JP2017228179A - Apparatus management system, apparatus management program and apparatus management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus management system in which an electronic apparatus can be remotely maintained if permitted by a user of the electronic apparatus, an apparatus management program and an apparatus management method.SOLUTION: An MFP of an apparatus management system displays a content of a use permission contract of a maintenance system for the MFP (S105), receives an instruction of agreement to the use permission contract (YES in S107), records a history of the use permission contract (S108), receives input of an access code for a maintenance connection as a connection between the MFP and the maintenance system in a state where the MFP can be maintained by the maintenance system (YES in S111), and notifies the maintenance system of the access code (S112) and the maintenance system permits the maintenance connection on the basis of the access code that is reported from the MFP.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a device management system, a device management program, and a device management method for remotely maintaining an electronic device.

  Conventionally, when a manufacturer of an electronic device such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) or a printer dedicated machine sells an electronic device manufactured by the manufacturer itself (hereinafter referred to as “product”) to a user, When a product maintenance contract is concluded with a user, the product may be maintained if the user is notified that the product has failed.

  On the other hand, if a sales company such as a dealer or a reseller sells a product of a manufacturing company to a user, the product may be broken when a contract for product maintenance is concluded between the sales company and the user. When contacted by users, product maintenance may be performed.

  Here, the manufacturing company has signed a product maintenance contract between the manufacturing company itself and the user, and whether the product maintenance contract has been signed between the sales company and the user. Regardless, the product may be warranted on a specific basis. In other words, when a user is notified that a product has failed, the manufacturer may perform product maintenance free of charge within the scope of the guarantees defined by specific standards.

  As a method of product maintenance by a manufacturing company, a method using a maintenance system for remotely maintaining electronic devices is known. For example, a manufacturing company obtains various product information from the product via the Internet via the maintenance system, such as the usage amount from the start of use of the product to the present, the remaining amount of consumables of the product, and the current state of the product. Can be used for maintenance. In addition, the manufacturing company can maintain the product via the Internet via the maintenance system, such as updating the firmware of the product via the Internet via the maintenance system.

  Here, if the manufacturer does not have a product maintenance contract with the user, when the product purchased by the user is remotely maintained by the maintenance system, the maintenance system for the product purchased by the user is It is necessary to obtain the user's consent to the license agreement.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique related to a license, a technique for transferring a license right necessary for executing a function between image forming apparatuses connected via a network is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-190968 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that although a license can be transferred between electronic devices connected via a network, a new license cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device management system, a device management program, and a device management method capable of remotely maintaining an electronic device by a maintenance system when the user of the electronic device permits it.

  The device management system of the present invention includes an electronic device and a maintenance system for remotely maintaining the electronic device, and the electronic device displays a contract processing means for displaying the contents of a license agreement for the maintenance system for the electronic device. And a connection processing means for receiving an input of a code for a maintenance connection as a connection between the electronic device and the maintenance system in a state where the electronic device can be maintained by the maintenance system. The contract processing means accepts an instruction to consent to the displayed license agreement, and keeps a history of the license agreement that accepted the instruction, and the connection processing means accepts the instruction by the contract processing means. The code that received the input is Notify the nonce system, the maintenance system, and permits the connection the maintenance based on the code notified from the electronic device.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention accepts an instruction for consent to the maintenance system license agreement for the electronic device and an input of a code for the connection for maintenance by the electronic device. If permitted, the electronic device can be remotely maintained by the maintenance system.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the maintenance system issues the code, and permits the maintenance connection when the code notified from the electronic device and the issued code are the same. good.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention can improve convenience because the maintenance system issues a code.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the contract processing means may display the latest contents of the license agreement confirmed by accessing a specific website.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention displays the contents of the latest license agreement confirmed by accessing a specific website, so that the user of the electronic device always agrees to the latest license agreement. Can do.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the maintenance system may end the maintenance connection at a specific timing after the maintenance connection is started.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention terminates the maintenance connection at a specific timing after the maintenance connection is started. Therefore, even if the remote maintenance of the electronic device by the maintenance system is completed, the device management system of the present invention Occurrence of a situation where the connection is maintained can be prevented.

  In the device management system of the present invention, at least one of the connection processing means and the maintenance system may leave a history of the start and end of the maintenance connection.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention keeps a history of the start and end of the connection for maintenance, so it becomes clear whether the connection for maintenance has ended according to the contents of the license agreement, and convenience is improved. Can be improved.

  In the device management system of the present invention, an expiration date is set for the code, and the maintenance system connects the connection for maintenance when the code notified from the electronic device has passed the expiration date. You do not need to allow it.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention prevents a cord that has expired from being used for permitting a connection for maintenance, so that it is not necessary to remotely maintain an electronic device by a maintenance system. The maintenance connection can be prevented from being executed.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the maintenance system may not permit the maintenance connection when the electronic device is notified of the code that has already been used to permit the maintenance connection.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention prevents the cord that has already been used for permitting the connection for maintenance from being used again for permitting the connection for maintenance, so that the electronic device is remotely maintained by the maintenance system. It is possible to prevent the maintenance connection from being executed when it is not necessary.

  The device management program of the present invention is a contract processing means for displaying the contents of a license agreement for the electronic device of a maintenance system for remotely maintaining the electronic device, and the electronic device can be maintained by the maintenance system. The electronic device functions as a connection processing unit that accepts an input of a code for a maintenance connection as a connection between the electronic device and the maintenance system in a stable state, and the contract processing unit displays the use permission displayed Accepting an instruction to consent to a contract, leaving a history of the license agreement that accepted the instruction, and the connection processing means, when the instruction is accepted by the contract processing means, the code that has received the input Notifying the maintenance system That.

  With this configuration, the electronic device that executes the device management program of the present invention receives an instruction to agree to the maintenance system license agreement for the electronic device and an input of the code for the maintenance connection. Can be maintained remotely by a maintenance system when

  According to the device management method of the present invention, the electronic device displays the contents of the license agreement for the electronic device of the maintenance system for remotely maintaining the electronic device, and the electronic device gives an instruction to agree to the displayed license agreement. The connection between the electronic device and the maintenance system in a state where the electronic device leaves a history of the license agreement that has received the instruction and the electronic device can be maintained by the maintenance system. When the electronic device accepts an input of a code for maintenance connection, and when the instruction is accepted, the electronic device notifies the maintenance system of the code that has accepted the input, and is notified from the electronic device. The maintenance connection based on the cord. Characterized in that the Nsu system will allow.

  With this configuration, the device management method of the present invention accepts an instruction for consent to the license agreement for the maintenance system for the electronic device and an input of a code for connection for maintenance by the electronic device. If permitted, the electronic device can be remotely maintained by the maintenance system.

  The device management system, the device management program, and the device management method of the present invention can remotely maintain an electronic device using a maintenance system when the user of the electronic device permits it.

1 is a block diagram of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the server shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the access code list | wrist shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when a maintenance connection is started. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen displayed in the operation | movement shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the pop-up displayed in the operation | movement shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the maintenance system shown in FIG. 3 when the connection for a maintenance is requested | required. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the maintenance system shown in FIG. 3 in the case of complete | finishing the connection for a maintenance.

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

  First, the configuration of a device management system including an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an electronic device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device management system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the device management system 10 includes an MFP 20, a computer 30 such as a PC (Personal Computer) that can communicate with the MFP 20 via a network 10 a such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet, and the Internet 10 b. A server 40 that provides a maintenance system for remotely maintaining the MFP 20 via the Internet, and a computer 50 such as a PC that can communicate with the server 40 via the Internet 10b.

  The computer 30 is used by a user of the MFP 20 (hereinafter referred to as “end user”). The computer 50 is used, for example, by a person who belongs to the manufacturer of the MFP 20 (hereinafter referred to as “help desk”).

  The device management system 10 may include one or more MFPs similar to the MFP 20 in addition to the MFP 20. The device management system 10 may include one or more computers similar to the computer 30, and may include one or more computers similar to the computer 50 other than the computer 50.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 includes an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, and a display unit 22 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. And a scanner 23 that reads an image from a document, a printer 24 that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, an external facsimile apparatus not shown, and a communication line such as a public telephone line A fax communication unit 25, which is a fax device for performing fax communication, and a communication unit 26, which is a communication device for communicating with an external device via the network 10a (see FIG. 1) or the Internet 10b (see FIG. 1), Semiconductor memory, HDD (Hard Dis) that stores various information Drive) and a storage unit 27 is a nonvolatile storage device such as, and a control unit 28 which controls the entire MFP 20.

  The storage unit 27 stores a device management program 27a. The device management program 27a may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from an external storage medium such as an SD card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. It may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from 10a or the Internet 10b. The device management program 27a may be provided as a part of the firmware of the MFP 20, or may be provided as a dedicated application for connecting the MFP 20 to a maintenance system described later.

  The storage unit 27 can store a contract history 27b indicating information such as the contents of the license agreement, version information, and consent date for each license agreement.

  The storage unit 27 maintains information such as the start date and time and the end date and time of the connection between the MFP 20 and the maintenance system in a state where the MFP 20 can be maintained by the maintenance system (hereinafter referred to as “maintenance connection”). The connection history 27c shown for each connection can be stored.

  The control unit 28 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. Yes. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 27.

  The control unit 28 executes the device management program 27a stored in the storage unit 27 to thereby display the contract processing means 28a for displaying the content of the maintenance system license agreement for the MFP 20, and a code for connection for maintenance. (Hereinafter referred to as “access code”) functions as connection processing means 28b.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the server 40.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the server 40 includes an operation unit 41 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard for inputting various operations, a display unit 42 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, A communication unit 43 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device via the Internet 10b (see FIG. 1); a storage unit 44 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various types of information; And a control unit 45 that controls the entire server 40.

  The storage unit 44 can store, for each MFP, a contract history 44a indicating information such as the contents of the license agreement, version information, and agreement date / time for each license agreement.

  The storage unit 44 can store, for each MFP, a connection history 44b indicating information such as the start date and time and end date and time of the maintenance connection for each maintenance connection.

  The storage unit 44 can store an access code list 44c indicating a valid access code.

  The control unit 45 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 44.

  The control unit 45 functions as a maintenance system 45 a that remotely maintains the MFP 20 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 44.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the access code list 44c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the access code list 44c includes an access code and an expiration date set in the access code for each access code. The access code expiration date can be arbitrarily set by the help desk, but as a typical example, it can be a specific period from the time of issue. For example, according to the access code list 44 c illustrated in FIG. 4, the expiration date of the access code “123456” is June 30, 2016.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the computer 50.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the computer 50 includes an operation unit 51 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard for inputting various operations, a display unit 52 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, A communication unit 53 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device via the Internet 10b (see FIG. 1); a storage unit 54 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various types of information; And a control unit 55 that controls the entire computer 50.

  The control unit 55 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 54.

  Next, the operation of the device management system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the device management system 10 when starting a maintenance connection will be described.

  When the end user notifies the help desk, for example, by telephone that a malfunction has occurred in the MFP 20 within the scope of the guarantee specified by a specific standard, the help desk determines how to operate the MFP 20 to start a maintenance connection. Contact end users, for example, by phone or email. Therefore, the end user operates the operation unit 21 according to the operation method notified from the help desk. When the end user instructs the MFP 20 via the operation unit 21 to start the maintenance connection, the control unit 28 performs the operation shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when the maintenance connection is started.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the connection processing unit 28 b displays a maintenance connection setting screen 60 (see FIG. 7) on the display unit 22 (S <b> 101).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting screen 60.

  In the setting screen 60 shown in FIG. 7, radio buttons 61a to 61d for selecting a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or IP (Internet Protocol) address of the server 40, and the URL or IP address of the server 40 are input. Text box 61e, a text box 62 for inputting an access code, a cancel button 63, and an OK button 64. Only one of the radio buttons 61a to 61d is always selected. The URL or IP address input in the text box 61e can be selected by the radio button 61a. The URL or IP address that can be selected by the radio buttons 61b to 61d is included in the device management program 27a.

  The URL or IP address of the server 40 to be selected or input by the end user via the operation unit 21 using the radio buttons 61a to 61d and the text box 61e is notified from the help desk to the end user, for example, by telephone or e-mail.

  Further, the access code that the end user should enter in the text box 62 via the operation unit 21 is notified from the help desk to the end user, for example, by telephone or e-mail. The access code may be issued by the maintenance system 45a and added to the access code list 44c according to an instruction via the operation unit 51 by the help desk, or may be specified by the help desk via the operation unit 51. It may be added to 44c. Note that the help desk can also delete an arbitrary access code from the access code list 44 c via the operation unit 51.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the contract processing unit 28a accesses the specific website such as the website of the manufacturer of the MFP 20 and obtains the latest version regarding the license agreement for the maintenance system 45a for the MFP 20 after the process of S101. Information is confirmed (S102). The URL or IP address of this website is included in the device management program 27a.

  The contract processing unit 28a uses the version information included in the device management program 27a based on the version information confirmed in S102 after the processing in S102 and the version information of the license agreement included in the device management program 27a. It is determined whether or not the license agreement is the latest (S103).

  If it is determined in S103 that the contract processing unit 28a is not up-to-date, the contract processing unit 28a accesses the website accessed in S102 and acquires the latest contents of the license agreement (S104).

  When the contract processing unit 28a determines in S103 that the contract is the latest, or ends the process of S104, a pop-up 70 (see FIG. 8) indicating the contents of the license agreement for the maintenance system 45a for the MFP 20 is displayed on the display unit 22. (S105).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the pop-up 70.

  The pop-up 70 shown in FIG. 8 includes a text 71 indicating the contents of the license agreement of the maintenance system 45a for the MFP 20, a cancel button 72, and an agreement button 73 for accepting an agreement instruction for the license agreement indicated by the text 71. Is included.

  Here, if the contract processing unit 28a determines in S103 that it is the latest, the contract processing unit 28a displays text 71 indicating the contents of the license agreement included in the device management program 27a. On the other hand, if it is determined in S103 that the contract processing unit 28a is not up-to-date, the text indicating the content of the latest license agreement acquired in S104 is displayed as text 71.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the contract processing unit 28a determines whether or not the cancel button 72 is pressed after the process of S105 (S106).

  When the contract processing means 28a determines in S106 that the cancel button 72 has been pressed, the contract processing means 28a ends the operation shown in FIG.

  When the contract processing means 28a determines in S106 that the cancel button 72 has not been pressed, it determines whether or not the consent button 73 has been pressed (S107). The contract processing unit 28a may accept that the consent button 73 has been pressed only when an administrator on the end user side of the MFP 20 is logged in to the MFP 20. Further, the contract processing unit 28a may be able to set in advance whether or not “acceptance of the consent button 73 is accepted only when an administrator on the end user side of the MFP 20 is logged in to the MFP 20”.

  When the contract processing unit 28a determines in S107 that the consent button 73 has not been pressed, the contract processing unit 28a executes the process of S106.

  When the contract processing means 28a determines in S107 that the consent button 73 has been pressed, the contents or version information of the license agreement indicated by the text 71 and the date and time when the consent button 73 was pressed are left in the contract history 27b ( S108). The contract processing unit 28a automatically changes the contents of the license agreement for which the consent button 73 has been pressed in response to an instruction via the operation unit 21 or automatically regardless of an instruction via the operation unit 21. You may print it.

  The contract processing unit 28a ends the display of the pop-up 70 on the display unit 22 after the process of S108 (S109).

  The connection processing means 28b determines whether or not the cancel button 63 has been pressed after the processing of S109 (S110).

  If the connection processing means 28b determines in S110 that the cancel button 63 has been pressed, the operation shown in FIG. 6 is terminated.

  If the connection processing means 28b determines in S110 that the cancel button 63 has not been pressed, it determines whether or not the OK button 64 has been pressed (S111).

  If the connection processing means 28b determines in S111 that the OK button 64 has not been pressed, the connection processing means 28b executes the processing in S110.

  When the connection processing means 28b determines in S111 that the OK button 64 has been pressed, it is specified by the URL or IP address selected or input by the radio buttons 61a to 61d and the text box 61e when the OK button 64 is pressed. The server 40 is requested for maintenance connection (S112). Here, the connection processing unit 28b notifies the server 40 of the access code input in the text box 62 when the OK button 64 is pressed.

  When the maintenance connection is requested from the MFP 20, the maintenance system 45a executes the operation shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the maintenance system 45a when a maintenance connection is requested.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the maintenance system 45a deletes, from the access code list 44c, an access code that has expired from the access codes included in the access code list 44c (S131).

  Next, the maintenance system 45a determines whether or not the access code notified from the MFP 20 is included in the access code list 44c (S132).

  If the maintenance system 45a determines in S132 that the access code notified from the MFP 20 is not included in the access code list 44c, the maintenance system 45a notifies the MFP 20 of an error (S133) and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  When determining in S132 that the access code notified from the MFP 20 is included in the access code list 44c, the maintenance system 45a deletes the access code notified from the MFP 20 from the access code list 44c (S134).

  Next, the maintenance system 45a executes a maintenance connection with the MFP 20 (S135). That is, the maintenance system 45a permits the maintenance connection requested from the MFP 20.

  Next, the maintenance system 45a leaves the start date and time of the maintenance connection executed in S135 in the connection history 44b for the MFP 20 (S136), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connection processing unit 28b determines whether the maintenance connection is permitted by the server 40 after the process of S112 (S113). When the maintenance connection is permitted by the server 40, the connection processing unit 28b can recognize that the maintenance connection is permitted by the server 40 because the maintenance connection is executed by the server 40. On the other hand, in the case where the connection for maintenance is not permitted by the server 40, the connection processing unit 28b is notified that an error is notified by the server 40, or the maintenance connection is not executed by the server 40 even after a specific time has elapsed. By this, it can be recognized that the maintenance connection is not permitted by the server 40.

  If the connection processing unit 28b determines in S113 that the maintenance connection is not permitted by the server 40, the operation illustrated in FIG.

  When the connection processing unit 28b determines in S113 that the maintenance connection is permitted by the server 40, the connection processing unit 28b leaves the start date and time of the maintenance connection in the connection history 27c (S114).

  After the process of S114, the contract processing unit 28a notifies the maintenance system 45a of the contents or version information of the license agreement indicated by the text 71 and the date and time when the consent button 73 was pressed (S115). Therefore, the maintenance system 45a leaves the contents or version information of the license agreement notified in S115 and the date and time in the contract history 44a for the MFP 20. That is, the same information as the information stored in the contract history 27b in S108 is also stored in the contract history 44a for the MFP 20.

  The contract processing means 28a ends the operation shown in FIG. 6 after the processing of S115.

  The operation of the MFP 20 when starting the maintenance connection determines whether or not the OK button 64 has been pressed when it is determined that the consent button 73 has been pressed in the example shown in FIG. 6 (YES in S107). (S111). However, the operation of the MFP 20 when starting the maintenance connection may determine whether or not the OK button 64 is pressed regardless of whether or not the consent button 73 is pressed. However, when the MFP 20 determines whether or not the OK button 64 is pressed regardless of whether or not the consent button 73 is pressed, the maintenance connection is started when the end user permits the use license agreement. Therefore, the help desk may notify the end user of the MFP 20 of the access code after confirming that the consent button 73 has been pressed by the display unit 52 via the maintenance system 45a.

  Next, the operation of the device management system 10 when the maintenance connection is executed will be described.

  The help desk checks the screen generated by the maintenance system 45a via the display unit 52. Therefore, when the maintenance connection is executed, the help desk can recognize that the maintenance connection is executed via the screen displayed on the display unit 52. Therefore, the help desk can remotely maintain the MFP 20 using the maintenance system 45a via the operation unit 51 and the display unit 52.

  For example, the help desk acquires various information of the MFP 20 from the MFP 20 via the Internet 10b via the maintenance system 45a by instructing the maintenance system 45a via the operation unit 51 to acquire various information of the MFP 20. The acquired information can be displayed on the display unit 52. Therefore, the help desk can use the information acquired from the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45 a for the maintenance of the MFP 20.

  Information acquired from the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a includes the usage amount from the start of use of the MFP 20 to the present, such as the number of prints by the printer 24 from the start of use of the MFP 20 to the present. The information acquired from the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a includes the remaining amount of consumables of the MFP 20, such as the remaining amount of toner in the printer 24, for example. Information acquired from the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a includes the current state of the MFP 20 such as version information of firmware installed in the MFP 20 and error information output from the MFP 20.

  Further, the help desk can maintain the MFP 20 via the Internet 10b via the maintenance system 45a by instructing the maintenance system 45a via the operation unit 51 to perform maintenance of the MFP 20.

  As maintenance of the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a, for example, there is an update of the firmware or application of the MFP 20. Further, as maintenance of the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a, there are changes in various settings of the MFP 20, such as changes in settings that cannot be executed by the end user of the MFP 20.

  If the help desk determines that the malfunction of the MFP 20 cannot be solved by the maintenance of the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a based on the information acquired from the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a, the installation location of the MFP 20 It is possible to take measures such as dispatching a service person.

  Next, the operation of the device management system 10 when the maintenance connection is terminated will be described.

  After the maintenance connection is started, the maintenance system 45a performs the operation shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the maintenance system 45a when the maintenance connection is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the maintenance system 45a determines whether or not a request for termination of the maintenance connection has been notified from the MFP 20 (S161). The connection processing unit 28b notifies the maintenance system 45a of a request for termination of the maintenance connection when a request for termination of the maintenance connection is instructed via the operation unit 21.

  When the maintenance system 45a determines in S161 that the maintenance connection termination request is not notified from the MFP 20, the maintenance system 45a determines whether a maintenance connection termination request is notified from the computer 50 (S162). When a request for termination of the maintenance connection is instructed via the operation unit 51, the control unit 55 notifies the maintenance system 45a of a request for termination of the maintenance connection.

  When the maintenance system 45a determines in S162 that a request for termination of the maintenance connection has not been notified from the computer 50, the maintenance system 45a determines whether or not a specific time has elapsed after the maintenance connection is started (S163). .

  If the maintenance system 45a determines in S163 that the specific time has not elapsed, the maintenance system 45a executes the process of S161.

  The maintenance system 45a determines in S161 that the maintenance connection end request is notified from the MFP 20 or determines in S162 that the maintenance connection end request is notified from the computer 50, or a specific time has elapsed. Is determined in S163, the maintenance connection is terminated (S164).

  Next, the maintenance system 45a leaves the end date / time of the maintenance connection ended in S164 in the connection history 44b for the MFP 20 (S165), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Note that, similarly to the maintenance system 45a, the connection processing unit 28b also leaves the maintenance connection end date and time in the connection history 27c when determining that the maintenance connection is ended by the server 40.

  The operation of the maintenance system 45a when ending the maintenance connection has three conditions S161 to S163 as conditions for ending the maintenance connection in the example shown in FIG. However, the operation of the maintenance system 45a when terminating the maintenance connection may not include at least one of the three conditions S161 to S163.

  In the operation of the device management system 10 described above, the MFP 20 receives an instruction from the end user via the operation unit 21 and provides information to the end user via the display unit 22. However, the MFP 20 may receive instructions from the end user and provide information to the end user via the computer 30. For example, the MFP 20 provides a web page to be displayed on the display unit of the computer 30, thereby accepting an instruction from the end user via the operation unit of the computer 30 via this web page and sending it to the end user. Information can be provided via the display unit of the computer 30.

  In the operation of the device management system 10 described above, the help desk accesses the maintenance system 45a via the computer 50. However, the help desk may directly access the maintenance system 45a by operating the server 40. .

  As described above, the device management system 10 accepts an instruction to agree to the license agreement of the maintenance system 45a for the MFP 20 and the input of an access code for maintenance connection by the MFP 20 (S101 to S111). When authorized by the end user of the MFP 20, the MFP 20 can be remotely maintained by the maintenance system 45a.

  In the device management system 10, an access code can be designated by a help desk, but the maintenance system 45a can issue an access code, so that convenience can be improved.

  The device management system 10 displays the contents of the latest license agreement confirmed by accessing a specific website (S102 to S105), so that the user of the MFP 20 can always agree with the latest license agreement. .

  Since the device management system 10 keeps a history of the start and end of the maintenance connection (S114, S136, or S165), it becomes clear whether or not the maintenance connection has ended according to the contents of the license agreement. Can be improved.

  When the connection for maintenance is executed, information in the MFP 20 is known to the help desk and the MFP 20 can be operated by the help desk. Therefore, from the viewpoint of security, the MFP 20 is connected to the maintenance system 45a. To prevent maintenance connections from being performed when remote maintenance is not required.

  After the maintenance connection is started, the device management system 10 ends the maintenance connection at a specific timing (S161 to S164). Therefore, even if the maintenance of the MFP 20 by the maintenance system 45a ends remotely, the maintenance management connection 10 Can be prevented from occurring. That is, the device management system 10 can prevent the maintenance connection from being executed when it is not necessary to maintain the MFP 20 remotely by the maintenance system 45a.

  Since the device management system 10 requires an end user to input an access code to permit maintenance connection, the maintenance connection is not executed when the MFP 20 does not need to be maintained remotely by the maintenance system 45a. can do.

  Since the device management system 10 prevents an access code that has expired from being used for permitting connection for maintenance (S131), the maintenance management 45a does not require remote maintenance of the MFP 20 for maintenance. Connections can be prevented from being performed.

  Since the device management system 10 prevents the access code already used for permitting the maintenance connection from being used again for permitting the maintenance connection (S134), the MFP 20 needs to be maintained remotely by the maintenance system 45a. It is possible to prevent the maintenance connection from being executed when there is not.

  In the device management system 10, the URL or IP address candidate of the server 40, the license agreement, and the URL or IP address of the website storing the latest version license agreement are included in the device management program 27a. Therefore, when the device management program 27a is updated, the URL or IP address of the website where the URL or IP address candidate of the server 40, the license agreement, and the latest license agreement are stored. And can be updated. The device management program 27 a is updated by updating the firmware of the MFP 20 when the device management program 27 a is provided as part of the firmware of the MFP 20. In addition, when the device management program 27a is provided as a dedicated application, the device management program 27a is updated by updating the dedicated application. Firmware or application updates can be executed, for example, in maintenance of the MFP 20 via the maintenance system 45a. A person such as a service person reads an update file from a storage medium such as a USB memory into the MFP 20. It is also possible to execute it by making it come out.

  Since the device management system 10 includes the URL or IP address candidate of the server 40 in the device management program 27a, the maintenance connection setting by the end user of the MFP 20 can be facilitated.

  In FIG. 10, when the end of the maintenance connection is instructed via the operation unit 41 of the server 40, the process may be shifted to S164.

  In FIG. 10, the order of S164 and S165 is switched, and the maintenance system 45a notifies the MFP 20 that the license agreement has ended in S165 by using the maintenance connection end date as the end date of the license agreement. good. In this case, the “maintenance connection end date / time” is not the date / time when the maintenance connection is actually ended, but the date / time when the connection history is generated in S165 is regarded as the “maintenance connection end date / time”.

  The electronic apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in this embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than an MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a fax dedicated machine, a scanner dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, or an image forming apparatus such as a PC. Other electronic devices may be used.

10 device management system 20 MFP (electronic device)
27a Device Management Program 27b Contract History (History of License Agreement)
27c Connection history (history of start and end of maintenance connection)
28a Contract processing means 28b Connection processing means 44a Contract history (history of license agreement)
44b Connection history (history of connection start and end for maintenance)
45a Maintenance system

Claims (9)

Electronic equipment,
A maintenance system for remotely maintaining the electronic device,
The electronic device is
Contract processing means for displaying the contents of the license agreement for the maintenance system for the electronic device;
Connection processing means for receiving an input of a code for maintenance connection as a connection between the electronic device and the maintenance system in a state where the electronic device can be maintained by the maintenance system;
The contract processing means accepts an instruction to consent to the displayed license agreement, and leaves a history of the license agreement that accepted the instruction,
The connection processing means, when the instruction is accepted by the contract processing means, notifies the maintenance system of the code that has accepted the input,
The maintenance system permits the maintenance connection based on the code notified from the electronic device.   2. The maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance system issues the code, and permits the maintenance connection when the code notified from the electronic device is the same as the issued code. Equipment management system.   The device management system according to claim 1, wherein the contract processing unit displays the latest content of the license agreement confirmed by accessing a specific website.   4. The apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance system ends the maintenance connection at a specific timing after the maintenance connection is started.   The device management system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the connection processing unit and the maintenance system leaves a history of the start and end of the maintenance connection. The code has an expiration date,
The maintenance system does not permit the connection for maintenance when the code notified from the electronic device has passed the expiration date. Equipment management system.   The maintenance system does not permit the maintenance connection when the electronic device is notified of the code that has already been used to permit the maintenance connection. The device management system according to any one of the above. Contract processing means for displaying the contents of the license agreement for the electronic device of the maintenance system for remotely maintaining the electronic device, and
Connection processing means for receiving an input of a cord for maintenance connection as a connection between the electronic device and the maintenance system in a state where the electronic device can be maintained by the maintenance system. Make it work
The contract processing means accepts an instruction to consent to the displayed license agreement, and leaves a history of the license agreement that accepted the instruction,
The connection processing means notifies the maintenance system of the code that has received an input when the instruction is accepted by the contract processing means. The electronic device displays the contents of the license agreement for the electronic device of the maintenance system for remotely maintaining the electronic device,
The electronic device accepts an instruction to agree to the displayed license agreement,
The electronic device leaves a history of the license agreement that received the instruction,
The electronic device accepts an input of a code for a maintenance connection as a connection between the electronic device and the maintenance system in a state where the electronic device can be maintained by the maintenance system,
When the instruction is received, the electronic device notifies the maintenance system of the code that has received the input,
The apparatus management method, wherein the maintenance system permits the maintenance connection based on the code notified from the electronic apparatus.

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