JP3638347B2 - Equipment management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a communication management device attached to an electrophotographic copying machine, for example, and a host computer installed in a service company or a leasing company that manages the copying machine, and a system that manages data related to the copying machine As described above, the present invention relates to a device management system that systematizes data communication and network management, and particularly relates to improvement of a change notification method for numerical data set in the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a copier management system as a device management system mainly using a telephone line has been operated between a copier user and a service company, a leasing company, or the like. For each of a large number of copiers, management of machine status, number of copies, jam occurrence status, maintenance data, parts procurement, billing operations, etc. is performed collectively. In general, in this type of copier management system, each copier is provided with a communication management device, and each supplier has a host computer, and the device and the host computer are provided with individual communication. It is connected through a telephone line via a modem.
[0003]
Here, the host computer of the leasing company is used for copying charge and receives only limited data such as the number of copies from the communication management device of the copying machine. In addition, the service company's host computer not only receives data from the device, including data such as service man calls related to copiers, but also makes settings on the device, such as the telephone number and periodic dialing time of the host computer of the leasing company. And setting of the number of contract copies. Based on the setting contents, the device of the copying machine communicates with the host computer of the service company or the leasing company, and thereby the copying machine is collectively managed.
[0004]
In the copier management system, data such as the model name of the copier, the user's address and installation location, the number of contracts, etc. are registered in the host computer of the service company, and an ID number is assigned to each copier in actual communication. They are set and managed by ID numbers without using individual model names. In this case, after the copying machine is installed at the user's location, the user's data and model name data are registered in the host computer of the service company with which the contract is related, and the device is initialized. At this time, the transmission telephone number to the host computer of the leasing company having the contract relationship is registered in the device. Next, the service company's host computer communicates with the copier device, and an ID number is set so that the copier side can communicate.
[0005]
In addition, as data of the copier set with this ID number, necessary data in the data registered in the host computer of the service company must be entered and registered in the host computer of the leasing company. The company's host computers are usually not connected by a line. If the copier data is not registered in advance in the leasing company's host computer, the ID of the copier can be checked from the device to the host computer using the communication procedure. If this happens, an error will occur and communication will not be possible.
[0006]
Therefore, after initializing the device at the time of device initialization, the copier data is set by the service company, and then the registered contents are notified verbally to the leasing company, or in writing using a fax or the like. The notification contents (copier data) from the service company are registered in advance in the host computer of the leasing company. After the copying machine data is registered in the host computer of the service company and the leasing company in this way, the device periodically transmits necessary data to both the service company and the lease company host computer. I do.
[0007]
By the way, in a copying machine management system that collects copying machine data by calling from the device side, each device in a contract relationship has to be connected so that it can be smoothly received by the host computer of the service company and the leasing company. It is necessary to set the transmission date for each device in advance so that the communication dates of the regular communication do not overlap each other. This transmission date has been set or provisionally set by the service company at the time of device initialization. In this case, if periodic communication is also sent from the device to the leasing company, The communication date may change depending on the circumstances.
[0008]
However, when the date sent to a device is changed on the leasing company's host computer, the changed date ends only by changing the settings on the device. The set date remains retained. For this reason, conventionally, when the lease company changes the communication date due to the operation of the management system, the lease company notifies the service company by telephone or fax.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional management system, for example, when one of the two host computers of the service company and the leasing company does not contact the other, and the communication date is arbitrarily changed for a certain device, the other host computer Since the setting has not been changed to the communication date setting value of the current device, there is a problem that it cannot be determined when there is communication from the device.
[0010]
Also, in any host computer, if communication does not come on the scheduled reception date, it is programmed to generate a warning that the periodic report has not been received. If a warning occurs, the communication date was changed. It is necessary to find out the host computer and contact the fact of the communication date change from there, and to adapt the setting value of its own host computer, it will bother users and vendors who have not changed the communication date. .
[0011]
Therefore, in order to prevent the above disadvantages from occurring, the communication date must be notified on the database of each other's host computer, but the conventional copier management system has one host. No means for notifying other host computers of changes in the communication date by the computer has been provided. The same applies to data changes other than the communication date.
[0012]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. For example, a management system in which a device of an electrophotographic copying machine and a plurality of host computers that manage the device are connected by a public telephone line or the like. When one host computer changes the setting value for a device, the result of the setting value change can be notified to the other host computers through the device. The purpose is to ensure consistency.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In the present invention, a communication management device attached to a managed device such as an electrophotographic copying machine and transmitting device management data for managing the device is connected to the device through a communication network such as a public telephone line. Multiple host computers that collectively manage device management dataConsists ofIn order to achieve the above object, the following technical means are provided for each host computer and device.
[0014]
  That is,A managed device; a communication management device attached to the managed device; and a plurality of host computers that communicate with the communication management device through a communication network. Each host computer is transmitted from the communication management device. In the device management system for managing the managed device by receiving the data of the managed device, each host computer includes means for rewriting or reading the setting data stored in the communication management device. The communication management device stores the communication setting data for communicating with each of the host computers, and is provided corresponding to each of the host computers, and reads the communication setting data by the corresponding host computer. Equipped with multiple setting change flags to indicate presence / absence When the setting data is rewritten by communication with any of the host computers, all the setting change flags are turned off, and the plurality of setting change flags are changed corresponding to the rewritten host computer. When the flag is turned on and the corresponding setting change flag is turned off in the subsequent communication with each host computer, the rewritten setting data is read and the setting change flag is turned on It is.
[0015]
  In addition, a communication management device attached to the managed device and a plurality of host computers communicate through a communication network, and each host computer receives data of the managed device from the communication management device. In the device management method for managing devices, any one of the host computers rewrites setting data for communicating with each host computer stored in the communication management device through communication with the communication management device. In this case, after clearing the communication records with all the host computers stored in the communication management device, the fact that there was communication with itself in the communication records is recorded. The host computer communicates with itself in the communication record in communication with the communication management device. If not recorded, reads the setting data rewritten and records that communication with the own the communication record there. In addition, in the communication management device that is attached to the managed device, communicates with a plurality of host computers through a communication network, and transmits data of the managed device, setting data for communicating with each host computer is stored. And a plurality of setting change flags provided corresponding to each of the host computers and indicating whether or not the setting data is read by the corresponding host computer, When the setting data is rewritten by communication with the host computer, all the setting change flags are turned off, the setting change flag corresponding to the rewritten host computer is turned on, and the subsequent each Corresponding setting change by communication with host computer If lag is off, the set change flag is read the set data is rewritten is intended to be turned on.
[0016]
Therefore, each host computer can determine which host computer has changed the data by checking the flag when there is communication from the device, and can change the data setting value. Since it can respond, it is possible to detect a communication failure. In addition, the data setting state in the device can be confirmed.
[0017]
  In the above configuration,SettingThe data includes a communication date set in the communication management device by each host computer. In addition, the present invention provides an equipment management device in which each communication management device is attached to an electrophotographic copying machine to transmit data relating to its use.SenseIt can be said that it is preferable.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copier management system will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the copier management system. In this figure, a communication management device D is attached to the copying machine P. A service company has a host computer for maintenance management and a host computer for management of consumables such as paper and toner. A leasing company has a host computer for copy charge management. A plurality of host computers H 1 to H 5 are connected to the device D through a public telephone line 29. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that five host computers are connected to the device D for convenience of explanation.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the copying machine P. As shown in this figure, the copying machine P is provided with an optical system 2 for reading a document composed of a light source, a mirror, a lens unit, and the like on the copying machine main body 1. An image forming unit 3 for forming a toner image of the read original is provided at the center of the copying machine main body 1. The image forming unit 3 has a photosensitive drum 4 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. Around the photosensitive drum 4, a charging charger 5, a developing device 6, a transfer separation charger 7 and a cleaning device 8 are arranged.
[0020]
A paper feeding unit 9 is provided at the lower part of the copying machine main body 1. The paper feeding unit 9 includes a bypass table 10 provided on the right side of the copying machine main body 1 in FIG. 2, a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 11 arranged vertically below the copying machine main body 1, and a bypass table 10 or a feeding table. The paper transport device 12 is configured to transport the paper stored in the paper cassette 11 to the image forming unit 3. On the downstream side of the image forming unit 3 in the sheet conveyance direction, a sheet discharge conveyor 13 for conveying the sheet to the left side of the apparatus in FIG. 2, a fixing device 14 for fusing and fixing the toner image on the sheet, A discharge roller 15 for discharging the paper and a paper discharge tray 16 for receiving the paper are provided.
[0021]
Further, the copying machine main body 1 is provided with a control unit 17 shown in FIG. The control unit 17 includes a microcomputer system including a CPU, RAM, ROM, various drivers, and various IO ports, and an operation panel 18 is connected to the control unit 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 18 is disposed on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 1 and includes an input key unit and a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display element or LED.
[0022]
  The control unit 17 is connected to a storage unit 19 in which various operation data are stored. The storage unit 19 stores a total count of the number of copies of the copying machine body 1 and the like. Further connected to the control unit 17 are a paper passing count sensor 20 for counting the number of image formations and a paper feeding unit 9 for performing a paper feeding operation from the paper feeding cassette 11. The sheet passing count sensor 20 is connected to the image forming unit 3 and the fixing device from each sheet feeding cassette 11.14A plurality of papers are provided at appropriate positions in the paper conveyance path passing through the paper discharge tray 16 and each of the paper passing count sensors 20 detects normal paper passing, and the total count in the storage unit 19 is incremented. It has become. Further, the interface 21 connected to the control unit 17 is connected to the copying machine management device D, and transmits the number of copies counted by the sheet passing count sensor 20 to the device D.
[0023]
The copier management device D transmits data for managing the copier P and has a serial interface 22 connected to the copier body 1 as shown in FIG. Are connected to the CPU 23. The CPU 23 is constituted by a so-called microcomputer system, and is connected to a network control unit 24, abbreviated as NCU, a backup RAM 25, a ROM 26, and a clock IC 27. The NCU 24 is connected to a modem 28, and the modem 28 is connected to a public telephone line 29.
[0024]
The backup RAM 25 is provided with setting fields for communication date and time, and setting change flags 39 corresponding to the number of connected hosts capable of changing the date as shown in FIG.
[0025]
However, it is not realistic to occupy the telephone line 29 only for the device D of the copying machine. In fact, as shown in FIG. 4, the line of the fax (telephone) 30 is bypassed to the device D, and the device D The side is set so that only transmission is possible, and when there is a transmission through the line, the device D is set in a call rejection state and is set to receive a call by fax or telephone. Therefore, in the management system of the present embodiment, calls cannot be made from the host computers H1 to H5 to the device D.
[0026]
Each host computer receives data sent from the device D, and manages the copier P in a collective manner. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 31, the RAM 32, the ROM 33, and the input connected to the CPU 31 are provided. An output interface 34 is provided. The CPU 31 is also connected with a display CRT 35, an input keyboard 36, an external storage device 37, and the like. The input / output interface 34 is provided with input / output terminals such as RS232C and is connected to a public line via a communication modem 38.
[0027]
In the above management system, data such as the model name of the copier P, the user's address and installation location, the number of contracts, etc. are registered in the host computer of the service company, and an ID number is set for each copier in actual communication. However, all IDs are managed without using individual model names. When setting the ID number, for example, if the host computer H1 is installed for maintenance management of a service company, the host computer H1 registers the ID number and then transmits the ID number to the device D, for example. . Receiving this, the device D returns to the host computer H1 that the ID number has been set. The transmission operation of the device D is generally performed at night when the frequency of use of the telephone line decreases.
[0028]
Note that the contract relationship between the user, the service company, and the lease company is usually an intertwined relationship, so the lease company receives data from a plurality of service companies. For this reason, when different service companies independently set ID numbers for copiers, there is a disadvantage that the same ID number is reported in the leasing company even though they are different copiers. In order to eliminate such inconvenience, the lease company determines the service company code, sends it from the service company, and registers the service company data such as the service company code in advance in the host computer of the lease company. Yes.
[0029]
By the way, in the above-described copying machine management system in which data of the copying machine P is collected by a call from the device D side, in order to be able to receive smoothly by the host computers H1 to H5 of the service company and the leasing company, a plurality of data are received. It is necessary to set the transmission time for each device D in advance so that the transmission times of the other devices D do not overlap each other.
[0030]
In this case, for example, by setting the communication setting to the leasing company to ON when the device D is initialized, communication is performed every day from that date until the transmission date is determined. In this case, the CPU 31 of the host computer first receives the periodic report of the device D, registers the copying machine data, and if the transmission date from the device D to the host computer is not set, the transmission date is not confirmed. The ID number of the copier P, the model name, the company name as the user name, its installation department signature, the billing destination, and the service company name are listed together with the processing status.
[0031]
The device D is set to retransmit every day. In this retransmission setting method, as described above, the date is changed in order to transmit at the designated time on the next day, or the flag for daily transmission is turned on. Transmission from the device is continued every day until the communication date of the copying machine P is determined by such a method. When the communication date of the copier P is determined, the communication date of the device D is also determined, so that daily communication is not performed.
[0032]
FIG. 6 shows the periodic report non-reception list 40 in the host computers H1 to H5. In the host computers H1 to H5, when the periodic report is not received on the preset communication date, the copier having the device D is listed in the periodic report non-reception list 40.
[0033]
In this unreceived list 40, it is possible to exceptionally list items that cannot be communicated due to trouble such as a failure of the device D. However, the communication date is usually changed by another host computer. Items are listed, and are registered together with, for example, a copier ID number and model name, a service company code, and a name. The periodic report non-reception list 40 is set in the external storage device 37.
[0034]
FIG. 7 shows the ON / OFF state of the setting change flag 39 provided in the device D during communication between the device D and each of the host computers H1 to H5. “0” is OFF, and “1” is ON. Represents. In this figure, the arrangement of the setting change flags 39 corresponds to the host computers H1 to H5 in order from the left as in FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 8 shows the read operation of the changed communication date as the operation of the CPU 31 of the host computers H1 to H5, and the flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the change procedure of the communication date as the operation of the CPU 31.
[0035]
If any of the host computers, that is, the host computer H3 changes the communication date, as shown in FIG. 9, when a call is made from the device D and communication with the device D is started in step # 105, In step # 110, the communication date and time setting field of device D is rewritten. In step # 115, all setting change flags of device D are turned off. In step # 120, the host computer H3's own field flag is turned on. To do. The result is shown in (1) of FIG. At this time, the setting change flag 39 of the device D is “00100” because only the flag field value of the host computer H3 is “1”.
[0036]
Next, as shown in (2) of FIG. 7, when there is communication from the device D to the host computer H1, the host computer H1 starts communication with the device D in step # 5 as shown in FIG. In step # 10, the field value of the setting change flag 39 is confirmed. In the case of the host computer H1, since its own field value is “0” indicating OFF, the process proceeds to step # 15, after the host computer H3 reads the changed communication date and time, and rewrites its own database. In step # 20, its own flag is turned on, that is, the field value is set to "1". As a result, the setting change flag 39 becomes “10100”.
[0037]
After that, as shown in (3) of FIG. 7, even when there is communication from the device D to the host computer H4, the same operation as that of the host computer H3 is performed, and the setting change flag 39 becomes “10110”. .
[0038]
Thereafter, as shown in (4) in FIG. 7, when the device D communicates again with the host computer H1, the flag field value of the device D is turned ON in step # 10 of FIG. In other words, since it is “1”, since it has already been changed by itself, it is not necessary to rewrite the database, so the communication is terminated after receiving the data from the device D as it is. In this case, the setting change flag 39 does not change and remains “10110”. Although not shown in FIG. 7, for example, even when the host computers H3 and H4 communicate again from the device D at this time, it is after the change of the communication date of the host computer H1 has already been read. Do not rewrite.
[0039]
Further, as shown in (5) of FIG. 7, when there is communication from the device D to the host computer H5, and the communication date and time setting fields of the device D are rewritten at that time, the host computer H1 Similarly to the operation, after all setting change flags of the device D are turned off, the field flag of the host computer H5 itself is turned on. In this case, the setting change flag 39 is “00001” because only the flag field value of the host computer H5 is “1”.
[0040]
When registered in the periodic report unreceived list 40, the processing status is displayed as, for example, “unprocessed”, and when the database is rewritten, the display is automatically changed to “processed” and copied. The fact that the data of the machine P is registered in the host computer Q1 can be determined at a glance on the screen. Thereafter, when received from the device D, normal data processing is performed, and the copier name is deleted from the periodic report non-reception list 40.
[0041]
In addition, when it is necessary to immediately send a notification of setting value change, an empty report (a report that is meaningless or has no influence on other processing) is sent to a host whose setting change flag 39 field is OFF. The set value is updated.
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to change the communication date. However, other setting values in the device D can be rewritten by the same procedure. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a system that manages devices other than copying machines.
[0043]
As described above, in this embodiment, each of the host computers H1 to H5 can set the communication date and time for the device D, and can rewrite the data of the communication date and time. A setting change flag 39 indicating whether or not the setting of the communication date and time set by H5 is changed is provided.
[0044]
For example, when the communication date and time is rewritten to the device D by the host computer H1, the setting change flag 39 of the host computer H1 itself is turned ON. After that, when there is communication from the host computer H3 to the device D, the host computer H3 Is configured to notify other host computers that it corresponds to the data change of the communication date and time by the host computer H1 during the communication by turning on its own setting change flag 39. You can see how the day is set now. Further, since the set date, that is, the scheduled reception date is known, communication failure can be detected, and the set state in the device D is known. Furthermore, the communication cost is lower than the method of notifying all the host computers H1 to H5 simultaneously with the change of the communication date and time.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a data setting value is rewritten to a device by any host computer, the flag display of the host computer itself is changed, and then communication is performed from another host computer to the device. The other host computer is configured to notify other host computers by changing its flag display that it corresponds to the change of the data setting value by any of the host computers during the communication. Therefore, each host computer can determine which host computer is changing the data by checking the flag when there is communication from the device, and change the data setting value. Communication failure can be detected. In addition, the data setting state in the device can be confirmed. Furthermore, there is an excellent advantage that the communication cost is lower than the method of notifying all the host computers simultaneously with the data change.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a management system showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a copying machine.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control system.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host computer.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a periodic report non-reception list.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how a setting change flag is turned ON / OFF.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a reading operation of a changed communication date by the host computer.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for changing a regular report communication date by the host computer.
[Explanation of symbols]
28 Modem
29 Public telephone line
35 CRT
37 External storage
38 modem
39 Setting change flag
40 Regular report not received list
D device
H1-H5 host computer
P Copying machine

Claims (3)

A managed device, a communication management device attached to the managed device, and a plurality of host computers that communicate with the communication management device through a communication network, each of the host computers being transmitted from the communication management device In the device management system for managing the managed device by receiving the data of the managed device,
Each of the host computers is
Means for rewriting or reading the setting data stored in the communication management device;
The communication management device is:
Storing the setting data for communicating with each of the host computers;
A plurality of setting change flags provided corresponding to each of the host computers and indicating whether or not the setting data is read by the corresponding host computer;
The plurality of setting change flags are:
When the setting data is rewritten by communication with any of the host computers, all the setting change flags are turned off, and the setting change flags corresponding to the rewritten host computer are turned on,
In the subsequent communication with each of the host computers, when the corresponding setting change flag is OFF, the rewritten setting data is read and the setting change flag is turned ON. A communication management device attached to the managed device and a plurality of host computers communicate through a communication network, and each host computer receives the data of the managed device from the communication management device. In the device management method to manage,
When any one of the host computers rewrites setting data for communicating with each of the host computers stored in the communication management device by communication with the communication management device, it is stored in the communication management device. After clearing the communication record with all the host computers that are, record that there was communication with itself in the communication record,
After that, each of the other host computers reads the setting data that has been rewritten when communication with the communication management device is not recorded in the communication record, and A device management method characterized by recording that there has been communication. In a communication management device that is attached to a managed device, communicates with a plurality of host computers through a communication network, and transmits data of the managed device.
Storing setting data for communicating with each of the host computers;
A plurality of setting change flags provided corresponding to each of the host computers and indicating whether or not the setting data is read by the corresponding host computer;
  The plurality of setting change flags are:
When the setting data is rewritten by communication with any of the host computers, all the setting change flags are turned off, and setting change flags corresponding to the rewritten host computer are turned on,
In the subsequent communication with each host computer, when the corresponding setting change flag is OFF, the rewritten setting data is read and the setting change flag is turned ON.

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