JPH11341173A - Management system for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an operator on a centralized management device side to perform remote operation of a terminal by changing an input waiting timeout time to a given time longer than the input waiting timeout time at a normal time when it is informed that a remote manipulation mode is transited to. SOLUTION: A centralized management device 60 transmits a remote manipulation demand command to a management device 20 before remote operation by an operator is executed. The management device 20 set changes an input waiting timeout time to a relatively long time (for example, 10 minutes) when it receives the remote manipulation demand command. In the remote manipulation of the operator to be performed after this, it takes time to perform the input operation by the operator but it can be avoided that communication is disconnected, since the input waiting timeout time is set to be a relatively long time. As a result, the operator on the centralized management device 60 is enabled to perform the remote manipulation of a terminal 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a management system for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a copier management system, there is a copier management system in which a plurality of terminals each having a copier and a management device are connected to a centralized management device including a host computer via a public telephone line. In such a management system, the management device on the terminal side uses the number of copies used by the copier,
The occurrence of a JAM, the occurrence of a failure, and the like are transmitted to the central control device via a public telephone line.

[0003] Image adjustment of a copying machine is performed by operating the copying machine in a simulation mode and adjusting various setting values based on the simulation result. Conventionally, such an operation is performed by a service person at a place where the copying machine is installed. If such an operation can be performed by an operator of the central management apparatus by remote control, it is convenient since it is not necessary to go to the place where the copying machine is installed.

However, in the conventional communication method between the management device in the terminal and the centralized management device, if there is no response for a certain period of time during communication, it is determined that a communication error has occurred and the communication is cut off. Would. Therefore, if it takes time for the operator of the centralized management device to perform an input operation for remote control, the management device in the terminal may determine that a communication error has occurred and the communication may be disconnected. is there.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a management system for an image forming apparatus which enables an operator of a centralized management apparatus to remotely control a terminal.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a management system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a terminal including the image forming apparatus and the management apparatus; and a centralized management apparatus for managing the terminal. In the management system, during the communication between the central management device and the management device, when shifting to the remote operation mode for remotely controlling the image forming apparatus in the terminal device based on the operation input of the operator of the central management device, A means is provided for notifying the management device of transition to the remote operation mode. When the central management device is notified of the transition to the remote operation mode, the management device sets an input waiting timeout period to a normal input waiting time. It is characterized by comprising means for changing to a predetermined time longer than the timeout time.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copier management system will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a copier management system.

A plurality of terminals 30 each having a copier 10 and a management device 20 are connected to a central management device 60 composed of a host computer via a public telephone line 40 and a modem 50.

The copying machine 10 includes a CPU 11, a storage device 12 for storing programs and necessary data, a display 13, an operation unit 14, and the like. The management device 20
It includes a PU 21, a storage device 22 for storing programs and necessary data, a network control unit (NCU) 23, and the like. The centralized management device 60 includes a CPU 61, a storage device 62 for storing programs and necessary data, a display 63, an operation unit 64, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a communication procedure when the operator of the central control device 60 remotely controls the copying machine 10 in the terminal 30.

When the image output state is deteriorated for some reason, the user operates the operation unit 14 of the copying machine 10 to send a signal indicating that the image output state is deteriorated to the CPU 11 in the copying machine 10. To enter.
When this signal is input, the CPU 11
Is notified that the output state of the image has deteriorated.

When the CPU 21 of the management device 20 is notified that the image output state has deteriorated, the central management device 6
A call is made to 0 (sequence number [1]).

When the line is connected, the central control device 60
Transmits a communication content request command for inquiring the requirement (sequence number [2]).

When receiving the communication content request command, the management device 20 sets a relatively short time T1 (for example, 30 seconds) as the input waiting time-out time T,
A communication content report indicating that the output state of the image has deteriorated is transmitted (sequence number [3]).

Upon receiving the communication content report, centralized management device 60 transmits a PPC data request command (sequence number [4]).

Upon receiving the PPC data request command, the management device 20 transmits PPC data indicating the operating status of the copying machine 10 such as the number of copies used (sequence number [5]).

Upon receiving the PPC data, centralized management device 60 transmits a remote operation request command indicating that the operation mode is shifted to the remote operation mode (sequence number [6]).

Upon receiving the remote control request command, the management device 20 changes the setting of the input waiting timeout time T to a relatively long time T2 (for example, 10 minutes).
A command (operation input OK) indicating that preparations for receiving a remote operation input are completed is transmitted (sequence number [7]).

When the central management device 60 receives a command indicating that it is ready to receive a remote control input,
This is displayed on the display 63. The operator inputs remote operation contents by using the operation unit 64 based on the display. When the content of the remote operation is input by the operator, the centralized management device 60 transmits the input content (remote operation input 1) (sequence number [8]). Examples of the remote control content include a content such as “Execute simulation No. 20”.

When receiving the remote control input 1, the management device 20 performs a predetermined process based on the received content, and transmits the result (operation result 1) (sequence number).

[9]). For example, if the received content is “Simulation N
O. 20 is executed, the contents of "Simulation NO. 20 and transmit the simulation result.

When receiving the operation result 1, the central management device 60 displays the received operation result 1 on the display 63. The operator inputs remote operation contents by using the operation unit 64 based on the display. For example, when a simulation result is sent, a command and data for changing predetermined setting contents set in the copying machine 10 to a predetermined value are input based on the result. When the remote operation content is input by the operator, the central management device 60 transmits the input content (remote operation input 2) (sequence number [10]).

When receiving the remote control input 2, the management device 20 performs a predetermined process based on the received content and transmits the result (operation result 2) (sequence number [1]
1)). For example, when an instruction and data for changing a predetermined setting content set in the copying machine 10 to a predetermined value are sent, the management device 20
Is changed in the above-mentioned predetermined setting.

When receiving the operation result 2, the central management device 60 displays the received operation result 2 on the display 63. When the operator wants to end the remote operation, the operator inputs the end of the remote operation using the operation unit 64. When the operator inputs that the remote operation has been completed,
The central management device 60 transmits a command (operation end) indicating that the remote operation has been completed (sequence number [1
2)).

When receiving the command indicating that the remote operation has been completed, the management device 20 returns the input waiting timeout period T to a relatively short time T1 (for example, 30 seconds) and indicates that the remote operation has been completed. Send a command (operation end OK) (sequence number [1
3]).

When receiving the command indicating that the remote operation has been completed, the central management device 60 transmits a command (communication completed) indicating that the communication has been completed (sequence number [14]).

When receiving the command indicating that the communication has been completed, the management device 20 transmits a command (communication end OK) indicating that the communication has been completed (sequence number [15]).

When receiving the command indicating that the communication has been completed, the central management unit 60 disconnects the line.

In the above embodiment, the central management device 60
Transmits a remote control request command to the management device 20 before remote control is performed by the operator. When the management device 20 receives the remote control request command,
The input waiting timeout time T is changed to a relatively long time T2 (for example, 10 minutes).

In the remote operation of the operator performed thereafter, it takes time for the input operation by the operator. However, since the input waiting timeout time T is changed to the relatively long time T2 as described above, the communication is cut off. Is avoided. As a result, the terminal 30 can be remotely operated by the operator of the central management device 60.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the operator of the central control device can remotely control the terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copier management system.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure when a copier in a terminal is remotely controlled by an operator of the central control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 copier 11 CPU 12 storage device 13 display 14 operation unit 20 management device 21 CPU 22 storage device 23 NCU 30 terminal 40 public telephone line 60 centralized management device 61 CPU 62 storage device 63 display device 64 operation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/00 106 H04N 1/32 Z 1/32 G03G 21/00 372

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus management system including a terminal including an image forming apparatus and a management apparatus, and a centralized management apparatus for managing the terminal, wherein a communication between the centralized management apparatus and the management apparatus is performed. When shifting to the remote operation mode for remotely operating the image forming apparatus in the terminal based on the operation input of the operator of the central management device, a means for notifying the management device of shifting to the remote operation mode is provided. The management device is provided with means for changing the input wait time-out time to a predetermined time longer than the normal input wait time-out time when it is notified from the centralized management device to shift to the remote operation mode. And a management system for the image forming apparatus.