JP2002254781A - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, function elimination setting method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a function elimination setting method and a storage medium in which, when a failure occurs in part of functions of the image forming apparatus, the failing function only is automatically eliminated, making the other functions effective as they are, so as to automatically and immediately allow continuous use of the other functions, to solve the inconvenience of stopping operation of the entire apparatus on occurrence of a failure in part of the functions as in a conventional system. SOLUTION: A CPU 323 of a core section 10 in the image forming apparatus 3 watches the status of multiple functions included in the apparatus 3. If the CPU detects a failure in the functions, it communicates the failure status to a computer 12 through a modem communication part 4 and a public communication network 15 with automatic elimination of the failing function, and communicates to the computer 12 through the modem part 4 and the public network 15 the effect that the failing function has been eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a function invalidity setting method and a storage medium, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a laser beam printer, and the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a function invalidation setting method, and a storage medium having a configuration in which an external computer communicably connected to a forming apparatus is combined. The present invention relates to an image forming system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus typified by a digital copying machine having a scanning function for reading an image from a document and a printing function for printing a scanned image on a recording sheet. As a failure state of the digital copying machine, for example, in the case of the scan function, there are failure states such as a lamp lighting error, a motor error, and, for example, in the case of the print function,
There are fault states such as a fixing unit temperature rise failure and a fan motor error.

In the conventional digital copying machine, when the above-described trouble occurs, an error code (E code) corresponding to the trouble is transmitted to an external computer or the like at a remote place, so that repair by a serviceman is required. Has been notified to the service base on the side of the external computer at the remote location. In this case, conventionally, even if an E code is generated only in a part of the function of the digital copying machine, for example, only in the scanning function part, the function of the entire digital copying machine is stopped.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, as described above, even if a failure (E code) occurs only in some functions of the digital copying machine, for example, only the scanning function, the functions of the entire digital copying machine including the printing function are stopped. For this reason, it is not possible to execute a job that does not require the use of a scan function, for example, a function of selecting and printing a scan image stored in a hard disk in a digital copying machine in advance, or to perform a digital operation from an external computer. The function of simply printing the print data transmitted to the copying machine could not be executed.

Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the scanning function of the digital copying machine and the failure occurrence information is communicated to an external computer at a remote location to notify a remote service base, the service person cannot install the digital copying machine at the installation location. Until the repair was completed, the user was inconvenienced during that time in that he could not print with a digital copier. Also,
As a digital copier sales company, if a customer encounters a failure in the scanning function of a digital copier, income from toner consumption, income from recording paper consumption, digital copier There is a problem that it is not possible to obtain income from a counter fee charged according to the degree of use of the counter.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even if a failure occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, only the failed function is automatically disabled, and the other functions are not performed. By leaving it enabled, you can eliminate the inconvenience of shutting down the entire device in the event of a failure of some functions, as usual, and automatically continue using other functions immediately It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a function invalidation setting method, and a storage medium which can perform the above-described operations.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. An image forming system, wherein when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, a failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and the failure generating function is invalidated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a state detection unit that detects a state of the plurality of functions; and a failure state communication that communicates the failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection unit. Means, automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault occurrence function, and degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the fault occurrence function has been automatically disabled. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a state detection unit that detects a state of the plurality of functions; and a failure state communication that communicates the failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection unit. Means, degeneration selecting means for selecting whether to invalidate the failure generating function, and manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generating function when invalidation of the failure generating function is selected by the degeneration selecting means. And a degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a state detection unit that detects a state of the plurality of functions; and a failure state communication that communicates the failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection unit. Means, and degraded status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been disabled along with an operation from the external device,
The external device includes: a degeneration selecting unit that selects whether to invalidate the failure generating function based on the failure status transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and selects the invalidation of the failure generating function by the degeneration selecting unit. In this case, the image forming apparatus further comprises a manual degenerating unit for disabling the failure generating function for the image forming apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a state detection unit that detects a state of the plurality of functions; and a failure state communication that communicates the failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection unit. Means, automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault occurrence function, and first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the fault occurrence function has been automatically disabled with the automatic degeneration. When,
Degeneration selecting means for selecting whether to invalidate the failure generating function, manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generating function when disabling the failure generating function is selected by the degeneration selecting means, A second degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated with the degeneration, and when a failure of the function has occurred, the automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration means and the manual degeneration means It has a manual / automatic degeneration selecting means for preliminarily selecting which of the manual degeneration is made effective.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a state detection unit that detects a state of the plurality of functions; and a failure state communication that communicates the failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection unit. Means, automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault occurrence function, and first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the fault occurrence function has been automatically disabled with the automatic degeneration. When,
A second degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated in accordance with an operation from the external device, wherein the external device communicates with the image forming apparatus. Degeneration selecting means for selecting whether or not to disable the fault generating function based on a fault situation; and manual degeneration means for disabling the fault generating function when the fault selecting function is disabled by the degrading selecting means. In the event of a failure of the function, manual selection of which of the automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration means and manual degeneration by the manual degeneration means is enabled in advance, and manual / automatic degeneration selection to be set in the image forming apparatus Means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a state detection unit that detects a state of the plurality of functions; and a failure state communication that communicates a failure state of the function to the external device when the state detection unit detects a failure of the function. Means, automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault occurrence function, and first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the fault occurrence function has been automatically disabled with the automatic degeneration. When,
A second degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated in accordance with an operation from the external device, and in the event that a failure of the function has occurred, according to the content of the failure of the function. A manual / automatic degeneration automatic selection unit for automatically selecting which one of the automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration unit and the manual degeneration by the external device is enabled, wherein the external device is an image forming apparatus. A degeneration selection unit for selecting whether to invalidate the failure generating function based on the failure status communicated from the server, and disabling the failure generation function when the failure generation function is disabled by the degeneration selection unit. And manually degenerating means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a scanning function for reading an image from a document.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a printing function for printing an image on a recording medium. .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a PDL developing function of developing PDL data into printable image data. It is characterized by.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a network communication function for communicating with the outside via a network. I do.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a feeder function for feeding a document to a document reading position. I do.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a finishing function of performing output processing such as sorting on a recording medium on which printing has been completed. It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 14 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a facsimile function for performing image communication with the outside.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 15 is that the function of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system is a sheet feeding function for supplying a recording medium into the image forming apparatus. Features.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device. Communicating the failure status to the external device,
The failure generating function can be disabled.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 17 is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein the state of detecting the states of the plurality of functions is detected. Detecting means, a fault status communication means for communicating a fault status of the function to the external device when a fault of the function is detected by the status detecting means, and an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault generating function. And a degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure occurrence function has been automatically invalidated.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 18 is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein a state of detecting the states of the plurality of functions is provided. Detecting means for detecting a failure of a function by the state detecting means, a failure state communication means for communicating the failure state of the function to the external device, and degeneration for selecting whether or not to disable the failure occurrence function Selecting means, manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generation function when the failure generation function is selected by the degeneration selection means, and degeneration for communicating to the external device that the failure generation function has been invalidated. Status communication means.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 19 is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein the state of detecting the states of the plurality of functions is detected. Detecting means, a fault status communication means for communicating a fault status of the function to the external device when a fault of the function is detected by the status detecting device, and disabling the fault generating function with an operation from the external device. And a degeneration status communication means for communicating the fact to the external device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein a state of detecting the states of the plurality of functions is provided. Detecting means, a fault status communication means for communicating a fault status of the function to the external device when a fault of the function is detected by the status detecting means, and an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault generating function. A first degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the failure generating function has been automatically disabled according to the automatic degeneration, and a degeneration selection that selects whether to disable the failure generating function. Means, manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generation function when the failure generation function is selected to be invalid by the degeneration selection means, and the external device indicating that the failure generation function has been invalidated with the manual degeneration. A second degeneration status communication unit that communicates with the user, and when a failure of the function occurs, manually / automatically selecting in advance which of the automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration unit and the manual degeneration by the manual degeneration unit is enabled. And degeneration selection means.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 21 is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein a state of detecting the states of the plurality of functions is provided. Detecting means, a fault status communication means for communicating a fault status of the function to the external device when a fault of the function is detected by the status detecting means, and an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault generating function. A first degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the failure generation function has been automatically disabled according to the automatic degeneration, and disabled the failure generation function according to an operation from the external device. And a second degeneration status communication means for communicating the fact to the external device.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 22 is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein the state of detecting the states of the plurality of functions is detected. Detecting means, a fault status communication means for communicating a fault status of the function to the external device when a fault of the function is detected by the status detecting means, and an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the fault generating function. A first degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the failure generation function has been automatically disabled according to the automatic degeneration, and disabled the failure generation function according to an operation from the external device. Second degeneration status communication means for communicating the effect to the external device, and when a failure of the function occurs, automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration means and manual operation by the external device in accordance with the content of the failure of the function. And having a manual-automatic degraded automatic selection means for selecting whether to enable any withdrawal automatically.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 23 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a scanning function for reading an image from a document.

[0030] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 24 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a print function for printing an image on a recording medium.

[0031] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 25 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a PDL developing function of developing PDL data into printable image data.

[0032] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 26 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a network communication function for communicating with the outside via a network.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 27 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a feeder function for feeding a document to a document reading position.

[0034] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 28 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a finishing function for performing output processing such as sorting on a recording medium on which printing has been completed. I do.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 29 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a facsimile function for performing image communication with the outside.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 30 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus is a sheet feeding function for supplying a recording medium into the image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 31 is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions, wherein the information processing apparatus has functions of the functions communicated from the image forming apparatus. A degeneration selecting unit for selecting whether to invalidate the failure generating function based on the failure situation, and, when the failure generating function is selected to be invalid by the degeneration selecting unit, the failure generating function is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. And manual degeneration means for invalidating.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 32 is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions, wherein the functions of the functions communicated from the image forming apparatus are provided. Degeneration selecting means for selecting whether to invalidate the failure generating function based on the failure situation, and manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generating function when the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected by the reduction selecting means. In the event of a failure of the function, one of automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generation function in the image forming apparatus and manual degeneration for disabling the failure generation function by the manual degeneration means is enabled. And a manual / automatic degeneration selecting unit for preliminarily selecting whether to perform the setting and setting the image forming apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function failure setting method, wherein when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, a failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and the failure generating function is disabled.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function invalid setting method, wherein the state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external device. The failure generating function is automatically disabled, and the fact that the failure generating function is disabled is communicated to the external device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function invalid setting method, wherein the state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external device. When the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus,
The failure generating function is disabled, and the fact that the failure generating function is disabled is communicated to the external device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function invalid setting method, wherein the state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external device. When the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected from the external device based on the failure state, the external device disables the failure generating function for the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus performs the failure generating function. Is communicated to the external device to the effect that is invalidated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function invalid setting method, wherein the state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external device. If automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generating function is selected in advance in the image forming apparatus, the failure generating function is automatically disabled and the effect is communicated to the external device, If manual degeneration for manually disabling the failure generating function is selected in the image forming apparatus in advance, the failure generating function is disabled based on an operation on the image forming apparatus, and the fact is notified to the external device. Characterized by communication.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function invalid setting method, wherein the state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external device. If automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generating function is selected in the external device in advance, the failure generating function is automatically disabled and the effect is communicated to the external device, When manual degeneration for manually disabling the failure generating function is previously selected in the external device, the failure generating function is disabled based on an operation on the external device, and the fact is communicated to the external device. And wherein the door.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 39 is executed by an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A function invalid setting method, wherein the state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external device. According to the content of the failure of the function, which of automatic degeneration automatically disables the failure generation function and manual degeneration which disables the failure generation function by an operation from the external device is enabled. If the automatic degeneration is selected and the automatic degeneration is selected, the fault occurrence function is automatically disabled and the effect is communicated to the external device.If the manual degeneration is selected, the external degeneration is performed. Operation from the device Characterized by communicating the fact to the external device while disabling the failure function based.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 40 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied is a scanning function for reading an image from a document.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 41 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied is a print function for printing an image on a recording medium. And

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 42, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied is a PDL development function for developing PDL data into printable image data. There is a feature.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 43 is that the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied is a network communication function for communicating with the outside via a network. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 44 is that the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied is a feeder function for feeding a document to a document reading position. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a forty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied performs output processing such as sorting on a recording medium on which printing has been completed. It is a finishing function.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 46 is characterized in that the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalid setting method is applied is a facsimile function for performing image communication with the outside. .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the function of the image forming apparatus to which the function invalidity setting method is applied is a paper feeding function for supplying a recording medium into the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by the following.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 48 is applied to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalid setting method, wherein the function invalid setting method detects a failure state of the function when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus. The method further comprises the steps of: communicating with the external device; and disabling the failure generating function.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 49 is applied to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method, wherein the function invalidity setting method includes a step of monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When detecting a failure of the function of the forming apparatus, the step of communicating the failure state of the function to the external device, the step of automatically disabling the failure occurrence function, and the effect of disabling the failure occurrence function are described. Communicating with the external device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 50 is applied to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method, wherein the function invalidity setting method includes a step of monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; A step of communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the forming apparatus; and a step of communicating the failure occurrence function when the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected from an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. And a step of communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 51 is applied to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method, wherein the function invalidity setting method includes a step of monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When a failure of the function of the forming apparatus is detected, a step of communicating the failure state of the function to the external device, and when the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected based on the failure state from the external device, the external device Disabling the failure generating function for the image forming apparatus from the external device, and notifying the external device that the failure generating function has been disabled in the image forming apparatus. Characterized by a step of communicating.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 52 is applied to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method, wherein the function invalidity setting method includes a step of monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When a failure in the function of the forming apparatus is detected, the step of communicating the failure state of the function to the external device and the automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generating function are selected in advance in the image forming apparatus. Automatically disabling the failure generating function, communicating the fact to the external device, and manually disabling the failure generating function. When degeneration is selected in advance in the image forming apparatus, the method includes a step of disabling the failure generating function based on an operation on the image forming apparatus, and a step of communicating the fact to the external device. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 53 is applied to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method, wherein the function invalidity setting method includes a step of monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When a failure of the function of the forming apparatus is detected, a step of communicating a failure state of the function to the external apparatus, and a case where automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generating function is selected in advance in the external apparatus. Automatically disabling the fault occurrence function, communicating the fact to the external device, and manually reducing the fault occurrence function manually. When the external device is selected in advance, the method includes a step of disabling the failure generating function based on an operation on the external device, and a step of communicating the fact to the external device. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 54 is applied to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method, wherein the function invalidity setting method includes a step of monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When a failure of the function of the forming apparatus is detected, a step of communicating the failure state of the function to the external device, and according to the content of the failure of the function, an automatic degeneration that automatically disables the failure generating function. Automatically selecting which of the manual degeneration to invalidate the failure occurrence function by an operation from the external device, and a case where the automatic degeneration is selected Automatically disabling the failure generating function, communicating the fact to the external device, and, if the manual degeneration is selected, the failure generating function based on an operation from the external device. The method further comprises a step of invalidating and a step of communicating the invalidation to the external device.

[0061]

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

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) of the image forming system according to the embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a modem communication unit 4, a network processing unit 7, a PDL (Page Description Language) development unit 8, and a core unit 10. Image input / output control unit 3 and an operation unit 500. In the figure, 11 is a computer,
12 is a computer, 13 is a digital copying machine, 14 is a facsimile machine, 15 is a public line network, and 16 is a network. Note that the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example, and the configuration is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

In detail, the reader section 1 reads an image of a document set in the image forming apparatus and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer section 2 via the core section 10. The printer unit 2 prints an image corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 1 on recording paper. The modem communication unit 4 communicates with the computer 12 and the facsimile machine 14 via the public line network 15. Note that communication in the present invention refers to transmission and reception of information. The network processing unit 7 manages network communication processing between the computer 11 and the digital copying machine 13 via a network board (not shown) of the image forming apparatus and the network 16.

The PDL developing unit 8 is, for example, a computer 1
The PDL data transmitted from the printer unit 1 via the network 16 is developed into image data that can be printed by the printer unit 2.
The core unit 10 has the configuration shown in FIG. 3 and performs image input / output processing, image processing, and the like. The operation unit 500 has the configuration shown in FIG. 4 and is used for various instructions and various settings for the image forming apparatus. The core unit 10 and the operation unit 500
The detailed configuration will be described later with reference to FIGS.

The computer 11 is specifically a personal computer or a workstation (PC / W
S). For example, the computer 11
From the core unit 10 via the network 16 and the network processing unit 7 of the image forming apparatus.
The PDL data is sent to the printer unit 2 by the PDL developing unit 8.
The image data is developed into printable image data by the printer unit 2 and printed by the printer unit 2 via the core unit 10.

The facsimile machine 14 reads an original image read by the reader unit 1 of the image forming apparatus, for example, into the core unit 10.
Then, the data is transmitted by facsimile via the public line network 15 via the modem communication unit 4. Alternatively, the facsimile machine 14
Receives image data from another facsimile machine (not shown) via the public line network 15, the modem communication unit 4 and the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus, and prints the received image by the printer unit 2.

The computer 12 is specifically a personal computer or a workstation (PC / W
S) and corresponds to the external device of the present invention. For example, a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2 of the image forming apparatus
And the degenerate situation related to the present invention,
The core 10 communicates with the computer 12 through the modem communication unit 4 and the public network 15. Also, the computer 12 instructs manual degeneration (manually invalidating a function in which a failure is detected) according to the present invention, or manually degenerates or automatically degenerates (automatically deactivates a function in which a failure is detected). Is input to the core unit 10 via the public network 15 and the modem communication unit 4 of the image forming apparatus.

The digital copying machine 13 is a copying machine for performing continuous copying. For example, an image read by the reader unit 1 of the image forming apparatus is printed by the printer unit 2 via the core unit 10 and simultaneously the network processing unit 7
By communicating with the digital copying machine 13 via the digital copying machine 13 and performing printing with the digital copying machine 13, cascade copying can be executed, and print productivity can be increased.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 100, a paper deck (hereinafter, abbreviated as “deck”) 150, and a circulating automatic document feeder (RDF).
(Hereinafter, abbreviated as “feeder”) 189, finisher 190
Approximately.

Image forming apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus
Are a platen glass 101, a scanner 102, scanning mirrors 105 and 106, a lens 108, a CCD sensor (image sensor unit) 109, a photosensitive drum 110, a primary charger 112, a pre-exposure lamp 114, and a cleaning device 11.
6, transfer charger 118, exposure controller 120, developing device 12
1, transfer belt 130, upper cassette 131, lower cassette 132, pickup rollers 133 and 134, paper feed rollers 135 and 136, registration rollers 137, adsorption charger 138, transfer belt roller 170, pre-fixing charger 1
39, 140, a fixing device 141, a paper discharge roller 142, a paper discharge flapper 154, a reversing path 155, a re-feed tray 15
6. Multiple flapper 157, transport path 158, paper feed roller 159, path 160, discharge roller 161, first feed roller 162, second feed roller 162a, reversing roller 1
63, a transfer belt roller 170 is provided.

The deck 150 of the image forming apparatus includes a lifter 151 and a paper feed roller 152.

A circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189 of the image forming apparatus automatically feeds a document set by an operator to a reading position on a platen glass of the image forming apparatus main body 100 (not shown). ).

Further, the finisher 190 of the image forming apparatus
Are bins 191, 192, passes 193, 195, 19
6, a paper discharge flapper 194, and rollers 197 and 198.

In detail, the reader unit 1 in FIG. 1 corresponds to a mechanism including the platen glass 101 to the CCD sensor 109 in FIG. 2, and the printer unit 2 in FIG. This corresponds to a mechanism including the drum 110 to the reversing roller 163.

First, the reader section 1 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 will be described in detail. The platen glass 101 is a document table. The scanner 102 includes the document illumination lamp 10
3. It is composed of a scanning mirror 104 and the like. Scanner 102
Are reciprocally scanned in a predetermined direction by a motor (not shown), so that reflected light 107 of the document is reflected by the scanning mirrors 104 to 104.
An image is formed on the CCD sensor 109 through the lens 108 through the lens 106.

The reflected light of the original is converted into an electric signal by the CCD sensor 109, and the electric signal is converted by the CCD sensor 10.
Scanner image processing unit (not shown) arranged near 9
A / D conversion and shading correction are performed by
The digital image data is stored in the memory 324 via the gate array 326 of the core unit 10 described later.

Next, the printer section 2 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 will be described in detail. The exposure control unit 120 includes a laser,
The core unit 10 includes a polygon scanner or the like.
The digital output image data stored in the memory 324 (see FIG. 3) of the core unit 10 is read out from the memory, and a data processing unit 326 described later of the core unit 10 converts the digital image data into a video signal, and an interface (I / F) unit. 327 is sent to the printer unit 2.

Then, the photosensitive drum 110 is irradiated with the laser beam 129 modulated based on the video signal. Around the photosensitive drum 110, a primary charger 11
2, a developing device 121, a transfer charger 118, a cleaning device 116, and a pre-exposure lamp 114 are provided. In the image forming section 126 centered on the photoconductor drum 110, the photoconductor drum 110 is rotated by a motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and after being charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112, The laser beam 129 from the exposure control unit 120 is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image is formed.

On the other hand, the transfer paper fed from the upper cassette 131 or the lower cassette 132 by the pickup rollers 133 and 134 is sent to the transport path provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus by the paper feed rollers 135 and 136. The toner image fed to the transfer belt 130 by the registration roller 137 and visualized is transferred to a transfer paper by the transfer charger 118. In this case, the adsorption charger 138
Causes the transfer paper sent from the registration roller 137 to be attracted to the transfer belt 130. The transfer belt roller 170 is
At the same time as being used to rotate the transfer belt 130, the transfer paper is adsorbed and charged on the transfer belt 130 in combination with the adsorption charger 138.

After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 110 is cleaned of residual toner by the cleaning device 116, and the residual charge is erased by the pre-exposure lamp 114. The transfer paper after the transfer is separated from the transfer belt 130 and the pre-fixing charger 1
The toner is recharged by 39 and 140, and the fixing device 141
And is fixed by pressure and heat,
Is discharged outside the image forming apparatus main body 100.

Here, the image forming apparatus main body 100 is equipped with a deck 150 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer sheets. The lifter 151 of the deck 150 rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 152. Further, the image forming apparatus main body 100 includes:
For example, a multi-bypass tray 15 that can accommodate 100 sheets of transfer paper
3 are equipped.

Again, in the image forming apparatus main body 100,
The discharge flapper 154 includes a path on the double-sided recording side (a path for recording images on both sides of a transfer sheet), a path on a multiplex recording side (a path on a side where images are multiplexed on transfer paper), and a discharge path. (The path on the side where the transferred transfer paper is discharged) is switched. The transfer paper fed from the paper discharge roller 142 is switched by the paper discharge flapper 154 to a double-sided recording side or a multiple recording side. The multiplex flapper 157 switches the path between double-sided recording and multiplex recording. By inverting the path to the left, the transfer paper is led directly to the transport path 158 without passing through the reversing path 155. Paper feed roller 15
9 transfers the transfer paper through the path 160 to the photosensitive drum 110
Feed to the side.

The discharge roller 161 is a discharge flapper 154.
And a roller for discharging the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the paper discharge flapper 154 outside the apparatus. During double-sided recording (double-sided copying), the discharge flapper 15
4 is moved upward, the multiple flapper 157 is tilted to the right, and the recorded (copied) transfer paper is passed through the reversing path 155.
The multiple flapper 157 is tilted to the left, and is stored in the sheet re-feed tray 156 in a state where the multiple flapper 157 is turned over via the transport path 158. At the time of multiplex recording (multiplex copying), the discharge flapper 154 is used.
Is raised, the multiple flapper 157 is tilted to the left, and the recorded (copied) transfer paper is passed through the transport path 158 and stored in the re-feed tray 156. The transfer sheets stored in the re-feed tray 156 are fed one by one from the bottom to the feed roller 15.
9 through the path 160, the registration roller 13 of the main body.
It is led to 7.

When the transfer paper is inverted and discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100, the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, and the multiple flapper 157 is tilted rightward to record (copy).
The completed transfer paper is conveyed to the conveyance path 155 side, and after the rear end of the transfer paper passes through the first feed roller 162, the transfer paper is conveyed to the second feed roller 162a side by the reversing roller 163, and is transferred by the discharge roller 161. Turn the paper over and discharge outside the machine. By the above operation, the transfer paper discharged outside the apparatus is conveyed to the finisher 190.

The finisher 190 stacks transfer sheets printed by the image forming apparatus main body 100 (a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on a plurality of bins). The path 193 is a path for receiving the transfer paper printed by the image forming apparatus main body 100. The roller 197 sends out the transfer paper conveyed via the path 193 to the path 195 or 196. To send the paper to the path 195, the discharge flapper 1
To move 94 down and feed it to path 196, the paper discharge flapper 194 is moved upward.

When the paper passes the path 196, the paper is discharged to the bin 192 by the rollers 198. Pass 195
Is discharged to the bin 192 as it is. For example, when copying is performed by the image forming apparatus main body 100, the transfer paper is discharged to the bin 191 and the image forming apparatus main body 1
When PDL printing was performed at 00, transfer paper was placed in bin 1
By discharging the paper to 92, the convenience of the user is improved.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an interface unit (hereinafter, I / F) 320,
322, 327, 328, data processing units 321, 32
6, a CPU 323, and a memory 324.

The above configuration will be described in detail. Image data from the reader unit 1 is transmitted to the data processing unit 32 via the I / F 322.
Transferred to 1. The data processing unit 321 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. The image data transferred to the data processing unit 321 is stored as digital image data in the memory 324 via the CPU 323. The image data is sent to the CPU 323 and the data processing unit 32 according to a control command from the operation unit 500.
6, transferred to the printer unit 2 via the I / F 327, or transferred to the modem processing unit 4 and the network processing unit 7 via the interface unit 320.

The code data representing the image input from the network 16 via the network processing unit 7 is transferred to the CPU 323 via the I / F 320.
When the CPU 323 determines that the code data is PDL code data, the PDL code data is
The data is transferred to the PDL expansion unit 9 via F320, and is expanded into image bitmap data by the PDL expansion unit 9. The image bitmap data is accumulated in the memory 324 via the I / F 320 and the CPU 323. Thereafter, the image bitmap data is transferred to the CPU 323 and the data processing unit 32.
6. The data is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the I / F 327, and printed by the printer unit 2.

The facsimile image data from the modem communication unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 326 via the I / F 320 and the CPU 323, and then transferred to the printer unit 2 via the I / F 327. Printed.

The CPU 323 performs the above control according to the control program stored in the memory 324 and the control command received from the operation unit 500 via the I / F 328. The memory 324 is also used as a work area of the CPU 323.

As described above, in the present image forming apparatus, the reading of the original image, the printing of the image, the transmission and reception of the image, the storage of the image, and the transfer of data from the computer are performed centering on the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. It is possible to perform processing combining functions such as input and output.

CPU 323 of core unit 10 of image forming apparatus
Has a function as a state detecting means according to the present invention. For example, when a failure occurs in the function of the reader (scanner) unit 1, or when a failure occurs in the function of the circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189, the reader unit 1
By receiving function failure occurrence information on the reader unit 1 or the feeder 189 from the I / F 322, the occurrence of a function failure can be detected by the CPU 323.

When a failure occurs in the function of the printer unit 2 or a failure occurs in the function of the finisher 190, the printer 2 unit issues a command via the I / F 327.
By receiving the function failure occurrence information on the printer unit 2 or the finisher 190, the CPU 323 can detect that a function failure has occurred.

When the running out of the consumables such as the toner cartridge and the ink cartridge used in the printer unit is detected by a consumables remaining amount sensor (not shown), the consumables remaining amount is detected. The CPU 3 receives the information about the exhaustion of the consumables from the sensor via the I / F 357, and notifies the CPU 3 that the exhaustion of the consumables has occurred.
Detect at 23.

Similarly, when a failure occurs in each of the functions of the network processing unit 7 and the PDL expansion unit 8, the network processing unit 7 or the PDL expansion unit 8 is transmitted from the network processing unit 7 or the PDL expansion unit 8 via the I / F 320. The CPU 323 can detect that a functional failure has occurred by receiving the functional failure occurrence information related to 8.

The CPU 323 is connected to the modem communication unit 4
The function failure occurrence information is transmitted to the external computer via the PC. In this case, when the external computer is connected not on the modem communication unit 4 but on the network via the network processing unit 7, the external computer is notified that the function of the modem communication unit 4 has failed. be able to. In addition, the CPU 323 executes the processing shown in each flowchart described below based on the function invalidity setting method program of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic screen displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 500 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that this screen is a touch panel, and a description will be given assuming that the function is executed by touching the frame of the displayed function. Can be achieved.). The copy mode key 524 is a key to be pressed when performing a copying operation. When this copy mode key 524 is pressed, 5 in FIG.
A copy mode screen 30 is displayed. When the extended function key 501 is pressed, double-sided copying is performed.
The mode is entered such as multiple copying, moving, binding margin setting, frame erasing setting, and the like.

Reference numeral 540 denotes a status line, which displays a message indicating the state of the image forming apparatus. A detection result indicating whether a failure has occurred in each function of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first degeneration state (a state in which the function in which the failure is detected is automatically disabled), and a second degeneration state. (A state in which the function in which the failure was detected was manually disabled from the operation unit) is displayed on the status line 540. For example, FIG. 4 shows a state in which there is a failure in the finisher function, which is degenerated and invalidated, and is displayed together with a finisher error code 540.

An image mode key 502 is a key for shifting to a setting mode for shading, shading, trimming, and masking a copied image. A user mode key 503 is a key for registering a mode memory and setting a standard mode screen. Advanced zoom key 50
Reference numeral 4 denotes a key for shifting to a mode for independently changing the magnification in the X direction (horizontal direction) and Y direction (vertical direction) of the document, or to a mode of a zoom program for calculating a magnification ratio from the document size and the copy size. M1 key 505, M2 key 506, M
A 3 key 507 is a key to be pressed when recalling a mode memory registered corresponding to each key. An option key 509 is a key for setting optional functions such as a film projector for copying directly from a film.

The sorter key 510 includes sorting (a function of stacking printed pages in the bin of the finisher without aligning page order), non-sorting (function of stacking pages in the bin of the finisher without aligning the page order of printed sheets), and group ( This key is used to set a function of loading printed paper in a bin of a finisher in a predetermined group (for example, a group of the same page numbers). Original mixed key 51
Reference numeral 1 denotes a key to be pressed when an A4 size and an A3 size document or a B5 size and a B4 size document are set together on the feeder 189.

The same-size key 512 is a key to be pressed when setting the copy magnification to 100%. Reduction key 514, enlargement key 5
Reference numeral 15 denotes a key to be pressed when performing a standard reduction or enlargement.
The paper selection key 513 is a key to be pressed when selecting a copy paper. A density key 518 and a density key 520 are keys for setting a copy density. Each time the density key 518 is pressed, a copy is made at a low density, and each time the density key 520 is pressed, a copy is made at a high density. The density display 517 is a density key 5
Pressing 18, 520 changes the display left and right. An AE key 519 is a key to be pressed when an original with a dark background such as a newspaper is to be subjected to automatic density adjustment copying.

The HiFi key 521 is a key to be pressed when copying an original having a high halftone density such as a photographic original.
The character emphasis key 522 is a key to be pressed when characters are to be highlighted in copying a character document. The guide key 523 is a key to be pressed when the function of the key is unknown. When the guide key 523 is pressed, a description of the function of the key is displayed.
The facsimile key 525 is a key pressed when performing facsimile communication. The file key 526 is a key to be pressed when outputting file data. The printer key 527 is a key to be pressed when changing the print density or when referring to the print output result of PDL data from a remote host computer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an error status and degeneration status screen displayed on the display of the computer 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the core unit 10 detects that a failure has occurred in the function of the image forming apparatus, and the fact that the failure has occurred is communicated to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public network 15. It is a display example displayed. Further, the display example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which the display of the computer 12 displays that the image forming apparatus has automatically disabled the functional failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus.

In the figure, reference numeral 901 denotes a failure status message. In the illustrated example, an error has occurred in the finisher 190, and this error code is 540. 90
Reference numeral 2 denotes a degeneration status message. In the illustrated example, it indicates that the finisher function has been automatically disabled, that is, that the automatic degeneration has been performed.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
The operation of the image forming apparatus and the image forming system including the computer according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control processing of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This control processing is performed by the CPU 323 of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus.
It is mainly performed.

In step S201, the CPU 323
It is determined whether the occurrence of a functional failure of the image forming apparatus has been detected. In the case of a malfunction of the reader unit (scanner) 1 or a malfunction of the feeder 189, the reader unit 1
/ F322, the reader unit 1 or the feeder 189
Is notified to the CPU 323 that the function failure has occurred.

In the case of a malfunction of the printer unit 2, or of the finisher 190, or of the deck 15
In the case of a functional failure of 0, the printer unit 2 notifies the CPU 323 via the I / F 327 that a functional failure has occurred in the printer unit 2, the finisher 190, or the deck 150.

In the case of a malfunction of the network board or the malfunction of the PDL expansion unit 8, the network processing unit 7 or the PDL expansion unit 8 sends the I / F 320
Is notified to the CPU 323 that a functional failure has occurred in the network board or the PDL expansion unit 8.

If a malfunction of the image forming apparatus is detected in step S201, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the CPU 323 communicates (transmits) an error code of the functional failure when the functional failure occurs in the image forming apparatus to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15. The error code to be communicated corresponds to the detected error in the memory 324 provided in the image forming apparatus in advance. The error code corresponding to the detected error is stored in the memory 324 provided in the image forming apparatus. It is specified by extracting the code. Further, if the error code is information for identifying a failure, the object of the present invention can be achieved, and character string information, voice information, and the like representing the failure can be assumed.

In FIG. 5, the computer 1 is based on the result transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the computer 12.
2 indicates that a failure has occurred in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus and an error code of "540"
Is displayed.

At step S203, the CPU 323
For example, it is determined whether or not a fixed time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed from the time of detecting the functional failure, and the process waits until the fixed time has elapsed. After the elapse of the predetermined time, step S204
Then, the CPU 323 invalidates the finisher function, which is a functional failure part. In step S205, the CPU 323
Notifies the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15 that the finisher function has been automatically disabled, that is, the automatic degeneration has been performed. Based on the result of communication from the image forming apparatus to the computer 12, a message 902 indicating that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been automatically disabled is displayed on the display of the computer 12.

In this case, simultaneously with the display on the display of the computer 12, the status line 54 on the display section of the operation section 500 of the image forming apparatus of FIG.
The error code and the state of degeneration may be displayed at 0.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which an error code “540” occurs due to a failure in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the finisher function is degraded. Step S20
In the present invention, a mechanism that can be set via the operation unit 500 with respect to the certain time determined by the CPU 323 in the third embodiment is also assumed in the present invention. In this case, information for a predetermined time (predetermined time) set via the operation unit 500 is stored and held in the memory 324, and is thereafter referred to by the CPU 323 in the processing of S203 regardless of whether the power is on or off.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, even if a part of the function of the image forming apparatus, for example, a function failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in the scanning function, the scanning function can be performed. Can be automatically disabled, and only the faulty scanning function can be automatically disabled instead of the entire device as in the related art. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external computer. .

As a result, the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire device when some of the functions have failed, unlike the related art, is solved. Thus, there is an effect that even if the user does not perform an operation, the user can automatically use the terminal immediately.

Further, the result (E code) of the function failure detected by the image forming apparatus is communicated to the external computer, and further, after a part of the function is automatically invalidated, the external computer is connected to the external computer. On the other hand, since the status of which function has been disabled is communicated, the serviceman at the service base on the external computer side can use it as a basis for determining the procedure for repairing the malfunction of the image forming apparatus. Become.

Further, the serviceman at the service base on the side of the external computer knows, for example, the status of the device in which the scanning function has failed and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site. Members and a repair kit can be prepared in advance, and there is an effect that reciprocation for previewing is not required. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scan function of the image forming apparatus is disabled on site, but such a problem can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function of the image forming apparatus become invalid, other functions such as the print function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. , After the scanning failure occurred, until the service technician completed the repair of the scanning failure, the printer could not be used, and during that time toner that did not generate revenue,
According to the present invention, the paper and the counter fee can be made an income, and there is a great profit for the maker.

[Second Embodiment] An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a modem communication unit 4, a network processing unit 7, and a PD.
Image input / output control unit 3 having L developing unit 8 and core unit 10
And an operation unit 500, and a computer 11,
It is configured to be able to communicate with the computer 12, the digital copying machine 13, and the facsimile machine 14 (see FIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 10.
0, deck 150, circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189, and finisher 190 (see FIG. 2).

The core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises I / F units 320, 322,
327, 328, data processing units 321, 326, CPU
323 and a memory 324 (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a degeneration selection screen displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the core unit 10 detects that a functional failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus, notifies the operation unit 500 to display the function, and selects whether to disable the failed function (reduction selection). Is shown to the user.

In the figure, reference numeral 601 denotes a failure message.
In the illustrated example, an error has occurred in the finisher 190 of the image forming apparatus, and this error code is 540. Further, the user is prompted to select whether or not to invalidate the finisher function. 602, 6
Reference numeral 03 denotes a degeneration selection key. When “Yes” in 602 is selected, the function of the fault that has occurred is invalidated.
If "No" is selected in 603, the function of the fault that has occurred is left enabled. Then, by pressing the OK key 604, the selection is confirmed.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
The operation of the image forming apparatus and the image forming system including the computer according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This control processing is performed by the CPU 323 of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus.
It is mainly performed.

In step S101, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the occurrence of a functional failure of the image forming apparatus has been detected. In the case of a malfunction of the reader unit 1 (scanner) or of the feeder 189, the reader unit 1
/ F322, the reader unit 1 or the feeder 189
Is notified to the CPU 323 that the function failure has occurred.
When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the mechanism for notifying the CPU 323 of the failure information is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

If a malfunction of the image forming apparatus is detected in step S101, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the CPU 323 displays, on the operation unit 500, an error code of the function failure when the function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus. Further, the CPU 323 communicates with the computer 1 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15.
2, the content of the function failure of the image forming apparatus is communicated. In the computer 12, for example, a message 1 as shown in FIG.
001 is displayed on the display to notify that a failure has occurred in the finisher 190 of the image forming apparatus. The mechanism for extracting the error code is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step S103, as shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 323 displays, on the display unit of the operation unit 500, a display for prompting the user to select whether to disable the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus. In the example of FIG. 7 described above, a failure occurs in the function of the finisher 190 of the image forming apparatus, 540 is displayed as an error code, and whether to cancel the finisher function is determined by “Yes” 602 or “No” 60.
The user is prompted to press the third icon. Note that FIG.
Is the display screen state displayed by the display control by the CPU 323.

At step S104, the CPU 323
It is determined whether the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated via the operation unit 500, that is, whether or not manual degeneration has been performed. This means determining the user's key press input information and instruction input information via a keyboard, mouse, or the like (not shown). In order to disable the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus, the user presses the “Yes” 602 icon on the display unit of the operation unit 500 and then presses “OK” 6
Pressing the 04 icon invalidates the displayed function.
In the example of FIG. 7, the finisher function is invalidated.

In that case, in step S106, the CPU 3
23 invalidates the finisher function of the image forming apparatus,
In step S107, the modem communication unit 4, the public network 15
, The fact that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated, that is, the fact that the finisher has been degenerated is communicated to the computer 12.

After the communication from the image forming apparatus, the computer 12 displays on the display that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated by a user operation, for example, as in a message 1002 shown in FIG. Further, the CPU 323 displays an error code and a degeneration state on the status line 540 of the display unit of the operation unit 500 of FIG. 4 of the image forming apparatus. In the example of FIG. 4, the error code “540” is generated due to the malfunction of the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the finisher function is degenerated.

In step S104, when the user does not perform manual degeneration, that is, the CPU 323 detects input information indicating that the user pressed the “No” 603 icon on the display unit of the operation unit 500 and pressed the “OK” 604 icon. In this case, in step S105, the CPU 323 closes the “power OFF /
Please turn it on "is displayed, and the process ends.

For example, the finisher 19 of the image forming apparatus
It is possible that an error was displayed by a communication error such as noise between the printer unit 2 and the printer unit 2.
When FF / ON, there is a possibility that no error occurs. When the user makes such a determination, the user selects the “No” 603 icon on the display unit of the operation unit 500 and turns off / on the power. Further, if the same error occurs even if the power is turned off / on many times, the user can select the “Yes” 602 icon on the display unit of the operation unit 500 in the above-described step S104 to reduce the size. Good.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scanning function,
By allowing the user to select the scan function to be disabled from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to disable only the failed scan function instead of disabling the entire device as in the related art. it can. Then, other functions, such as the print function, can be left enabled, printing images on the hard disk in the device,
The user can use a function of receiving print data from an external computer and performing printing.

As a result, the disadvantage that the user has been inconvenienced by stopping the entire device when some of the functions have failed, unlike the related art, is solved. This has the effect of allowing immediate use.

Further, the result (E code) of the function failure detected by the image forming apparatus is communicated to the external computer, and after some of the functions of the image forming apparatus are disabled from the operation unit. Since the status of which function has been disabled is communicated to the external computer, the service technician at the service base of the external computer determines the procedure for repairing the malfunction of the image forming apparatus. It is effective as a material.

Further, a serviceman at a service base on the side of the external computer knows, for example, the status of the device in which the scanning function has failed and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site. Members and a repair kit can be prepared in advance, and there is an effect that reciprocation for previewing is not required. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scan function of the image forming apparatus is disabled on site, but such a problem can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function of the image forming apparatus become invalid, other functions such as the print function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, toner, paper, and counter charges, which were not able to use the printer until a service technician completed the repair of the scan dysfunction after the occurrence of the scan dysfunction and thus did not generate any revenue, were reduced by the present invention. , And a great profit for the manufacturer.

Furthermore, convenience can be improved by allowing the user to select whether or not to disable a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus. For example, when a malfunction occurs, the user can turn off and on the main power supply of the image forming apparatus.
Is repeated, there is a possibility that the functional failure does not occur. Therefore, when it is desired to repeatedly turn off and on the main power when a malfunction occurs in the image forming apparatus, the main power can be turned off and on without repeating the operation for disabling the failed function. In addition, there is a possibility that the functional failure will not occur. If the function failure does not occur in the image forming apparatus, the fact is notified to the service base on the external computer side. In addition, when the main power supply is repeatedly turned off and on, if the same failure still occurs, it can be said that the function in which the failure has occurred is invalidated.

As a result, the number of calls to a service person unnecessarily decreases due to the first functional failure in the image forming apparatus.
If N is repeated, guidance for when the functional failure disappears is specified in the user's manual or displayed on the operation unit when a functional failure occurs, and prompting the user can reduce the labor and labor cost of service personnel. There is also an effect that can be done.

[Third Embodiment] An image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a modem communication unit 4, a network processing unit 7, and a PD.
Image input / output control unit 3 having L developing unit 8 and core unit 10
And an operation unit 500, and a computer 11,
It is configured to be able to communicate with the computer 12, the digital copying machine 13, and the facsimile machine 14 (see FIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 10.
0, deck 150, circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189, and finisher 190 (see FIG. 2).

The core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention comprises I / F units 320, 322,
327, 328, data processing units 321, 326, CPU
323 and a memory 324 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above will be described.
FIGS. 10 and 1 show operations in an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a computer according to the embodiment.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
This control process is performed by the CPU 32 of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus.
3, or mainly executed by a CPU provided in an external computer.

At step S901, the CPU 323
It is determined whether the occurrence of a functional failure of the image forming apparatus has been detected. When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the mechanism for notifying the CPU 323 of the failure information is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

If a malfunction of the image forming apparatus is detected in step S901, the flow advances to step S902. In step S <b> 902, the CPU 323 causes the operation unit 500 to display an error code of the functional failure when the functional failure occurs in the image forming apparatus. Further, the CPU 323 communicates with the computer 1 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15.
2 to communicate the content of the function failure.

In the computer 12, for example, FIG.
The message 651 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display by the CPU provided in the external computer 12 (step S903), indicating that a functional failure has occurred in the finisher 190 of the image forming apparatus. The mechanism for extracting the error code is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the computer 1
In 2, a display is displayed on the screen of the display so that the user (the person who operates the external computer 12) can select whether or not to disable the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus. In the example of FIG. 11 described above, a failure occurs in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the error code is 540.
Is displayed, and whether to disable this function, "Yes" 6
The user is prompted to select the icon of 52 or “No” 653 with the mouse. Here, the external computer 1
The person who operates the computer 2 is assumed to be a service person at a service base on the side of the external computer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be an administrator who manages office equipment such as a company.

In step S904, the CPU provided in the external computer 12 determines whether the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated, that is, whether or not the image forming apparatus has been degenerated. This indicates that the instruction input corresponding to “Yes” and “No” displayed in step S903 has been recognized by the CPU provided in the external computer 12. In order to invalidate the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus, if the “YES” 652 icon is input on the display screen of the computer 12, the finisher function of the image forming apparatus is invalidated. That is, information indicating that the invalidation of the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been selected is transmitted from the computer 12 to the core unit 10 via the public line network 15 and the modem communication unit 4, and the information is actually received. A process for disabling the finisher function is performed in the image forming apparatus.

In that case, in step S906, the CPU 3
23 invalidates the finisher function of the image forming apparatus,
In step S907, the modem communication unit 4, the public network 15
To the computer 12 that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated, that is, the finisher function has been degenerated.

After the communication from the image forming apparatus, the computer 12 displays on the display by the CPU provided in the external computer 12 that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated by a user operation (not shown). . Further, the CPU 323 displays an error code and a degeneration state on the status line 540 of the display unit of the operation unit 500 of FIG. 4 of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 shows a state in which an error code “540” occurs due to a failure in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the finisher function is degraded.

In step S904, if the finisher function of the image forming apparatus is not degraded, that is, if the “No” 653 icon is input on the display screen of the computer 12, step S905 is performed.
The operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus is controlled by the CPU 323.
Is displayed near the center of the display section. This means that the power is turned off from the computer 12 to the display unit of the operation unit 500 via the public line network 15, the modem communication unit 4 of the image forming apparatus, and the core unit 10.
The information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus to display a message prompting / ON, and the transmitted information is displayed by the CPU 323 to realize the present invention.

For example, the finisher 19 of the image forming apparatus
There is a possibility that an error is accidentally displayed due to a communication error such as noise between the printer unit 2 and the printer unit 2, and there is a possibility that the error does not occur when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off / on. When the operator of the computer 12 determines in this way, the user selects the “No” 653 icon and urges the user to turn off / on the power. If the same error still occurs even if the power is turned off / on many times, the user may degenerate by selecting the “Yes” icon 652 in step S904.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, even if a function failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, a scan function, the situation is not changed. Is received by the service base on the external computer side, and the serviceman manually or automatically allows the external computer on the service base side to disable the scanning function, thereby disabling the entire device as in the past. Rather, you can disable only the faulty scanning feature. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external computer. .

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus has failed, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, the result (E code) of the failure detected by the image forming apparatus is communicated to the external computer, and a part of the function of the device is invalidated from the external apparatus. Since the state of which function is disabled is communicated, the serviceman at the service base on the external computer side is effective as a determination material for determining a procedure for repairing the failure.

Also, for example, when a scan function failure occurs,
Knowing the status of the scanner's disabled device before going to the site will allow you to prepare repair parts and repair kits in advance, eliminating the need for round trips for previews. effective. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause even if only the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot is used, but such a problem can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function are disabled in the image forming apparatus, the other functions such as the print function are enabled, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges that could not be used for a printer until a service person completed the repair of the scan function failure after the occurrence of the scan function failure and could be used as an income during the period of the present invention were used. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, it is possible to automatically select whether a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus is disabled or not by a service person on the external device side or by the external device.
The user can quickly disable the function without being bothered by the operation of disabling the function on the device side.

Further, for example, when a function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, if the user repeatedly turns off and on the main power supply, the function failure may not occur. Therefore, when a functional failure occurs, the main power supply is turned off,
N should be repeated, the operation of disabling the failed function from the external device is not performed, and the main power supply OF is turned off.
F, ON, and the like can be repeated by the user, and it is possible to prevent a failure from occurring.

Further, the user has repeatedly turned off and on the main power supply. If the same functional failure still occurs, it is possible to invalidate the failed function from an external device. As a result, the number of cases in which repairs need to be performed unnecessarily due to the occurrence of the first functional failure is reduced. For example, guidance for a case where the functional failure disappears by repeating the main power OFF and ON is specified in the user's manual. Alternatively, if a message is displayed on the operation unit at the time of occurrence of a failure and prompted by the user, there is an effect that labor and labor costs of a service person can be reduced.

[Fourth Embodiment] An image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a modem communication unit 4, a network processing unit 7, and a PD.
Image input / output control unit 3 having L developing unit 8 and core unit 10
And an operation unit 500, and a computer 11,
It is configured to be able to communicate with the computer 12, the digital copying machine 13, and the facsimile machine 14 (see FIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 10.
0, deck 150, circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189, and finisher 190 (see FIG. 2).

The core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises I / F units 320, 322,
327, 328, data processing units 321, 326, CPU
323 and a memory 324 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
Operations in Image Forming Apparatus Having Image Forming Apparatus and Computer According to First Embodiment FIGS.
3 will be described in detail.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
This control process is performed by the CPU 32 of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus.
3 is performed.

In step S301, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the occurrence of a functional failure of the image forming apparatus has been detected. When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the mechanism for notifying the CPU 323 of the failure information is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

If the function failure of the image forming apparatus is detected in step S301, the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, the CPU 323 transmits an error code of the function failure when the function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15. A display corresponding to the received information is displayed on the display of the computer 12 that has received the transmitted information. At the same time, the CPU 323 causes the display unit of the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus to display the error code. Note that the error code extraction mechanism is
Since it is the same as that described in the embodiment,
Here, detailed description is omitted.

At step S303, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the image forming apparatus is in the setting state of manual reduction or the setting state of automatic reduction. The setting state is stored in the memory 32
4 is stored. Also, with manual degeneration,
As described in FIG. 8, by causing the user to select whether or not to disable a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus, automatic degeneration is performed by the image forming apparatus as described in FIG. The failed function is automatically disabled after a certain period of time.

Whether the manual reduction or the automatic reduction is performed is determined by the CPU 323 on the display unit of the operation unit 500 by the CPU 323 in response to the user's pressing input of the user mode key 503 of the operation unit 500 of FIG. The screen is displayed,
It is assumed that selection is made on the screen shown in FIG.

In FIG. 13, when the manual degeneration key 610 is pressed and the return key 612 is depressed, manual degeneration is set, and the automatic degeneration key 611 is pressed and the return key 612 is depressed. Is performed, the automatic degeneration is set. Also, the next key 613
Is used to move to a screen for another setting item in the user mode. .

In step S303, the CPU 323
When it is determined that the image forming apparatus is not in the setting state of manual degeneration, that is, in the setting state of automatic degeneration, it is determined in step S309 whether, for example, a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed from the time of detection of the functional failure After the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S307 to perform processing for automatically disabling the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, in step S303, the CPU 3
If it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in the setting state of manual degeneration, in step S304, the CPU 323 determines
As shown in FIG. 7, a display is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus so that the user can select whether to invalidate the function in which the failure has occurred. In FIG. 7, a failure occurs in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, “540” is displayed as an error code, and whether to cancel the finisher function is determined by “Yes” 602 or “No” 603.
The user is prompted to press the icon. Here, FIG. 7 is displayed by the CPU 323.

At step S305, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the user has invalidated the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus, that is, whether the user has degraded. In order to invalidate the displayed function, pressing the “OK” 604 icon after pressing the “Yes” 602 icon invalidates the displayed function. In the example of FIG. 7, the finisher function is invalidated. That is, the CPU 323 recognizes the input of the “Yes” 602 icon, and furthermore, “OK” 6
If it is determined that the input of the icon 04 has been performed, a process of disabling the finisher function is executed.

In that case, in step S306, the CPU 3
23 invalidates the finisher function of the image forming apparatus,
In step S308, the fact that the finisher function has been disabled is transmitted to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15, so that the display screen of the computer 12 indicates that the finisher function has been disabled. Is displayed by the CPU provided in the external computer 12. Specifically, a message 1002 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Further, the status line 540 of the operation unit 500 of FIG.
Displays the error code and degeneration status. FIG. 4 shows a state in which an error code “540” is generated due to a failure in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the finisher function is degraded.

At the step S305, the CPU 323
Indicates that the user does not degenerate, that is, if the icon of “No” 603 has been input and the icon of “OK” 604 has been input, the CPU proceeds to step S306.
A message "Please turn off / on the power" is displayed near the center of the display unit of the operation unit 500 by 323, and the process is terminated.

For example, the finisher 19 of the image forming apparatus
It is possible that an error was displayed by a communication error such as noise between the printer unit 2 and the printer unit 2.
When turned on, there is a possibility that no error occurs. If the user makes such a determination, the user selects the “No” 603 icon and turns off / on the power. Further, if the same error still occurs even if the power is turned off / on many times, in step S305, the icon of “yes” 602 is input, and it may be assumed in the present application that the icon is degenerated.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scan function,
The user can select in advance to disable the scan function using the operation unit (manual degeneration) or automatically disable the scan function (automatic reduction) using the operation unit of the image forming apparatus in advance. it can. Therefore, unlike the related art, the entire device is not invalidated, and only the scan function having a failure can be invalidated. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external computer. .

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus fails, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Furthermore, even after some of the functions of the image forming apparatus have been invalidated, the result of the detected malfunction (E code)
Is communicated to the external computer, and furthermore, the status of which function is disabled is communicated to the external device, so that the serviceman at the service base of the external computer determines the procedure for repairing the failure. It is effective as a material.

For example, by knowing the state of a device in which a scan function has failed and the scanner is disabled before going to the site, members for repair and a repair kit are prepared in advance. This has the effect of eliminating the need for a round trip for previewing. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot, but such a defect can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function of the image forming apparatus become invalid, other functions such as the print function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges, which were not able to use the printer until the service technician completed the repair of the scanning function failure after the occurrence of the scanning function failure and were able to generate income during the period, were added to the present invention. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, when the manual degeneration is selected,
The convenience can be improved by allowing the user to select whether or not to disable the function in which the failure has occurred. For example, when the user repeatedly turns off and on the main power supply when a malfunction occurs in the image forming apparatus, the malfunction may not occur. Therefore, when it is desired to repeat the main power OFF and ON when a functional failure occurs, the main power OFF and ON can be repeated without performing the operation of disabling the failed function. Can be eliminated, and the main power supply O
After repeating FF and ON, if the same failure still occurs, it can be said that the function in which the functional failure has occurred is invalidated.

As a result, the number of times a service person is called unnecessarily decreases due to the occurrence of the first functional failure in the image forming apparatus. By prompting the user by specifying it in the user's manual or displaying it on the operation unit in the event of a failure, there is also an effect that labor and labor costs for service personnel can be reduced.

Alternatively, by selecting the automatic degeneration,
When a malfunction occurs in the image forming apparatus, the function can be automatically and immediately invalidated without user's operation, so that the user's convenience is improved. By allowing the user or serviceman to select the manual degeneration and the automatic degeneration in advance through the operation unit, the operation can be performed according to the purpose of the user or the serviceman, and the effect of improving convenience can be obtained.

[Fifth Embodiment] An image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention comprises a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a modem communication unit 4, a network processing unit 7, and a PD.
Image input / output control unit 3 having L developing unit 8 and core unit 10
And an operation unit 500, and a computer 11,
It is configured to be able to communicate with the computer 12, the digital copying machine 13, and the facsimile machine 14 (see FIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 10.
0, deck 150, circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189, and finisher 190 (see FIG. 2).

The core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention comprises I / F units 320, 322,
327, 328, data processing units 321, 326, CPU
323 and a memory 324 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the fifth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
Operation in Image Forming Apparatus with Image Forming Apparatus and Computer According to First Embodiment FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
This control process is performed by the CPU 32 of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus.
3, or mainly executed by a CPU provided in an external computer.

At step S801, the CPU 323
It is determined whether the occurrence of a functional failure of the image forming apparatus has been detected. When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the mechanism for notifying the CPU 323 of the failure information is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

If a malfunction in the image forming apparatus is detected in step S801, the flow advances to step S802. In step S <b> 802, the CPU 323 transmits an error code of the function failure when the function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15. The display of the computer 12 that has received the transmitted error code includes
A display corresponding to the received error code is displayed. At the same time, the error code is also displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus. The mechanism for extracting the error code is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step S803, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the image forming apparatus is in the setting state of manual reduction or the setting state of automatic reduction. As described with reference to FIG. 11, the manual degeneration is performed by selecting from an external computer whether to disable a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus (a function in which an error has occurred). As described with reference to FIG. 6, a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus (a function in which an error has occurred) is automatically disabled after a predetermined time.

In the fifth embodiment, whether to perform the above-described manual reduction or automatic reduction is selectable on the display screen of the computer 12 as shown in FIG.

When the manual degeneration key 660 is selected and input via a pointing device such as a mouse, the setting of the image forming apparatus is set to the manual degeneration state. When the automatic degeneration key 661 is selected with the mouse, the setting of the image forming apparatus is performed. Becomes the setting state of automatic degeneration. FIG. 15 shows a state where the manual degeneration key 660 is selected with the mouse. As described above, the instruction information (setting result) input via the display screen of the external computer 12 is
The information is transmitted to the core unit 10 via the public network 15 and the modem communication unit 4 of the image forming apparatus. Then, in the image forming apparatus that has received the instruction information, the CPU 323 makes a setting (automatic reduction or manual reduction) according to the instruction information in advance.

At step S803, CPU 323
Indicates that the setting state in the computer 12 is not manual degeneration,
That is, if it is determined that the apparatus is set to be automatically degenerated by the computer 12, the process proceeds to step S
In step 809, for example, it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed from the time of detection of the functional failure. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S807, and the failure generation function of the image forming apparatus is automatically set. To disable.

At the step S803, the CPU 323
If it is determined that the setting state in the computer 12 is manual degeneration, that is, if it is determined that the own device is set to be in manual degeneration by the computer 12, the process proceeds to step S804 and As shown,
A display is displayed so that the user can select whether or not to disable a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 11 above
In the example of the above, a failure occurs in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, "540" is displayed as an error code, and whether to disable this function is determined by "Yes" 652 or "No".
This prompts the operator of the computer 12 to select the icon 653 with the mouse.

[0204] In step S805, the CPU 323
It is determined whether or not the user has invalidated the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus by operating the computer 12, that is, whether or not the function has been reduced. In order to disable the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus, in the screen of FIG.
If you click the "Yes" 652 icon with your mouse,
The function displayed on the screen is disabled. In the example of FIG. 11, the finisher function of the image forming apparatus is invalidated.

In this case, in step S806, the CPU 3
23 invalidates the finisher function of the image forming apparatus,
In step S808, the fact that the finisher function has been invalidated is transmitted to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15. On the display screen of the computer 12 that has received the transmitted information, an indication that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been disabled is displayed by a CPU provided in the computer 12. Specifically, the message 1002 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display screen of the computer 12. Also,
The CPU 323 controls the operation unit 50 of FIG.
An error code and a state of degeneration are displayed on a status line 540 of 0. FIG. 4 shows a state in which an error code “540” is generated due to a failure in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the finisher function is degraded.

In the step S805, the computer 1
If it is determined that the user does not degenerate the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus by the operation in step S2, that is, if the user clicks the “No” 653 icon with the mouse, the process proceeds to step S8.
At 06, the computer 12 sends a signal to the image forming apparatus in the vicinity of the center of the display unit of the operation unit 500 by turning off / on the power.
Please do ". That is, data is transmitted from the computer 12 to the operation unit 500 via the public line network 15, the modem communication unit 4 of the image forming apparatus, and the core unit 10 so as to display the message. Of course, as described above, the CPU 323 of the image forming apparatus
6 can be performed.

For example, the finisher 19 of the image forming apparatus
There is a possibility that an error is accidentally displayed due to a communication error such as noise between the printer unit 2 and the printer unit 2, and there is a possibility that the error does not occur when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off / on. When the operator of the external computer determines in this way, the user selects the “No” icon 653 and turns off / on the power of the image forming apparatus. In addition, if the same error still occurs even if the power is turned off / on many times, the icon of “Yes” 652 may be selected and reduced in step S805.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scan function,
The service technician can select to invalidate the scan function by the external device (manual degeneration) or automatically invalidate the scan function (automatic degeneration) by the external device in advance. Therefore, unlike the related art, the entire device is not invalidated, and only the scan function having a failure can be invalidated. The other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use a function of printing an image in the hard disk in the device or receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire device when a partial function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, even after disabling some of the functions of the image forming apparatus, the result of the detected malfunction (E code)
Is communicated to the external device, and furthermore, the status of which function is disabled is communicated to the external device, so the serviceman at the service base of the external device determines the procedure for repairing the functional failure. This is effective as a source of judgment.

Further, a serviceman at a service base on the side of the external apparatus knows, for example, the status of a device in which a scanning function failure has occurred and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site. In addition, a repair kit can be prepared in advance, so that there is no need to make a round trip for previewing. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot, but such a defect can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function become invalid in the image forming apparatus, other functions such as the print function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges that could not be used for a printer until a service person completed the repair of the scan function failure after the occurrence of the scan function failure and could be used as an income during the period of the present invention were used. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, when the service technician of the external apparatus has selected the manual degeneration, the service technician can select whether or not to disable the function in which the failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus, thereby increasing the convenience. improves.

Further, for example, when a function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, if the user repeatedly turns off and on the main power supply, the function failure may not occur. Therefore, when it is better to repeat the main power OFF and ON when a functional failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the main power OFF and the main power OFF, The user can be repeatedly turned ON and the like, and it is possible to prevent a functional failure from occurring.

Further, when the main power of the image forming apparatus is turned off,
When the user repeatedly turns ON, if the same fault still occurs, it can be said that the function in which the fault has occurred is disabled from the external device. As a result, the number of situations in which repairs need to be performed unnecessarily due to the occurrence of the first functional failure is reduced.
If N is repeated, the guidance when the failure disappears is specified in the user's manual or displayed on the operation unit when the failure occurs, and prompting the user can also reduce the labor and labor costs of service personnel. is there.

Alternatively, when a function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus by selecting the automatic degeneration by a serviceman of the external apparatus, the function can be automatically and immediately invalidated without user's operation. Since it is possible, user convenience is improved. Each of these manual degeneration and automatic degeneration can be operated according to the purpose of the user or the serviceman by allowing the serviceman to select in advance on an external device,
The effect that convenience is improved is obtained.

[Sixth Embodiment] An image forming apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention comprises a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a modem communication unit 4, a network processing unit 7, and a PD.
Image input / output control unit 3 having L developing unit 8 and core unit 10
And an operation unit 500, and a computer 11,
It is configured to be able to communicate with the computer 12, the digital copying machine 13, and the facsimile machine 14 (see FIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus main body (copier main body) 10.
0, deck 150, circulating automatic document feeder (feeder) 189, and finisher 190 (see FIG. 2).

The core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention comprises I / F units 320, 322,
327, 328, data processing units 321, 326, CPU
323 and a memory 324 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
The operation of the image forming apparatus and the image forming system including the computer according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
This control process is performed by the CPU 32 of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus.
3 is performed.

At step S401, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the occurrence of a functional failure of the image forming apparatus has been detected. When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the mechanism for notifying the CPU 323 of the failure information is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

If a malfunction of the image forming apparatus is detected in step S401, the flow advances to step S402. In step S <b> 402, the CPU 323 communicates the error code of the functional failure when the functional failure occurs in the image forming apparatus to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15. Then, the CPU provided in the computer 12 displays on the display screen of the computer 1,
The status 901 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. At the same time, the CPU 323 also displays a message on the display unit of the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus.
The mechanism for extracting the error code is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step S403, the CPU 323 sets
It is determined whether the content of the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus is the content to be manually reduced or the content to be automatically reduced. The content to be manually degenerated is a possibility that no error is displayed when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off / on. For example, if there is an error on the communication line between the printer unit 2 of the image forming apparatus and the finisher 190, there is a possibility that noise has happened to the line, and the power supply OFF / O
N may cause no error. The contents to be automatically degenerated are those that are unlikely to cause an error even when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off / on.
For example, an abnormality of the motor or an abnormality of the sensor in the image forming apparatus.

The processing related to the judgment of the error (failure) is as follows.
Information of manual degeneration or automatic degeneration corresponding to each fault is stored in the memory 324, the fault is recognized by the CPU 323, and the stored information is referred to, so that the CPU 323 performs manual degeneration. Such processing (S
403: YES) or processing related to automatic degeneration (S4)
03 (NO) is determined.

In the step S403, the CPU 323
If it is determined that the content of the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus is not the content that should be manually reduced, that is, the content that should be automatically reduced, in step S409, for example, a certain period of time (for example, 10 Second), it is determined whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed.
Then, the process goes to 7 to automatically invalidate the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus. At this time, the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15
Is communicated to the computer 12 via the. In the computer 12, as in the message 902 shown in FIG. 5, the display that the function that has failed in the image forming apparatus has become invalid is displayed on the display.

In the step S403, the CPU 323
When it is determined that the content of the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus should be manually degenerated, in step S404, as shown in FIG. Whether or not to make a display for the operator of the external computer to select. That is, the CPU 323
When it is determined that the content is to be manually degenerated, the content is communicated to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15 to cause the computer 12 to display the display shown in FIG. Further, a display as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus so that the user using the image forming apparatus can select the process in S404.
The present invention also envisages a process of displaying the information as shown in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, a failure has occurred in the finisher function of the image forming apparatus on the display of the computer 12 and 540 is displayed as an error code. This prompts the operator of the computer 12 to select the “No” 652 icon with the mouse. Here, the display as shown in FIG. 11 is a process performed by the CPU provided in the computer 12.

[0230] In step S405, the CPU 323
It is determined whether an instruction to invalidate the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus has been issued by operating the computer 12.
To disable the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus, “Yes” 652 is displayed on the display screen of the computer 12.
When the input processing for the icon is performed, the displayed function is invalidated. That is, the computer 12 transmits, via the public line network 15 and the modem communication unit 4 of the image forming apparatus, instruction information for disabling the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus to the core unit 10. The example of FIG. 11 is for instructing the external computer 12 to invalidate the finisher function of the image forming apparatus.

In this case, in step S406, the CPU 3
23 invalidates the finisher function of the image forming apparatus,
A message that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been invalidated is transmitted to the computer 12 via the modem communication unit 4 and the public line network 15, and the message 1002 shown in FIG.
As described above, the fact that the finisher function of the image forming apparatus has been disabled is displayed on the display of the computer 12. Further, the CPU 323 causes the status line 540 of the operation unit 500 shown in FIG. 4 of the image forming apparatus to display an error code and a state of degeneration. In the example of FIG. 4, the error code “540” is generated due to the failure of the finisher function of the image forming apparatus, and the finisher function is degenerated.

In the step S405, the computer 1
By the operation 2, the failure generating function of the image forming apparatus is not degraded, that is, when the icon input of “No” 653 is performed via a pointing device such as a mouse, the fact is notified from the computer 12 to the public line. Net 15,
The data is transmitted to the core unit 10 via the modem communication unit 4 of the image forming apparatus. In step S <b> 406, the CPU 323 displays “Power on O” near the center of the display unit of the operation unit 500 of the image forming apparatus.
FF / ON "is displayed, and the process is terminated.

For example, the finisher 19 of the image forming apparatus
There is a possibility that an error is accidentally displayed due to a communication error such as noise between the printer unit 2 and the printer unit 2, and there is a possibility that the error does not occur when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off / on. When the operator of the external computer determines in this way, the user selects the “No” icon 653 and prompts the user to turn off / on the power of the image forming apparatus. If the same error still occurs even if the power is turned off / on many times, the icon of “Yes” 652 may be selected in step S405 to degenerate.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scanning function,
The service person can automatically select to disable the scanning function by an external computer (manual degeneration) or automatically disable the scanning function (automatic degeneration) according to the type of failure.

For example, in the case of a communication error between the scanner of the image forming apparatus and the document feeder, there is a possibility that an error may have occurred on the communication line due to noise or the like.
N may cause no error. In this case, the user can turn off the main switch of the image forming apparatus,
It is more convenient to perform manual degeneration so as to encourage ON.

Also, for errors such as a lamp lighting error in which an error is likely to occur again when the main switch is turned off or on, it is more convenient to use automatic degeneration. By automatically selecting the manual degeneration and the automatic degeneration in accordance with the type of error that has occurred, overall convenience is improved.

Further, when an error occurs in the scanning function in the image forming apparatus, for example, as in the related art, it is possible to invalidate only the failed scanning function instead of invalidating the entire device. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the whole apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus has failed, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, even after disabling some of the functions of the image forming apparatus, the result (E code) of the detected failure is communicated to the external computer, and the state of which function is disabled is further determined. Because it communicates with the external computer, the service person at the service base on the external computer side,
This is effective as a decision material for determining a procedure for repairing a failure.

Also, a serviceman at a service base on the side of the external computer knows, for example, the state of the device in which the scanning function has failed and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site. In addition, a repair kit can be prepared in advance, so that there is no need to make a round trip for previewing. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot, but such a defect can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function are disabled in the image forming apparatus, the other functions such as the print function are enabled, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges, which were not able to use the printer until the service technician completed the repair of the scanning function failure after the occurrence of the scanning function failure and were able to generate income during the period, were added to the present invention. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Furthermore, when the serviceman on the external computer side has selected the manual degeneration, the serviceman can select whether to invalidate or not the function in which the failure has occurred, thereby improving the convenience.

Further, for example, when a functional failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the main power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off and on by the user.
Is repeated, there is a possibility that the functional failure does not occur. Therefore, when it is better to repeat the main power OFF and ON when a functional failure occurs, the user does not perform the operation of disabling the failed function from the external computer, and turns off the main power supply by the user. It is possible to eliminate the functional failure.

Also, when the main power of the image forming apparatus is turned off,
When the user repeatedly turns ON, if the same functional failure still occurs, it can be said that the failed function is disabled from the external computer. Thereby,
The first occurrence of a functional failure reduces the number of situations in which repairs must be performed unnecessarily. For example, if the above-mentioned main power supply is turned off and on repeatedly, the failure will disappear and the guidance will be specified in the user's manual. If the information is displayed on the operation unit at the time and prompted by the user, there is also an effect that labor and labor costs for service personnel can be reduced.

Alternatively, by selecting the automatic degeneration,
When a failure occurs, the function can be automatically and immediately invalidated without user's operation, so that user's convenience is improved. The service technician can select each of the manual degeneration and the automatic degeneration by an external device in advance, so that the operation can be performed according to the purpose of the user or the service technician.

Then, these manual degeneration and automatic degeneration are
The device is automatically selected according to the type of error, thereby improving overall convenience.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, an electrophotographic method has been described as an example of a printing method of an image forming apparatus.
The present invention is not limited to this, and other printing methods such as an ink jet method, a thermal transfer method, a heat-sensitive method, an electrostatic method, and a discharge breakdown method can be used.

(2) In the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, the case where the image forming apparatus and the external computer are connected via a public network has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the image forming apparatus and the external computer may be connected by, for example, an Internet line or a LAN. Internet line or L
When the connection is made by an AN, the communication cost can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where the connection is made by a public line network.

(3) In the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, the image forming system having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of connected image forming apparatuses, external computers, digital copiers, facsimile machines and the like can be set to an arbitrary number.

(4) In the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, and FIG.
Although an example of displaying which function has failed has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and a function in which the failed function can be determined by the image forming apparatus itself (core unit). In the case of a failure, the contents of the function failure (for example, a lamp lighting error of the scanner, a fan motor error of the printer, an exhaustion of consumables, etc.) are displayed, and accordingly, some or all functions of the image forming apparatus You may want to pause.

(5) In the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, an image forming apparatus as a copying machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. , And an image forming apparatus as a multifunction peripheral (MFP).

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. A medium such as a storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus stores the medium in the medium such as a storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code thus executed.

In this case, the program code itself read from a medium such as a storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the medium such as a storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Will be. Examples of a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card,
ROM or download via a network can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read out from a medium such as a storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read out. It is needless to say that a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the above, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0257]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even if a function failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the function of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scanning function, the scanning function is automatically disabled. Can be, as before,
Instead of disabling the entire device, you can automatically disable only the failed scan function. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, the disadvantage that the user is inconvenienced by shutting down the entire device when some of the functions fail as in the prior art is solved, and the other functions are disabled. Thus, there is an effect that even if the user does not perform an operation, the user can automatically use the terminal immediately.

Further, the result (error code) of the function failure detected by the image forming apparatus is communicated to the external device, and further, after a part of the function is automatically invalidated, the external device is transmitted to the external device. On the other hand, since the status of which function has been disabled is communicated, the serviceman at the service base on the external device side can use it as a basis for determining the procedure for repairing the malfunction of the image forming apparatus. Become.

Further, a serviceman at a service base on the side of the external device knows, for example, the status of the device in which the scanning function has failed and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site. Members and a repair kit can be prepared in advance, and there is an effect that reciprocation for previewing is not required. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scan function of the image forming apparatus is disabled on site, but such a problem can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function of the image forming apparatus become invalid, the other functions such as the print function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. , After the scanning failure occurred, until the service technician completed the repair of the scanning failure, the printer could not be used, and during that time the toner was not generated,
According to the present invention, the paper and the counter fee can be made an income, and there is a great profit for the maker.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scanning function, the scanning function is disabled from the operation unit for the user. By doing so, it is possible not to invalidate the entire device as in the related art, but to invalidate only the scan function having a failure. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, the disadvantage that the user has been inconvenienced by stopping the entire device when some of the functions have failed, unlike the related art, is solved. This has the effect of allowing immediate use.

Further, the result (error code) of the function failure detected by the image forming apparatus is communicated to the external apparatus, and further, after a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus is disabled from the operation unit. Since the status of which function has been disabled is communicated to the external device, the serviceman at the service base of the external device determines the procedure for repairing the malfunction of the image forming apparatus. It is effective as a material.

Further, a serviceman at a service base on the side of the external device knows, for example, the state of the device in which the scanning function has failed and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site. Members and a repair kit can be prepared in advance, and there is an effect that reciprocation for previewing is not required. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scan function of the image forming apparatus is disabled on site, but such a problem can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function of the image forming apparatus become invalid, other functions such as the print function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, toner, paper, and counter charges, which were not able to use the printer until a service technician completed the repair of the scan dysfunction after the occurrence of the scan dysfunction and thus did not generate any revenue, were reduced by the present invention. , And a great profit for the manufacturer.

Furthermore, convenience can be improved by allowing the user to select whether or not to disable a function in which a failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus. For example, when a malfunction occurs, the user can turn off and on the main power supply of the image forming apparatus.
Is repeated, there is a possibility that the functional failure does not occur. Therefore, when it is desired to repeatedly turn off and on the main power when a malfunction occurs in the image forming apparatus, the main power can be turned off and on without repeating the operation for disabling the failed function. In addition, there is a possibility that the functional failure will not occur. If the malfunction does not occur in the image forming apparatus, the fact is notified to the service base on the external apparatus side. In addition, when the main power supply is repeatedly turned off and on, if the same failure still occurs, it can be said that the function in which the failure has occurred is invalidated.

As a result, the number of times a service person is called unnecessarily by the occurrence of the first functional failure in the image forming apparatus is reduced.
If N is repeated, guidance for when the functional failure disappears is specified in the user's manual or displayed on the operation unit when a functional failure occurs, and prompting the user can reduce the labor and labor cost of service personnel. There is also an effect that can be done.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even if a function failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the function of the image forming apparatus, for example, a scan function, the service base on the external device side determines the situation. When the serviceman manually or automatically selects an external device at the service base to invalidate the scanning function, the entire device is not invalidated as in the related art. Only the scan function can be disabled. Then, other functions, such as the print function, can be left enabled, printing images on the hard disk in the device,
A function of receiving print data from an external device and performing printing is made available to the user.

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus has failed, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, the result of the failure (error code) detected by the image forming apparatus is communicated to the external device, and after some of the functions of the device are invalidated from the external device, Since the status of which function has been invalidated is communicated, the serviceman at the service base on the external device side is effective as a determination material for determining a procedure for repairing a failure.

Further, for example, when a scan function failure occurs,
Knowing the status of the scanner's disabled device before going to the site will allow you to prepare repair parts and repair kits in advance, eliminating the need for round trips for previews. effective. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause even if only the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot is used, but such a problem can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function are disabled in the image forming apparatus, the other functions such as the print function are enabled, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges that could not be used for a printer until a service person completed the repair of the scan function failure after the occurrence of the scan function failure and could be used as an income during the period of the present invention were used. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, the function of the image forming apparatus in which a failure has occurred can be automatically or automatically selected by a serviceman on the external apparatus side or by an external apparatus, thereby disabling or not disabling the function.
The user can quickly disable the function without being bothered by the operation of disabling the function on the device side.

Further, for example, when the user repeatedly turns off and on the main power supply at the time of occurrence of a malfunction in the image forming apparatus, the malfunction may not occur. Therefore, when a functional failure occurs, the main power supply is turned off,
N should be repeated, the operation of disabling the failed function from the external device is not performed, and the main power supply OF is turned off.
F, ON, and the like can be repeated by the user, and it is possible to prevent a failure from occurring.

Further, the user has repeatedly turned off and on the main power supply. If the same functional failure still occurs, it is possible to invalidate the failed function from an external device. As a result, the number of cases in which repairs need to be performed unnecessarily due to the occurrence of the first functional failure is reduced. For example, guidance for a case where the functional failure disappears by repeating the main power OFF and ON is specified in the user's manual. Alternatively, if a message is displayed on the operation unit at the time of occurrence of a failure and prompted by the user, there is an effect that labor and labor costs of a service person can be reduced.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, the scanning function, the user disables the scanning function by the operation unit. (Manual degeneration),
Alternatively, a service person or a user can select in advance to automatically disable the scan function (automatic degeneration). Therefore, unlike the related art, the entire device is not invalidated, and only the scan function having a failure can be invalidated. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus has failed as in the prior art is solved. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, even after disabling some of the functions of the image forming apparatus, the result (error code) of the detected malfunction is communicated to an external device, and furthermore, the status of which function is disabled is displayed. Is communicated to the external device, so that a serviceman at a service base on the external device side is effective as a determination material for determining a procedure for repairing a failure.

Also, by knowing the status of a device in which a scanner function has failed and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site, a member for repair or a repair kit is prepared in advance. This has the effect of eliminating the need for a round trip for previewing. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot, but such a defect can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scanning function of the image forming apparatus become invalid, other functions such as the printing function are made effective, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges, which were not able to use the printer until the service technician completed the repair of the scanning function failure after the occurrence of the scanning function failure and were able to generate income during the period, were added to the present invention. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, when the manual degeneration is selected,
The convenience can be improved by allowing the user to select whether or not to disable the function in which the failure has occurred. For example, when the user repeatedly turns off and on the main power supply when a malfunction occurs in the image forming apparatus, the malfunction may not occur. Therefore, when it is desired to repeat the main power OFF and ON when a functional failure occurs, the main power OFF and ON can be repeated without performing the operation of disabling the failed function. Can be eliminated, and the main power supply O
After repeating FF and ON, if the same failure still occurs, it can be said that the function in which the functional failure has occurred is invalidated.

As a result, the number of cases in which a service person is called unnecessarily by the occurrence of the first functional failure in the image forming apparatus is reduced. For example, guidance is given when the above-mentioned main power supply is turned off and on repeatedly, and the failure disappears. By prompting the user by specifying it in the user's manual or displaying it on the operation unit in the event of a failure, there is also an effect that labor and labor costs for service personnel can be reduced.

Alternatively, by selecting the automatic degeneration,
When a malfunction occurs in the image forming apparatus, the function can be automatically and immediately invalidated without user's operation, so that the user's convenience is improved. By allowing the user or serviceman to select the manual degeneration and the automatic degeneration in advance through the operation unit, the operation can be performed according to the purpose of the user or the serviceman, and the effect of improving convenience can be obtained.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the functions of the image forming apparatus, for example, a scan function, a service person disables the scan function by an external device. The service technician can select in advance using an external device to select to perform the operation (manual degeneration) or to automatically disable the scan function (automatic degeneration). Therefore, unlike the related art, the entire device is not invalidated, and only the scan function having a failure can be invalidated. The other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use a function of printing an image in the hard disk in the device or receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus has failed, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, even after disabling some of the functions of the image forming apparatus, the result (error code) of the detected malfunction is communicated to an external device, and furthermore, the status of which function is disabled is displayed. Is communicated to the external device, so that a serviceman at a service base on the external device side is effective as a determination material for determining a procedure for repairing a functional failure.

Further, a serviceman at a service base on the side of the external apparatus knows, for example, the state of a device in which a scanning function failure has occurred and the scanner has been disabled before going to the site, so that repair can be performed. Members and a repair kit can be prepared in advance, and there is an effect that reciprocation for previewing is not required. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot, but such a defect can be avoided in advance.

As described above, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Further, even if some functions such as the scan function are disabled in the image forming apparatus, the other functions such as the print function are enabled, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges that could not be used for a printer until a service person completed the repair of the scan function failure after the occurrence of the scan function failure and could be used as an income during the period of the present invention were used. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, when the service technician of the external apparatus has selected the manual degeneration, the service technician can select whether or not to disable the function in which the failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus, thereby increasing the convenience. improves.

Further, for example, when a function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, if the user repeatedly turns off and on the main power supply, the function failure may not occur. Therefore, when it is better to repeat the main power OFF and ON when a functional failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the main power OFF and the main power OFF, The user can be repeatedly turned ON and the like, and it is possible to prevent a functional failure from occurring.

Also, when the main power of the image forming apparatus is turned off,
When the user repeatedly turns ON, if the same fault still occurs, it can be said that the function in which the fault has occurred is disabled from the external device. As a result, the number of situations in which repairs need to be performed unnecessarily due to the occurrence of the first functional failure is reduced.
If N is repeated, the guidance when the failure disappears is specified in the user's manual or displayed on the operation unit when the failure occurs, and prompting the user can also reduce the labor and labor costs of service personnel. is there.

Alternatively, when a function failure occurs in the image forming apparatus by selecting the automatic degeneration by a serviceman of an external apparatus, the function can be automatically and immediately invalidated without user operation. Since it is possible, user convenience is improved. Each of these manual degeneration and automatic degeneration can be operated according to the purpose of the user or the serviceman by allowing the serviceman to select in advance on an external device,
The effect that convenience is improved is obtained.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even if a failure such as a lamp lighting error occurs in a part of the function of the image forming apparatus, for example, a scan function, a service person disables the scan function by an external device. The user can automatically select whether to perform the operation (manual degeneration) or automatically disable the scan function (automatic degeneration) according to the type of failure.

For example, in the case of a communication error between the scanner of the image forming apparatus and the document feeder, there is a possibility that an error may have occurred on the communication line due to noise or the like.
N may cause no error. In this case, the user can turn off the main switch of the image forming apparatus,
It is more convenient to perform manual degeneration so as to encourage ON.

Also, for an error such as a lamp lighting error in which an error is likely to occur again when the main switch is turned off or on, it is more convenient to use automatic degeneration. By automatically selecting the manual degeneration and the automatic degeneration in accordance with the type of error that has occurred, overall convenience is improved.

Further, as in the conventional case, for example, when an error occurs in the scanning function in the image forming apparatus, it is possible not to invalidate the entire apparatus but to invalidate only the scanning function having a failure. Then, other functions, for example, the print function are kept valid, and the user can use functions such as printing an image in the hard disk in the device and receiving and printing print data from an external device. .

As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the user is inconvenienced by stopping the entire apparatus when a part of the function of the image forming apparatus has failed, as in the related art. The effect is that other functions can be used immediately.

Further, even after disabling some of the functions of the image forming apparatus, the result of the detected failure (error code)
Is communicated to the external device, and furthermore, the status of which function has been disabled is communicated to the external device, so that the serviceman at the service base of the external device determines the procedure for repairing the failure. It is effective as a material.

Further, for example, a scan function failure occurs,
Knowing the status of the scanner's disabled device before going to the site will allow you to prepare repair parts and repair kits in advance, eliminating the need for round trips for previews. effective. In addition, it is often difficult to find the cause only by looking at the state where the scanning function is disabled on the spot, but such a defect can be avoided in advance.

Thus, the convenience for the user and the maintainability for the service person are dramatically improved.

Furthermore, even if some functions such as the scan function are disabled in the image forming apparatus, the other functions such as the print function are enabled, so that the entire apparatus has been stopped until now. According to the present invention, the toner, paper, and counter charges, which were not able to use the printer until the service technician completed the repair of the scanning function failure after the occurrence of the scanning function failure and were able to generate income during the period, were added to the present invention. As a result, income can be generated, and a great profit is also generated for the manufacturer.

Further, when the serviceman on the external device side has selected the manual degeneration, the serviceman can select whether to invalidate or not the function in which the failure has occurred, thereby improving the convenience.

[0310] For example, when a malfunction of the image forming apparatus occurs, the main power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off and on by the user.
Is repeated, there is a possibility that the functional failure does not occur. Therefore, when it is better to repeat the main power OFF and ON when a functional failure occurs, the user does not perform the operation of disabling the failed function from an external device, and the main power OFF and ON etc. It is possible to eliminate the functional failure.

Also, when the main power of the image forming apparatus is turned off,
When the user repeatedly turns ON, if the same functional failure still occurs, it can be said that the failed function is invalidated from the external device. As a result, the number of situations that need to be repaired unnecessarily due to the occurrence of the first functional failure is reduced. For example, the main power supply OF
If the trouble disappears by repeating F and ON, guidance in the case where the trouble disappears is specified in the user's manual or displayed on the operation unit when a trouble occurs, and prompting the user to reduce the labor and labor costs of service personnel. There is also.

[0312] Alternatively, by selecting the automatic degeneration,
When a failure occurs, the function can be automatically and immediately invalidated without user's operation, so that user's convenience is improved. The service technician can select each of the manual degeneration and the automatic degeneration by an external device in advance, so that the operation can be performed according to the purpose of the user or the service technician.

[0313] These manual degeneration and automatic degeneration are
The device is automatically selected according to the type of error, thereby improving overall convenience.

[0314] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned first to first aspects are provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention of the sixth aspect, since the scan function is used as a function to degenerate when a functional failure occurs, a function not related to scanning, for example, a function of printing an image in a hard disk in a device or a function of an external device. This has the effect that the function of receiving and printing the print data can be enabled.

[0315] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned first to first aspects are provided.
In addition to the effect of the invention of the sixth aspect, since the print function is used as a function to degenerate when a functional failure occurs, a function not related to printing, for example, a scan for transferring an image original by a scanner to an external device via a network. The effect is that the send function can be enabled.

According to the tenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects of the inventions of (1) to (6), since the PDL expansion function is used as a function of degenerating when a functional failure occurs,
There is an effect that a function not related to L, for example, a function of printing an image in a hard disk in the device and a scan function can be enabled.

According to the eleventh aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the inventions of (1) to (6), since a network communication function is used as a function to degenerate when a functional failure occurs, for example, a copy function unrelated to the network, a function of storing scanned images on a hard disk in the device, a device There is an effect that the function of printing an image in the hard disk in the device can be enabled.

According to the twelfth aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the sixth to sixth aspects, since the feeder function is used as a function of degenerating when a functional failure occurs, for example, there is an effect that a platen scan and a platen copy function irrespective of the feeder can be enabled.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects of the sixth to sixth aspects of the present invention, since the finisher function is used as a function of degenerating when a functional failure occurs, for example, a print job function that does not involve stapling and that does not staple can be made effective.

[0320] According to the fourteenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects of the inventions of (1) to (6), since a facsimile function is used as a function of degenerating when a functional failure occurs, for example, a copy function, a scan function, a print function, etc., which are unrelated to a facsimile function for transmitting / receiving a line, are effective. The effect is obtained.

[0321] According to the fifteenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects of the inventions of (1) to (6), since a paper feeding function is provided as a function of degenerating when a functional failure occurs, for example, when the paper deck is degenerated, paper feeding from a cassette unrelated to paper deck feeding is effectively performed. There is an effect that it can be done.

Further, the same effects as described above can be obtained in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the function invalidity setting method of the present invention, and the storage medium of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to first to sixth embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a core unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to sixth embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a basic screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to sixth embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen of an error status and a degeneration status displayed on a display of an external computer according to the first to sixth embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a degeneration selection screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an error status and degeneration status screen displayed on a display of an external computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an error status and a degeneration selection screen displayed on a display of an external computer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manual / automatic degeneration selection screen displayed on an operation unit of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a manual / automatic degeneration selection screen displayed on a display of an external computer according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 4 Modem communication part (failure status communication means, degeneration status communication means, first degeneration status communication means, second degeneration status communication means) 7 network processing part 8 PDL development part 10 core part 12 computer (External device, degeneration selection means, manual degeneration means, manual / automatic degeneration selection means) 14 facsimile device 16 network 150 deck 189 feeder 190 finisher 323 CPU (state detection means, automatic degeneration means, failure status communication means, degeneration status communication means) , First degeneration status communication means, second degeneration status communication means) 500 operation unit (degeneration selection means, manual degeneration means, manual
Automatic degeneration selection means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 E 106 106C F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 HV02 HV35 HV46 HV49 2H027 EJ15 EK11 GA47 GB08 HA10 HA12 HA20 ZA07 5B021 AA01 NN16 5B083 AA08 BB01 BB02 BB03 EE07 5C062 AA05 AA13 AB38 AC21 AC41 AC55 BA04

Claims (54)

[Claims] 1. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein a failure in a function of the image forming apparatus is detected. In this case, the failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and the failure occurrence function is invalidated. 2. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device communicable with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus has the plurality of functions. State detecting means for detecting a state, a failure state communication means for communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection means, and automatically disabling the failure occurrence function An image forming system comprising: an automatic degenerating unit that performs automatic degeneration and a degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the failure occurrence function has been automatically disabled. 3. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus has the plurality of functions. State detection means for detecting a state, a failure state communication means for communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection means, and whether or not to disable the failure occurrence function A degeneration selecting means for selecting the above, a manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generating function when the disabling function is selected to be invalid by the degeneration selecting means, and an external disabling means for disabling the failure generating function. An image forming system comprising: a degeneration status communication unit that communicates with an apparatus. 4. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus has a plurality of functions. State detection means for detecting a state, a failure state communication means for communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection means, and A degeneration status communication unit for communicating to the external device that the generation function has been invalidated, wherein the external device invalidates the failure generation function based on the failure status transmitted from the image forming apparatus. And a manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generation function for the image forming apparatus when the failure generation function is selected to be invalid by the reduction selection means. The image forming system according to claim. 5. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus has a plurality of functions. State detecting means for detecting a state, a failure state communication means for communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection means, and automatically disabling the failure occurrence function Automatic degeneration means, a first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generation function has been automatically invalidated due to the automatic degeneration, and whether or not the failure generation function is to be invalidated When the degenerate selection means for selecting and the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected by the degenerate selection means,
Manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generation function, second degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generation function has been invalidated due to the manual degeneration, and a failure of the function has occurred. In this case, the image forming system further includes a manual / automatic reduction selecting unit for selecting in advance which of the automatic reduction by the automatic reduction unit and the manual reduction by the manual reduction unit is enabled. 6. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus has the function of the plurality of functions. State detecting means for detecting a state, a failure state communication means for communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection means, and automatically disabling the failure occurrence function Automatic degeneration means, a first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generation function has been automatically disabled according to the automatic degeneration, and the failure generation in response to an operation from the external device A second degeneration status communication unit that communicates to the external device that the function has been disabled, wherein the external device disables the fault occurrence function based on the fault status communicated from the image forming apparatus. Or A degeneration selecting means for selecting the function, a manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generating function when the disabling function is invalidated by the degeneration selecting means, and An image forming system comprising: a manual / automatic degeneration selecting unit that preliminarily selects which of automatic degeneration by a unit and manual degeneration by the manual degeneration unit is effective, and sets the image forming apparatus. 7. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions; and an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus has a plurality of functions. State detecting means for detecting a state, a failure state communication means for communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when a failure of the function is detected by the state detection means, and automatically disabling the failure occurrence function Automatic degeneration means, a first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure generation function has been automatically disabled according to the automatic degeneration, and the failure generation in response to an operation from the external device Second degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the function has been disabled, and when a failure of the function occurs, according to the content of the failure of the function,
A manual / automatic reduction automatic selection unit for automatically selecting which one of the automatic reduction by the automatic reduction unit and the manual reduction by the external device is enabled; and the external device communicates from the image forming apparatus. Degeneration selecting means for selecting whether or not to disable the failure generating function based on the fault condition obtained, and disabling the fault generating function when the fault generating function is selected to be disabled by the degeneration selecting means. An image forming system, comprising: manual degeneration means. 8. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a scan function of reading an image from a document. 9. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a print function for printing an image on a recording medium. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a PD.
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system has a PDL developing function of developing L data into printable image data. 11. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a network communication function for communicating with the outside via a network. 12. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a feeder function for feeding a document to a document reading position. 13. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a finishing function of performing output processing such as sorting on a recording medium on which printing is completed.
The image forming system according to any one of the above. 14. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a facsimile function for performing image communication with an external device. 15. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a sheet feeding function of supplying a recording medium into the image forming apparatus. 16. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, wherein when a function failure is detected, a failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and the failure is communicated to the external device. An image forming apparatus, wherein the generation function can be disabled. 17. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting states of the plurality of functions; If detected, a failure status communication means for communicating the failure status of the function to the external device, an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the failure occurrence function, and a message indicating that the failure occurrence function has been automatically disabled And a degeneration status communication unit that communicates with the external device. 18. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting states of the plurality of functions; If detected, a failure status communication means for communicating a failure status of the function to the external device; a degeneration selection means for selecting whether or not to disable the failure generation function; Image forming apparatus, comprising: manual degeneration means for disabling the failure occurrence function when invalidation is selected; and degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure occurrence function has been invalidated. apparatus. 19. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting states of the plurality of functions; If detected, a failure status communication means for communicating the failure status of the function to the external device, and a degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure occurrence function has been invalidated by an operation from the external device An image forming apparatus comprising: 20. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting a state of the plurality of functions; If detected, a failure status communication means for communicating the failure status of the function to the external device, an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the failure generation function, and automatically generating the fault generation function with the automatic degeneration First degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the error has been invalidated, degeneration selection means for selecting whether or not to invalidate the fault occurrence function, and degeneration selection means for deactivating the fault generation function. When invalidation is selected, manual degeneration means for disabling the failure occurrence function, second degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the failure occurrence function has been invalidated with the manual degeneration, and Machine An image forming apparatus comprising: a manual / automatic degeneration selecting unit for preliminarily selecting which of the automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration unit and the manual degeneration by the manual degeneration unit is effective when the failure occurs. . 21. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting states of the plurality of functions; If detected, a failure status communication means for communicating the failure status of the function to the external device, an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the failure generation function, and automatically generating the fault generation function with the automatic degeneration A first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the invalidation has been disabled, and a second degeneration status for communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated with an operation from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a communication unit. 22. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and capable of communicating with an external device, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting states of the plurality of functions; If detected, a failure status communication means for communicating the failure status of the function to the external device, an automatic degeneration means for automatically disabling the failure generation function, and automatically generating the fault generation function with the automatic degeneration A first degeneration status communication means for communicating to the external device that the invalidation has been disabled, and a second degeneration status for communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been invalidated with an operation from the external device. Communication means, if a failure of the function occurs,
It has a manual / automatic degeneration automatic selecting means for automatically selecting which one of the automatic degeneration by the automatic degeneration means and the manual degeneration by the external device is enabled according to the content of the failure of the function. Image forming apparatus. 23. The function according to claim 16, wherein the function is a scan function for reading an image from a document.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 24. The function according to claim 16, wherein the function is a print function for printing an image on a recording medium.
23. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 22. 25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said function is a PDL expansion function for expanding PDL data into printable image data. 26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said function is a network communication function for communicating with an external device via a network. 27. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the function is a feeder function for feeding a document to a document reading position.
23. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 22. 28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the function is a finishing function for performing output processing such as sorting on a recording medium on which printing has been completed. 29. The function according to claim 16, wherein the function is a facsimile function for performing image communication with an external device.
3. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 2. 30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the function is a sheet feeding function for supplying a recording medium into the image forming apparatus. 31. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions, wherein a failure generating function is disabled based on a failure state of a function communicated from the image forming apparatus. And a manual degeneration means for disabling the failure generation function for the image forming apparatus when the failure generation function is selected to be invalid by the reduction selection means. Information processing device. 32. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions, wherein a failure generating function is disabled based on a failure state of a function communicated from the image forming apparatus. A degeneration selecting unit for selecting a function, a manual degeneration unit for disabling the failure generating function when the disabling function is selected to be invalid by the degenerating selection unit, and the image forming when the failure of the function occurs. Automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the fault occurrence function in the device, and manual degeneration for disabling the fault occurrence function by the manual degeneration means are previously selected to be enabled,
An information processing apparatus, comprising: manual / automatic degeneration selecting means for setting the image forming apparatus. 33. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein a failure state of the function is detected when a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus is detected. A function invalidation setting method comprising: communicating with the external device to invalidate the failure generating function. 34. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; If a failure of the function of the device is detected, the failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, the failure generating function is automatically disabled, and the fact that the failure generating function is automatically disabled is notified to the external device. Function invalidity setting method characterized by communicating with the user. 35. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When a failure of the function of the apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external apparatus, and when the failure occurrence function is selected to be disabled from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, the failure occurrence function is disabled. And transmitting to the external device that the failure occurrence function has been invalidated. 36. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; If a failure of the function of the device is detected, the failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and if the failure occurrence function is selected to be invalid based on the failure status from the external device, the image is output from the external device. A function for disabling the failure generating function for the forming apparatus, and communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been disabled for the image forming apparatus. 37. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; If a failure of the function of the apparatus is detected, the failure state of the function is communicated to the external apparatus, and if automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generating function is selected in advance in the image forming apparatus, If the failure generation function is automatically disabled and the fact is communicated to the external device, and if the manual degeneration for manually disabling the failure generation function is selected in advance in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is configured to execute the image processing. A function invalidation setting method comprising: disabling the failure generating function based on an operation on the forming apparatus; and communicating the fact to the external device. 38. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; If a failure of the function of the device is detected, the failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and if automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generating function is previously selected in the external device, When the failure generation function is automatically disabled and the fact is communicated to the external device, and the manual degeneration for manually disabling the failure generation function is previously selected in the external device, the external device performs A function for invalidating the failure occurrence function based on the operation of (1) and communicating the fact to the external device. 39. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A function invalidity setting method executed in an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring states of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; When a failure of the function of the device is detected, the failure status of the function is communicated to the external device, and the failure occurrence function is automatically disabled according to the content of the failure of the function. Automatically select which of the manual degeneration to disable the function by an operation from the external device, and if the automatic degeneration is selected, automatically disable the fault occurrence function and The fact is communicated to the external device, and when the manual degeneration is selected, the failure generating function is invalidated based on an operation from the external device and the fact is communicated to the external device. No function Effective setting method. 40. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a scan function of reading an image from a document. 41. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a print function of printing an image on a recording medium. 42. The function of the image forming apparatus includes a PD
40. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function is a PDL developing function for developing L data into printable image data. 43. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a network communication function for communicating with an external device via a network. 44. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a feeder function for feeding a document to a document reading position. 45. The printing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a finishing function for performing output processing such as sorting on a recording medium on which printing is completed.
39. The function invalidation setting method according to any one of items 39. 46. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a facsimile function for performing image communication with an external device. 47. The function invalid setting method according to claim 33, wherein the function of the image forming apparatus is a sheet feeding function for supplying a recording medium into the image forming apparatus. 48. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. A method comprising: when detecting a failure in a function of the image forming apparatus, communicating a failure state of the function to the external device; and disabling the failure occurrence function. . 49. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. The method further comprising: monitoring a state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus; A storage medium, comprising: automatically disabling a generating function; and communicating to the external device that the fault generating function has been disabled. 50. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. A method of monitoring a state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus; When the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected from the operation unit of the forming apparatus,
A storage medium, comprising: disabling the failure generating function; and communicating to the external device that the failure generating function has been disabled. 51. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. The method further comprising: monitoring a state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus; Disabling the failure generating function from the external device to the image forming apparatus when the invalidation of the failure generating function is selected based on the failure state; and Communicating the invalidation to the external device. 52. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. The method further comprising: monitoring a state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus; A step of automatically disabling the failure generating function if automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the generating function is previously selected in the image forming apparatus; and communicating the fact to the external device. When manual degeneration for manually disabling the failure generating function is selected in advance in the image forming apparatus,
A storage medium, comprising: disabling the failure generating function based on an operation on the image forming apparatus; and communicating the fact to the external device. 53. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. The method further comprising: monitoring a state of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus; If automatic degeneration to automatically disable the occurrence function is previously selected in the external device, a step of automatically disabling the failure generation function, and a step of communicating the effect to the external device, When manual degeneration for manually disabling the failure generating function is previously selected in the external device, the failure generating function is disabled based on an operation on the external device. And a step of communicating the fact to the external device. 54. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a function invalidity setting method applied to an image forming system including an external device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the function invalidation setting is provided. The method further comprising: monitoring a status of the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus; communicating a failure state of the function to the external device when detecting a failure of the function of the image forming apparatus; Depending on the content of the failure, it is automatically determined which of automatic degeneration for automatically disabling the failure generation function and manual degeneration for disabling the failure generation function by operation from the external device is enabled. Selecting, and, if the automatic degeneration is selected, automatically disabling the failure generating function, and communicating the effect to the external device, A storage medium, comprising: when the manual degeneration is selected, disabling the failure generating function based on an operation from the external device, and communicating the fact to the external device.