JP2008152646A - Remote maintenance system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote maintenance system in which communications is allowed by a temporary registration of an image forming device even if a model name cannot be identified when the image forming device is incorporated into a monitoring system, a notification is made to urge a person in charge of registration to execute registration processing for an unregistered model, the temporarily registered model is changed to a formally registered model when data of the unregistered model has been registered, and all the monitoring processes are started. <P>SOLUTION: The remote maintenance system has a temporary registration means that allows a temporary registration and enables a partial operation to be started even if there does not exist model information in a monitoring host, and a registration means that gives a notification to urge a person in charge of model registration, and, upon registration by the person in charge, makes the temporary registration a formal registration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote maintenance system that includes an image forming apparatus that notifies its operation information to a monitoring host, and a monitoring host that monitors the operation status of the image forming apparatus.

  In a conventional remote maintenance system, there are several methods for incorporating an image forming apparatus to be monitored into the monitoring system.

  As one method, there is a method in which identification information (for example, a device ID) of an image forming apparatus to be monitored is registered in advance on a central monitoring server (hereinafter referred to as a monitoring host) which is the center of the monitoring system. In this case, when the image forming apparatus is installed, identification information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus side to the monitoring host, and only when the image forming apparatus matches the identification information of the image forming apparatus registered in the monitoring host side in advance. Incorporate the forming device into the monitoring system.

As in the prior art (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-159854), by adding the model name of the image shaping device at the time of registration, information specific to the model (equipment specification color, options attached, toner information, error information, warning information, etc.) Based on the above, it is possible to provide detailed monitoring services such as error display for each model, management of consumables such as toner, and replacement timing of each option.
JP 2003-159854 A

  In a monitoring host system that requires model information of an image forming apparatus at the time of registration, it is a major premise that the model information is registered in advance at the time of device installation. Normally, information is prepared for the convenience of equipment development, and the person in charge of registration to the monitoring host updates as needed. However, there are also requests for registering many new models at an early stage.

  There may be a situation in which the image forming apparatus cannot be incorporated into the monitoring system because the model is not registered. This determines the time from registration to installation completion, and the installation person can be limited in time.

  The present invention pays attention to the above problems, and even when the model name cannot be specified when the image forming apparatus is incorporated into the monitoring system, it is possible to permit communication and process some data by temporarily registering the model name. In addition, a notification is sent to the person in charge of registration to register the unregistered model. As a result, when the data of the unregistered model is registered, the temporary registration device is changed to formal registration, and all monitoring processes start. The means for making it do is prepared.

  In a remote maintenance system comprising at least one image forming apparatus to be monitored and a monitoring host for monitoring the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus receives means for inputting tissue information to be maintained from an information input unit; And a means for notifying the monitoring host of registration information to the remote maintenance system, wherein the monitoring host accepts model information of the image forming apparatus and information input of an organization that maintains the image forming apparatus, A means for storing, a means for receiving the registration information notified from the image forming apparatus, and determining whether information on the image forming apparatus is stored based on the registration information received by the receiving means. And the determination unit determines that the information on the image forming apparatus is not stored. When the information that the image forming apparatus cannot be registered is recorded in the communication log and the information of the image forming apparatus is stored by the determining means, the information on the organization to be maintained is registered information. , A means for notifying registration failure information to the image forming apparatus when the confirmation means recognizes that the information on the organization to be maintained does not match, and the maintenance is performed by the confirmation means. When it is recognized that the information on the tissue matches, the means for registering the image forming apparatus as a monitoring target and the information on the organization to be maintained by the confirmation means are monitored. Means for recording in the communication log that the information has been registered as a target, and model information of the image livelihood device by the confirmation means The means for temporarily registering the image forming apparatus as a monitoring target when it is recognized as an unregistered model, the monitoring processing means for monitoring a part of the temporarily registered image forming apparatus, and the confirmation means Means for notifying the existence of unregistered model information for which there is no model information of the image livelihood device, temporary registration processing means for performing only accumulation and processing of information not requiring model information during the temporary registration period, and When recognizing registration of registered model information, a switching unit that switches the temporary registration to the main registration and a processing unit that starts all monitoring processes when the temporary registration switches to the main registration are provided.

  According to the present invention, even when model information necessary for installation registration is not pre-registered, pre-registration, installation, and communication by an installation contractor are possible, and a part of processing is performed, so minimum operation is possible. In addition, it is possible to notify the person in charge of monitoring host information registration about the necessity of model registration, and the installed device that was temporarily registered at the time when the information was registered is automatically registered as a main register and can be fully monitored. become able to.

  In addition, since the main registration is automatically performed when the model information is registered, the temporary installation is performed once, so that it is not necessary to go to the installation again and there is a convenience that can be transferred to the formal service as it is.

(Example 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship of the entire system according to the present embodiment.

  Reference numeral 100 in the figure represents a network environment in which a monitoring host serving as the center of the present system exists. In the environment, a monitoring host 101 connected to the Internet 104 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 103 and a monitoring system are included. There is a database 102 for accumulating all relevant information.

  The monitoring host 101 also has a function as a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and this monitoring host 101 is accessed from a Web browser operating on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) in a sales company network environment described later. By doing so, the stored information of the database 102 can be displayed on the Web browser screen.

  Note that the database 102 may physically exist in the monitoring host 101. Furthermore, as long as it can be accessed from the monitoring host 101, it may exist in another network environment via the Internet.

  Reference numerals 105, 106, and 107 represent customer-side network environments in which the image forming apparatus 110 is installed.

  As shown in the figure, depending on the customer-side network environment, a case where a plurality of image forming apparatuses 110 are installed such as 105 and 106, or only one image forming apparatus 110 is installed such as 107. There are cases.

  In either case, the monitoring host 101 and the image forming apparatus 110 communicate with each other via the Internet 104, and use the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS protocol in consideration of exceeding the firewall.

  The image forming apparatus 110 described here includes a digital composite copying machine, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, and the like that integrate a printing function, a facsimile function, and a copying function. Hereinafter, a digital composite copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine). ) To explain specifically.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the copying machine 110.

  Document feeding unit 201, image reader 202 that reads a document, image forming unit 203 that converts and prints the read document and received data into a print image, and a paper discharge unit that discharges printed paper and performs processing such as sorting and stapling 204, a network I / F 205 that connects to a LAN and the Internet via a network and exchanges information with the outside, a CPU 206 that controls each process on this apparatus, and a non-rewritable ROM 207 that stores programs and data related to each process on this apparatus , RAM 208 that can electrically store and rewrite temporary data related to each process of the apparatus, programs and data related to each process of the apparatus, temporary data, and user data transmitted to the apparatus Readable / writable HDD 209 that stores data, etc., and receives instruction inputs to this device That operation unit 210 is constituted by a display unit 211 for displaying the operation status and information relating to the operation of the operation unit 210 of the apparatus, they are exchanging connection, data by a system bus 212.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a part related to the present system in the software configuration of the copying machine 110.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a SOAP communication unit, which passes SOAP data received from the monitoring host 101 via the network I / F 205 to the SOAP message analysis unit 303. In addition, the SOAP data created by the SOAP message creation unit 302 is sent via the network I / F 205. Transmit to the monitoring host 101.

  A network information acquisition unit 304 can automatically acquire an IP address, a DNS server, and a gateway address in a DHCP environment.

  If network information input from the operation unit 210 and stored in the HDD 209 exists, the information is acquired.

  The device information collection unit 305 obtains counter information stored in the schedule set in the copier 110 itself or in accordance with an instruction from the monitoring host 101, and also includes service calls / jams / out of toner that have occurred internally. Get information.

  The acquired data is transferred to the SOAP message creation unit 302 as it is and sent to the monitoring host 101, and stored, interpreted, and processed in the device information collection unit 305, and then passed to the SOAP message creation unit 302 and sent to the monitoring host 101. There are cases.

  FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the monitoring host 101.

  401 is a CPU that controls each process of the monitoring host 101, 403 is a non-rewritable ROM that stores programs and data related to each process, and 404 is a rewritable RAM that electrically stores temporary data related to each process. It is.

  Reference numeral 405 denotes a readable / writable HDD that stores programs and data relating to each process, information related to the monitoring target copying machine 110 according to the present invention, information collected from the copying machine 110, and 407 accepts an instruction input to the apparatus. An input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device, 408 is a display unit for displaying the operation status of the apparatus and information output by each program operating on the apparatus, and 409 is connected to the LAN 103 and connected to the copying machine 110 via the Internet 104. A network I / F for performing communication.

  These hardware components are arranged on the system bus 410.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a part related to communication with the copying machine in the software configuration of the monitoring host 101.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes a SOAP communication unit, which passes SOAP data received from the copier 110 via the network I / F 409 to the SOAP message analysis unit 502, and also sends the SOAP data created by the SOAP message creation unit 503 via the network I / F 409. Transmit to the copier 110.

  The collected information processing unit 504 stores the information received from the monitored copier 110 as it is or after processing it in the database 102 via the database access unit 506.

  Further, based on information received from the monitored copier 110 and data stored in the database 102, remote monitoring such as counting of counter information and notification of error information to a service person in charge or a customer side administrator is possible. Implement functions related to the system. A monitoring control unit 505 performs schedule management for acquiring information on the copying machine 110, and controls monitoring contents and methods.

  Further, if necessary, an instruction is transmitted to the monitored copying machine 110 via the SOAP message creation unit 503, the SOAP communication unit 501, and the Network I / F 409.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sequence from when the copier 110 is sold to a customer until it is incorporated into the remote maintenance system.

  Although this description focuses on the data flow, depending on the communication protocol, each arrow in the figure may actually be communicated according to the protocol convention of a request and a reply to it. is there.

  First, in step S601, the customer decides to purchase a copying machine.

  On the other hand, the sales company registers information that can uniquely identify the copying machine in the database 102 in step S602.

  In this embodiment, a device ID uniquely assigned to each copying machine is used as this information so as not to overlap at the time of manufacture.

  For registration, a Web browser operating on the PC 111 in the sales company network environment is used.

  When accessing the WWW server of the monitoring host 101 using a Web browser, a login authentication screen is displayed first.

  The sales company user inputs the sales company ID and password on this login authentication screen and logs in to the monitoring host system.

  The sales company ID is an identification ID for uniquely identifying each sales company, and both the sales company ID and the password are managed in advance in the monitoring host 101.

  FIG. 10 shows a device registration screen displayed after the login.

  The sales company user inputs information on the copier 110 installed at the customer site from this screen.

  A device ID is input to 1001 in the screen, a device name to 1002, and a model name to 1003.

  These pieces of input information are stored in the device information table 700 shown in FIG.

  The device information table 700 includes a device ID 701 that uniquely identifies the copier, a sales company ID 702 that uniquely identifies the sales company that sold the copier, and whether or not the copier 110 is incorporated in the remote maintenance system. And a model name information transmitted from the copying machine during the connection test.

  Further, the valid flag 703 always stores “0 (invalid)” as an initial value when executing step S602.

  When the registration in step S602 is completed, the copier 110 is shipped from the sales company to the customer in step S603.

  Further, in step S604, the installation worker of the sales company goes to the customer and performs the installation work of the copying machine 110.

  The installation operator performs network setting for communicating with the monitoring host 101 via the network I / F 205 during the actual installation work.

  The network setting can be manually input from the operation unit 210 of the copying machine 110. However, when the customer network environment is an environment where DHCP can be used, the network setting can be automatically performed.

  Subsequent steps S605 and subsequent steps are communication test sequences for setting the copying machine 110 installed in the customer network environment in the above-described steps as a monitoring target of the present monitoring system.

  The detailed operation on the monitoring host 101 side will also be described in the flowchart described later.

  When the copying machine 110 is to be monitored by the monitoring system, first, in step S605, the installation operator operates the operation unit 210 of the copying machine 110 and displays the communication test screen shown in FIG.

  The communication test screen includes a device ID 801 of the copier 110, a sales company ID input field 802, a message display monitor 03, and an execution button 804 for instructing the copier 110 to execute / cancel the communication test. / Cancel button 805 is displayed.

  The installation operator inputs the ID of the sales company to which he / she belongs in the sales company ID input field 802 and then presses the execution button 804.

Then, the copier 110 transmits the device ID and the sales company ID together to the monitoring host 101. (Hereinafter, this communication is called a communication test.)
In subsequent step S606, the monitoring host 101 receives the device ID and the sales company ID transmitted from the copying machine 110 in step S606 described above.

  Further, after performing a basic check such as a data format, it is confirmed whether or not the received device ID exists in the device information table 700 in the database 102.

  If it exists, the valid flag 703 of the corresponding record in the device information table 700 is rewritten to “1 (valid)”, and the copying machine 110 is recognized as a monitoring target of this monitoring system.

  The copying machine 110 always transmits information such as counter information and service calls / jams / out of toner to the monitoring host 101 after the communication test sequence ends normally.

  Alternatively, a counter and a status request from the monitoring host 101 are accepted.

  The monitoring host 101 stores the information in the database 102 only when the information is received from a copier in which the valid flag 703 of the corresponding record in the device information table 700 is “1 (valid)”. The subsequent monitoring process is continuously performed.

  On the other hand, if it does not exist, the copying machine 110 is not recognized as a monitoring target of this monitoring system.

  Therefore, in this case, even if the monitoring host 101 receives information such as counter information or service call / jam / out of toner from the copier 110, all of the information is discarded without being stored in the database 102.

  In step S607, the monitoring host 101 transmits a communication test result (success) to the copying machine 110.

  Further, the communication test result is stored as a new record in the communication test log table 900 shown in FIG.

  The date and time 901 in the communication test log table 900 stores the date and time when the communication test was executed by the monitoring host 101, and the device ID 902 stores the device ID of the copier that executed the communication test.

  The status 903 stores the result of the communication test.

  At this time, if the device ID received from the copying machine 110 in step S 606 exists in the device information table 700 in the database 102, “Handled / No Error” is stored in the status 903.

  On the other hand, if it does not exist, “Unknown” is stored.

  Reference No. Reference numeral 904 denotes a number automatically assigned in the monitoring host 101 when a record is added to the communication test log table 900, and is used for identifying each communication test log.

  Finally, in step S608, the communication test result is received on the copier 110 side, and the communication test sequence ends.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure on the monitoring host 101 side related to the communication test sequence described above.

  When the monitoring host 101 receives a communication test from the copying machine 110, the monitoring host 101 executes a communication test process described in this flowchart.

  In step S650, the format of the communication test data received from the copying machine 110 is checked.

  If there is a problem with the format, the process proceeds to step S655, and a communication test result (NG) is returned to the copying machine 110.

  On the other hand, if there is no problem in the format, it is confirmed in the subsequent step S651 whether or not the device ID transmitted from the copying machine 110 exists in the device information table 700 in the database 102.

  If it does not exist, in step S 656, an e-mail notification is made to the person in charge of installing the copier of the sales company corresponding to the sales company ID transmitted from the copier 110 that the above does not exist. As a result, the person in charge of copier installation at the sales company recognizes the necessity of new registration of the copier or correction of registered copier information through the device registration screen shown in FIG.

  In step S657, a new communication test log of “status = Unknown” is registered in the communication test log table 900 in the database 102.

  Finally, in step S658, the communication test result (success) is transmitted to the copying machine 110, and the communication test process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the device ID transmitted from the copying machine 110 in step S651 is present in the device information table 700, the sales company ID stored in the record of the device information table 700 and the sales company ID are stored in step S652. It is determined whether or not the sales company ID transmitted from the copying machine 110 matches. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S655, and a communication test result (NG) is returned to the copying machine 110. On the other hand, if they match, if the model name information transmitted from the copying machine 110 is registered in the model name of the model information table 1400 in step S660, the valid flag 703 of the record in the device information table 700 is set to “ Rewrite to “1 (valid)”.

  Further, in step S654, a new communication test log of “status = Handled / No Error” is registered in the communication test log table 900 in the database 102.

  Finally, in step S658, the communication test result (success) is transmitted to the copying machine 110, and the communication test process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the model name is not registered in step S660, the valid flag 703 of the record in the device information table 700 is rewritten to “2 (temporary valid)” in step S661. In step S 662, a new communication test log of “status = Handled / No Error” is registered in the communication test log table 900 in the database 102. In step S663, the person in charge of model registration is notified that an unregistered model exists. At this time, the model name information transmitted from the copier 110 is given, and the model registration person can know from the notification what model has to be registered. Finally, in step S658, the communication test result (success) is transmitted to the copying machine 110, and the communication test process is terminated.

  FIG. 12 is a reference screen for a communication test log provided by the WWW server of the monitoring host 101.

  The person in charge of installation of the sales company can view this screen by accessing the WWW server of the monitoring host 101 using a Web browser operating on the PC 111 in the sales company network environment.

  The contents of the communication test log table 900 are displayed in the list display portion of the communication test log reference screen.

  However, the communication test log to be displayed is only related to the copier associated with the sales company to which the viewer belongs. The date and time 901 in the communication test log table 900 is displayed at 1201 in the screen.

  Similarly, 1202, 1203, and 1204 in the screen have a device ID 902, a status 903, and a Reference No. in the communication test log table 900, respectively. 904 is displayed.

  Further, in the case of provisional validity, the functions are color-coded so that the provisional validity can be seen on the screen, and the functions that can be used are partially limited.

  Since no model is registered, different information such as toner name and error information obtained from the model information table and model error information table in FIG. 14 cannot be acquired. Only information that is not present is processed, and display or data storage is performed.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in which the temporarily registered model of the copying machine 110 is registered in the master and is officially registered. When the monitoring host 101 performs model registration by the master administrator in step 1300, in step 1301, if there is no provisional registration with reference to the valid flag of the device information table, the model registration process is ended as it is.

  On the other hand, if there is a temporary valid flag in the device information table in step 1301, the process proceeds to step 1302, and the model name registered in S1300 is compared with the model name registered in the device information of the device information table transmitted from the device. If they do not match, the model registration process ends.

  If the registered model and the model name registered in the device information in the device information table match in step 1302, the process proceeds to step S1303, and the valid flag 703 of the record in the device information table 700 is rewritten to “1 (valid)”. .

  As a result, the device associated with the model existing in the model master can acquire toner information and error information necessary for monitoring, and can receive and process all data in step S1304. .

It is a figure which shows the relationship of the whole system of this invention. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of a part related to the present system in the software configuration of the image forming apparatus. It is a hardware block diagram of a monitoring host. FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram of a portion related to communication with an image forming apparatus in the monitoring host software configuration. It is a figure which shows the sequence from selling an image forming apparatus to a customer until it incorporates in this image forming apparatus monitoring system. It is a figure which shows the device information table in the database of a monitoring host. It is a figure which shows the communication test screen displayed on an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the communication test log table in the database of a monitoring host. It is a figure which shows the device registration screen provided with the WWW server of a monitoring host. It is a flowchart showing the processing procedure by the side of the monitoring host concerning a communication test sequence. It is a figure which shows the communication test log reference screen provided with the WWW server of a monitoring host. It is a flowchart showing the processing procedure on the monitoring host side accompanying model registration. It is a figure which shows a model information table and a model error table.

Explanation of symbols

100 Monitoring host side network environment 101 Monitoring host 102 Monitoring host database 103 LAN
104 Internet
105, 106, 107 Customer-side network environment 108, 109 Sales company-side network environment 110 Image forming device 108 Base centralized monitoring device 109 A company X office LAN
110 Customer example: Company A Y office 111 PC

Claims (1)

In a remote maintenance system comprising at least one image forming apparatus to be monitored and a monitoring host that monitors the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus receives an input of organization information to be maintained from an information input unit;
Means for notifying the monitoring host of registration information to the remote maintenance system;
The monitoring host receives and stores model information of the image forming apparatus and information input of an organization that maintains the image forming apparatus;
Means for receiving the registration information notified from the image forming apparatus;
Means for determining whether information on the image forming apparatus is stored based on the registration information received by the receiving means;
Means for recording in the communication log that the image forming apparatus cannot be registered when it is determined by the determining means that the information of the image forming apparatus is not stored;
Means for confirming that the information of the organization to be maintained matches registered information when it is determined by the determination means that the information of the image forming apparatus is stored;
Means for notifying the image forming apparatus of registration failure information when the confirmation means recognizes that the information of the organization to be maintained does not match;
Means for registering the image forming apparatus as a monitoring target when the confirmation means recognizes that the information of the organization to be maintained matches;
Means for recording in the communication log that the image forming apparatus is registered as a monitoring target when the confirmation means recognizes that the information of the organization to be maintained matches;
Means for temporarily registering the image forming apparatus as a monitoring target when the confirmation means recognizes that the model information of the image living apparatus is an unregistered model;
Monitoring processing means for monitoring a part of the temporarily registered image forming apparatus;
Means for notifying the presence of unregistered model information that the model information of the image livelihood device does not exist by the confirmation means;
During the temporary registration period, temporary registration processing means for performing only storage and processing of information that does not require model information;
Switching means for switching the temporary registration to the main registration when the registration of the unregistered model information is recognized;
A remote maintenance system comprising processing means for starting all monitoring processing when the temporary registration is switched to the main registration.

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