JP2003162401A - Management system for image output apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency of maintenance. <P>SOLUTION: A management system for image output apparatus connecting an image output apparatus 2, having a monitor center 1 and a plurality of units via a network 3 and managing the output apparatus 2 by the monitor center 1, where the output apparatus 2 has a function to send configuration information on the plurality of units to the monitor center 1, and the monitor center 1 has the function of determining consistency with the output apparatus 2 and the units or consistency in the units, based on the configuration information from the output apparatus 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output device management system for managing an image output device installed in a photo DP store, a medical institution, a printing place or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photo DP stores, medical institutions, printing houses, etc.
An image output device is installed, but the use of the image output device varies depending on each user or each device. Further, the image output device often has different settings for the image output device depending on the difference in weather conditions in the area where the image output device is installed.

Therefore, maintenance of the image output device is extremely complicated because it must reflect the circumstances of each user or each device, the weather conditions of the area where the image output device is installed, and the like.

In addition, it is necessary to install software suitable for each unit in the image output apparatus itself or in each unit provided in the image output apparatus. There may be a difference between the software version and the latest software version, resulting in a version failure.

[0005]

By the way, conventionally, the version information group, which is information about the serial number of each unit provided in the image output device of each photo DP store and the version information of software, has not been organized. Or, it simply displays the serial number of each unit that can be used and the version information of the software on the image output device, and it is difficult to know before going to the installation site of the image output device to perform maintenance. Met.

Therefore, it is wasteful that a person who performs maintenance needs to go to the installation location of the image output apparatus again after obtaining necessary units and software.

In this case, if the configuration information, which is the information including the serial number of the unit included in the image output device and the version information of the software, can be known in advance, the efficiency of maintenance can be improved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image output device management system capable of improving the efficiency of maintenance.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, "an image output device management system in which a monitoring center and an image output device having a plurality of units are connected via a network, and the monitoring center manages the image output device. In the above, the image output device has a function of sending configuration information of a plurality of units to the monitoring center, and the monitoring center matches the image output device and the unit based on the configuration information from the image output device. An image output device management system having a function of determining whether or not a plurality of units match each other. ].

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the efficiency of maintenance is improved by determining the matching between the image output device and the unit or the matching between a plurality of units based on the configuration information. be able to.

The image output apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes the serial number of each unit and the installed software version. ].

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the configuration information includes the serial number of each unit, the installed software version, the units, the software, or the units and the software. The consistency of can be determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, "the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center when the image output device is connected to the network. The image according to the first or second aspect. Output device management system. ].

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to judge the consistency when the image output device is connected to the network.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, "the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to a request from the monitoring center.
Alternatively, the image output device management system according to claim 2. ]
Is.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be determined at any time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to the request from the monitoring center.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image output apparatus according to the first or second aspect is characterized in that the image output apparatus periodically sends the configuration information to the monitoring center. Management system. ].

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the consistency can be automatically judged by periodically sending the configuration information to the monitoring center.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, "the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed, and the image output according to the first or second aspect. Device management system. ].

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be judged at an appropriate time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, "When the software versions of the image output device or each unit are not consistent with each other, the monitoring center is suitable for the situation of the image output device or each unit. The image output device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a software version is downloaded to the image output device or each unit that is not compatible with the software version. ].

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the software version suitable for the situation of the image output device or each unit is downloaded to the image output device or each unit which is not consistent, Maintenance can be performed automatically.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that "the monitoring center notifies the image output device or each unit when the configuration of the image output device or each unit is not consistent. Claims 1 to 6
The image output device management system according to any one of 1. ]
Is.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the configuration of the image output device or each unit is not consistent, the image output device or each unit is notified to improve the efficiency of maintenance. be able to.

The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that "the monitoring center notifies the image output device or each unit, and selects and notifies an appropriate configuration. Image output device management system. ].

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the efficiency of maintenance can be improved by notifying the image output device or each unit and by notifying and selecting an appropriate configuration.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output device management system in which a monitoring center and an image output device are connected via a network, and the image output device is managed by the monitoring center. The device has a function of sending configuration information including specific ID information or creator identification information and version information corresponding to software installed in the image output device to the monitoring center, and the monitoring center outputs the image output. An image output device management system having a function of determining the consistency of the image output device based on configuration information from the device. ].

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency of the image output device is judged based on the configuration information including the specific ID information or the creator specific information corresponding to the software and the version information. It is possible to judge the consistency between software or each unit and software.

According to the invention of claim 11, "an image output device management system in which a monitoring center and an image output device having a plurality of units are connected via a network, and the monitoring center manages the image output device. In the above, the image output device has a function of sending configuration information including specific ID information or creator identification information and version information corresponding to a plurality of units or a plurality of software to the monitoring center, and the monitoring center, Based on the configuration information from the image output device, it has a function of determining whether or not each unit or software is matched with each other, or the unit or software of the image output device based on the determination. An image output device management system characterized by switching or automatic version change. ].

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, whether or not each unit or software is consistent with each other or with each other is determined based on the configuration information including the specific ID information or the creator identification information and the version information. The efficiency of maintenance can be improved by judging and switching the unit or software of the image output device or automatically changing the version.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, "The image output apparatus sends the configuration information to the monitoring center when connecting to the network. The image according to the tenth aspect or the eleventh aspect. Output device management system. ]
Is.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, it is possible to judge the consistency when the image output device is connected to the network.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to a request from the monitoring center. The image output device management system described in 1. ].

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be determined at any time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to the request from the monitoring center.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the image output apparatus according to the tenth aspect or the eleventh aspect is characterized in that the image output apparatus periodically sends the configuration information to the monitoring center. Management system. ].

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be automatically judged by periodically sending the configuration information to the monitoring center.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed.
The image output device management system described in 1. ].

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be judged at an appropriate time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed.

[0040]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an image output device management system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The image output device management system of this embodiment will be described with respect to an image output device installed in a photo DP store, but it can be similarly applied to an image output device installed in a medical institution, a printing place or the like. However, the use of this image output device varies depending on each user or each device, and the image output device is often set differently due to the difference in weather conditions in the area where the image output device is installed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image output device management system.

In the image output device management system of this embodiment, the monitoring center 1 and the plurality of image output devices 2 are connected via the network 3, and the monitoring center 1 manages the plurality of image output devices 2. As the network 3, for example, a communication network such as the Internet or an analog public line is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the monitoring center and the image output device.

The image output device 2 is provided with a control unit 20 for controlling the whole. Control unit 2
0 controls the operation of the image input unit 21, the exposure unit 22, and the print unit 23.

The image input unit 21 reads, for example, an image of a negative film that has been developed, the exposure unit 22 exposes the read image to photographic paper, and the print unit 23 develops the image-exposed photographic paper. To create a print.

The control unit 20 is provided with a CPU 20a and a memory 20b, and software is installed in the memory 20b. The CPU 20a executes the software to perform a desired operation by control.

The image input unit 21 has a CPU 21a.
And a memory 21b, and the exposure unit 22 includes a C
The PU 22a and the memory 22b are provided, and the print unit 23 is provided with the CPU 23a and the memory 23b. Software is installed in each of the memories 21b, 22b, and 23b, and the CPU 21a,
22a and 23a execute software to perform a desired operation under control.

In this embodiment, the image input unit 2
1, the exposure unit 22 and the print unit 23 each include a CPU and a memory.
And a CPU provided in the control unit 20 without a memory
It may be controlled by software for overall control by the memory 20a and the memory 20b.

A serial number indicating the function of the unit is attached to each of these units, and this serial number is stored in the memory 20b of the control unit 20 and managed. The memory 20b of the control unit 20 also stores and manages version information of software installed in each unit. You can use only the serial number or version information,
Both may be stored and managed in the memory 20b of the control unit 20.

Further, each unit may be all mechanical parts, and when it includes electric parts for operation, further, as described above, a CPU for controlling operation and the like,
There is also a unit having a software in a memory for controlling a CPU.

These units are units that satisfy predetermined functions at the time of shipment from the manufacturer to the user, and as the IDs of the serial numbers of these units, for example, EXP-L-0 as an exposure unit using LEF.
01-991225-043 (001 type of LED exposure unit, 043th shipped December 25, 1999)
Or, it has a function for specifying such as M13 type No. 0214 manufactured by ABC company.

These are the monitoring center 1 of the image output device 2.
May be stored in the memory, or mechanically (with or without comb teeth) in each unit itself, or in an attached memory. Further, the image output device 2 has a function of storing the built-in units and the version or serial number of the software for operating the units and notifying them according to transmission or access.

The monitoring center 1 of this embodiment has a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a CPU 1
0a and the memory 10b are controlled by the software for overall control. The memory 10b of the monitoring center 1 stores a table of regular combinations of serial numbers and version information, or stores them sequentially. An example of this is shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table of regular combinations of serial numbers, version information, and unit components, which serial numbers, version information, and unit components correspond to each other, or between units. Indicates the corresponding serial number.

[A] of the serial number of each unit in FIG.
Shows respective units that can be managed by connecting to the image output device management system.

In the image input unit 21, the serial numbers “A1001 to A1049” are the version information “V”.
er10.1 to Ver10.1 "and unit constituent parts" 1001X to 1049X ", the serial number" A1050 to A1100 "corresponds to the version information" V ".
er10.2 to Ver10.2 ”and unit components“ 1050Y to 1100Y ”.

The unit component "X" represents a unit equipped with a film scanner, for example, and "Y" represents a unit capable of taking in image information from a storage memory card, for example.

In the exposure unit 22, the serial numbers “A2001 to A2049” are the version information “Ve”.
r20.1 to Ver20.1 ”and unit component parts“ 2001H to 2049H ”, and the serial number“ A2050 to A2100 ”is the version information“ Ve ”.
r20.2 to Ver20.2 ”and unit components“ 2050I to 2100I ”.

The unit component "H" is, for example, an LED
The one having an exposure is represented, and “I” represents one having a laser exposure, for example.

In the print unit 23, the serial numbers “A3001 to A3049” are the version information “V”.
er30.1 to Ver30.1 "and unit component parts" 3001P to 3049P ", the serial number" A3050 to A3100 "is the version information" V ".
er30.2 to Ver30.2 ”and unit components“ 3050Q to 3100Q ”.

The unit component "P" represents, for example, one provided with a development print, and "Q" represents one provided with, for example, a thermal transfer print.

The control unit 10 of the monitoring center 1 and the control unit 20 of the image output device 2 are provided with communication means 10c, 20c connected to the network 3, and the monitoring center 1 is connected using the communication means 10c, 20c. And the image output device 2 are communicated.

This image output device 2 has a function of sending the configuration information of a plurality of units to the monitoring center 1, and the monitoring center 1 identifies the image output device 2 and the units based on the configuration information from the image output device 2. It has a function to judge the consistency of the unit or the consistency of a plurality of units.

When the image output device 2 is connected to the network 3 and sends the configuration information to the monitoring center 1, the consistency can be judged when the image output device 2 is connected to the network 3.

If the image output device 2 sends the configuration information to the monitoring center 1 in response to a request from the monitoring center 1, the consistency can be determined at any time.

Furthermore, the image output apparatus 2 can automatically determine the consistency by periodically sending the configuration information to the monitoring center 1.

Further, the image output device 2 may, if necessary,
By sending the configuration information to the monitoring center 1, it is possible to judge the consistency at any time as needed and at an appropriate time.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of maintenance.

At step a1, the monitoring center 1 judges whether or not it is the configuration information from the image output device 2, and if it is the configuration information, the consistency determination table is read in order to determine the consistency (step S1). a2). Step a
In 3, the consistency of the serial numbers is judged, and if the structure of the serial numbers is not described in the table of FIG. 3, it is judged that the version failure has occurred.

When the consistency is not obtained due to failure, the failure of the serial number is notified to the image output device 2 (step a4).

In step a5, if the serial numbers of the respective units are consistent and not defective, it is determined whether the installed software version is consistent. First, if the software version is not listed in the table of FIG. 3, it is determined that the software version is not defective, and another error process is performed and the process ends (step a6).

When the software version is listed in the table of FIG. 3, the software version failure is analyzed as a software version failure (step a7). It is judged whether or not there is a software failure between the units, and the process proceeds to step a4 (step a).
8).

If the software between the units is not defective, it is determined in step a9 whether or not the unit and the corresponding software are defective. If the unit and the corresponding software are defective, the process proceeds to step a4. To do.

If the unit and the corresponding software are not defective, in step a10, it is judged whether or not the software is defective. If the software is defective, the process proceeds to step a4.

If the unit and the corresponding software are not defective, it is determined in step a11 whether the unit and the supply are defective. If the unit and the supply are defective, the process proceeds to step a4.

If the unit and supplies are not defective,
In step a12, the software is downloaded.

As described above, based on the configuration information, the image output device 2, the image input unit 21, the exposure unit 22,
By determining the consistency with the print unit 23 or the consistency between the plurality of image input units 21, the exposure unit 22, and the print units 23, the efficiency of maintenance can be improved.

As described above, the monitoring center 1 includes the image output device 2 or the image input unit 21, the exposure unit 22,
If the software versions of the print units 23 are not compatible with each other, the software version appropriate for the situation of the image output device 2 or each unit is supplied to the image output device 1 or each unit that is not compatible. Maintenance can be performed automatically by downloading.

As a result of such an operation, a person who performs maintenance can know the configuration information of the image output device 2 before going to the installation place of the image output device 2, so that efficient maintenance is possible. . Further, when the version failure of the software can be resolved by upgrading the version of the software, the necessary software is downloaded from the monitoring center 1, so that the version failure of the software can be easily resolved.

When the configuration of the image output device 2 or each unit is not consistent, the monitoring center 1 notifies the image output device 2 or each unit, and notifies the appropriate configuration. You may make it select and notify.

Further, by determining the consistency of the image output device 2 based on the configuration information including the version information and the specific ID information or the creator specific information corresponding to the software,
It is possible to judge the consistency between software or each unit and software.

Further, the monitoring center determines whether or not each unit or software is matched with each other or each other based on the configuration information including the specific ID information or the creator identification information and the version information, and the image output device Units or software of the above may be switched or the automatic version may be changed.

[0084]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, maintenance is performed by determining the consistency between the image output device and the unit or the consistency between the plurality of units based on the configuration information. The efficiency can be improved.

In the invention described in claim 2, the configuration information is
By including the serial number of each unit and the installed software version, it is possible to judge the consistency between the units, the software, or the units and the software.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to judge the consistency when the image output device is connected to the network.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the consistency can be determined at any time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to a request from the monitoring center.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the consistency can be automatically judged by periodically sending the configuration information to the monitoring center.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the consistency can be judged at an appropriate time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the software version suitable for the situation of the image output device or each unit is automatically downloaded to the image output device or each unit which is not compatible with the software version. Maintenance can be performed.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when the configurations of the image output device or each unit are not consistent,
By notifying the image output device or each unit, the efficiency of maintenance can be improved.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the efficiency of maintenance can be improved by notifying the image output device or each unit and selecting and notifying an appropriate configuration.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency between the image output devices is judged based on the configuration information including the specific ID information or the creator specific information corresponding to the software and the version information, so that the software can be matched with each other. Or, it is possible to judge the consistency between each unit and the software.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not each unit or software is consistent with each other or with each other based on the configuration information including the specific ID information or the creator identification information and the version information, The efficiency of maintenance can be improved by switching the unit or software of the image output device or automatically changing the version.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to judge the consistency when the image output device is connected to the network.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be determined at any time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to a request from the monitoring center.

In the invention described in claim 14, periodically,
Consistency can be automatically determined by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the consistency can be judged at an appropriate time by sending the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image output device management system.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a monitoring center and an image output device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table of regular combinations of serial numbers, version information, and unit components.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a maintenance operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 monitoring center 2 Image output device 3 network 20 control unit 21 Image input unit 22 Exposure unit 23 Print unit

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AQ04 HJ10 HP00                       HQ01                 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB04 EE02 NN00                 5C062 AA01 AA29 AB41 AB42 AB46                       AC38 AC56 AF12 BA00

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image output device management system in which a monitoring center and an image output device having a plurality of units are connected via a network, and the image output device is managed by the monitoring center, wherein the image output device comprises: The monitoring center has a function of sending configuration information of a plurality of units to the monitoring center, and the monitoring center is configured to match the image output device and the unit based on the configuration information from the image output device, or An image output device management system having a function of determining consistency. 2. The image output device management system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a serial number of each unit and an installed software version. 3. The image output device management system according to claim 1, wherein the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center when connected to the network. 4. The image output device management system according to claim 1, wherein the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to a request from the monitoring center. . 5. The image output device periodically sends the configuration information to the monitoring center.
Alternatively, the image output device management system according to claim 2. 6. The image output device management system according to claim 1, wherein the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed. 7. The monitoring center, when the software version of the image output device or each unit is not consistent, determines the software version suitable for the situation of the image output device or each unit. The image output device management system according to claim 1, wherein the image output device or the respective units that are not removed are downloaded. 8. The monitoring center informs the image output device or each unit when the configurations of the image output device or each unit are not consistent with each other. The image output device management system according to any one of 1. 9. The image output device management system according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring center notifies the image output device or each unit and selects and notifies an appropriate configuration. 10. An image output device management system in which a monitoring center and an image output device are connected via a network, and the image output device is managed by the monitoring center, wherein the image output device is installed in the image output device. Has a function of sending configuration information including specific ID information or creator identification information and version information corresponding to the software being performed to the monitoring center, and the monitoring center, based on the configuration information from the image output device, An image output device management system having a function of determining the consistency of the image output device. 11. An image output device management system in which a monitoring center and an image output device having a plurality of units are connected via a network, and the image output device is managed by the monitoring center, wherein the image output device comprises: It has a function of sending configuration information including specific ID information or creator identification information and version information corresponding to a plurality of units or a plurality of software to the monitoring center, and the monitoring center is configured by the image output device. Based on the above, it has a function of judging whether or not each unit or software is consistent with each other, or based on the judgment, switching the unit or software of the image output device or automatically changing the version. Characteristic image output device management system. 12. The image output device management system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center when connected to the network. 13. The image output device management system according to claim 9, wherein the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center in response to a request from the monitoring center. . 14. The image output device management system according to claim 10, wherein the image output device periodically sends the configuration information to the monitoring center. 15. The image output device management system according to claim 10, wherein the image output device sends the configuration information to the monitoring center as needed.