JP2008124648A - Processing program of image forming apparatus and image formation system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide various pieces of information to a user in an image forming apparatus used in stand-alone. <P>SOLUTION: Information for specifying a problem generated in the image forming apparatus is converted into a machine-readable code and the generated code is outputted as an image to solve the problem. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing program for an image forming apparatus and an image forming system using the processing program.

  Image forming apparatuses including printers, facsimiles, copiers, and the like require maintenance such as mechanical drive unit failures and replenishment of consumables such as toner and ink.

  In a stand-alone type image forming apparatus that is not connected to a communication means such as a network, a service person visits each image forming apparatus and collects failure information indicating such a malfunction of the image forming apparatus.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a system that can quickly and accurately convey a failure state of a copying machine to a service person. When a failure of the copying machine is detected by the failure diagnosis means, failure data corresponding to the detection result is read from the storage means, and the failure data is changed to a mail format by the mail function unit. Then, transmission data is created by attaching the mail address of the failure management host computer read from the storage means and the PHS mail address of the service person to the failure data in the mail format, and the transmission data is stored in the PHS communication means. Sent to the mail server. The service person can access the mail server based on an incoming mail signal from the mail server, obtain mail-type failure data from the mail server, and view the contents of the failure data.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for improving convenience when managing failure of a user by storing failure information and failure repair information in the image forming apparatus main body. Failure detection information detected by the failure detection means by the communication control means that detects the failure state by the failure detection means and sends / receives mail via the network or failure repair information of the mail received by the communication control means from the host computer Is stored in the storage means.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-067166 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-092463

  In the stand-alone image forming apparatus, when a failure occurs, only the information stored in the image forming apparatus in advance as a countermeasure is presented to the user, and a detailed explanation according to the state of the failure is provided. I can't. Even if the image forming apparatus is connectable to a network, the same problem occurs when connection to the network is not permitted or when information transmission to the outside is not permitted due to security.

  The present invention provides a computer with a code conversion step for converting information identifying a problem occurring in the image forming apparatus into a machine-readable code, an output step for outputting the code generated in the code conversion step as an image, Is a processing program characterized in that

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided code conversion means for converting information identifying a problem occurring in the image forming apparatus into a machine-readable code, and output means for outputting the code generated in the code conversion step as an image. An image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus.

  Also, a failure code extraction step for extracting a failure code corresponding to the problem that has occurred in the image forming apparatus based on the failure code information that associates the failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus with the failure code that is uniquely assigned to each failure. Or a fault code corresponding to the problem that occurred in the image forming apparatus based on the fault code information that associates the fault that occurred in the image forming apparatus and the fault code that is uniquely assigned to each fault. A fault code extracting means for extracting, and the code converting step or the code converting means is a machine-readable code that uses the fault code extracted by the fault code extracting step or the fault code extracting means as information for specifying the problem May be converted to Here, the failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus may be a failure of the image forming apparatus or a consumption of consumables.

  Also, a help code extraction process is performed on the computer for extracting a help code corresponding to the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the help code information that associates the operation of the image forming apparatus with the help code for specifying the help information for each operation. Or a help code extracting means for extracting a help code corresponding to the operation of the image forming apparatus based on help code information that associates the operation of the image forming apparatus with help code for specifying help information for each operation. The code conversion step or the code conversion means may convert the help code extracted by the help code extraction step or the help code extraction means into a machine-readable code as information for specifying the problem. Here, the help code may specify help in a language different from a language used as a standard in the image forming apparatus.

  The output step or the output unit may display the code generated in the code conversion step or the code conversion unit on a screen of a touch panel. The output step or the output unit may form an image of the code generated in the code conversion step or the code conversion unit on a print medium. The machine-readable code may be a QR code or a bar code.

  According to the first and ninth aspects of the invention, it is possible to provide the user with various information such as a more detailed operation method and a failure handling method in the image forming apparatus used in a stand-alone manner.

  According to the second and third aspects of the invention, it is possible to provide the user with information necessary for a failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, help information regarding the image forming apparatus can be provided to the user.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the code can be easily mechanically read from a touch panel used for a control panel or the like in the image forming apparatus by a mobile phone or the like.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the code printed out by the image forming apparatus can be mechanically easily read by a mobile phone or the like.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, processing can be performed using a QR code that can be analyzed by a general mobile phone or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus 100, a mobile terminal 200, and a management apparatus 300. The image forming apparatus 100 is used as a stand-alone type independent of a communication network. The portable terminal 200 and the management apparatus 300 are connected so as to be able to transmit information via communication means (telephone network, Internet, etc.).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 12, a control panel 14, and an image forming unit 16. Each part of the image forming apparatus 100 is connected by an information transmission unit such as a bus so that information can be exchanged with each other as necessary.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 in an integrated manner. The control unit 10 causes the image forming unit 16 to print an image on a print medium such as paper by executing an image forming program stored in advance in the storage unit 12. In addition, by executing the failure processing program, processing for failures such as failures occurring in the image forming apparatus 100 and consumption of consumables is performed.

  The storage unit 12 includes a semiconductor memory, and is used to store and hold an image forming program and a failure processing program executed by the image forming apparatus 100. Further, it is used for storing and holding data and the like generated in image forming processing and failure processing. In addition, other storage devices such as an optical disk and a hard disk may be used in combination with the semiconductor memory or instead of the semiconductor memory.

  The control panel 14 includes a touch panel configured by combining a display such as a liquid crystal panel and a sensor such as a piezoelectric panel. When receiving the display information (user interface screen information) from the control unit 10, the control panel 14 presents the information to the user through the display device. In addition, when the user touches the user interface screen with a finger or the like, the control panel 14 detects the position by a sensor, receives an input from the user to the image forming apparatus 100, and outputs the information to the control unit 10. . In the present embodiment, the touch panel control panel 14 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration that can present information to the user and input information from the user may be used.

  The image forming unit 16 includes an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printing method or an inkjet method. Upon receiving the image information from the control unit 10, the image forming unit 16 prints out an image corresponding to the received image information on a print medium such as paper.

  With these functions, the image forming apparatus 100 functions as a stand-alone printer independent of the communication network. In the present embodiment, a printer is described as an example. However, a copy machine, a facsimile including such an image forming apparatus 100, or a multifunction machine in which these are integrated can perform the same processing. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 22, a display unit 24, an input unit 26, a microphone unit 28, a speaker unit 30, a camera unit 32, and a radio wave transmission / reception unit. 34 is comprised. Each part of the portable terminal 200 is connected to be able to exchange information with each other as needed by an information transmission means such as a bus. As the mobile terminal 200, a general camera-equipped mobile phone can be applied.

  The control unit 20 includes a CPU, and controls each unit of the mobile terminal 200 in an integrated manner. The control unit 20 executes an information processing program stored in advance in the storage unit 22 to realize telephone call processing and information transmission / reception processing such as e-mail.

  The storage unit 22 includes a semiconductor memory, and is used to store and hold an information processing program executed on the mobile terminal 200. Further, it is used for temporarily storing and holding information provided for processing in the portable terminal 200. Note that another storage device such as a flash memory may be used in combination with the semiconductor memory or instead of the semiconductor memory.

  The display unit 24 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. Upon receiving the display information from the control unit 20, the display unit 24 presents a display screen corresponding to the information to the user. The input unit 26 includes an input device such as a keyboard and a keypad. The input unit 26 accepts input of character information and processing content instructions from the user. Information input from the user is transmitted to the control unit 20.

  The microphone unit 28 includes a microphone, an amplifier, an analog / digital converter, and the like, and is used for receiving an audio signal input from a user. The input audio signal is converted into a digital signal and processed. The speaker unit 30 includes a speaker, an amplifier, a digital / analog converter, and the like. Upon receiving a digital audio signal from the control unit 10, the speaker unit 30 converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, and outputs a sound corresponding to the audio signal from the speaker at a preset volume.

  The camera unit 32 includes an image sensor such as a CCD or C-MOS, an analog / digital converter, and a signal processing circuit. The camera unit 32 converts light input to the image sensor, which is a light receiving sensor, into an electrical signal, converts the electrical signal obtained by the analog / digital converter into a digital signal, and performs predetermined processing such as correction processing by a signal processing circuit. It is used to obtain an image signal that can be processed by the portable terminal 200 by performing processing. The camera unit 32 is normally used for imaging a person or landscape, but in the present embodiment, the camera unit 32 is used to read a machine-readable code such as a QR code or a barcode into the mobile terminal 200.

  The radio wave transmission / reception unit 34 includes a digital / analog converter, an analog / digital converter, a tuner, an amplifier, a modulation circuit, a demodulation circuit, an antenna, and the like. The radio wave transmission / reception unit 34 modulates the audio signal and data processed in the mobile terminal 200 by a predetermined modulation method using a digital / analog converter, a modulation circuit, and an amplifier, and transmits the modulated signal from the antenna. The radio wave transmission / reception unit 34 converts a signal transmitted from the outside in a predetermined modulation method into a digital signal that can be processed by the mobile terminal 200 using an antenna, a tuner, a demodulation circuit, an amplifier, and an analog / digital converter. To do.

  The mobile terminal 200 functions as a mobile phone that performs voice communication and data communication via a communication network by using these units.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the management device 300 includes a control unit 40, a storage unit 42, an output unit 44, an input unit 46, and a communication interface 48. Each part of the management apparatus 300 is connected to be able to exchange information with each other as required by information transmission means such as a bus.

  The control unit 40 includes a CPU, and controls each unit of the management apparatus 300 in an integrated manner. The control unit 40 executes a management program stored in advance in the storage unit 42 to perform processing related to failure processing based on information transmitted from the mobile terminal 200.

  The storage unit 42 includes a semiconductor memory, and is used for storing and holding a management program executed by the management apparatus 300. In addition, it is used for storing and holding data and the like generated in the management process performed by executing the management program. In addition, other storage devices such as an optical disk and a hard disk may be used in combination with the semiconductor memory or instead of the semiconductor memory.

  The output unit 44 includes a display device such as a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal, or plasma. When receiving the display information from the control unit 40, the output unit 44 presents a display screen corresponding to the information to the user. The input unit 46 includes a character input device such as a keyboard and a keypad, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The input unit 46 is provided to accept input of character information and an instruction for processing content from the user. Information input from the user is transmitted to the control unit 40.

  The communication interface 48 includes an interface circuit that transmits / receives information to / from an external device according to a predetermined protocol. It is provided for receiving information transmitted from an external device and transmitting information processed by the management device 300 to the external device. The communication interface 48 may be a wired communication method using a telephone line or an optical fiber, or a wireless communication method using a predetermined modulation method.

  The management apparatus 300 performs a function of receiving information related to the failure of the image forming apparatus 100 transmitted using the mobile terminal 200 and returning information related to the treatment to the mobile terminal 200.

  Next, the failure processing method in this embodiment will be described. The failure processing method in the present embodiment is executed along the flowchart shown in FIG. Each process in FIG. 5 is performed by the image forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300. That is, the image forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 perform the processes of the respective flowcharts in FIG. 5 by executing the failure processing program, the information processing program, and the management program, respectively.

  Since the image forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 have one aspect as an information processing apparatus including a computer, the image is executed by executing a program in each apparatus and performing processing in each step of FIG. The forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 function as an apparatus including processing means corresponding to each process.

  When a failure such as a failure or a shortage of consumables occurs during the execution of the image forming processing program, the image forming apparatus 100 causes a failure in the image forming apparatus 100 due to a sensor or the like installed in each part of the image forming apparatus 100. Is notified to the control unit 10. Upon receiving the notification of the failure, the control unit 10 starts executing the failure processing program by an interrupt function of the image forming processing program. Thereby, the process from step S10 is started.

  In step S10, the content of the failure in the image forming apparatus 100 is acquired. Examples of failures include paper jam, transfer drum rotation failure, exposure device failure, and the like. Further, as a defect of the consumable item, there is a toner (ink) run-out or the like. For example, the control unit 10 specifies the content of a failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100 based on signals from sensors or the like installed in the respective units. At this time, if the consumption of the consumable is an obstacle, the degree of consumption of the consumable can be specified.

  In step S12, the fault code is extracted. The control unit 10 refers to a failure information database that manages failure code information stored in advance in the storage unit 12, and extracts a failure code corresponding to the failure acquired in step S10. As shown in FIG. 6, the failure code database is a database in which failure contents and failure codes are registered in association with each other. In addition, with regard to troubles concerning the consumption of consumables, a trouble code is associated with each degree of wear.

  For example, if it is determined in step S10 that the failure is a paper jam in the paper feed unit, the failure code “A1” is extracted with reference to the failure database of FIG. If the failure is identified as a decrease in the remaining amount of toner in step S10 and the remaining amount of toner is 10%, referring to the failure database in FIG. B2 "is extracted.

  In step S14, the failure code is converted into a QR code. The control unit 10 manages the failure code extracted in step S <b> 12, specific information (such as an IP address) of the image forming apparatus 100 that is assigned in advance to the image forming apparatus 100, and the management apparatus 300 that manages the image forming apparatus 100. The information including the specific information (IP address or the like) of the management apparatus 300 assigned in advance is converted into a QR code. The conversion process to the QR code can be performed by an existing algorithm.

  The QR code is a matrix type two-dimensional code in which small square points are arranged vertically and horizontally. For example, versions from “version 1” in which 21 squares are arranged on one side to “version 40” in which 177 squares are arranged are prepared. A cut-out symbol (finder pattern) having a predetermined shape is arranged at three corners of the code so that information can be read accurately from any direction of 360 degrees. The maximum amount of information that can be recorded is 23648 bits in version 40. Further, the data is given redundancy, and an error correction code is attached so that the data can be restored even if part of the data is damaged and cannot be read.

  In this embodiment, a QR code is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any code that can be read by a machine such as a bar code can be similarly applied.

  In step S16, a machine-readable code is output. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 10 causes the control panel 14 to display the QR code generated in step S <b> 14. At this time, it is preferable to display on the control panel 14 a message prompting the mobile terminal 200 to read the displayed QR code and transfer the information to the management apparatus 300. The same processing may be performed when a code other than the QR code is used.

  In this embodiment, the QR code is output to the control panel 14. However, the QR code may be printed on a print medium such as paper using the image forming unit 16. In this case as well, the printed QR code is read by the portable terminal 200, and information for prompting the information to be transferred to the management apparatus 300 may be provided on the control panel 14 or the print medium.

  In step S18, the QR code is read by the portable terminal 200. The user uses the camera unit 32 of the mobile terminal 200 to capture the QR code output by the image forming apparatus 100 in step S16. The captured QR code image data is digitized and transmitted to the control unit 20.

  In step S20, the read QR code is analyzed. The control unit 20 includes the failure code embedded by analyzing the QR code read in step S18, the specific information (such as the IP address) of the image forming apparatus 100, and the specific information (such as the IP address) of the management apparatus 300. Extract information. Since an existing QR code analysis algorithm can be used, detailed description is omitted. The QR code analysis program does not need to be stored in each mobile terminal 200. For example, the read QR code image data is transmitted to a server that performs QR code analysis using the communication function of the mobile terminal 200. And it is good also as an aspect which receives the analysis result.

  In step S <b> 22, the failure code is transmitted to the management apparatus 300. The control unit 20 uses the radio wave transmission / reception unit 34 to transmit the extracted failure code extracted in step S20 to the management apparatus 300. For example, in accordance with the TCP / IP protocol, in the information request including the failure code and the specific information (IP address or the like) of the image formation information, the specific information (IP address) of the management apparatus 300 as the transmission destination and the portable terminal 200 as the transmission source Is added to specific information (IP address) for packetization, and the radio wave transmission / reception unit 34 transmits the packet to the communication network. In the present embodiment, information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 to the wireless communication network, but the information is transferred to a communication network (such as the Internet) that can be received by the communication interface 48 of the management apparatus 300 on the communication path.

  In step S <b> 24, information transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 is received by the management device 300. The control unit 40 receives a packet to which the specific information (IP address) of the management apparatus 300 is added as a transmission destination from the communication network via the communication interface 48. The control unit 40 obtains the original failure code and the specific information (IP address or the like) of the image forming apparatus 100 from the packetized information.

  In step S26, information returned to the mobile terminal 200 is extracted according to the received failure code. The control unit 40 refers to the treatment information database stored in advance in the storage unit 42, and extracts information registered in association with the failure code received in step S24. In the treatment information database, information related to a treatment to be performed on a failure identified by the failure code is associated with the failure code and registered.

  Information related to the action to be taken for the failure includes help information explaining the action to be taken for the trouble, information indicating the contact information of the service center corresponding to the trouble, necessity of exchanging consumables and replacement method Information indicating where to obtain consumables, and the like. These pieces of information may be text information or voice information.

  For example, as shown in the treatment information database of FIG. 8, information describing how to remove a jammed paper is registered in association with the failure code “A1” indicating a jam in the paper feed unit. Therefore, when the failure code “A1” is received, information explaining how to remove the jammed paper is extracted. Further, the failure code “B2” indicating that the toner is consumed and the remaining amount is 10% includes information indicating that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced soon, and a toner cartridge suitable for the image forming apparatus 100. Information indicating the type and information indicating a toner cartridge replacement method are registered in association with each other. Therefore, when the failure code “B1” is received, information indicating that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced soon, information indicating the type of toner cartridge suitable for the image forming apparatus 100, and a method for replacing the toner cartridge are provided. The information shown is extracted. At this time, the type or the like of the toner cartridge may be specified with reference to the specification information (IP address) of the image forming apparatus 100 transmitted at the same time. For example, a database in which the type of the image forming apparatus 100 is associated with an appropriate toner cartridge type is prepared, and when it is necessary to select information indicating the toner cartridge type, the database is referred to and specified. The type of the toner cartridge associated with the type of the image forming apparatus 100 specified by the information (IP address) is specified.

  At this time, the identification information (IP address or the like) of the image forming apparatus 100 transmitted simultaneously with the failure code and the content of the failure specified by the failure code may be registered in the storage unit 42 as a failure history database. When a failure history database is registered in this way, information may be extracted in consideration of this failure history database. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when registering information in the treatment information database, different information is registered corresponding to the number of times each failure has occurred, and the information is handled based on the failure code and the failure history. Information may be extracted.

  In step S28, the extracted information is returned to the portable terminal 200. The control unit 40 returns the information extracted in step S26 to the mobile terminal 200 that is the transmission source of the failure code received in step S24. For example, in accordance with the TCP / IP protocol, the extracted information, the specific information (IP address) of the portable terminal 200 as the transmission destination, and the specific information (IP address) specifying the management device 300 as the transmission source are added and packetized. The data is transmitted to the communication network using the communication interface 48.

  In step S <b> 30, information is received by the mobile terminal 200. The control unit 20 receives a packet to which the specific information (IP address) of the portable terminal 200 is added as a transmission destination from the communication network via the radio wave transmission / reception unit 34. The control unit 20 obtains information extracted from the packetized information based on the failure code.

  In step S32, information corresponding to the failure is presented to the user. The control unit 20 causes the display unit 24 to display the information received in step S30. Further, when the received information is audio information, the control unit 20 may reproduce the received information from the speaker unit 30.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, the processing for the failure that occurs in the image forming apparatus 100 has been described, but the scope of application of the idea of the present invention is not limited to this. In this modification, a method for providing help information related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

  The help processing method in this modification is executed along the flowchart shown in FIG. Each process in FIG. 10 is performed by the image forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 as in the above embodiment. That is, the image forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 execute the processes of the respective flowcharts in FIG. 10 by executing the help processing program, the information processing program, and the management program, respectively.

  Since the image forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 have one aspect as an information processing apparatus including a computer, the image is executed by executing a program in each apparatus and performing processing in each step of FIG. The forming apparatus 100, the portable terminal 200, and the management apparatus 300 function as an apparatus including processing means corresponding to each process.

  When the help information is requested by performing an operation such as pressing a help button provided on the control panel 14 during execution of the image forming processing program, the image forming apparatus 100 controls the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 100. Starts execution of the help processing program. Thereby, the process from step S10A is started.

  In step S10A, help information required by the user is specified. The control unit 10 displays a selection screen for selecting what kind of operation help information is required on the control panel 14 and in what language the help information should be provided, and prompts the user to select. The user uses the control panel 14 to select the requested help information and the language of the help information. The control part 10 acquires those information.

  As described above, the language of the help information can be selected together with the requested help information, so that the language (for example, English) different from the language (for example, Japanese) used as a standard in the image forming apparatus 100 can be selected. Help information can be provided in French, German, Italian, etc.

  In step S12A, a help code is extracted. The control unit 10 refers to the help code database stored in advance in the storage unit 12 and extracts the help code corresponding to the requested help information and language specified in step S10A. As shown in FIG. 11, the help code database is a database in which help codes are registered in association with types and languages of requested help information. For example, when the user needs to explain in English how to perform double-sided copying, the help code “A1” is extracted.

  In step S14A, the help code is converted into a QR code. The control unit 10 manages the help code extracted in step S <b> 12 </ b> A, the specific information (IP address or the like) of the image forming apparatus 100 pre-assigned to the image forming apparatus 100, and the management apparatus 300 that manages the image forming apparatus 100. The information including the specific information (IP address or the like) of the management apparatus 300 assigned in advance is converted into a QR code. The conversion process to the QR code can be performed by an existing algorithm.

  In step S16A, a machine-readable code is output. The control unit 10 causes the control panel 14 to display the QR code generated in step S14A. At this time, it is preferable to display on the control panel 14 a message prompting the mobile terminal 200 to read the displayed QR code and transfer the information to the management apparatus 300. The same processing may be performed when a code other than the QR code is used. In this modification as well, the QR code may be printed on a print medium such as paper using the image forming unit 16.

  In step S18A, the mobile terminal 200 reads the QR code. The user images the QR code output from the image forming apparatus 100 in step S16A using the camera unit 32 of the mobile terminal 200. The captured QR code image data is digitized and transmitted to the control unit 20.

  In step S20A, the read QR code is analyzed. The control unit 20 includes a help code embedded by analyzing the QR code read in step S18A, specific information (such as an IP address) of the image forming apparatus 100, and specific information (such as an IP address) of the management apparatus 300. Extract information. Since an existing QR code analysis algorithm can be used, detailed description is omitted. Also in this modification, the QR code analysis program does not need to be stored in each mobile terminal 200, for example, the QR code read by a server or the like that performs QR code analysis using the communication function of the mobile terminal 200 is used. A mode may be adopted in which the image data of the code is transmitted and the analysis result is received.

  In step S22A, a help code is transmitted to management device 300. The control unit 20 transmits the help code extracted in step S <b> 20 </ b> A to the management apparatus 300 using the radio wave transmission / reception unit 34. For example, in accordance with the TCP / IP protocol, in the information request including the help code and the image forming information specifying information (IP address or the like), the specifying information (IP address) of the management apparatus 300 as the transmission destination and the portable terminal 200 as the transmission source. Is added to specific information (IP address) for packetization, and the radio wave transmission / reception unit 34 transmits the packet to the communication network. In the present embodiment, information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 to the wireless communication network, but the information is transferred to a communication network (such as the Internet) that can be received by the communication interface 48 of the management apparatus 300 on the communication path.

  In step S <b> 24 </ b> A, the information transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 is received by the management device 300. The control unit 40 receives a packet to which the specific information (IP address) of the management apparatus 300 is added as a transmission destination from the communication network via the communication interface 48. The control unit 40 obtains the original help code and specific information (IP address or the like) of the image forming apparatus 100 from the packetized information.

  In step S26A, help information returned to portable terminal 200 is extracted according to the received help code. The control unit 40 refers to the help information database stored in advance in the storage unit 42, and extracts information registered in association with the help code received in step S24A. In the help information database, as shown in FIG. 12, help information in a language specified by the help code is registered in association with the help code.

  In step S28A, the extracted information is returned to portable terminal 200. The control unit 40 returns the help information extracted in step S26A to the portable terminal 200 that is the transmission source of the help code received in step S24A. Similar to the above embodiment, the extracted information, the specific information (IP address) of the portable terminal 200 as the transmission destination, and the specific information (IP address) that specifies the management device 300 as the transmission source in accordance with the TCP / IP protocol Is packetized and transmitted to the communication network using the communication interface 48.

  In step S30A, information is received by portable terminal 200. The control unit 20 receives a packet to which the specific information (IP address) of the portable terminal 200 is added as a transmission destination from the communication network via the radio wave transmission / reception unit 34. The control unit 20 obtains help information expressed in a predetermined language based on the help code from the packetized information.

  In step S32A, help information in a language according to the request is presented to the user. The control unit 20 causes the display unit 24 to display the help information received in step S30A. Further, when the received information is audio information, the control unit 20 may reproduce the received information from the speaker unit 30.

  In this modification, the help code is registered in association with the help information and language. However, the language used in each image forming apparatus 100 is registered in advance in the management apparatus 300, and the image forming apparatus 100 is registered. When the specific information (IP address or the like) for identifying the help code and the help code associated with the help information are received, the information expressing the help content corresponding to the help code in the language registered in each image forming apparatus 100 is displayed. It is good also as a mode which returns to the portable terminal 200.

  Although the above embodiment and modification have been described as the image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a print medium such as paper, the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the idea of the present invention can be applied to a facsimile, a copier, etc. as an image forming apparatus. The present invention can also be applied to a multi-function machine in which these devices are combined.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the management apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the failure code database in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of QR Code in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the treatment information database in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the treatment information database in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the help code database in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the help information database in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10 control unit, 12 storage unit, 14 control panel, 16 image forming unit, 20 control unit, 22 storage unit, 24 display unit, 26 input unit, 28 microphone unit, 30 speaker unit, 32 camera unit, 34 radio wave transmission / reception unit, 40 control unit, 42 storage unit, 44 output unit, 46 input unit, 48 communication interface, 100 image forming apparatus, 200 portable terminal, 300 management apparatus.

Claims (9)

On the computer,
A code conversion process for converting information identifying a problem occurring in the image forming apparatus into a machine-readable code;
An output step of outputting the code generated in the code conversion step as an image;
A processing program characterized by causing A processing program according to claim 1,
A fault code extraction step for extracting a fault code corresponding to a problem that has occurred in the image forming apparatus based on fault code information that associates a fault that has occurred in the image forming apparatus with a fault code that is uniquely assigned to each fault. To run
The code conversion step converts the failure code extracted in the failure code extraction step into a machine-readable code. A processing program according to claim 1 or 2,
The processing program characterized in that the failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus is a failure of the image forming apparatus or a consumable item. A processing program according to claim 1,
Based on the help code information that associates the operation of the image forming apparatus and the help code for identifying the help information for each operation, the computer executes a help code extracting step of extracting the help code corresponding to the operation of the image forming apparatus,
The code conversion step converts the help code extracted in the help code extraction step into a machine-readable code. A processing program according to claim 1 or 4,
The processing program, wherein the help code specifies help in a language different from a language used as a standard in the image forming apparatus. A processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
In the processing program, the output step causes the code generated in the code conversion step to be displayed on a screen of a touch panel. A processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The processing program characterized in that the output step forms an image of the code generated in the code conversion step on a print medium. A processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The machine readable code is a QR code. Code conversion means for converting information identifying a problem occurring in the image forming apparatus into a machine-readable code;
Output means for outputting the code generated in the code conversion means as an image;
An image forming apparatus.

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