JP2002041270A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device which his able to notify an error occurrence to an operator as well as to supply information regarding an error on the electronic device which is connected with the computer communication network such as LAN even in the case that the error occurs on the communica tion means to the computer communication network. SOLUTION: The electronic device 1 which can be connected to LAN 16 is equipped with a removable Compact Flash(R) which is detachably attached to the electric device 1 and a means to record the information regarding the error which occurs in the electronic device 1 to the Compact Flash.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic device connectable to a computer communication network such as a LAN (local area network), for example, a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a multifunction peripheral thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an error occurs internally, an electronic device such as a facsimile server or the like that informs an operator of the error by displaying an error message, an error code, or the like on a display of an operation unit or by turning on an LED. There is.

[0003] Recent facsimile servers are often used by being connected to a computer communication network such as a LAN so that they can communicate with other terminals. Therefore, the situation is different from when the facsimile server is used stand-alone (independently of other terminals), and as described above, an error occurs in the facsimile server and an error message is displayed on the display. However, for example, the user of the client PC (personal computer) connected to the LAN is not notified of the occurrence of the error, and must go to confirm whether or not the error is displayed on the facsimile server. Had to be inconvenient.

Therefore, a facsimile server has been developed by the applicant of the present invention, which can notify information on an error to a management terminal, a client PC or the like through the LAN.

However, the LA of the facsimile server
An error occurs in the communication means such as the N interface
If the communication function with the AN is impaired, communication with the client PC or the management terminal through the LAN cannot be performed, and the occurrence of an error cannot be notified to these terminals. Further, if the printer and the display of the operation unit also fail at the same time, the means for displaying the internal information is lost, and the information about the error cannot be obtained at all.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a LAN.
In an electronic device communicably connected to a computer communication network such as that described above, even if an error occurs in a communication means with the computer communication network, the error is notified to the operator and information about the error is supplied. It is to provide an electronic device capable of performing the following.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to claim 1 is an electronic device connectable to a computer communication network, comprising: a storage unit detachably attached to the electronic device; Means for recording information relating to an error occurring in the electronic device in the storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device connectable to a computer communication network, wherein storage means detachably attached to the electronic device, information on an error occurring in the electronic device, and a user. It is characterized by comprising means for recording the input information in the storage means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile server, which is one of the electronic devices, will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a specific configuration example of the facsimile server 1. The facsimile server 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a RAM (random access memory) 3, an RO
M (read only memory) 4, codec 5, modem 6, NCU (network control unit)
7, a reading unit 8, a recording unit 9, an operation unit 10, a compact flash 11, a LAN I / F 12, and an error notification unit 13. Each of the devices 2 to 13 is communicably connected by a bus 14. I have.

The CPU 2 controls each device constituting the facsimile server 1 according to a predetermined program.

The RAM 3 functions as a storage unit for storing image data, telephone numbers, addresses, and the like in advance, or as a storage unit for temporarily storing various data.

The ROM 4 stores various programs for controlling the operation of each part of the facsimile server 1 by the CPU 2.

The codec 5 performs encoding and decoding corresponding to a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data read by the reading unit 8 is encoded for transmission by MH, MR, MMR, or the like, and the received image data is decoded.

The modem 6 is, for example, in accordance with ITU-T Recommendation V.3. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data according to the 34 standard or the like.

The NCU 7 is a network controller for controlling a telephone line to make a call or disconnect a call, and is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 15.

The reading section 8 reads image data of a document and outputs image data converted to black and white binary.

The recording section 9 is of, for example, an electrophotographic type, and records received image data on recording paper.
For example, image data of a document read by the reading unit 8 and image data received by facsimile are printed out in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 2.

The operation unit 10 includes, for example, a display 10a for displaying information relating to the status and error of the facsimile server 1, a numeric keypad 10b for inputting a telephone number, etc.
c, a start key 10d for starting a document reading operation and the like are provided, and various operations are performed by the operation unit 10.

The compact flash (storage means) 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a unit which is detachably attached to the facsimile server 1, and records information on an error and other information input by a user, for example, user information, a telephone directory, device setting information, a log file, and the like. The storage means is not limited to the compact flash 11, but may be any nonvolatile memory.

The LAN I / F 12 has an interface with a LAN (local area network) 16, and connects the LAN 16 and the facsimile server 1 so that they can communicate with each other.

The error notifying unit 13 is provided with, for example, a lamp and a buzzer. When an error occurs in the communication function and it becomes impossible to notify an error to a management terminal or the like through the LAN 16. Then, a lamp is turned on and a buzzer sound is generated to notify an operator or the like of the occurrence of an error.

Hereinafter, the operation of the facsimile server 1 having the above configuration in, for example, the network environment A shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the network environment A, the facsimile server 1 has a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 15
And is communicably connected to the G3 FAX 17 through the Internet.
For this reason, the G3 FAX 17 can perform facsimile transmission to the facsimile server 1 as a transmission source, and further transfer the data to another terminal or the like via the LAN 16 by the facsimile server 1. In addition, the facsimile server 1
Through LAN 16 which is one of computer communication networks,
Mail server 18, client PC 19, management terminal 2
0 is communicably connected. Note that the client PC 19 and the management terminal 20 deal with a salutation protocol. The salutation protocol is a communication protocol for specifying and managing computers and office equipment on the Internet or LAN, and is a salutation consortium (Sa).
lutation Consortium).

The operation when an error occurs in the facsimile server 1 connected to the network environment A will be described below. This operation is performed in accordance with a command issued by the CPU 2 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 4.

First, when an error occurs in the facsimile server 1, the error is detected by the error detecting means (S1). There are various types of errors, such as a jam in the recording unit 9, facsimile transmission / reception failure, printing failure due to lack of toner in the recording unit 9, jam in the reading unit 8,
Means for detecting each error are separately provided.

When an error is detected by the error detecting means, the fact, for example, "error occurrence" is recorded in a log file in the compact flash 11 (S2). In this log file, as shown in FIG.
When a predetermined operation is performed, the date, time, place, contents and details of the occurrence are recorded. The service person removes the compact flash 11 from the facsimile server 1 and carries the notebook PC.
The contents of the log can be confirmed using, for example,.

Next, a determination is made as to whether the error is self-recoverable (S3). If the error is an error that can be recovered by the self-recovery means, for example, an error that may be recovered by resetting the device, a self-repair is attempted (S4), and the error is recovered by the self-repair. Is recovered (S5), for example, "error recovery" is recorded in the log file (S6).

In step 3 (S3), if the error is unlikely to be recovered by self-repair, for example, if the recording unit 9 is jammed with recording paper,
Next, it is determined whether or not the error is likely to be recovered by the operator of the facsimile server 1 taking some action (S7). An error that may be recovered by the operator includes, for example, a paper jam in the reading unit 8 or the recording unit 9. This error is recovered by the operator removing the jammed paper. In the case of other toner shortage, the error is recovered by the operator replenishing the toner. If it is determined that this type of error is an error that may be recovered by the intervention of an operator, an error message or the like is displayed on the display 10a to notify the operator of the facsimile server 1 of the error. In order to wait for the intervention of the operator, a timer is activated by, for example, a control program to wait for a predetermined time (S8). Then, when it is determined that the error has been recovered after waiting for a predetermined time (S9), the fact, for example, "error recovery" is recorded in the log file (S1).
0).

In step 5 (S5), if the error cannot be self-repaired, in step 7 (S7), the error is unlikely to be recovered by the operator, and in step 9 (S9), after the elapse of a predetermined time,
If the error has not been recovered, it is confirmed whether the communication function such as the LAN I / F 12 functions normally and can communicate with the management terminal 20, the client PC 19, and the like (S).
11). If the communication function is functioning normally, a notification to that effect, for example, "error recovery impossible" is sent to the management terminal 20 or the like via the LAN 16 (S12). As a means for notifying the management terminal 20 or the like, e-mail, salutation communication, or the like is used. When an e-mail or the like is used, the location and contents of the direct failure such as “the recording paper has been jammed in the recording unit” or an error indicating them are issued by a command issued by the CPU 2 according to a predetermined program. A transmission file containing the code is generated and transmitted to the management terminal 20 or the like.

On the other hand, when the communication function such as the LAN I / F 12 is not functioning normally (S11), the lamp of the error notification unit 13 is turned on and a buzzer is generated, so that the operator of the facsimile server 1 receives an error. The occurrence is notified (S13). If it is determined that the display functions such as the display 10a and the recording unit 9 are normal (S14), the display 10
The information about the error (error occurrence date / time, location, contents, details, etc.) is displayed in a, or the same contents are printed out on the recording paper from the recording unit 9 to notify the operator (S15).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the display function is not normal, information on the error is not displayed on the facsimile server 1. However, in this case, a service person or the like removes the compact flash 11 from the facsimile server 1 and confirms the log file stored inside the compact flash 11 using a separately prepared notebook PC or the like. Information on errors can be obtained easily and quickly.

Further, since the compact flash 11 also records information directly input by the user, such as user information, telephone directory, and device setting information, the storage device such as the RAM 3 of the facsimile server 1 fails to be reproduced. Even if it is replaced and repaired, damage to the user is minimal. That is, if the data in the compact flash 11 on which the information is recorded is re-input to the newly exchanged storage device or the like, the facsimile server 1 can be used immediately in the same environment as before the failure occurred.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device which can be connected to a computer communication network, wherein storage means detachably attached to the electronic device and information relating to an error occurring in the electronic device. Since the storage means is provided with means for recording, even if an error occurs in a communication function with a computer communication network and a display function such as a display, the storage means is removed, and a personal computer or the like removes the storage means. By reading information about an internal error, the error can be analyzed.

An electronic device according to a second aspect of the present invention is an electronic device connectable to a computer communication network, wherein a storage means detachably attached to the electronic device, information on an error occurring in the electronic device, and a user. Since it has means for recording the input information in the storage means,
Even if a storage device such as a RAM fails to be reproducible and is replaced and repaired, the electronic device can be used immediately in the same environment as before the failure occurred.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile server (electronic device) according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a network environment according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the facsimile server (electronic device) when an error occurs.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a log file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 facsimile server (electronic device) 11 compact flash (storage means) 16 LAN (computer communication network)

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 AA05 AA19 BB10 DD19 NN00 5C062 AA02 AA13 AA30 AA35 AB17 AB22 AB23 AB38 AB41 AB43 AB44 AC04 AC05 AC22 AC58 AE15 AF00 5C075 AB90 CE01 CE14 CE17 FF02 5K013 DAB DA DA

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device connectable to a computer communication network, comprising: storage means detachably attached to the electronic apparatus; and means for recording information on an error occurring in the electronic apparatus in the storage means. An electronic device, comprising: 2. An electronic device connectable to a computer communication network, wherein said storage device is detachably attached to said electronic device, and said storage device stores information on an error occurring in said electronic device and information inputted by a user. An electronic device, comprising: means for causing the electronic device to record.