JP2005151591A - Digital image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operationality of setting various kinds of parameters, browsing and totaling. <P>SOLUTION: User parameter information 7-1, service parameter information 7-2, logging data information 7-3 and maintenance information 7-4 are stored in a memory 7, as an HTML file. A WWW server control part 6 transmits, sets or changes the information stored in the memory 7, in response to a request of the transmission, setting or change of a WWW browser on a PC terminal 101 connected to a LAN 102. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus having a local area network function.

In recent years, digital image forming apparatuses such as digital copiers and digital multi-function peripherals have become more and more functional, and user setting parameters, serviceman setting parameters, and logging data for monitoring operation history have increased, which has been a problem for users. Both setting and management are becoming complicated. An example of an image scanner is known as a conventional network-compatible technique as shown in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP-A-9-233243

  By the way, the functions of digital copiers are becoming more and more complex year by year. In addition to simple key operations, user parameters that allow user customization, service parameters that service personnel can use to maintain the market and respond to detailed user requests, Logging data that stores machine operation history, such as the number of copies and the number of jams, is often used, but these settings are made using the keys on the operation unit of the digital copying machine, the LCD touch panel, etc. The content is confirmed by printing on paper in the serviceman mode or by data communication with a host computer via a public line.

  However, since function settings are often in a deep hierarchy of key operations and there are many parameters, operations are often troublesome for users as well as service personnel, and mistakes are likely to occur. Also, the print output for checking the contents of each parameter is often released only to service personnel. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to confirm, and even when printing out, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of resource saving.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and improves the appliance by using a local area network and WWW technology that are rapidly spreading at present in order to set, view, and aggregate various parameters. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of realizing improvement in reliability and cost reduction.

  The present invention is also a digital that can easily view the setting contents of each parameter from a WWW browser of a terminal such as a personal computer on a LAN, and can realize resource saving and low cost by realizing paperless. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

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

  The present invention also makes it possible to set sales staff and service staff information from the WWW browser of the terminal on the LAN, and further search detailed information from the HTML file with a hypertext link to ensure management of the update history of the machine body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image forming apparatus that can be performed at any time and allows a user to view maintenance information at any time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital image forming apparatus capable of confirming a machine operating state with a simple system by connecting to the Internet from a host server to a WWW server of a digital copying machine.

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

  The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, the WWW server control means sets and changes the information stored in the memory in response to a setting / change request of the WWW browser.

  According to a third means, in the first and second means, the WWW server control means stores maintenance history information such as a sales district and a service district stored in the memory in response to a setting / change request of the WWW browser. It is characterized by setting and changing.

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

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

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

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, sales staff and service staff information can be set from the WWW browser of the terminal on the LAN, and more detailed information can be retrieved from the HTML file with a hypertext link. Update history management can be performed reliably, and the user can view maintenance information at any time.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to check the machine operating status with a simple system by connecting to the Internet from the host server to the WWW server of the digital copying machine.

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

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

  The digital copying machine 100 includes a document reading unit 1, a document output unit 2, a main control unit 3, a memory control unit 4, a LAN-I / F control unit 5, and a WWW (World Wide Web) server control. HTML file group (user parameter information 7-1, service parameter information 7-2, logging information 7-3, maintenance information 7-4, etc.) managed by the unit 6 and the WWW server Are stored in a memory 7, an image memory 8, an image processing unit 9, and an operation unit 10.

Here, in recent years, digital copiers have become highly functional, and only data managed after market installation
(1) User parameters 7-1 that can be set by the user according to preferences,
(2) A service parameter 7-2 which is only open to service personnel and performs more detailed settings.
(3) There is logging data 7-3 for monitoring the operation status.

More specifically, (1) as user parameter 7-1: designation of paper discharge tray,
・ Time setting to enter energy saving mode,
・ Energy saving level setting,
-Specify the paper tray,
-Whether to automatically switch the paper tray,
・ Specify priority of enlargement / reduction ratio,
・ Detailed parameter settings for each reading mode (dither, error diffusion, special manuscript support, etc.)
・ Initial mode setting values. Furthermore, assuming that a printer option or FAX option is installed, necessary functions are set separately for each option function. For example, a function for assigning output destinations to options for a plurality of paper discharge trays, selection of conditions for energy saving, and the like can be considered.

In addition, (2) as the service parameter 7-2, adjustment of the registration position,
・ Process system bias voltage setting,
-More detailed image parameter selection (MTF coefficient, isolated point function ON / OFF, gamma table, image processing coefficient, calculation threshold fine adjustment, etc.),
・ Special function setting,
-There are many options such as the presence / absence setting of optional functions.

Furthermore, as (3) logging data 7-3,
・ Number of copies (total, image processing mode, size, paper tray)
・ Jam history,
ROM version,
-Possible options such as additional memory settings. In the conventional digital copying machine, these settings are made from the operation unit 10, and there are a large number of settings and at the same time, each level is deep. It is a configuration that is easy to make mistakes.

  Therefore, the digital copying machine 100 according to the present invention includes the WWW server control unit 6 and, as HTML files managed by the WWW server, user parameter information 7-1, service parameter information 7-2, logging data information 7- 3 and maintenance information 7-4 are installed in the memory 7 in advance. Here, the maintenance information 7-4 is information related to maintenance, and is composed of a failure / repair history, a company name / sales office name / person in charge in charge of sales / service, and user information. It is also possible to describe (user name, person in charge name, claim, request). The PC terminals 101-1 and 101-2 are connected to the LAN 102, and a WWW browser (Internet browsing software) is installed.

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

  Here, the user parameter information 7-1, service parameter information 7-2, logging information 7-3 and maintenance information 7-4 are stored in separate URL (Uniform Resource Locator) addresses in the HTML file format. And is under the control of the WWW server controller 6 of the digital copying machine 100. The WWW server control unit 6 transfers the selected user parameter information 7-1 to the PC terminal 101, and the WWW browser of the requesting PC terminal 101 interprets the contents of the selected HTML file and displays the layout display. Do. When the image data is embedded in the HTML file, the browser of the PC terminal 101 further requests the WWW server control unit 6 to transfer a predetermined image file, and the WWW server control unit 6 is requested. The image file is searched and transmitted to the PC terminal 101.

  At this point, the contents related to the user parameter information 7-1 are displayed on the WWW browser. This screen has hypertext links to URLs of other information (here, service parameter information 7-2, logging information 7-3, maintenance information 7-4, etc.). Items can be selected. In addition, other links are provided on the linked WWW site screen, so that information can be easily browsed.

  Since the user parameter information 7-1 of the digital copier 100 connected via the LAN in this way can be confirmed from the PC terminal 101 on the network (LAN 102) by a normal WWW browser, it has been conventionally performed by the operation unit 10. In addition, since complicated key operations are not required and confirmation can be made on the display screen of the PC terminal 101, it is possible to improve the viewability compared to an LCD that can display only a few digits of characters. Furthermore, since image files can be attached, it is possible to explain easily when it is difficult to document. In addition, a printout method has been conventionally performed to improve the viewability. However, in the present invention, paperless is possible, and thus resource saving can be achieved.

  In addition, since these pieces of information 7-1 to 7-4 are locally managed by the WWW server control unit 6 of each digital copying machine 100 main body, it is possible to avoid concentration of various loads when managed by the host WWW server. There is a merit that can be. In addition, each information-1 to 7-4 is restricted by browsing by users, services, sales, etc., and the method is performed according to restrictions by passwords or differences in initial screens.

  In addition, the user parameter information 7-1 and the service parameter information 7-2 can be rewritten from the WWW browser screen of the PC terminal 101, thereby facilitating the setting of each parameter conventionally performed by the operation unit 10. be able to. As a result, the LCD of the operation unit 10 can be greatly reduced in size, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the operation history of the digital copying machine 100 can be updated. Specifically, after inputting the changed part on the WWW browser of the PC terminal 101, the data is transferred. The digital PPC 100 side changes the HTML file stored in the memory 7 by the CPU of the main control unit 3 based on the sent information.

  The logging information 7-3 is performed as an internal operation of the digital PPC 100 main body, and the counter value in the HTML file is edited and updated every time a series of copy operations are completed. In addition, the WWW browser is easy to obtain, has a low cost, and has a simple operation method. Therefore, it can be said that the advantage is great whether the user uses it or the person in charge of sales or service uses it.

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

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

  In addition, since direct URL input and a search engine function are also supported, a search can be performed from a general search engine. The host computer 111 side can browse the data of each digital copying machine 100 and simultaneously analyze the data of a plurality of digital copying machines 100 within a specified range. In addition, it is possible to perform maintenance at a remote location by the host computer 111, and it is possible to conduct market research on the operation status of the own machine with high accuracy.

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

Explanation of symbols

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

Claims (4)

A memory for storing at least one of user parameter information, service parameter information, logging information and maintenance information in an HTML file format;
A WWW server control means for transmitting information stored in the memory in response to a transmission request of a WWW browser of a terminal connected to a local area network.   The digital image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the WWW server control unit sets or changes information stored in the memory in response to a setting or change request of the WWW browser.   3. The WWW server control unit sets or changes maintenance history information such as a sales district or a service district stored in the memory in response to a setting or change request of the WWW browser. Digital image forming apparatus.   4. The digital according to claim 1, wherein the WWW server control means transmits information stored in the memory in response to a transmission request of a host computer connected to the Internet. Image forming apparatus.

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