JP2000059554A - Information distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information distribution system which can output information such as an advertisement or news distributed from a central management unit for remote diagnosis connected to a copying machine by way of a public telephone line, from the copying machine. SOLUTION: Information such as an advertisement or news connected to a central management unit is regularly distributed to a copying machine. When the copying machine enters copying operation (S21), a CPU reads distribution data from a prescribed RAM area (S23), arranges a picture included in the distribution data or text data in a layout designated beforehand, generates the picture and displays it on an operation panel (S25). If an advertisement picture is not yet distributed from the central management unit immediately after the copying machine is activated, initial data prepared in a prescribed area of an ROM in advance are read (S24), the picture is generated and displayed (S25). When the copying operation is finished, the operation panel is returned to an original display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution system, and more particularly, to a copier connected to a centralized management device for remote diagnosis via a public telephone line network. Related to a delivery system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A copier uses a public telephone line.
2. Description of the Related Art A system for notifying a centralized management device of a center of the cumulative number of printings, the remaining amount of toner and the like, the occurrence of a failure, and the like, totalizing the usage status of the copying machine, and performing remote diagnosis is used. The contents of the remote diagnosis system include those that execute a process such as automatically calling a central management device by the self-diagnosis function of the copier, accessing the copier from the central management device, and adjusting each part of the copier. is there.

A management system for an image forming apparatus for centrally managing data relating to a copying machine via a public line network is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-164802, entitled "Image forming apparatus management system". There is. This publication discloses a communication control device that is connected to a copying machine, stores specific data transmitted from the copying machine, and executes communication control of the data, and the communication control device and the communication control device via a public network. And a management device for inputting data stored in the communication control device. Even when the power of the connected image forming device is OFF, the readout timing (time zone) from the image forming device can be determined. Without limitation, data that is required can be read arbitrarily, and information collection efficiency is improved.

As for the information distribution system, an information distribution system for distributing information such as advertisements using a public telephone line or a digital line has already been proposed.
For example, a system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-130308 "Still image transmission / reproduction system" transmits a still image for an advertisement or the like via ISDN or the like, and operates an advertisement for the advertisement by operating the transmission side. Are displayed repeatedly on the screen provided for the advertisement.

On the other hand, when copying is performed by a copying machine, the copying machine is used in front of the copying machine to check whether printing is performed without delay and to obtain an output document as soon as printing is completed. May wait. During this time, the user wasted time and felt discomfort. In order to eliminate such discomfort, there has been a copying machine that displays an image for entertaining a user on an operation panel.

[0006]

However, according to this means, since the same image is displayed every time, the user gets tired and the effect of removing discomfort has diminished.

Until now, there has been no system for distributing information such as advertisements using a public telephone line connected for remote diagnosis of a copying machine.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and uses a public line originally used for remote diagnosis of a copying machine to transmit information such as advertisements and news. By regularly distributing the information to the copier and displaying the information on the operation panel of the copier while the copying is being performed, the above-mentioned problem of the user getting bored can be avoided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information distribution system capable of removing discomfort of a user.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 comprises a copying machine, and a centralized management device connected to the copying machine via a public telephone line for performing remote diagnosis of the copying machine.
The central management device has information distribution means for distributing information such as advertisements and news to the copying machine, and the copying machine has information output means for outputting information distributed by the information distribution means. It is a characteristic.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the information output means displays the information on an operation panel of a copying machine during a copying operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the information output means displays the information on an operation panel of the copying machine at times other than the copying operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the information output means prints the information at a time other than a copying operation.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a centralized management system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 is connected to a modem 2, and the modem 2 is a public. The telephone line 3 is connected, and the public telephone line 3 is connected to a central management device 4 of a center.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the centralized management apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the centralized management apparatus 4 includes a host computer 11 for executing various processes. An external storage device 12 for storing management data and the like, a display 13 for display,
A keyboard 14 as operation input means, a printer 15 for recording data, and a modem 1 for connecting to a public line
6 is comprised.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU for executing control based on control programs and data; 24, a communication interface unit connected to the modem 2; 25, an operation panel unit; 26, a ROM in which a control program is stored beforehand; And a RAM for storing the same. Also, CPU2
1 is connected to each unit control unit 22 of the copying machine, and each unit control unit 22 includes an optical system control unit,
There are a motor control unit, a heater control unit, a sensor sensitivity control unit, and the like. The CPU 21 is connected to various sensors 23 of the copying machine. The various sensors 23 include a lamp voltage, a potential sensor, a lamp light amount sensor, a drum current sensor, and a fixing thermistor.

In the copying machine 1 configured as described above, the control of the copying machine 1 body is executed mainly by the CPU 21 based on control programs and data stored in the ROM 26. The intermediate result of the processing by the CPU 21 is stored in the RAM 27. Each unit sensor 23 outputs a digital value indicating the state of each unit of the copying machine 1. Each section control unit 22 controls each section of the copying machine 1. The communication interface unit 24 is a unit that executes communication between modems, and can issue a call request to a notification destination designated in advance.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a remote notification process due to a self-diagnosis abnormality in the example shown in FIG.
The copying machine 1 has a self-diagnosis function. For example, when the fixing thermistor detects an abnormality in the fixing temperature or when it is impossible to adjust the electronic volume at each adjustment point, the copying machine 1 is in a dangerous state. When the copying machine 1 becomes unusable, remote report data due to a self-diagnosis error is transmitted from the copying machine 1 to the central management device 4 via the modem 2 and, when communication is completed, the copying machine 1 is centrally managed. The report result report is transmitted from the device 4.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the format of the remote report data in the example shown in FIG. 4. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the data format from the copying machine 1 to the central management device 4 is shown. The first field is a model number and a serial number for identifying the source copying machine, followed by a notification reason code, and further information inside the copying machine, that is, the number of occurrences of jams and the number of copies. ,
The copy state and the like continue.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an access process from the centralized management apparatus 4 to the copying machine 1 in the example shown in FIG. 1. The access process includes a read process, a Wr process for each purpose.
It is broadly divided into item processing and execute processing. Rea
The d process is a process of reading logging data, various set values, output values of various sensors, and the like in the copying machine 1. The write process is a process of rewriting various set values and the like by sending data from the central management device 4. Also,
The Execute process is a process for causing the copying machine 1 to execute a test operation or the like.

In any of the above processes, the central management unit 4 dials out the modem 2 to which the target copying machine 1 is connected, and the central management unit 4 transmits these request data. The data is transmitted to the target copying machine 1 via the modem 2. Upon receiving the request, the copier 1 processes the request, transmits a response to the request to the central control device 4 via the modem 2, and terminates one processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a data format at the time of an access operation from the central control device 4 to the copying machine 1 in the example shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 7B shows a write process, and FIG.
(C) shows the Execute process.

In the read processing shown in FIG. 7A, a request code indicating the read processing and an item code for executing the read processing are transmitted from the central control device 4 to the copying machine 1 (FIG. 7A). (1)). Copier 1 receiving this
Transmits the requested data to the central management device 4 following the Read response code and the received item code ((2) in FIG. 7A).

In the Write processing of FIG. 7B,
The write data is transmitted from the central management device 4 to the copier 1 following the request code indicating the write process and the item code for executing the write process ((1) in FIG. 7B). Upon receiving this, the copying machine 1 transmits the write result information to the central management device 4 following the Write response code and the received item code ((2) in FIG. 7B).

In the Execute process shown in FIG. 7C, the Execute from the central control device 4 to the copying machine 1 is executed.
A request code representing the process and an item code for executing the Execute process are transmitted ((1) in FIG. 7C). if,
If the operation content cannot be specified by this alone, the operation content supplementary information is transmitted following the item code. Upon receiving this, the copier 1 executes the Execute request, and executes
Following the execute response code and the received item code,
The operation result information is transmitted to the central management device 4 (FIG. 7C).
(2)).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention. Information such as advertisements and news to be distributed is stored in the external storage device 12 on the central management side, and is periodically stored. To the designated copying machine 1. The information is distributed from the central management device 4 to the
This is performed using a write process access request. Writ
The e-processing access request uses an image or text data such as an advertisement as data to be written, and a code indicating information distribution as an item code. The transmitted Write request is received by the CPU 21 of the copying machine 1, and the WRITE of the information distribution is received.
When it is confirmed that the request is a te request (S3), the received data is written to a predetermined RAM 27 area (S8).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention. When the copying machine starts a copying operation (S21), the CPU 21 sets a predetermined R.
The distribution data is read from the AM27 area (S23), the image and the text data included in the distribution data are arranged in a layout specified in advance, the image is generated, and displayed on the operation panel 25 (S25). If the advertising image has not yet been distributed from the centralized management device 4 immediately after the copying machine 1 is started, the initial data prepared in a predetermined area of the ROM 26 is read out (S24) to generate an image. Is displayed (S25). When the copying operation is completed, the operation panel 25 is returned to the original display.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention. At the time other than the copying operation, the output method on the operation panel 25, that is, "display distribution information" and " The button of "print distribution information" is displayed (S31). By pressing these buttons, the advertisement and news information distributed from the central management device 4 are displayed or printed on the operation panel 25. Can be. First, it is determined whether the "distribution information display" button has been pressed (S32), and if so, the distributed data is read from a predetermined RAM 27 area (S34). An image in which the read data is distributed according to a layout specified in advance is generated (S3
5) Display on the operation panel 25 of the copying machine 1 (S3
6). If the "distribution information display" button has not been pressed, it is determined whether the "distribution information print" button has been pressed (S38).
The distributed data is read from the AM27 area (S4
0). An image in which the read data is distributed according to a layout specified in advance is generated (S41), and printed by the print execution unit of the copying machine 1 (S42).

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention periodically copies information such as advertisements and news from a centralized management device for remote diagnosis of a copying machine via a public telephone line network. By distributing the information to the copying machine and displaying the information on the operation panel while the copying is being performed, it is possible to eliminate the discomfort of the user waiting in front of the copying machine until the printing is completed. In addition, since the display of these information and the print instruction can be made, the information can be extracted when necessary, and the distributed information can be used effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a centralized management system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a centralized management device 4 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a remote notification process due to a self-diagnosis abnormality in the example shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a format of remote report data in the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an access process from the central management device 4 to the copying machine 1 in the example shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a data format at the time of an access operation from the centralized management device 4 to the copying machine 1 in the example shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of an information distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the information distribution system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine, 2 ... Modem, 3 ... Public telephone line, 4 ... Central management apparatus, 11 ... Host computer, 12 ... External storage device, 13 ... Display, 14 ... Keyboard, 15 ...
Printer, 16 Modem, 21 CPU, 22 Unit Control Unit, 23 Unit Sensor, 24 Communication Interface Unit, 25 Operation Panel Unit, 26 ROM
27 RAM.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A copier, and a centralized management device connected to the copier via a public telephone line for performing remote diagnosis of the copier. An information distribution system, comprising: information distribution means for distributing information to the copying machine, wherein the copying machine includes information output means for outputting information distributed by the information distribution means. 2. An information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said information output means displays said information on an operation panel of a copying machine during a copying operation. 3. An information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said information output means displays said information on an operation panel of a copying machine except during a copying operation. 4. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said information output means prints said information at a time other than a copying operation.