JPH04250573A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To indicates another usable image processing system in case of abnormality of an image processing system and to return coins which are thrown in if the abnormality occurs in the middle of control. CONSTITUTION:A control part 16 once receiving a signal indicating the abnormality occurrence from a printer 18 returns the thrown-in coins and informs a control center of that through a communication part 21. Then, map data on the installation place of the nearest usable image processing system is received from the control center through the communication part 21 and displayed on a monitor 14.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system that performs abnormality countermeasure control in the event of an abnormality.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In an image processing system that detects an inserted coin, reads an image, and prints the read image, if an abnormality occurs in the system, a display prohibiting use is displayed. In addition, if an abnormality occurred before the system was activated, the coins were returned as is.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since an image processing system in which an abnormality has occurred becomes unusable, it is necessary to search for a replacement image processing system, which is troublesome. Furthermore, if an abnormality occurs during the operation of the system, there is a risk that the coins will not be returned.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system that notifies other usable image processing systems in the event of an abnormality.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system that returns money when an abnormality occurs during control.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a plurality of image processing systems having input means for inputting image data and output means for outputting the image data as an image. an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the input means and the output means; a state recognition means for recognizing the state of the other image processing means; The image processing system has a notification means for notifying other usable image processing systems.

The present invention also provides a plurality of image processing systems having input means for inputting image data and output means for outputting the image data as an image, including a control means for controlling the input means and the output means. and a money detection means for detecting money, and an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the input means and the output means, and the control means starts control when the money detection means detects money, and the control means starts control when the money detection means detects money; The present invention is characterized in that when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality, the control is interrupted and the money is returned.

(Operation) With the above configuration, the state recognition means recognizes the state of another image processing system, and the notification means notifies other usable image processing systems according to the result of the state recognition means.

Further, the control means starts control when the money detection means detects money, and interrupts the control when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality and returns the money.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system showing an embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a video camera that captures an image; 12 is an image storage unit that stores image information from the video camera 11; 13 is an output image changeover switch that selects images from the video camera 11 and the image storage unit 12; and 14 is an output image changeover switch. 13 is a monitor that displays the selected image, 15 is a power supply unit that supplies power to each part, 16
17 is a control unit that controls the operation of each part, 17 is an operation unit that operates the control unit 16, and 18 is a thermal printer that prints the stored image in the image storage unit 12, and a thermal printer that generates air bubbles with heat and discharges ink with the pressure of the bubbles. It is a bubble jet printer. 19 is a detection unit that detects coin insertion; 20 is a paper feed unit; 21 is a communication unit that uses a telephone line to communicate with a management center or the like in the event of an abnormality; and 22 is a telephone line. FIG. 2 is an external view of the above-mentioned image processing system. 23 is a light that illuminates the subject, and 24 is a coin slot. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a central monitoring device that centrally monitors a plurality of image processing systems. 30 is a communication unit that communicates with a plurality of image processing systems using the telephone line 22, and 31 is a control unit that controls the central monitoring device. Reference numeral 32 denotes a storage unit that stores the status of each image processing system and map data indicating the location of the nearest usable image processing system in the event of an abnormality in the image processing system. 33 is the control unit 3
This is a monitor that displays the status of each image processing system from 1.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the operation of the control section 16 of the image processing system having the above configuration. When the coin detection section 19 detects a coin, it sends a coin insertion signal to the control section 16 (step S1). Upon receiving the coin insertion signal, the control section 16 sends a signal to the power supply section 15 and starts supplying power to each section (step S2). The control unit 16 receives a status signal as shown in FIG. 5 from the printer 18 at regular intervals, and determines whether the printer 18 is operating normally (
Step S3). If there is no abnormality such as paper out or paper jam in step S3, normal control is continued and abnormality is detected at regular intervals thereafter. Normally, the image captured by the video camera 11 is displayed on the monitor 14 (step S4), and when the shutter button is pressed (step S
5) The captured image at the time of pressing is stored as a still image (step S6). Then, the stored image is displayed on the monitor 14 (step S7). When the print button 17b of the operation unit 17 is pressed (step S8), the stored image is printed by the video printer 18 (step S9). After printing is completed, the video printer 18 sends a print end signal to the system control unit 17, and further sends a signal to the power supply unit 15 to stop supplying power to each unit (step S10), and the process ends. If the print button 17b is not pressed and the cancel button 17c is pressed in step S7, the process advances to step S3, and the state waits for a storage operation.
If the cancel button 17c is not pressed, step S
The process advances to 6 and enters a print operation wait state (step S11). If there is an abnormality such as paper out or paper jam in step S3,
The inserted coin is returned (step S12), and the unique code of the image processing system, place name code, and abnormal content code are transmitted from the communication unit 21 to the central monitoring device (FIG. 3) in the management center (step S13). .

The control unit 31 of the central monitoring device that has received the abnormality details causes the monitor 33 to display the unique code of the image processing system where the abnormality has occurred, the place name, and the abnormality contents. and,
The status of the image processing system in the storage unit 32 is rewritten to be unusable, and the nearest usable image processing system is searched. Based on the search results, map data indicating the location where the image processing system is set, which is stored in advance in the storage unit 32, is transmitted from the communication unit 30 to the image processing system in which the abnormality has occurred.

FIG. 6 shows a specific circuit configuration of the communication section 21. 55 is an abnormality notification control signal from the control unit 16, and when this signal is turned on, the CPU 53 transmits the line connection control signal 54.
Turn on the network control unit (NC
U) Instruct 50 to connect the line. Next, the CPU 53
The telephone number of the management center written in advance in non-volatile memory such as PROM56 is read, and the DTMF (dual tone multi
The DTMF generator 54 is instructed to output the frequency) codes in numerical order according to the line standard. When the line connects to the control center, the central monitoring device automatically responds and sends a 1KHz sine wave signal to the transmitter. The bandpass filter (BPF) 58 of the communication device 21 is 1KH.
The A/D converter 59 extracts the sine wave of z and digitizes its detection level. When this digital value exceeds a predetermined value, the CPU 53 determines that the line is connected to the management center, and sequentially transmits the unique code of this image processing system, the installed place name code, and the code of the abnormality to the EEPRO.
The data is read out in order starting from M56, an error correction code is added at the end, and the data is sent using the above-mentioned DTMF code. When the control center receives the message correctly, the central monitoring device generates a 1KHz sine wave to notify the transmitting side that it has been correctly received. When the communication device 21 detects this 1 KHz signal, it turns off the line. The central monitoring device displays the booth number, installation location name, failure details, etc. on the monitor 33 and informs the manager.

The communication unit 16 of the image processing system receives map data of the nearest usable image processing system from the central monitoring device and stores it in the image storage unit 12 (step S14). Then, the map is displayed on the monitor 14 (step S15), and when the print button on the operation unit 17 is pressed (step S16), it is checked whether there is any printing paper to be printed (step S17), and if there is printing paper, the map is displayed on the monitor 14 (step S15). The received data is printed (step S18). While the image processing system is abnormal, steps S15 to S1
The control operation of step 8 is continued, and if the condition returns to normal, the control is reset and control starts from step S1.

As explained above, if there is an abnormality in the image processing system, it can be notified to the management center, which has the effect of saving the effort of periodically carrying out patrol inspections of the image processing system. Furthermore, since a map of other usable image processing systems is displayed, the user can find an available image processing system without having to search all over the place. Furthermore, even if an abnormality occurs during control, the coins are returned, so there is no problem with money management.

[0016] It is also possible to output a verbal representation of the location of other usable image processing systems.

[0017]

As described above, since other image processing systems in a normal state can be known by the notification means, there is an effect that the trouble of searching for a usable image processing system is eliminated. Furthermore, even if an abnormality occurs during control, the money is returned, which has the effect of eliminating problems in money management.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the image processing system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a central monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a control flowchart of the control unit 16 in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing signals representing the status of the printer 18 in FIG. 1;

6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the communication section 21 in FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 11 Video camera 12 Image storage unit 14 Monitor 16 Control section 17 Operation section 18 Printer 21 Communication Department 22　Telephone line 30 Communication Department 31 Control section 32 Memory section 33 Monitor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image processing systems comprising input means for inputting image data and output means for outputting the image data as an image, comprising: an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the input means and the output means; , a state recognition means for recognizing the state of another image processing apparatus, and a notification means for notifying other usable image processing systems according to the result of the recognition means when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality. processing system. 2. An image processing system comprising input means for inputting image data and output means for outputting the image data as an image, comprising: a control means for controlling the input means and the output means; and a control means for detecting money. It has a money detection means and an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the input means and the output means, and the control means starts control when the money detection means detects money, and when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality. An image processing system characterized by interrupting control and returning the money when detected.