JP2010056635A - Remote control system for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problems: in validation of a web browser used by a service person for maintenance works, (1) the web browser can be utilized only by an image forming apparatus having a remote management service subscription, (2) proceeding for utilization should be simple, and (3) proper charge processing can be performed. <P>SOLUTION: Validation of the web browser is controlled by a remote control server for the image forming apparatus. Then, a validation instruction is received at an operation panel of the image forming apparatus. Moreover, the state of a service person browser and a full browser is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the remote control server for the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for remotely managing the state of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to enabling an optional function for improving the efficiency of maintenance work of an image forming apparatus.

  Information of the image forming apparatus is collectively managed by a server, and various services are performed thereby. Examples of information on the image forming apparatus include a counter indicating the number of printed sheets, and failure occurrence information such as an error and a paper jam.

  Data collectively managed by the server is provided to a customer image forming apparatus maintenance person (serviceman). As a result, when there is failure occurrence information, the downtime of the image forming apparatus is shortened by heading to the site without waiting for contact from the customer.

  Furthermore, there is a demand for efficient maintenance work and shortening of time at the customer's customers.

  However, since various types of image forming apparatuses are installed at the customer site, there are various ways of dealing with failures, and it takes time to collect information for handling. Furthermore, the coping method varies depending on the information available at the site. Therefore, it is required to view FAQs for maintenance work.

  In addition, there is a need for a work report creation function with a rich content to fulfill the obligation to explain maintenance work to customers.

  In order to satisfy the above requirements, it is conceivable that the image forming apparatus itself has a FAQ or work report function.

  However, having a FAQ and work report creation function in the image forming device itself makes it difficult to add a FAQ or customize a work report, so it is possible to connect to a server with a FAQ or a server with a work report function. It is essential.

  A web browser can be easily used as a method for connecting to a server, but it is usually difficult for a service person to bring a PC to a customer and connect the PC to an intranet.

  Therefore, it is desired that the server can be used from the image forming apparatus, and the use of an embedded browser that is an optional function of the image forming apparatus is desired.

  Patent Document 1 discloses the activation of an optional function of an image forming apparatus.

  The method for activating an optional function according to Patent Document 1 is as follows.

  From the image forming apparatus, identification information and software identification information to be purchased are transmitted to the server as purchase information. Then, the server performs authentication processing, software transmission processing, and billing processing based on the information transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

Furthermore, it is possible to specify a usage pattern such as permanent use or temporary use of software, and change the accounting process according to the usage pattern.
JP 2000-253167 A

  However, in the use of a web browser for maintenance work of a service person, the following is desired.

1. 1. A web browser can be used only on an image forming apparatus with a remote management service usage contract. 2. The procedure for using the service is simple. Appropriate billing can be performed According to the prior art, the prior art server has a software distribution function and a customer information management function and is accessible to all customers. Therefore, it is not possible to limit the image forming apparatus that can use the web browser as an optional function, that is, to satisfy the requirement 1.

  The web browser used by the service person and the web browser used by the customer are in a relation between the lightweight version and the full function version, and must be treated as the same license.

  Therefore, the “appropriate billing process” of requirement 3 is that when both the web browser used by the service person and the web browser used by the customer are enabled in one image forming apparatus, the license is 2 Instead, it counts as 1.

  Here, the flow of the license fee will be briefly described.

  Web browsers are license managers different from license providers.

  The customer pays a license fee to the license manager when using the web browser. The license manager pays the license fee based on the contracted rate with the license provider.

  When a service person uses a web browser, the number of licenses is once counted. There are no costs yet.

  Thereafter, when paying the license fee to the license provider, it is necessary to add up the number of licenses managed by the license manager and the number of image forming apparatuses in which only the service person browser is used.

  However, in the prior art, functions associated with one license cannot be managed separately depending on the usage pattern.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus remote management system according to the present invention includes:
An image forming apparatus (103, 104, 105) installed at a network-connected customer and an image forming apparatus remote management server (101) that receives and manages information such as counters and errors from the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus remote management system,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Accepting means (513, 1201, S1501) for accepting a serviceman activation instruction from the service mode menu by the serviceman;
Detection means (512, S1502) for detecting an instruction to activate the serviceman browser from the service mode menu by the serviceman;
When the detection means detects an activation instruction (S1502), a serviceman browser and a full path are transmitted using a route for transmitting status information of the image forming apparatus as a counter to the image forming apparatus remote management server. Transmission means (506, S1504) for transmitting browser information of both browsers (FIGS. 11, 14, and 511);
Consists of
Furthermore, the image forming apparatus includes:
Response receiving means (S1505) for receiving a response from the image forming apparatus remote management server;
Means for enabling a serviceman browser when a response is received from the image forming apparatus remote management server by the response receiving means (S1506);
Full browser activation detection means (S1604) for detecting that the full browser is activated;
When the activation is detected by the full browser activation detection unit, if the serviceman browser has been activated (S1605), the transmission unit transmits the browser information of both the serviceman browser and the full browser to the image forming apparatus remote management server. (S1606)
The image forming apparatus remote management server includes:
Receiving means (108, 204, S1701) for receiving browser information (FIG. 14, 203) transmitted by the transmitting means;
If the data received by the receiving means is analyzed and determined to be browser information (S1702), the browser information of both the serviceman browser and the full browser is registered in the browser information table (FIG. 9, 208), or Registration update means (S1704, S1705, S1706) for updating data;
Means (S1708) for transmitting a normal completion response to the image forming apparatus when the registration updating means is normally completed;
It is characterized by comprising.

  By permitting the browser activation instruction by the service person, the image forming apparatus remote management server makes it possible to use the browser only in the image forming apparatus that has contracted to use the remote management service.

  The operation required to activate the browser is only one button click from the service mode menu, and the usage procedure is very simple.

  Further, information on both the browser used by the serviceman and the browser used by the customer is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus remote management server. As a result, it is possible to determine that both browsers are enabled in a single image forming apparatus, so that appropriate billing processing can be performed.

Prior to the description of the best mode for carrying out the present invention, terms will be described.
Service person: A person who regularly checks the image forming equipment installed at the customer's site and deals with troubles.

  Service mode menu: A menu screen on which various operations are installed in an image forming apparatus that can be used only by service personnel.

  Full browser: A web browser that is an optional function of the image forming apparatus. The customer obtains a license for a fee, activates it, and uses it.

  Serviceman browser: A web browser with the minimum necessary functions for browsing FAQs and creating work reports, among the full browser functions to reduce memory usage. The license is the same as the full browser.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system including devices related to the present invention.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes an image forming apparatus remote management server that receives and holds information such as counters and errors from an image forming apparatus installed at a customer site in the environment of this embodiment.

  A license management server 102 is responsible for issuing a license for an additional function of the image forming apparatus in the environment of this embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus remote management server 101 and the license management server 102 are connected to the Internet 108.

  Reference numerals 103, 104, and 105 denote various image forming apparatuses to be managed by the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes an image forming apparatus in which copying / printing, a scanner function, and a facsimile function are provided in an integrated manner. Reference numeral 104 denotes a color multifunction peripheral having color copying / printing and color scanner functions. Reference numeral 105 denotes a black-and-white multifunction machine having black-and-white copying / printing and black-and-white scanner functions. Reference numeral 106 denotes a PC.

  The image forming apparatuses 103, 104, and 105 are connected to the network 107 and transmit information such as counters and errors of the own apparatus to the image forming apparatus management server 101 via the Internet 108.

  The PC 106 can connect to the network 107, connect to the license management server 102 via the Internet 108, and request the license management server 102 to issue a license.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus remote management server 101.

  Individual components will be described.

  The CPU 201 is for controlling the entire image forming apparatus remote management server 101. A ROM 202 is a read-only memory for storing a boot program necessary for system startup and a program executed by the image forming apparatus remote management server. A RAM 203 is a working memory required when the CPU 201 executes a program. The network I / F unit 204 is for communicating with the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 and the license management server 102 at the base via the Internet 108. 202 to 203, a display control unit 206, an input control unit 207, and an HDD 208 that stores programs executed by the CPU 201, application information, and the like are connected to the system bus 205. A display device 209 is connected to the display control unit 206, and input devices 210 and 211 are connected to the input control unit 207. An operator who manages the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 checks the operation state of the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 and gives an operation instruction through these input / output devices.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the license management server 102.

  Each component will be described below.

  The CPU 301 is for controlling the entire license management server 102. A ROM 302 is a read-only memory for storing a boot program necessary for system startup and a program executed by the license management server. A RAM 303 is a working memory required when the CPU 301 executes a program. A network I / F unit 304 is for communicating with the PC 106 and the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 at the base via the Internet 108. 302 to 303, a display control unit 306, an input control unit 307, and an HDD 308 that stores programs executed by the CPU 301, application information, and the like are connected to the system bus 305. A display device 309 is connected to the display control unit 306, and input devices 310 and 311 are connected to the input control unit 307. An operator who manages the license management server 102 checks the operating state of the license management server 102 and gives an operation instruction through these input / output devices.

  FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the client PC 106.

  Each component will be described below.

  The CPU 401 is for controlling the entire client PC 106. A ROM 402 is a read-only memory for storing a boot program necessary for system startup and a program executed on the client PC. A RAM 403 is a working memory required when the CPU 401 executes a program. A network I / F unit 404 is for communicating with the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 or the license management server 102 at the base via the Internet 108. 402 to 403, a display control unit 406, an input control unit 407, and an HDD 408 storing data such as a program executed by the CPU 401 and a document are connected to the system bus 405. A display device 409 is connected to the display control unit 406, and input devices 410 and 411 are connected to the input control unit 407. A user of the client PC 106 issues an operation instruction for the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 through these input / output devices.

  FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  The image forming apparatus 103 is configured by each of the components 501 to 515.

  A document feeder 501 that automatically sends a document to be read to the image reader 502. An image reader (scanner) 502 for reading a document. An image forming unit 503 that converts and prints the read original and received data into a print image. A paper feeding unit 504 that feeds paper for printing. A paper discharge unit 505 that discharges printed paper and performs processing such as sorting and stapling. A network I / F 506 is connected to a LAN and the Internet via a network and exchanges information with the outside. A sensor 507 for detecting the state of each part of the apparatus. A CPU 508 that controls each process on the apparatus. A non-rewritable ROM 509 that stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus. A RAM 510 capable of electrically storing and rewriting temporary data related to each process of the apparatus. A readable / writable HDD 511 that stores programs and data related to each process of the apparatus, temporary data, user data transmitted to the apparatus, and the like. An operation unit 512 that receives an instruction input to the apparatus. A display unit 513 that displays the operation status of the apparatus and information related to operations on the operation unit 512. A modem 514 connected to a telephone line, and a system bus 515 that connects the parts 501 to 514 and exchanges data.

  FIG. 6 is a software block diagram of the image forming apparatus remote management server 101.

  In the figure, 601 is an OS (operating system), 602 is a library, 603 is a Web server, and 604 is an application.

  The image forming apparatus itself and a 605 image forming apparatus information management program for managing information received from the image forming apparatus are included as part of the application.

  Reference numeral 606 denotes a hardware control program, which includes a network board control program 607 and a hard disk control program 608 as part of the hardware control program.

  FIG. 7 is a software block diagram of the license management server 102.

  In the figure, 701 is an OS (operating system), 702 is a library, 703 is a Web server, and 704 is an application.

  As a part of the application, a 705 license management program for managing a license of the application and a license of an additional function of the image forming apparatus is included.

  A hardware control program 706 includes a network board control program 707 and a hard disk control program 708 as part of the hardware control program.

  FIG. 8 is a software configuration diagram of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  The task manager 801 is for managing a plurality of tasks simultaneously. A paper transport unit task group 802 is a task group that controls paper transport of a document and a sheet on which an image is formed. A sequence control task 803 is a task for managing the entire image forming apparatus. A communication task 804 is a task for communicating with the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. Also, there is a management data creation task 805 for creating remote management data of this embodiment.

  In the image forming apparatus, for each image formation, counting is performed for each paper size, each mode, each paper type, and each color. These count results are performed by the management data creation task 805 and stored in a memory device in the image forming apparatus.

  Similarly, status information such as a jam, an error, and an alarm is stored in a memory device in the image forming apparatus in a predetermined data format.

  Further, each part in the image forming apparatus has a replacement life of the consumable parts and a counter (hereinafter referred to as a part counter) representing the number of times of use, and the result counted in the management data creation task 805 Is stored in the memory device of the image forming apparatus.

  When the status monitoring task 806 of the image forming apparatus detects an abnormality (jam, error, alarm) in the image forming apparatus or detects a change in the status of a preset device, the status is displayed in the management data creation task 805. It is stored in the memory device of the image forming apparatus.

  The state monitoring task 806 also detects an operation on the operation unit 512.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of data held in the HDD 208 by the image forming apparatus remote management server 101.

  The contents of the data will be described in order from the left column.

  The serial number is information for specifying the image forming apparatus.

  The registration date and time is the first browser information notification date and time from the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105, and the update date and time is the second and subsequent browser information notification date and time from the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  The serviceman browser represents the state of the serviceman browser, and the full browser represents the state of the full browser. In both cases, the status means that ON is valid and OFF is invalid.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of data stored in the HDD 308 by the license management server 102.

  The contents of the data will be described in order from the left column.

  The serial number is information for specifying the image forming apparatus, and the product code is information for specifying the product for which a license is issued.

  The license issuance date is, for example, the date and time when the license issuance request is notified from the PC 106 and the license is issued as a response.

  The issuance license is information necessary for validating the product. When the issued license is a key for validating the license, the user of the image forming apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of this information using the operation unit 512. When the program operating in the RAM 510 detects the designation of a key for validating the license from the user of the image forming apparatus, the function corresponding to the key is validated, that is, changed to a usable state.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of data held in the HDD 511 held by the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  (A) holds the browser type and the state in association with it, and is referred to and updated when the state task 806 detects the operation of the service person.

  There are four types of serviceman browser states: OFF, REGISTER, ACTIVE, and SUSPEND.

  (B) holds a function name that can be added as an option to the image forming apparatus and whether the function is valid or invalid. The status task 806 refers to the status of the full browser and updates the status of the serviceman browser.

  (B) is changed from OFF to ON when a function that can be added as an option is activated. Then, the image forming apparatus is activated so that the function which is referred to and turned on in the activation process of the image forming apparatus can be used.

  The four types of states (A) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen for the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 to receive a serviceman operation.

  The serviceman browser setting screen is displayed on the display unit 513 of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  1201, 1205 or 1209 is displayed according to the browser state information shown in FIG. 11 stored in the HDD 511.

  A screen 1201 is displayed when the browser status information is OFF or SUSPEND.

  1202 is the current state, and 1203 is an activation instruction button. Reference numeral 1204 denotes an invalidation instruction button. When the browser state information is OFF or SUSPEND, the instruction by the user is not accepted.

  Reference numeral 1205 denotes a screen displayed when the browser state information is ACTIVE or REGISTER.

  Reference numeral 1206 denotes a current state, and reference numeral 1207 denotes an activation instruction button, but a state in which an instruction from the user is not accepted. Reference numeral 1208 denotes an invalidation instruction button.

  A screen 1209 is displayed when the validation button 1203 is pressed in 1201 and the validation is successful.

  Reference numeral 1213 denotes a message that prompts the user to restart the image forming apparatus after turning off the power.

  Although not shown, when the validation process fails, a message indicating the failure is displayed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state transition of the serviceman browser of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  OFF indicates that it has never been activated, and is the initial state of FIG.

  Serviceman browser can be used only when the status is ACTIVE.

  A transition from OFF to REGISTER is made when a serviceman browser 1301 valid instruction is detected by a serviceman 1301.

  The transition from REGISTER to OFF is made when an invalid instruction of the serviceman browser is detected by the serviceman of 1302.

  The transition from REGISTER to ACTIVE is made when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 transmit browser information to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 in 1303 and receive a response permitting activation of the serviceman browser as a response.

  When the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 do not receive the permission response from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101, the state does not change from REGISTER in 1304.

  A transition from ACTIVE to SUSPEND is made by detecting an invalid instruction of the serviceman browser by the serviceman 1305.

  The transition from SUSPEND to ACTIVE is made by a serviceman browser valid instruction by a serviceman 1306.

  FIG. 14 is an example of a SOAP schema transmitted from the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 in 1303.

  “ns1: postBrowserInformation” indicates that the transmission data is browser information.

  A serial number that is information for identifying an image forming apparatus, a service browser that is a serviceman browser, and a full browser that is a full browser are set.

  Furthermore, the date and time when the state of the serviceman browser or the full browser changes is set as timeStamp.

  In the example, at 10:10:05 on June 10, 2008, the serviceman browser is in REGISTER, that is, the serviceman has instructed the activation in 1301, and OFF indicating that the state of the full browser at that time is invalid It is.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 detect the operation of the service person. The operation of the state monitoring task 806 stored in the ROM 509 and read out to the RAM 510 is shown.

  In step S1501, a serviceman's operation on the operation unit 512 to the service browser setting screen shown in FIG. 11 displayed on the display unit 513 is awaited.

  If it is detected in step S1502 that the service person has performed an operation on the operation unit 512, the operation type is acquired.

  If it is determined that the activation has been instructed, that is, 1203 has been pressed, the process of step S1503 is performed.

  In step S1503, the state of the serviceman browser is read out from the browser information table shown in FIG.

  If it is determined that the browser state is OFF, that is, it has never been activated, the process of step S1504 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1504, the status of the serviceman browser read into the RAM is changed from OFF to REGISTER and stored in the HDD 511. Then, the status of the serviceman browser and the status of the full browser are transmitted to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 via the network I / F 506 in the data format shown in FIG.

  After the transmission, a response from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 is awaited in step S1505.

  If there is a response within a certain time, in step S1506, the state of the serviceman browser is changed from REGISTER to ACTIVE and stored in the HDD 511.

  If it is determined in step S1502 that invalidation has been instructed, that is, 1208 has been pressed, the process of step S1507 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1507, the status of the serviceman browser is changed and stored in the HDD 511. If the current state is REGISTER, change to OFF, and if the current state is ACTIVE, change to SUSPEND.

  If it is determined in step S1503 that the state of the serviceman browser is SUSPEND, processing in step S1508 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1508, the state of the serviceman browser is changed from SUSPEND to ACTIVE and stored in the HDD 511.

  If reception of a response from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 fails in step S1505, processing in step S1512 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1512, the display unit 513 displays that the activation has failed, and the process returns to step S1501.

  Subsequent to steps S1506, S1507, and S1508, the process of step S1509 is performed.

  In step S1509, the status display of the serviceman browser on the display unit 513 is changed.

  When the changed state is ACTIVE, FIG. 12B is displayed, and when the changed state is OFF or SUSPEND, FIG. 12A is displayed.

  In step S1510, the current serviceman browser state is determined.

  If it is OFF, the process returns to step S1501.

  If it is not OFF, that is, in the case of ACTIVE or SUSPEND, in step S1511, the image forming apparatus is rebooted, that is, it is necessary to turn on the power after the power is turned off, and 513 is displayed, and FIG. To do.

  In the case of ACTIVE, the screen of FIG. 12C is displayed at 513, and the process returns to step S1501.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the full browser state detection operation performed when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 are activated, and shows the operation of the state monitoring task 806 stored in the ROM 509 and read out to the RAM 510.

  In step S1601, the browser information table shown in FIG. 11A is read from the HDD 511 into the RAM 510, and the state of the full browser is referred to.

  If it is determined in step S1602 that the state of the full browser is OFF, the process of step S1603 is performed. If it is determined that the state of the full browser is not OFF, that is, it is ON, the process ends.

  In step S1603, the data FIG. 11B, which indicates whether the optional function of the image forming apparatus stored in the HDD 511 is valid, is read.

  If it is determined in step S1604 that the full browser is valid, processing in step S1605 is performed. If it is determined that the full browser is not valid, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1605 that the state of the serviceman browser in FIG. 11A is ACTIVE or SUSPEND, the process of step S1606 is performed. If it is determined that the status of the serviceman browser is neither ACTIVE nor SUSPEND, that is, OFF, REGISTER, the process is terminated.

  In step S1606, data in the format of FIG. 14 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101, and a response is awaited. If there is no response from 101, transmission is performed until a response is received. After receiving the response, the state of the full browser in FIG.

  By updating FIG. 11A after receiving the response, the process of step S1606 can be performed at the next startup of the image forming apparatus even when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off before receiving the response.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation when the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 receives data from the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105. The operation of the image forming apparatus information management program 605 stored in the ROM 202 and read out to the RAM 203. Represents.

  In step 1701, data from the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 is received via the network I / F 204 via the Internet 108 and temporarily stored in the RAM 203. The data format to be received is the format shown in FIG. Information specifying the data type from the received data, that is, a character string following “ns1:” is extracted.

  If it is determined in step S1702 that the extracted character string is “postBrowserInformation”, the processing from step S1703 is performed.

  If it is determined that the extracted character string is not “postBrowserInformation”, the processing from step S1707 is performed.

  In step S 1703, the browser information table shown in FIG. 9 stored in the HDD 208 is read into the RAM 203. A serial number, which is information for specifying the image forming apparatus, is extracted from the serial number tag from the received data.

  The browser information storage table shown in FIG. 9 stored in the HDD 208 is searched using the serial number extracted here as a search key.

  If it is determined in step S1704 that the serial number that matches the serial number extracted from the received data in step S1703 is registered in the browser information storage table, the processing from step S1706 is performed.

  If it is determined in step S1703 that the serial number that matches the serial number extracted from the received data is not registered in the browser information storage table, the processing from step S1705 is performed.

  In step S1705, the browser information table is added.

  As the registration date and time, the value of the timeStamp tag included in the received data, in FIG. 14, 2008-06-01T13: 40: 05.000Z is set.

  The update date / time is set to a value that is known to be undefined, for example, 1970-01-01T00: 00: 0.0000Z.

  The serial number extracted from the received data is set as the serial number.

  As the status of the serviceman browser and the full browser, the values of the Serviceman Browser tag and the Full Browser tag in the received data are set, respectively.

  Subsequently, the process of step S1708 is performed.

  In step S1706, the browser information table is updated. Records having a serial number that matches the serial number extracted from the received data are to be updated.

  As the update date / time, the value of the timeStamp tag included in the received data, in FIG. 14, is set to 2008-06-01T13: 40: 05.000Z, or updated if valid date / time information is already set.

  The service browser and the full browser state are updated with the values of the Serviceman Browser tag and Full Browser tag in the received data, respectively.

  Subsequently, the process of step S1708 is performed.

  In step S1707, image forming apparatus monitoring information such as the number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus and error information is extracted from the received data, and is stored in the HDD 208 in association with the serial number extracted from the received data.

  Subsequently, the process of step S1708 is performed.

  In step S1708, a data reception response is transmitted to the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 via the Network I / F 204 and the Internet 108.

  If various data can be normally extracted from the received data, a response indicating that the data has been processed normally is returned. If not, a response indicating that the data has not been processed normally is returned.

  As described above, the number of licenses can be appropriately managed by maintaining and managing the state of the serviceman browser and the full browser in the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 and transmitting information to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. It becomes possible.

  Further, when the activation of the serviceman browser is instructed regardless of whether the full browser is activated or deactivated, information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 at that timing.

  As a result, the number of operating serviceman browsers can be known from the browser information held by the image forming apparatus remote management server 101.

  The case of changing the serviceman browser activation procedure according to the state of the full browser will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the state transition of the serviceman browser of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105.

  OFF indicates that it has never been activated, and is the initial state of FIG.

  Serviceman browser can be used only when the status is ACTIVE.

  The transition from OFF to REGISTER is made when a serviceman browser 1801 valid instruction is detected by a serviceman 1801.

  The transition from REGISTER to OFF is made when an invalid instruction of the serviceman browser is detected by the serviceman 1802.

  The transition condition from REGISTER to ACTIVE depends on whether the full browser is already valid.

  First, a case where the full browser is not valid will be described.

  From REGISTER to ACTIVE, as in the first embodiment, the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 transmit browser information to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 in 1803, and a response permitting activation of the serviceman browser is received as a response. Transitions when received.

  When the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 do not receive the permission response from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101, the state does not change from REGISTER in 1804.

  Next, a case where the full browser is valid will be described.

  A transition is made from REGISTER to ACTIVE without transmitting browser information to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 in 1808.

  The transition from ACTIVE to SUSPEND is made by detecting the invalid instruction of the serviceman browser by the serviceman 1805 as in the first embodiment.

  The transition from SUSPEND to ACTIVE is made by a serviceman browser valid instruction by a serviceman 1806 as in the first embodiment.

  If the serviceman browser is valid, the serviceman transitions from OFF to SUSPEND in 1807 without any operation from the serviceman's UI.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 detect the operation of the service person, and shows the operation of the state monitoring task 806 stored in the ROM 509 and read out to the RAM 510.

  In step S1901, a serviceman operation on the operation unit 512 to the service browser setting screen shown in FIG. 11 displayed on the display unit 513 is awaited.

  If it is detected in step S1902 that the service person has performed an operation on the operation unit 512, the operation type is acquired.

  If it is determined that the activation has been instructed, that is, 1203 has been pressed, the process of step S1903 is performed.

  In step S1903, the state of the serviceman browser is read out from the browser information table shown in FIG.

  If it is determined that the browser state is OFF, that is, it has never been activated, the process of step S1904 is subsequently performed.

  In step S 1904, the browser information table in FIG. 11 is read from the HDD 511 to the RAM 510.

  When it is determined that the full browser is valid, the processing after step S1907 is performed, and when it is determined that the full browser is invalid, the processing after step S1905 is performed.

  In step S1905, the status of the serviceman browser read into the RAM is changed from OFF to REGISTER and stored in the HDD 511. Then, the status of the serviceman browser and the status of the full browser are transmitted to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 via the network I / F 506 in the data format shown in FIG.

  After the transmission, a response from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 is awaited in step S1906.

  If there is a response within a certain time, the serviceman browser status is changed from REGISTER to ACTIVE in step S1907 and stored in the HDD 511.

  If it is determined in step S1902 that invalidation has been instructed, that is, if 1208 has been pressed, the processing in step S1908 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1908, the status of the serviceman browser is changed and stored in the HDD 511. If the current state is REGISTER, change to OFF, and if the current state is ACTIVE, change to SUSPEND.

  If it is determined in step S1903 that the state of the serviceman browser is SUSPEND, the process of step S1909 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1909, the status of the serviceman browser is changed from SUSPEND to ACTIVE and stored in the HDD 511.

  If the response reception from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 has failed in step S1906, the process of step S1913 is subsequently performed.

  In step S1913, the display unit 513 displays that the activation has failed, and the process returns to step S1901.

  Subsequent to steps S1907, S1908, and S1909, the process of step S1910 is performed.

  In step S1910, the status display of the serviceman browser on the display unit 513 is changed.

  When the changed state is ACTIVE, FIG. 12B is displayed, and when the changed state is OFF or SUSPEND, FIG. 12A is displayed.

  In step S1911, the current serviceman browser state is determined.

  If it is OFF, the process returns to step S1901.

  If it is not OFF, that is, if it is ACTIVE or SUSPEND, in step S1912, the image forming apparatus is rebooted, that is, it is necessary to turn on the power after the power is turned off, and 513 is displayed, and FIG. 11B is updated. To do.

  In the case of ACTIVE, the screen of FIG. 12C is displayed at 513, and the process returns to step S1901.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the full browser state detection operation performed when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 are activated, and shows the operation of the state monitoring task 806 stored in the ROM 509 and read out to the RAM 510.

  In step S2001, the browser information table shown in FIG. 11A is read from the HDD 511 to the RAM 510, and the state of the full browser is referred to.

  If it is determined in step S2002 that the state of the full browser is OFF, the process of step S2003 is performed. If it is determined that the state of the full browser is not OFF, that is, it is ON, the process ends.

  In step S2003, the data FIG. 11B, which indicates whether the optional function of the image forming apparatus stored in the HDD 511 is valid, is read.

  If it is determined in step S2004 that the full browser is valid, processing in step S2005 is performed. If it is determined that the full browser is not valid, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S2005 that the state of the serviceman browser in FIG. 11A is ACTIVE or SUSPEND, the process of step S2006 is performed.

  If it is determined that the status of the serviceman browser is REGISTER, the process of step S2007 is performed.

  If it is determined that the status of the serviceman browser is OFF, the process of step S2008 is performed.

  In step S2006, data in the format of FIG. 14 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101, and a response is awaited. If there is no response from 101, transmission is performed until a response is received. After receiving the response, the state of the full browser in FIG.

  By updating FIG. 11A after receiving the response, even when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off before receiving the response, the process of step S2006 can be performed when the image forming apparatus is activated next time.

  In step S2007, processing is performed when the serviceman browser status is REGISTER.

  REGISTER has detected a serviceman browser activation instruction from a serviceman, but has not received a response from the image forming apparatus remote management server 101.

  It can be seen that the license fee for using the browser in the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 is paid because the full browser is activated.

  Since the license fee has already been paid, the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 does not need to count up the number of serviceman browsers used to pay the license fee.

  Therefore, without notifying the image forming apparatus remote management server 101, the state of the serviceman browser is changed to ACTIVE, and the display unit 513 displays that the image forming apparatus needs to be restarted, that is, the power OFF / ON is necessary. To do.

  In step S2008, a process when the serviceman browser is OFF is performed.

  OFF is a state in which the serviceman browser activation instruction of the serviceman has never been detected.

  Thereafter, when serviceman browser activation is detected, as described in step S2007, it is not necessary to count up the serviceman browser usage number, so the state is changed to SUSPEND.

  As described above, the number of licenses can be appropriately managed by maintaining and managing the state of the serviceman browser and the full browser in the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 and transmitting information to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. It becomes possible.

  Further, when the activation of the serviceman browser is instructed regardless of whether the full browser is activated or deactivated, information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101 at that timing. As a result, the number of operating serviceman browsers can be known from the browser information held by the image forming apparatus remote management server 101.

It is a system configuration diagram of the first and second embodiments. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus remote management server 101. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a license management server 102. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a client PC 106. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 103 to 105. FIG. 3 is a software block diagram of the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. FIG. 3 is a software block diagram of a license management server 102. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105. FIG. 4 is an example of data held by the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. It is an example of the data which the license management server 102 hold | maintains. 3 is an example of data held by the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105. FIG. 7 is an example of a screen for the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 to receive an operation by a service person. It is a figure showing the state transition of the service person browser of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 of the first embodiment. 3 is an example of data that the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 transmit to the image forming apparatus remote management server 101. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 of the first embodiment detect an operation of a service person. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 according to the first embodiment detect the activation of the full browser. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image forming apparatus remote management server receives notifications from the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105. It is a figure showing the state transition of the service person browser of the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 of the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 of the second embodiment detect an operation of a service person. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the image forming apparatuses 103 to 105 according to the second embodiment detect the activation of the full browser.

Claims (1)

An image forming apparatus remote management system comprising an image forming apparatus installed at a customer connected to a network and an image forming apparatus remote management server that receives and manages information such as counters and errors from the image forming apparatus. And
The image forming apparatus includes:
Accepting means for accepting a serviceman activation instruction from the service mode menu by the serviceman;
Detection means for detecting a serviceman browser activation instruction from the service mode menu by the serviceman;
When the activation instruction is detected by the detection means, browser information of both the serviceman browser and the full browser is used by using a path for transmitting a status error of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus remote management server. And transmission means for transmitting
Furthermore, the image forming apparatus includes:
Response receiving means for receiving a response from the image forming apparatus remote management server;
Means for enabling a serviceman browser when a response is received from the image forming apparatus remote management server by the response receiving means;
A full browser activation detection means for detecting that the full browser is activated;
When the activation is detected by the full browser activation detection means, if the service person browser has been activated, the transmission means is provided for transmitting browser information of both the service person browser and the full browser to the image forming apparatus remote management server. ,
The image forming apparatus remote management server includes:
Receiving means for receiving browser information transmitted by the transmitting means;
If the data received by the receiving means is analyzed and determined to be browser information, the browser information of both the serviceman browser and the full browser is registered in the browser information table, or the registration updating means for updating the data,
An image forming apparatus remote management system comprising: means for transmitting a normal end response to the image forming apparatus when the registration updating means ends normally.

Images