JP2006140925A - Facsimile machine and maintenance settlement system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine and a maintenance contract settlement system by which repair or replacement of service parts of the facsimile machine having a function to be connected to the Internet is efficiently executed. <P>SOLUTION: Order processing of the service parts and settlement processing of maintenance service are automatically and safely performed by monitoring states of the service parts and automatically transmitting information on the repair or the replacement of the service parts to a maintenance management device 2 of a maintenance contractor selected by a user via the Internet 5 when the service parts whose repair or replacement is required is detected by the facsimile machine 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and a maintenance settlement system that can order maintenance items via the Internet.

  Conventionally, when the device is in a difficult-to-use state, the user has contacted the maintenance center or the agent in a form to request replacement of the maintenance parts. Nowadays, in a credit transaction using a credit card and a David card, a maintenance center or an agent in a device supplier receives the card number and expiration date of the card. In order to confirm the validity of the card, the bank makes contact with a bank, a credit sales company or another financial institution, confirms the card information, and makes a settlement.

  Recently, an increasing number of device suppliers have established stores (virtual stores) in the Internet and can conduct electronic commerce. Therefore, a small business or an individual user can receive a maintenance service on a one-time basis when he / she purchases a device without having to conclude a maintenance contract with a maintenance center or an agent in advance. Expansion and user maintenance contract procedures can be simplified.

  In the facsimile apparatus, consumables such as toner and recording paper, which decrease with normal use, are used as parts. As a system that can efficiently perform maintenance of a facsimile machine, a facsimile machine having a function of connecting to the Internet detects the remaining amount of consumables and needs to be replenished to a preset maintenance contractor. There is a system that can automatically perform consumable ordering and settlement processing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-142071 (paragraphs 0007-0008)

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, the user needs to input account information one by one when ordering consumables. In addition, there is a case where a consignment supplier orders only a contractor preset in the facsimile apparatus, and there is a case where the consumable cannot be ordered from a maintenance contractor desired by the user.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a facsimile apparatus capable of efficiently repairing and exchanging maintenance parts (maintenance products) of a facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet, and a maintenance settlement system using the same. Objective.

  A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation unit for inputting user account information, a storage unit for storing account information input to the operation unit, a device state monitoring unit for monitoring a device state, and a device state monitoring. When the department detects that the maintenance item needs to be arranged, the notification information generation unit generates the notification information including the account information stored in the storage unit and the information indicating the maintenance item, and the notification information generation unit generates An Internet connection function unit that transmits the notified information to the maintenance management device via the Internet, and an update information storage unit that stores update information received from the maintenance management device via the Internet connection unit. It includes a display unit that displays update information stored in the information storage unit.

  The apparatus state monitoring unit may be configured to output information indicating the maintenance product to the notification information generation unit when the maintenance product requiring repair or replacement is detected. According to such a configuration, since it is not necessary for the user to create a form or the like in order to request maintenance parts, the procedure can be simplified.

  You may provide the encoding part which conceals the notification information which the notification information generation part produced | generated. According to such a configuration, even if the information is intercepted by a third party, the risk of leakage is small, so that a safe transaction can be performed.

  In the maintenance settlement system according to the present invention, a facsimile apparatus performs a facsimile transmission / reception, an operation section for inputting user account information, a storage section for storing account information input to the operation section, and an apparatus status monitor. Notification information generation that generates account information including account information stored in the storage unit and information indicating the maintenance product when the device status monitoring unit detects that the maintenance product needs to be arranged An Internet connection unit that transmits the notification information generated by the notification information generation unit to the maintenance management device via the Internet, and an update information storage unit that stores the update information received from the maintenance management device via the Internet connection unit The operation unit includes a display unit for displaying the update information stored in the update information storage unit, and the maintenance management device is connected to the Internet. Internet connection for transmitting notification information to the facsimile machine via the Internet, a notification information analysis unit for receiving the notification information transmitted by the connection unit, a customer information storage unit for storing the notification information, and an agent that receives an order for maintenance products It has the part.

  The facsimile apparatus may include an encoding unit that conceals information to be notified to the seller, and the seller-side apparatus may include a decoding unit that decodes the encoded information.

  The notification information includes, for example, device information for specifying a facsimile device and a destination for maintenance items.

  According to the present invention, maintenance such as repair / replacement of maintenance parts can be efficiently performed in the use of a facsimile machine connectable to the Internet.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a maintenance settlement system using a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 connected to a LAN 19 and a maintenance management apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a seller side apparatus) 2 connected to a LAN 29 respectively connect a gateway 3, a gateway 4 and the Internet 5. Via a communicable connection. Note that the facsimile apparatus 1 may be used by being directly connected to the Internet 5 instead of being connected to the LAN 29.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the facsimile apparatus 1. The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a FAX unit 18, an agent information storage unit 11, an operation unit 12, a storage unit 10, a device state monitoring unit 13, a notification information generation unit 14, an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encoding unit 15, and an Internet connection function. A TCP / IP (Transport Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol control unit 16 and a network control unit 17 are connected to a LAN 19.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the seller-side device 2. The seller-side device 2 is an agent information storage unit 21, an operation unit 22, a customer information storage unit 23, a notification information analysis unit 24, a decryption unit (SSL decryption unit) 25, and an Internet connection function unit. A protocol control unit 26 and a network control unit 27 are provided, and are connected to a LAN 29.

  Next, the function of each part of the maintenance settlement system using the facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the function of each part of the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The FAX unit 18 has functions for reading, recording, and facsimile transmission / reception. The agency information storage unit 11 is a table that stores agency information such as the destination and the agency name of the seller side apparatus 2 installed at the agency where the facsimile machine 1 is purchased. The agency information is information registered in advance in the facsimile apparatus, but the TCP / IP protocol control unit 16 updates the latest agency information provided by the seller side apparatus 2 to the Internet 5, the LAN 19, the network control unit 17, When received via the network, the received information is stored in the agency information storage unit 11 as update information. Specifically, the contents of the table are updated. Before receiving the latest agency information, the information received and stored before or the information set in the agency information storage unit 11 at the time of shipment from the manufacturer corresponds to the update information. Hereinafter, the user of the facsimile apparatus is sometimes referred to as a buyer, and the agent or manufacturer in which the maintenance management apparatus 2 is installed may be referred to as a seller.

  The operation unit 12 is provided with input means such as a numeric keypad. When a buyer inputs account information unique to the buyer such as a credit number and expiration date to pay for maintenance parts (rollers, pads, heaters, light sources, etc.) and maintenance services, the input information is stored. Stored in the unit 10. Further, the buyer also refers to the information in the agent information storage unit 11 to select a maintenance parts ordering destination or to input a maintenance parts destination. The storage unit 10 also stores the ordering party input to the operation unit 12. The device state monitoring unit 13 monitors the operation state of the main components being used in the own device, and exceeds a predetermined allowable range (for example, an allowable operation time such as 3000 hours) or the device is difficult to use. When the state is reached, maintenance parts that need repair and replacement are extracted as ordered items, and the extracted ordered item information is output to the notification information generating unit 14.

  The operation unit 12 is provided with a display unit 12a such as an LCD. When the buyer performs a predetermined key operation or the like, information stored in the agency information storage unit 11 is output to the display unit 12a under the control of a control unit (not shown). The display unit 12a displays the information.

  For example, when a temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of the heater, and the facsimile apparatus 1 is recording, it is recognized that the temperature sensor does not detect an increase in temperature. judge. That is, the heater is detected as a maintenance part (in this case, a part to be replaced). Further, for example, when paper jams frequently occur, the apparatus state monitoring unit 13 detects a roller or a mechanical part related to running of the recording paper as a maintenance part. Note that the apparatus status monitoring unit 13 not only detects maintenance parts that need repair and replacement, but also detects that consumables such as toner are likely to run out, notifies the consumables ordered property information. You may make it output to the production | generation part 14. FIG.

  The notification information generation unit 14 has a table in which device status types and information names necessary for notification are associated with each other. The notification information generation unit 14 is input by the operation unit 12 and stored in the storage unit 10, and information such as buyer account information, maintenance parts destination information, sellers who receive maintenance parts orders, and output by the apparatus state monitoring unit 13. In addition to the ordered property information related to the maintenance article, the device name, the machine number, and the installation date as device information to be notified to the seller are collected and converted into a format to be sent to the seller, and the SSL encoding unit 15 as buyer information Output to.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing buyer information output by the notification information generation unit 14. The apparatus information is information registered in advance in the facsimile apparatus 1 and is information collected by the notification information generation unit 14. The ordered property information is information extracted by the device state monitoring unit 13 and output to the notification information generating unit 14. The seller information indicates the address of the seller who is the supplier of the maintenance parts and the address of the seller-side device 2 installed at the seller, and is selected by the user with reference to information registered in advance in the facsimile device 1. The user can input directly, or access the manufacturer's information providing site to obtain and select the latest information. The buyer account information and the destination information are information input in the operation unit 12 and stored in the storage unit 10.

  The SSL encoding unit 15 in FIG. 2 conceals buyer account information among the buyer information output by the notification information generation unit 14. By concealing buyer account information, the buyer's account information is intercepted by a third party on the transmission path in the middle of the information being sent to the seller, and even if the information is stolen, it cannot be decrypted and sent to the seller safely. be able to. The SSL encoding unit 15 outputs buyer information including the confidential buyer account information to the TCP / IP protocol control unit 16. The TCP / IP protocol control unit 16 outputs the information obtained from the SSL encoding unit 15 to the network control unit 17 according to the TCP / IP protocol. The network control unit 17 performs data link control so that information obtained from the TCP / IP protocol control unit 16 reaches the gateway 3. The gateway 3 performs routing control according to the destination information described in the buyer information, and transmits the buyer information output from the facsimile apparatus 1 to the Internet 5.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, when the gateway 4 receives the buyer information output from the facsimile apparatus 1 via the Internet 5, the gateway 4 transmits the buyer information to the seller side apparatus 2 in accordance with the destination information described in the buyer information.

  Next, the function of each part of the seller side apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3 is demonstrated. The network control unit 27 receives the buyer information output from the facsimile apparatus 1 via the Internet 5, the gateway 4, and the LAN 29, and outputs the buyer information to the SSL decryption unit 25 via the TCP / IP protocol control unit 26. The SSL decryption unit 25 decrypts the buyer account information among the buyer information output by the TCP / IP protocol control unit 26 and outputs the decrypted buyer account information to the notification information analysis unit 24.

  The notification information analysis unit 24 analyzes the buyer information and breaks it down into apparatus information, ordered property, buyer account information, and a destination. In addition, in order to confirm the validity of the buyer account information, an inquiry is made to a bank, a credit sales company or another financial institution, and if it is valid, it is set as a settlement target. On the other hand, if invalid, the buyer is notified. Further, the notification information analysis unit 24 determines whether or not the ordered item is in stock, and if the sufficient amount is in stock, the notification information analysis unit 24 requests the shipping department to place an order. Information that prompts the customer to replenish is output to the customer information storage unit 23.

  When an operator of a distributor who is a seller inputs the latest information such as a destination, a distributor name and a feature of the seller-side apparatus 2 installed in the distributor to the operation section 22, the information is stored in the distributor information storage section. 21 is stored. Information stored in the agency information storage unit 21 is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1 via the TCP / IP protocol control unit 26, the network control unit 27, the LAN 29, and the Internet 5.

  In the facsimile apparatus 1, the latest information stored in the agency information storage unit 21 is stored as update information in the agency information storage unit 11. Therefore, the facsimile machine 1 can place an order for maintenance parts based on the latest information (for example, the latest address).

  In the above description, the case where the seller side device 2 is installed at an agent who receives an order for a maintenance part is taken as an example. However, the seller is also notified to a higher agent or manufacturer that supervises a plurality of agents. You may make it install the side apparatus 2. FIG. In that case, the latest agency information is also transmitted from the seller side apparatus 2 in the higher agency or manufacturer. As the latest information transmitted from the seller side device 2 in the higher agency or manufacturer, for example, there is information on the agency when a new agency close to the buyer's location is installed. Further, for example, information relating to an agent having a high customer evaluation may be transmitted as the latest information.

  As described above, according to the maintenance settlement system using the facsimile apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the buyer-specific account information and maintenance parts input in advance before the facsimile apparatus 1 falls into a difficult state. The selected model number is notified to the selected seller, and maintenance parts ordering processing and maintenance service settlement processing can be performed automatically and safely. In addition, since delays in order processing and settlement processing due to human factors can be eliminated, it is possible to minimize the inoperable organization of the facsimile apparatus due to a delay in the delivery date of maintenance parts. In addition, as a recovery process when communication on the Internet is unsuccessful, alternative communication using a facsimile communication network, which is a conventional technique, is also an effective means.

  In addition, especially for small-scale companies or individual users, maintenance parts are automatically ordered by a facsimile machine when necessary, without having to conclude a maintenance contract with a maintenance center or agent at the time of purchase. Therefore, the procedure for expanding the maintenance network on the seller side and the maintenance contract on the buyer side can be simplified. In addition, since the latest information provided by the seller can be notified to the facsimile apparatus in advance, it is possible to select an agent that satisfies the buyer's desired conditions.

  In addition, user-specific account information is concealed and notified by, for example, SSL encoding, and is decrypted by the seller-side device, so there is little risk of information leaking even if intercepted by a third party. Trading can be done.

  Facsimile machine with a function to connect to the Internet is a system that can monitor the operation status of maintenance parts and automatically perform ordering processing and settlement processing of maintenance parts that need repair or replacement. It can be effectively applied when ordering maintenance parts.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the maintenance payment system using the facsimile apparatus by this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a facsimile machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a seller side apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows buyer information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Seller side apparatus 3 Gateway 4 Gateway 5 Internet 11 Agent information storage part 12 Operation part 13 Apparatus state monitoring part 14 Notification information generation part 15 Encoding part 16-17 Internet connection function part 18 FAX part 19 LAN
21 Agent information storage unit 22 Operation unit 23 Customer information storage unit 24 Notification information analysis unit 25 Decoding unit 26-27 Internet connection function unit 29 LAN

Claims (6)

A facsimile machine that automatically orders maintenance items via the Internet,
An operation unit for entering user account information,
A storage unit for storing account information input to the operation unit;
A device status monitoring unit for monitoring the device status;
A notification information generation unit that generates notification information including account information stored in the storage unit and information indicating the maintenance product when the apparatus status monitoring unit detects that the maintenance product needs to be arranged;
An Internet connection function unit that transmits the notification information generated by the notification information generation unit to the maintenance management device via the Internet;
An update information storage unit that stores the update information received from the maintenance management device via the Internet connection unit;
The operation unit includes a display unit that displays update information stored in the update information storage unit. The device status monitoring unit has means for detecting the operation status of the parts constituting the device and means for determining an abnormality in the detected operation status, and information indicating the maintenance product based on the determination result is sent to the notification information generation unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, which outputs the facsimile apparatus. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an encoding unit configured to conceal the notification information generated by the notification information generation unit. In a maintenance settlement system in which a facsimile device orders maintenance items from a maintenance management device via the Internet,
The facsimile machine is
FAX unit for performing facsimile transmission / reception, operation unit for inputting user account information, storage unit for storing account information input to the operation unit, device state monitoring unit for monitoring device state, device state monitoring unit Detects that the maintenance item needs to be arranged, the notification information generation unit that generates the notification information including the account information stored in the storage unit and the information indicating the maintenance item, the notification information generation unit generates And an update information storage unit for storing the update information received from the maintenance management device via the Internet connection unit, the Internet connection unit transmitting the notified information to the maintenance management device via the Internet, and the operation unit Includes a display unit that displays update information stored in the update information storage unit,
The maintenance management device includes:
A notification information analysis unit that receives the notification information transmitted by the Internet connection unit, a customer information storage unit that stores the notification information, and update information that indicates an agent that receives an order for maintenance items is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus via the Internet. A maintenance settlement system characterized by having an internet connection. The facsimile apparatus includes an encoding unit that conceals the notification information generated by the notification information generation unit,
The maintenance settlement system according to claim 4, wherein the maintenance management device includes a decoding unit that decodes the encoded information. 6. The maintenance settlement system according to claim 4, wherein the notification information includes device information for identifying a facsimile device and a destination for maintenance items.

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