JP2001077964A - Maintenance system and maintenance method for apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance system and a maintenance method for an apparatus with which wrong maintenance processing by a general user can be prevented. SOLUTION: Only when a maintenance processing is conducted ('YES': in step S200), is a required memory program written in the memory of a device body (step S202), the maintenance processing is executed (step S203), and after the maintenance processing is finished, and the maintenance program is deleted (step S204).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a maintenance device and a maintenance method for causing a device to execute a maintenance process according to a predetermined maintenance procedure.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a maintenance device and a maintenance method for performing maintenance of a device such as a printing device in accordance with a maintenance program.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art As is conventionally known, in a device such as a printing device, a program (maintenance program) for performing maintenance of the device is built in the main body of the device.

However, erroneous setting and scanning for maintenance processing may adversely affect the operation of the apparatus itself depending on the contents of maintenance. Therefore, reading and execution of these maintenance programs must be performed.
It was often provided as a so-called hidden function or command. The hidden function is a function that can be used only when a service engineer or the like performs a specific operation so that the user cannot directly operate the function.

[0005]

As described above, conventionally known printing apparatuses and the like have the above-mentioned hidden function for performing maintenance processing.
Because of the hidden function for service engineers, it was not always easy to use.

[0006] Even the hidden function is not completely confidential, and may be operated by a general user.

[0007] Further, as the scale and function of the apparatus itself increase, there is a demerit that a maintenance program becomes complicated and bloated.

As described above, when a general user accidentally operates the hidden function, the operation of the apparatus itself may be adversely affected.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device maintenance device and a maintenance method that prevent erroneous maintenance processing by a general user.

Another object of the present invention is to store a required maintenance program in the apparatus main body only when performing a maintenance process, and to delete the maintenance program after the maintenance is completed. To provide a maintenance device and a maintenance method for equipment.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is a maintenance apparatus for causing a device to execute a maintenance process according to a predetermined maintenance procedure, and Input means for inputting a maintenance program, determining means for detecting that the maintenance program has been input,
In response to the judgment output of the judging means, the predetermined maintenance processing is executed in accordance with the writing means for storing the maintenance program in a specific storage area and the maintenance program stored in the specific storage area. And a deletion unit for deleting the maintenance program from the specific storage area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance device according to the first aspect, the input unit downloads the maintenance program from an external device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance device according to the second aspect, the maintenance program to be downloaded includes a plurality of types of maintenance programs.

The present invention according to claim 4 is the maintenance device according to claim 3, further comprising means for selecting and executing a specific maintenance program from the plurality of types of maintenance programs. Things.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance device according to the first aspect, when the input means downloads the maintenance program from an external device, the input means transmits the maintenance program from a plurality of maintenance programs to the device. Select and download the required maintenance program.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the maintenance device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
A notification means is provided for notifying the outside that predetermined maintenance processing has been executed in accordance with the maintenance program.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance device according to the sixth aspect, the notifying unit notifies the outside via a predetermined network or a public telephone line.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus incorporating the maintenance device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects,
The maintenance program is supplied via an external host computer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the printing apparatus is connected to an external scanner and / or a host computer and / or a print controller via a network.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the printing apparatus is a multifunction printer including a printer and / or a facsimile apparatus and / or a scanner.

The present invention according to claim 11 is a maintenance method for causing a device to execute a maintenance process according to a predetermined maintenance procedure, wherein an input step of inputting a maintenance program of the device, and wherein the maintenance program is executed. A determining step of detecting the input, a writing step of storing the maintenance program in a specific storage area in response to a determination output of the determining step, and the maintenance stored in the specific storage area After a predetermined maintenance process is executed in accordance with the maintenance program, the maintenance program is deleted from the specific storage area.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance method according to the eleventh aspect, the input step downloads the maintenance program from an external device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance method according to the twelfth aspect, the maintenance program to be downloaded includes a plurality of types of maintenance programs.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the maintenance method according to the thirteenth aspect, further comprising a step of selecting and executing a specific maintenance program from the plurality of types of maintenance programs. Things.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance method according to the eleventh aspect, in the inputting step, when the maintenance program is downloaded from an external device, the inputting step is performed to the device from a plurality of maintenance programs. Select and download the required maintenance program.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance method according to any one of the eleventh to fifteenth aspects, in addition to the above-mentioned notification method, a predetermined maintenance process is executed to the outside in accordance with the maintenance program. Comprising steps.

[0027] According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance method according to the sixteenth aspect, the notifying step notifies the outside through a predetermined network or a public telephone line.

The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claims 11 to
17. A printing method capable of executing the maintenance method according to any one of 17., wherein the maintenance program is supplied via an external host computer.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the eighteenth aspect, communication is performed with an external scanner and / or host computer and / or print controller via a network.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the eighteenth or nineteenth aspect, the printing method is executed by a multifunction printer having a printer and / or a facsimile method and / or a scanner.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, as a maintenance method for causing a device to execute a maintenance process according to a predetermined maintenance procedure, an input step of inputting a maintenance program of the device, and the maintenance program are input. Determining that the maintenance program is stored in a specific storage area in response to the determination output of the determination step; and storing the maintenance program stored in the specific storage area. And a step of deleting the maintenance program from the specific storage area after a predetermined maintenance process has been executed in accordance with the above-mentioned method.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-first aspect, the inputting step downloads the maintenance program from an external device.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-second aspect, the downloaded maintenance program includes a plurality of types of maintenance programs.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-third aspect, a step of selecting and executing a specific maintenance program from the plurality of types of maintenance programs is further stored. Things.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-first aspect, in the inputting step, when the maintenance program is downloaded from an external device, the maintenance program is transferred to the device from a plurality of maintenance programs. Select and download the required maintenance program.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to any one of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth aspects, a notification for notifying an external that a predetermined maintenance process has been executed according to the maintenance program. Remember the steps.

[0037] According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the notifying step notifies the outside via a predetermined network or a public telephone line.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention,
27 is a storage medium that stores, in a form of a readable program, a step in which the maintenance program is supplied via an external host computer as a printing method capable of executing the step according to any one of 27.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect, a step of communicating with an external scanner and / or host computer and / or print controller via a network is stored.

The present invention according to claim 30 is the storage medium according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the printing method is executed by a multifunction printer equipped with a printer and / or a facsimile method and / or a scanner.

The present invention according to claim 31 is the invention according to claims 21 to 21.
30. In the storage medium according to any one of the above, as the storage medium, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk storing a program that can be read by a server computer and a client computer,
An optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, and ROM are used.

The present invention according to claim 32 is the invention according to claims 21 to
30. The storage medium according to any one of 30), wherein the storage medium is detachable from a server computer and a client computer.

[0043]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In this embodiment, an MFP (Mult) having a plurality of functions such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner is provided.
This will be described by taking a printing device 107 called “i Function Printer” as an example.

At the same time when the host computer 100 is started, the print information analyzing unit 10 in the host computer 100
2. Activate the print environment detection unit 105 and the print command generation unit 104.

When the user executes the printing process while using the application, the application execution unit 1
01 sends print information to the print information analysis unit 102. The print information analysis unit 102 generates image information from the print information, and similarly generates a print command to the image information generation unit 103 and sends it to the print command generation unit 104.

The image information generation unit 103 converts the image information into image data (bitmap data), and outputs the image data together with the print start instruction to the printing apparatus (MFP) 107 via the print instruction generation unit 104 and the switching unit 132. The data is sent to the data receiving unit 113.

The print start command sent from the host computer 100 is transmitted to the print information control unit 108 and the printer engine control unit 10 in the printer controller 112.
9 to the printer engine 111. Then, when the printer engine control unit 109 detects a data transfer enable notification from the printer engine 111, the printer engine control unit 109 transfers the image data to the printer engine 111.

The printing environment of the printer engine 111 is transferred to the host computer 100 through the printer engine control unit 109 and the print information control unit 108.

In the host computer 100, the printing environment detecting unit 105 receives the printing environment information from the printing device 107 and notifies the printing environment to the printing information analyzing unit 102 and the screen display control unit 106.

The printer engine 111 is a printer unit for performing printing by an electrophotographic system. Although not shown, a well-known transport mechanism for a recording medium, a semiconductor laser unit, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a fixing unit, a drum cleaning unit, and the like. Printing is performed according to an electrophotographic process including a unit and a separation unit.

Facsimile data is sent to the facsimile transmission / reception unit 1.
14. The FAX transmission / reception unit 114 can be connected not only to a normal telephone line but also to a dedicated line. Data from the scanner 116 is received by the scanner interface unit 115. These data are analyzed as image data and sent to the printer engine 111 via the printer engine control unit 109.

In this embodiment, an MFP having a facsimile function, a printer function, a scanner function and the like in the same housing
However, this is merely an example, and the respective functions may be connected via a network such as a LAN (described later with reference to FIG. 4).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the present embodiment. The printing device (M
The processing procedure of the FP (107) is stored in the form of a program in the ROM 142, and is executed under the control of the CPU 140.

When the maintenance is started, first, the maintenance program is downloaded from the maintenance program sending section 130 of the host computer 100 to the maintenance execution section 150 in the printing apparatus 107 via the switching section 132. The method of downloading is not particularly limited. For example, it may be downloaded from the maintenance center of the printer maker to the printing apparatus 107 installed in the user's office via the Internet, or the host computer 100 and the printing apparatus 107 may be directly connected by a Centronics cable or the like. You can download it. It is also possible to download via a cable modem or satellite communication.

In short, the maintenance program may be downloaded to the memory of the maintenance execution unit 150, but a general-purpose memory (not shown) used by the CPU 140 may be used instead of this memory.

When the printer controller 112 determines that the data input to the data receiving unit 113 is a maintenance program (step S20).
0: YES), the maintenance program is stored in the execution area of the memory of the maintenance execution unit 150 (step S202). For this purpose, for example, a specific character string is embedded in the first part of the download program, and when the data is parsed by the data receiving unit 113 of the printer controller 112, it is determined whether or not these character strings are present. It is feasible.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the image data is not a maintenance program but normal image data (step S200: NO), normal print processing is performed (step S201).

If the maintenance program has been stored in step S202, then a maintenance process is executed in accordance with the maintenance program (step S203). This maintenance process may be performed by a service engineer or the like from an operation panel (not shown) of the printing apparatus 107, or may be completely automated.

When the maintenance processing in step S203 is completed, the maintenance program is deleted from the memory (step S204). As a result, the maintenance program does not touch the eyes of the user after maintenance is completed, so that problems such as erroneous operations do not occur.

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment described above, the operability is further improved by adding a notifying device for notifying the execution result of the maintenance program to a specific partner after the processing is completed. This is particularly effective when the printing apparatus 107 is operated from a remote location.

As an example of the notification device, an e-mail is transmitted via the Internet, a modem, a PHS, or the like:
FAX transmission: for example.

Third Embodiment In the first embodiment described above, it is assumed that one maintenance program is downloaded. However, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of maintenance programs are downloaded depending on the purpose of maintenance. (Or multiple types) of download programs are prepared, and the download time is optimized by selectively downloading according to the actual maintenance contents, and the maintenance program is unnecessarily enlarged and complicated. Can be prevented.

For example, when it is desired to maintain only the scanner function of the printing apparatus (MFP) 107, it is sufficient to download only the scanner maintenance program.

Further, even if a user once adds a facsimile function as an option after purchasing a printer, a necessary maintenance program can be selectively downloaded according to the configuration of the printing apparatus at each time, so that each user can flexibly download the maintenance program. Response is possible.

These download programs may be placed on, for example, a file server or a host computer and downloaded as needed.

Embodiment 4 In FIG. 1, the printer controller 112 is connected to a printing apparatus (M
FP) 107, the printer controller PRTC (also referred to as an image processing apparatus) is made independent from the printing apparatus PT as shown in FIG. Printing device PT and host computer H
It is also possible to configure to connect to C.

Other Embodiments In addition to the above-described embodiments, the following printing systems can be configured.

(1) Other Embodiment 1 In a printing system including a printing apparatus that receives print information and image data, analyzes the data, and prints the data, a printing system including a printing apparatus from the outside of the printing apparatus to a memory on the printing apparatus. Means for providing an API (program interface) for operating the downloaded program, program download means for downloading a maintenance program to a memory on the printing apparatus, and program for executing the program downloaded by the program download means An execution unit, a unit for executing the maintenance program to determine a maintenance result, and a program deleting unit for deleting the maintenance program from the memory when the maintenance work is completed.

(2) Other Embodiment 2 In a printing system including a printing device that receives image data and its related data, analyzes the data, and prints the data, the printing system includes a printing device from outside the printing device. A for operating the program downloaded to the memory
Means for providing a PI (program interface), program download means for downloading a plurality of maintenance programs to a memory on the printing apparatus, and program execution means for selectively executing the plurality of programs downloaded by the program download means A means for executing the maintenance program to determine a maintenance result, and a program deleting means for deleting the maintenance program from the memory when the maintenance work is completed.

(3) Other Embodiments Embodiment 3 is a printing system including a printing apparatus that receives image data and related data, analyzes the data, and prints the data. A for operating the program downloaded to the memory
Means for providing a PI (program interface), program download means for downloading a maintenance program for a part requiring maintenance from a plurality of maintenance programs to a memory on the printing apparatus, and a program downloaded by the program download means And a means for executing the maintenance program to determine a maintenance result, and a program deleting means for deleting the maintenance program from the memory when the maintenance work is completed.

(4) Other Embodiment The fourth embodiment is different from the above-mentioned other embodiments 1, 2, and 3 in that a notification means is provided for notifying a plurality or a single specific partner of the execution result of the maintenance program.

(5) Other Embodiment 5 In the other embodiment 4, the means for transmitting an e-mail via a network is used as the notifying means.

(6) Other Embodiment 6 In the above-mentioned other embodiment 4, a means for facsimile transmission is used as the notifying means.

A printing system comprising:

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, erroneous maintenance processing by a general user can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, only when the maintenance processing is performed, the required maintenance program can be stored in the apparatus main body, and after the maintenance is completed, the maintenance program can be deleted. .

More specifically, in the present invention,
The maintenance program can be operated by the user by downloading and using the maintenance program only when a service engineer or the like performs maintenance on the device, and deleting the maintenance program from the device after the maintenance is completed. Sex can be eliminated.

Further, by automating the execution of all maintenance programs, maintenance work can be performed from a remote place even when there is no service engineer or the like.

Further, a device having a plurality of functions (for example,
By preparing a plurality of single-function maintenance programs for a multi-function printer and downloading them as necessary, it is possible not only to prevent the maintenance programs from becoming too large, but also to install options. It is possible to flexibly cope with a device in which is added later.

Further, according to the present invention, maintenance processing can be performed using the latest maintenance program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which a plurality of maintenance programs are downloaded from an external device.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 host computer 107 printing device (multifunction printer) 108 print information control unit 113 data reception unit 114 facsimile transmission / reception unit 115 scanner interface unit 130 maintenance program transmission unit 150 maintenance execution unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP07 AQ06 HH01 HN15 HN23 HQ17 2H027 HA02 HB18 5B021 AA01 AA02 AA05 BB00 BB04 CC06 NN00 NN16 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA30 AB43 AC56 9

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A maintenance device for causing a device to execute a maintenance process according to a predetermined maintenance procedure, comprising: input means for inputting a maintenance program of the device; and detecting that the maintenance program is input. Determining means; writing means for storing the maintenance program in a specific storage area in response to a determination output of the determination means; predetermined maintenance processing according to the maintenance program stored in the specific storage area And a deletion unit for deleting the maintenance program from the specific storage area after the execution of the maintenance program. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit downloads the maintenance program from an external apparatus. 3. The maintenance device according to claim 2, wherein the downloaded maintenance program includes a plurality of types of maintenance programs. 4. The maintenance device according to claim 3, further comprising: a means for selecting and executing a specific maintenance program from among the plurality of types of maintenance programs. Maintenance equipment. 5. The maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit, when downloading the maintenance program from an external device, outputs a maintenance program required for the device from a plurality of maintenance programs. A device maintenance device characterized by being selectively downloaded. 6. The maintenance device according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying to the outside that predetermined maintenance processing has been executed according to the maintenance program. Maintaining equipment for equipment. 7. The maintenance apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said notifying unit notifies the outside via a predetermined network or a public telephone line. 8. A printing apparatus incorporating the maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance program is supplied via an external host computer. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus is connected to an external scanner and / or a host computer and / or a print controller via a network. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus is a multifunction printer including a printer and / or a facsimile apparatus and / or a scanner. 11. A maintenance method for causing a device to execute a maintenance process according to a predetermined maintenance procedure, comprising: an input step of inputting a maintenance program of the device; and detecting that the maintenance program is input. A determining step; a writing step of storing the maintenance program in a specific storage area in response to the determination output of the determining step; and a predetermined maintenance process according to the maintenance program stored in the specific storage area And a step of deleting the maintenance program from the specific storage area after the execution of the maintenance program. 12. The maintenance method according to claim 11, wherein the input step downloads the maintenance program from an external device. 13. The maintenance method according to claim 12, wherein the downloaded maintenance program includes a plurality of types of maintenance programs. 14. The maintenance method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of selecting and executing a specific maintenance program from among the plurality of types of maintenance programs. Maintenance method. 15. The maintenance method according to claim 11, wherein the inputting step includes, when downloading the maintenance program from an external device, a maintenance program required for the device from a plurality of maintenance programs. A device maintenance method characterized by selecting and downloading. 16. The maintenance method according to claim 11, further comprising a notifying step of notifying an outside that predetermined maintenance processing has been executed in accordance with the maintenance program. Maintaining equipment maintenance method. 17. The maintenance method according to claim 16, wherein said notifying step includes notifying outside through a predetermined network or a public telephone line. 18. A printing method capable of executing the maintenance method according to claim 11, wherein the maintenance program is supplied via an external host computer. . 19. The printing method according to claim 18, wherein communication is performed with an external scanner and / or host computer and / or print controller via a network. 20. The printing method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the printing method is executed by a printer and / or a facsimile method and / or a multifunction printer having a scanner. . 21. An input step of inputting a maintenance program of the device, and a determining step of detecting that the maintenance program has been input, as a maintenance method for causing the device to perform a maintenance process in accordance with a predetermined maintenance procedure. A writing step of storing the maintenance program in a specific storage area in response to the determination output of the determination step; and performing a predetermined maintenance process according to the maintenance program stored in the specific storage area. And a deleting step of deleting the maintenance program from the specific storage area after the maintenance program is stored in the form of a readable program. 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said inputting step downloads said maintenance program from an external device. 23. The storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the downloaded maintenance program includes a plurality of types of maintenance programs. 24. The storage medium according to claim 23, further comprising a step of selecting and executing a specific maintenance program from the plurality of types of maintenance programs. Medium. 25. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the inputting step includes, when downloading the maintenance program from an external device, a maintenance program required for the device from a plurality of maintenance programs. A storage medium characterized by being selectively downloaded. 26. The storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising: a notifying step of notifying that a predetermined maintenance process has been executed according to the maintenance program. Characteristic storage medium. 27. The storage medium according to claim 26, wherein said notifying step notifies the outside via a predetermined network or a public telephone line. 28. As a printing method capable of executing the steps according to claim 21, the step of supplying the maintenance program via an external host computer is performed in the form of a readable program. A storage medium characterized by being stored. 29. The storage medium according to claim 28, wherein a step of communicating with an external scanner and / or a host computer and / or a print controller via a network is stored. 30. The storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the printing method is executed by a printer and / or a facsimile method and / or a multi-function printer equipped with a scanner. . 31. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the storage medium includes a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk storing a program that can be read by a server computer and a client computer. A storage medium using an optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. 32. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said storage medium is detachable from a server computer and a client computer.