JP2007310723A - Installation position registration method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burden on work of registering an installation place of equipment installed in a management server, by utilizing portable communication equipment having a position information acquisition function and to correctly register the installation place of the installed equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The portable communication equipment 1 of a worker M and the equipment 2 to be installed are connected through a cable 4, and information relating to position information acquired by the portable communication equipment, and a device ID set to the equipment 2, are transmitted to a management server 3, and the management server 3 receives the information relating to position information and the device ID and registers them in order to disclose the equipment 2 and information relating to its installation place over a network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and a system for installing a device such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine in a convenience store for public use, and in particular, a position acquisition function provided in a portable communication device owned by an operator. It is related with the technique which registers the installation place of the said apparatus with a server using.

  Copiers, facsimile machines, printers, or multi-function machines (also called multi-function devices (MFD) or multi-function printers (MFPs)) that have the functions of these devices are installed at convenience stores in the city. Many people can use a print service using these devices.

The above devices are installed in many places, but it is necessary to widely provide users with information on where they can use the devices.
Conventionally, the operator manually registers the location information of the store where the device is installed in the management server, and the management server provides information on the installation location to the user through a web page or the like while coordinating with the map information. To be done.

As an invention for supporting the purchase of a product by a user using wireless communication, the user can obtain information on the product by connecting to a server from a nearby access point by wireless communication from a cart near the product to be purchased. A system has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
As an invention for providing information to a user using a mobile phone, a system for selectively providing information unilaterally transmitted from an information transmitting device provided at each store or the like according to the desire of the user of the mobile phone Has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-56278 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-247045

  As described above, when installing a device such as an MFP in many places and performing a service business for public use, conventionally, the worker who performs the installation checks the location information of the installation place each time and registers it with the management server. Had to do. Such a registration operation when installing the device becomes enormous as the number of installed devices increases, and some measure for reducing the burden on the operator is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and by using a portable communication device having a position information acquisition function that is widely spread, by automating the work from position information acquisition to registration as much as possible, An object of the present invention is to reduce the burden of registering the installed device on the management server and to correctly register the installation location of the device.

In the present invention, using the position information acquisition function provided in the portable communication device, the portable communication device owned by the operator and the device to be installed are connected via the communication means, and the position information acquired by the portable communication device. And the identification information set for the installed device is transmitted to the management server, and the management server receives the information related to the location information and the identification information of the installed device, and sends the information to the device and its installation location. Publish such information on the network.
Therefore, the trouble of checking the installation position information of the operator is reduced, and the position information acquired at substantially the same position as the installation location of the device can be obtained by connecting the portable communication device and the installation device by communication means. It can be registered in the management server.

Here, as a portable communication device, a device having various wireless communication functions such as a mobile phone, a mobile PC, and a dedicated device can be used, and any device has a GPS function using a satellite positioning and a cellular communication method. It is only necessary to have a location information acquisition function such as a cell location information acquisition function to be used.
The information related to the position information acquired by the portable communication device is information according to the embodiment of the present invention as will be described later. As will be described later, the coordinate information indicating the position or the place name address information, the cell indicating the communication cell. Various modes such as ID or place name / address information, coordinate information registered in the management server, URL corresponding to the place name / address information, and the like are adopted.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the mobile communication device provides position information acquisition means for acquiring position information, connection means for connecting the communication means, and information provision for transmitting the acquired position information via the communication means Means for connecting the communication means, the information acquisition means for receiving the position information via the communication means, the received position information and the identification information set in itself. Receiving means for transmitting via the network, the receiving means for receiving the positional information and the identification information set in the installation equipment via the network, the received positional information and the identification information of the installation equipment And registration means for registering and holding the information on the device and its installation location on the network.
Then, the location information acquired by the mobile communication device is transmitted to the device via the communication means, the location information received by the device and the identification information set to the device are transmitted to the management server, and the management server And information related to the installation location are registered to be disclosed on the network.

In another embodiment according to the present invention, the mobile communication device transmits position information acquisition means for acquiring position information, and transmits the acquired position information to the management server to correspond to the position information from the management server. A URL acquisition unit for acquiring a URL; a connection unit for connecting the communication unit; and an information providing unit for transmitting the acquired URL via the communication unit. The management server has a connection means, an information acquisition means for receiving a URL via a communication means, and a notification means for transmitting the received URL and identification information set for itself via a network. URL providing means for transmitting the URL corresponding to the position information received from the machine to the portable communication device, and receiving means for receiving the URL and the identification information set in the installed device via the network , And a registration means for registering retained to publish information relating to the location and the device on the basis of the received URL and the identification information of the equipment installed on the network.
Then, the location information acquired by the mobile communication device is transmitted to the management server, the URL corresponding to the location information received by the management server is transmitted to the mobile communication device, and the URL received by the mobile communication device is transmitted via the communication means. The identification information set to itself based on the URL received by the device is transmitted to the management server, the management server receives the URL and the identification information of the installed device, and the device and its installation Register information related to the location to make it public on the network.

In still another embodiment according to the present invention, the mobile communication device receives the position information acquisition means for acquiring the position information, the connection means for connecting the communication means, and the installation device via the communication means. The information acquisition means for receiving the identification information set in the installed device, and the notification means for transmitting the acquired position information and the received identification information of the installed device to the management server. The installed device connects the communication means. Connecting means for transmitting information and information providing means for transmitting the identification information set to the mobile communication device via the communication means, and the management server is set in the position information and the installed device from the mobile communication device. Receiving means for receiving the identification information, and registration means for registering and holding the information related to the device and its installation location on the network based on the received position information and the identification information of the installation device.
Then, the portable communication device receives the identification information set for the device from the device via the communication means, and transmits the position information acquired by itself and the received identification information of the installed device to the management server. Registers to disclose information on the device and its installation location on the network.

  According to the present invention, when installing a device such as an MFP, it is possible to easily register the installation location of the device while ensuring the correct installation location of the device.

The present invention will be specifically described based on examples.
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a system according to an example of the present invention. The illustrated installation position registration system includes a mobile phone 1 as a mobile communication device, an MFP 2 as an installation device, and a management server 3. The mobile phone 1 and the MFP 2 can communicate via a cable 4 such as a USB, The MFP 2 and the management server 3 can communicate with each other via a network network 5 such as the Internet, and the mobile phone 1 and the management server 3 can communicate with each other via a portable communication network 6 and a network network 5 connected thereto.
Note that the cellular phone 1 is owned by a worker M who installs the MFP 2 in the store, and the network 2 is connected to the MFP 2 provided from the management server 3 and a PC 7 that can browse information related to the installation location. Is done. The communication means between the mobile phone 1 and the MFP 2 is configured to be able to communicate by wireless communication such as infrared communication or Bluetooth (trademark) as well as a physical cable such as USB as described above. Also good. The communication means is preferably means for physically connecting the mobile phone 1 and the MFP 2 or means for wirelessly connecting the mobile phone 1 and the MFP 2 at a relatively short distance.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the installation position registration system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The first embodiment is realized in the system configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the same applies to other embodiments described later.

The mobile phone 1 includes an operation unit 10 that receives an operation from a user, a wireless unit 11 that performs wireless communication, a control unit 12 that performs control processing, and a connector 13 for connecting a cable 4. A position information acquisition unit 14 that acquires position information via the wireless unit 11, and an information provision unit 15 that transmits the acquired position information to the MFP 2 via the cable 4.
Note that the mobile phone 1 also has other functions necessary as a mobile phone, as is well known. In this example, the position information acquisition unit 14 is a GPS function unit that receives positioning coordinate values from a satellite, but may be configured as a function unit that acquires cellular position information from the mobile phone network 6.

The MFP 2 includes a connector 20 for connecting the cable 4, a control unit 21 that performs control processing, an ID memory 22 that stores and stores identification information (ID) set for itself, and a communication unit 23 that performs communication via the network 5. The control unit 21 includes an information acquisition unit 24 that receives position information from the mobile phone 1 via the cable 4, and the communication unit 23 and the network 5 that receive the received position information and the device ID read from the memory 22. It has the notification part 25 which transmits to the management server 3 via.
Note that the MFP 2 also has other functions necessary as a multifunction machine, such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, as is well known.

  The management server 3 includes a communication unit 30 that performs communication via the network 5, a control unit 31 that performs control processing, a position table 32 that converts position information into a place name and address, and device IDs as information such as model names and functions. A device table 33 for conversion and a registration data memory 34 for storing and storing information related to the installation location of the installed device (MFP) are provided. The control unit 31 receives the position received via the network 5. A registration unit 35 that registers information related to the MFP 2 and its installation location in the registration memory 34 based on the information and the installation ID, and a network so that the PC 2 can browse the information related to the MFP 2 registered in the registration memory 34 and its installation location. 5 has a providing unit 36 to be disclosed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the position table 32 of this example is a table in which position information (coordinate values) is associated with its place name and address.
Further, the device table 33 of this example is a table in which device IDs, model names, and provided functions are associated with each other as shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the registration data of this example is data in which a location (location name and address), model name, function, and the like are associated with each other. Published above.

In the system of the first embodiment, the location information of the installed MFP 2 is registered in the management server 3 as follows.
The operator M connects the cellular phone 1 possessed by the installed MFP 2 with the cable 4, operates the operation unit 10, and acquires position information of the current position by the position information acquisition unit 14. That is, by connecting with the cable 4, the position information of the installation location of the MFP 2 is substantially acquired.
In the example described below, when the operation information for acquiring the position information is input and the position information is acquired as described above, the processing by the mobile phone 1, the MFP 2, and the management server 3 is automatically executed. In the invention, these processes may be executed on condition that an operator inputs an instruction.

In the mobile phone 1, when the location information is acquired, the information providing unit 15 transmits the location information to the MFP 2 via the cable 4. In the MFP 2, when the location information is received by the information acquisition unit 24, the notification unit 25 displays the ID memory 22. The device ID is read out from the information and transmitted to the management server 3 via the network 5 together with the position information.
In the management server 3, when the position information and the device ID are received by the communication unit 30, the registration unit 35 refers to the position table 32 and the device table 33 to generate registration data including the MFP 2 and its installation location, and the memory 34. Register with. The registration data stored and held in the memory 34 is updated by performing the registration process as described above, and the latest registration data is released to the network 5 by the providing unit 36.

FIG. 6 shows a functional configuration of an installation position registration system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the location information acquired by the mobile phone 1 is temporarily stored in the management server 3, and the URL corresponding to the stored location information is transmitted to the management server 3 by the MFP 2 together with its own device ID to perform registration processing. And a function necessary for performing the processing is provided.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the function part similar to 1st Example, and the overlapping description is omitted.

In particular, the mobile phone 1 includes a URL acquisition unit 16 that transmits the acquired location information to the management server 3 and receives a corresponding URL from the management server 3.
The management server 3 includes a temporary storage memory 37 that temporarily stores location information received from the mobile phone 1, and a URL providing unit 38 that transmits a URL for access corresponding to the received location information to the source mobile phone. have.

In the system of the second embodiment, the location information of the installed MFP 2 is registered in the management server 3 as follows.
The operator M connects the cellular phone 1 possessed by the installed MFP 2 with the cable 4, operates the operation unit 10, and acquires position information of the current position by the position information acquisition unit 14.
In the mobile phone 1, when the location information is acquired, the URL acquisition unit 16 transmits the location information to the management server 3 via the mobile phone network 6 and the network 6 by the wireless unit 11. When the information is received, the location information is held in the temporary memory 37 and the URL providing unit 38 transmits the corresponding URL to the transmission source mobile phone 1 via the network 5 and the mobile phone network 6 by the communication unit 30.

In the mobile phone 1, when the URL is acquired by the URL acquisition unit 16, the information providing unit 15 transmits the URL to the MFP 2 via the cable 4. In the MFP 2, when the URL is received by the information acquisition unit 24, the notification unit 25 The device ID is read from the ID memory 22, and the management server 3 is accessed via the network 5 with the URL.
In the management server 3, when access based on the URL is performed, the communication unit 30 receives the device ID from the MFP 2 as the access source, and the registration unit 35 reads the location information corresponding to the URL from the temporary memory 37, and the device ID and With respect to the position information, registration data including the MFP 2 and its installation location is generated with reference to the position table 32 and the device table 33 and registered in the memory 34.

FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of an installation position registration system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
This example is a system that performs registration processing by transmitting the location information acquired by the mobile phone 1 to the management server 3 together with the device ID, and is provided with functions necessary for performing the processing.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the function part similar to 1st Example, and the overlapping description is omitted.

In particular, the mobile phone 1 transmits the location information acquired by the information acquisition unit 17 and the location acquisition unit 14 that receive the device ID from the MFP 2 via the cable 4 and the device ID received from the MFP 2 to the mobile phone network 6 and the network 5. And a notification unit 18 that transmits the information to the management server 3.
In particular, the MFP 2 includes an information providing unit 26 that transmits a device ID stored in the ID memory 22 to the mobile phone 1 via the cable 4 in response to a request from the mobile phone 1.

In the system of the third embodiment, the location information of the installed MFP 2 is registered in the management server 3 as follows.
The operator M connects the cellular phone 1 possessed by the installed MFP 2 with the cable 4, operates the operation unit 10, and acquires position information of the current position by the position information acquisition unit 14.
In the mobile phone 1, when the position information is acquired, the information acquisition unit 17 requests the device ID from the MFP 2 via the cable 4 and receives the device ID from the information providing unit 26 of the MFP 2.

In the mobile phone 1, the notification unit 18 transmits the location information and the device ID to the management server 3 via the mobile phone network 6 and the network 6 by the wireless unit 11. In the management server 3, the communication unit 30 transmits the location information and the device ID. When the device ID is received, the registration unit 35 refers to the position table 32 and the device table 33, generates registration data including the MFP 2 and its installation location, and registers it in the memory 34.
In particular, the third embodiment is suitable when installing a device (for example, a simple copy device) that does not have a network communication function because the MFP 2 does not need to communicate with the management server 3.

From the viewpoint of registering the installation location of a device such as an MFP using a location information acquisition function provided in a portable communication device such as a cellular phone, the following system configuration and method can be implemented. It is.
The mobile phone 1 acquires location information immediately next to the MFP 2 installed in a store or the like, and transmits the location information to the management server 3 using the mobile phone 1. The management server 3 temporarily stores the location information received from the mobile phone 1 and returns a code such as a number uniquely indicating the location information to the mobile phone 1. The operator M inputs the code acquired with the numeric keypad or the like to the MFP 2 or transmits the code from the mobile phone 1 to the MFP 2 with the cable 4, connects the MFP 2 and the management server 3 to the network, and then connects the MFP 2 to the management server 3. The MFP identification information (serial number, model name sugar, etc.) is sent together with the code, and the management server 3 associates and registers the information of the MFP 2 and the position information corresponding to the code.

  Also, the range or pattern of the identification information of the installed device 2 to be sent to the management server 3 is registered in advance in the management server 3, and the installed device and its installation only when the identification information sent by the management server 3 matches it. You may make it limit the installation apparatus which should be registered by associating and registering the information regarding a place.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the installation position registration system which concerns on an example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the installation position registration system which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the position table which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the model table which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the registration data which concern on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the installation position registration system which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the installation position registration system which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: mobile phone, 2: MFP (installed equipment),
3: Management server, 4: Cable,
5: Network, 6: Mobile phone network,
13: Connector, 14: Position acquisition unit,
15: Information providing unit, 16: URL obtaining unit,
17: Information acquisition unit, 18: Notification unit,
20: Connector, 22: ID memory,
24: Information acquisition unit, 25: Notification unit,
26: Information providing unit, 32: Position table,
33: Model table 34: Registration data
35: Registration section 36: Provision section
37: Temporary holding unit, 38: URL providing unit,

Claims (8)

An installation location registration method for registering the installation location of the device in the management server using the location information acquisition function provided in the portable communication device in order to publish the installation location of the device for public use,
The portable communication device owned by the worker is connected to the device to be installed through the communication means, and the information related to the location information acquired by the portable communication device and the identification information set in the installation device are transmitted to the management server. And
A management server receives the information related to the position information and the identification information of the installed device, and publishes the information related to the device and its installation location on a network. In the installation position registration method according to claim 1,
The location information acquired by the portable communication device is transmitted to the device via the communication means, and the location information received by the device and identification information set to the device are transmitted to a management server. Location registration method. In the installation position registration method according to claim 1,
Sending the location information acquired by the portable communication device to the management server, sending a URL corresponding to the location information received by the management server to the portable communication device;
The URL received by the portable communication device is transmitted to the device via the communication means, the identification information set to itself based on the URL received by the device is transmitted to the management server,
An installation location registration method, wherein the management server receives the URL and identification information of an installation device, and publishes information on the device and its installation location on a network. In the installation position registration method according to claim 1,
The portable communication device receives the identification information set for the device from the device via the communication means, and transmits the acquired location information and the received identification information of the installed device to the management server. A characteristic installation location registration method. An installation location registration system for registering the installation location of the device in the management server using the location information acquisition function provided in the portable communication device in order to disclose the installation location of the device for public use,
The portable communication device has position information acquisition means for acquiring position information, connection means for connecting the communication means, and information providing means for transmitting the acquired position information via the communication means,
The installed device transmits the connection means for connecting the communication means, the information acquisition means for receiving the position information via the communication means, and the received position information and the identification information set for itself via the network. Notification means,
The management server receives the location information and the identification information set for the installed device via the network, and information on the device and its installation location based on the received location information and the installed device identification information. And a registration means for registering and holding the information for publishing on the network. An installation location registration system for registering the installation location of the device in the management server using the location information acquisition function provided in the portable communication device in order to disclose the installation location of the device for public use,
The portable communication device connects the communication means with position information acquisition means for acquiring position information, URL acquisition means for transmitting the acquired position information to the management server, and acquiring a URL corresponding to the position information from the management server. A connection means for transmitting information, and an information providing means for transmitting the acquired URL via the communication means,
The installation device has a connection means for connecting the communication means, an information acquisition means for receiving the URL via the communication means, and a notification means for transmitting the received URL and identification information set for itself via the network. And
The management server includes a URL providing unit that transmits a URL corresponding to the position information received from the mobile communication device to the mobile communication device, and a reception unit that receives the URL and the identification information set in the installation device via the network. An installation position registration system comprising registration means for registering and holding information related to the device and its installation location on the network based on the received URL and identification information of the installation device. An installation location registration system for registering the installation location of the device in the management server using the location information acquisition function provided in the portable communication device in order to disclose the installation location of the device for public use,
The portable communication device includes position information acquisition means for acquiring position information, connection means for connecting the communication means, and information acquisition means for receiving identification information set in the installation equipment from the installation equipment via the communication means. And a notification means for transmitting the acquired position information and the received identification information of the installed device to the management server,
The installed device has a connection means for connecting the communication means, and an information providing means for transmitting the identification information set to the mobile communication device via the communication means,
The management server receives from the portable communication device location information and identification information set in the installed device, and information on the device and its installation location based on the received location information and installed device identification information. And a registration means for registering and holding the information for publishing on the network. In the installation position registration system according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
An installation position registration system, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone owned by an operator.

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