JP2011248795A - Consumables management system and consumables management server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer a consumable article in use from an image forming apparatus positioned close to an image forming apparatus with a consumable article shortage and using the same kind of consumable articles, when the consumable article shortage occurs.SOLUTION: A management server 4 includes: a retrieval unit 55 for retrieving an image forming apparatus which uses a consumable article of the same kind as a consumable article on which a consumable article shortage event occurs, in an apparatus database 42a with multiple image forming apparatuses registered therein, when the consumable article shortage event is received; and a request transmission unit 58 for transmitting a first display request for displaying a first alert message to notify a user of the image forming apparatus detected by the retrieval unit 55 to the image forming apparatus 1 with the consumable article shortage event, and also transmitting a second display request for displaying a second alert message to announce the detachment of the consumable article to the image forming apparatus 2 detected by the retrieval unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a consumable management system and a consumable management server.

  In image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction devices, consumables such as color material cartridges (toner cartridges and ink cartridges) and printing paper are used. When it occurs, the user replaces or replenishes the consumables.

  There is a system that acquires the status of consumables attached to an image forming apparatus using a remote server (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  For example, the status of the consumables acquired by the server in this way is compared with the status of the collected consumables and used for grasping the recovery status of the consumables (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the status of the consumables acquired by the server in this way is used to notify a device that stocks a new stock of consumables when the consumable has run out (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Further, there is a technique in which a storage unit is built in a cartridge, a use history is accumulated in the storage unit, and it is checked whether or not a used cartridge is reproducible (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-039244 JP 2009-037515 A JP 2002-366647 A

  According to the technique of the above-mentioned patent document 2, when a consumable item runs out, it is possible to replenish the consumable item in the consumable item by bringing a new stock from a nearby image forming apparatus.

  However, in the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, it is necessary to provide a sensor for detecting a new stock in the image forming apparatus, and if there is no new stock, it is not possible to replenish a consumable in a consumable device. Have difficulty.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a shortage of consumables occurs, the image forming apparatus uses the same type of consumables near the image forming apparatus in which the shortage of consumables has occurred. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a consumable management system and a consumable management server that can divert consumables in use.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  The consumables management system according to the present invention is connected to a network and needs to be replenished and / or replaced with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and connected to the network and mounted to be used in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A consumable management server that manages the consumables that have been used. When a plurality of image forming apparatuses needs to be replenished and / or replaced, a consumable shortage event is transmitted to the consumable management server. On the other hand, when the consumables management server receives a consumables shortage event from a communication device connected to the network or one of a plurality of image forming devices, the consumables shortage occurs in the registered device database of the plurality of image forming devices. A search unit that searches for an image forming apparatus that uses a consumable for each consumable type in which an event has occurred, and a first warning message that notifies a user of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit using a communication device A second display request for displaying a second warning message for notifying that the consumable item is removed, and transmitting a first display request for displaying the image to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable item shortage event has occurred. A request transmission unit that transmits to the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit.

  Accordingly, the user of the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred looks at the first warning message, identifies the image forming apparatus having the consumables, and takes out the consumables used in the image forming apparatus. It can be introduced into an image forming apparatus in which a consumable shortage event has occurred. In addition, since the second warning message is displayed in the image forming apparatus having the consumable item, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally taking the consumable item from another image forming apparatus. Therefore, when there is a shortage of consumables, it is possible to transfer the consumables in use from an image forming apparatus that is near the image forming apparatus where the shortage of consumables is in use and uses the same type of consumables. Become.

  The consumables management server according to the present invention receives a consumable shortage event from any of a communication device connected to a network and a plurality of image forming devices connected to the network, and registers a plurality of image forming devices. A search unit for searching for an image forming apparatus using a consumable for each consumable type in which a consumable shortage event has occurred, and an image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit using a communication device A first display request for displaying a first warning message for informing the user is transmitted to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, and a second warning message for notifying that the consumable is removed is displayed. A request transmission unit that transmits a second display request to the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit.

  Accordingly, the user of the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred looks at the first warning message, identifies the image forming apparatus having the consumables, and takes out the consumables used in the image forming apparatus. It can be introduced into an image forming apparatus in which a consumable shortage event has occurred. In addition, since the second warning message is displayed in the image forming apparatus having the consumable item, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally taking the consumable item from another image forming apparatus. Therefore, when there is a shortage of consumables, it is possible to transfer the consumables in use from an image forming apparatus that is near the image forming apparatus where the shortage of consumables is in use and uses the same type of consumables. Become.

  In addition to the consumables management server, the consumables management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the consumable management server includes a device selection unit that selects one image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatuses discovered by the search unit. The request transmission unit transmits the second display request only to the image forming apparatus selected by the device selection unit among the image forming apparatuses discovered by the search unit.

  Thus, the second warning message can be displayed only on the image forming apparatus from which the consumable item is actually taken out by the user.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the device selection unit is the closest to the image forming device in which the consumables shortage event has occurred other than the image forming device that does not satisfy the predetermined alternative condition among the image forming devices discovered by the search unit. Select a device.

  As a result, an image forming apparatus that satisfies the alternative condition, that is, an image forming apparatus that does not cause a problem even if the consumable is taken out is selected.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the alternative condition is that it belongs to the same group as the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred, and the device selection unit refers to the device database to determine the image forming device in which the consumables shortage event has occurred. An image forming apparatus belonging to the identified group among the image forming apparatuses identified by the search unit identified by the search unit, and the image forming apparatus nearest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred select.

  As a result, an image forming apparatus that uses a consumable of the same type as the consumable in which the consumable shortage event has occurred is selected.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the alternative condition is that the image forming apparatus to be excluded is not registered in the device database, and the device selecting unit refers to the device database and excludes each of the image forming devices found by the search unit. An image forming apparatus that is not registered as an image forming apparatus to be excluded and that is closest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred. Select a forming device.

  Thus, it is possible to explicitly register an image forming apparatus that has a problem if a consumable item is taken out, and exclude it from the target for taking out the consumable item.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the alternative condition is that the remaining amount of consumables for each consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and the device selection unit detects the consumable of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit It is determined whether or not the remaining amount is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and an image forming device closest to the image forming device in which the remaining amount of consumable item is greater than or equal to the threshold value and the consumable item shortage event has occurred is selected.

  Thereby, only the image forming apparatus whose remaining amount of consumables is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is selected. In other words, an image forming apparatus having a consumable item whose consumable item remaining amount is less than the predetermined threshold and is likely to cause a shortage of consumable item in a short time is not selected.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the alternative condition is that neither the image forming apparatus that is displaying the first warning message nor the image forming apparatus that is displaying the second warning message, and the device selection unit detects the image found by the search unit. Among the forming apparatuses, an image forming apparatus that is a transmission destination of the past first display request and has not transmitted the consumable shortage cancellation event, and a consumables shortage cancellation event that is the transmission destination of the past second display request. An image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus that has not been transmitted and that is closest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred is selected.

  As a result, an image forming apparatus in which a shortage of consumables has already occurred or an image forming apparatus for which a consumable has already been taken out is not selected.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the first display request includes display data used for screen display in the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, and the display data includes the position of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit, Map image data indicating a route from the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred to the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit is included.

  Accordingly, the user can easily reach the image forming apparatus selected as the target for taking out the consumables.

  In addition to the consumable management server described above, the consumable management server according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the consumable item is a color material cartridge.

  According to the present invention, when there is a shortage of consumables, the consumables in use can be transferred from an image forming apparatus that is near the image forming apparatus in which the shortage of consumables is in use and uses the same type of consumables. To.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a consumable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of the device database in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the management server in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a consumable management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are connected to an intranet 3 a in the user facility 101. The intranet 3a is connected to a wide area network 3b such as the Internet via a relay device (not shown). Since the intranet 3a and the wide area network 3b are connected, they can be regarded as one network. A management server 4 is connected to the wide area network 3b. In FIG. 1, two image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are illustrated, but actually three or more may be connected. The management server 4 manages consumables of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the intranet 3a in the user facility 101.

  The image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are apparatuses such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine, and use consumables 11 and 21 such as a toner cartridge, a photosensitive drum unit, and printing paper. Exchange is required.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a communication device 12, a display device 13, and an arithmetic processing device 14.

  The communication device 12 is connected to the intranet 3a and performs data communication with a device (such as the management server 4) connected to the intranet 3a or the wide area network 3b using a predetermined protocol. For example, a network interface is used as the communication device 12.

  The display device 13 is, for example, a liquid crystal display in an operation panel, and is a device that displays a user operation screen and a warning message for notifying various information to the user.

  The arithmetic processing unit 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like (not shown), loads various programs into the RAM, and executes them on the CPU, thereby executing various processing units. It is a device that realizes. The arithmetic processing unit 14 implements a state monitoring unit 14a and a control unit 14b based on a program (not shown).

  The status monitoring unit 14a monitors the remaining amount of consumables such as the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge mounted on the print engine and the remaining amount of printing paper in the tray, and the remaining amount of consumables has reached a predetermined threshold. It is a processing unit that sometimes detects a shortage of consumables and detects replenishment or replacement of consumables.

  The control unit 14b is a processing unit that controls internal devices such as the communication device 12, the display device 13, and a print engine (not shown). When various events related to the consumables 11 occur, the control unit 14b notifies the management server 4 by the communication device 12, and displays a warning message specified by the display request on the display device 13 when the communication device 12 receives the display request. Let

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes a communication device 22, a display device 23, and an arithmetic processing device 24. The communication device 22, the display device 23, and the arithmetic processing device 24 are the same devices as the communication device 12, the display device 13, and the arithmetic processing device 14, respectively. The arithmetic processing unit 24 implements a state monitoring unit 24a and a control unit 24b based on a program (not shown). The state monitoring unit 24a and the control unit 24b are processing units similar to the state monitoring unit 14a and the control unit 14b, respectively.

  The management server 4 includes a communication device 41, a storage device 42, and an arithmetic processing device 43.

  The communication device 41 is connected to the wide area network 3b and performs data communication with a device (such as the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2) connected to the intranet 3a or the wide area network 3b using a predetermined protocol. As the communication device 41, for example, a network interface is used.

  The storage device 42 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive. In the storage device 42, a device database 42a is constructed and map data 42b is stored.

  The device database 42a has registration information such as identifiers, group groups, and arrangement positions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 connected to the intranet 3a in the user facility 101.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of the device database 42a in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the device database 42 a includes model information 61, affiliation information 62, and exclusion information 63. Then, arrangement information 64 is registered in advance for one image forming apparatus, and model information 61, affiliation information 62, and exclusion information 63 are associated with the arrangement information 64.

  The arrangement information 61 is a table having an identifier of the image forming apparatus and position information. The identifier is, for example, a serial number, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, a host name, or the like. The position information is, for example, latitude / longitude, floor floor number, room number, and the like.

  The model information 62 is a table having the model name of the image forming apparatus and one or more diversion group names. The model name is a model name, an OEM name, or the like. The model name may include a plurality of names. The diversion group is a model group of a plurality of image forming apparatuses capable of diverting a certain type of consumable. A diversion group is set for each consumable type. For example, a diversion group for the toner cartridge and a diversion group for the drum unit may be provided separately.

  By consumable type, in addition to a major classification such as a toner cartridge and a drum unit, a minor classification such as a color of the toner cartridge (any of CMYK) may be used. For example, a black (K) toner cartridge for one color image forming apparatus may be used for another monochrome image forming apparatus.

  The affiliation information 63 is information relating to a department that manages the image forming apparatus and an administrator, and includes management department information (code or name) and administrator information (code or name). The management department information indicates a department that bears a consumable usage fee.

  The exclusion information 64 is setting information used when determining whether or not to exclude from consumable diversion source candidates. The exclusion information 64 includes either a binary type value indicating whether to exclude or a value designating multi-level priority, or a combination of both.

  When a priority is set in the exclusion information 64, an image forming apparatus having a higher priority in the exclusion information of the image forming apparatus in which the shortage of consumables has occurred is excluded from the consumable diversion source candidates. .

  The map data 42b includes layout information and route information in the building of the user facility 101. The map data 42b is used for searching for a route from the image forming apparatus in which the shortage of consumables has occurred to the image forming apparatus to which the consumables are diverted. Note that the map data configuration and route search can be performed using a well-known navigation system, and details thereof will not be described here.

  The arithmetic processing unit 43 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like (not shown), and implements various processing units by loading a program into the RAM and executing the program by the CPU. The arithmetic processing unit 43 includes an event receiving unit 51, an event analyzing unit 52, an event recording unit 53, a device selecting unit 54, a searching unit 55, a route searching unit 56, a request generating unit 57, and a request based on a program (not shown). The transmitter 58 is realized.

  The event receiving unit 51 is a processing unit that receives various events from the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 using a communication device. The event analysis unit 52 is a processing unit that analyzes a received event and determines whether the received event is one of a consumable shortage event and a consumable shortage release event. The event recording unit 53 is a processing unit that records a received event.

  When the consumable shortage event is received, the device selection unit 54 causes the search unit 55 to search for an image forming apparatus that is a candidate for the consumables diversion source, and the consumables from the consumable diversion source candidates. It is a processing unit that selects one image forming apparatus as a diversion source.

  In this embodiment, the device selection unit 54 is the image forming apparatus found by the search unit 55 other than the image forming apparatus that does not satisfy the predetermined alternative condition, and is the most from the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred. A nearby image forming apparatus is selected.

  The first alternative condition is that it belongs to the same group as the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, and the device selection unit 54 refers to the device database 42a to form an image in which the consumable shortage event has occurred. The image forming apparatus to which the consumables shortage event has occurred is identified among the image forming apparatuses identified by the search unit 55 by identifying the group to which the apparatus belongs (that is, the management department). The image forming apparatus that is closest to is selected.

  The second alternative condition is that the exclusion information 63 indicates that the image forming apparatus to be excluded is not registered in the device database 42a. The device selection unit 54 refers to the device database 42a and searches the search unit 55. It is determined whether or not each of the image forming apparatuses discovered by the above is registered as an image forming apparatus that should be excluded, and is an image forming apparatus that is not registered as an image forming apparatus that should be excluded, The image forming apparatus closest to the generated image forming apparatus is selected.

  The third alternative condition is that the remaining amount of consumables for each consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (for example, the remaining amount of toner is 50% or more). The selection unit 54 determines whether or not the remaining amount of consumables of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit 55 is greater than or equal to a threshold, and the remaining amount of consumables is greater than or equal to the threshold and a consumable shortage event has occurred The image forming apparatus closest to the image forming apparatus is selected.

  This threshold value is set higher than the threshold value for detecting the shortage of consumables. When the threshold value is less than this threshold value, the control units 14b and 24b transmit events to the management server 4. In the management server 4, the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the event is registered in a predetermined table, and the image forming apparatus registered in the table is not selected by the device selection unit 54. When a consumable shortage release event is received from an image forming apparatus registered in the table, the image forming apparatus is deleted from the table.

  The fourth alternative condition is that neither the image forming apparatus that is displaying the first warning message nor the image forming apparatus that is displaying the second warning message. Among the discovered image forming apparatuses, the image forming apparatus that has been the transmission destination of the first display request in the past and has not transmitted the consumable shortage release event, and the consumable that is the transmission destination of the past second display request. Other than the image forming apparatus that has not transmitted the shortage release event, an image forming apparatus that is closest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred is selected.

  When the consumable shortage event occurs, the image forming apparatus notifies the management server 4 of a consumable shortage release event when the consumable is replenished or replaced. In addition, the image forming apparatus selected by the device selection unit 54 (that is, the image forming apparatus from which the consumables are diverted) is replenished or replaced with new consumables after the consumables are taken out. The management server 4 is notified of the shortage cancellation event.

  Upon receiving a consumable shortage event from any of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the search unit 55 searches the device database 42a for an image forming apparatus that uses a consumable by consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred. Is a processing unit.

  The path search unit 56 refers to the map data 42b to search for a path from the image forming apparatus in which the shortage of consumables has occurred to the image forming apparatus that is the consumables diversion source, and the image that is the consumables diversion source. It is a processing unit that generates image data of a map including the position of the forming apparatus and its route.

  The request generation unit 57 generates a first display request for displaying a first warning message for notifying the user of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit 55, and notifies the user that the consumable is removed. It is a processing unit that generates a second display request for displaying a warning message.

  In this embodiment, these display requests include display data used in the image forming apparatus, and the display data of the first display request includes map image data generated by the route search unit 56. .

  The request transmission unit 58 uses the communication device 41 to transmit the first display request to the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred, and the second display request is discovered by the search unit 55 and the device selection unit And a processing unit that transmits the image to the image forming apparatus selected by 54.

  Next, consumables management in the system will be described.

  Here, a case where a shortage of consumables occurs in the toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 becomes a transfer source of the toner cartridge will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the management server 4 in FIG.

  In the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2, the state monitoring units 14 a and 24 a monitor the remaining amount of the consumables 11 and 21. When a predetermined event related to the consumables 11 and 21 is detected, the control units 14 b and 24 b The event is notified to the management server 4.

  In the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2, when the state monitoring units 14a and 24a detect the shortage of consumables, the control units 14b and 24b transmit a consumable shortage event to the management server 4 until the consumables are replenished or replaced. Stop the printing operation.

  The event receiving unit 51 of the management server 4 receives an event from the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 at the communication device 41 by spontaneous event transmission or polling processing (step S1).

  When the event reception unit 51 receives an event, the event analysis unit 52 identifies the type of the event and causes the event recording unit 53 to record the event. Then, the event analysis unit 52 determines whether the event is one of a consumable shortage event and a consumable shortage release event (steps S2 and S3).

  If the event is a consumable shortage event, the device selection unit 54 causes the search unit 55 to search for an image forming apparatus that is a candidate for a consumable diversion source (step S4).

  The search unit 55 identifies, from the consumable shortage event, the type of the consumable that has shortage of consumables and the identifier of the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred.

  Next, the search unit 55 refers to the device database 42a, first specifies the arrangement information 64 of the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, and further models information 61 associated with the arrangement information 64. Is identified.

  The search unit 55 identifies the model of the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred from the model information 61, and is a diversion group for the type of consumable in which the consumable shortage has occurred, and includes that model. Identify the diversion group.

  Then, the search unit 55 specifies the arrangement information 64 of other image forming apparatuses belonging to the diversion group. The image forming apparatus having the arrangement information 64 specified here is a candidate for a consumable diversion source.

  When the search unit 55 finds a candidate for the consumables diversion source, the device selection unit 54 selects one image forming apparatus as a consumable diversion source from the candidates (step S5). At this time, the device selection unit 54 selects an image forming apparatus closest to the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred among candidates that satisfy all of the first to fourth alternative conditions described above. Note that the image forming apparatus 2 closest to the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred can be identified from the position information of the arrangement information 64, for example.

  When one image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus 2) is selected, the request generation unit 57 replaces the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred with the selected image forming apparatus 2 in the storage device 42 or the like. It registers in a diversion target table (not shown) (step S6). In the diversion target table, identifiers of the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are recorded. This diversion target table is referenced when determining the fourth alternative condition. In other words, the image forming apparatus registered in the diversion target table is not selected as a new consumables diversion source because it is already the diversion destination or diversion source of the consumables.

  When one image forming apparatus 2 is selected, the path search unit 56 selects the path from the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumables shortage event has occurred to the selected image forming apparatus 2, the image forming apparatuses 1, and 2. Image data of a map image indicating the position of 2 is generated.

  Then, the request generation unit 57 generates a first display request and a second display request. The first display request is for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to display a first warning message notifying the user of the image forming apparatus 2 discovered by the search unit 55. The second display request is for causing the image forming apparatus 2 to display a second warning message notifying that the consumable of the image forming apparatus 2 is removed.

  The first warning message includes, for example, a text “Map out of toner. Replace toner cartridge. The device using the same toner cartridge is MFP 2” and a map image.

  Further, the second warning message includes, for example, a text “Toner will be taken out soon and cannot be used”.

  When the first display request and the second display request are generated, the request transmission unit 58 transmits the first display request to the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, and the second display request is The image is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus 2 (step S7).

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when the first display request is received, the control unit 14b causes the display device 13 to display the first warning message. In the image forming apparatus 2, when the second display request is received, the control unit 24b displays a second warning message on the display device 23, and an operation input to an operation panel (not shown) is displayed while the second warning message is displayed. And acceptance of print data from the host device are prohibited.

  As a result, the user who is using the image forming apparatus 1 confirms the first warning message, takes out the consumables from the image forming apparatus 2, replenishes the image forming apparatus 1, or replaces the consumables of the image forming apparatus 1. To do. When another user confirms the second warning message when trying to use the image forming apparatus 2, the user searches for another image forming apparatus and uses it.

  When the shortage of consumables in the image forming apparatus 1 is resolved, the state monitoring unit 14a detects this, and the control unit 14b notifies the management server 4 of a consumable shortage release event. Note that the controller 14b may notify the management server 4 of a consumable shortage release event when the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 1 after replenishing / exchanging the consumables.

  In the management server 4, when this event is received by the event reception unit 51 (step S1), the event analysis unit 52 determines that this event is a consumable shortage release event (step S3).

  If it is determined that the received event is a consumable shortage release event, the request generation unit 57 deletes the identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 that is the transmission source of the consumable shortage release event from the diversion target table (step S8). ), A warning message display cancel request is generated.

  The request transmission unit 58 transmits the warning message display cancellation request to the image forming apparatus 1 that is the transmission source of the consumable shortage cancellation event (step S9).

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when the display cancellation request is received, the control unit 14b ends the display of the first warning message.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, when the consumable item is replenished after the consumable item is taken out, similarly, the state monitoring unit 24 a detects it, and the control unit 24 b manages the consumable item shortage release event. The server 4 is notified. When receiving the consumable shortage release event, the management server 4 similarly deletes the registration of the image forming apparatus 2 from the diversion target table and transmits a display release request to the image forming apparatus 2. Thereby, the display of the second warning message in the image forming apparatus 2 is completed.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, in the management server 4, when the consumable shortage event is received from any of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the search unit 55 registers the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The device database 42a is searched for an image forming apparatus that uses consumables by consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred. Then, the request transmission unit 58 sends a first display request for displaying a first warning message for notifying the user of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit 55 to the image forming apparatus 1 in which the consumable shortage event has occurred. In addition to the transmission, a second display request for displaying a second warning message notifying that the consumable is removed is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 discovered by the search unit 55.

  Accordingly, the user of the image forming apparatus in which the consumables shortage event has occurred looks at the first warning message, identifies the image forming apparatus having the consumables, and takes out the consumables used in the image forming apparatus. It can be introduced into an image forming apparatus in which a consumable shortage event has occurred. In addition, since the second warning message is displayed in the image forming apparatus having the consumable item, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally taking the consumable item from another image forming apparatus. Therefore, when there is a shortage of consumables, it is possible to transfer the consumables in use from an image forming apparatus that is near the image forming apparatus where the shortage of consumables is in use and uses the same type of consumables. Become.

  Therefore, it will continue for a temporary period until new consumables arrive due to automatic ordering of consumables by existing managed print service or automatic dispatch request of service person, etc., without delaying business by diverting consumables. be able to. Especially in the middle-range and low-end models, it is difficult to accurately grasp the consumption (or remaining amount) of consumables with the managed print service. However, according to the above embodiment, the consumable supplies that can be used in other image forming apparatuses can be diverted, so that it is not necessary to keep stock of new consumables.

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the device database 42a is provided in a database server different from the management server 4 and is connected via a network (a wide area network 3b or a local area network connecting the management server 4 and the database server). The search unit 55 may access the database server.

  Further, in the above embodiment, according to the type of consumables for which the consumables shortage event has occurred, an image (still image or moving image) indicating the method for replenishing or replacing that type of consumables is included in the first warning message. The second warning message may include an image (still image or moving image) indicating the method of taking out the consumable item of that type.

  The present invention is applicable to centralized management of image forming apparatuses such as MPS (Managed Print Service) and MDS (Managed Document Service).

1, 2 Image forming apparatus 3a Intranet (part of network example)
3b Wide area network (part of an example network)
4 management server (an example of a consumables management server)
41 communication device 42a device database 54 device selection unit 55 search unit 58 request transmission unit

Claims (10)

A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network and requiring replenishment and / or replacement of consumables;
A consumables management server that is connected to the network and manages consumables that are already installed in the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
When the plurality of image forming apparatuses need replenishment and / or replacement of consumables, the plurality of image forming apparatuses transmits a consumable shortage event to the consumable management server,
The consumable management server
A communication device connected to the network;
When a consumables shortage event is received from any of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the consumables for each consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred are used in the registered device database of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A search unit for searching for an image forming apparatus,
A first display request for displaying a first warning message for notifying the user of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit using the communication device is sent to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred. A request transmission unit that transmits a second display request for displaying a second warning message for notifying that the consumable is removed, to the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit,
Consumables management system characterized by A communication device connected to the network;
When a consumable shortage event is received from any of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network, consumption by consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred is registered in the registered device database of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A search unit for searching for an image forming apparatus using the product,
A first display request for displaying a first warning message for notifying the user of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit using the communication device is sent to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred. A request transmitting unit that transmits a second display request for displaying a second warning message for notifying that the consumable is removed, to the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit;
A consumables management server comprising: A device selection unit for selecting one image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatuses discovered by the search unit;
The request transmission unit transmits the second display request only to the image forming apparatus selected by the device selection unit among the image forming apparatuses discovered by the search unit;
The consumables management server according to claim 2.   The device selection unit is an image forming device that is closest to the image forming device in which the consumables shortage event has occurred, other than the image forming device that does not satisfy a predetermined alternative condition among the image forming devices discovered by the searching unit. 4. The consumable management server according to claim 3, wherein an apparatus is selected. The alternative condition is to belong to the same group as the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred,
The device selection unit refers to the device database, identifies a group to which the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, and identifies the identified group among the image forming devices found by the search unit Selecting an image forming apparatus closest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred,
The consumables management server according to claim 4. The alternative condition is that it is not registered in the device database as an image forming apparatus to be excluded,
The device selection unit refers to the device database to determine whether each of the image forming devices discovered by the search unit is registered as the image forming device to be excluded, and the image to be excluded Selecting an image forming apparatus that is not registered as a forming apparatus and that is closest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred;
6. The consumable management server according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The alternative condition is that the remaining amount of consumables for each consumable type in which the consumable shortage event has occurred is a predetermined threshold or more,
The device selection unit determines whether the remaining amount of consumables of the image forming apparatus discovered by the search unit is greater than or equal to the threshold, and the remaining amount of consumables is greater than or equal to the threshold, Selecting an image forming apparatus closest to the image forming apparatus in which the shortage event has occurred;
The consumables management server according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: The alternative condition is that neither the image forming apparatus displaying the first warning message nor the image forming apparatus displaying the second warning message,
The device selection unit is an image forming device discovered by the search unit, which is a transmission destination of the first display request in the past and has not transmitted a consumables shortage release event, and the past Select an image forming apparatus closest to the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred, other than the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the second display request and has not transmitted the consumable shortage canceling event. thing,
The consumables management server according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein: The first display request includes display data used for screen display in the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred,
The display data includes map image data indicating the position of the image forming apparatus found by the search unit and the path from the image forming apparatus in which the consumable shortage event has occurred to the image forming apparatus found by the search unit Including,
The consumables management server according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that:   The consumable item management server according to claim 1, wherein the consumable item is a color material cartridge.

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