JP5842671B2 - Device, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device, an information processing method, and a program that transmit abnormality information when an abnormality is detected.

  In recent years, it has been desired to solve the problem of an increase in costs or assets related to documents and an increase in environmental load by optimizing the device environment and reviewing the management operation. For example, by using a system that remotely manages devices connected to the network, the state of the devices can be grasped in real time by the management center.

  Various services are deployed in this remote management system. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique of adding additional information to abnormality information and transmitting it to a management device when an abnormality occurs. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for storing a log when an abnormality is notified in a divided area, and performing a storage number and overwriting control at the time of storage.

  However, in the prior art, the power may be turned off when an abnormality occurs. Therefore, when there is a large amount of additional information or attached logs added to the abnormality information, it is impossible to report an abnormality due to a power interruption during the creation of additional information to be transmitted to the management apparatus or during transmission / reception with the management apparatus. Abnormality notification is to notify the management device of an abnormality when an abnormality occurs.

  In addition, when a large amount of additional information is sent to the management device in a batch, the network bandwidth of the customer environment is consumed at the relevant transmission / reception processing timing, affecting printing operations via networks that require other network bandwidth. The fear of doing.

  That is, when the information included in the abnormality report has a large capacity, there is a problem that the abnormality notification cannot be properly performed or the network bandwidth is consumed.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a device, an information processing method, and a program that can efficiently report an abnormality according to the content of the abnormality in consideration of network bandwidth consumption. The purpose is to do.

  An apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a detection unit that detects an event that is a report factor including an abnormal event or an abnormal pre-event, a determination unit that determines a type of abnormality from the detected event, and a type of each abnormality Storage means for storing notification order information in which priority information is associated with each event information to be notified; an abnormality type determined by the determination means; and priority information of notification order information stored in the storage means Adding means for adding the event information determined to be notified based on the error information to the abnormality information, and communication means for transmitting the abnormality information to which the event information is added by the adding means to the management apparatus connected via the network And comprising.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently report an abnormality according to the content of an abnormality in consideration of network bandwidth consumption.

The figure which shows an example of a structure of the remote management system in an Example. The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a management apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image processing device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the image processing apparatus. The block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of an image processing apparatus. The figure which shows an example of report order information. The figure which shows the number of the priority extracted by the abnormality 1. FIG. The sequence diagram which shows an example of a process of the remote management system at the time of abnormality occurrence. The flowchart which shows an example of the process of NRS. The flowchart which shows an example of the process of SCS. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the setting process (the 1) of report order information. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the setting process (the 2) of report order information. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the setting process (the 3) of report order information.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Example]
<Remote management system>
First, an outline of a remote management system which is a premise in the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a remote management system 1 in the embodiment.

  The remote management system 1 is an image processing device such as a printer, FAX device, digital copying machine, scanner device, digital multifunction device, network home appliance, vending machine, medical device, power supply device, air conditioning system, gas / water / electricity, etc. This is a remote management system in which a device provided with a communication function in the weighing system is a managed device 10 (10a, 10b, 10c). In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the managed device 10 is described as the image processing device 10 and is also referred to as a device 10.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 is connected to the management apparatus 30 via the communication network 20. The management apparatus 30 can remotely manage a plurality of image processing apparatuses 10 (10a, 10b, 10c).

  In the remote management system 1 shown in FIG. 1, in order to realize remote management, processing requests and responses to methods of applications to be mutually mounted can be transmitted and received by RPC (Remote Procedure Call) to each device.

  In order to realize this RPC, the remote management system 1 includes PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol), TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text). This is realized by performing communication using a protocol such as Transfer Protocol.

  Considering the security aspect of the remote management system 1, a firewall 40 is installed. The firewall 40 is configured by a proxy server.

  The remote management system 1 may be provided with a mediation device having a function as a remote management mediation device as a device connected to the image processing apparatus 10 via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like.

<Management device>
Next, the configuration of the management device 30 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the management apparatus 30.

  The management device 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a control unit 111, a database 112, an operation unit 116, a proxy server 117, and the like. Each unit is connected via a data bus 115 so that data can be transmitted and received.

  The control unit 111 includes a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and comprehensively controls the entire management apparatus 30. The control unit 111 has an information receiving function.

  The database 112 exists in a storage device such as a hard disk device, and stores data received from each device. The database 112 includes a parameter storage area 113 for storing various parameters used for managing the device 10, a management program, and data input by an operator, and an information storage area 114 for storing information on the device 10. In the information storage area 114, for example, additional information included in the abnormality report is stored.

  The operation unit 116 accepts input of various data by operations on the input unit such as a keyboard and a pointing device (such as a mouse) by an operator.

  The proxy server 117 performs communication with each device and security management via the Internet.

  The CPU of the control unit 111 operates according to the program, and various functions can be realized by using, for example, the proxy server 117 as necessary.

<Image processing device>
Next, the image processing apparatus 10 which is a kind of the device 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes a controller board 210, an operation panel 214, an FCU (Fax Control Unit) 221, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 222, an IEEE 1394 (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 223, a plotter. / A scan engine 224, a peripheral device 225, and the like.

  The controller board 210 includes an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) 211, an NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM) 212, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 213, a CPU 215, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 216, a remote management vision system memory 217, and an NIC. (Network Interface Card) 218.

  The CPU 215 performs data calculation by executing various programs. The CPU 215 controls each unit.

  The ASIC 216 is an integrated circuit for image processing, shares a device to be controlled by the CPU 215, and supports efficient development of applications and the like from the viewpoint of architecture.

  The SDRAM 211 is a memory for storing various programs, and a memory used by the CPU 215 during data processing.

  The NVRAM 212 is a memory for storing a boot program and an OS image, and is a memory for storing data (model number, IP address, etc.) for obtaining various non-volatility.

  The HDD 213 is a non-volatile storage medium and can store update firmware and execution firmware.

  The remote management system memory 217 is a storage memory for realizing each function in the remote management system.

  The NIC 218 is an interface that connects to the proxy server 117 of the management apparatus 30 via the local network or the Internet.

  The operation panel 214 is an interface for an operator who operates the image processing apparatus 10, and can input data, execute a job, and display the data.

  The FCU 221 controls communication with an external apparatus such as a FAX apparatus or an image processing apparatus having a modem function through a public line.

  The USB interface 222 and the IEEE 2394 interface 223 are interfaces conforming to the respective standards. The plotter / scanner engine 224 is an engine such as a plotter or a scan.

(software)
Next, the software configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The software configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 includes an application module layer, a service module layer, and a general-purpose OS layer.

  For these programs, the CPU 215 activates the boot program in the NVRAM 212 via the ASIC 216, reads the OS image, loads the SDRAM 211, develops it in the OS, and activates the OS.

  The CPU 215 can implement each function to be described later by reading programs such as applications and services in the NVRAM 212 as necessary, loading them into the SDRAM 211, developing them, and starting them.

  The software of the application module layer is configured by a program for causing the CPU 215 on the controller board 210 to function as a plurality of application control units that operate hardware resources to realize predetermined functions.

  The software in the service module layer interposes the CPU 215 between the hardware resource and each application control unit, and accepts operation requests for the hardware resource from a plurality of application control units. The software of the service module layer is configured by a program for functioning as a service control unit that arbitrates the operation request and controls execution of the operation based on the operation request.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 10 includes an event detection unit (event detection means) including a sensor or the like in the plotter / scanner engine 224.

  The service module layer includes an operation control service (OCS) 300, an engine control service (ECS) 301, a memory control service (MCS) 302, a network control service (NCS) 303, a fax control service (FCS) 304, a system control service ( SCS) 306, system resource manager (SRM) 307, image memory handler (IMH) 308, delivery control service (DCS) 316, and user control service (UCS) 317 are implemented.

  The application module layer includes an NRS application (hereinafter simply referred to as “NRS”) 305, a CSS application (hereinafter simply referred to as “CSS”) 315, a copy application 309, a fax application 310, a printer application 311, a scanner application 312, and a net file. An application 313 and a web application 314 are installed. Further, a general-purpose OS 318 is mounted on the general-purpose OS layer.

  The OCS 300 is a module that controls the operation panel. The ECS 301 is a module that controls the engine unit. The MCS 302 is a module that performs memory control.

  The NCS 303 is a module that performs mediation processing with each application in the network and the application module layer. The FCS 304 is a module that realizes a facsimile function.

  The SCS 306 is a module that performs start management and end management of each application in the application module layer according to the command content. Between the plotter engine, each xCS (x is an arbitrary first alphabet of each part shown in FIG. 4), and the application It is also a module for mediating responsibilities.

  The SRM 307 is a module that controls the system and manages resources. The IMH 308 is a module that manages a memory for temporarily storing image data. The DCS 316 is a module that transmits and receives an image file stored in the memory on the HDD 213 or the controller board 210 using SMTP or FTP.

  The UCS 317 is a module for managing user information such as destination information and destination information registered by the device user.

  The NRS 305 is an application having a function related to remote management via the network and a scheduler function, such as data conversion when data is transmitted and received via the network. The NRS 305 has a function of reporting status information, counter information, and firmware version information of the image processing apparatus 10 to the management apparatus 30, and a function of transmitting a request for firmware update, command execution, and the like in units of methods. Further, the NRS 305 has a function of notifying the management device 30 of abnormality, supply notification, and activation notification regularly, immediately, or irregularly.

  The CSS 315 is a module that summarizes functions related to remote management (functions related to communication with the management apparatus 30).

  The copy application 309, the fax application 310, the printer application 311, the scanner application 312, the net file application 313, and the web application 314 are applications for realizing functional services.

  The general-purpose OS 318 is an operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark) or LINUX (registered trademark). The operating system manages the processing for executing the service module layer and application module layer programs. Here, if UNIX (registered trademark) or Linux (registered trademark) is used, safety due to open source is ensured, and there are advantages such as easy source code acquisition.

(function)
Next, the functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The image processing apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a detection unit 401, a determination unit 402, a notification order information storage unit 403, an event information storage unit 404, an addition unit 405, a communication unit 406, a setting unit 407, and an interval setting unit 408. .

  The detecting unit 401, the determining unit 402, the adding unit 405, and the setting unit 407 can be realized by the SCS 306, for example, and the communication unit 406 and the interval setting unit 408 can be realized by the NRS 305, for example. The event information storage unit 404 can be realized by, for example, the HDD 213, and the notification order information storage unit 403 can be realized by, for example, the NVRAM 212.

  The detecting means 401 detects an event that becomes a reporting factor including an abnormal event or an abnormal prior event. The abnormal event corresponds to, for example, “SC (Service Man Call)”. There are various types of SC as shown below.

  “Type A” SCs are SCs that cannot be used (cannot be used) by displaying an SC on the operation panel 214 and cannot be released by the device user. This type A SC cannot perform “SC reset” from the management device 30. For example, the fixing system SC corresponds to the type A.

  The “type A” SC cannot be recovered by turning off / on the main power source by turning off / on the main switch on the image processing apparatus 10 side or by stopping / releasing the power supply to the engine unit by operating the soft power key.

  “Type B” SCs are SCs that cannot use only a specific function in which an abnormality is detected (detected). The SC display is not displayed on the operation panel 214 during normal use, but the SC display is performed on the operation panel 214 only when a function in which an abnormality is detected is selected. For example, the case where the duplex mode is selected when the duplex unit (duplex tray) is abnormal corresponds to Type B.

  The “type C” SC does not display the SC on the operation panel 214 even when an abnormality occurs, and internally only logs the occurrence of the SC. For example, the case where communication is disabled corresponds to type C.

  “Type D” SCs are displayed on the operation panel 214 and prohibited from being used, but by turning the main switch OFF / ON on the image processing apparatus 10 side, or by operating the soft power key. The SC can be canceled by stopping / releasing the power supply to the engine unit. However, after the main power supply is turned on (power is turned on) or after the power supply to the engine unit is stopped / released, an abnormality may be detected again and it may not be apparently released. For example, a motor abnormality corresponds to type D.

  These type determination reference information may be stored in a predetermined storage area of the NVRAM 212 (or HDD 213). It should be noted that events such as scanner engine SC and plotter engine SC are also handled as different types of events.

  The abnormal prior event includes, for example, “toner near end”. When the toner near end of the toner bottle occurs in the plotter / scanner engine 224, the detection unit 401 receives a notification from the plotter / scanner engine 224 to detect an abnormal pre-event. The detection unit 401 notifies the determination unit 402 when detecting an event that causes a notification.

  The determination unit 402 determines the type of abnormality from the event detected by the detection unit 401. The type of abnormality is, for example, the types A to D described above. The criterion for determining the type of abnormality is held in the NVRAM 212 or the like, and the determining unit 402 can determine the type of abnormality from the event detected by referring to this criterion. The determination unit 402 notifies the adding unit 405 of the determined abnormality type.

  The report order information storage unit 403 stores report order information in which priority information is associated with each event information to be notified for each type of abnormality. The priority information is, for example, a priority order or a priority flag. The event information is information for notifying the occurrence, state, or cause of an abnormal event, for example.

  This is because priority information is attached to event information to be notified, and the event information is transmitted to the management device 30 in order of increasing urgency in consideration of the network bandwidth. The event information storage unit 404 stores the contents of each event information to be notified.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the report ranking information. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, in the notification order information, priority is given to event information to be notified for each type of abnormality. As shown in FIG. 6, the order in which event information to be notified is notified is shown according to the type of abnormality.

  For example, when abnormality 1 is reported, priority 1 event information a is reported for the first time. Second time, priority 2 event information d is reported. The third time, priority 3 event information b is reported. The fourth event information c of priority 4 is reported. The fifth time is notified that event information acquisition is complete.

  Further, at the time of abnormality notification of abnormality 2, event information b of priority 1 is reported for the first time. Second priority event information a is reported. The third time is notified that event information acquisition has been completed. When anomaly 3 is reported, the event information acquisition completion is reported for the first time.

  Note that a priority flag may be set in the notification order information shown in FIG. 6 as another example of the priority order. Each event information for which the priority flag is set is transmitted to the management apparatus 30 first, and each event information for which the priority flag is not set is transmitted to the management apparatus 30 later.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the number of priorities extracted in abnormality 1. In FIG. 7, in abnormality 1, the rank number = 4 is extracted. This number of ranks is used in a notification target acquisition process described later.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the adding unit 405 determines the event information determined as the notification target based on the type of abnormality determined by the determining unit 402 and the priority information of the notification order information stored in the notification order information storage unit 403. Is added to the error information. The abnormality information is information notifying that an abnormality has occurred in the device, for example.

  The adding unit 405 may acquire the specific contents of the event information from the event information storage unit 404. The adding unit 405 outputs the abnormality information to which the event information is added to the communication unit 406.

  The adding unit 405 acquires event information in descending order of priority, adds the event information to the abnormality information, and outputs the abnormality information to which the event information is added to the communication unit 406 in order.

  The communication unit 406 transmits the abnormality information to which the event information is added from the adding unit 405 to the management apparatus 30. That is, the communication unit 406 issues an abnormality report to the management device 30. In addition, the communication unit 406 transmits abnormality information to the management apparatus 30 at every notification interval set by the interval setting unit 408.

  The setting unit 407 can set the notification order information by an operation from the image processing apparatus 10 or a setting request from another device connected via a network. The report order information is held as an initial table of the device, and can be reset by a user or a CE (Customer Engineer) through the input interface of the device.

  As for the input interface (input by the user or CE) of the image processing apparatus 10, the user can input from the operation keys of the apparatus main body by looking at the web screen, panel screen, or projection screen of the apparatus.

  The notification order information is a table of values that can be reset by the image processing apparatus 10 in response to a change request from the management apparatus 30. This change request is a request for transmitting notification order information to the image processing apparatus 10 by an operator who operates the management apparatus 30 or a batch setting tool on the management apparatus 30 side.

  The interval setting means 408 sets a notification interval so that an abnormality notification at the occurrence of an abnormality is performed at predetermined time intervals. The notification interval is set by the user or CE using an input interface or the like.

  As a result, the event information to be notified as additional information is sequentially transmitted to the management apparatus 30 based on the priority information, so that a large amount of additional information is not attached at one time, and the load on the network band can be reduced. it can. In addition, since the event information is transmitted with high priority, the information to be notified to the management apparatus 30 can be transmitted first even when the power of the device 10 is turned off.

<Operation>
Next, the operation when an abnormality occurs in the remote management system will be described. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing of the remote management system 1 when an abnormality occurs. In step S101 shown in FIG. 8, the SCS 306 (detection means 401) notifies the NRS 305 of the occurrence of an event (for example, SC) that becomes a notification factor including an abnormal event or an abnormal prior event.

  In step S <b> 102, the NRS 305 makes an acquisition request for notification target event information to be included as additional information when making an abnormality report to the SCS 306.

  In steps S <b> 103 and S <b> 104, the SCS 306 reads report order information from the NVRAM (report order information storage unit 403) 212.

  In steps S105 and S106, the SCS 306 (determination means 402) determines the type of abnormality from the detected event of the notification factor. The SCS 306 (adding means 405) refers to the report order information, and among the event information corresponding to the determined abnormality type, the event information (notification target information) having a priority higher than a predetermined value is sent to the HDD 213 (event information). From storage means 404).

  Hereinafter, event information having a priority higher than a predetermined value is referred to as priority information. Further, when the priority flag is set instead of the priority order in the notification order information, the SCS 306 may acquire event information for which the priority flag is set.

  In step S107, the SCS 306 (adding unit 405) responds to the NRS 305 by adding the event information included in the priority information to the abnormality information based on the type of abnormality.

  In step S108, the NRS 305 (communication unit 406) notifies the management apparatus 30 of the abnormality. In this abnormality report, abnormality information and priority information are transmitted. The notification target information at this time is event information sent preferentially.

  In step S <b> 109, when receiving the abnormality report, the management apparatus 30 transmits an abnormality report reception OK to the image processing apparatus 10.

  In step S <b> 110, the NRS 305 (communication unit 406) issues a notification target acquisition request to the SCS 306.

  In steps S111 and S112, the SCS 306 (adding unit 405) acquires event information other than the event information transmitted last time from the HDD 213 (event information storage unit 404). Here, the acquired event information is referred to as post-feed information.

  In step S113, the SCS 306 (adding means 405) NRS 305 is added with the postponed information to the abnormality information and responds. The postponing information is event information having the highest priority after the event information transmitted last time.

  In step S <b> 114, the NRS 305 (communication unit 406) notifies the management apparatus 30 of the abnormality. In this abnormality report, abnormality information and postponement information are transmitted.

  In step S <b> 115, when the management apparatus 30 receives an abnormality report, the management apparatus 30 transmits an abnormality report reception OK to the image processing apparatus 10.

  In step S <b> 116, the NRS 305 (communication unit 406) makes a notification target acquisition request to the SCS 306.

  In step S117, the SCS 306 responds to the NRS 305 that the acquisition of the notification target information has been completed.

  In step S <b> 118, the NRS 305 (communication unit 406) notifies the management apparatus 30 of an abnormality including that the notification of notification target information has been completed.

  In step S <b> 119, when receiving the abnormality report, the management apparatus 30 transmits an abnormality report reception OK to the image processing apparatus 10.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the example in which a plurality of pieces of event information to be notified are divided into two parts of a priority part and a postponement part has been described, but a plurality of priority orders can be set as necessary. In addition, abnormality notifications with additional information are performed in descending order of priority until acquisition of event information to be notified based on the type of abnormality is completed.

  The report order information may be held as an initial table of devices. The initial table is incorporated when the farm is released to mass production, and is reflected in the equipment by setting up the farm in the equipment at the time of mass production.

(NRS processing)
Next, processing of the NRS 305 in the embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the NRS 305.

  In step S201 illustrated in FIG. 9, the NRS 305 sets a flag m for determining whether or not the abnormality notification has been completed to the management apparatus 30 after receiving the abnormality occurrence notification from the SCS 306 at the time of activation.

  This flag is set to 1 when an occurrence of an abnormality is received from the SCS 306 described later, and is maintained at 1 until the addition of notification target information based on the type of abnormality from the SCS 306 is completed.

  In step S <b> 202, the NRS 305 determines whether an abnormal event (SC) occurrence notification is received from the SCS 306. Hereinafter, the occurrence notification of an abnormal event is also referred to as an abnormality occurrence notification. If an abnormality occurrence notification is received (step S202—YES), the process proceeds to step S203. If an abnormality occurrence notification is not received (step S202—NO), the process returns to step S202.

  In step S <b> 203, the NRS 305 sets a flag m to 1 when receiving an abnormality occurrence notification from the SCS 306.

  In step S <b> 204, the NRS 305 requests the SCS 306 to acquire additional information (notification target information corresponding to the type of abnormality) for transmitting an abnormality report to the management apparatus 30.

  In step S <b> 205, the NRS 305 determines whether there is a response for acquiring additional information from the SCS 306. If there is a response (step S205—YES), the process proceeds to step S206, and if there is no response (step S205—NO), the process returns to step S205.

  In step S206, the NRS 305 determines whether or not acquisition of additional information from the SCS 306 has been completed. If all are acquired (step S206-YES), it will progress to step S207, and if all are not acquired (step S206-NO), it will progress to step S209.

  In step S207, the NRS 305 sets the flag m to 0. In step S <b> 208, the NRS 305 notifies the management apparatus 30 of the fact that the notification of the notification target information corresponding to the type of abnormality has been completed.

  In step S209, when the NRS 305 reports an abnormality to the management apparatus 30, the NRS 305 adds the notification target information according to the type of abnormality and performs the abnormality notification.

  In step S <b> 210, the NRS 305 receives from the management device 30 that the abnormality notification is received.

  In step S211, the NRS 305 determines whether the flag m is 0 or 1. If m = 0 (step S211—YES), the abnormality notification of the abnormality that has occurred is completed. When this process ends, the process returns to step S202 and waits until an abnormality is detected again.

  When m = 1 (step S211—NO), it is determined that the acquisition of notification target information according to the type of abnormality from the SCS 306 is incomplete, and the NRS 305 makes an acquisition request to the SCS 306 again.

  Thereby, notification object information is not transmitted at once, and notification object information can be transmitted in order based on priority. The priority order may be set according to, for example, urgency.

(SCS processing)
Next, the processing of the SCS 306 in the embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the SCS 306.

  In step S301 shown in FIG. 10, the SCS 306 determines whether or not there is an abnormality detected from the device plotter / scanner engine 224, the kernel, each xCS (x is an arbitrary first alphabet of each part shown in FIG. 4), and each application. judge. If there is an abnormality (step S301-YES), the process proceeds to step S302, and if there is no abnormality (step S301-NO), the process returns to step S301.

  In step S302, the SCS 306 broadcasts an abnormal event (SC) to each xCS and application.

  In step S303, the SCS 306 sets a value i indicating the number of acquisitions of the notification target information corresponding to the type of abnormality to 1 in the NRS 305 after the broadcast is performed.

  In step S304, the SCS 306 determines whether a notification target information acquisition request corresponding to the type of abnormality has been received from the NRS 305. If an acquisition request has been received (step S304—YES), the process proceeds to step S305. If an acquisition request has not been received (step S304—NO), the process returns to step S304.

  In step S305, the SCS 306 determines whether or not the value i is 1. If i = 1 (step S305—YES), the process proceeds to step S306, and if i = 1 (step S305—NO), the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S306, the SCS 306 obtains report order information from the NVRAM 212 (report order information storage unit 403).

  In step S307, the SCS 306 extracts the number K of ranks based on the detected abnormal event and the report rank information. In the report ranking information shown in FIG. 6, in abnormality 1, there are four priorities, and the number of ranks K = 4. If all event information to be notified is not reported, K = 0.

  In step S308, the SCS 306 determines whether or not K = 0. If K = 0 (step S308—YES), the process proceeds to step S313. If K = 0 is not satisfied (step S308—NO), the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S309, the SCS 306 determines whether i> = K. If i> = K (step S309-YES), the process proceeds to step S310, and if i> = K (step S309-NO), the process proceeds to step S313.

  In step S310, the SCS 306 acquires notification target information corresponding to the type of abnormality based on the report order information. The notification target information acquired at this time is event information with priority i.

  In step S311, the SCS 306 responds to the NRS 305 with the acquired event information having the priority order i.

  In step S312, the SCS 306 increments i by one. When this process ends, the process returns to step S304.

  As a result, event information can be added and transmitted to the management apparatus 30 in descending order of priority information.

  In step S313, the SCS 306 responds to the NRS 305 with the completion of acquisition of notification target information according to the type of abnormality. When this process ends, the process returns to step S301, and waits until an abnormality occurring in the device plotter / scanner engine 224, kernel, each xCS, and each application is detected.

  As described above, in the embodiment, it is possible to efficiently report an abnormality according to the content of the abnormality in consideration of the consumption of the network bandwidth. Moreover, the event information to be transmitted with priority can be changed according to the type of the abnormal event that has occurred. Moreover, since the event information to be notified is transmitted in order, the load on the network band can be reduced.

[Modification]
Next, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described. First, the modification which sets the priority of report order information is demonstrated using FIGS. 11-13. In the example shown below, priority is used as priority information, but a priority flag or the like may be used.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of notification order information setting processing (part 1). In step S401 shown in FIG. 11, the terminal PC requests the web application 314 of the image processing apparatus 10 to set each priority order corresponding to the event information for each type of abnormality using the web browser of the own apparatus. To do.

  In step S402, the web application 314 notifies the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) of a setting request for each priority requested from the terminal PC.

  In steps S403 and S404, the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) writes and sets each priority order requested for setting in the report order information stored in the NVRAM 212 (report information storage unit 403).

  In step S405, the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) notifies the web application 314 that the setting of each priority has been completed.

  In step S406, the web application 314 notifies the terminal PC that the setting of each requested priority order has been completed.

  Thereby, report order information can be set using the web browser of the other apparatus connected via a network.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the notification ranking information setting process (part 2). In step S501 shown in FIG. 12, the operation panel of another image processing apparatus sends a priority order input or selected by the user, that is, a request for setting each priority order corresponding to the event information for each type of abnormality. To do.

  In step S502, the OCS 300 notifies the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) of a setting request for each priority requested from the operation panel.

  In steps S503 and S504, the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) writes and sets each priority order requested for setting in the report order information stored in the NVRAM 212 (report information storage unit 403).

  In step S505, the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) notifies the OCS 300 that the setting of each priority has been completed.

  In step S506, the OCS 300 requests the operation panel to display the set values of the set priorities.

  Thereby, report order information can be set using the operation panel of the other apparatus connected via a network.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of notification order information setting processing (part 3). In step S601 illustrated in FIG. 13, the management apparatus 30 requests the image processing apparatus 10 to set each priority order corresponding to the event information for each type of abnormality using the priority order setting tool.

  In step S602, the NRS 305 notifies the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) of a setting request for each priority requested from the management apparatus 30.

  In steps S603 and S604, the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) writes and sets each priority order requested for setting in the report order information stored in the NVRAM 212 (report information storage unit 403).

  In step S605, the SCS 306 (setting unit 407) notifies the NRS 305 that the setting of each priority has been completed.

  In step S606, the NRS 305 notifies the management apparatus 30 that the setting of each requested priority order has been completed.

  Thereby, the report order information can be set using a setting tool of the management apparatus 30 connected via the network.

  The program executed by the device 10 of the embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It is recorded on a readable recording medium and provided.

  Further, the program executed by the device 10 according to the embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the device 10 of the embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Further, the program executed by the device 10 of the embodiment may be configured to be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example as it is, A component can be deform | transformed and embodied in the range which does not deviate from the summary in an implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments.

1 remote management system 10 device 30 management device 212 NVRAM
213 HDD
215 CPU
305 NRS
306 SCS
401 Detection means 402 Determination means 403 Addition means 404 Event information storage means 405 Notification rank information storage means 406 Communication means 407 Setting means 408 Interval setting means

JP 2004-234650 A Japanese Patent No. 4381839

Claims (7)

A detecting means for detecting an event that becomes a reporting factor including an abnormal event or an abnormal prior event;
Determining means for determining the type of abnormality from the detected event;
Storage means for storing notification order information in which priority information is associated with each event information to be notified for each type of abnormality,
An adding means for adding event information determined to be notified based on the type of abnormality determined by the determining means and priority information of the notification order information stored in the storage means to the abnormality information;
Communication means for transmitting the abnormality information to which the event information is added by the adding means to a management device connected via a network;
Equipment with. When the communication unit receives a notification of completion of reception of the abnormality information from the management device,
The adding means includes
The device according to claim 1, wherein event information having the second highest priority is added to the abnormality information after the event information transmitted last time. It further comprises interval setting means for setting a notification interval,
The communication means includes
The device according to claim 2, wherein the next abnormality information is transmitted after the set notification interval has elapsed since the transmission of the abnormality information transmitted last time.   The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a setting unit configured to set the notification order information by an operation from the device or a setting request from another device connected via a network. Event information storage means for storing the contents of each event information,
The adding means includes
The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein content of event information determined as the notification target is acquired from the event information storage unit. A detection step of detecting an event that is a reporting factor including an abnormal event or an abnormal prior event;
A determination step of determining a type of abnormality from the detected event;
The event information determined as the notification target based on the determined abnormality type and the priority information of the notification order information in which the priority information is associated with each event information to be notified for each abnormality type. An additional step to be added to
Transmitting the abnormality information to which the event information is added to a management device connected via a network; and
An information processing method in which a computer executes. A detection step of detecting an event that is a reporting factor including an abnormal event or an abnormal prior event;
A determination step of determining a type of abnormality from the detected event;
The event information determined as the notification target based on the determined abnormality type and the priority information of the notification order information in which the priority information is associated with each event information to be notified for each abnormality type. An additional step to be added to
Transmitting the abnormality information to which the event information is added to a management device connected via a network; and
A program that causes a computer to execute.

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