JP4819751B2 - Monitoring device, monitoring method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring device, a monitoring method, and a program, and in particular, a monitoring device that manages maintenance information including at least counters of a plurality of peripheral devices that can communicate with a management server that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring devices. The present invention relates to a monitoring method and a program.

  Conventionally, as a method for remotely monitoring various computer equipment including office equipment such as an image forming apparatus, a monitoring device is installed in a network to which the computer equipment is connected, and the monitoring device monitors the computer equipment via the network. A technique for transferring monitoring result information from the monitoring device to a management server is known.

Further, a response request is sent from the management server to the terminal device used at the user base side, and the management server receives the response from the terminal device, so that the management function of the terminal device itself or a telephone line in the terminal device A technique for confirming normality is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-056560

  However, in the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, the management server requires two times of information transfer, that is, transmission of a response request and reception of the response, and there are a plurality of monitoring target devices (terminal devices). If the management server exists, the management server needs to transfer the information twice.

  In addition, when the management server transmits a response request to a plurality of monitoring target devices (terminal devices), the response request is transmitted all at once, or time difference transmission is performed. It is necessary to determine whether or not there is a response for each (terminal device).

  As described above, there is a problem that the processing load on the management server that monitors a plurality of devices to be monitored (terminal devices) is very high.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a monitoring device, a monitoring method, and a program that reduce processing load in a monitoring device that monitors a plurality of monitoring target devices. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, the monitoring device according to claim 1 can communicate with a management device that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring devices via a communication unit, and operation information and faults of the plurality of image forming devices. A monitoring device that acquires information via a network, and a management unit that acquires and manages operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming devices, and that the device itself has a normal communication function. to illustrate, comprises a generating means for generating confirmation information, to the management device the confirmation information generated as an email, a communication control unit to perform regularly transmitted to the communication unit, wherein The confirmation information includes an identification ID of the own apparatus, an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information, and a counter value that represents each usage count of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the own apparatus via a network. Affection Wherein the door, operation information managed by said management means, in the timing of different transmission from said confirmation information is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit, the fault information, the image in response to the acquisition of the failure information of the image forming apparatus from the forming device, characterized in that that are sent to the management device via the communication unit.
In order to achieve the above object, a monitoring method according to claim 3 is capable of communicating with a management apparatus via a communication unit, and obtaining a plurality of operation information and failure information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network. A monitoring method in a monitoring system including a monitoring device and a management device that centrally manages the plurality of monitoring devices, wherein the monitoring device acquires operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming devices, A management step for managing, a creation step for creating confirmation information to indicate that the own device has a normal communication function, and the created confirmation information as an e-mail to the management device, run a communication control step of causing the regularly transmitted to the communication unit, wherein the confirmation information includes identification ID of the apparatus, an identifier capable of identifying that the confirmation information, the own device and network And a operation information including the counter value representing the number of uses of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a workpiece, operation information managed by the management step, the timing of the different transmission from said confirmation information The failure information is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit, and the failure information is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit in response to acquisition of failure information of the image formation device from the image forming device. characterized in that that will be sent to.
In order to achieve the above object, the program according to claim 5 is capable of communicating with a management apparatus that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring apparatuses via a communication unit, and operating information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute a monitoring method for controlling a plurality of monitoring apparatuses that acquire failure information via a network, wherein the monitoring method operates the plurality of image forming apparatuses by the monitoring apparatus. A management step for acquiring and managing information and failure information, a creation step for creating confirmation information to indicate that the device itself has a normal communication function, and the created confirmation information by e-mail wherein the management apparatus executes a communication control step of causing the regularly transmitted to the communication unit, wherein the confirmation information includes identification ID of the apparatus as, It includes an identifier capable of identifying that the certification information, and operation information including the counter value representing the number of uses of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a self-device and the network is managed by the managing step The operation information is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit even at a transmission timing different from the confirmation information, and the failure information is the failure information of the image forming device from the image forming device. depending on the acquisition, characterized in that that are sent to the management device via the communication unit.

  According to the present invention, in a monitoring apparatus that can communicate with a management apparatus that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring apparatuses via a communication unit, and obtains operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network. Identification indicating the own apparatus by acquiring and managing operation information and failure information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, causing the communication unit to notify the management apparatus of operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to be managed Create confirmation information including an ID, periodically notify the management device of the created confirmation information to the communication unit, and monitor that meets a predetermined condition as management information based on the history of notification of confirmation information by the management device Information on a list capable of specifying the apparatus is created, and the confirmation information can include maintenance information including a counter value representing each usage count of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment of a remote monitoring system including a management apparatus according to the present invention.

  In this remote monitoring system, the center-side management server 6 and the site-side management server 2 are each constituted by a general information processing apparatus, and can communicate with each other by a predetermined protocol 10 via a communication line 8 such as the Internet. The base-side management server 2 and the center-side management server 6 can be assumed as a part that handles functions of a mail server and a router, for example.

  The center-side management server 6 and the site-side management server 2 are connected by a predetermined protocol 10 via the communication line 8, but a general protocol (SMTP) is used to prevent unauthorized access and to pass through a firewall. ) And authentication.

  The monitoring apparatus 1 is connected to the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 12 via the network 9, and operation information and failure information (details will be described later) of the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12. And the function of updating the control programs of the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12, and the function of transferring the collected information to the center management server 6 via the site management server 2. .

  A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 7 is connected to the center side management server 6 via a network and operates as a client computer of the center side management server 6. The PC 7 can execute various types of information processing and share information collected by the center management server 6.

  In FIG. 1, the monitoring device 1 and the site-side management server 2 are installed separately, and the PC 7 and the center-side management server 6 are installed separately, but the monitoring device 1 and the site-side management server 2 are installed. May be a single device, and the PC 7 and the center management server 6 may be a single device. This is indicated by a dotted frame in FIG.

  Although only one monitoring device 1 is shown in FIG. 1, in practice, a plurality of monitoring devices are connected to the network 9 and are monitored by the respective monitoring devices. Are connected to the network 9, and the center side management server 6 manages the plurality of monitoring devices in an integrated manner. Each of the plurality of monitoring devices implements various processes / controls described later.

  Specifically, the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 are a printer (including an electrophotographic system and an inkjet system), a facsimile apparatus, a scanner, a printer, a digital multi-function peripheral integrated with a facsimile function, a print server, and the like. Either.

  For example, the PC 12 has a function of converting predetermined application data into PDL (Page Description Language) data via an OS (Operating System) and a printer driver, and transmitting the PDL data to any of the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5. Prepare.

  The monitoring device 1 collects maintenance information from the image forming devices 3 to 5 and the PC 12. The maintenance information includes at least failure information in the operation information. In the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5, the operation information is the state of the apparatuses, the remaining amount of toner, the number of printed sheets for each paper size, and the like in the PC 12. The operating status of the CPU and memory in the PC 12, the usage status of the paid application, and the like. The failure information is jam information in the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5, information on the number of restarts in the PC 12, and the like. Such definition of maintenance information is also applied to second and third embodiments described later.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the monitoring device 1. The monitoring device 1 includes a plurality of interfaces for various applications in addition to the configuration of a general information processing device.

  In the figure, the CPU 201 controls each component in the monitoring device 1 individually and / or in an integrated manner. On the bus 202, data is transferred between the components in the monitoring device 1. The RAM 203 is a rewritable memory that can electrically store information. A flash ROM (Flash ROM) 204 is a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten and can store information even when the power is turned off. Network interfaces (Network I / F) 205 and 206 are interfaces for exchanging information with the outside via the network 9. A serial interface (Serial I / F) 207 is an interface for exchanging information by RS232C serial communication. A debug interface (Debug I / F) 208 is a serial communication unit used for debugging purposes.

  The monitoring device 1 may include an input device such as a keyboard, a display unit, a display control unit, and the like. For example, a serviceman's PC is connected to the network interfaces (Network I / F) 205 and 206. The setting of the monitoring device 1 can be changed by starting the setting program in the monitoring device 1 by this PC. Therefore, it is not always necessary to provide an input device, a display unit, a display unit driving unit, and the like, and by not including these, it is possible to construct a device at a low cost.

  Further, since the site-side management server 2, the PC 12, the center-side management server 6, and the PC 7 only need to have a configuration provided in a general information processing apparatus, detailed description of their hardware configuration is omitted.

  Next, failure monitoring performed by the monitoring apparatus 1 for the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the failure information confirmation program executed in the monitoring device 1. Here, information transmission from the monitoring device 1 to the site side management server 2, the center side management server 6, and the PC 7 is performed by SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and information reception from them is performed by POP (Post Office Protocol). Shall.

  In step S <b> 301, the monitoring apparatus 1 tries to acquire failure information from the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12 by using a specific protocol via the network 9.

  In step S302, it is determined whether failure information has been acquired as a result of the attempt in step S301. If it can be acquired, the process proceeds to step S303, and the acquired failure information is transmitted to the base side management server 2 or the center side management server 6. If it cannot be obtained, the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S304, a response confirmation program (described later with reference to FIG. 4) is started in order to confirm that the failure information has been correctly transmitted to the base side management server 2 or the center side management server 6.

  In step S305, the system waits for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute).

  In step S306, it is determined whether or not there has been an instruction to end the failure information confirmation program process during the standby for a predetermined time. If there is an instruction, the program process is ended. If there is no instruction, the process returns to step S301. Then, this program processing is executed again.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the response confirmation program executed in the monitoring device 1. This program is started by step S304 of FIG. 3 as described above.

  In step S307, the monitoring device 1 waits for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds).

  In step S308, it is checked that a response has been returned from the base side management server 2 or the center side management server 6.

  If it is determined in step S309 that a response is returned from the base management server 2 or the center management server 6 as a result of the check in step S308, the program processing ends. If no response is returned, the process proceeds to step S310, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined maximum response confirmation time (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed. If it has not elapsed, the process returns to step S307 and a response reply check is performed. If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S311.

  In step S311, it is determined whether or not the number of times failure information has been transmitted so far is less than or equal to a predetermined number (for example, once). If it is less than the predetermined number of times, that is, for example, when failure information is transmitted for the first time this time, the process proceeds to step S312 and the failure information is transmitted again to the base management server 2 or the center management server 6, and the process returns to step S307. When the failure information transmission count exceeds the predetermined count, this program processing is terminated.

  Next, counter information collection processing performed by the monitoring device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The counter information is the above-described operation information regarding the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12, and this collection process is performed by a counter information acquisition program and a counter information transmission program.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the counter information acquisition program executed in the monitoring device 1. This process is executed for each of the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12.

  In step S <b> 401, the monitoring apparatus 1 acquires counter information of the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12 via the network 9 using a specific protocol.

  In step S402, the monitoring apparatus 1 stores the counter information acquired from the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12 in the storage unit (RAM 203). If the data format acquired by the monitoring apparatus 1 from the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12 is different from the data format transmitted to the base management server 2 or the center management server 6, the data conversion is performed at the time of saving. You may keep it. Alternatively, the data conversion may be performed when a counter information transmission request is received from the site-side management server 2 or the center-side management server 6.

  In step S403, the monitoring device 1 waits for a predetermined time (for example, 60 minutes).

  In step S404, it is determined whether or not there has been an instruction to end the counter information acquisition program during the standby for the predetermined time. If there is an end instruction, this program processing is ended. If there is no end instruction, the process returns to step S401, and this program processing is performed again.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the counter information transmission program executed in the monitoring apparatus 1.

  In step S405, the monitoring apparatus 1 inquires of the POP server whether or not a counter information transmission request mail has been sent from the base side management server 2 or the center side management server 6.

  If it is determined in step S406 that the counter information transmission request mail has been sent as a result of this inquiry, the process proceeds to step S407. If it is determined that the counter information transmission request mail has not been sent, the process proceeds to step S410.

  In step S407, it is determined whether the counter information is stored in the storage unit (RAM 203). If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S408, and the stored counter information is transmitted to the base side management server 2 or the center side management server 6. The counter information transmitted to the center side management server 6 is shared in the PC 7 as described above, and can be referred to by, for example, an operator.

  If it is determined in step S407 that the counter information is not stored in the storage unit (RAM 203), the process proceeds to step S409, and information indicating that the counter information has not been collected is set as the base side management server 2 or the center side management server. 6 to send.

  In step S410, the monitoring device 1 waits for a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes).

  In step S411, it is determined whether or not the end of the counter information transmission program has been instructed during standby for a predetermined time. When the end is instructed, the program processing ends. Otherwise, the process returns to step S405, and this program processing is performed again.

  If it is determined in step S406 that the counter information transmission request mail has not been sent, the process proceeds to steps S410 and S411, and the processes in steps S405 to S410 are repeatedly executed until it is determined that the program has been instructed. To do.

  As described above, the processing shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is executed, so that maintenance information on the image forming apparatus and the PC used at the user site can be integrated remotely in the center side management server 6 or the PC 7. Centralized management.

  Next, each controller for controlling the image forming apparatuses 3, 4, and 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Since each controller has the same configuration, only one will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller that controls one of the image forming apparatuses 3 to 5.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the controller includes a CPU circuit unit 307, and the CPU circuit unit 307 includes a CPU (not shown), a ROM 308, a RAM 309, and a hard disk device (HDD) 310, and is stored in the ROM 308. Each control unit 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315, which will be described later, is comprehensively controlled by the control program. The RAM 309 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing by the CPU. The hard disk device 310 stores information necessary for a program for control and information received from each component unit 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315.

  A document feeder control unit 302 controls driving of a document feeder (not shown) based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 307. The image reader control unit 303 performs drive control on a scanner unit (not shown), an image sensor (not shown), and the like, and transfers an analog image signal output from the image sensor to the image signal control unit 304.

  The image signal control unit 304 converts the transferred analog image signal into a digital signal, and performs various image processing on the digital signal. Thereafter, the digital signal is converted into a video signal and output to the printer control unit 305. The processing operation of the image signal control unit 304 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 307.

  The external I / F 306 performs various processes on the digital image signal input from the PC 12 via the network 9, converts the digital image signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 305. The external I / F 306 communicates with a device management apparatus (not shown) via the network 9.

  The printer control unit 305 drives an exposure control unit (not shown) based on the video signal input from the image signal control unit 304 or the external I / F 306 as described above.

  The operation unit 311 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, and outputs a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key to the CPU circuit unit 307. The display unit 312 displays a setting state by the operation unit 311 and displays corresponding information based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 307.

  The sorter control unit 313 and the finisher control unit 314 operate according to a signal output from the CPU circuit unit 307 based on an input from the user via the external I / F 306 or a setting from the operation unit 311. The state detection unit 315 collects state information from each component, makes a determination such as abnormality detection, and notifies the CPU circuit unit 307 of the determination result. Based on this notification, the CPU circuit unit 307 displays an abnormality on the display unit 312 and notifies the PC 12 and the like via the external I / F 306.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a software (task) configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The task manager A-101 is for managing a plurality of tasks simultaneously. The paper transport unit task group A-102 is a task group that controls transport of a document and a sheet on which an image is formed. A sequence control task A-103 is a task for managing the entire image forming apparatus. A communication task A-104 is a task for communicating with the device management apparatus. The management data creation task A-105 is a task for creating remote management data according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus counts operation information for each paper size, for each mode, for each paper type, and for each color. These counts are performed in the management data creation task A-105 and stored in a storage unit (such as the RAM 309) in the image forming apparatus.

  Similarly, status information (failure information) such as a jam, an error, and an alarm is stored in a storage unit in the image forming apparatus by a management data creation task A-105 in a predetermined data format.

  Further, each component in the image forming apparatus has replacement life information of the consumable parts and a counter value indicating the frequency of use, and these are stored in the image forming apparatus by the management data creation task A-105. Stored in the department.

  The state monitoring task A-106 detects an abnormality (jam, error, alarm) in the image forming apparatus, or detects a status change of each component set in advance. These detection results are stored in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus via the management data creation task A-105.

  The information stored in these storage units is notified to the monitoring device 1 in response to a predetermined timing or a request for information from the monitoring device 1.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal functional configuration of the monitoring device 1 and the center side management server 6 in FIG. The center side management server 6 may be replaced with the PC 7 or may be replaced with an integrated device of the center side management server 6 and the PC 7. Furthermore, the monitoring device 1 may be replaced with the base side management server 2 or may be replaced with an integrated device of the monitoring device 1 and the base side management server 2.

  The monitoring device 1 includes a communication processing unit 602 for performing communication with the outside, a mail communication unit 603 for transmitting mail, a timer processing unit 604 for managing task of programs in the monitoring device 1, and periodically creating mail. The regular communication creating unit 605 causes the regular communication creating unit 605 to send a mail, and the mail creating information 606 that is information necessary for creating the mail.

  The center side management server 6 includes a communication processing unit 608 for communicating with the outside, a mail processing unit 609 for receiving mail and transferring it to the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610, a periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 for analyzing received mail, A database 611 for storing information obtained by the analysis, a timer processing unit 612 for managing the task of the program in the center management server 6, and processing setting information 614 indicating processing contents to be performed by the periodic communication management unit 613 described later. A notification mail creating unit 615 that creates a notification mail, and mail creation information 616 that is information necessary for creating a mail in the notification mail creating unit 615. The regular communication management unit 613 periodically monitors the database 611, performs processing according to the processing content indicated by the processing setting information 614, and requests the notification mail creation unit 615 to create a notification mail according to the result.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the mail creation information 606 in FIG.

  The mail creation information 606 includes at least a mail destination address 701, a mail source address 702, and subject content 703. Information related to mail transmission / reception processing, for example, the address of the SMTP server, the address of the POP server, authentication information for each server, and the like are held in the mail processing unit 603 and are not included in the mail creation information 606. The communication processing unit 602 has its own IP address and netmask, and a gateway address for communication with the outside, and information for communication processing with the outside is not included in the mail creation information 606.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the mail creation information 615 of FIG.

  The mail creation information 615 includes a mail destination address 801, a mail sender address 802, a subject content 803 indicating that this mail is a mail for sending a list of monitoring devices having an abnormality, and a mail content template 804. Have.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of the mail transmitted from the monitoring device 1 to the center management server 6.

  In addition to the destination address 903, the transmission source address 902, and the subject 904, a transmission time 901 and transmission source information 905 to 909 are added to the mail from the monitoring apparatus 1.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the content of mail transmitted from the center side management server 6 to a preset destination.

  In the mail from the center side management server 6, in addition to the destination address 1003, the transmission source address 1002, the subject 1004, the detailed content 1010 created from the mail content template 804 is sent together with the transmission time 1001 and the transmission source information 1005 to 1009. Added.

  Next, processing operations of the monitoring device 1 and the center side management server 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a regular mail transmission process executed in the monitoring device 1.

  The monitoring apparatus 1 collects maintenance information from peripheral devices including the plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 to 5 and the PC 12 and stores the maintenance information in the storage unit (RAM 203).

  In addition, the monitoring device 1 periodically activates the periodic communication creation unit 605 according to a signal from the timer processing unit 604 (S451). The activated regular communication creation unit 605 acquires the transmission source, transmission destination (center side management server 6), and subject information from the mail creation information 606 (step S452), and the device itself has a normal communication function. A confirmation mail indicating this is created (step S453), and the confirmation mail is transferred to the mail processing unit 603 to request transmission (step S454). Upon receiving the confirmation mail transmission request, the mail processing unit 603 adds information necessary for mail exchange in addition to the message ID and date (step S455), and sends the mail to an external mail server. Transmission is performed via 602 (step S456). The confirmation mail includes maintenance information stored in the storage unit (RAM 203).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure of mail reception processing executed in the center management server 6. In step S502, mail from a plurality of monitoring devices to be managed is received.

  When the communication processing unit 608 of the center side management server 6 receives the mail addressed to the center side management server 6, the communication processing unit 608 passes the mail to the mail processing unit 609 (step S501). The mail processing unit 609 passes the passed mail to the regular communication mail analysis unit 610 (step S502).

  The periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 analyzes the subject for the delivered mail (step S503). As a result, it is determined whether or not the subject has a preset character string, for example, “Beacon” (step S504). If there is “Beacon”, the received mail is regarded as a regularly transmitted mail (confirmation mail), and the process proceeds to step S506. Otherwise, the received mail is regarded as not being a regularly transmitted mail (confirmation mail), and the received mail is discarded (step S505).

  In step S506, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 extracts the transmission source ID from the subject of the periodic transmission mail (step S506). Since the periodically transmitted mail (confirmation mail) can be transmitted from any of the plurality of monitoring devices, the monitoring device can be identified by extracting the transmission source ID. In the example shown in FIG. 12 described above, the subject is “Beacon from agent001 — 211”, and the character string “agent001 — 211” after “from” is the transmission source ID.

  Subsequently, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 acquires the date and time when the mail is received from the timer processing unit 612 of the center side management server 6 (step S507), and associates the transmission source ID and the date and time with the database. It registers in 611 (step S508). If the date and time are already registered in association with the same source ID, the date and time are updated. Note that maintenance information included in the received mail is also stored in the database 611. Based on the processing in step S508, the monitoring target management information registered / updated in the database 611 is created in the center side management server 6. As described above, the notification based on the monitoring of the notification timing by each monitoring device is performed, and the processing of steps S501 to S508 is executed. Therefore, the center side management server 6 transmits the response request and receives the response twice. There is no need to transfer information, and there is no need for the management server to send response requests to multiple monitoring target devices (monitoring devices) all at once, or to perform time difference transmission. Can reduce the load.

  In addition, mails from a plurality of monitoring devices are received by the center management server 6 in step S502, but it is desirable that the reception timings in step S502 due to the emails notified from the respective monitoring devices are not concentrated. Therefore, an e-mail notification timing is set in each monitoring device so that the reception timing in step S502 is not concentrated. Further, the center side management server 6 has means (communication processing unit) for instructing a plurality of monitoring devices to update the notification timing collectively in order to change the mail notification timing in each of the monitoring devices. Each monitoring device has a function of updating at the instructed notification timing.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a regular mail transmission process executed in the center side management server 6, and is executed based on the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The periodic communication management unit 613 of the center side management server 6 acquires the monitoring target management information stored in the database 611 at a timing instructed from the timer processing unit 612 with a preset timing interval (step S509). Work procedure information is acquired from the process setting information 614 (step S510). This work procedure information is used for processing for identifying / selecting a monitoring device that satisfies a predetermined condition from the monitoring target management information stored in the database.

  An example of the processing setting information 614 shown in FIG. 11 is “search for a monitoring device that has not transmitted a periodic transmission mail for three days or more, create a list of transmission source IDs of such monitoring devices, and attach them to a notification mail. The work procedure information with the gist of “to send” is described. Hereinafter, processing for creating monitoring target management information processed based on the work procedure information will be described. Of course, the predetermined condition is not limited to this, and a predetermined condition considering the customer environment or the like is stored in the predetermined setting procedure 614 as appropriate.

  The regular communication management unit 613 first acquires the current time from the timer processing unit 612 of the center side management server 6 in accordance with the acquired work procedure information (step S511).

  Then, the regular communication management unit 613 selects a transmission source ID having a date and time that is three days or older from the current time (YES in step S512), and displays a list of transmission source IDs (monitoring target management information) of the selected monitoring device. Create (step S513). Note that if there is no date and time that is older than the current time by a predetermined date or more (for example, 3 days or more) (NO in step S512), the process ends.

  The regular communication management unit 613 passes a list (monitoring target management information) processed based on a predetermined condition to the notification mail creation unit 615. The notification mail creation unit 615 creates a mail with the passed list as an attached file based on the mail creation information 616 (step S514). An example of the mail created here is shown in FIG.

  The created mail is transmitted to a preset destination through the mail processing unit 609 (step S515).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of monitoring devices including the monitoring device 1 periodically transmits an email to the center-side management server 6. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a monitoring device that does not send mail for a predetermined period by receiving periodically transmitted mail. Notify the destination of such an abnormality of the monitoring device.

  In the first embodiment, a specific character string included in the subject of the mail is used as a method for determining whether or not the center side management server 6 is a periodically transmitted mail. By embedding a specific character string or code in the content of the main text to indicate that it is a regularly sent email, or by registering the email address of the sender to be monitored in advance and checking it against this registered address Alternatively, a method for determining that the mail is a periodic transmission may be used.

  In the first embodiment, the periodic communication management unit 613 of the center management server 6 uses the time in the center management server 6 as a reference source of the date and time when the periodic transmission mail is received. The transmission date recorded in the mail may be used, and in this case, the same effect can be obtained. Furthermore, as a method of determining the transmission source, the periodic communication management unit 613 takes out the transmission source information from the subject of the mail, but instead, holds a correspondence table between the transmission source address and the transmission source information in advance. Alternatively, the transmission source ID may be obtained from the transmission source address of the transmission mail, or the transmission source ID may be recorded in the body of the mail and used. Furthermore, in place of the transmission source ID, use may be made of a user name of the monitoring device, an ID associated with the monitoring device, an IP address or a MAC address of the monitoring device.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  Since the configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, in the description of the second embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment is used. Only the differences will be explained.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating the internal functional configuration of the monitoring device 1a and the center side management server 6 according to the second embodiment. The monitoring device 1a corresponds to the monitoring device 1 in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the center management server 6 may be replaced with the PC 7 or may be replaced with an integrated device of the center management server 6 and the PC 7. Furthermore, the monitoring device 1a may be read as the base side management server 2, or may be read as an integrated device of the monitoring device 1a and the base side management server 2.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17 surrounded by a broken line, the monitoring device 1a includes a periodic communication calculation unit 1301, periodic processing record information 1302, timing rule information 1303, and a timer processing unit 1304. This is different from the first embodiment. Except for this point, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

  The regular communication calculation unit 1301 determines the timing at which mail should be transmitted next time based on the mail creation history information. The periodic process record information 1302 is mail creation history information including the previous mail transmission time, the number of mail transmissions, and the time when the next mail should be transmitted, an example of which is shown in FIG. The timing rule information 1303 is information composed of mail contents regarding the next mail transmission timing set according to various conditions regarding the number of transmissions, and an example thereof is shown in FIG. The timer processing unit 1304 performs task management of programs in the monitoring device 1a. Note that the timer processing unit 1304 may use the timer processing unit 604 of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of information in the second embodiment held in the database 611 of the center management server 6.

  In the database 611, the next reception scheduled date is recorded in addition to the transmission source ID and the (previous) reception date as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a regular mail transmission process executed in the monitoring device 1a according to the second embodiment.

  The monitoring device 1a periodically activates the periodic communication calculation unit 1301 according to a signal from the timer processing unit 1302 (S1101). The activated periodic communication calculation unit 1301 acquires the current time from the timer processing unit 1302 (S1102). Subsequently, the regular communication calculation unit 1301 acquires mail creation history information (periodic process record information) from the regular process record information 1302 (S1103). Based on this information, it is determined whether or not the current time has reached the next transmission time (S1104). If the next transmission time has not been reached, the regular email transmission process is terminated. If the next transmission time has been reached, the regular communication calculation unit 1301 refers to the timing rule information 1303 (S1105), and reads the mail content corresponding to the next transmission timing that meets the conditions regarding the number of transmissions ( In step S1106, the contents of the mail are transferred to the periodic communication creation unit 605 (S1107). At the same time, the next transmission time is determined according to “transmission count setting” in the timing rule information 1303, and the periodic process record information 1302 is updated.

  For example, in the monitoring apparatus to which the example of the periodic process record information 1302 shown in FIG. 18 is applied, if the current time has reached the next transmission time, the condition “number of times of transmission in the example of the timing rule information 1303 shown in FIG. Less than 10 times (more than 5 times) ”corresponds, so the next transmission time is May 12 (= 2 days after May 10), the number of transmissions is 9 times (= 8 times + 1), and the previous transmission time is 5 The 10th of the month. In this case, the mail content passed to the regular communication creation unit 605 is “2 days after”. Further, for example, in the monitoring apparatus to which the example of the periodic process record information 1302 shown in FIG. 18 is applied, if the current time has passed the next transmission time, the condition “transmission time” in the example of the timing rule information 1303 shown in FIG. Therefore, the next transmission time is May 11 (= one day after May 10), the number of transmissions is one, and the previous transmission time is May 10. In this case, the mail content delivered to the periodic communication creation unit 605 is “1 day after”.

  Returning to FIG. 21, when the periodic communication creation unit 605 receives the mail content from the periodic communication calculation unit 1301, the transmission source ID, the transmission destination address, and the subject information (same as in the first embodiment) from the mail creation information 606. (A character string of “Beacon”) is acquired (S1108), an outgoing mail is created (S1109), and is sent to the mail processing unit 603. Upon receiving this, the mail processing unit 603 adds information necessary for mail exchange in addition to the message ID and date (S1110), and transmits the mail to the mail server via the communication processing unit 602 (S1111). ).

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of mail reception processing executed in the center side management server 6 according to the second embodiment.

  When the communication processing unit 608 of the center side management server 6 receives the mail addressed to the center side management server 6 (S1201), it passes it to the mail processing unit 609. The mail processing unit 609 passes the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 (S1202). The periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 analyzes the subject with respect to the received mail (S1203). As a result, it is determined whether or not a character string (here, the character string “Beacon”) indicating that it is a regularly transmitted mail exists in the subject (S1204). If it exists, the process proceeds to step S1206, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S1205. In step S1205, the received mail is discarded (S1205).

  In step S1206, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 extracts the transmission source ID from the subject of the received mail (S1206). Subsequently, the date and time when the mail is received is acquired from the timer processing unit 612 (S1207). Subsequently, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 acquires the mail contents (S1208), and calculates the next reception time based on the mail contents and the date and time acquired in step S1207 (S1209). The next reception time obtained is associated with the transmission source ID extracted in step S1206, and the monitoring target management information is recorded / updated in the database 611 (S1210).

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a periodic mail transmission process executed in the center side management server 6 in the second embodiment.

  The periodic communication management unit 613 of the center side management server 6 acquires the monitoring target management information stored in the database 611 at a timing instructed by the timer processing unit 612 with a preset timing interval (step S1211). Work procedure information is acquired from the process setting information 614 (step S1212).

  For example, the work procedure information acquired from the processing setting information 614 includes “search for a monitoring device whose current time has passed the next reception time, create a list of source IDs of each such monitoring device, and attach them to the notification mail. The work procedure information with the gist of “to be transmitted” is described. The regular communication management unit 613 first acquires the current time from the timer processing unit 612 of the center side management server 6 according to the acquired work procedure information (step S1213).

  Then, the periodic communication management unit 613 selects one or a plurality of transmission source IDs of monitoring devices that satisfy a predetermined condition that the current time has passed the next reception time (YES in step S1214), and the transmission of the selected monitoring device. A list of original IDs is created as post-processing monitoring target management information (step S1215). If there is no monitoring device whose current time has passed the next reception time (NO in step S1214), the process ends.

  The regular communication management unit 613 passes the created list to the notification mail creation unit 615. Based on the mail creation information 616, the notification mail creation unit 615 creates a mail with the passed list as an attached file (step S1216).

  The created mail is transmitted to a preset destination through the mail processing unit 609 (step S1217).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring device 1a notifies the center side management server 6 of the next mail transmission timing, and the mail is sent at the next mail transmission timing. The center side management server 6 detects an abnormality of the monitoring device 1a when it does not reach from the monitoring device 1a. In this way, since the next mail transmission timing can be set on the monitoring device 1a side, for example, when it is known in advance that the monitoring device 1a is stopped for one week, the next mail incorporating that one week is included. The monitoring device 1a notifies the center side management server 6 of the transmission timing, so that erroneous detection of an abnormality of the monitoring device 1a can be prevented.

  In the second embodiment, the mail content related to the next transmission time is described in the mail body, transmitted from the monitoring device 1a to the center side management server 6, and the center side management server 6 side based on the mail content. The next reception date / time is calculated, but instead of this, the next transmission date / time itself may be described in the mail body, and the center side management server 6 may use the date / time as the next reception date / time.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, when a monitoring device is newly added to the remote monitoring system, it is necessary to manually add new monitoring device information to the database of the center management server. Further, when removing the monitoring device from the remote monitoring system, it is necessary to manually delete the information of the monitoring device from the database of the center side management server. In the third embodiment, such a manual operation is unnecessary.

  Since the configuration of the third embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, in the description of the third embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment is used. Only the differences will be explained.

  FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating an internal functional configuration of the monitoring device 1 and the center side management server 6a according to the third embodiment. The center management server 6a corresponds to the center management server 6 in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the center management server 6a may be replaced with the PC 7 or may be replaced with an integrated device of the center management server 6a and the PC 7. Furthermore, the monitoring device 1 may be replaced with the base side management server 2 or may be replaced with an integrated device of the monitoring device 1 and the base side management server 2.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24 surrounded by a broken line, the center side management server 6a includes an ID management unit 2401, processing setting information 2402, and a timer processing unit 2403. Is different. Except for this point, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

  The ID management unit 2401 inputs, updates, and deletes transmission source ID information and the like in the database 611 based on the received mail. The process setting information 2402 indicates information deletion conditions in the database 611. The timer processing unit 2403 performs task management of programs in the center management server 6a.

  The mail creation information 606 in the third embodiment also has the same information as an example of the mail creation information in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Further, the mail content transmitted from the monitoring device 1 in the third embodiment also has the same content as an example of the mail content in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of the processing setting information 2402 according to the third embodiment. Of the information stored in the database 611, information that matches the conditions shown here is deleted from the database 611.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the database 611. It consists of the sender ID, the number of receptions, the first reception date, and the previous reception date.

  Since the processing operation of the monitoring device 1 in the third embodiment is the same as the processing operation of the monitoring device 1 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 14, description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of mail reception processing executed in the center management server 6a according to the third embodiment.

  When receiving the mail addressed to the center side management server 6a, the communication processing unit 608 of the center side management server 6a passes the mail to the mail processing unit 609 (step S1501). The mail processing unit 609 passes the passed mail to the regular communication mail analysis unit 610 (step S1502).

  The periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 analyzes the subject for the delivered mail (step S1503). As a result, it is determined whether or not the subject has a preset character string, for example, “Beacon” (step S1504). If “Beacon” is present, the received mail is regarded as a regularly transmitted mail (confirmation mail), and the process proceeds to step S1506. Otherwise, the received mail is regarded as not being a periodically transmitted mail (confirmation mail), and the received mail is discarded (step S1506). S1505).

  In step S1506, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 extracts the transmission source ID from the subject of the periodic transmission mail (step S1506). Since the periodically transmitted mail (confirmation mail) can be transmitted from any of the plurality of monitoring devices, the monitoring device can be identified by extracting the transmission source ID. In the example shown in FIG. 12 described above, the subject is “Beacon from agent001 — 211”, and the character string “agent001 — 211” after “from” is the transmission source ID.

  Subsequently, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 acquires the date and time when the mail is received from the timer processing unit 2403 of the center management server 6a (step S1507). Then, the periodic communication mail analysis unit 610 refers to the database 611 and determines whether or not the transmission source ID extracted in step S1506 is registered in the database 611 (S1508). If registered, the process proceeds to step S1510. If not registered, the process proceeds to step S1509, the transmission source ID is newly registered in the database 611, the monitoring target management information is updated, and the first reception date is set (S1509). . In step S1510, the number of receptions and the previous reception date corresponding to the transmission source ID extracted in step S1506 are updated in the monitoring target management information in the database 611 (S1510).

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of ID management processing executed in the center side management server 6a according to the third embodiment.

  The ID management unit 613 periodically refers to the database 611 according to a signal from the timer processing unit 612 and acquires, for example, information illustrated in FIG. 26 (S1511). Further, for example, the deletion condition (work procedure) shown in FIG. 25 is acquired from the processing setting information 614 (S1512). Further, the ID management unit 613 acquires the current date and time (current time) from the timer processing unit 2403 of the center management server 6a (S1513). In the following description, it is assumed that the current date is May 14th.

  Based on the information in the database 611 and the deletion condition from the processing setting information 2402, the ID management unit 613 determines whether information corresponding to the deletion condition exists in the monitoring target management information in the database 611 as a predetermined condition. Is discriminated (S1514). For example, when the information in the database 611 shown in FIG. 26 having the transmission source ID “agent001_211” is checked against the deletion condition shown in FIG. The deletion condition “first reception date) / number of receptions + previous reception date” is before the current date (if the target information is deleted) is applied. In the target information here, since (last received date−first received date) is 203 days and the number of receptions is 44 times, “(last received date−first received date) / number of received times” is 4.6 days. “(Last reception date−First reception date) / Number of receptions + Last reception date” is calculated as May 19, which is later than May 14 of the current date. Therefore, information whose transmission source ID is “agent001_211” is not a deletion target.

  Next, of the information in the database 611 shown in FIG. 26, the information whose transmission source ID is “agent122_045” is checked against the deletion condition shown in FIG. The deletion condition of “first reception date) / number of receptions + previous reception date” is before the current date (if the target information is deleted) is applied. In the target information here, since (last received date−first received date) is 122 days and the number of receptions is 26 times, “(last received date−first received date) / number of received times” is 4.7 days. Calculated, “(last received date−first received date) / number of received times + last received date” is May 11, which is before May 14 of the current date. Therefore, information whose transmission source ID is “agent122_045” is a deletion target. Similarly, processing is performed on other information in the database 611 shown in FIG. As a result, only the information of the transmission source ID “agent122_045” is to be deleted, only this information is deleted from the database 611, and the monitoring target management information is updated (S1515).

  When the center side management server 6a in the third embodiment executes the periodic mail transmission process for the database 611 managed in this way and there is an abnormality in the monitoring device, the abnormality is detected at a preset destination. The periodic mail transmission process is the same as the periodic mail transmission process executed in the center side management server 6 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, information is periodically transmitted from a plurality of monitoring devices to the center management server, and the received information is stored in the database. Information about the new monitoring device is automatically stored in the database. In addition, the center management server automatically deletes information corresponding to the monitoring device that satisfies a preset deletion condition from the database. This eliminates the need for the monitoring device to be registered in the database on the center management server by the center management server administrator. In addition, when the monitoring device is removed, there is no need to delete the information of the monitoring device from the database by the center management server administrator. In addition, the center side management server that notifies the abnormality of the monitoring device to the predetermined destination does not need to perform useless abnormality notification regarding the monitoring device that satisfies the deletion condition.

  In the third embodiment, a character string included in the subject, for example, “Beacon” is used as a method for determining whether or not a regular communication mail (confirmation mail) is used. Then, by embedding a predetermined character string or code in the mail body of the periodic communication mail, this can be used as a material for discrimination, or information on the transmission source to which the periodic communication mail should be transmitted is registered in advance. May be determined based on whether or not is described in the periodic transmission mail.

  In the third embodiment described above, the date when the periodic transmission mail arrives at the management server on the center side is used as the reception date as a deletion condition. Instead, it is recorded in the periodic transmission mail. The same effect can be obtained even if the transmission date is used.

  Furthermore, in the third embodiment, as a method for determining the transmission source, the transmission source ID is extracted from the subject. Instead, a correspondence table between the transmission source address and the transmission source ID is held in advance. Alternatively, the transmission source ID may be acquired from the transmission source address, or the transmission source ID may be recorded in the body of the mail and the record may be used.

[Other embodiments]
It is to be noted that the object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on an instruction of the program code. Includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  As described above, various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described. Examples of embodiments of the present invention are listed below.

[Embodiment 1] A management device for managing maintenance information including at least a counter of a plurality of peripheral devices, capable of communicating with a management server that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring devices,
Management means for managing maintenance information of the peripheral devices;
Communication control means for periodically sending confirmation information including an identification ID to the management server,
The communication control unit notifies maintenance information managed by the management unit to the management server, and the management server creates monitoring target management information based on a notification history of notification by the communication control unit. Management device.

  [Embodiment 2] The management apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the monitoring target management information is information on a list that can identify management apparatuses for which the notification history satisfies a predetermined condition.

  [Embodiment 3] The monitoring target management information further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined management device is included in the monitoring target management information, and the management device determined to be included by the determination unit is included in the monitoring target management information. The management apparatus according to Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the information in the list includes information that can identify a plurality of management apparatuses.

  [Embodiment 4] The information processing apparatus further includes a creation unit that creates the confirmation information so that an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information is included in the confirmation information, and the communication control unit periodically creates the creation information according to a timer. The management apparatus according to any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein the confirmation information created by the means is notified to the management server via a communication line.

  [Embodiment 5] The management apparatus according to Embodiment 4, wherein the creating unit includes an identification ID of the own device in a mail and includes the identifier in a subject of the mail.

  [Embodiment 6] The management apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the monitoring apparatus includes a second control unit that notifies the monitoring target management information.

  [Embodiment 7] The next scheduled time of notification of the confirmation information is periodically recorded in the management server via the notification control means, and information from the monitoring device has not arrived at the scheduled time. The management apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein an abnormality of the monitoring apparatus is detected according to a certain condition.

  [Embodiment 8] The management server determines whether or not the identification ID is already registered, and newly registers a monitoring device corresponding to the identification ID according to the determination. The management apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 7.

  [Embodiment 9] The management apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the management server deletes the identification ID from a monitoring target based on a predetermined notification history condition.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment of a remote monitoring system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the failure information confirmation program performed in the monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the response confirmation program performed in the monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the counter information acquisition program performed in the monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the counter information transmission program performed in the monitoring apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller that controls one of the image forming apparatuses. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software (task) configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal function structure of the monitoring apparatus and center side management server in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the mail preparation information of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the process setting information of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the mail content transmitted from a monitoring apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the mail content transmitted from the center side management server. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the regular mail transmission process performed in the monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the mail reception process performed in the center side management server. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the regular mail transmission process performed in the center side management server. It is a block diagram which shows the internal function structure of the monitoring apparatus and center side management server in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the regular process recording information (mail creation log | history information) which consists of the last mail transmission time, the mail transmission frequency, and the time which should transmit mail next time. It is a figure which shows an example of the timing rule information which consists of the mail content regarding the next mail transmission timing set according to the various conditions regarding the frequency | count of transmission. It is a figure which shows an example of the information in 2nd Embodiment which the database of a center side management server hold | maintains. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the regular mail transmission process performed in the monitoring apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the mail reception process performed in the center side management server in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the regular mail transmission process performed in the center side management server in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal function structure of the monitoring apparatus and center side management server in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the process setting information in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the information stored in the database. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the mail reception process performed in the center side management server in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the ID management process performed in the center side management server in 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Monitoring apparatus 2 Base side management server 3-5 Image forming apparatus (peripheral device)
6 Center side management server (management server)
7 Personal computer (PC, management server)
8 Communication line 9 Network 10 Predetermined protocol 12 Personal computer (PC, peripheral device)
602 Communication processing unit 603 Mail processing unit 604 Timer processing unit 605 Periodic communication creation unit 606 Mail creation information 608 Communication processing unit 609 Mail processing unit 610 Periodic communication mail analysis unit 611 Database 612 Timer processing unit 613 Periodic communication management unit 614 Process setting information 615 Notification mail creation section 616 Mail creation information

Claims (5)

A monitoring device capable of communicating with a management device that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring devices via a communication unit, and that acquires operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming devices via a network,
Management means for acquiring and managing operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Creating means for creating confirmation information to indicate that the device has a normal communication function;
Communication control means for causing the management device to periodically transmit the confirmation information as an e-mail to the management unit;
The confirmation information includes an identification ID of the own apparatus, an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information, and a counter value that represents each usage count of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the own apparatus via a network. Operation information,
The operation information managed by the management means is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit even at a transmission timing different from the confirmation information .
The fault information, in response to the acquisition of the failure information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, the monitoring apparatus characterized by that are sent to the management device via the communication unit. The identification ID of the device included in the confirmation information and an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information are set as a subject when transmitted as an e-mail,
In the management device, if the subject of the email received from the monitoring device includes an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information, the management device determines the received email as an email based on the confirmation information. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus that has notified the confirmation information is identified by acquiring the identification ID of the monitoring apparatus from the subject. A plurality of monitoring devices that can communicate with a management device via a communication unit and that acquire operation information and failure information of a plurality of image forming devices via a network, and a management device that centrally manages the plurality of monitoring devices A monitoring method in a monitoring system including:
By the monitoring device,
A management step of acquiring and managing operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A creation step for creating confirmation information to indicate that the device has a normal communication function;
A communication control step for causing the management device to periodically transmit the confirmation information as an e-mail to the management unit; and
The confirmation information includes an identification ID of the own apparatus, an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information, and a counter value that represents each usage count of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the own apparatus via a network. Operation information,
The operation information managed by the management step is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit even at a transmission timing different from the confirmation information .
The fault information, in response to the acquisition of the failure information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, the monitoring method characterized by that are sent to the management device via the communication unit. The identification ID of the device included in the confirmation information and an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information are set as a subject when transmitted as an e-mail,
In the management device, if the subject of the email received from the monitoring device includes an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information, the management device determines the received email as an email based on the confirmation information. The monitoring method according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring device that has notified the confirmation information is specified by obtaining an identification ID of the monitoring device from the subject. A monitoring method for controlling a plurality of monitoring devices that can communicate with a management device that centrally manages a plurality of monitoring devices via a communication unit, and that acquires operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming devices via a network A computer-readable program that causes a computer to execute
The monitoring method is performed by the monitoring device.
A management step of acquiring and managing operation information and failure information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A creation step for creating confirmation information to indicate that the device has a normal communication function;
A communication control step for causing the management device to periodically transmit the confirmation information as an e-mail to the management unit; and
The confirmation information includes an identification ID of the own apparatus, an identifier that can be identified as confirmation information, and a counter value that represents each usage count of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the own apparatus via a network. Operation information,
The operation information managed by the management step is transmitted to the management device via the communication unit even at a transmission timing different from the confirmation information .
The fault information, in response to the acquisition of the failure information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, program characterized by that will be transmitted to the management device via the communication unit.

Images