JPH10207478A - Communication karaoke system characterized in remote diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a maintenance and service agent to request a host device for a self-diagnosis assuming a certification procedure without using people for obtaining a self-diagnosis result of a performance terminal. SOLUTION: An information processor 40 handled by a maintenance service agent of a performance terminal 10 can communicate with a host device 20 via a public line net 30, and through the communication, the information processor appends own ID and an ID, etc., of the performance terminal 10 which is wanted to be diagnosed and issues a request for diagnosis to the host device 20. Having received this diagnosis request, the host device 20 checks the information processor ID and the performance terminal ID of the object for diagnoses against predetermined business contract information, etc., judging whether or not the information processor 40 has the right to execute diagnosis of the performance terminal 10, working on a second diagnosis execution means of the performance terminal 10 to execute the self-diagnosis, only in the case that the information processor has the diagnosis execution right, receiving a result of the diagnosis, and transferring it to the information processor 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication karaoke system having a feature in a remote diagnosis system, and more particularly to a remote diagnosis technique in which a maintenance service provider requests a host device to perform a self-diagnosis of a performance terminal.

[0002]

[Prior art]

==== Communication Karaoke ==== Many communication karaoke performance terminals used in karaoke boxes, snacks, and the like reproduce stored karaoke data according to a user's specification and output accompaniment music along with the singer's voice along with a speaker. And outputs the lyrics image on which the background image is synthesized to the display.

[0003] A specific configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a performance terminal 10 is connected to a host device 20 via a communication network 30 by a modem 5. The central processing unit 4 is a central element for integrally controlling the performance terminal 10, and is a computer main body including a CPU, a RAM and a ROM. Karaoke data in a file format distributed from the host device 20 to the hard disk device 6 of the performance terminal 10 includes accompaniment music data, lyrics data, and the like. A large number of still image data are also stored in the hard disk device 6 as background image information.

The main body of the performance terminal 10 has an operation panel 7 for user interface including a display and a keyboard, and a remote control receiver 9 corresponding to a remote control transmitter 8.
It also has. A karaoke user or the like performs various operation inputs such as music selection using the operation panel 7 or the remote control transmitter 8, and the operation contents and response information to the operation inputs are displayed on the operation panel 7.

At the time of reproducing a music, the central processing unit 4 first reads out accompaniment music data and lyrics data of the designated music number from the hard disk device 6. Accompaniment music data and the like are sequentially input to the synthesizer 11 and the sound effect reproducing unit 2 each configured by a sound source board, and are converted into audio signals.
The signal is output from the speaker 13 via the audio amplifier unit 12. In synchronization with this, the central processing unit 4 sequentially converts the lyrics data into a character string and writes it into the video RAM 14. The display control unit 15 includes a hard disk device 6 and a CD-ROM.
The background image data reproduced from the player 18 is converted into a video R
Display 1 by combining with the image of the lyrics character string of AM14
6 is displayed.

==== Self-diagnosis Function of Performance Terminal ==== The above-described performance terminal 10 has a self-diagnosis function in preparation for abnormalities, and constitutes the respective components of FIG. 1 described above. With regard to hardware composed of elements and software for controlling the operation, whether or not the operation of each functional element is normal can be checked according to a predetermined algorithm. The self-diagnosis is executed by the central processing unit 4. For example, the presence or absence of an error is detected for various diagnostic items that may hinder operation such as the operation and connection status of each component including the following items (1) to (4). If there is an error,
The error code is displayed on the operation panel 7 based on the error code table distributed in advance, and the error content is displayed in text on the display 16 in addition to the error code. Hard disk device 6 Memory synthesizer 11 such as RAM or video RAM 14 of central processing unit 4 Sound source board which constitutes sound effect reproducing unit Modem 5 Karaoke data file The self-diagnosis function as described above is usually performed at the place where the performance terminal is installed. This is executed in response to an input from the operation panel by a serviceman of a maintenance service provider who went to (site). The serviceman goes to the site when it is necessary to respond very quickly to an emergency call from the karaoke user, such as a normal maintenance service, or a snack that is open late at night, from a karaoke user. For example, an average of 1
You have to rush to the site in about 5 minutes to restore normal operation.

==== Remote Diagnosis Request by Maintenance Service Provider ==== On the service center side, when a lot of trouble reports are concentrated and all the servicemen have gone out, the servicemen always go to the site immediately. You may not be able to rush. In such a case, a person at a service center where a serviceman resides contacts the staff of the host device by telephone and requests a remote diagnosis from the host device. That is, when the host device issues a command to execute the self-diagnosis to the corresponding performance terminal through the communication line by the operation of the person, the performance terminal receiving the command operates the self-diagnosis function.

More specifically, when a serviceman requests a self-diagnosis of a certain performance terminal from a serviceman, first, the requester makes a request to a proper maintenance service provider or dealer of the performance terminal. After performing an authentication procedure to determine whether or not the player is a performer, and confirming its validity, the host device is operated to instruct the performance terminal to execute the self-diagnosis function through a communication line and report the diagnosis result. As a specific authentication procedure, there is a predetermined business for a contractor (dealer) code, a line number to which the corresponding performance terminal is connected, a performance terminal (machine) ID number, etc., which the serviceman has declared at the time of contact. This is the confirmation of consistency with contract information.

Then, an error code is sent from the performance terminal that has performed the self-diagnosis as a result of the diagnosis. At this time, in addition to the error code, various operation information such as an error history and performance history stored in the hard disk device during normal operation of the performance terminal and version information of the karaoke data file and the operating software are also stored in the host device. Sent to In response to this, the staff at the host device reports the error contents to the service center by telephone. As for the time for the self-diagnosis, the contents of the error can be understood in about 5 minutes after the line between the performance terminal and the host device is connected. Therefore, the maintenance service provider can instruct the karaoke user or the serviceman who is rushing to the site to perform recovery measures for the performance terminal in accordance with the content of the error, thereby enabling a short-term emergency measure.

[0010]

However, from the point of receiving a failure report from the karaoke user to confirming the details of the error, the maintenance service provider contacts the person at the communication karaoke company by telephone to diagnose the situation. It is troublesome to make a request and receive a diagnosis result from the person. In particular, when an emergency call is received from a snack or the like that is open late at night, it is extremely frustrating for a serviceman on the spot to once request a diagnosis to the host device manually. It is also inefficient for the communication karaoke service provider to respond to a diagnosis request one by one by allocating personnel, and if the diagnosis requests are concentrated, the staff of the host device may not be able to handle all the requests. In addition, communication of information such as a diagnosis execution command and a result report that is mediated by humans is likely to cause a human error in combination with the urgency of failure recovery.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a self-diagnosis result of a performance terminal by using a maintenance service provider without a manual operation by a maintenance service provider on the premise of an authentication procedure. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote diagnostic system that can request a device to perform a self-diagnosis.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention basically provides the following requirements (1), (2) and (3).
It is characterized by having.

(1) A number of karaoke performance terminals handled by a karaoke user and a host device operated by a communication karaoke company are connected by a communication line, and karaoke data distributed from the host device to each performance terminal is transmitted to each karaoke terminal. The karaoke data stored in each terminal is stored in each terminal, and the karaoke data stored in each terminal is appropriately reproduced.

(2) The performance terminal includes: self-diagnosis means for checking, for each functional element, whether there is any abnormality in the operation of hardware and software constituting itself according to a predetermined algorithm; A first diagnosis execution means for operating the self-diagnosis means in response to a command from the input means, and displaying the diagnosis result on a display means of the performance terminal; and a first diagnosis execution means provided from the host device through the communication line. Second diagnostic execution means for operating the self-diagnosis means in response to the received command and reporting the result of the diagnosis to the host device through the communication line.

(3) The information processing device handled by the maintenance service provider of the performance terminal and the host device can communicate with each other via a public network. Through the communication, the information processing apparatus identifies itself as the ID of the performance terminal to be diagnosed.
A diagnostic request is issued to the host device with the attached information.
Upon receiving the request for diagnosis, the host apparatus checks the information processing apparatus ID and the performance terminal ID to be diagnosed against the predetermined business contract information, etc. It is determined whether or not the self-diagnosis is performed, and only when there is a right to execute the diagnosis, the second diagnosis execution means of the corresponding performance terminal is operated to execute the self-diagnosis. Transfer to device.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, portions which are the same as those of the above-mentioned conventional technology and which are not described repeatedly will be omitted, and the description will focus on the characteristic technology according to the present invention. . As shown in FIG. 2,
Using the information processing device handled by the performance terminal maintenance service provider, the host device is directly requested to perform a self-diagnosis of the performance terminal, and at the time of the request, the information processing device performs a diagnosis on the performance terminal as an authentication procedure. It is to determine whether there is a license.

==== Overall Operation Outline ==== In response to a karaoke user's request for recovery from a failure or the convenience of a maintenance service provider, the self-diagnosis function of the performance terminal described in the section of the prior art is executed. To obtain the result, as shown in FIG. 2, the maintenance service provider issues a diagnosis request to the host device 20 through the telephone line network 30 or the Internet using the information processing device 40 having a communication function. (In the figure). Host device 20 that has received the diagnosis request
Performs the above-described authentication procedure to determine whether the information processing apparatus 40 has the diagnostic right to the performance terminal 10 (in the figure). As a result of the determination, the self-diagnosis command is sent to the performance terminal 10 as described above only when the right to perform the diagnosis is obtained (in the figure). The performance terminal 10 receiving this instruction performs a self-diagnosis in the same manner as in the prior art, and reports the diagnosis result by sending an error code or the like back to the host device 20 (in the figure). The host device 20 that has received the diagnosis result transfers the content to the information processing device 40 that has requested the diagnosis (in the figure).

==== Operation of Each Device and Performance Terminal ==
== <Information processing terminal of maintenance service provider> The specific configuration of the information processing terminal used in the present invention may be a personal computer having sufficient information processing ability to exhibit its function.
There are a desktop type installed in a service center and a notebook type that is easy to carry. In addition, PDA
(Personal Digital Assistants) is also available. As shown in FIG. 3, when requesting a host device for remote diagnosis of a certain performance terminal, a diagnosis request is issued with information necessary for an authentication procedure attached (step A10). This authentication information includes the ID number and password of the information processing terminal itself, in addition to the same company (dealer) code as before, the line number to which the corresponding performance terminal is connected, and the performance terminal (machine) ID number. Next, the authentication procedure is completed in the host device,
If a rejection response indicating that there is no right to execute diagnosis is received, the information processing terminal displays that fact on its own display (steps A20 → A30). Conversely, when the existence of the diagnostic license is confirmed, the self-diagnosis result such as an error code by the performance terminal is transferred and the content is displayed on the display (steps A20 → A40 → A50). An error code table is distributed to the information processing terminal at an appropriate communication opportunity, including when a diagnosis result is received. Based on the error code table, the error code is displayed on the display along with the error code in text.

Also, as described above, if the line between the host device and the performance terminal is connected, a diagnosis result can be obtained in the host device in about 5 minutes. Until the result of the diagnosis is obtained, it is assumed that the information processing terminal is on standby with both lines connected.
Of course, when urgency is not required, such as in the case of a periodic remote diagnosis request, the request may be obtained by temporarily disconnecting the line after the request and then reconnecting at an appropriate time.

<Host Device of Communication Karaoke Company> In the host device, as shown in FIG. 4, when the information processing device first accesses and receives a remote diagnosis request issued together with the authentication information, the host device receives the authentication information as described above. Is checked to determine whether or not the user has the diagnostic right. If this is the case, a line is connected to the corresponding performance terminal to instruct execution of the self-diagnosis (steps B10 → B20 → B30 → B).
40). If there is no right to execute the diagnosis, a rejection response of the remote diagnosis is sent to the corresponding information processing terminal (step B2).
0 → B50). Next, when the self-diagnosis result is received from the performance terminal, the result is transferred to the corresponding information processing device, and the line with the performance terminal is disconnected (step B60 → B70). Of course, disconnection may be performed immediately after the reception before the transfer of the self-diagnosis result. In this transfer, the error code as the self-diagnosis result may be transferred as it is, or may be transferred after some processing. For example, appropriate operation information such as an operation log obtained together with the error code and a billing status stored in the host device in advance is attached, and text data indicating an error content according to the error code and a coping method is transmitted. The information processing device may simply display these on its own display.

<Performance terminal to be diagnosed> In the performance terminal,
As shown in FIG. 5, when a self-diagnosis command is issued from the host device, the same self-diagnosis as described above is performed and a diagnosis result is returned to the host device (steps C10 → C20 → C).
30). If there is a self-diagnosis command by an input from the own operation panel, the diagnosis result is displayed on the display or the operation panel as in the related art (steps C40 → C50 → C6).
0).

[0022]

According to the present invention, the following effects (a) and (b) can be obtained. (A) The information processing device directly requests the host device to perform a self-diagnosis of the performance terminal device. This eliminates the need for manual intervention as in the prior art. In addition, it is possible to further shorten the time until a self-diagnosis result is obtained as compared with the related art. (B) The host device instructs the performance terminal to execute a self-diagnosis after an authentication procedure such as confirmation of the right to execute a diagnosis.
The privacy of the karaoke user can be assured by preventing an unauthorized request for diagnosis by a third party who does not have a diagnosis license. As a result, the following inconvenience does not occur. Karaoke user's business interruption ... Between receiving the self-diagnosis command from the host device and sending the diagnosis result, the performance terminal cannot perform the karaoke performance, and the telephone line used for conversation with the outside and the line between the host device and the host device are disconnected. If shared, the line cannot be used for conversation. Sales promotion of other communication karaoke service providers (other companies): If the other company can perform self-diagnosis without permission, it will be easy to know the failure destination, giving the opportunity of replacement by selling the other company.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication karaoke system having a feature in a remote diagnosis system in a normal operation state common to the conventional and the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication karaoke system having a feature of the remote diagnosis system at the time of remote diagnosis according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the host device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the performance terminal according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 central processing unit 6 hard disk device 7 operation panel 8 remote control transmitter 10 performance terminal 11 synthesizer 13 speaker 16 display 18 CD-ROM player 20 host device 30 telephone line network 40 information processing device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 11/08 H04M 11/08

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A communication karaoke system characterized by a remote diagnosis system, the following requirements (1) and (2):
(3) is provided. (1) A number of karaoke performance terminals handled by a karaoke user and a host device operated by a communication karaoke company are connected by a communication line, and karaoke data distributed from the host device to each performance terminal is stored in each terminal. In addition, the karaoke data stored in each terminal is appropriately reproduced. (2) The performance terminal includes a self-diagnosis unit that checks, for each functional element, whether there is an abnormality in the hardware and software constituting the performance terminal according to a predetermined algorithm, and an input unit of the performance terminal. Operating the self-diagnosis means in response to a command from the first terminal, executing first diagnosis execution means for displaying the result of the diagnosis on the display means of the performance terminal, and a command given from the host device through the communication line. A second diagnosis execution unit that operates the self-diagnosis unit in response and reports a result of the diagnosis to the host device through the communication line. (3) An information processing device handled by a maintenance service provider of the performance terminal and the host device can communicate with each other via a public network. Through the communication, the information processing device issues a diagnosis request to the host device with the ID of the performance terminal to be diagnosed and the like attached thereto. Upon receiving the request for diagnosis, the host apparatus checks the information processing apparatus ID and the performance terminal ID to be diagnosed against the predetermined business contract information, etc. It is determined whether or not there is a self-diagnosis, and only when there is a right to perform the diagnosis, the second diagnosis execution means of the corresponding performance terminal is actuated to execute the self-diagnosis. Transfer to device.