The client PC 106 and the MFP 104 have various hardware (communication I / F, various drivers, etc.) necessary for the remote transmission software to transmit and receive information. Details of communication between the client PC 106 and the MFP 104 and the server 110 will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the network system according to this embodiment. In this network system, an MFP 104 and a client PC 106 are installed in the client. The server 110 includes an information acquisition unit 202 that acquires information from the MFP 104, a storage unit 204 that stores information acquired by the information acquisition unit 202, and a client that receives information stored in the storage unit 204. An information processing unit 206 that processes information that is easy to provide and an information providing unit 208 that provides information processed by the information processing unit 206 to the client PC 106 are included.

  Data transmitted from the client PC 106 or the MFP 104 is acquired by the information acquisition unit 202. The information acquisition unit 202 performs necessary processing such as protocol conversion and data conversion between the network and the server system in order to convert the data acquired via the network 108 into a format suitable for processing in the server 110.

  The data received by the information acquisition unit 202 is then stored in the storage unit 204. The information processing unit 206 processes the data stored in the storage unit 204. The information processed in this way is provided to the client by the information providing unit 208. That is, it is provided to one or both of the client PC 106 and the MFP 104. Information given to the client PC 106 is displayed on a display device (not shown) of the client PC 106 or the like. Information given to the MFP 104 is displayed on an operation panel (not shown) of the MFP 104.

  By the way, the presentation of information to the client is performed in a form in which the server 110 provides information in response to an access from the client, not a push type provision from the server 110 to the client. That is, the information providing unit 208 has a WEB server function. The client accesses the information providing unit 208 and obtains necessary information in the content and format based on the content requested as request information described later. That is, the client has a function for accessing the WEB server.

  Hereinafter, data transmitted and received between the client PC 106 and the MFP 104 and the server 110 will be described.

  The client PC 106 and the MFP 104 transmit static information, dynamic information, and request information to the server 110.

  The static information is information about the client or information about the client device 102, and is basically information that does not change between when the device is installed and when it is discarded. As such static information, for example, the name of the client, the organization structure of the client, the date when the client purchased the client PC device, the asset information about the client device 102 installed in the client, the maintenance information of the client device 102, the client Expense management information, MFP hardware configuration, MFP software configuration, and the like are conceivable.

  Such static information is registered in the server 110 when the client apparatus 102 is installed in the client. For this registration, the predetermined remote communication software described above may automatically collect the configuration of the client apparatus 102 and transmit it to the server, or the service person who installed the client apparatus 102 may manually input the information. Furthermore, not only when the client apparatus 102 is installed, but also when the server periodically acquires information, the client apparatus 102 may appropriately transmit the information to the server apparatus. As described above, the static information basically does not change, but changes such as when a new option is added to the client device 102 or when the location of the client is changed. There is also.

  The dynamic information is information that changes when the client operates the client PC or the MFP. Examples of such dynamic information include MFP usage status, MFP operating status, MFP log management information, MFP maintenance update information, and the like.

  Such dynamic information indicates that each time the client device 102 performs some operation, the predetermined remote communication software described above recognizes the operation of the client device 102 and compares the state before the operation with the state after the operation. Thus, it is obtained by grasping the change of the client apparatus 102. Such dynamic information is collected by transmitting the predetermined remote communication software described above to the server 110 every time the content changes due to the operation of the client device 102. Alternatively, every time the content changes due to the operation of the client device 102, the predetermined remote communication software described above may temporarily store the change and be collected by polling from the server 110.

  The request information is information that the client gives to the server 110. In other words, each client determines what information the server 110 wants to present to itself, and gives this to the server 110 as request information. This request information is arbitrarily set by each client, and is given to the server 110 when the client apparatus 102 is installed or at any time thereafter.

  Hereinafter, a format of static information, dynamic information, and request information, and a storage method in the storage unit will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data table for storing such information. FIG. 3 (a) is a data table for storing static information, FIG. 3 (b) is a data table for storing motion information, and FIG. (C) is a data table for storing maintenance update information, and FIG. 3 (d) is a data table for storing request information.

  The data table shown in FIG. 3A includes a “client information” field, a “client organization” field, a “purchase date” field, an “asset” field, a “maintenance” field, and an “expense” field. .

  The “client information” field stores the name / name of the client. The “client organization” field stores the organization name of the client, the user, the administrator, the department ID, the organization code, the organization name of the client, the number of members, and the like. The “purchase date” field stores the date on which the client purchased or installed the MFP 104, and further information on lease contract information, lease contract date, amount, contract department, and contract person in charge. In addition to the purchase date of the client, this field may include a purchase person, a client person, and the like.

  The “asset” field stores information indicating what kind of asset the client apparatus 102 is managed by the client. For example, a distinction such as purchased assets and lease assets is written. In addition to this, it is useful to store the model name, asset number, product number, purchase destination, installation location, administrator, etc. of each client device 102.

  The “maintenance” field stores information such as the date and contents of maintenance performed so far for the MFP 104 or the client PC 106. For example, the unit exchanged so far, the date and time of exchange, and the like are stored.

  The “expense” field stores an expense when the client purchases the client apparatus 102, a budget classification, an expense burden department, a consumables burden department, a department billing address, and the like. This expense information may be referred to when charging the client.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3A, the data table may include a “hardware configuration” field and a “software configuration” field related to the client apparatus 102 in addition to the above-described data table. The “hardware configuration” field stores the number of paper feed trays, the arrangement / number of option units, the model number, the IP address, the option configuration, the installation location, the management number, and the like that the MFP 104 has. In the “software configuration” field, information of software installed in the MFP 104 and activated and operated on the MFP 104 is stored. The above-described software capable of remote communication is also an example of the software configuration of the MFP 104.

  Next, the data table shown in FIG. 3B is provided with a “client information” field, a “usage status” field, an “operation status” field, and a “log management” field. The dynamic information includes the maintenance update information as described above, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The “usage status” field stores the daily usage status of the MFP 104 of each individual client user for each client. This usage status includes the number of users, the purpose of use, the number of uses, user management, user restrictions, and counter information.

  The “operation status” field stores a status in which the MFP 104 arranged in the client is operating (copying, printing, scanning). That is, the operation status field stores various operations performed while the MFP 104 is turned on and then turned off. The operating status also includes operating time, overload status, maintenance history, failure status, and security status (vulnerability) information.

  The “log management” field stores a history of each MFP user operating the MFP 104 or the number of prints of each individual in the organization. The log management information includes an operation log, an access log, a start log, and an event log.

  Next, maintenance update information as part of dynamic information is stored in the data table shown in FIG. This data table includes a “client information” field, a “consumables inventory management” field, a “print security information” field, an “optimum layout proposal” field, and a “device selection support” field.

  In the “consumables inventory management” field, stock information of replacement consumables such as toner, units, and papers prepared on the client side by a service person or a manager in the client is stored.

  In the “print security information” field, information on a user name for which printing is prohibited in the client and a specific format for which printing is prohibited is stored. In the example shown in FIG. 3C, this field stores a department that is permitted to print.

  In the “optimum placement proposal” field and the “device selection support” field, the result of the information processing unit 206 performing information processing based on the static information information and the dynamic information acquired by the information acquisition unit 202 is displayed. Stored. The “optimum layout proposal” field stores a device layout derived by the information processing unit 206 in terms of how the layout of MFPs, printers, etc. in the client's office is increased. In FIG. 3C, it is stored that the productivity of the client a increases when the positions of the printer and the copier are reversed from the previous ones.

  In the “device selection support” field, data for providing information on a device useful for smoothly performing a printing operation in the client is stored. In FIG. 3C, information indicating that the currently used MFP 104 should be replaced with a device having 20% higher performance than this is stored.

  In this way, the individual information classified as dynamic information is a value that varies in relation to each other as the client operates the device. And since dynamic information is the information accumulate | stored for every client, naturally, static information and dynamic information are also linked | related.

  Next, in the data table shown in FIG. 3D, request information transmitted from the client to the information acquisition unit 202 is stored for each client. This data table includes an “interval date / time” field, a “display content” field, a “display format” field, and an “always display content” field.

  The “interval date / time” field stores information indicating an interval at which the information acquisition unit 202 acquires dynamic information from the client apparatus 102. The information acquisition unit 202 acquires dynamic information from the client apparatus 102 at the contents of this field, that is, at intervals specified by the client. In FIG. 3D, the client a instructs the server 110 to acquire dynamic information at monthly intervals. In addition, the client b instructs the server 110 to acquire dynamic information at intervals of once every two months.

  The “display content” field stores a request from the client as to how the information processed by the information processing unit 206 is displayed on the client device 102. In FIG. 3D, the client a requests the server 110 to display the number of prints of each person. Further, the client b requests the server 110 to display the layout arrangement.

  In the “display format” field, instructions from each client are stored as to how the above-described display contents are to be displayed. In FIG. 3D, the client a requests the server 110 to display the number of prints of each person as a line graph.

  The “always displayed contents” field stores contents instructed by each client as to be always displayed on the display screen of the client apparatus 102. In FIG. 3D, the client a requests to always display the daily operation graph, and the client b requests to always display the comments regarding the optimum layout and the current layout.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present system will be described for each step in the present embodiment.
(1) Acquisition and storage of information (a) At the time of installation of the client apparatus When the MFP 104 of the client is installed on the client side, predetermined remote communication software is installed. When the remote communication software is installed, the hardware and software configuration information of the MFP 104, which is static information about the client device 102, is transmitted to the server. When there are a plurality of clients, this operation is performed for each client. As a result, a data table as shown in FIG. 3A is formed in the storage unit 204 of the server 110.

(B) Operation of Client Device When the installation and setting of the MFP 104 is completed, the client performs an image forming operation using the MFP 104. By performing this image forming operation, dynamic information about the MFP 104 is generated. This dynamic information is transmitted to the server 110 by remote communication software and acquired by the information acquisition unit 202. Alternatively, as described above, it is collected by polling from the server 110.

(C) Operation at the time of system maintenance The client MFP 104 is maintained by a service person or the client management person himself. When maintenance is performed, static information of the MFP 104 is updated. There is. In the present embodiment, even when maintenance is performed, static information updated by the remote communication software is transmitted to the server 110. This static information is acquired by the information acquisition unit 202, and the data table in the storage unit 204 is updated.

(2) Processing and Processing of Stored Information Dynamic information is generated each time an image is formed by the MFP 104 of the presentation client, and this dynamic information is continuously acquired by the information acquisition unit 202 as needed. Further, the acquired information is added or overwritten in the storage unit 204. For example, in the case of counting the number of sheets, the number of formed images may be transmitted to the server 110 for each operation of the MFP 104, and the server 110 may add the past number of sheet counts. Alternatively, the cumulative value of the sheet count value that the MFP 104 of the client has inside may be transmitted to the server, and the server 110 may overwrite the data table with the received information.

  Next, processing of information in the server 110 and a form of presentation to the client will be described with reference to FIG.

(A) Presentation of Layout Display FIG. 4 illustrates a layout display form provided to the client. Information processing for this is performed based on the request information from the client described above. Based on the request information, the information processing unit 206 creates information on the usage status of the paper based on the acquired static information and dynamic information of the client. In this case, the information processing unit 206 processes the obtained data so as to be added to the layout display information of the client as static information.

  On the other hand, a client accesses a server via the Internet using a client PC. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the client's office layout table is displayed on the client, and the monthly paper usage for each MFP is displayed in an overlapping manner. Thus, the amount of paper used can be shown for each MFP using the layout table.

  When the client designates an arbitrary MFP on the layout display with a mouse or the like, the client may be configured to display more detailed information about the designated MFP, for example, by opening another window. Further, the information shown to the user may not be the usage status of the paper but may be the usage status of the toner. For example, device information that is static information, usage status by user or function, operating rate of each client device 102, charge amount by user or department, usage amount of toner bottle, maintenance or call history for the last three months An indication may be shown.

  Furthermore, by selecting an icon displayed on the layout display, it is possible to display the current inventory status of consumables in the client. Further, grouping may be designated on the layout display, and a device usage status graph display within the group and an operation rate graph display within the group may be performed. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which can download these data in formats, such as CSV.

(B) Presentation of simulation Next, the form of presentation of simulation provided to the client will be described. The server 110 performs simulation based on client request information. Data necessary for this is static information and dynamic information collected from the client device 102.

  For example, if two MFPs 104 are installed on the client and the operating rates of both MFPs 104 are significantly different, a suggestion to move the MFP 104 with a lower operating rate or an MFP 104 with a higher operating rate It is possible to make proposals to replace high-performance devices.

  In this case, the proposal shown on the display screen of the client PC may be configured as a dedicated screen or may be displayed by a general WEB browser. As a result, the client can obtain the results of various simulations, and as a result, can perform useful layout changes, device selections, and the like.

  Hereinafter, the simulation for proposing the optimum model for the client will be described in detail. First, the client device 102 transmits static information and dynamic information to the server. Based on the received information, the server 110 performs a simulation of what device is most suitable for the client. This simulation requires at least the name of the client, the maintenance information of the client apparatus 102, the hardware configuration of the MFP, and the operating status of the MFP. Among these, the name of the client is merely required as identification information of the client presenting the simulation result, and is not information necessary for the simulation.

  First, the server obtains the number of image forming operations performed by the MFP 104, the number of recording media on which the image has been formed, and the time required to form that many images from the hardware configuration of the MFP 104 and the operation status of the MFP 104. If the time required for image formation is not directly obtained from the data on the operation status of the MFP 104, the hardware specifications and performance of the MFP are referred to, and the number of images formed and the image formation speed of the MFP 104 are used. The time required for image formation is required.

  The server 110 further obtains the amount of consumed consumables such as toner and oil from the maintenance information of the client device 102. Since the number of images formed is determined from the operation status of the MFP 104, it is required how much toner, oil, and the like are consumed to form a certain number of images. Note that the consumption of toner, oil, and the like can be roughly determined if the hardware specifications of the MFP are known, but since the actual image formation contents vary depending on the client, it is desirable to determine the actual consumption.

  Next, the server uses the data such as the number of image forming operations performed by the MFP 104 of the client and the number of recording media on which image formation has been performed to perform a simulation when a similar operation is performed on a model other than the MFP. This result is compared with the static information and dynamic information obtained from the client and the value calculated by the server 119.

  As a result, in a model different from the MFP of the client, it is possible to determine how the time required for image formation and the amount of consumables such as toner and oil to change in the client change. The server presents this result to the client. Here, what is selected as a model different from the client MFP may be automatically selected by the server, or may be selected by a service person or a sales person. When the server automatically selects, a new model released after a certain period of time compared to the client MFP, performance (for example, image formation speed, image resolution, paper tray storage compared to the client MFP) It may be possible to select a model whose number is considered to be higher than a predetermined number.

  Incidentally, in order to refer to the hardware specification and performance of the MFP 104 of the client, it may be necessary to refer to a database (not shown) that stores the hardware specification and performance of the MFP. In addition to the information described above, the information may be used for simulation. For example, if the date on which the client purchased the client PC 106 is used, it is possible to perform a simulation that takes into account changes in performance due to typical aging of the model.

(C) Presentation of CO2 emission conversion Next, an example of presenting the result of CO2 emission conversion will be described.

  The server 110 identifies the model name of the client based on the static information acquired from the MFP. Next, the server 110 accesses a database (not shown) that stores specifications for each model, and acquires information that is the basis for CO2 emission conversion, such as the rated power and power consumption of the model.

  In calculating the CO2 emission amount, the rated power, the operation status, and the specifications of the machine arranged in the client are calculated as parameters. By multiplying the power consumption per unit time of the MFP 104 of the client by the operation time, the total power consumption of the MFP 104 is obtained. From this total power consumption, the amount of generated CO2 can be determined. In other words, this is equivalent to the value of how much CO 2 the electric power company emits in order to supply the determined total power consumption.

  More specifically, the MFP 104 may be divided into a plurality of units, the power consumption for each unit may be obtained from the operation status of each unit, and the total power consumption may be obtained by accumulating the power consumption. For example, control unit (power consumed by CPU, memory, hard disk drive, backlight of display device, etc.), paper transport unit (power consumed by driving various motors), exposure device (laser light source, polygon motor drive, etc.) Power consumed), developing device (photosensitive drum driving, toner supply mechanism driving, charging power, etc.), transfer device (transfer body driving, charging power, etc.), fixing unit (fixing roller heating) For example, it is possible to obtain a more detailed total power consumption by dividing the power into the units such as the power for power consumption. The CO2 emission amount thus obtained is shown to the client on the layout display in the same manner as in the layout diagram display described above.

  The server may hold the CO2 emission amount of each client apparatus 102 at regular time intervals. In this way, the transition of the CO2 emission amount of the client apparatus 102 can be obtained. This transition can also be presented to the client. If this transition is obtained, the monthly CO2 emission amount of the client apparatus 102 can be shown, for example, in the form of a line graph. Furthermore, the reduction amount of the CO2 emission amount in each client can be obtained. By using, for example, a layout display, a device with a large amount of CO2 reduction is displayed with, for example, ◎, and a device with a small amount of reduction is displayed with, for example, Δ, etc., thereby making it possible to visualize the amount of CO2 reduction. With the display thus visualized, the client can easily execute measures for reducing CO2 such as limiting the number of images formed.

(D) Cost Conversion Next, a form of cost conversion provided to the client will be described.

  In this embodiment, the server 110 obtains static information and dynamic information of the client. The server further accesses another database (not shown), and acquires basic information for cost conversion, such as the price of paper per unit number of sheets and the cost of printing per unit number of sheets. Further, the information processing unit 206 processes the information and presents the information to the client PC 106 based on the client request. Furthermore, by storing the cost conversion data in the storage unit on the server side, the current cost and the previous cost can be compared. As a result, the client can reduce costs such as limiting the number of sheets by using the visualized display.

  In the embodiment described above, the server 110 has been described as a single device. However, the form of the server is not limited to this, and a plurality of information processing apparatuses may cooperate to constitute the server of the present invention. For example, the information acquisition unit and the information provision unit may be built in an information processing apparatus, and the information creation unit and the storage unit may be built in different information processing apparatuses. Alternatively, the information acquisition unit, the information creation unit, and the information provision unit may be built in an information processing apparatus, and the storage unit may be built in another information processing apparatus.

The figure explaining the example of a structure of the network system in this embodiment The block diagram which shows the network system in this embodiment The figure which shows an example of the data table for storing static information, dynamic information, and request information The figure explaining the form of the layout display provided to a client

Explanation of symbols

100 Network System 102 Client Device 104 MFP
106 Client PC
108 Network 110 Server 202 Information Acquisition Unit 204 Storage Unit 206 Information Processing Unit 208 Information Provision Unit

Claims (7)

A network system comprising a client device and an information processing device connected to the client device via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An information acquisition unit for acquiring static information, dynamic information and request information of the client device from the client device;
An information creating unit that creates information to be provided to the client device based on the information obtained by the information obtaining unit;
An information providing unit that provides information created by the information creating unit to the client device in response to access from the client device;
The information processing apparatus performs a simulation on the performance of the client apparatus based on the static information and dynamic information;
Based on the simulation result, the process of determining the optimum device for the client,
Network system.
The network system according to claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires a plurality of the dynamic information associated with each other.
The network system according to claim 2, wherein the dynamic information is associated with the static information, and the information acquisition unit acquires the dynamic information and static information associated with each other. .
An information processing device connected to a client device via a network,
An information acquisition unit for acquiring static information, dynamic information and request information of the client device from the client device;
An information creating unit that creates information to be provided to the client device based on the information obtained by the information obtaining unit;
An information providing unit that provides information created by the information creating unit to the client device in response to access from the client device;
The information processing apparatus performs a simulation on the performance of the client apparatus based on the static information and dynamic information;
Based on the simulation result, the process for determining the optimum device for the client,
Information processing device.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The information acquisition device acquires a plurality of the dynamic information associated with each other.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
The dynamic information is associated with the static information, and the information acquisition unit acquires the dynamic information and static information associated with each other.
A client device connected to an information processing device via a network,
An information transmission unit that transmits static information, dynamic information, and request information of the client device to the information processing device;
A server access unit that accesses an information providing unit included in the information processing apparatus and acquires information processed in the server,
Information processing device.

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