JP2004364108A - Information processing apparatus, monitoring method and program, and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that no collection of information about an image forming device to be monitored causes an error, for example, when a schedule time arrives just after starting a monitor in a system in which information about a copying machine to be monitored is periodically sent to a server according to a set schedule in a copying machine monitoring device. <P>SOLUTION: A mechanism for collecting operating information of the image forming device through a first communication line and notifying an external device of the collected operating information through a second communication line, has a collecting means for collecting the operating information from the image forming device at prescribed interval timing, an initializing means for executing initialization processing, and a control means for starting the collecting means in accordance with the initialization processing of the initializing means regardless of the prescribed interval timing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that monitors the number of prints, errors, and the like of office equipment such as a copier, a digital multifunction peripheral, and a printer, and executes maintenance management, a monitoring method thereof, a program, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of remotely monitoring office equipment, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is a method of installing a monitoring device in a network of a monitoring destination and transferring information from the monitoring device to a monitoring server. One of the information transfer methods is a procedure for periodically collecting information from office equipment based on an internal timer or the like, or transferring information from a monitoring device to a monitoring server at a time determined by schedule management. According to this method, the monitoring server makes an inquiry to the monitoring device, and the receiving side does not need a mechanism for processing the inquiry from the monitoring server, as compared with a procedure for responding to the inquiry, thereby simplifying the configuration.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-187186
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the timing to send information to the monitoring server arrives immediately after the monitoring device is started, information from office equipment to be sent to the monitoring server may not be obtained.
[0005]
For example, when a schedule transmission setting once a day is set in the monitoring device, and the monitoring device starts at the same time every day and conflicts with the schedule transmission timing, accurate collection information is sent to the monitoring server. I can't send.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the present invention, when the monitoring device is activated, it acquires and holds information from the monitoring target device, and performs a process at the time of activation and a process of periodically acquiring information. In order to avoid the state of moving simultaneously, at the time of starting the information acquisition processing, a processing for confirming whether the processing is already in operation is inserted to prevent double starting.
[0007]
In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus that collects operation information of an image forming apparatus via a first communication line and notifies the collected operation information to an external device via a second communication line. A collection unit that collects operation information from the image forming apparatus at a predetermined interval timing; and an initialization unit that executes an initialization process of the apparatus.
A control unit for activating the collection unit irrespective of the predetermined interval timing in accordance with the initialization processing of the initialization unit.
[0008]
Further, a determination unit for determining whether or not the collection unit is operating during the initialization process, and when the determination unit determines that the collection unit is operating, the control unit sets the There is provided an information processing apparatus characterized in that collection means is not activated.
[0009]
Further, information comprising: a notifying unit that notifies the external device of the operation information collected by the collecting unit; and a suppressing unit that suppresses the activation of the notifying unit while the collecting unit is operating. A processing device is provided.
[0010]
Further, the information processing apparatus is characterized in that the suppression unit suppresses transmission of the transmission unit while the collection unit is operating.
[0011]
Further, the information processing apparatus is characterized in that the suppression means has a function of referring to a flag, and suppresses activation of the transmission means according to the content of the flag.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a system according to the present embodiment. A server-side router (6) and a base-side router (2) communicate with a predetermined protocol (10) via a communication line (8) such as the Internet. Communication is possible.
[0013]
The server-side router and the base-side router are connected by a specific protocol (10) via the Internet (8). A general protocol (SMTP) and authentication will also be provided to prevent unauthorized access and to cross firewalls.
[0014]
The monitoring device (1) collects information such as the status of the devices (3) to (5), the remaining amount of toner and the number of times of printing. The monitoring server (7) communicates with the monitoring device via the server-side router, the Internet, and the site-side router, and collects information from the monitoring device.
[0015]
Although only one site-side router and monitoring device are shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of sites exist, and the site-side router, the monitoring device, and the image forming device are located in the plurality of sites. It exists and can communicate via a line with a monitoring server that centrally manages them.
[0016]
Further, (3), (4), and (5) in FIG. 1 indicate devices, and the devices include a printer (including an electrophotographic system and an inkjet system) as an image forming apparatus, a scanner, and a facsimile. And a digital multifunction peripheral in which a printer and a facsimile function are integrally provided. The image forming apparatus will be described later in detail.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of (1) shown in FIG. A CPU (201), a bus (202) for transferring data between components described below, a RAM (203) capable of electrically storing and rewriting information, and an electrically rewritable and power-supply-free power supply. FlashROM (204) capable of storing information, two Network I / Fs (205) and (206) for exchanging information with the outside via a network, and a Serial I / F (207) for exchanging information by RS232c serial communication. And a serial communication unit used for debugging purposes, and a debug I / F (208).
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 5, the controller has a CPU circuit unit (307). The controller 307 is connected to a CPU (not shown), a RAM (308), a ROM (309), and a Harddisk (310). The blocks 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 are generally controlled by the stored control program. Reference numeral 308 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with control. Reference numeral 310 stores information necessary for a program for control and information received from each of the blocks 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315.
[0020]
The document feeder control unit (302) controls the drive of a document feeder (not shown) based on an instruction from 307. The image reader control unit (303) performs drive control on a scanner unit (not shown), an image sensor (not shown), and transfers an analog image signal output from the image sensor to the image signal control unit (304). I do.
[0021]
304 converts each analog image signal into a digital signal, performs each process, converts this digital signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit (305). The external I / F (306) performs various processes on the digital image signal input from the computer (301) via the LAN interface, converts the digital image signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the video signal 305. Reference numeral 306 communicates with a device management apparatus (not shown) via a LAN interface. The processing operation by 304 is controlled by 307. Reference numeral 305 drives the above-described exposure control unit (not shown) based on the input video signal.
[0022]
An operation unit (311) includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating a setting state, and the like, and outputs a key signal corresponding to an operation of each key to 307. At the same time, corresponding information is displayed on the display unit (312) based on the signal from 307.
[0023]
The sorter control unit (313) and the finisher control unit (314) operate based on a signal from 307 according to an input from a user via 306 or a setting from 311. The state detection unit collects state information from each part, makes a determination such as abnormality detection, and notifies the result to 307. In accordance with this notification, 307 displays an abnormality on 301 or the like via 312 or 306.
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows a module configuration of the monitoring apparatus. 401 is a communication processing unit, 402 is a copier communication unit that controls communication with the copier, and 403 is information from an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a digital multifunction peripheral. An information collection unit to collect, 404 an information storage unit for storing the collected information, 405 a copier management data for storing the monitoring status of the monitored copier, and 406 a schedule for periodically acquiring information from the copier. Unit, 407 is an information transmitting unit for periodically transmitting information to the monitoring server, 408 is monitoring server information that holds information for connecting to the monitoring server, 409 is a timer processing unit that manages the time within 1. Reference numeral 410 denotes a server communication unit that performs server communication processing, and 411 denotes a startup processing unit. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the monitoring server, where 501 is a communication unit, 502 is an information obtaining unit that obtains information from the monitoring device, 503 is an information holding unit that holds information received from the monitoring device, and 504 is 503. It is an information control unit that processes the information inside.
[0025]
6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the features of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an example of information managed in 405. The ID of the monitored copying machine, the IP address of the network, the model of the copying machine, and the monitoring status are held for each copying machine ID. This operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0026]
Immediately after the activation, the activation processing unit 411 operates. 411 operates 403 (step S601). Reference numeral 403 changes the status corresponding to the copying machine registered in 405, which is the copying machine information held in the format as shown in FIG. 8, to none (step S602).
[0027]
Subsequently, the server 403 checks whether there is a copier ID having a status of none from 405 (step S603). If it exists, 405 obtains copier information from (step S604). The copier information is passed to 402, and a request is made to acquire status information from the copier (step S605). 402 acquires status information from the copying machine via 401 (606). 403 receives the information from 402 (step S607), stores it in 404 (step S608), and changes the status of the copying machine in 405 to OK (step S609). If the information acquisition fails in step S606 (step S607), the status of the copying machine in 405 is changed to NG (step S609). After the process in step S609, the process returns to step S603, and repeats until there is no more copying machine ID whose status is none.
[0028]
After the start-up process, the timer processing unit 409 periodically checks whether it is a schedule timing (step S701). If it is the schedule timing, the same processing as in steps S602 to S609 is performed to update the state information.
[0029]
Subsequently, it is checked whether it is the server transmission timing. If it is the server transmission timing (step S702), the processing unit 410 for the server is started. The 410 acquires the state information stored in the 404 (step S703), acquires information necessary for transmission to the server from 408 (step S704), and transmits the information to the server via 407. (Step S705). When the server receives the information at 501, the server analyzes the information at 502 and stores it in 503. 504 can provide information by referring to 503 in response to a request from outside or an internal processing request.
[0030]
In this embodiment, a characteristic processing operation of the monitoring device including the information collecting unit 403 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0031]
First, the activation processing unit 411 in the monitoring device sets information (not shown) indicating a processing flag at the time of execution of the initialization processing to 0.
[0032]
After that, when the information collecting unit 403 starts processing according to an instruction from the schedule unit 406 or the server communication unit 411, the flag is checked (step S901). Immediately after activation in the activation processing unit 411, the value of the flag is 0 as described above.
[0033]
If the flag is 0, the flag is set to 1 (step S902), the same processing as in steps S602 to S609 is performed, and after completion, the flag is returned to 0 (step S903).
[0034]
In step S902, the determination of Yes means that the operation information of the image forming apparatus is collected via the first communication line, and the collected operation information is transmitted to the external device via the second communication line. In a monitoring device (information processing device) for notification, an information collection unit that collects operation information from the image forming apparatus at a predetermined interval timing (regular timing) is used for image formation immediately after the initialization processing of the initialization unit. This corresponds to the process of collecting operation information from the device.
[0035]
On the other hand, if the processing flag is set to 1 instead of 0 in step 901, the information collecting unit is not activated, and the processing of collecting information from the image forming apparatus (corresponding to steps 602 to 609) is performed. Absent.
[0036]
As described above, according to the processing in the flowchart of FIG. 9, when the information collection unit 403 is activated from the activation processing and is being executed, a request for processing is issued from the activation processing unit 411, or the schedule processing of the activation processing unit 411 prior to the activation processing. Even when the information collection unit 403 is activated and receives a processing request, it is possible to prevent a multiplex process of collecting operation information from the image forming apparatus that is redundantly repeated.
[0037]
In FIG. 9, the exclusive process is performed using a flag in order to determine that another process is being performed. However, if another process is being performed using a semaphore, the process waits until the process is completed. The same problem can also be solved by providing a configuration for causing this.
[0038]
Next, the operation of the server communication unit 410 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. Steps 703 to 705 in the figure are the same as those described above, and thus detailed description and description will be omitted.
[0039]
First, when the server communication unit 410 starts processing in accordance with an instruction from the timer processing unit 409, the server checks the flag exemplified in the embodiment (step S1001).
[0040]
If the checked flag is 0, the flag is set to 1 (step S1002), the same processing as steps S703 to S705 is performed, and after completion, the flag is returned to 0 (step S1003).
[0041]
The process of setting the flag to 1 while the server communication unit 410 is operating in step S1002 also corresponds to the process of suppressing the process of the information collection unit 403 that performs the process based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0042]
If the flag is 1 in step 1001, the check in step 1001 is performed until the flag becomes 0. The standby process in step S1001 corresponds to a process of suppressing and delaying the notification of the operation information to the monitoring server by the server communication unit 410 in accordance with the operation of the operation of collecting the operation information from the image forming apparatus by the information collection unit 403. This can avoid such a problem that an error occurs in which the server communication unit 410 refers to the data of the information storage unit 404 while the information collection unit 403 is changing the data of the information storage unit 404.
[0043]
In this embodiment, the flag is confirmed in step S1001, and if it is 1, the confirmation process is performed again. However, if the flag is 1, the sleep process or the CPU is released to perform other processes for a certain period of time. It may be configured to confirm again.
[0044]
As described above, in a remote monitoring system including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring office equipment including an image forming apparatus and a monitoring server for exchanging information from the monitoring apparatus via the Internet, means for periodically transmitting information from the monitoring apparatus. And a means for periodically acquiring information from office equipment and a means for acquiring information even when the monitoring device is started, so that when information is sent to the monitoring server, acquisition of information from office equipment is completed. Now you can be assured.
[0045]
Furthermore, by adding a means to suppress the acquisition of information from office equipment when the means for acquiring operation information from office equipment is in operation, it is possible to prevent redundant acquisition of information from office equipment. I do.
[0046]
In addition, by providing a means for determining whether the means for obtaining information from office equipment is operating and, if already operating, means for delaying the operation of the means for periodically sending information to the monitoring server, the office is already in operation. If the means for obtaining information from the device is active, it is possible to delay sending information to the monitoring server.
[0047]
[Other embodiments]
An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to store the storage medium. This is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the.
[0048]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium stored in the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0049]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, A ROM or the like can be used.
[0050]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. In some cases, some or all of the actual processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by the processing.
[0051]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0052]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores the flowcharts described above, and program codes corresponding to the display processing of each screen and various database processing.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, immediately after the monitoring device is started, the timing to send information to the monitoring server has arrived, and information from the office equipment to be sent to the monitoring server has not been acquired. This can be prevented beforehand. For example, if the monitoring device is set to transmit the schedule once a day, and the monitoring device starts up at the same time every day and conflicts with the schedule transmission timing, the The problem that the collected information cannot be sent to the monitoring server can be solved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of a general information processing device applicable to a monitoring device, a monitoring server, and the like according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a representative image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software module configuration of the monitoring device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a software module configuration of a monitoring server according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the monitoring device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a monitoring server according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state of management information related to the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the monitoring device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the monitoring device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (12)

An information processing apparatus for collecting operation information of an image forming apparatus via a first communication line and notifying the collected operation information to an external apparatus via a second communication line,
Collection means for collecting operation information from the image forming apparatus at a predetermined interval timing;
Initialization means for performing initialization processing of the own device;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that activates the collection unit regardless of the predetermined interval timing in accordance with an initialization process performed by the initialization unit. Having a determination means for determining whether the collection means is operating during the initialization processing,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the collection unit is operating, the control unit does not activate the collection unit. Notifying means for notifying the external device of the operation information collected by the collecting means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suppression unit configured to suppress activation of the notification unit while the collection unit is operating. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the suppression unit suppresses transmission of the transmission unit while the collection unit is operating. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suppression unit has a function of referring to a flag, and suppresses activation of the transmission unit according to the content of the flag. A method of monitoring an image forming apparatus by an information processing apparatus that collects operation information of the image forming apparatus via a first communication line and notifies the external device of the collected operation information via a second communication line. hand,
A collection step of collecting operation information from the image forming apparatus at a predetermined interval timing,
An initialization step of executing an initialization process of the own device;
A control step of activating the collection step irrespective of the predetermined interval timing according to the initialization processing in the initialization step. A determination step of determining whether the collection unit is operating during the initialization process,
7. The monitoring method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: when the collecting step determines that the collecting step is in operation, not starting the collecting step. A notification step of notifying the external device of the operation information collected in the collection step,
The monitoring method according to claim 6, further comprising: a suppression step of suppressing notification by the notification step when the collection step is being performed. The monitoring method according to claim 8, wherein the suppressing step suppresses activation of the transmitting step when the collecting step is being performed. The monitoring method according to claim 9, wherein the suppression step includes a process of referring to a flag, and the suppression step suppresses activation of the transmission step according to the content of the flag. A program for executing the monitoring method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, which is executed by a computer. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

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