JP2000148432A - Network management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the availability of electronic equipment in a network by eliminate a shortage of consumables by effectively using compatible consumables that other electronic equipment has if the consumables run short on electronic equipment in the network. SOLUTION: When a tag 'use frequency' is selected on the display screen of a display, the CPU of a management server 1 determines the replacement relation of consumables on the basis of the operation time or use degree. When the determination of the replacement relation based upon the operation time is specified, operation time data on devices having compatible consumables among hybrid machines 6 to 9 and printers 10 to 13 are read out of a management data base and an image of a line which connects an icon image of the device having the shortest operation time and an icon image of the device having the longest operation time and is given an arrow at the icon-image side end part of the device having the longest operation time is displayed in a basic picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a network system including a plurality of electronic devices using a common consumable such as a copying machine and a printer. The present invention relates to a network management device to manage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a network system in which a plurality of personal computers are connected via a data transmission line, resources such as a database and a communication environment in the network are shared by the plurality of personal computers. For example, when an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer is included in the network system, print data created by each of a plurality of personal computers is transmitted to the same image forming apparatus via a data transmission line, and the same The image forming apparatus performs image forming processing based on print data created by a plurality of personal computers. Thereby, the operation efficiency of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

However, in an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing, maintenance such as replenishment of consumables such as toner and paper and maintenance and inspection of operating parts are indispensable. Generally, image forming apparatuses included in a network are personal computers. It is often installed in a location physically distant from the PC, and is used individually by a plurality of personal computer users, so that each user can recognize the state of consumables and operating parts in the image forming apparatus. This makes it difficult to perform maintenance of the image forming apparatus at an appropriate timing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-161134 stores maintenance information indicating an internal state, and stores the maintenance information when the count value of a counter for counting the number of printed sheets matches a predetermined number of sheets. The configuration of a printing apparatus that outputs to an external device connected to a network is disclosed. With this configuration, the printing device in the network automatically transmits the maintenance information to another printing device or control device designated at a preset timing, and the service center of the printing device can be used at the service center without a user. It is said that maintenance time and maintenance contents can be recognized.

[0005]

However, the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-161134 does not consider the case where the network includes a plurality of processing devices having common consumables. When one of a plurality of common processing devices has stopped processing due to a shortage of consumables, the processing operation is effectively released from the consumables of the other processing devices and the processing operation stop state is released. However, there is a problem that the operation efficiency of the processing device cannot be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a consumable product which is included in another processing device in a network when the consumable product is insufficient in the processing device included in the network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network system that can effectively utilize products to solve the shortage of consumables and improve the operation efficiency of processing devices in the network.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit for storing a type of a consumable used in each of a plurality of electronic devices included in a network, and a consumable for each of the electronic devices. And control means for managing and displaying based on the contents stored in the storage means.

According to the first aspect of the invention, consumables of a plurality of electronic devices included in the network are managed based on their types. Therefore, the consumption status of the consumables in each electronic device is finely managed based on the type.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means displays the connection state of the plurality of electronic devices on the network in the same display form for each type of consumable of each electronic device stored in the storage means. It is characterized by displaying.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the connection status of a plurality of electronic devices is displayed in the same display form for each type of consumables of each electronic device. Therefore, the arrangement state of a plurality of electronic devices having the same consumables can be visually recognized accurately.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means determines whether the consumables are shared among a plurality of electronic devices based on the consumption status of the consumables in each electronic device and the contents stored in the storage unit. It is characterized by displaying.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the state of sharing of the consumables among the plurality of electronic devices is displayed based on the consumption status and type of the consumables in each electronic device. Therefore, when the remaining amount of consumables in any one of the electronic devices decreases, it can be easily recognized whether or not replenishment from another electronic device using the same consumable can be performed.

[0013] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means includes the step of: determining a remaining amount of consumables in each of the plurality of electronic devices;
The shared state of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices having the same type of consumables is determined and displayed based on any one or a plurality of determination conditions of operation status, function superiority and arrangement position. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the state of consumables sharing among a plurality of electronic devices using the same type of consumables depends on the remaining amount of the consumables, the operating status, and the superiority of functions in each electronic device. And it is determined based on the judgment conditions such as the arrangement position. Therefore, when the remaining amount of consumables in any one of the electronic devices decreases, the other electronic devices using the same consumables, the electronic devices having a large amount of the consumables remaining, and the infrequently operating electronic devices. Electronic equipment, low-function electronic equipment,
Alternatively, an electronic device installed in a close place can be easily recognized as an electronic device provided by a consumable.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, while the control means displays the connection status of a plurality of electronic devices on the network, the provision of one of the electronic devices to which consumables are to be provided and the consumables is provided. A relationship with the other electronic device to be received is displayed. In the invention described in claim 5, in the display screen of the connection state of the plurality of electronic devices,
The relationship between the electronic devices to which the consumables should be delivered is displayed. Therefore, the electronic device to be provided with the consumable item and the electronic device to be provided with the consumable item are easily and accurately recognized.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the control means calculates a usage fee for each user based on the usage status of each electronic device for each user and the storage contents of the storage means. I do.

According to the invention described in claim 6, the usage amount of each electronic device for each user is calculated based on the usage status of each user and the type of consumables consumed. Therefore, the usage amount of the electronic device for each user is finely managed according to the type of the consumed consumable.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The network system 100
As an example, network A with a different communication infrastructure
14 and the network B15 are connected via a router or gateway (not shown). One network A14 includes a management server 1, personal computers 2a to 2d, a personal computer 4 having a dedicated printer 12a, a copy / printer / facsimile multifunction machine 6, a copy / printer multifunction machine 7, a printer /
A facsimile multifunction machine 8, a low-speed laser printer 10, a high-speed laser printer 11, and a thermal recording printer 13 are connected. The other network B15 includes personal computers 3a to 3c and a dedicated printer 12b.
Is connected to a personal computer 5 owning the MFP and a multifunction copying / fax machine 9.

Network A14 and Network B1
5 include a copy function for performing an image forming process based on image data read from a document, a printer function for performing an image forming process based on print data transmitted from the personal computers 2 to 5, and The image data read from the document is transmitted as facsimile transmission data, and at least two of the facsimile functions for performing image forming processing based on the received facsimile reception data are selectively executed.

The management server 1 is a network management device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is constituted by, for example, a personal computer. That is, a general-purpose personal computer can be used as a network management device of the present invention via a recording medium that records a program describing a processing procedure described later. This management server 1
Are MFPs 6 to 9 that are electronic devices included in network A14 and network B15, and laser printer 1
0, 11 and the use states of consumables of the printers 12, 13 are managed. The management server 1 uses the network A
14, the multifunction machines 6 to 8 and the laser printers 10, 1
A separate management server is provided in the network B15 for managing the use state of the consumables of the printer 1a and the printers 12a and 13 and for managing the use state of the consumables of the MFP 9 and the printer 12b included in the network B15 only. It is also possible to configure so that data is transmitted and received between the management server provided on the network B15 and the management server 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server. As described above, the management server 1 is configured by, for example, a personal computer,
A keyboard 24, a mouse 25, a display 26, a communication interface 27, an image memory 28, and a management database 2 are provided to a CPU 21 having a ROM 22 and a RAM 23.
9 and the like. CPU 21
Centrally controls each input / output device according to a program written in the ROM 22, and temporarily stores data input / output during this time in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 23.

In this control, the CPU 21 reads out the stored contents of the image memory 28 and the management database 29 and creates display data in accordance with operation data inputted from the keyboard 24 or the mouse 25, and displays the created display data on the display 26. Output to Also, the CPU 21
Is connected to a network via a communication interface 27, and transmits and receives data to and from electronic devices included in the network. The CPU 21 updates the contents of the management database 29 based on the data received via the communication interface 27.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of the storage contents of the management database of the management server. The management database 29 connected to the CPU 21 of the management server 1
For each of the MFPs 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 13 included in the network 100, the model, type of consumables, specification and function, installation position, power on / off state,
Also, data such as usage status is stored.

The MFPs 6 to 9 and the laser printers 10 and 11 included in the network system shown in FIG. 1 perform image forming processing by electrophotography for forming a toner image on the surface of a photoreceptor. The toner is consumed at the time of formation and the photoreceptor is worn, and the toner and the photoreceptor are used as consumables.

The dedicated printer 12 is an ink jet printer that forms an image by selectively spraying ink from a nozzle onto the surface of a sheet. Ink is consumed at the time of image formation, and an ink cartridge containing ink is used as a consumable item. used.

Further, the thermal recording type printer 13 performs a thermal recording type image forming process of transferring the ink applied to the ink ribbon to the surface of the paper by a print head which is selectively heated. The ink ribbon is consumed during formation, and the ink ribbon cartridge containing the ink ribbon is used as a consumable.

The data on the usage status is updated and stored by data transmitted from each electronic device. Further, the management database 29 stores at least data on the models, installation positions, and power on / off states of the personal computers 2 to 5.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the contents stored in the image memory of the management server. C of management server 1
The image memory 28 connected to the PU 21 stores the icon images 41 to 44 of the electronic devices included in the network 100, and at least the multifunction device 6 using the consumables.
9 and the printers 19 to 13, a plurality of icon images 42 a to 42 c and 43 having different display forms are provided.
a to 43c and 44a to 44c are stored.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control unit of the management server. CP of management table 1
When the power is turned on, the U21 operates as the management database 29.
The management data is read from the network 10 (s1), and the network 10
For each of the electronic devices included in 0, the icon image is selectively read from the image memory 28 based on the model and the type of the consumable item (s2), and based on the affiliated network, the affiliated department, the installation position index, and the like. The display position is calculated (s3), and a display screen showing the operation status created by arranging the selected icon image at the calculated display position is displayed on the display 26 as a basic screen (s4, s).
5). FIG. 6 shows an example of this basic screen. At this time, CP
U21 attaches an icon indicating an inaccessible state, such as the personal computers 2c, 3a, 3b and the multifunction peripheral 7, to the electronic device in the power-off state.

By selecting the "non-display" menu from the "display" pull-down menu on the screen, the icon image of the electronic device in the power-off state is not displayed. In this case, another icon image indicating the presence of the inaccessible electronic device may be displayed at that position.

While displaying the basic screen shown in FIG. 6 on the display 26, the CPU 21 waits for a tab selection by operating the keyboard 24 or the mouse 25 (s6).
s7). On the basic screen, in addition to “operation status”, tabs 61 for designating “degree of consumption”, “frequency of use”, “performance”, “specifications”, “immediate response”, “notification”, and “environment setting” To 68 are displayed. CP
U21 executes a process according to the selected tab (s
7) For example, the processes of s6 and s7 are repeatedly executed until the end of management is selected in the file pull-down menu (s8).

The CPU 21 executes the following interrupt processing at predetermined time intervals. That is, the CPU 21 requests transmission of management data to each of the electronic devices in the network 100 via the communication interface 27 (s
11) In addition to writing the power-on state in the management database 29 for the electronic device that has transmitted the management data,
12), and updates the received management data to the management database (s14). On the other hand, when the management data is not transmitted, the CPU 21
The power-off state is written in (s21).

As shown in FIG. 7, the management data transmitted from each electronic device includes at least an ID code for specifying each electronic device, the number of image forming processes, the remaining amount of consumables, and the operation time. . Here, the number of image forming processes is the total of the number of image forming processes performed after the previous maintenance, and the operating time is the total of the time required for the image forming processes performed after the last maintenance. . If the electronic device does not store the total number of image forming processes executed since the previous maintenance and the total operating time, each electronic device performs the number of image forming processes executed since the last transmission of the management data. Alternatively, the number of times of image forming processing and the operating time included in the management data may be integrated in the management server 1 in the management server 1.

The CPU 21 displays the contents of the menu selected from the "display" pull-down menu displayed on the screen of the display 26 on the screen. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the case where the developer type is selected from the pull-down menu is shown, and the types of the developer used in the MFPs 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 13 are displayed on the screen.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying the degree of consumption of consumables in each electronic device among the processing of the control unit of the management server. CPU 21
Indicates “wear level” on the display screen of the display 26.
When the tab is selected, it is determined whether the toner, the ink, or the photoconductor is designated as the consumable to display the consumable state (s21). The CPU 21 controls the toner
When the display of the ink consumption state is designated, the MFPs 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to
13 is read out (s22, s2
3) If the display of the consumed state of the photoconductor is designated, the data of the number of times of image formation of the MFPs 6 to 9 is read from the management database 29 (s22, s24). CPU 21
Calculates the display amount of the remaining amount on the display screen based on the developer remaining amount data or the image forming count data read from the management database 29 (s25), and as shown in FIG. Indicator image 5
1a to 51i are created and displayed near each electronic device on the display 26 (s26, s27).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control section of the management server displays the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on the frequency of use of the electronic devices. The CPU 21 controls the display 2
When the tab of "frequency of use" is selected on the display screen of No. 6, it is determined whether the operating time or the degree of use is designated as a criterion for determining the exchange relation of consumables (s31). When the determination of the exchange relation based on the operation time is specified, the CPU 21
From the MFPs 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 13, the operation time data of each of a plurality of devices having compatible consumables is read out (s32 → s33), and the operation time of the device with the shortest operation time is determined from the icon image of the device with the shortest operation time. The display position of the image of the line connecting the icons up to the icon image of the longest device and having an arrow attached to the icon image side end of the device with the longest operation time is calculated (s34). The CPU 21 determines that s3
The processes in S3 and S34 are also performed for other plural devices compatible with the consumables (S35).

When the determination of the exchange relation based on the degree of use is specified, the CPU 21
Out of the multifunction devices 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 13 which have the same number of consumables as the image formation count data (s32 → s36). The display position of an image of a line connecting the icon image of the device with the largest number of times of formation and having an arrow at the icon image side end of the device with the largest number of times of image formation is calculated (s37). CPU
21 executes the processing of s36 and s37 also for other plural devices compatible with consumables (s38 → s3).
6).

The CPU 21 displays an image of the arrow line in the basic screen based on the calculation result in the processing of s44 or s47 (s39). FIG. 11 shows an example of the display state of the arrow line on the display 26 by the process of s39. In this example, an arrow line indicating the exchange relation of consumables is displayed on the display screen of the degree of wear shown in FIG. 9, but the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear need not necessarily be displayed. Further, instead of, or together with, the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear, an indicator indicating the superiority or inferiority of the function of each device can be displayed.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server displays the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on the functions of the electronic devices. When the "Performance" tab is selected on the display screen of the display 26, the CPU 21 determines which function of the processing speed or the resolution is designated as a criterion for determining the exchange relation of consumables (s41). . When the determination of the exchange relationship based on the processing speed is designated, the CPU 21 determines from the management database 29 the processing speed of each of the plurality of multi-function devices 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 13 which have compatible consumables. The data is read (s42 → s43), and is a line connecting the icon image of the device with the slowest processing speed to the icon image of the device with the fastest processing speed, and is located at the icon image side end of the device with the fastest processing speed. The display position of the image of the line with the arrow is calculated (s44). The CPU 21
The processing of s43 and s44 is also executed for a plurality of other devices that are compatible with consumables (s45).

When the determination of the exchange relationship based on the resolution is specified, the CPU 21 determines from the management database 29 that each of the multi-function devices 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 13 has a plurality of compatible consumables. The print accuracy data is read (s42 → s46), and an arrow is added to the end of the icon image of the device with the highest resolution, which is a line connecting the icon image of the device with the lowest resolution to the icon image of the device with the highest resolution. The display position of the image of the line marked with is calculated (s47). The CPU 21 determines that s46 and s47
Is also executed for a plurality of other devices having compatible consumables (s48 → s46).

The CPU 21 displays the image of the arrow line in the basic screen based on the calculation result in the processing of s44 or s47 (s49). FIG. 13 shows an example of the display state of the arrow line on the display 26 by the process of s49. In this example, an arrow line indicating the exchange relation of consumables is displayed on the display screen of the degree of wear shown in FIG. 9, but the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear need not necessarily be displayed. Further, instead of, or together with, the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear, an indicator indicating the superiority or inferiority of the function of each device can be displayed.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server displays the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on specifications set in the electronic devices. When the “spec” tab is selected on the display screen of the display 26, the CPU 21 determines whether the setting of the fax function or the setting of the copy function is specified as a criterion for determining the exchange relation of the consumables. Is determined (s51). C
When the determination of the exchange relationship based on the presence or absence of the setting of the fax function is specified, the PU 21 determines from the management database 29 that a plurality of MFPs 6 to 9 and printers 10 to 13 which are compatible with consumables are used. The presence or absence of the setting of each fax function is checked (s52 → s53), and the line connecting the icon image of the device without the fax function and the icon image of the device with the fax function is a fax line. The display position of the image of the line with the arrow attached to the icon image side end of the device for which the function is set is calculated (s54). The CPU 21 executes the processing of s53 and s54 also for a plurality of other devices compatible with consumables (s55).

When the determination of the exchange relationship based on the setting of the copy function is specified, the CPU 21 determines from the management database 29 that the MFPs 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 1
3, the presence or absence of the setting of the copy function of a plurality of devices having the compatibility of the consumables is checked (s 52 → s 56), and the icons of the devices for which the copy function is set are determined from the icon images of the devices for which the copy function is not set. The display position of an image of a line connecting the icon image and having an arrow at the end of the icon image of the device for which the copy function is set is calculated (s57). The CPU 21 also executes the processing of s56 and s57 for a plurality of other devices compatible with consumables (s58 → s56).

The CPU 21 displays the image of the arrow line in the basic screen based on the calculation result in the processing of s54 or s57 (s59). FIG. 15 shows an example of the display state of the arrow line on the display 26 by the process of s59. In this example, an arrow line indicating the exchange relation of consumables is displayed on the display screen of the degree of wear shown in FIG. 9, but the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear need not necessarily be displayed. Further, instead of, or in addition to, the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear, an indicator indicating whether or not the fax function or the copy function is set in each device can be displayed.

It should be noted that the function serving as the reference for the processing shown in FIG. 12 and the specification serving as the reference for the processing shown in FIG. 14 are not clearly distinguished. Therefore, the criterion for determining the exchange relation of the consumables is selected from the processing speed, the resolution, the fax function and the copy function, and the exchange of the consumables determined by the processing shown in FIG. 12 and the processing shown in FIG. The relationship may be switched and displayed on a single display screen.

FIG. 16 shows a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server determines the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on the time required for replenishment of the devices having a shortage of consumables. It is a flowchart which shows. When the tab of "immediate action" is selected on the display screen of the display 26, the CPU 21 designates either the replenishment processing in the management network or the replenishment processing in the affiliated network as a reference for determining the exchange relation of the consumables. It is determined whether it has been performed (s61). The CPU 21
When the determination of the exchange relation of the consumables in the management network is designated, the MFPs 6 to 9 and the printer 10 included in the network 100 are transmitted from the management database 29.
13 to read out the consumables remaining amount data and the installation position index data of a plurality of devices having compatible consumables (s62).
→ s63), a line connecting between the icon image of the device with the least amount of consumables and the icon image of the device arranged closest to this, and the icon image of the device with the least amount of consumables The display position of the image of the line with the arrow attached to the side end is calculated (s64).

When the determination of the exchange relation of the consumables in the affiliated network is designated, the CPU 21 sends the multifunction peripherals 6 to 9 and the printers 10 to 1 from the management database 29.
3 reads out the consumables remaining amount data of a plurality of devices having compatible consumables (s62 → s65), and further belongs to the network 14 and the network 15 to which the device having the smallest consumables remaining amount belongs. The device which is included in the network and which is located at the closest position is selected based on the location index data (s66), and the icon image of the device with the least amount of consumables and the device image of the device selected in s66. The display position of the image of the line connecting the icon image and the arrow with the arrow on the icon image side end of the device with the least amount of consumables is calculated (s67).

The CPU 21 displays an image of the arrow line in the basic screen based on the calculation result in the processing of s64 or s67 (s68). FIG. 17 shows an example of the display state of the arrow line on the display 26 by the process of s68. In this example, an arrow line indicating the exchange relation of consumables is displayed on the display screen of the degree of wear shown in FIG. 9, but the indicators 51a to 51i indicating the degree of wear need not necessarily be displayed.

Note that the process of FIG.
The PU 21 is automatically executed when the PU 21 detects that the amount of consumables has reached a predetermined amount or less during a processing operation in one of the devices included in the network 100, or when receiving data indicating that. You may do so.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server transmits a message urging the user to replace the consumables with the electronic devices in the network. While displaying the display screen shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 13, FIG. 15, or FIG. 17 on the display 26, the CPU 21 of the management server 1
When the “notification” tab is selected, designation of an electronic device to which a message is to be transmitted by operating the mouse 25 is accepted (s71). In the process in s71, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the setting of the range 62 is received by the mouse pointer 61 which moves in the display screen in accordance with the operation of the mouse 25, and the set range 62 includes the icon image. It is conceivable that the electronic device is a transmission target.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 sets the display 26
A message is created on the basis of the exchange relationship indicated by the arrow line in the display screen being displayed (s72), and an image of the dialog box 63 showing the content of the created message is being displayed on the display 26 as shown in FIG. (S73). In the dialog box 63 displayed on the display 26, the CPU 21 accepts an operation for confirming the exchange relationship, which is the content of the message (s74), and keeps the exchange relationship until the OK button 63a or the cancel button 63b in the dialog box 63 is operated. The change is accepted (s75, s76).
When the exchange relation is changed, the CPU 21 changes the content of the message (s77).

When the OK button 63a in the dialog box 63 is operated, the CPU 21 sends a message to the electronic device specified in the process of s71 (s78), and displays the contents displayed on the display 26 on the network 100. Return to the basic screen indicating the status and wait for transmission of response data from the electronic device (s7
9, s80). On the display of the electronic device that has received the message transmitted by the CPU 21 in the process of s78, for example, a dialog box 64 indicating the content of the message is displayed as shown in FIG. In the electronic device that has received the message,
When the ES button 64a is operated, response data is transmitted from the electronic device to the management server 1.

The CPU 21 of the management server 1 that has received the response data displays a dialog box 65 indicating that execution of the consumables replacement process has been approved in the electronic device that has received the message, for example, as shown in FIG. (S81). If the response data has not been received before the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 21 displays an error message on the display 26 (s82, s).
83).

As described above, according to the management server 1 according to the present embodiment, among the electronic devices existing in the network 100, the consumables among a plurality of electronic devices compatible with the consumables to be used. Is determined based on the degree of consumption of consumables, the frequency of use of electronic devices, the functions or specifications of electronic devices, or the time required for the replacement process according to the instruction of the operator, and the consumption based on the determined replacement relationship. A message that prompts the user to execute the product replacement process is created and transmitted to the electronic device specified by the operator. Therefore, when a shortage of consumables occurs in one of the electronic devices, the electronic device can be replenished with consumables from another electronic device that uses the same consumable, and the operating efficiency of the electronic device can be improved. Can be improved.

Further, since a message prompting execution of the consumables replacement process can be transmitted to any electronic device in the network 100, for example, when the toner runs out in any of the multifunction devices 6 to 9, A message can be sent to the personal computer used by the administrator of the multifunction device, and toner replenishment can be performed quickly regardless of whether an operator is present near the multifunction device that has run out of toner. Can be accomplished.

In the CPU 21 of the management server 1, based on data such as remaining consumables data and operating time data among the contents stored in the management database 26, the number of consumables used in the electronic devices in the network 100 is determined. Predict supply or replacement timing, and when supply or replacement timing of consumables is imminent, type of consumables, and
By transmitting to the service center a message including data specifying an electronic device that requires replenishment or replacement of consumables, maintenance of each of the electronic devices included in the network 100 can be performed accurately and in a short time.

In the case where each of the electronic devices included in the network 100 has means for specifying an operator, data for specifying the operator is transmitted from the operating electronic device to the management server 1 so that each of the operators can be specified. The usage amount of the electronic device can be managed in the management server 1. In this case, by calculating the usage amount of each consumable type for each operator based on the storage content of the management database, the usage fee can be more accurately collected from each operator. For example, when the price of the developer used in the image forming apparatus is different according to the type, by calculating the usage amount for each type of the developer for each operator, the developer can be obtained from each of the plurality of operators. The usage fee can be collected equally according to the usage amount.

[0058]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the consumables of a plurality of electronic devices included in the network are managed based on their types. Therefore, the consumption status of the consumables in each electronic device is finely managed based on the type.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the connection status of a plurality of electronic devices is displayed in the same display form for each type of consumables of each electronic device. Therefore, the arrangement state of a plurality of electronic devices having the same consumables can be visually recognized accurately.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the state of sharing of the consumables among the plurality of electronic devices is displayed based on the consumption status and type of the consumables in each electronic device. Therefore, when the remaining amount of consumables in any one of the electronic devices decreases, it can be easily recognized whether or not replenishment from another electronic device using the same consumable can be performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the consumables shared state among a plurality of electronic devices using the same type of consumables depends on the remaining amount of consumables, the operating status, and the function of each electronic device. It is determined based on judgment conditions such as priority and arrangement position. Therefore, when the remaining amount of consumables in any one of the electronic devices decreases, the other electronic devices using the same consumables, the electronic devices having a large amount of the consumables remaining, and the infrequently operating electronic devices. An electronic device, an electronic device having a low function, or an electronic device installed in a close place can be easily recognized as an electronic device provided by a consumable.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the relationship between the electronic devices to which consumables are to be delivered is displayed on the display screen of the connection state of the plurality of electronic devices. Therefore, the electronic device to be provided with the consumable item and the electronic device to be provided with the consumable item are easily and accurately recognized.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the usage amount of each electronic device for each user is calculated based on the usage status of each user and the type of consumed consumable. Therefore, the usage amount of the electronic device for each user is finely managed according to the type of the consumed consumable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the management server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of storage contents of a management database of the management server.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of contents stored in an image memory of the management server.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control unit of the management server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a basic screen displayed on a display of the management server.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of management data transmitted from each electronic device to the management server.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when displaying the degree of consumption of consumables in each electronic device among the processing of the control unit of the management server.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing the degree of consumption of consumables on the display of the management server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server displays the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on the frequency of use of the electronic devices.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on the display of the management server, showing a replacement relationship of consumables based on a frequency of use of the electronic device.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server displays the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on functions of the electronic devices.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen showing a replacement relationship of consumables based on a function of an electronic device on a display of the management server.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server displays the exchange relation of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on specifications set for the electronic devices.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on the display of the management server, showing a replacement relationship of consumables based on specifications set for the electronic device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server determines a replacement relationship of consumables among a plurality of electronic devices based on a time required for a replenishment process for a device having a shortage of consumables. It is.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing a replacement relationship of consumables determined based on a time required for replenishment processing on a display of the management server.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit of the management server transmits a message prompting replacement of consumables to an electronic device in the network.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on the display of the management server when receiving a designation of a range of electronic devices to which a message prompting a replacement work of consumables is to be transmitted.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on a display of the management server when confirming the content of a message prompting a replacement operation of consumables.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display state of a message on a display of an electronic device included in the network.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on the display of the management server when displaying that the execution of the consumables replacement process has been accepted in the electronic device that has received the message.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-Management server 2a-2d, 3a-3c, 4,5-Personal computer 6-9-Digital multifunction machine 10,11-Laser printer 12a, 12b-Inkjet printer 13-Thermal recording printer 14-Network A 15-Network B 51a-51i-indicator 100-network system

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 12/28 H04L 11/00 310Z 12/24 11/08 12/26 F term (Reference) 2H027 DC18 DD02 EE10 EJ08 EJ09 EJ13 EJ15 GA45 GBA ZA07 5B021 AA01 AA02 AA19 AA23 BB00 EE04 NN00 5B042 GA12 JJ03 JJ06 JJ17 KK13 LA19 MC22 NN04 NN09 5K030 GA16 HB06 HB08 HC14 JT03 JT07 BA03 MA03 BA03 MA01 MA03 MB03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a type of a consumable used in each of a plurality of electronic devices included in a network, and a consumable of each electronic device is managed and displayed based on the contents stored in the storage. A network management device, comprising: a control unit. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the connection state of the plurality of electronic devices on the network in the same display form for each type of consumable of each electronic device stored in the storage unit. Network management equipment. 3. The control means according to claim 1, further comprising:
The network management device according to claim 1, wherein a shared state of consumables is displayed between the plurality of electronic devices. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the type of the consumables is the same based on any one of a plurality of electronic devices and a plurality of determination conditions of remaining amount of the consumables, an operating state, superiority of function, and arrangement position. 4. The network management device according to claim 3, wherein the shared state of the consumables is determined and displayed between the plurality of electronic devices. 5. An electronic apparatus to which a consumable is provided and another electronic apparatus to be provided with a consumable while the control means displays a connection state of a plurality of electronic apparatuses in a network. The network management device according to claim 4, wherein the relationship is displayed. 6. The network management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means calculates a usage amount for each user based on a usage status of each electronic device for each user and a storage content of said storage means. .