JP2019004386A - Information processing device, program, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce labor of a worker necessary for retransmission in the case of failure in transmission of history information in comparison with a case where the worker specifies and re-transmits the history information failed in transmission.SOLUTION: A communication unit 14 transmits history information indicating a processing history to a storage destination according to predetermined transmission timing. History information of which transmission has failed is stored in a storage unit 20. A control unit 30 performs control for transmitting the history information stored in the storage unit 20 to the storage destination according to a transmission instruction of a worker.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a program, and an information processing system.

  In some cases, history information indicating the history of processing executed by a device such as an image forming apparatus is sent to an external device to manage the device. For example, history information may be automatically transmitted at a predetermined transmission timing, or history information of processing executed within a period specified by the administrator may be transmitted by a manual operation by the administrator. .

  In addition, when history information transmission fails, recovery information (retry processing) may be performed to transmit history information that failed to be transmitted to an external device (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2013-125297 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-5199

  By the way, if the recovery process also fails, after all, history information is not sent to the external device. Also, it is conceivable that an operator such as an administrator manually designates history information that has failed to be transmitted and gives a retransmission instruction. However, it takes time to designate history information to be retransmitted.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the labor of an operator required for retransmission in the case where transmission of history information has failed, compared to the case where an operator designates and retransmits history information for which transmission failed. .

  The invention according to claim 1 is a transmission unit that transmits history information indicating a processing history to a storage destination according to a predetermined transmission timing; a storage unit that stores history information in which transmission by the transmission unit has failed; And a control unit that performs control for transmitting history information stored in the storage unit to the storage destination in accordance with a transmission instruction from an operator.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, as the control, the control means displays on the display means instruction information for an operator to give a transmission instruction, and the transmission means operates using the instruction information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a transmission instruction is given by a person, the history information stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the storage destination.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the control means causes the display means to display the instruction information when transmission of history information by the transmission means fails. Information processing apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the transmission means is authenticated by the worker after the transmission instruction is given by the worker using the instruction information, the history information stored in the storage means is stored. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing device is transmitted to the storage destination.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the control means permits acceptance of a transmission instruction using the instruction information after completion of the process being executed. It is an information processing apparatus as described in any one of these.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the control means displays the instruction information on the display means when processing is not being executed, and permits the reception of a transmission instruction using the instruction information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the control means performs the control when an operator having management authority is logged in. It is an information processing apparatus as described in.

  In the invention according to claim 8, the control means is history information of transmission failed by the transmission means, and history information of processing executed within a period specified by the worker is an instruction to send the worker. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed so that the information is transmitted to the storage destination according to the control information.

  The invention according to claim 9 further includes a creation unit that creates history information for each predetermined creation period, and the creation unit is specified by the operator over a plurality of creation periods. In this case, new history information indicating a history of processing executed within the period is created, and the control unit is configured to transmit the new history information to the storage destination according to a transmission instruction from an operator. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein control is performed.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, when the history information stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the storage destination, the control unit deletes the history information transmitted to the storage destination from the storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus.

  11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying that transmission by the transmission means has failed. It is.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the notification means causes the display means to display information indicating that transmission by the transmission means has failed as the notification. Device.

  The invention described in claim 13 is characterized in that the notification means transmits information indicating that transmission by the transmission means has failed to the manager terminal device as the notification. Information processing apparatus.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the control means stores history information indicating a history of processing executed in another device, and history information indicating that transmission from the other device to the storage destination has failed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further performing control for transmission to a storage destination.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when the communication environment between the own device and the storage destination is better than the communication environment between the other device and the storage destination, The control is performed for acquiring history information of failure in transmission from another device to the storage destination and transmitting the history information from the other device to the storage destination instead of the other device. 14. The information processing apparatus according to 14.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the frequency of transmission error of history information is lower than the frequency of transmission error of the other device, the control unit fails in transmission from the other device to the storage destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein control is performed for acquiring history information from the other apparatus and transmitting the history information to the storage destination instead of the other apparatus.

  In the invention according to claim 17, when the communication capability of the own device is higher than the communication capability of the other device, the control means displays the history information indicating that transmission from the other device to the storage destination has failed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the information processing apparatus performs control for obtaining from another apparatus and transmitting to the storage destination instead of the other apparatus.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, when the power of the own device is on, the control means fails to transmit from the other device to which the power-off instruction is given from the other device to the storage destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein control is performed to acquire the acquired history information and transmit the acquired history information to the storage destination instead of the other apparatus.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the computer stores the history information indicating the history of the processing to the storage destination in accordance with a predetermined transmission timing, and stores the history information in which the transmission by the transmission unit has failed in the storage unit. The history information stored in the storage means functions as a control means for performing control for transmitting the history information to a storage destination in accordance with an operator's transmission instruction.

  The invention described in claim 20 includes a plurality of devices, each device transmitting history information indicating a history of processing in the device itself to a storage destination according to a predetermined transmission timing, and the transmission device. Storage means for storing history information of failed transmission, and the transmission means of at least one of the plurality of devices further includes a history of failed transmission from the other device to the storage destination. The information processing system acquires information from the other device and transmits the information to the storage destination.

  The invention according to claim 21 is the information processing system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one device is a predetermined device.

  The invention according to claim 22 is the information processing system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one device is determined based on a communication environment between each of the devices and the storage destination. is there.

  The invention according to claim 23 is the information processing system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one device is determined based on a frequency of transmission errors by the devices.

  The invention according to claim 24 is the information processing system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one device is determined based on a communication capability of each of the devices.

  According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the plurality of devices, the transmission unit of the device to which an instruction to turn off the power is given indicates history information in which the transmission by the device has failed in the plurality of devices. Transmitting to a power-on device, and the transmission means of the power-on device transmits history information sent from a device to which an instruction to turn off the power is given to the storage destination. An information processing system according to claim 20.

  According to the first, second, third, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and nineteenth aspects of the present invention, when history information transmission fails, the operator designates and retransmits the history information that failed to be transmitted. Compared to the case, the labor of the worker required for the retransmission can be reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, history information is prevented from being transmitted by an unauthenticated worker.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the execution of the process and the transmission of the history information are executed at different timings, the load on the apparatus is reduced as compared with the case where they are executed simultaneously.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transmit history information even during processing.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, history information is prevented from being transmitted by an operator who does not have management authority.

  According to the eighth and ninth aspects of the invention, history information for a period desired by the worker is transmitted to the storage destination.

  According to the invention described in claims 14, 20 and 21, even if the history information is not transmitted from another device to the storage destination, the history information can be transmitted to the storage destination.

  According to the invention described in claims 15 and 22, the history information can be transmitted under a more stable communication environment as compared with the case where the history information is transmitted from another device to the storage destination.

  According to the sixteenth and twenty-third aspects, the history information can be transmitted to the storage destination more reliably than the case where the history information is transmitted from another device to the storage destination.

  According to the inventions of claims 17 and 24, the time required for the transmission can be shortened as compared with the case where the history information is transmitted from another device to the storage destination.

  According to the invention described in claims 18 and 25, the history information can be transmitted to the storage destination by using a device whose power is on.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming system according to a first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
With reference to FIG. 1, an image forming system as an information processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming system according to the first embodiment.

  The image forming system according to the first embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 10 and an aggregation server 12 as information processing apparatuses. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 and the aggregation server 12 have a function of communicating with each other via a communication path N such as a network. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 10 is included in the image forming system, but a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 may be included in the image forming system. In addition, the image forming system may include other devices (for example, a terminal device such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a mobile phone).

  The image forming apparatus 10 is an apparatus having an image forming function. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 has at least one of a copy function, a scan function, a print function, and a facsimile function. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 has a function of communicating with other apparatuses.

  The aggregation server 12 is a device that collects history information indicating a history of processing executed by the image forming apparatus 10. The aggregation server 12 has a function of communicating with other devices. The aggregation server 12 corresponds to an example of “storage destination”.

  In the image forming system, when processing is executed in the image forming apparatus 10, history information indicating the history of the processing is created, and the history information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the aggregation server 12. The history information is used, for example, as information for analyzing and managing the operating status of the image forming apparatus 10. Hereinafter, processing executed in the image forming apparatus 10 is referred to as “job”.

  Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The communication unit 14 is a communication interface, and has a function of transmitting data to another device and a function of receiving data from another device. The communication unit 14 has a wireless communication function such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication and a wired communication function, and has a function of transmitting and receiving data via a network such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). ing.

  The image forming unit 16 has a function of performing image forming processing. The image forming unit 16 has, for example, at least one of a copy function, a scan function, a print function, and a facsimile function. By executing the copy function, the original is read and formed on a recording medium such as paper. By executing the scan function, the document is read and scan data (image data) is generated. By executing the print function, an image is formed on the recording medium. By executing the facsimile function, image data is transmitted or received by facsimile. A composite function combining a plurality of functions may be executed. For example, a scan transfer function that combines a scan function and a transmission function (transfer function) may be executed. By executing the scan transfer function, the original is read to generate scan data (image data), and the scan data is transmitted to a transmission destination (for example, a device such as a terminal device or a server). Of course, other functions may be performed.

  The UI unit 18 is a user interface unit and includes a display unit and an operation unit. The display unit is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit is an input device such as a touch panel or a keyboard. The UI unit 18 may be a user interface (for example, a display as a touch panel, a display that electronically displays a keyboard, or the like) having both functions of a display unit and an operation unit.

  The storage unit 20 is a storage device such as a hard disk or a memory. The storage unit 20 includes, for example, execution command information (for example, a print job) indicating an execution command for image formation processing, image data to be printed, scan data generated by executing a scan function, and various controls. Data, various programs, various data, and the like are stored. These data may be stored in separate storage devices, or may be stored in the same storage device.

  In the first embodiment, a log file as an example of history information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the aggregation server 12. When this transmission fails, the log file 22 in which the transmission has failed is stored in the storage unit 20.

  The log file creation unit 24 has a function of creating a log file as an example of history information. When a job is executed in the image forming apparatus 10, a job log indicating the history of the job is created. The job log may be created by the log file creation unit 24 or may be created by the control unit 30 described later. For example, a job log is created for each job. The job log is stored in the storage unit 20, for example. The job log includes, for example, information indicating the type of job, information indicating counter information (for example, the number of sheets used for executing the job (for example, the number of printed sheets, the number of copied sheets, etc.)), and information indicating a communication partner. , Information indicating the date and time when the job was executed, identification information of the user who instructed execution of the job, terminal information, and the like. Of course, information other than these may be included in the job log. The log file creation unit 24 creates a log file including one or a plurality of job logs. The file format of the log file is, for example, the CSV format, but the file format is not particularly limited, and another file format may be used.

  The log file creation unit 24 may create a log file by collecting job logs for jobs executed within the creation period, for example, for each predetermined creation period, or a user (worker) A log file may be created by collecting job logs for jobs executed within a period specified by.

  The authentication unit 26 has a function of authenticating a user. Authentication using a password may be performed, biometric authentication (authentication using fingerprint, voice, iris, face, blood vessel, etc.) may be performed, or authentication using a recording medium such as an IC card may be performed. It may be done. For example, the authentication unit 26 may perform authentication when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 10 or may determine whether the user has management authority.

  The notification unit 28 has a function of notifying the user that transmission of log files to the aggregation server 12 has failed. For example, the notification unit 28 may display information indicating failure on the display unit of the UI unit 18 or may transmit the information to a terminal device (for example, an administrator terminal device) of a user having management authority. However, voice, light, etc. may be emitted.

  The control unit 30 has a function of controlling the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the control unit 30 displays various types of information on the display unit of the UI unit 18. In the first embodiment, the control unit 30 stores a log file that has failed to be transmitted to the aggregation server 12 in the storage unit 20, and executes control for transmitting the log file to the aggregation server 12 in accordance with a user transmission instruction. To do. For example, the control unit 30 generates a retransmission button image as instruction information for the user to give a transmission instruction, and displays the retransmission button image on the display unit of the UI unit 18. When the user presses the retransmission button image, the control unit 30 gives the communication unit 14 an instruction to transmit the log file 22 stored in the storage unit 20. The communication unit 14 transmits the log file 22 stored in the storage unit 20 to the aggregation server 12 in accordance with the transmission instruction.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 10.

  When the log file transmission timing has arrived (S01, Yes), the log file creation unit 24 collects job logs and creates a log file (S02), and the communication unit 14 stores the log file as a storage destination. It transmits to the totaling server 12 (S03). When the log file transmission timing has not arrived (S01, No), the log file creation unit 24 stands by.

  The log file transmission timing is predetermined, for example. For example, the log file is periodically transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the aggregation server 12, such as every day, every week, every month, or every arbitrary period determined by the administrator. When a log file is transmitted every day, the transmission time is determined, and the log file creation unit 24 collects the job logs for one day created up to that time and creates the log file. . When a log file is transmitted every week, the log file creation unit 24 collects a job log for one week and creates a log file. When a log file is transmitted every month, the log file creation unit 24 collects job logs for one month and creates a log file. In addition, a specific date and time may be designated by an administrator or the like, and the log file creation unit 24 may create a log file by collecting unsent job logs created up to the specific date and time.

  Note that the log file creation timing and the transmission timing need not match. That is, the log file creation unit 24 creates a log file for each predetermined creation period (for example, every day, every week, every month, etc.), and the communication unit 14 follows the predetermined transmission timing. The log file created before the transmission timing may be transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  For example, SMB transfer is used as a log file transmission protocol (transfer protocol). Of course, another transmission protocol (for example, FTP transfer) may be used.

  When transmission of the log file to the aggregation server 12 is completed (S04, Yes), the control unit 30 deletes the log file for which transmission has been completed from the image forming apparatus 10 (S05). This completes the log file transmission process. Similarly, the processing after step S01 is executed thereafter.

  When transmission of log files to the aggregation server 12 has not been completed (S04, No), and when no error has occurred in transmission (S06, No), the communication unit 14 continues to collect log files from the aggregation server. 12 to send.

  When the transmission of the log file to the aggregation server 12 is not completed (S04, No), when an error occurs in the transmission (S06, Yes), the control unit 30 logs the log file that has failed to be transmitted (in FIG. 1). Log file 22) is stored in the storage unit 20 (S07). Note that the cause of the transmission error includes a down of the aggregation server 12, a failure in the communication line, and the like. These failures are detected by using a known technique.

  Next, when the user instructs transmission of a log file whose transmission has failed (S08, Yes), the communication unit 14 transmits the log file stored in the storage unit 20 to the aggregation server 12 (S09). The transmission instruction is given using, for example, the UI unit 18. The transmission instruction will be described in detail later.

  When transmission of the log file stored in the storage unit 20 is completed (S04, Yes), the control unit 30 deletes the log file from the storage unit 20 (S05). When the user does not give a transmission instruction (S08, No), the communication unit 14 stands by. When a new log file is created at the next transmission timing in a state where the log file is stored in the storage unit 20, the communication unit 14 stores the storage unit together with the newly created log file. The log file stored in 20 is transmitted to the aggregation server 12. When transmitting a plurality of log files to the aggregation server 12, the old log files may be transmitted in order, the new log files may be transmitted in order, or each log file may be transmitted in a random order. Also good.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when a log file whose transmission has failed is stored in the storage unit 20 and the user gives a retransmission instruction, the log file is transferred from the image forming apparatus 10. It is transmitted to the aggregation server 12. Even if the user does not specify a log file for which transmission failed, the log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12, so that the user's labor is reduced compared to the case where the specification is required.

  Hereinafter, another operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another operation of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Similar to the example shown in FIG. 3, when the log file transmission timing arrives (S20, Yes), a log file is created (S21), and the log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12 (S22). When the transmission is completed (S23, Yes), the log file is deleted from the image forming apparatus 10 (S24). Thereafter, similarly, the processing after step S20 is executed.

  When the transmission of the log file is not completed (S23, No), when no error has occurred in the transmission (S25, No), the log file is continuously transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  When the transmission of the log file is not completed (S23, No), when an error occurs in the transmission (S25, Yes), the log file for which the transmission has failed is stored in the storage unit 20 (S26).

  Next, when the user designates the period and instructs the transmission of the log file whose transmission has failed (S27, Yes), the log file creation unit 24 selects the job executed during the period designated by the user. The job log is collected and a log file is created (S28). The log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12. When the transmission of the log file is completed (S23, Yes), the control unit 30 deletes the portion of the log file 22 stored in the storage unit 20 that has been transmitted.

  According to the above operation, the log file including the job log corresponding to the period specified by the user is transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 10 will be described in more detail.

  An example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the UI unit 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 to FIG. 11 show an example of the screen.

  A screen 32 shown in FIG. 5 is a main menu screen, for example, and is displayed on the display unit of the UI unit 18. On the screen 32, for example, a button image (for example, an icon) for the user to instruct execution of an image forming function such as a copy function or a print function, a button image operated when logging in to the image forming apparatus 10, an image forming apparatus Button images and the like that are operated at the time of setting 10 are displayed. When the user operates a button image according to the purpose, a function or process associated with the operated button image is executed.

  FIG. 6 shows a screen when log file transmission fails. When the log file transmission fails, the notification unit 28 causes the screen 32 to display an error message indicating that the log file transmission failed, for example, as indicated by reference numeral 34. The notification unit 28 may emit voice, light, or the like together with the display of the error message or instead of the display of the error message, or a previously registered terminal device (for example, a terminal device of a user having management authority) ) May send an error message by e-mail or the like. The notification unit 28 may cause the error message to be displayed on the screen 32 and may be transmitted to the terminal device registered in advance, and the error message may be deleted from the screen 32 when the transmission of the error message is completed.

  Further, the control unit 30 causes the screen 32 to display a button image 36 (for example, an icon) for instructing retransmission of the log file. When the user operates the button image 36 using the UI unit 18 (for example, when the button image 36 is pressed), an instruction to transmit a log file whose transmission has failed is given, and the communication unit 14 is stored in the storage unit 20. The log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  The control unit 30 may always display the button image 36 on the screen 32, or only when the log file is stored in the storage unit 20 (that is, only when the log file transmission fails), the button image 36. May be displayed on the screen 32. By displaying the button image 36 only when the log file is stored in the storage unit 20, the user is notified of the failure to transmit the log file. Note that when the button image 36 is displayed only when the log file is stored in the storage unit 20, an error message as indicated by reference numeral 34 may not be displayed.

  The control unit 30 may display the button image 36 on the screen 32 when the cause of the log file transmission failure is resolved. For example, when transmission of a log file fails due to a communication failure between the image forming apparatus 10 and the aggregation server 12, when the communication failure is resolved, the control unit 30 displays the button image 36 on the screen 32. May be. In this way, another failure is avoided.

  The control unit 30 may display the button image 36 on the screen 32 when a user having management authority logs in to the image forming apparatus 10. For example, when a user having management authority logs in to the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 30 may always display the button image 36 on the screen 32, or the user having management authority may display the button image 36. When a log file is stored in the storage unit 20 when logging in, the button image 36 may be displayed on the screen 32. The user having the management authority includes an administrator of the image forming apparatus 10, an administrator who uses the aggregation server 12, a general user who is temporarily or permanently given the management authority, and the like. By displaying the button image 36 when a user having such management authority is logged in, a user who does not have management authority is prevented from giving a log file transmission instruction by mistake. Further, the notification unit 28 may perform the transmission failure notification process only when a user having management authority is logged in to the image forming apparatus 10.

  FIG. 7 shows another display example. When the user operates the button image 36 to instruct the log file to be transmitted, the control unit 30 may display the authentication information input field 38 on the screen 32. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the authentication information is, for example, a user ID and password for management authority. When the user inputs the user ID and password in the input field 38, the authentication unit 26 performs an authentication process. If the input authentication information (user ID and password) is registered in the image forming apparatus 10, the authentication is successful, and the communication unit 14 transmits the log file stored in the storage unit 20 to the aggregation server 12. . If the input authentication information is not registered in the image forming apparatus 10, the authentication fails, and the communication unit 14 does not transmit the log file stored in the storage unit 20 to the aggregation server 12. This prevents a user who does not have management authority from giving a log file transmission instruction by mistake.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the user ID and the password are used as the authentication information, but authentication processing using another method (for example, biometric authentication) may be performed. The authentication process may be performed by the image forming apparatus 10 or may be performed by the aggregation server 12 or another server. The button image 36 may be displayed constantly or only when a log file is stored in the storage unit 20.

  FIG. 8 shows still another display example. When the user operates the button image 36 to instruct transmission of the log file, the control unit 30 may display an input field 40 for designating a period during which the job is executed on the screen 32. When the user inputs a period in the input field 40, the log file creation unit 24 collects job logs that are job logs for jobs executed within the period and have not been transmitted to the aggregation server 12, and collects the log files. create. The communication unit 14 transmits the log file thus created to the aggregation server 12. In this way, a log file for a job executed within a period desired by the user is sent to the aggregation server 12. Note that a plurality of periods may be designated by the user. In this case, a log file for a job executed within each period is created and transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  When a log file is created every predetermined creation period, the above period may be specified by the user over a plurality of creation periods. For example, it is assumed that a period from the beginning of the month (1st) to the end of the month is determined as a unit of the creation period, and a log file is created every month. That is, a log file for each month (for example, a log file for January, a log file for February, etc.) is created sequentially. In this case, when a period is specified over a plurality of months (creation periods) (for example, a period from January 15 to February 15 is specified), the log file creation unit 24 Collect job logs for jobs executed within a specified period and create log files. In the above example, a log file is created for a job executed in the period from January 15 to February 15 and transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  FIG. 9 shows still another display example. The control unit 30 may cause the screen 32 to display a list 42 of log files stored in the storage unit 20 when the user designates the button image 36 and instructs transmission of the log file. For example, identification information is associated with each log file. The identification information is, for example, a log file name, ID, information indicating a period during which the job is executed, and the like. When the user specifies a log file to be transmitted from the list 42, the communication unit 14 transmits the log file specified by the user to the aggregation server 12. In this way, the target log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  FIG. 10 shows still another display example. When the log file transmission fails when the image forming apparatus 10 is executing a job, the control unit 30 may display an error message or a button image 36 on the display unit of the UI unit 18 while the job is being executed. Good. For example, when the log file transmission fails during the execution of the print job, the control unit 30 displays an error message indicated by reference numeral 34 and a button image 36 on the screen 44 as shown in FIG. The control unit 30 does not accept the operation of the button image 36 while the job is being executed (that is, does not accept the log file transmission instruction), and accepts the operation of the button image 36 after the execution of the job is completed. (That is, a log file transmission instruction may be accepted). By doing so, an increase in the load on the image forming apparatus 10 during job execution is suppressed. As another example, when the button image 36 is operated by the user during execution of a job and a log file transmission instruction is given, the communication unit 14 performs the log file according to the transmission instruction after the job execution is completed. May be transmitted to the aggregation server 12. Of course, when the button image 36 is operated by the user during execution of the job, the communication unit 14 may transmit the log file to the aggregation server 12 during execution of the job.

  FIG. 11 shows still another display example. When the log file transmission fails when the image forming apparatus 10 is executing a job, the control unit 30 does not display an error message or the button image 36 on the display unit of the UI unit 18 while the job is being executed. After the job execution is completed (that is, when the job is not executed), an error message or a button image 36 may be displayed on the display unit of the UI unit 18. For example, when the execution of the print job is completed and no other job is executed, the control unit 30 displays an error message indicated by reference numeral 34 and a button image 36 on the screen 46 as shown in FIG. When the button image 36 is operated by the user and a log file transmission instruction is given, the control unit 30 receives the transmission instruction, and the communication unit 14 sends the log file stored in the storage unit 20 to the aggregation server 12. Send. By doing so, the information displayed on the screen during the execution of the job becomes simpler than when the error message and the button image 36 are displayed during the execution of the job.

  In the first embodiment described above, the error message and the button image may be displayed on the image forming apparatus 10, may be displayed on the aggregation server 12, or another apparatus (for example, an administrator terminal). May be displayed. For example, when the user gives a log file transmission instruction using the administrator terminal device, information indicating the transmission instruction is transmitted from the administrator terminal device to the image forming apparatus 10, and the image forming apparatus 10 The log file stored in the storage unit 20 may be transmitted to the aggregation server 12 in accordance with the transmission instruction. Such a transmission instruction may be given by the aggregation server 12, and information indicating the transmission instruction may be transmitted from the aggregation server 12 to the image forming apparatus 10.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an image forming system as an information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows an example of an image forming system according to the second embodiment.

  The image forming system according to the second embodiment includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses (in the example illustrated in FIG. 12, image forming apparatuses 10A, 10B, and 10C) as information processing apparatuses and a totaling server 12. The plurality of image forming apparatuses and the aggregation server 12 have a function of communicating with each other via a communication path N such as a network. Similar to the first embodiment, other devices such as a terminal device may be included in the image forming system.

  In the second embodiment, at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses functions as a management apparatus (parent device). The management apparatus transmits its own log file to the aggregation server 12, and further acquires a log file that failed to be transmitted by another image forming apparatus from the other image forming apparatus and transmits it to the aggregation server 12. The management apparatus may transmit log files of other image forming apparatuses together with its own log file to the aggregation server 12, or may transmit these log files to the aggregation server 12 at different timings.

  An image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus (master) may be determined in advance. For example, an image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus is determined by an administrator or the like. As another example, the management device may be determined based on the communication environment between each image forming device and the aggregation server 12, and the frequency of log file transmission errors (number of times transmission failed) by each image forming device. Etc.), the management device may be determined based on the communication capability (for example, communication speed) of each image forming apparatus, and the power supply state ( For example, the management device may be determined based on ON, OFF).

  The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10A will be described, but the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C have the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 10A.

  Device management information 48 is stored in the storage unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 10A. Since the configuration other than the device management information 48 is the same as the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The device management information 48 is information for managing the state and communication state of each image forming apparatus, and is information used when determining a management apparatus (master unit). In the device management information 48, for example, for each image forming apparatus, device identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus (for example, a device ID and a device name) and information indicating a communication environment between the aggregation server 12 and The information indicating the number of log file transmission errors, the information indicating the communication capability, the information indicating the power supply state (for example, ON or OFF), and the information indicating the address of the image forming apparatus are associated with each other. Yes. Of course, all or part of the information may be included in the device management information 48.

  In the second embodiment, the control unit 30 determines a management apparatus using the device management information 48. For example, the management apparatus may be determined based on the communication environment between each image forming apparatus and the aggregation server 12. The communication environment is determined by, for example, the presence or absence of a communication failure between the image forming apparatus and the aggregation server 12, the stability of communication, the size of the communication line, and the like. The smaller the communication failure, the better the communication environment, the more stable the communication, the better the communication environment, and the larger the communication line scale, the better the communication environment. Of course, the communication environment may be determined by other conditions. Each image forming apparatus measures the communication environment with the totaling server 12, and transmits the information indicating its own communication environment and its device identification information to the other image forming apparatus. Information indicating the communication environment is shared with other image forming apparatuses. Information indicating the communication environment is registered in the device management information 48 stored in each image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 30 refers to the device management information 48 to determine an image forming apparatus (for example, an image forming apparatus with the best communication environment) having a better communication environment than the other image forming apparatuses as a management apparatus. For example, when the communication environment of the image forming apparatus 10A is the best, the control unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 10A stores information indicating that it is a management apparatus in the storage unit 20, and controls the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. The unit 30 causes the storage unit 20 to store information indicating that the image forming apparatus 10A is a management device. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10A functions as a management apparatus. Each image forming apparatus may determine the management apparatus for each unit time by measuring the communication environment for each predetermined unit time and sharing the measurement result with other image forming apparatuses. When the communication environment between each image forming apparatus and the aggregation server 12 changes, an image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus is determined based on the changed communication environment. As described above, by using the image forming apparatus having the best communication environment as the management apparatus, the log files are stored in the aggregation server 12 more stably than when the image forming apparatus having a worse communication environment is used as the management apparatus. Sent.

  As another example, an image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus may be determined based on the frequency of log file transmission errors (number of times transmission failed, etc.) by each image forming apparatus. Each image forming apparatus counts the number of transmission errors within a predetermined period, for example, and transmits the information indicating the number of times and its own device identification information to the other image forming apparatus, so that the other image forming apparatus Share information indicating the number of transmission errors with. Information indicating the number of transmission errors is registered in the device management information 48 stored in each image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 30 refers to the device management information 48 to determine the image forming apparatus with the smallest number of transmission errors as the management apparatus. For example, when the number of transmission errors of the image forming apparatus 10A is the smallest, the control unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 10A stores information indicating that it is a management apparatus in the storage unit 20, and the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. The control unit 30 causes the storage unit 20 to store information indicating that the image forming apparatus 10A is a management device. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10A functions as a management apparatus. Each image forming apparatus may determine the management apparatus for each unit time by counting the number of transmission errors for each predetermined unit period and sharing the number with other image forming apparatuses. When the number of transmission errors in each image forming apparatus changes, an image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus is determined based on the number of transmission errors after the change. As described above, by using the image forming apparatus having the smallest number of transmission errors as the management apparatus, the log to the totaling server 12 is compared with the case of using the image forming apparatus having the larger number of transmission errors as the management apparatus. The success rate of file transmission increases.

  As another example, an image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus may be determined based on the communication capability (for example, communication speed) of each image forming apparatus. Each image forming apparatus shares information indicating communication capability with other image forming apparatuses by transmitting information indicating the communication capability of itself and device identification information of the image forming apparatus to the other image forming apparatuses. Information indicating the communication capability is registered in the device management information 48 stored in each image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 30 refers to the device management information 48 to determine the image forming apparatus having the highest communication capability (for example, the highest communication speed) as the management apparatus. For example, when the communication capability of the image forming apparatus 10A is the highest, the control unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 10A stores information indicating that it is a management apparatus in the storage unit 20, and controls the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C. The unit 30 causes the storage unit 20 to store information indicating that the image forming apparatus 10A is a management device. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10A functions as a management apparatus. As described above, by using the image forming apparatus having the highest communication capability as the management device, it is necessary to transmit the log file to the aggregation server 12 as compared with the case of using the image forming device having a lower communication capability as the management device. Time is shortened.

  As another example, each image forming apparatus transmits information indicating its own power state (for example, ON or OFF) to another image forming apparatus, thereby indicating information indicating the power state with the other image forming apparatus. May be shared. Information indicating the power state is registered in the device management information 48 stored in each image forming apparatus 10. In this case, the image forming apparatus with the power turned on is determined as the management apparatus, and the image forming apparatus to which an instruction to turn off the power is given is stored in the storage unit 20 before the power is turned off. The log file is transmitted to the image forming apparatus that is turned on. The image forming apparatus whose power is on transmits its own log file to the aggregation server 12, and further transmits the log file transmitted from the image forming apparatus to which the power-off instruction is given to the aggregation server 12. For example, in an office or the like, the image forming apparatus is turned off at night, and at that timing, an untransmitted log file is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to which the power-off instruction is given to the management apparatus. It is predicted that the traffic volume will be relatively low during the night time zone, and by sending unsent log files to the aggregation server 12 during that time zone, the traffic volume is not expected during the time zone when the traffic volume is expected to be relatively high. Compared with the case where the transmission log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12, the time required for the transmission is shortened.

  The control unit 30 may determine an image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus based on at least one of the communication environment, the frequency of transmission errors, the communication capability, and the power state.

  If the management apparatus is determined in advance, the device management information 48 may not be stored in the storage unit 20. In this case, the storage unit 20 of the image forming apparatus that functions as a management apparatus stores in advance information indicating that it is a management apparatus. The management apparatus accesses the other image forming apparatus 10, acquires an unsent log file from the other image forming apparatus, and transmits it to the aggregation server 12.

  For example, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 10A is defined as the management apparatus. The image forming apparatus 10 </ b> A transmits its own log file to the aggregation server 12 by the same processing as in the first embodiment described above. When the log file is not transmitted, the log file is stored in the storage unit 20 and is transmitted to the aggregation server 12 in accordance with a user transmission instruction. The image forming apparatus 10A accesses the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C, acquires log files stored in the storage unit 20 of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C, and transmits the log files to the aggregation server 12. .

  The image forming apparatus 10A acquires unsent log files from the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C and transmits them to the aggregation server 12 when transmitting its own untransmitted log files to the aggregation server 12 in accordance with a transmission instruction from the user. May be. As another example, when a log file is stored in its own storage unit 20, the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C may transmit information indicating that the log file transmission has failed to the image forming apparatus 10A. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10A accesses the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C automatically or according to a user instruction, acquires unsent log files from the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C, and transmits them to the aggregation server 12. Also good. As another example, the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C may transmit their own untransmitted log files to the image forming apparatus 10A. Note that the timing of transmitting the log file to the aggregation server 12 among the image forming apparatuses 10A, 10B, and 10C may be the same or different from each other.

  The image forming apparatus 10A accesses the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C at a predetermined timing (for example, periodically) to check whether there is an untransmitted log file, and the untransmitted log file is stored in the image forming apparatus 10B. , 10C, the unsent log file may be acquired and transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  The control unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 10 </ b> A functioning as a management apparatus may display information indicating that the image forming apparatus 10 </ b> A is a management apparatus on the display unit of its own UI unit 18. Further, the control unit 30 of the image forming apparatuses 10B and 10C may display information indicating that the image forming apparatus 10A is a management apparatus on the display unit of its own UI unit 18. Further, when the management apparatus is changed according to conditions such as a communication environment, the control unit 30 of each image forming apparatus may display information indicating the fact on the display unit of the UI unit 18 thereof. Further, the image forming apparatus 10A functioning as a management apparatus may transmit information indicating that the image forming apparatus 10A is a management apparatus to a terminal apparatus such as an administrator terminal apparatus or the aggregation server 12.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, an untransmitted log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12 using another image forming apparatus, and therefore, the log file is temporarily transmitted from itself to the aggregation server 12. Even if it is not possible, the unsent log file is transmitted to the aggregation server 12.

  The image forming apparatuses 10, 10 </ b> A, 10 </ b> B, and 10 </ b> C are realized by cooperation of hardware and software as an example. Specifically, the image forming apparatuses 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C include one or more processors such as a CPU (not shown). The function of each part of the image forming apparatuses 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C is realized by the one or more processors reading and executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown). The program is stored in the storage device via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication path such as a network. As another example, each unit of the image forming apparatuses 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C may be realized by hardware resources such as a processor, an electronic circuit, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). In the realization, a device such as a memory may be used. As another example, each unit of the image forming apparatuses 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C may be realized by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like.

  10, 10A, 10B, 10C Image forming apparatus, 12 aggregation server, 20 storage unit, 22 log file, 24 log file creation unit, 30 control unit.

Claims (25)

Transmission means for transmitting history information indicating a history of processing to a storage location according to a predetermined transmission timing;
Storage means for storing history information in which transmission by the transmission means has failed;
Control means for performing control for transmitting history information stored in the storage means to the storage destination in accordance with an operator's transmission instruction;
An information processing apparatus. The control means causes the display means to display instruction information for giving a transmission instruction by the operator as the control,
The transmission unit transmits history information stored in the storage unit to the storage destination when a transmission instruction is given by an operator using the instruction information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit causes the display unit to display the instruction information when transmission of history information by the transmission unit fails.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The transmission unit transmits history information stored in the storage unit to the storage destination when the worker is authenticated after a transmission instruction is given by the worker using the instruction information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The control means permits the acceptance of a transmission instruction using the instruction information after the processing being executed is completed.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The control means displays the instruction information on the display means when the process is not executed, and permits the reception of a transmission instruction using the instruction information;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The control means performs the control when an operator having management authority is logged in.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The control unit is configured to transmit history information of the processing executed within the period specified by the worker, which is history information in which transmission by the transmitting unit has failed, to the storage destination in accordance with a transmission instruction of the worker. To perform the control,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. It further has a creation means for creating history information for each predetermined creation period,
The creation unit creates new history information indicating a history of processing executed within the period when the period is designated by an operator across a plurality of creation periods,
The control means performs the control so that the new history information is transmitted to the storage destination according to a transmission instruction from an operator.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8. When the history information stored in the storage means is transmitted to the storage destination, the control means deletes the history information transmitted to the storage destination from the storage means.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. And further has a notification means for notifying that the transmission by the transmission means has failed.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The notification means causes the display means to display information indicating that transmission by the transmission means has failed, as the notification.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 11. The notification means transmits information indicating that transmission by the transmission means has failed to the manager terminal device as the notification,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 11. The control means performs control for transmitting history information indicating a history of processing executed in another device to the storage destination, history information indicating that transmission from the other device to the storage destination has failed. Do more,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. When the communication environment between the own device and the storage destination is better than the communication environment between the other device and the storage destination, the control unit sends the other device to the storage destination. Obtaining history information that failed to be transmitted from the other device and performing control for transmitting to the storage destination instead of the other device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 14. When the frequency of transmission error of history information is lower than the frequency of transmission error of the other device, the control means acquires history information from the other device that transmission from the other device to the storage destination has failed. And performing control to transmit to the storage destination instead of the other device,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 14. When the communication capability of the own device is higher than the communication capability of the other device, the control means acquires history information indicating that transmission from the other device to the storage destination has failed from the other device, and Control to transmit to the storage destination instead of the device of
The information processing apparatus according to claim 14. The control means acquires history information indicating that transmission from the other device to the storage destination failed from the other device to which the power-off instruction is given when the power of the own device is on. Control to transmit to the storage destination instead of the device of
The information processing apparatus according to claim 14. Computer
Transmitting means for transmitting history information indicating a history of processing to a storage destination according to a predetermined transmission timing;
Control means for storing history information in which transmission by the transmitting means has failed in a storage means, and performing control for transmitting the history information stored in the storage means to a storage destination in accordance with a transmission instruction from an operator;
Program to function as. Including multiple devices,
Each device is
Transmission means for transmitting history information indicating a history of processing in the own apparatus to a storage destination according to a predetermined transmission timing;
Storage means for storing history information in which transmission by the transmission means has failed;
Have
The transmission means of at least one of the plurality of devices further acquires history information that failed to be transmitted from another device to the storage destination from the other device and transmits the history information to the storage destination.
Information processing system. The at least one device is a predetermined device;
The information processing system according to claim 20. The at least one device is determined based on a communication environment between each of the devices and the storage destination.
The information processing system according to claim 20. The at least one device is determined based on a frequency of transmission errors by each of the devices;
The information processing system according to claim 20. The at least one device is determined based on a communication capability of each device;
The information processing system according to claim 20. The transmission means of the device given an instruction to turn off the power among the plurality of devices, transmits history information that transmission by the device has failed to a device that is powered on among the plurality of devices,
The transmission means of the device that is powered on transmits history information sent from the device to which an instruction to turn off the power is given to the storage destination;
The information processing system according to claim 20.

Images