JP2001225531A - Digital image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of setting, reading or collections various kinds of parameters. SOLUTION: User parameter information 7-1, service parameter information 7-2, logging data information 7-3 and maintenance information 7-4 in an HTML file is stored in a memory 7. A WWW server controller section 6 transmits, sets or changes the information stored in the memory 7 in response to a request of the transmission, setting or change of a WWW browser on a PC terminal 101 connected to a LAN 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus having a local area network function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital image forming apparatuses such as digital copiers and digital multifunction peripherals have become multifunctional, and user setting parameters, serviceman setting parameters, and logging data for monitoring operation histories are increasing. do it,
Both setting and management are complicated for users. An example of an image scanner is known as a conventional technology compatible with a network, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-233243.

[0003]

By the way, the functions of digital copiers become more complicated year by year, and user parameters that allow user customization other than simple key operation,
In many cases, service technicians use service parameters for market maintenance and respond to detailed requests from users, and logging data for storing the operation history of the machine, such as the number of copies and the number of jams. The settings are made using the keys on the operation unit of the digital copier, the LCD touch panel, etc. The contents can be checked by printing out on paper in the serviceman mode or by data communication with the host computer via a public line. Has been done.

[0004] However, setting of functions is often in a deep hierarchy of key operations and has many parameters, so that not only the user but also the service person are often troublesome in operation, and errors are likely to occur. In many cases, printouts for checking the contents of each parameter are released only to service personnel. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to confirm, and even in the case of printing out, it is not preferable in terms of resource saving.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and uses a local area network and WWW technology, which are currently rapidly spreading, in order to set, browse, and tabulate various parameters. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of realizing improved appliance, improved reliability, and reduced cost.

According to the present invention, it is also possible to easily view the setting contents of each parameter from a WWW browser of a terminal such as a personal computer on a LAN, thereby realizing paperless operation and realizing resource saving and low cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of performing the following.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of setting each parameter from a WWW browser of a terminal on a LAN and improving operability.

According to the present invention, the information on sales representatives and service representatives can be set from a WWW browser of a terminal on a LAN, and further detailed information can be searched from the HTML file by a hypertext link, so that the update history of the machine body can be updated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of reliably performing management and allowing a user to browse maintenance information at any time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of confirming a machine operation status with a simple system by connecting the host server to a WWW server of a digital copying machine via the Internet.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a first means is a memory for storing at least one of user parameter information, service parameter information, logging information and maintenance information in an HTML file format. And a WWW server control means for transmitting information stored in the memory in response to a transmission request from a WWW browser of a terminal connected to the local area network.

[0011] The second means is the first means, wherein the W
WWW server control means for setting information stored in the memory in response to a setting and change request of the WWW browser;
It is characterized by changing.

[0013] A third means is that, in the first and second means, the WWW server control means performs maintenance of a sales section, a service section, and the like stored in the memory in response to a request for setting and changing the WWW browser. It is characterized in that history information is set and changed.

A fourth means is that, in the first to third means, the WWW server control means transmits the information stored in the memory in response to a transmission request from a host computer connected to the Internet. Features.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network including one embodiment of a digital copying machine according to the present invention.

The network shown in FIG. 1 includes digital copiers (DPPC) 100-1 and 100-2, personal computer (PC) terminals 101-1 and 101-2,
It comprises a local area network (LAN) 102, a router 103 which is a connection point with the Internet 110, and a host PC 111-1. Internet 1
10 further includes a digital copying machine 100-3 and a host PC.
111-2 and the like can be connected.

The digital copying machine 100 includes a document reading unit 1, a document output unit 2, a main control unit 3, a memory control unit 4, a LAN-I / F control unit 5, and a WWW (World Wide Web). ) The server control unit 6 and a group of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) files (user parameter information 7-
1, service parameter information 7-2, logging information 7-
3, maintenance information 7-4, etc.)
, An image memory 8, an image processing unit 9 and an operation unit 10.

In recent years, digital copiers have become highly sophisticated in recent years, and only data managed after installation in the market are: (1) user parameters 7-1 that can be set by the user according to his / her preference; Service parameters 7-2 for more detailed settings, which are released only to service personnel,
(3) There is logging data 7-3 for monitoring the operation status.

More specifically, (1) The user parameters 7-1 include: designation of a discharge tray, setting of a time to enter an energy saving mode, setting of an energy saving level, designation of a paper feeding tray, and a paper feeding tray. Whether or not there is automatic switching, ・ Specification of the priority of the enlargement / reduction ratio, ・ Detailed parameter settings for each reading mode (dither, error diffusion, special originals, etc.) ・ Setting values for the initial mode, etc. In addition, printer options and fax
Assuming options are installed, necessary functions are set separately for each optional function. For example, a function of assigning an output destination to a plurality of paper output trays for each option, selection of conditions for energy saving, and the like can be considered.

(2) The service parameters 7-2 include: adjustment of the resist position, setting of the bias voltage of the process system, selection of more detailed image parameters (MTF coefficient, isolated point function ON / OFF, gamma table) , Image processing coefficient
There are many such as fine adjustment of calculation threshold), ・ Setting of presence / absence of special function, ・ Setting of presence / absence of optional function.

Further, (3) the logging data 7-3 includes: • the number of copies (total, by image processing mode, by size,
Possible paper feed trays), • Jam history, • ROM version, • Optional memory settings, etc. In the conventional digital copying machine, these settings are made from the operation unit 10. Since there are a huge number of settings and each layer is deep, it is difficult for a user as well as a service person to understand. It has a structure that is easy to make mistakes.

Therefore, the digital copying machine 100 of the present invention
Has a WWW server control unit 6, and stores user parameter information 7-1, service parameter information 7-2, logging data information 7-3, and maintenance information 7-4 in advance as HTML files managed by the WWW server. 7 installed. Here, the maintenance information 7-4 is information relating to maintenance, and is composed of a breakdown / repair history, the name of a company / sales office / person in charge of sales / service, and the like. (User name, person in charge, complaint, request)
It is also possible to describe such as. PC terminal 101-
Reference numerals 1 and 101-2 are connected to the LAN 102, and a WWW browser (Internet browsing software) is installed.

Next, an operation example will be described. First, PC
The WWW browser of the terminal 101 launches a management initial screen (homepage) described in a predetermined format.
Management from the WWW browser is performed through this homepage. On this screen, user parameter information 7-1,
Service parameter information 7-2, logging information 7-3,
Options such as maintenance information 7-4 are described.
Then, necessary information is selected from the WWW browser screen of the PC terminal 101 using a pointing device such as a mouse. For example, when the user parameter information 7-1 is selected and executed, a transmission request of the user parameter information 7-1 is made to the WWW server control unit 6 of the digital copying machine 100.

Here, user parameter information 7-1,
Service parameter information 7-2 and logging information 7-3
And the maintenance information 7-4 are stored in separate URL (Uniform Resource Locator) addresses in HTML file format, and are stored in the digital copier 100.
Under the control of the WWW server control unit 6. The WWW server control unit 6 transfers the selected user parameter information 7-1 to the PC terminal 101, and sends the requesting PC terminal 10
The first WWW browser interprets the contents of the selected HTML file and displays the layout. If image data is embedded in the HTML file, the PC terminal 1
The browser 01 requests the WWW server controller 6 to further transfer a predetermined image file, and the WWW server controller 6 searches for the requested image file and transmits it to the PC terminal 101.

At this point, the user parameter information 7-1
Is displayed on the WWW browser. This screen displays other information (here, service parameter information 7).
-2, logging information 7-3, maintenance information 7-4
Etc.), a hypertext link is provided to the URL, and necessary items can be further selected if necessary. Another link is further provided on the WWW site screen of the link destination, so that the information can be easily browsed.

The user parameter information 7-1 of the digital copying machine 100 connected in this way is transmitted from the PC terminal 101 on the network (LAN 102) to the normal WW.
Since the confirmation can be performed by the W browser, complicated key operations conventionally performed on the operation unit 10 are not required, and since the confirmation can be performed on the display screen of the PC terminal 101, only a few digits of characters can be displayed. The browsability can be improved as compared with the LCD. Further, since an image file can be attached, the explanation in the case where it is difficult to document can be easily explained. In addition, a method of printing out to improve the browsability has been conventionally used. However, in the present invention, since paperless printing is possible, resource saving can be achieved.

Also, since these pieces of information 7-1 to 7-4 are locally managed by the WWW server control unit 6 of each digital copier 100, various loads of management by the host WWW server are required. There is an advantage that concentration can be avoided. In addition, each of the information-1 to 7-4 is restricted from being viewed by a user, a service, a business, or the like, and the method is performed according to a restriction by a password or a difference in an initial screen.

Also, the user parameter information 7-1 and the service parameter information 7-2 can be rewritten from the WWW browser screen of the PC terminal 101, whereby the setting of each parameter conventionally performed by the operation unit 10 can be performed. Can be easier. As a result, the L
The size of the CD can be greatly reduced, and the cost can be reduced. The digital copier 10
The operation history of 0 can be updated. Specifically, after inputting the changed part on the WWW browser of the PC terminal 101, the data is transferred. The digital PPC 100 uses the HTM stored in the memory 7 based on the transmitted information.
The L file is changed by the CPU of the main control unit 3.

The logging information 7-3 is a digital PPC 10
The counter value in the HTML file is edited and updated every time a series of copy operations is completed. Further, since the WWW browser is easily available, the cost is low, and the operation method is simple, it can be said that the merit is great even when used by a user or when used by a sales or service person.

Further, the maintenance information 7-4 can be input and updated from the WWW browser screen of the PC terminal 101.

Also, in an environment where the local area network 102 to which the digital PPC 100 is connected is also connected to the Internet 110, the digital copier 100 responds to a transmission request from the host computer 111-2 on the Internet 110. The WWW server control unit 6 performs data transmission of each information by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). The host computer 111-2 performs management on a WWW browser. The host computer 111-2 is equipped with a dedicated WWW search engine, and is configured to be able to search for a specific digital copier using various field indexes. Search items include installation address, customer name (company name), date of sales, date of repair, sales company and sales office, service company, model, and sales history (in-house replacement, other company replacement), etc. It is configured to be able to search for a factor.

Further, since it also supports direct URL input and a search engine function, it is possible to search from a general search engine. The host computer 111 can view data of each digital copier 100 and simultaneously analyze data of a plurality of digital copiers 100 within a designated range. Also, the host computer 11
1 can perform maintenance at a remote location, and market research on the operating status of the own machine can be performed with high accuracy.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the setting contents of each parameter can be easily browsed from a WWW browser of a terminal such as a personal computer on a LAN. It can realize resource saving and low cost.

According to the second aspect of the invention, each parameter can be set from the WWW browser of the terminal on the LAN, and the operability can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sales person and service person information can be set from the WWW browser of the terminal on the LAN, and further detailed information can be searched from the HTML file by a hypertext link. Update history management of the machine body can be reliably performed, and the user can browse the maintenance information at any time.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the host server can connect to the WWW server of the digital copying machine via the Internet, and the operating status of the machine can be checked with a simple system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system including an embodiment of a digital copying machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 WWW server control unit 7 Memory 101 PC terminal 102 LAN 110 Internet 111 Host computer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A memory for storing user parameter information, service parameter information, at least one of logging information and maintenance information in an HTML file format, and WWW of a terminal connected to a local area network.
A WWW server control unit for transmitting information stored in the memory in response to a transmission request from a browser. 2. The WWW server control means according to claim 2, wherein
2. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information stored in said memory is set and changed according to a setting and change request of a W browser. 3. The WWW server control means, wherein:
3. The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein maintenance history information such as a sales section and a service section stored in the memory is set and changed according to a setting and change request of the W browser. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said WWW server control means transmits information stored in said memory in response to a transmission request of a host computer connected to the Internet. Item 12. The digital image forming apparatus according to item 1.