JP2018029346A - Image forming apparatus and information display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display system that enables a user to quickly address the occurrence of a trouble in an electronic apparatus, and an electronic apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus can communicate with a terminal device and includes a display part, and comprises: trouble determination means that detects the occurrence of a trouble in the image forming apparatus and determines the trouble occurred; display means that displays a message on the display part when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is in a first classification; and transmission means that transmits support information to the terminal device when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is in a second classification.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that enables a user to quickly cope with a trouble according to the type of trouble when trouble occurs in an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, as one type of image forming apparatus that is an electronic apparatus, an image forming apparatus (typically a copier) that forms an image on a recording sheet has been introduced in many offices (company, office, etc.). . A multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is one type of such an image forming apparatus, includes a plurality of printer modes such as a copy mode, a facsimile mode, a printer mode corresponding to a communication network (hereinafter also simply referred to as a network), and a scanner mode. It has the function of. In many cases, the image forming apparatus is connected to a network or shared by a plurality of users in a stand-alone state without being connected to the network.

  In an image forming apparatus equipped with a display panel such as a liquid crystal display, when a trouble occurs, a notification of the trouble occurrence and information on how to deal with the trouble are displayed on the display panel. However, detailed information cannot be displayed when the display is limited, such as when the resolution of the display panel is low or the screen size is small. In addition, when an operation such as opening the inside of the image forming apparatus is performed in order to deal with a trouble, the operation may not be performed while looking at the display panel depending on the operation place.

  In the following Patent Document 1, when displaying operation information indicating a countermeasure for a problem occurring in an image forming apparatus on a display unit equipped in the image forming apparatus, it is difficult to execute the operation information while referring to the displayed screen. If such operation information is included, a technique for transmitting image data for displaying the operation information to a mobile terminal device existing near the image forming apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2010-288068 A

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 improves the operability when dealing with troubles in the image forming apparatus. However, simply displaying the occurrence of troubles and the operation methods for dealing with them on the display panel can be various. It is not possible to respond sufficiently to the troubles.

  For example, when a serious trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus, the trouble cannot be solved only by an operation by the user and it is necessary to contact a service person. However, a normal image forming apparatus has a telephone function. (Call function) is not provided, which is inconvenient. The point that the user needs to manage the telephone number of the support center is complicated, and there is a problem that it is impossible to promptly contact when a trouble occurs.

  A technique for transmitting detailed trouble information to a support center via the Internet when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus is also known. However, if the image forming apparatus is not connectable to the Internet, In the case where a failure has occurred in the connection function itself, information cannot be transmitted to the support center.

  Some image forming apparatuses do not have a display panel that can display an image. Such an image forming apparatus can indicate the occurrence of a trouble, but information indicating the content of the trouble. There is a problem that can not be presented.

  These problems are not limited to image forming apparatuses and may occur in general electronic devices.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an information display system and an electronic device that enable a user to quickly cope with a trouble according to the type of trouble when trouble occurs in the electronic device such as an image forming apparatus. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention
An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device and including a display unit,
Trouble determining means for detecting that a trouble has occurred in the image forming apparatus and determining the trouble that has occurred;
Display means for displaying a message on the display unit when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is the first classification;
A transmission means for transmitting support information to the terminal device when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is a second classification;
It is characterized by providing.

The information display system of the present invention includes:
An information display system having a terminal device and an image forming apparatus having a display unit,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Communication means for communicating with the terminal device;
Trouble determining means for detecting that a trouble has occurred in the image forming apparatus and determining the trouble that has occurred;
A first display means for displaying a message on the display unit when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is a first classification;
A transmission means for transmitting support information to the terminal device when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is a second classification;
With
The terminal device
Receiving means for receiving the support information;
Control means for displaying a trouble handling screen based on the received support information;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, when a trouble occurs in an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, the user can quickly cope with the trouble according to the type of trouble.

1 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus constituting an information display system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation unit of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows the portable terminal device which comprises the information display system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the portable terminal device of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the image forming apparatus when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed by the portable terminal device of FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a mobile terminal device when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection to the internet of a portable terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed by the image forming apparatus which comprises the information display system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the image forming apparatus when a paper jam occurs. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed by the portable terminal device which comprises the information display system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the mobile terminal device when a paper jam occurs. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which comprises the information display system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 16 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed by the portable terminal device which comprises the information display system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the authentication screen displayed on a portable terminal device when a trouble generate | occur | produces.

  In the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

(First embodiment)
The information display system according to the first embodiment includes an image forming apparatus and a mobile terminal device (hereinafter also referred to as a mobile terminal) such as a mobile phone or a smartphone. The image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal device can transmit and receive data to and from each other by publicly known near field communication (NFC).

  Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 constituting the information display system according to the present embodiment is a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) having a copy function and a printer function, for example. The image forming apparatus 100 has a so-called laser (electrophotographic) printing function that uses laser light for exposure. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may have a printing function of another method.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit illustrated in FIG. In order to use the function of the image forming apparatus 100, the user operates the operation unit to input an instruction to the image forming apparatus 100. The operation unit includes a touch panel display 140, a start button 146, and a wireless communication I / F unit 150. The user touches a software key on the operation screen displayed on the touch panel display 140 to set job conditions such as copying to be executed by the image forming apparatus 100, and then presses the hardware start button 146 to execute the job. Instruct execution. The wireless communication I / F unit 150 is disposed in the operation unit and performs wireless communication with an external device by NFC. A predetermined mark 152 is arranged on the surface of the operation unit near the wireless communication I / F unit 150 to indicate a target for bringing an external device closer.

  Referring to FIG. 3, portable terminal device 200 has a telephone function and includes a transmitter 250 and a receiver 252. The user operates the screen displayed on the touch panel display 210 of the mobile terminal device 200 to select a telephone number, and causes the mobile terminal device 200 to make a call. After the mobile terminal device 200 executes line connection processing and the line is connected, the user can make a call via the transmitter 250 and the receiver 252. That is, the transmitter 250 converts the sound uttered by the user into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal is further converted into a signal of a predetermined format, transmitted to the radio base station, and transmitted from the radio base station to the device of the other party. When the mobile terminal device 200 receives a signal transmitted from the device on the other end of the call from the radio base station, the mobile terminal device 200 converts the received signal and outputs it as a sound from the receiver 252.

  The portable terminal device 200 includes an NFC module (not shown) for performing short-range wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 100. NFC is a known short-range wireless communication technology that performs data communication at a close range of about several tens of centimeters or less, and when the portable terminal device 200 is brought close to the wireless communication I / F unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 100. Thus, bidirectional communication can be performed between the mobile terminal device 200 and the image forming apparatus 100.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has a short-range wireless communication function, but does not have a function to connect to the Internet, or has a function to connect to the Internet, but accesses the Internet. Suppose you are in a state where you cannot. The mobile terminal device 200 is assumed to have a telephone function, a short-range wireless communication function, and an Internet connection function. In such a situation, when the mobile terminal device 200 is brought close to the wireless communication I / F unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 100 when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 100, information that helps the user to deal with the trouble is obtained. Displayed on the mobile terminal device 200.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a touch panel display 140, a wireless communication I / F unit 150, and a bus 160. Data exchange (including control information) between each unit is performed via the bus 160.

  The control unit 110 is substantially a computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (all not shown). The CPU executes various computer programs (hereinafter also simply referred to as programs) in response to instructions from the touch panel display 140, the mobile terminal device 200, and the like. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 executes desired processing such as the operation of each unit and communication with an external device such as the mobile terminal device 200. The various programs are stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 120, and are read from the ROM or the storage unit 120 and stored in the RAM when a desired process is executed. The CPU reads and interprets a program instruction from an address in the RAM specified by a value stored in a register (not shown) called a program counter in the CPU. For example, the CPU reads data necessary for an operation from an address specified by the read instruction, and executes an operation corresponding to the instruction on the data. The execution result is stored in an address (RAM, storage unit 120, or a register in the CPU) specified by the instruction.

  In FIG. 4, functions of the control unit 110 are shown as a terminal detection unit 112, a terminal control unit 114, and a trouble detection unit 116. These functions are mainly realized by a program, but may be realized by a dedicated IC (such as ASIC or FPGA).

  The terminal detection unit 112 controls a wireless communication I / F unit 150 to be described later, detects a radio wave from the mobile terminal device 200, and executes a process of establishing wireless communication with the mobile terminal device 200. The terminal control unit 114 executes communication processing with the mobile terminal device 200 after communication with the mobile terminal device 200 is established.

  The trouble detection unit 116 detects that a trouble has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100, identifies the trouble, and executes processing for storing information (for example, trouble code) indicating the identified trouble. The trouble detection unit 116 detects a signal from a sensor (not shown) arranged inside the image forming apparatus 100 in order to detect a hardware (mechanical) trouble. The trouble detection unit 116 also detects software troubles (such as program runaway) using the OS function or the like. Information representing the trouble is temporarily stored in the RAM, and is also stored in the device state storage unit 124 of the storage unit 120 described later.

  The storage unit 120 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage device, for example, a hard disk drive. The storage unit 120 includes a control program storage unit 122, a device state storage unit 124, and a trouble information storage unit 126. These storage units may be configured by different hardware, or a storage area of one hardware may be divided into a plurality of storage areas.

  The control program storage unit 122 stores programs and data that are read into the RAM and executed by the CPU. That is, the control program storage unit 122 responds to a trouble when a trouble occurs in the basic program (including the OS) for realizing the general operation of the image forming apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 100. A program for executing a process of transmitting information to help portable terminal device 200 to the portable terminal device 200 and various data related thereto are stored.

  The apparatus state storage unit 124 stores information related to the state of the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter also referred to as state information). For example, when a trouble occurs, information for specifying the trouble is stored. Even if the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off without the trouble being solved, the status information indicating the trouble is not erased. For example, regarding an important trouble, the image forming apparatus 100 is started even if the power is turned on again. You can avoid it. The trouble information storage unit 126 stores information related to various troubles that are expected to occur in the image forming apparatus 100 as described later.

  The touch panel display 140 of the operation unit includes an input unit 142 and a display unit 144. The display unit 144 is a device that can display an image, and is a liquid crystal display, for example. The input unit 142 is a touch panel that is mounted on the display surface of the display unit 144 and detects a user's touch operation.

  The touch panel display 140 (display unit 144) provides the user with various types of information such as information regarding the state of the image forming apparatus 100 and the state of various processes. The touch panel display 140 provides an interactive operation interface to the user. An operation screen is displayed on the display unit 144 of the touch panel display 140. When the operation screen is operated by the user, the image forming apparatus 100 accepts an instruction corresponding to the operation. The operation screen displayed on the display unit 144 changes according to the user's operation.

  The wireless communication I / F unit 150 realizes short-range wireless communication for performing wireless communication with the mobile terminal device 200. The image forming apparatus 100 performs data communication according to a communication protocol conforming to the NFC standard with the mobile terminal device 200 including the NFC module via the wireless communication I / F unit 150 by the terminal detection unit 112 and the terminal control unit 114. Do.

  The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a functional unit for performing image formation on recording paper, such as a known image reading unit (scanner unit), an image processing unit, and an image forming unit.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may include a NIC (Network Interface Card) as an interface with the network. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the image forming apparatus 100 is not connected to the Internet, the image forming apparatus 100 does not include a NIC or is connected to the Internet even if it is provided. Suppose not.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the configuration of the mobile terminal device 200 will be described. The mobile terminal device 200 includes a CPU 202, a memory 204, a RAM 206, a touch panel display 210, a wireless communication I / F unit 230, and a bus 240. Data (including control information) is exchanged between the units via the bus 240.

  The CPU 202 controls the mobile terminal device 200 as a whole. The memory 204 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory. The memory 204 stores a program and data necessary for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal device 200.

  The CPU 202 reads the program from the memory 204 onto the RAM 206 via the bus 240, and executes the program using a part of the RAM 206 as a work area. That is, the CPU 202 controls each part of the mobile terminal device 200 according to a program stored in the memory 204, and realizes each function of the mobile terminal device 200.

  The touch panel display 210 includes an input unit 212 and a display unit 214. The display unit 214 is a device that can display an image, and is a liquid crystal display, for example. The input unit 212 is a touch panel that is mounted on the display surface of the display unit 214 and detects a user's touch operation.

  The display unit 214 includes a drive unit (not shown) for driving a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel. The drive unit reads out the image data stored in the RAM 206 at a predetermined timing, generates a signal to be displayed as an image on the display unit 214, and outputs the signal to the display unit 214. The image data to be displayed is read from the memory 204 by the CPU 202 and transmitted to the RAM 206.

  The wireless communication I / F unit 230 wirelessly interfaces with the network. The wireless communication I / F unit 230 further includes an NFC module for performing short-range wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 100. The portable terminal device 200 can perform short-range wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 100 via the wireless communication I / F unit 230.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, a program executed when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. This program is activated when the trouble detection unit 116 detects that some trouble has occurred while the image forming apparatus 100 is activated.

  Here, it is assumed that the communication between the image forming apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal device 200 is short-range wireless communication, particularly short-range wireless communication capable of communication at a distance of several centimeters or less.

  In step 400, the CPU of the control unit 110 uses the trouble detection unit 116 to identify a trouble that has occurred, and stores information corresponding to the identified trouble in the device state storage unit 124. Various troubles that may occur are classified into two types according to whether or not they can be solved by the user, and are stored in the trouble information storage unit 126 of the storage unit 120 in advance. The trouble information storage unit 126 includes, for example, a trouble code representing each trouble, a determination condition for each trouble, a classification code representing whether the trouble cannot be solved by the user, and a message representing the trouble (hereinafter also referred to as trouble message). Are stored in correspondence. Problems that can be solved by the user include, for example, a paper jam, out of paper, and out of toner. Troubles that cannot be solved by the user (hereinafter also referred to as service man call troubles) include abnormalities related to image formation (abnormalities of the photosensitive drum, transfer roller, heater, etc.), abnormalities of the storage unit 120, and abnormalities of the program (runaway) Etc.). A unique trouble code is assigned to each of these troubles, and corresponding determination conditions and trouble messages are set. The trouble message is not limited to text data, and may be image data. Here, it is assumed that the classification code is “0” if the trouble can be solved by the user, and “1” if the trouble cannot be solved by the user.

  The control unit 110 obtains information such as a sensor output signal level for detecting a trouble and a predetermined register value indicating the execution state of the program by the trouble detection unit 116, and uses the obtained information to obtain a trouble status report. The determination condition stored in the storage unit 126 is searched, and the corresponding trouble code and classification code are specified. The CPU of the control unit 110 stores the identified trouble code and classification code in the RAM and also in the device state storage unit 124.

  In step 402, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not the trouble identified in step 400 is a serviceman call trouble. Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not the classification code specified in step 400 is “1”. If it is determined that the classification code is “1”, that is, if the trouble is a service man call, the control proceeds to step 406. Otherwise, control passes to step 422.

  In Step 404, the CPU of the control unit 110 displays a trouble occurrence screen including a message recommending that the mobile terminal is brought closer on the touch panel display 140. Specifically, a trouble message corresponding to the trouble identified in step 400 is read from the trouble information storage unit 126 and displayed on the display unit 144. For example, a trouble display window 302 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed so as to overlap the normal operation screen 300 displayed immediately before the trouble occurs. In FIG. 7, it is displayed that a trouble has occurred in the hard disk, and “HD-01” is displayed as the corresponding trouble code. In addition, a message is displayed indicating that there is a trouble to be contacted by the service person and that it is recommended to bring the mobile terminal closer. In order to display the window 302 of FIG. 7, for example, the image data of the background of the window stored in advance in the storage unit 120 is written in a predetermined area of the VRAM, and the text read from the trouble information storage unit 126 is further written thereon. Overwrite data trouble message.

  In step 406, the CPU of the control unit 110 controls the wireless communication I / F unit 150 by the terminal detection unit 112 to determine whether or not a portable terminal has been detected by near field communication (NFC). For example, the CPU of the control unit 110 transmits frame data called a polling request from the wireless communication I / F unit 150 as an initiator. When a device having a short-range wireless communication function receives a wireless signal including a polling request, the device transmits a frame called a polling response frame. When receiving the polling response frame, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines that the mobile terminal has been detected. If it is determined that a mobile terminal has been detected, control proceeds to step 408. Otherwise, step 406 is repeated.

  In step 408, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not the terminal detection unit 112 has established communication with the mobile terminal (whether or not the mobile terminal has been determined as a communication partner). Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 110 transmits a request command for inquiring terminal information of the portable terminal to the portable terminal detected in step 406, and receives the terminal information. The terminal information is information indicating the communication speed of the mobile terminal and whether or not the mobile terminal has a “specific program” to be described later. Further, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not the received terminal information is information indicating that a specific program is provided. Even if the terminal device is a portable terminal capable of short-range wireless communication, if the terminal device does not have a specific program, the target function cannot be realized, and such a terminal device is excluded from communication targets. If it is determined that a specific program is provided, control is transferred to step 410, assuming that communication has been established. Otherwise, step 408 is repeated.

  In step 410, the CPU of the control unit 110 generates support information. The support information includes image data for troubleshooting, the position coordinates of each key area included in the image, and corresponding operation information. These are stored in the trouble information storage unit 126. For example, if the key area is a rectangle, the position coordinates of the key area are the position coordinates on the troubleshooting image data of the two diagonal vertices of the rectangle. The operation information corresponding to each key is, for example, a telephone number or a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier). The support information may include information other than these.

  In step 412, the CPU of the control unit 110 uses the terminal control unit 114 to transmit the data generated in step 410 to the mobile terminal detected in step 406 via the wireless communication I / F unit 150. The communication speed at this time is the communication speed received from the mobile terminal in step 408. When the transmitted data is received by the mobile terminal detected in step 406, a trouble handling image is displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal, as will be described later.

  In step 414, the CPU of the control unit 110 ends the short-range wireless communication.

  In step 416, the CPU of the control unit 110 uses the trouble detection unit 116 to determine whether or not the trouble has been solved. The trouble to be determined here is usually solved by a service person. If it is determined that the trouble has been solved, control proceeds to step 418. Otherwise control passes to step 420.

  In step 418, the CPU of the control unit 110 deletes the trouble display displayed on the display unit 144. Thereafter, the program ends.

  If the trouble has not been solved, in step 420, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not a portable terminal has been detected as in step 406. If it is determined that it has been detected, control returns to step 408. Otherwise, control returns to step 416.

  If it is determined in step 402 that there is no serviceman call trouble (the classification code is “0”), in step 422, the CPU of the control unit 110 displays a trouble message corresponding to the trouble identified in step 400. Displayed on the unit 144. Since the trouble that has occurred can be solved by the user, the message displayed on the display unit 144 includes a message indicating the content of the trouble, unlike FIG. 7, but there is a need to contact a service person. Neither the message shown nor the message recommending that the mobile terminal be brought closer.

  In step 424, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether the trouble has been solved by using the trouble detection unit 116. If it is determined that the trouble has been solved, control proceeds to step 418. Otherwise, step 424 is repeated.

  With reference to FIG. 8, a description will be given of a program that causes the mobile terminal device 200 to display trouble-response image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 100. This program is the “specific program” described above, and is always executed in the mobile terminal device 200.

  In step 500, the CPU 202 determines whether or not a short-range wireless communication (NFC) polling request has been received via the NFC module of the wireless communication I / F unit 230. The polling request is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 in step 400 described above. If it is determined that a polling request has been received, control proceeds to step 502. Otherwise, step 500 is repeated.

  In step 502, the CPU 202 determines whether or not a terminal information inquiry (inquiry as to whether or not the communication speed and a specific program are included) has been received. If it is determined that the data has been received, it is determined that communication has been established, and data including communication speed information and information indicating that the specific program is included is returned, and control proceeds to step 504. Otherwise, step 502 is repeated.

  In step 504, the CPU 202 determines whether or not support information has been received. The support information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 in step 412 described above. The received support information is stored in the RAM 206. If it is determined that it has been received, control proceeds to step 506. Otherwise, step 504 is repeated. As described above, when the image forming apparatus 100 serving as the initiator receives the reply to the terminal information transmission request, it is set to transmit the support information next. If some data is received after sending a reply to the transmission request, it can be determined that the support information has been received.

  In step 506, the CPU 202 ends the short-range wireless communication.

  In step 508, the CPU 202 displays a trouble handling screen (trouble handling image) on the display unit 214 using the image data included in the support information received in step 504. For example, a screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the touch panel display 210 of the mobile terminal device 200. In FIG. 9, a key 310 for making a call to the support center, a key 312 for acquiring and displaying information related to the trouble, and an end key 314 are displayed.

  In step 510, the CPU 202 determines whether any key displayed on the touch panel display 210 has been operated (whether a corresponding position on the touch panel display 210 has been touched). The touch to each key can be determined from the coordinate data of each key area included in the support information received in step 504. If it is determined that any key has been touched, control proceeds to step 512. Otherwise, step 510 is repeated.

  In step 512, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the key operated in step 510 is the key 310 for making a call to the support center. If it is determined that the key 310 is selected, control proceeds to step 514. Otherwise control passes to step 518.

  In step 514, the CPU 202 reads out the operation information (phone number of the support center) corresponding to the image of the key 310 from the support information received in step 504 and makes a call. For example, the CPU 202 activates a known application for making a call, and passes the telephone number read from the support information to the application. That is, the CPU 202 executes an application for making a call, makes a call, and executes subsequent call processing. As shown in FIG. 10, the mobile terminal wirelessly communicates with the radio base station 700, and the base station 700 makes a call to the support center via a telephone line network (not shown).

  In step 516, the CPU 202 deletes the support information received in step 504 from the RAM 206. Thereafter, the CPU 202 ends this program.

  In step 518, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the key operated in step 510 is the key 312 for acquiring and displaying information related to the trouble. If it is determined that the key 312 is selected, control proceeds to step 520. Otherwise, if the end key 314 is touched, control passes to step 522.

  In step 520, the CPU 202 reads operation information (URI) corresponding to the image of the key 312 from the support information received in step 504, and accesses predetermined information (for example, a predetermined web page of the manufacturer). . For example, the CPU 202 activates an Internet browser and passes the URI read from the support information to the browser. That is, the CPU 202 executes a browser, accesses the URI, acquires web page data, and displays the data on the touch panel display 210. When a user operation on the displayed web page is received, a corresponding process (such as displaying a link page) is executed. As shown in FIG. 10, the mobile terminal device 200 can be connected to the Internet 702 via the radio base station 700, and provides a server computer that provides information about the trouble using the URI read from the support information. 704 is accessed.

  In step 522, the CPU 202 erases the screen displayed on the touch panel display 210 and displays a standby screen. Thereafter, control proceeds to step 516.

  As described above, when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 100, a trouble message corresponding to the type of trouble is displayed on the touch panel display 140 of the image forming apparatus 100 (step 404 or step 422). If the generated trouble is a serviceman call trouble that the user cannot deal with, a trouble display window 302 as shown in FIG. 7 including a message prompting the user to bring the mobile terminal closer is displayed (step 404). When the user viewing the screen brings the mobile terminal device 200 close to the mark 152 on the operation unit, support information for assisting the user is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal device 200 (step 410 and step 412), a screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the portable terminal device 200 (step 500 to step 508). When the user touches the key 310, the support center is automatically called (step 514). When the user touches the key 312, information related to the trouble is automatically acquired from the server and displayed on the mobile terminal device 200 (step 520).

  In this way, even if a trouble that the user cannot deal with occurs, the user can easily make a call to the support center. Therefore, when the trouble occurs, it is troublesome to find the telephone number of the support center from the operation manual or the like. Can be eliminated.

  When any key is touched, the operation screen in FIG. 9 is erased from the touch panel display 210 of the mobile terminal device 200. However, since the screen as shown in FIG. 7 is still displayed on the touch panel display 140 of the image forming apparatus 100 until the trouble is solved (steps 416 and 420), when the user brings the mobile terminal device 200 close again. The above processing is executed again, and the screen of FIG. 9 is displayed. Therefore, the user can call the support center by touching the key 310 after specifically confirming the trouble content by touching the key 312.

  Although the case where the program for displaying support information was previously installed in the portable terminal device 200 was demonstrated above, it is not limited to this. For example, when the image forming apparatus 100 detects a portable terminal by NFC, a program for displaying support information may be transmitted to the portable terminal together with the support information. If it does in that way, in a portable terminal, after installing the received application, according to the received support information, an operation screen like FIG. 9 can be displayed. Therefore, a portable terminal that is close to the image forming apparatus 100 may be a portable terminal that can perform communication by NFC, includes a display panel that can display an image, and has a telephone function. The mobile terminal does not include a touch panel display, and may include a hardware key for performing an operation on the displayed screen.

  In the above description, the support information is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal at one time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is only necessary that each piece of information constituting the support information can be transmitted to the portable terminal, and the information constituting the support information may be divided into a plurality of pieces and transmitted to the portable terminal.

  Information indicating the trouble state of the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter also referred to as trouble state information) may be transmitted to the support center. For example, the support information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal device 200 includes trouble state information and the telephone number and e-mail address of the support center corresponding to the key 310 for calling the support center. . When the key 310 is touched on the screen displayed on the mobile terminal device 200 (FIG. 9), the CPU 202 sends an e-mail (hereinafter referred to as an e-mail application) before starting the telephone application in step 514. ) And pass the e-mail address read from the support information and trouble status information to the e-mail application. That is, the CPU 202 executes an e-mail application, and transmits an e-mail addressed to an e-mail address with the trouble state information as an attached file. Thereafter, the CPU 202 executes step 514 and calls the support sensor as described above.

  In this way, since the trouble state information reaches the support center, the support center can analyze the trouble state information and cope with trouble communication from the user. Also, it can be used for maintenance of image forming apparatuses of the same model. The e-mail transmitted to the support center includes the e-mail address of the transmission source, but it is preferable to include information specifying the user in the e-mail. For example, if the telephone number of the portable terminal device 200 is also transmitted to the support center, the support center can specify the trouble state information sent by e-mail from the received telephone number. The analysis result of the trouble state information can be telephoned at a later date.

  The trouble state information may include information for specifying the model of the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the transmission of the trouble state information may be performed after the telephone application is activated in step 514 and a call is made.

  If the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the network, it is technically possible for the support center to acquire the trouble state information via the network, but if the image forming apparatus 100 is not connected to the network, the implementation is performed. I can't do it. Therefore, it is effective that the trouble state information can be transmitted via the portable terminal.

  The trouble state information transmitted to the support center is information to be analyzed, and may be limited to information that cannot be easily grasped by the user. Whether or not to transmit trouble state information is determined in advance according to the trouble. For example, when an abnormality occurs in the program of the image forming apparatus 100, log data, dump data, and the like are transmitted to the support center. It may be. The trouble state information may be stored in the device state storage unit 124 of the storage unit 120.

  Further, when the key 310 is touched, it is preferable to display that the trouble state information is transmitted and to display a key for selecting whether to permit the transmission. When the key for instructing the transmission permission is touched, the trouble state information is transmitted as described above, and then a process of making a call to the support center is executed. When a key for instructing transmission prohibition is touched, a process for making a call to the support center is executed without transmitting trouble state information.

  In FIG. 9, a key for transmitting trouble state information may be displayed separately from the keys 310 to 314. For example, when a trouble that is set to transmit trouble information occurs, information related to a key for transmitting trouble state information may be included in the support information in the same manner as information related to the keys 310 to 314. When a trouble that is not set to transmit trouble state information occurs, keys 310 to 314 are displayed as shown in FIG.

  The other party who makes a call from the mobile terminal is not limited to the support center, but is arbitrary. It may be stored in advance in the trouble information storage unit 126 of the storage unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 100, and may be a sales company of the image forming apparatus 100 or the like.

  In the above description, the case of calling the other party with a preset telephone number has been described as long as it is a serviceman call trouble. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A plurality of telephone numbers (such as a support center, a sales company, or a leasing company) of a contact person when a serviceman call trouble occurs are stored, and a key for calling each of the plurality of telephone numbers is a portable terminal device It may be displayed on the 200 touch panel display 210. For example, the telephone number of the support center and the telephone number of the sales company are stored as contact telephone numbers for serviceman call troubles, and the mobile terminal device 200 corresponds to each of these two in total. Displays one key. In this case, if one key is touched, the support center is called, and if the other key is touched, the sales company is called.

  Similarly, there may be a plurality of information acquisition destinations (URIs, etc.) related to the trouble.

  In the above description, the case where the communication method conforms to the NFC standard has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The portable terminal device and the image forming apparatus only need to be able to wirelessly communicate with each other, and may be Bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFi (registered trademark), or the like. In the case of NFC, there is only one portable terminal at the same time in the vicinity (distance of about several centimeters or less) of the wireless communication I / F unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 100, so that the portable terminal is detected once. Then, the image forming apparatus can communicate with the portable terminal. However, when using WiFi or the like, which has a longer communication distance than short-range wireless communication, there may be a plurality of portable terminals around the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is necessary to perform communication by specifying a communication partner. Become. In order to communicate with one specific mobile terminal, the image forming apparatus that is the initiator only needs to identify the ID of the target mobile terminal and then transmit a request command including the ID and its own ID. . When sending reply data from the target portable terminal to the image forming apparatus, reply data including the ID of the image forming apparatus and its own ID may be sent. The device that has received the data uses the received data if the received data includes its own ID, and discards the received data because it is not addressed to itself if it does not.

  Although the image forming apparatus has been described above, it is not limited to the image forming apparatus. The present invention can be applied to any electronic device that needs to contact a support center or the like when trouble occurs.

  (2nd Embodiment) In 1st Embodiment, when the trouble of a service man call generate | occur | produced, although the information which supports a user was displayed on the portable terminal, in 2nd Embodiment, user When a trouble that can be dealt with occurs, information for supporting the user is displayed on the portable terminal. Similar to the information display system according to the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus and a mobile terminal device.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured similarly to the image forming apparatus 100 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) according to the first embodiment. The mobile terminal device according to the present embodiment is configured in the same manner as mobile terminal device 200 (FIGS. 3 and 5) according to the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following, reference is made to FIGS.

  With reference to FIG. 11, a program that is executed when a trouble occurs in image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. This program is activated when the trouble detection unit 116 detects that some trouble has occurred while the image forming apparatus 100 is activated.

  The flowchart of FIG. 11 differs from the flowchart of FIG. 6 in that step 402, step 404, step 410, and step 416 are replaced with step 440, step 442, step 444, and step 446, respectively. The point 424 is replaced in step 448. 11, steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 are the same processes as those in FIG.

  After identifying the trouble that has occurred in step 400, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines in step 440 whether the trouble identified in step 400 is a paper jam. If it is determined that there is a paper jam, control proceeds to step 442. Otherwise, control passes to step 448.

  In step 442, the CPU of the control unit 110 displays a window including a message recommending that the mobile terminal is brought closer on the touch panel display 140. Specifically, a message indicating the occurrence of a paper jam and the paper jam position is read from the trouble information storage unit 126 and displayed on the display unit 144. For example, a trouble display window 320 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed so as to overlap the normal operation screen 300 displayed immediately before the trouble occurs. In FIG. 12, it is displayed that a paper jam has occurred, and the paper jam position (fixing portion) is displayed. In addition, a message recommending that the mobile terminal be brought closer is displayed.

  The paper jam position can be detected by a plurality of sensors constituting the trouble detection unit 116. Sensors for detecting a paper jam include, for example, a paper feed roller arranged in a recording paper feed unit, a conveyance roller arranged in a recording paper conveyance path, a fixing roller arranged in a fixing unit, and a discharge It is arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the discharge roller etc. which are arrange | positioned at the part. For example, if the sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and there is a sensor in which the light receiving unit has not received light from the light emitting unit for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that a paper jam has occurred at the position of the sensor. .

  When a portable terminal having a specific program is detected in step 406 and step 408, in step 444, the CPU of the control unit 110 generates support information including information on the paper jam position. Here, the support information includes a paper jam trouble code (including model information of the image forming apparatus 100), paper jam position information, trouble handling image data, position coordinates of each key area included in the image, and Contains corresponding operation information. For example, if the key area is a rectangle, the position coordinates of the key area are the position coordinates on the troubleshooting image data of the two diagonal vertices of the rectangle. The operation information corresponding to each key is, for example, a telephone number or a URI. The support information may include information other than these. The operation information is a URI in which a predetermined server computer provides a moving image data providing service. That is, the server computer is configured to return the corresponding moving image data when the URI is accessed and the trouble code and paper jam position information are provided.

  In step 412 and step 414, the CPU of the control unit 110 transmits the support information generated in step 444 to the mobile terminal detected in step 406, and then in step 446, the trouble is detected using the trouble detection unit 116. It is determined whether or not the problem has been solved. The trouble to be determined here is solved by the user. If it is determined that the trouble has been solved, control proceeds to step 418, the trouble display displayed on the display unit 144 is erased, and then the program ends. Otherwise, step 446 is repeated.

  If it is not determined in step 440 that there is a paper jam problem, in step 448, the CPU of the control unit 110 executes a corresponding process. This process is, for example, a process for displaying a predetermined screen indicating the occurrence of a trouble on the touch panel display 140 of the image forming apparatus 100. The process of step 448 may be the process of step 402 to step 416 and step 420 to step 424 of FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 13, a description will be given of a program that causes the mobile terminal device 200 to display trouble-response image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 100. This program is the above-mentioned “specific program” and is always executed in the mobile terminal device 200.

  The flowchart of FIG. 13 differs from the flowchart of FIG. 8 in that steps 508 to 522 are replaced with steps 540 to 550. In FIG. 13, steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8 are the same processes as those in FIG.

  In step 500 to step 506, the CPU 202 receives support information from the image forming apparatus 100 through short-range wireless communication. After the short-range wireless communication is finished, in step 540, from the support information received in step 504, Read the jam code (including model information of the image forming apparatus 100), the jam location information, and the operation information (URI), access the URI, and send the trouble code and jam location information. Corresponding video data is acquired from the server computer. The acquired moving image data is stored in the RAM 206.

  In step 542, the CPU 202 displays a trouble handling image on the display unit 214 using the image data included in the support information received in step 504. For example, an operation screen as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the touch panel display 210 of the mobile terminal device 200. In FIG. 14, a key 330 and an end key 332 for reproducing a moving image indicating a coping method corresponding to a place where paper is actually jammed are displayed.

  In step 544, the CPU 202 determines whether any key displayed on the touch panel display 210 has been operated. The touch to each key can be determined from the coordinate data of each key area included in the support information received in step 504. If it is determined that any key has been touched, control proceeds to step 546. Otherwise, step 544 is repeated.

  In step 546, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the key operated in step 544 is the key 330 for reproducing a moving image. If it is determined that the key 330 is selected, control proceeds to step 548. Otherwise, that is, if the end key 332 is touched, control proceeds to step 550.

  In step 548, the CPU 202 reproduces a moving image on the touch panel display 210 using the data acquired from the server computer in step 540. When the reproduction ends, control returns to step 544.

  Note that the CPU 202 activates a moving image player (an application for reproducing a moving image) and passes the data (for example, a file name) acquired from the server computer in step 540 as an image to be reproduced, thereby reproducing the moving image. Good.

  In step 550, the CPU 202 deletes the operation screen displayed on the touch panel display 210 and displays a standby screen. Further, the CPU 202 deletes the support information received in step 504 and the moving image data acquired from the server computer in step 540 from the RAM 206. Thereafter, the program ends.

  As described above, when a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 100, the trouble display window 320 as shown in FIG. 12 including the information on the paper jam position and the message prompting the user to bring the mobile terminal closer is displayed. Step 442). When the user viewing the screen brings the mobile terminal device 200 closer to the mark 152 on the operation unit, support information including information on the paper jam position is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal device 200 (steps 444 and 444). Step 412) After the mobile terminal device 200 acquires the moving image data for removing the jammed paper according to the paper jam position, the mobile terminal device 200 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 14 on the mobile terminal device 200 (step 542). . When the user touches the key 330, the moving image is played (step 548).

  As described above, when a paper jam occurs, the user's mobile terminal device 200 can play a moving image for removing the jammed paper according to the position of the paper jam. Therefore, it is possible to specifically grasp the work of removing, so that the work can be performed more safely. When paper is jammed at a deep position inside the image forming apparatus 100, it is necessary to perform a complicated operation of sequentially opening each part. After removing the paper, it is necessary to set each part in a predetermined order. Further, when paper is jammed in the fixing unit or the discharge unit, it is necessary to perform dangerous work near the high temperature unit. In such a case, since the work can be seen in advance with a moving image, the user can work more safely and safely.

  In the above, the case of a paper jam problem has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any trouble that the user can deal with may be used. For example, when a toner out problem occurs, support information including the model of the image forming apparatus 100 and information (for example, color information) for specifying the toner out cartridge is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal device 200. Then, the mobile terminal device 200 may acquire and reproduce the moving image data of the corresponding toner cartridge replacement operation.

  The above-described second embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment. For example, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, when the trouble is not a serviceman call, that is, a trouble that the user can deal with (the determination result in step 402 is NO), a specific trouble (for example, a paper jam or out of toner). If it corresponds to a specific trouble, a URI corresponding to the trouble may be transmitted to the mobile terminal. By doing so, the mobile terminal can display the screen as shown in FIG. 14, receive the user's operation, access the URI received from the image forming apparatus, acquire the video data, and play it back it can.

  (Third Embodiment) In the first embodiment, when a serviceman call trouble occurs, information for supporting the user is displayed on the portable terminal without any particular limitation. In the embodiment, information for supporting the user is displayed on the portable terminal only when the authentication is passed. Similar to the information display system according to the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus and a mobile terminal device.

  The mobile terminal device according to the present embodiment is configured similarly to mobile terminal device 200 (FIGS. 3 and 5) according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured similarly to the image forming apparatus 100 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) according to the first embodiment. However, referring to FIG. 15, in order to realize the authentication function, the image forming apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment has an authentication setting storage unit 128 and an authentication database 130 in the storage unit 120 in addition to the configuration of FIG. It has. Therefore, in the following, reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 15.

  The authentication setting storage unit 128 stores in advance settings for whether or not to perform user authentication (hereinafter also referred to as authentication settings). For example, if the authentication setting is “1”, the authentication process is performed, and if “0”, the authentication process is not performed. The authentication database 130 stores authentication standards of a specific user (for example, an administrator of the image forming apparatus 102) in association with each other. Here, it is assumed that the authentication standard is a user ID and a password.

  Referring to FIG. 16, a program that is executed when a trouble occurs in image forming apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment will be described. This program is activated when the trouble detection unit 116 detects that some trouble has occurred while the image forming apparatus 102 is activated.

  The flowchart of FIG. 16 differs from the flowchart of FIG. 6 in that steps 460 to 466 are added between steps 408 and 410. In FIG. 16, steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 are the same processes as those in FIG.

  The CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not an authentication process is necessary in Step 460 after identifying the trouble in Step 400 to Step 408 and establishing short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal. Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 110 reads the authentication setting from the authentication setting storage unit 128 and determines whether it is “1”. If it is determined that the value is “1” (authentication process is performed), control proceeds to step 462. Otherwise control passes to step 410.

  In step 462, the CPU of the control unit 110 transmits an authentication request to the mobile terminal that has established short-range wireless communication in step 408. Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 110 transmits a predetermined authentication request command.

  In step 464, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether authentication information (data to be subjected to authentication processing) has been received. Here, the authentication information is text data for determining whether or not it matches the user ID and password that are the authentication criteria. If it is determined that it has been received, control proceeds to step 466. Otherwise, step 464 is repeated.

  In step 466, the CPU of the control unit 110 determines whether or not an authentication standard that matches the authentication information received in step 464 is stored in the authentication database 130. Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 110 searches the authentication database 130 with the user ID in the received authentication information, and determines that the authentication has failed if there is no matching user ID. If there is a matching user ID, it is determined whether or not the password stored in correspondence corresponds to the password in the received authentication information. If they match, the authentication process is passed (hereinafter, authentication is performed). It is determined that the authentication has failed. If it is determined that the path is an authentication path, control proceeds to step 410. Otherwise (authentication failure), control returns to step 462 and authentication processing is executed again.

  When the authentication passes, or when the authentication process is unnecessary, the process after step 410 is executed and the support information is transmitted to the mobile terminal, as in the first embodiment.

  With reference to FIG. 17, a description will be given of a program that causes the mobile terminal device 200 to display trouble-response image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 102 when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 102. This program is the above-mentioned “specific program” and is always executed in the mobile terminal device 200.

  The flowchart of FIG. 17 differs from the flowchart of FIG. 8 in that steps 560 to 566 are added between step 502 and step 504, and step 504 is replaced with step 568. In FIG. 17, the steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8 are the same processes as those in FIG.

  The CPU 202 determines whether or not an authentication request command has been received in Step 560 after establishing short-range wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 102 in Step 500 and Step 502. If it is determined that it has been received, control proceeds to step 562. Otherwise, control passes to step 568.

  In step 562, the CPU 202 displays an authentication screen on the touch panel display 210. For example, the screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the touch panel display 210. In FIG. 18, a cell 340 for inputting a user ID and a cell 342 for inputting a password are displayed. When any cell is touched and selected, a software keyboard for inputting text is displayed at the bottom of the displayed screen. The user can input text by operating the software keyboard.

  In step 564, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the input of the user ID and password has been completed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the OK key 344 is touched. After inputting the user ID and password, the user touches the OK key 344 to complete the input. If it is determined that the OK key 344 has been touched, control proceeds to step 566. Otherwise, step 564 is repeated.

  In step 566, the CPU 202 transmits the text data input to the cells 340 and 342 as authentication information to the image forming apparatus 102.

  In step 568, the CPU 202 determines whether or not support information has been received. The received support information is stored in the RAM 206. If it is determined that it has been received, control proceeds to step 506. Otherwise, control returns to step 560.

  If the authentication information transmitted from the portable terminal device 200 is not determined as the authentication pass by the authentication information transmitted from the portable terminal device 200 in steps 560 to 568 (the determination result in step 466 is NO), it is transmitted from the image forming device 102 again. Steps 560 to 566 are repeated for the authentication request command (step 462). In the case of an authentication pass, or when authentication processing is unnecessary, the image forming apparatus 102 transmits support information (step 410 and step 412), and the mobile terminal device 200 can receive the support information (step 568). ).

  After that, as in the first embodiment, the processing after step 506 is executed, the screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the touch panel display 210 of the mobile terminal device 200, and the mobile terminal device 200 performs the user's operation. In response, the corresponding processing is executed.

  Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, if a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus 102 and the trouble that has occurred is a serviceman call trouble, a screen as shown in FIG. Can be displayed. When the key 310 is touched, the mobile terminal device 200 automatically calls the support center, and when the key 312 is touched, the mobile terminal device 200 automatically acquires information on the trouble from the server and displays it on the mobile terminal device 200. can do.

  Although the case where the information display system according to the first embodiment has an authentication function has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. The information display system according to the second embodiment may have the authentication function described above.

  The authentication method (authentication standard) is arbitrary, and is not limited to the above-described method for determining the coincidence of text data such as an ID and a password. You may authenticate based on a user's voice waveform (electrical signal). In that case, the authentication information transmitted from the portable terminal device 200 to the image forming apparatus is a voice waveform obtained by converting the voice acquired by the transmitter 250. In addition, if the mobile terminal has an imaging function, user authentication may be performed using an image obtained by imaging a specific part of the user (such as a face or a glow).

  The present invention has been described above by describing the embodiment. However, the above-described embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is implemented with various modifications. be able to.

  Moreover, the 1st information display system which concerns on embodiment mentioned above contains an electronic device and the portable terminal which can communicate with the said electronic device. An electronic device has a trouble in the electronic device, a storage unit for storing a predetermined telephone number, access information to predetermined information existing on the communication network, and a trouble code corresponding to a trouble that may occur in the electronic device A trouble identifying unit for detecting a trouble code corresponding to the trouble, a trouble determining unit for determining whether the identified trouble code is a code of a specific type of trouble, and a mobile terminal In response to the mobile terminal detection unit to be detected and the identified trouble code being determined by the trouble determination unit to be a code of a specific type of trouble, a telephone number, access information, and a first key area and A support information transmission unit that transmits image data including the second key area to the mobile terminal detected by the mobile terminal detection unit.A portable terminal includes a call unit that transmits an audio signal via a telephone network, an access unit that can access a communication network, and a support information reception unit that receives a telephone number, access information, and image data transmitted from an electronic device. A display unit that displays an image based on the image data received by the support information receiving unit, and a selection detection unit that detects that the first key region or the second key region in the displayed image is selected. including. The call unit makes a call using the telephone number when the selection detection unit detects that the first key region is selected, and the access unit selects the second key region by the selection detection unit. In response to the fact that it has been detected, the communication network may be accessed according to the access information to acquire predetermined information, and the display unit may display the acquired predetermined information.

  The storage unit further stores moving image access information for accessing predetermined moving image data existing on the communication network in association with the trouble code. The electronic device determines whether the trouble code is a specific trouble code when the trouble determination section determines that the specified trouble code is not a specific type of trouble code. The information transmission unit receives the video access information corresponding to the specified trouble code and a predetermined key in response to the fact that the specified trouble code is determined to be the code of the specific trouble by the trouble determination unit. Image data including the area is transmitted to the mobile terminal. In the portable terminal, the support information receiving unit receives the moving image access information and image data including a predetermined key area, and the display unit displays an image based on the image data including the predetermined key area, and detects the selection. In response to detecting that the predetermined key area has been selected by the unit, the access unit accesses the communication network according to the video access information to acquire video data, and the display unit acquires the acquired video data You may replay it.

  In addition, the support information transmission unit receives the telephone number, the access information, the image data, the predetermined e-mail address when the trouble determination unit determines that the specified trouble code is a specific type of trouble code. And the trouble state information showing the state of the trouble that has occurred is transmitted to the portable terminal detected by the portable terminal detection unit. The portable terminal may further include a trouble state information transmission unit that transmits the trouble state information to the e-mail address in response to the selection detection unit detecting that the first key area has been selected.

  Moreover, the 2nd information display system which concerns on embodiment mentioned above contains an electronic device and the portable terminal which can communicate with the said electronic device. The electronic device stores a trouble code corresponding to a trouble that may occur in the electronic device and a moving image access information for accessing predetermined moving image data existing on the communication network in association with the electronic device. A trouble identifying unit that detects that a trouble has occurred and identifies a trouble code corresponding to the trouble, a trouble determining unit that determines whether or not the identified trouble code is a code of a specific type of trouble, A mobile device detection unit that detects a mobile device, and a video access corresponding to the identified trouble code when the identified trouble code is determined by the trouble determination unit to be a code of a specific type of trouble A support information transmitting unit that transmits information and image data including a predetermined key area to the mobile terminal.The mobile terminal has an access unit that can access the communication network, a moving image access information transmitted from the electronic device, a support information receiving unit that receives image data, and an image based on the image data received by the support information receiving unit. And a selection detection unit that detects that a key area in the displayed image is selected. In response to detecting that the key area has been selected by the selection detection unit, the access unit accesses the communication network according to the video access information to acquire video data, and the display unit acquires the acquired video data. You may replay it.

  The electronic device further includes an authentication unit that performs user authentication and an authentication information reception unit that receives authentication information from the mobile terminal. The storage unit stores authentication standard information for each user, and the authentication unit transmits a command for requesting authentication information to the mobile terminal detected by the mobile terminal detection unit before the support information transmission unit performs transmission. . The portable terminal further includes an input unit that receives input of authentication information in response to receiving the command, and an authentication information transmission unit that transmits the authentication information input by the input unit to the electronic device. The authentication unit determines whether authentication standard information that matches the authentication information received from the mobile terminal is stored in the storage unit, and the authentication unit stores authentication standard information that matches the authentication information by the authentication unit. The support information transmission unit may perform transmission in response to the determination that it is present.

  In addition, the specific type of trouble is a trouble that cannot be dealt with by the user, the portable terminal detection unit detects the portable terminal by short-range wireless communication, and the support information transmission unit transmits to the portable terminal by short-range wireless communication. The support information receiving unit may perform reception from the electronic device by short-range wireless communication.

  The electronic device is an image forming apparatus, the specific trouble is a paper jam, the trouble specifying unit specifies a paper jam location, and the storage unit is a place where the paper jam can occur in the image forming apparatus. The position information to be stored is further stored, and the moving image access information is stored in correspondence with the position information, and the support information transmitting unit determines that the specified trouble code is a code of a specific trouble by the trouble determining unit. In response to the determination, the moving image access information corresponding to the specified trouble code and position information and the image data may be transmitted.

  The first electronic device according to the above-described embodiment is an electronic device that can communicate with a mobile terminal having a telephone function. This electronic device has a storage unit that stores a predetermined telephone number, access information to predetermined information existing on the communication network, and a trouble code corresponding to a trouble that may occur in the electronic device, and a trouble in the electronic device. A trouble identifying unit that detects occurrence and identifies a trouble code corresponding to the trouble; a trouble determining unit that determines whether the identified trouble code is a code of a specific type of trouble; and a portable terminal A mobile terminal detection unit that detects the phone number, the access information, and the first key area in response to determining that the specified trouble code is a code of a specific type of trouble by the trouble determination unit. And a support information transmission unit that transmits image data including the second key area to the mobile terminal detected by the mobile terminal detection unit. No. The mobile terminal displays the image data as an image and is used to detect that the first key area or the second key area is selected, and the telephone number indicates that the first key area is selected. The access information is used for obtaining predetermined information in response to the detection that the second key area is selected. Good.

  In addition, the second electronic device according to the above-described embodiment is an electronic device that can communicate with a mobile terminal having a function of accessing a communication network. The electronic device includes a storage unit that stores a trouble code corresponding to a trouble that may occur in the electronic device and moving image access information for accessing predetermined moving image data existing on the communication network, and an electronic device A trouble identifying unit that detects that a trouble has occurred and identifies a trouble code corresponding to the trouble, a trouble determining unit that determines whether the identified trouble code is a code of a specific trouble, Video access information corresponding to the specified trouble code when the mobile terminal detection unit for detecting the mobile terminal and the specified trouble code determined by the trouble determination unit to be a specific trouble code And a support information transmitting unit that transmits image data including a predetermined key area to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal displays the image data as an image and is used to detect that a predetermined key area has been selected, and the moving image access information has detected that the predetermined key area has been selected. In response, it is used for acquisition of moving image data by the mobile terminal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when trouble occurs in an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, a screen for assisting the user can be displayed on the mobile terminal device according to the type of trouble. Will be able to deal with troubles promptly.

  In particular, when a problem occurs that the user cannot handle and needs to contact a service person, the user can simply operate the keys displayed on the screen displayed on the mobile terminal, and the support center etc. You can call and see information about troubles.

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus, when a paper jam occurs, the user simply operates a key displayed on the screen displayed on the mobile terminal, and displays a moving image of a countermeasure according to the location where the paper is jammed. You can see it and you can work with confidence and accuracy.

  In addition, when a problem occurs that requires contact with a service person due to user authentication, only a specific user such as an administrator can be contacted. Can be prevented in advance.

100, 102 Image forming apparatus 110 Control unit 112 Terminal detection unit 114 Terminal control unit 116 Trouble detection unit 120 Storage unit 122 Control program storage unit 124 Device state storage unit 126 Trouble information storage unit 128 Authentication setting storage unit 130 Authentication database 140 Touch panel display 142 Input unit 144 Display unit 146 Start button 150 Wireless communication I / F unit 152 Mark 160 Bus 200 Mobile terminal device 202 CPU
204 Memory 206 RAM
210 Touch Panel Display 212 Input Unit 214 Display Unit 230 Wireless Communication I / F Unit 240 Bus 250 Transmitter 252 Receiver

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal device and including a display unit,
Trouble determining means for detecting that a trouble has occurred in the image forming apparatus and determining the trouble that has occurred;
Display means for displaying a message on the display unit when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is the first classification;
A transmission means for transmitting support information to the terminal device when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is a second classification;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The terminal device has a function capable of voice call,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support information includes a telephone number called by the terminal device or connection destination information for the terminal device to connect. The transmission means includes
If the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is the second classification, a message prompting connection of the terminal device is displayed on the display unit, and after communication with the terminal device is established, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support information is transmitted.   4. The trouble of the first classification is a trouble that can be solved by a user, and the trouble of the second classification is a trouble that cannot be solved by the user. The image forming apparatus described in the item. An information display system having a terminal device and an image forming apparatus having a display unit,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Communication means for communicating with the terminal device;
Trouble determining means for detecting that a trouble has occurred in the image forming apparatus and determining the trouble that has occurred;
A first display means for displaying a message on the display unit when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is a first classification;
A transmission means for transmitting support information to the terminal device when the trouble determined by the trouble determination means is a second classification;
With
The terminal device
Receiving means for receiving the support information;
Control means for displaying a trouble handling screen based on the received support information;
An information display system comprising: The support information includes a telephone number or connection destination information,
The terminal device
It has a function that allows voice calls.
The control means makes a call using a telephone number based on the received support information or receives a trouble handling screen using connection destination information.
The information display system according to claim 5.

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