JP3515624B2 - Image forming apparatus management system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus management system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus management system for managing an image forming apparatus configured to communicate via a line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and facsimiles have a communication function. For example, in a copier management system in which multiple copiers are connected to a host computer via a public line, the monthly total count is sent as a periodic communication report to a host computer installed at a leasing company or the like once a month. There is. Further, each copying machine regularly communicates with a host computer installed in a service center or the like, and transmits various operation data of the copying machine as a regular communication report in units of one day or one week.

Further, when a failure occurs in the copying machine, an emergency communication report including the data of the generated failure code and the location of the failure is created, and the emergency communication is carried out to the host computer. This emergency communication report is generally sent to a host computer installed in a service center or the like, like the regular communication report described above.

[0004]

The emergency communication report in the copying machine may occur at any time for 24 hours, and the host computer of the service center must always accept it. In this case, a service person needs to be stationed at the service center in order to deal with emergency communication, and it is difficult to suppress costs such as personnel costs.

An object of the present invention is to enable a user to be handled without making a service person resident at a service center, to reliably manage the history of the image forming apparatus, and
An object of the present invention is to provide an image system of an image forming apparatus capable of flexibly changing report transmission destination settings at night or on holidays.

[0006]

An image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention comprises a report creating means, a transmission destination storing means, and a communicating means. The report creating means creates a report according to the state of the image forming apparatus. The destination storage means stores the line number of the destination according to the type of report and the date and time when the report is transmitted. The communication unit selectively reads the line number of the transmission destination from the transmission destination storage unit according to the type of the report and the current date and time, and transmits the report to the selected transmission destination via the line.

Here, the report creating means can be configured to create the regular communication report and the emergency communication report.

[0008]

The management system for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is
The transmission destination storage means stores the line number of the transmission destination to which the report is transmitted according to the type of the report generated by the report generation means and the date and time when the report is transmitted. The communication means selectively reads the line number of the transmission destination according to the type of the created report and the current date and time, and transmits the report to the selected transmission destination.

For example, various operation data of the image forming apparatus are created as a regular communication report and transmitted to a host computer such as a service center. Also, in an emergency such as when a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, an emergency communication report is created and transmitted to the host computer as an emergency communication report. If the time of transmission is outside the reception hours of the service center or the like, the emergency communication report is transmitted to the host computer provided in the after-hours reception center.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a management system for an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Here, a copying machine is assumed as the image forming apparatus. Each of the plurality of copying machines 1 is connected to the copying machine management device 2. Each copying machine management device 2 has a communication function and is connected to the line 3. Host computers 4, 4 ', etc., which are provided in a service center, a leasing company, an after-hours reception center, or the like, also have a communication function and are connected to the line 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 1 is provided with an exposure section 5 for reading a document on the upper part thereof. The exposure unit 5 is composed of a light source, a mirror, a lens unit and the like. Further, an image forming unit 6 for forming a toner image of the read original is provided at the center of the copying machine 1. The image forming section 6 has a photosensitive drum 7 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed. Around the photosensitive drum 7, a charging device 8, a developing device 9, a transfer separation device 10, and a cleaning device 11 are arranged.

A paper feeder 12 is provided below the copying machine 1. The paper feeding unit 12 includes a bypass table 13 provided on the right side of the copying machine 1 in FIG. 2 and three paper feeding cassettes 14, 15, 16 arranged vertically below the copying machine 1.
A large paper feed cassette 17 and a paper feed device 18 for feeding the paper stored in the bypass table 13 or the paper feed cassettes 14 to 17 to the image forming unit 6. On the downstream side of the image forming unit 6 in the sheet conveying direction, a sheet discharge conveying path 19 for conveying the sheet to the left side of FIG. 2 and a fixing device 2 for melting and fixing the toner image on the sheet.
0 and a discharge roller 21 for discharging the sheet at the time of fixing
And a paper discharge tray 22 for receiving paper.

Further, the copying machine 1 is provided with a control section 31 shown in FIG. The control unit 31 includes a CPU, RA
It is composed of a microcomputer system including M, ROM, various drivers and various IOs. The operation panel 23 is connected to the control unit 31. Operation panel 23
Is arranged on the upper surface of the copying machine 1 as shown in FIG.
It includes an input key unit and a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display element or LED. Further, the control unit 31 is connected to a storage unit 32 that stores various operation data. The control unit 31 is further connected to various sensors 33 provided in each unit of the copying machine 1. The control unit 31 detects the operating status and failure of the copying machine 1 based on the output signals of the various sensors 33. An interface 35 connected to the control unit 31 is connected to the copying machine management device 2, and operation data of the copying machine 1 and a failure code at the time of failure detection are sent to the copying machine management device 2 via this interface 35. Sent.

The copying machine management device 2 has a serial interface 41 connected to the copying machine 1 as shown in FIG.
have. Serial interface 41 is a CPU
It is connected to 42. The CPU 42 is composed of a so-called microcomputer system, and has a network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) 43 and a ROM 4
4, RAM 45, and a clock IC 46. N
The CU 43 is connected to a modem 47, and the modem 47 is connected to a public line.

Each of the host computers 4 and 4'is constructed as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Here, the host computer is a CPU 51 and a RAM connected to the CPU 51.
52, ROM 53 and input / output interface 54. A CRT 55 for display, an input keyboard 56, an external storage device 57, etc. are also connected to the CPU 51. The input / output interface 54 is provided with input / output terminals such as RS232C and is connected to a public line via a communication modem 58. The external storage device 57 is
For example, it is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores the data of each copying machine 1 transmitted via the public line. In particular, in the host computer installed in the service center, a copying machine management database for managing the operation data of each copying machine 1 is constructed in this external storage device 57.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Copier The copier 1 operates as shown in FIG. When the power is turned on, various parameters are initialized in step S1, and an initialization operation such as generating a command for setting the temperature of the fixing unit is executed. In step S2, it is determined whether or not the input key portion of operation panel 23 has been operated. If it is determined that the input key unit has been operated, step S3
Move to. In step S3, a normal copy operation is performed based on the operation of the input key section. In step S4, operation data based on the copy operation executed in step S3 is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2. In step S5, other processing is performed. In step S6, it is determined whether the power switch has been operated, and if the power is on, step S6.
When the power is cut off, the operation of the copying machine 1 is stopped.

In the copying machine 1, the control unit 31 constantly monitors the signals input from the various sensors 33, and if there is an abnormality, it executes interrupt processing for failure detection as shown in FIG. In step S11, if the copy operation is being executed, this processing is interrupted and the operation of the copying machine 1 is stopped. In step S12, the failure mode is set so that the input from the input key section of the operation panel 23 is not accepted. In step S13, the failure code of the failure that has occurred is specified based on the output signals of the various sensors 33. Step S
In step S14, the failure code identified in step S13 and the failure data such as the location where the failure has occurred are transmitted to the copying machine management device 2. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the copying machine 1 has been restored. When the copying machine 1 is restored, this interrupt processing is left and the process returns to the main routine.

Copier Management Device The copier management device 2 operates as shown in FIG.
In step S21, it is determined whether operation data has been received from the copying machine 1. When the operation data from the copying machine 1 is received, the process proceeds to step S22. Step S2
In 2, the operation data of the copying machine 1 stored in the RAM 45 is updated based on the received operation data.

In step S23, it is determined whether or not the current time managed by the clock IC 46 is the regular communication time. If the current time is the regular communication time, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, RAM4
A regular communication report is created based on various operation data of the copying machine 1 stored in the storage unit 5. In step S25, the line number of the host computer that performs regular communication is read out, and communication is performed with the corresponding host computer via the NCU 43 and the modem 47. In step S26, the regular communication report created in step S24 is transmitted to the host computer. In step S27, communication with the host computer ends.

In step S28, it is determined whether the failure data from the copying machine 1 is received. When the failure data is received from the copying machine 1, the process proceeds to step S29.
In step S29, an emergency communication report is created according to the failure code, failure location, etc. received from the copying machine 1. In step S30, the destination host computer to which the report is transmitted is specified according to the current time and the type of report created in step S29, and the line number of the corresponding host computer is selectively read. Step S31
Then, communication is performed with the line number of the host computer read in step S30. In step S32, step S
The emergency communication report created in 29 is transmitted to the connected host computer. In step S33, communication with the host computer ends. In step S34, other processing is performed.

Steps S25 and S30 of FIG.
The line number of the host computer selected in is R
It is stored in the telephone number storage area in the OM 44 or the RAM 45. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the line numbers of the respective host computers are stored in 01 to 04 of the telephone number storage area 61. Telephone number storage area 6 in FIG. 9
The telephone number stored in 1 is selectively read according to the control table as shown in FIG. For example, send report type C ₁ , send date C ₂ ,
If the transmission time zone is represented by C ₃ , the calling time column 62
The conditional expression stored in can be set by C ₁ C ₂ C ₃ . Here, the transmission report type of C ₁ is “E” for emergency communication, “S” for service regular communication, and “B” for billing communication. Also, C representing the date of transmission
₂ is “A” when transmitting every day, “Wn (n is 0 to 6)” when specifying the day of the week, and “Mnn (nn = 01) when transmitting on the specified day of every month. ~ 31) ", and" H "when transmitting on the corresponding day of the holiday calendar. Further, C ₃ representing the transmission time zone is “A” when transmission is performed at any time when a report is generated, and “nnnn (nnnn = 0000) when the calling time is designated.
~ 2359) ", or" nn to specify the calling time zone "
nn-n'n'n'n '(nnnn, n'n'n'n'
= 0000-2359) ". Further, the holiday calendar column 63 stores the holidays of this month.

Therefore, 0 in the telephone number storage area 61
When an emergency communication report occurs, the host computer with the telephone number stored in No. 1 always communicates ("EAA"). In addition, the 01th host computer performs service regular communication every Wednesday at 23:55 and transmits operation data and the like (“SW3235”).
5 "). When an emergency communication report occurs from 17:00 to 9:00 the next day in the host computer of the telephone number stored in No. 02 of the telephone number storage area 61 (" EA1700- & EA-0900 "). ”) Or when an emergency communication report occurs on a holiday in the holiday calendar (“ EHA ”). Also, the host computer with the telephone number stored in No. 03 of the telephone number storage area 61 has Wednesday 23 Service regular communication is carried out at 58 minutes (“SW32358”) Billing communication is carried out at 23:10 on the 25th of every month to the host computer having the telephone number stored in No. 04 of the telephone number storage area 61 ( "BM252310").

Assuming that the fifth day of the month is Wednesday based on the control table shown in FIG. 10, the copier management device 2 will perform communication as shown in FIG. 11 on this day. That is, at 23:55, the telephone number stored in No. 01 of the telephone number storage area 61 is communicated with, and service regular communication is performed with the corresponding host computer. Also, at 23:58, telephone number storage area 6
The telephone number stored in No. 1 No. 03 is communicated with, and the regular communication report is transmitted to the corresponding host computer. When an emergency communication report is generated, communication is made to the telephone number stored in No. 01 of the telephone number storage area 61 regardless of time and the emergency communication report is transmitted to the corresponding host computer. When an emergency communication report occurs in a time zone other than 9:00 to 17:00, the telephone number stored in the number 02 in the telephone number storage area 61 is communicated with and the corresponding host computer is connected. Send an emergency report.

In this embodiment, the ROM of the management device 2
A telephone number storage area 61 capable of registering a plurality of telephone numbers is set in the RAM 44 or the RAM 45, and a destination to which a report is transmitted can be selected based on the condition set in the calling time column 62 of the control table. It is possible. Therefore, it is possible to transmit the report to a plurality of host computers based on each condition, and it is possible to simultaneously grasp branch information at the head office. Also service and sales (billing)
Even if host computers installed in different places are used for performing the above, data can be transmitted according to the report type of each copying machine, and the work efficiency is improved. In addition, the destination can be changed depending on the time zone, and it is possible to deal with the service center during the holidays, the nighttime, etc., and an efficient service system can be established.

[0025]

In the image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention, a plurality of line numbers can be registered in the transmission destination storage means, and the transmission destination to which the report is transmitted is selected based on the report type and the transmission date and time. It is possible to do.
Therefore, it is possible to send a report based on each condition to a plurality of host computers. In addition, the destination can be changed depending on the time zone, and it is possible to deal with the service center during the holidays, the nighttime, etc., and an efficient service system can be established. Furthermore, even when the service business and the sales business (billing issuance) are performed by host computers installed in different locations, it is possible to send data according to the report type of each copying machine. , Work efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vertical section of a copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a copying machine management device.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a host computer.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of the copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of a copying machine management device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a telephone number storage area.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a control table.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing communication time zones.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Copier 2 Copier management device 3 public line 4 Host computer 23 Operation panel 31 Control unit 32 memory 33 Various sensors 35 interface 41 I / O interface 42 CPU 43 NCU 47 modem

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-3-187567 (JP, A) JP-A-3-40659 (JP, A) JP-A-5-344176 (JP, A) JP-A-6-12425 (JP , A) JP-A-7-231359 (JP, A) JP-A-8-181839 (JP, A) JP-A-4-262661 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB) (Name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1/44

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A report creating unit for creating a report according to the state of an image forming apparatus, and a destination for storing the line numbers of a plurality of destinations according to the type of the report and the date and time when the report is transmitted. storage means, the reading from the transmission destination storage means selectively to the line number of the destination according to the type and the current date and time of the report, sending the report to the destination selected through the line
The type of report and the transmission of the report.
Select the destination to send the report according to the date and time
An image forming apparatus management system comprising: a changeable communication unit. 2. The management system for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the report creating unit creates a regular communication report and an emergency communication report. 3. The communication means is the report generation means.
When the regular communication report is created, the regular communication
Send the line number of the destination according to the type of report.
The periodic communication report is read by selectively reading from the recipient storage means.
The report will be sent to the selected destination
The current date when the emergency communication report was created
The destination line according to the time and the emergency communication report
The number is selectively read from the destination storage means and
Send an Emergency Communications Report to a selected destination, billing
Item 2. An image forming apparatus management system according to item 2.