JP2019047225A - Device management system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device management system capable of improving convenience of management of an image formation device.SOLUTION: An internal management system 40 identifies an image formation device (S103) included in the image captured by the camera of a portable device 50, on the basis of the position of the image formation device, and the position and direction of the portable device 50, the portable device 50 displays the image of a request operation part for requesting a response to the image formation device identified in the S103, and the composite image with the captured image in the display (S105), transmits the user request information indicating request of response to the image formation device from the user, to the internal management system 40 according to operation for the request operation part by the operation part (S106), and upon receiving the user request information, the internal management system 40 requests the controller of the object image formation device of the user request information for response to the object image formation device of the user request information (S107 and S108).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus management system that manages an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a system using AR (Augmented Reality), the image forming apparatus included in the image captured by the camera of the portable terminal was specified based on the position of the image forming apparatus and the position and direction of the portable terminal. After displaying the composite image of the delivery data icon indicating the information acquired from the image forming apparatus and the photographed image on the display device of the portable terminal, printing is performed on the image forming apparatus according to the operation on the delivery data icon by the input device of the portable terminal A system for sending a job is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, as another system using AR, the image forming apparatus specified in the image captured by the camera of the portable terminal is identified based on the position of the image forming apparatus and the position and direction of the portable terminal A tag showing the maintenance order determined based on the status information of the device and the priority setting information indicating the condition for determining the maintenance arrival procedure set in advance by the service person, and a portable image of a composite image of the photographed image A system for displaying on a display device is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The service person can efficiently maintain a plurality of image forming apparatuses as a whole by performing maintenance on the image forming apparatuses in the maintenance order indicated by the tag.

JP, 2013-120501, A Patent No. 5500131

  However, in the conventional system using AR, when the user of the image forming apparatus requests the administrator of the image forming apparatus to cope with the image forming apparatus, it is not a system using AR, so Since it is difficult for the user to request the image forming apparatus to respond, or the user of the image forming apparatus to request the image forming apparatus to receive the request, the administrator of the image forming apparatus is in charge of all the image forming apparatuses. There is a problem that the convenience of management of the image forming apparatus is low.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus management system capable of improving the convenience of management of an image forming apparatus.

  An apparatus management system according to the present invention is an apparatus management system including an in-house management system for managing an image forming apparatus in an organization and a portable terminal of a user of the image forming apparatus, the portable terminal being an input A device, a display device, and a camera, wherein the device management system identifies the image forming device included in the image captured by the camera based on the position of the image forming device and the position and direction of the portable terminal The display device may include a device specifying unit, and the portable terminal may display an image of a request operation unit for requesting a response to the image forming device specified by the device specifying unit, and a composite image of the photographed image. User request information indicating a request from the user corresponding to the image forming apparatus, displayed on the display unit, the request operation by the input device And the in-house management system, upon receiving the user request information, transmits the user request information to the image forming apparatus as the target of the user request information. It is characterized in that the manager of the image forming apparatus in charge of the request information is requested.

  With this configuration, the apparatus management system according to the present invention causes the user of the image forming apparatus to request correspondence to the image forming apparatus by AR, so that the convenience of the request from the user of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus can be achieved. Thus, the convenience of management of the image forming apparatus can be improved. Further, in the apparatus management system of the present invention, the user of the image forming apparatus has high convenience in responding to the request for the image forming apparatus, and the user of the image forming apparatus easily requests the response to the image forming apparatus. This eliminates the need for the administrator of the image forming apparatus to keep in mind the status of all the image forming apparatuses in charge of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the apparatus management system of the present invention can improve the convenience of management by the administrator for the image forming apparatus, that is, the convenience of management of the image forming apparatus.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the mobile terminal may be capable of including at least one of a comment input by the input device and the photographed image in the user request information.

  With this configuration, the apparatus management system of the present invention uses realistic information on the site, such as a comment input by the user of the image forming apparatus and a captured image of the image forming apparatus captured by the user of the image forming apparatus. Since it is possible to include in the request information, it is possible to improve the convenience of the administrator in dealing with the image forming apparatus targeted by the user request information.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the in-house management system provides the administrator with a request display screen for displaying a request indicated in the user request information, and the in-house management system includes a plurality of requests. When there exist, the priorities of the plurality of requests may be determined based on a specific condition, and the plurality of requests may be displayed side by side on the request display screen in the order based on the determined priorities.

  With this configuration, the apparatus management system according to the present invention arranges and displays the requests for handling the image forming apparatuses in the order based on the priority, so that the convenience of the administrator in handling the image forming apparatuses can be improved. .

  In the apparatus management system according to the present invention, the apparatus management system includes an extra-organization management system for managing the image forming apparatus in a plurality of the organizations, and the intra-organization management system is a target of the user request information. In response to the request from the administrator, the administrator request information indicating the request from the administrator corresponding to the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the external management system, and the external management system is configured to: When the manager request information is received, the service person in charge of the image forming apparatus for which the manager request information is targeted may be requested to respond to the image forming apparatus for which the manager request information is targeted.

  With this configuration, in the apparatus management system of the present invention, the in-house management system transmits the manager request information to the outside-organization management system in response to a request from the administrator of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to improve the convenience in the request for the response to the image forming apparatus. Further, in the apparatus management system of the present invention, the administrator of the image forming apparatus has high convenience in responding to the request for the image forming apparatus, and the administrator of the image forming apparatus tends to request the response to the image forming apparatus. Since the service person of the image forming apparatus does not have to keep in mind the state of all the image forming apparatuses in charge of the service person, the convenience of management by the service person for the image forming apparatus can be improved.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the in-house management system is configured to receive the user request information when at least one of the comment input by the input device and the photographed image is included in the user request information. The administrator request information may include at least one of a comment input by the input device and the captured image.

  With this configuration, the apparatus management system of the present invention manages realistic information on the site such as a comment input by the user of the image forming apparatus and a photographed image of the image forming apparatus photographed by the user of the image forming apparatus. Since it is possible to include in the request information, it is possible to improve the convenience of the service person in responding to the image forming apparatus targeted for the request information of the administrator.

  In the apparatus management system according to the present invention, the extra-organization management system notifies completion notification information for notifying completion of correspondence to the image forming apparatus as a target of the administrator request information, notification of completion from the service person In response to the in-house management system, and when the in-house management system receives the completion notification information, the completion notification information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus as a target of the completion notification information. At least the administrator who is the transmission source of the administrator request information to the target image forming apparatus, and the user who is the transmission source of the user request information to the image forming apparatus that is the target of the completion notification information You may notify one.

  With this configuration, the apparatus management system according to the present invention can complete the response to the image forming apparatus according to the notification of the completion from the service person of the image forming apparatus to the external organization management system. Since at least one of the administrator and the user is notified via the interface, it is possible to improve the convenience in reporting the completion of the response by the service person to the image forming apparatus.

  The apparatus management system of the present invention can improve the convenience of management of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the in-house management system shown in FIG. 1 when it implement | achieves by one computer. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the extra-organization management system shown in FIG. 1 when realized by one computer. It is a sequence diagram of operation | movement of the apparatus management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the picked-up image by the camera shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the positional relationship of the portable terminal shown in FIG. 3, and several image forming apparatuses. It is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image displayed in the operation | movement shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a composite image shown in FIG. 8 when an image forming apparatus to which a request is made is designated.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

  First, the configuration of a device management system according to the present embodiment will be described.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the device management system 10 is a system for managing an image forming device in each of a plurality of organizations including an organization 20 such as a company. Although the tissue 20 will be described below, the same applies to tissues other than the tissue 20.

  In the tissue 20, a plurality of image forming apparatuses including the image forming apparatus 30 are disposed. The image forming apparatus is, for example, any one of a multifunction peripheral (MFP), a printer-only machine, a copy-only machine, a fax-only machine, and a scanner-only machine.

  In the organization 20, a user of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "device user") and an administrator of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "device administrator") belong. The number of device users who belong to the organization 20 is often plural. The number of device administrators who belong to the organization 20 may be more than one. When there are a plurality of device administrators who belong to the organization 20, each of the device administrators is assigned an image forming device in charge.

  The organization 20 includes an in-house management system 40 for managing an image forming apparatus in the organization 20, a plurality of portable terminals including portable terminals 50 used by apparatus users belonging to the organization 20, and an organization A plurality of administrator terminals including an administrator terminal 60, which are used by a device administrator who belongs to 20, are arranged.

  In the organization 20, the in-house management system 40, the image forming apparatus, the portable terminal, and the administrator terminal can communicate via the intranet of the organization 20.

  The in-house management system 40 is configured by, for example, a server computer. The in-house management system 40 may be realized by one computer or may be realized by a plurality of computers. The in-house management system 40 can be accessed by device users and device administrators who belong to the organization 20.

  Mobile terminals in an organization are configured by, for example, computers such as smartphones and tablets.

  The administrator terminal in the organization is configured by, for example, a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  The apparatus management system 10 includes an in-house management system 70 for managing image forming apparatuses in a plurality of tissues in addition to the in-tissue management system in each tissue, the image forming apparatus, the portable terminal, and the administrator terminal, And a plurality of service terminals including the service terminal 80 used by the service person of

  The external organization management system 70 and the service terminal can communicate via the Internet. Similarly, the outside organization management system 70 and the inside organization management system in each organization, the image forming apparatus, and the administrator terminal can communicate via the Internet.

  The extra-organization management system 70 is configured by, for example, a cloud server. The extra-organization management system 70 may be realized by one computer or may be realized by a plurality of computers. The extra-organization management system 70 can be accessed by a service person and a device administrator who belongs to each organization.

  The service terminal is configured by, for example, a computer such as a PC.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the in-house management system 40 when implemented by one computer.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the in-house management system 40 includes an operation unit 41 which is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse to which various operations are input, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) which displays various information. A semiconductor device for storing various types of information, a display unit 42 which is a display device, a communication unit 43 which is a communication device which communicates with an external device directly via a network or by wire or wireless without a network A storage unit 44, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a memory and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a control unit 45 that controls the entire in-house management system 40 are provided.

  The storage unit 44 stores personal information 44 a indicating information of a person managed by the in-house management system 40. The person information 44 a includes information on a device user who belongs to the organization 20 and information on a device administrator who belongs to the organization 20. In the person information 44a, the apparatus administrator is associated with the image forming apparatus that the apparatus administrator himself is in charge of.

  The storage unit 44 stores device information 44 b indicating information of the image forming device in the tissue 20. The apparatus information 44 b includes, for example, Alert information indicating an error of the image forming apparatus such as a system error, a version of firmware of the image forming apparatus, and identification information such as a serial number of the image forming apparatus.

  The storage unit 44 stores device position information 44 c indicating information on the position of the image forming device in the tissue 20. The apparatus position information 44c includes position information including latitude, longitude and altitude of the image forming apparatus, information of the floor on which the image forming apparatus is installed, and, for example, “North end of the floor on which the image forming apparatus is installed. Etc. and the name of the department where the image forming apparatus is installed. The device position information 44c is, for example, information registered by a device administrator when the image forming device is installed.

  The control unit 45 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM) storing programs and various data, and a random access memory (RAM) used as a work area of the CPU. There is. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 44.

  The control unit 45 implements an apparatus specifying unit 45a that specifies an image forming apparatus included in an image captured by a camera of a portable terminal by executing a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 44.

  The control unit 45 updates the device information 44 b as needed by accessing the image forming device in the tissue 20 via the communication unit 43.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the portable terminal 50. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the portable terminal 50 includes an operation unit 51 which is an input device such as a button to which various operations are input, and a display unit 52 which is a display device such as an LCD to display various information. A camera 53, a position acquisition device 54 for acquiring the position of the portable terminal 50 such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, an orientation acquisition device 55 for acquiring the direction of the portable terminal 50 such as an electronic compass, and the network Alternatively, a communication unit 56, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly by wire or wireless without a network, and a semiconductor memory, which stores various types of information, and a storage, which is a nonvolatile storage device such as an HDD. A unit 57 and a control unit 58 that controls the entire portable terminal 50 are provided.

  The display unit 52 may constitute a touch panel together with at least a part of the operation unit 51.

  The storage unit 57 stores a correspondence request program 57a for requesting the apparatus user to correspond to the image forming apparatus. The correspondence request program 57a may be installed on the portable terminal 50 from the network, for example.

  The control unit 58 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 57.

  The control unit 58 implements a response request unit 58a that requests the device user to respond to the image forming apparatus by executing the response request program 57a.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the extra-organization management system 70 when implemented by one computer.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the extra-organization management system 70 is a display such as an operation unit 71 which is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse to which various operations are input, and a display device such as an LCD which displays various information. A communication unit 73 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a network or by wire or wirelessly without a network, a semiconductor memory that stores various types of information, an HDD, etc. A storage unit 74, which is a non-volatile storage device, and a control unit 75 that controls the entire extracorporeal management system 70 are provided.

  The storage unit 74 stores personal information 74 a indicating information of a person managed by the extra-organization management system 70. The personal information 74a includes information on the service person, information on the managed organization, and information on the device administrator who belongs to each organization. In the person information 74a, the service person is associated with the organization with which the service person himself is in charge.

  The storage unit 74 stores device information 74b indicating information of the image forming device in each tissue. The apparatus information 74b includes, for example, Alert information indicating an error of the image forming apparatus such as a system error, a version of firmware of the image forming apparatus, and identification information such as a serial number of the image forming apparatus.

  The control unit 75 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing a program and various data, and a RAM used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 74.

  The control unit 75 updates the device information 74 b as needed by accessing the image forming device in each tissue via the communication unit 73.

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

  In the following, a case where an apparatus user who belongs to the organization 20 and uses the portable terminal 50 requests correspondence to the image forming apparatus will be described as an example. It is assumed that the image forming apparatus that is the target of the apparatus user request is in charge of the apparatus administrator who uses the administrator terminal 60 and the service person who uses the service terminal 80.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the device management system 10.

  Since the apparatus user is a user of the image forming apparatus, there are cases in which problems encountered in the image forming apparatus may be quickly noticed. The apparatus user operates the portable terminal 50 so that the camera 53 shoots the image forming apparatus in the tissue 20 after having the portable terminal 50 start the execution of the correspondence request program 57a via the operation unit 51 of the portable terminal 50. can do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the response request unit 58a of the portable terminal 50 starts shooting with the camera 53 (S101).

  FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a photographed image 200 by the camera 53. As shown in FIG.

  The photographed image 200 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes the image forming apparatuses 201 to 203.

  As shown in FIG. 5, after the process of S101, the response request means 58a requests the in-tissue management system 40 for the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus included in the image captured by the camera 53 (S102). Here, the correspondence request unit 58a performs the in-tissue management system of the position acquired by the position acquisition device 54 and the imaging direction of the camera 53 calculated according to the orientation acquired by the acquisition device 55 at the request of S102. Notify 40

  The device specifying means 45a of the in-tissue management system 40, upon receiving the request of S102, the image included in the photographed image by the camera 53 based on the position and photographing direction notified in the request of S102 and the device position information 44c. The forming apparatus is identified (S103).

  A method of specifying the image forming apparatus in step S103 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the portable terminal 50 and the image forming apparatuses 201-205.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, only the image forming apparatuses 201 to 203 among the image forming apparatuses 201 to 205 are included in the imaging range 53 a by the camera 53 of the portable terminal 50. Then, only the image forming apparatuses 201 and 202 among the image forming apparatuses 201 to 203 are included in the range 50 a of the specific distance from the portable terminal 50. Therefore, when the situation around mobile terminal 50 is the situation shown in FIG. 7, apparatus specifying means 45 a is an image forming apparatus included in both imaging range 53 a and range 50 a of image forming apparatuses 201 to 205, ie, The image forming apparatuses 201 and 202 are specified in S103.

  As shown in FIG. 5, after the process of S103, the device specifying means 45a transmits the device information of the image forming device specified in S103 to the portable terminal 50 (S104). Here, in the transmission in S104, the apparatus specifying unit 45a also transmits the position of the image forming apparatus as the object of the apparatus information in the imaging range 53a in association with each apparatus information.

  When the correspondence request means 58a of the portable terminal 50 receives the apparatus information transmitted in S104, the photographed image by the camera 53 and the operation unit for request for requesting the correspondence to the image forming apparatus included in the photographed image The composite image with the image (hereinafter referred to as "request operation image") is displayed on the display unit 52 (S105). Here, when Alert information is included in the device information transmitted in S104, the response request means 58a sets Alert information at a position corresponding to the target image forming apparatus of the Alert information in the captured image by the camera 53. The image to be shown (hereinafter referred to as "Alert image") is also synthesized.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the composite image 210 displayed in S105.

  A composite image 210 shown in FIG. 8 is an image in which the request operation unit image 220 and the alert image 230 are combined with the captured image 200 shown in FIG.

  The operation panel for request image 220 displays or inputs request contents corresponding to the image forming apparatus, and designation buttons 221 and 222 as operation sections for request for specifying an image forming apparatus to which a request is to be made. A request content display input area 223 as a request operation unit, an apparatus tab 224 as a request operation unit selected to display an image forming apparatus to which a request is made in the request content display input area 223, and an image forming apparatus A comment tab 225 which is selected to input a comment on the request content corresponding to the request in the request content display input area 223, and a request button 226 as a request operation unit for executing a request for the image forming apparatus to respond. And contains.

  The response request unit 58a is a target for specifying the Alert button and the Alert image based on the position in the imaging range 53a of the target image forming apparatus of the apparatus information, which is transmitted in association with each apparatus information in the transmission in S104. The image forming apparatus is disposed at a position corresponding to the image forming apparatus. In the composite image 210 shown in FIG. 8, the designation button 221 and the alert image 230 are arranged at positions corresponding to the target image forming apparatus 201. Similarly, the designation button 222 is disposed at a position corresponding to the target image forming apparatus 202.

  The display contents of the request content display input area 223 are switched by the device tab 224 and the comment tab 225. However, regardless of the actual display content of the request content display / input area 223, the response request means 58a stores the image forming apparatus as the target of the request and the comment on the request content of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the image forming apparatus to which the request is made and the comment on the request contents corresponding to the image forming apparatus are not changed only by switching between the apparatus tab 224 and the comment tab 225.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the composite image 210 when the image forming apparatus to which the request is made is designated.

  A composite image 210 shown in FIG. 9 shows a state in which the image forming apparatus 201 is designated by the designation button 221 for the image forming apparatus 201 in the composite image 210 shown in FIG. 8. The correspondence request unit 58a switches whether or not to designate the image forming apparatus corresponding to the designation button as the image forming apparatus to which the request is made, each time the designation button is pressed. When the image forming apparatus 201 is designated by the designation button 221, the correspondence request means 58a stores the image forming apparatus 201 as an image forming apparatus as a target of the request, and checks the state of the designation button 221 as shown in FIG. Change to the state of entering. Further, when the image forming apparatus 201 is stored as the image forming apparatus to which the request is to be made, the correspondence request means 58a, when the apparatus tab 224 is selected, as shown in FIG. “Device 01” which is identification information of the image forming apparatus 201 is displayed at 223.

  Although only the image forming apparatus 201 is designated in the composite image 210 shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be designated. The request content display input area 223 displays identification information of a plurality of designated image forming apparatuses when the apparatus tab 224 is selected when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are designated.

  After pressing the comment tab 225 via the operation unit 51, the apparatus user can also input a comment on the request content corresponding to the image forming apparatus to the request content display input area 223 via the operation unit 51. . When a comment is input to the request content display input area 223, the response request means 58a stores the input comment.

  The apparatus user can also input an image captured by the camera 53 into the request content display input area 223 after pressing the comment tab 225 via the operation unit 51. When the photographed image is inputted to the request content display input area 223, the correspondence request means 58a stores the inputted photographed image. This captured image may be the current captured image or may not be the current captured image, and may be, for example, a captured image captured before the start of the operation shown in FIG.

  When the apparatus user presses the request button 226 via the operation unit 51, as shown in FIG. 5, the correspondence request unit 58a receives a request from the apparatus user for the image forming apparatus designated as the target of the request. User request information indicating a request is transmitted to the in-house management system 40 (S106). Here, the user request information includes identification information of the image forming apparatus that is the target of the request. In addition, when a comment is input in the request content display input area 223, the user request information includes the comment input in the request content display input area 223, and the photographed image is displayed in the request content display input area 223. If it has been input, the request content display input area 223 includes the captured image that has been input.

  When the in-house management system 40 receives the user request information transmitted in S106, it reflects the request indicated in the user request information in a dedicated UI (User Interface) (S107).

  Here, the dedicated UI is a UI for managing the image forming apparatus, prepared for each apparatus administrator. The in-house management system 40, for example, information related to the organization 20 in the person information 74a, and information related to the organization 20 in the device information 74b, such as information on the service person in charge of the image forming apparatus in the organization 20. It is possible to obtain various information from the extra-organization management system 70 as needed and reflect it on the dedicated UI. The device administrator can access the dedicated UI using the administrator terminal.

  The dedicated UI can display an error device list screen showing a list of image forming devices in which an error has occurred among the image forming devices in charge of the target device administrator. When there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses on the error apparatus list screen, the in-house management system 40 determines the priorities of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on the specific conditions, and in the order based on the determined priorities. A plurality of image forming apparatuses can be displayed side by side on the error device list screen. Here, for example, the specific condition increases the priority of the image forming apparatus in which a system error occurs in which the image forming apparatus completely stops operating, and the specific error does not substantially affect the operation of the image forming apparatus. The priority of the occurring image forming apparatus may be lowered, or the importance of the error may be included according to the type of the error. Further, the specific condition includes, for example, the urgency of an error uniquely set by the device administrator, such as setting the priority according to the department where the image forming apparatus in which the error has occurred is installed. It may be Specific conditions can be set by the device administrator. The in-house management system 40 may highlight a new image forming apparatus by pop-up display or the like on the error device list screen.

  The dedicated UI can display a use prohibited firmware using apparatus list screen showing a list of image forming apparatuses using prohibited firmware among the image forming apparatuses in charge of the target apparatus administrator. Here, the use prohibited firmware is, for example, firmware that is too old or firmware that has a problem.

  The dedicated UI displays a request display screen for displaying a request for the image forming apparatus in charge of the target apparatus administrator among the requests indicated in the user request information transmitted from the portable terminal in the organization 20 Can. When there are a plurality of requests on the request display screen, the intra-organization management system 40 determines the priorities of the plurality of requests based on the specific conditions, and requests the plurality of requests in the order based on the determined priorities. It can be displayed side by side on the display screen. Here, the specific condition may include the degree of importance of the error according to the type of error, or may include the degree of urgency of the error uniquely set by the device administrator. Further, the specific condition may include whether or not specific information is added to the user request information as a comment, for example. Specific conditions can be set by the device administrator. The in-house management system 40 may highlight a new request by pop-up display or the like on the request display screen.

  The dedicated UI can display various information other than the information described above. For example, the dedicated UI can display information on a service person in charge of the image forming apparatus in the tissue 20 or can display information on a device user belonging to the tissue 20. The image forming apparatus in the tissue 20 It is also possible to display the position of the map on the basis of the device position information 44c.

  The intra-organization management system 40 requests the device administrator in charge of the image forming apparatus targeted for the request indicated in the user request information transmitted in S106 after the process of S107 to cope with the image forming apparatus. To notify (S108). The in-house management system 40 may transmit the notification of S108 directly to the administrator terminal 60 of the device administrator, or may transmit the notification to the email address of the device administrator. The in-house management system 40 refers to the personal information 44 a regarding which image forming apparatus is in charge of which apparatus administrator, and the contact point of the apparatus administrator.

  When the apparatus administrator receives the notification in S108, the apparatus administrator can use the administrator terminal 60 to access the dedicated UI and confirm the content of the request shown on the request display screen.

  Then, as a result of confirming the content of the request shown on the request display screen, the device administrator can respond to the request determined that the device administrator can respond by itself.

  On the other hand, the apparatus administrator instructed the in-house management system 40 from the request display screen for the request for the service person for the request judged to request the service person as a result of confirming the contents of the request shown on the request display screen. can do. That is, when the device administrator accesses the dedicated UI on the administrator terminal 60, the administrator terminal 60 receives a request from the device administrator for the request designated by the device administrator among the requests shown on the request display screen. In response to the instruction, the in-house management system 40 is instructed to request the service person (S109). Therefore, the in-house management system 40 manages, as an extra-organization management system, administrator request information indicating a request from the device administrator in response to the target image forming device of the user request information with respect to the request instructed in S109. It transmits to 70 (S110). Here, the manager request information includes various types of information included in the user request information. For example, the administrator request information includes identification information of the image forming apparatus to which the request is made, which is included in the user request information. Further, if the user request information includes a comment, the administrator request information includes the comment included in the user request information, and the captured image is included in the user request information. Includes the photographed image included in the user request information.

  When receiving the administrator request information transmitted in S110, the extra-organization management system 70 reflects the request indicated in the administrator request information on the management screen (S111).

  Here, the management screen is a screen for managing the image forming apparatus, which is prepared for each service person. The service person can access the management screen using the service terminal.

  The management screen displays a request for the image forming apparatus in charge of the target service person among the requests shown in the manager request information transmitted from the in-house management system in each organization. When there are a plurality of requests in the management screen, the outside organization management system 70 determines the priorities of the plurality of requests based on a specific condition, and manages the plurality of requests in the order based on the determined priorities. Can be displayed side by side. Here, the specific condition may include the degree of importance of the error in accordance with the type of error, or may include the degree of urgency of the error which is uniquely set by the service person. Also, the specific condition may include whether or not specific information is added to the manager request information as, for example, a comment. Specific conditions can be set by the service person. The extra-organization management system 70 may highlight a new request by pop-up display or the like on the management screen.

  After the process of S111, the out-of-organization management system 70 requests the service person in charge of the image forming apparatus targeted for the request indicated in the administrator request information transmitted in S110 to respond to the image forming apparatus. A notification is made (S112). The out-of-organization management system 70 may transmit the notification of S112 directly to the service terminal 80 of the service person or may transmit it to the service person's e-mail address. The out-of-organization management system 70 refers to the personal information 74 a as to which service person is in charge of which image forming apparatus, and the contact point of the service person.

  Upon receiving the notification of S112, the service person can use the service terminal 80 to access the management screen, and confirm the content of the request shown on the management screen. Then, the service person visits the installation place of the target image forming apparatus and responds to the request shown on the management screen. In the case where the contents of the request shown on the management screen are contents that can be coped with remotely, the service person does not visit the installation place of the target image forming apparatus, and the service terminal 80 via the outside management system 70. You may respond from.

  When the service person has completed the response requested by the device administrator belonging to the organization 20, the service person notifies the external management system 70 of the completion of the response via the service terminal 80 (S113).

  When receiving the notification of S113, the extra-organization management system 70 transmits, to the in-organization management system 40, completion notification information for notifying the completion of the correspondence of the notification target in S113 (S114). The extra-organizational management system 70 includes the identification information of the manager request information that is the source of the response in the completion notification information.

  When the in-house management system 40 receives the completion notification information sent in S114, the device administrator who issued the instruction that caused the transmission of the administrator request information specified by the identification information included in the completion notification information. The device that has issued the instruction that caused the transmission of the user request information that is the source of the administrator request information, as well as notifying the completion of the response to the target image forming device of the completion notification information (S115) The user is also notified of the completion of the response to the target image forming apparatus of the completion notification information (S116). The in-house management system 40 may transmit the notification of S115 directly to the administrator terminal 60 of the device administrator or may transmit it to the E-mail address of the device administrator. Similarly, the in-house management system 40 may directly transmit the notification of S116 to the portable terminal 50 of the device user, or may transmit it to the email address of the device user. The in-house management system 40 refers to the personal information 44a for the contact point of the device administrator or the device user. The notification in S115 and S116 may be attached with details of the response by the service person, a comment from the service person, and the like.

  As described above, the apparatus management system 10 requests the apparatus user to cope with the image forming apparatus by the AR (S105 and S106). Therefore, in order to request the image forming apparatus to respond, the image forming apparatus It is possible to save the trouble of having the device user check the identification information of Since the apparatus management system 10 manages the apparatus administrator in charge of each image forming apparatus in the in-house management system 40, the apparatus administrator of the image forming apparatus in order to request correspondence to the image forming apparatus. It is possible to save the trouble of having the user of the apparatus check or specify the Since the apparatus management system 10 manages the apparatus administrator in charge of each image forming apparatus in the in-house management system 40, the apparatus user may not be aware of the apparatus administrator, or the apparatus user may communicate with the apparatus administrator. Even if the user does not have the communication means, the user of the apparatus can be immediately requested to respond to the image forming apparatus. Since the apparatus management system 10 manages the apparatus administrator in charge of each image forming apparatus in the in-house management system 40, the apparatus administrator in charge is changed, or the apparatus administrator in charge is busy. The user of the apparatus can be requested to cope with the image forming apparatus regardless of the situation on the apparatus manager side, such as being unable to cope with the problem early. Therefore, the apparatus management system 10 can improve the convenience in the request from the apparatus user to cope with the image forming apparatus, that is, the convenience of managing the image forming apparatus.

  If the device administrator in charge can not respond promptly due to busy conditions, even if the device administrator receives a request for response to the image forming device, another device administrator or device A person who manages the manager's trend can respond flexibly and flexibly to this request by performing information sharing using the in-house management system 40.

  Since the device management system 10 is highly convenient in response to a request from the device user to handle the image forming device, and the device user is likely to request a response to the image forming device, all of the device administrators are in charge of itself. It is possible to eliminate the need to keep in mind the state of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the apparatus management system 10 can improve the convenience of management by the apparatus administrator for the image forming apparatus, that is, the convenience of management of the image forming apparatus.

  The apparatus management system 10 can include, in the user request information, realistic information on the site, such as a comment input from the apparatus user and a photographed image of the image forming apparatus photographed by the apparatus user. It is possible to improve the convenience in responding to the image forming apparatus targeted by the user request information by the apparatus administrator.

  Since the apparatus management system 10 arranges and displays requests for handling the image forming apparatus in order based on the priority (S107), for example, it is possible to display the higher the request for the prompt response. Therefore, the apparatus management system 10 can improve the convenience of the apparatus administrator in handling the image forming apparatus.

  In the apparatus management system 10, in response to a request from the apparatus administrator, the in-house management system 40 transmits administrator request information to the extra-organization management system 70 (S109 and S110), the image forming apparatus from the apparatus administrator It is possible to improve the convenience in the request for the response of Since the apparatus management system 10 manages the service person in charge of each image forming apparatus in the organization outside management system 70, the service person in charge of the image forming apparatus is an apparatus for requesting the image forming apparatus to cope with the request. It is possible to save the trouble of having the administrator check or specify. Since the apparatus management system 10 manages the service person in charge of each image forming apparatus in the external organization management system 70, the apparatus administrator may not be acquainted with the service person, or the apparatus administrator may communicate with the service person. Even if the user does not have the device administrator, he or she can immediately request the device administrator to cope with the image forming device. Since the apparatus management system 10 manages the service person in charge of each image forming apparatus in the external management system 70, the service person in charge is changed, or the service person in charge is busy. It is possible to request the apparatus administrator to cope with the image forming apparatus, regardless of the service person's circumstances, such as being unable to cope with the problem. Therefore, the apparatus management system 10 can improve the convenience in the request from the apparatus administrator for handling the image forming apparatus.

  If the service person in charge can not respond promptly due to a busy situation, even if the service person receives a request for response to the image forming apparatus, the trend of the other service person or the service person A person who manages the information can respond promptly and flexibly to this request by performing information sharing using the outside organization management system 70.

  Since the device management system 10 is highly convenient in response to a request from the device administrator to handle the image forming device, and the device administrator can easily request the device administrator to handle the image forming device, the service person of the image forming device is himself. Since it is not necessary to keep in mind the state of all the image forming apparatuses in charge, the convenience of management by the service person for the image forming apparatuses can be improved.

  The apparatus management system 10 can include, in the manager request information, realistic information on the site, such as a comment input from the apparatus user and a captured image of the image forming apparatus captured by the apparatus user. It is possible to improve the convenience in responding by the service person to the image forming apparatus targeted for the administrator request information. For example, when the service person visits and responds to the installation location of the target image forming apparatus, the service person prepares based on realistic information on the site before the visit and then visits the installation location of the target image forming apparatus be able to.

  In response to the notification of completion from the service person of the image forming apparatus to the external management system 70, the apparatus management system 10 completes the processing of the image forming apparatus via the external management system 70 and the in-house management system 40. Since the administrator and the apparatus user are notified, it is possible to improve the convenience in reporting the completion of the response by the service person to the image forming apparatus.

  As described above, the apparatus management system 10 can immediately respond to the request for handling the image forming apparatus, so even if it is an urgent problem that requires quick response, It can be made to respond appropriately.

  In the apparatus management system 10 according to the present embodiment, the in-house management system includes apparatus specifying means for specifying an image forming apparatus included in an image captured by a camera of a portable terminal. However, the device specifying means may have a configuration other than the in-house management system. For example, the device specifying means may be provided in a portable terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 apparatus management system 20 organization 30 image forming apparatus 40 in-house management system 45a apparatus identification means 50 portable terminal 51 operation part (input device)
52 Display (Display Device)
53 Camera 70 Tissue outside management system 200 Captured image 201 to 205 Image forming apparatus 210 Composite image 220 Operation image for request (image for operation for request)
221 designating button (image of control panel for request)
222 Designation button (image of control panel for request)
223 Request content display input area (image of operation unit for request)
224 Device tab (image of control panel for request)
225 Comment tab (image of control panel for request)
226 Request button (image of control panel for request)

Claims (6)

An in-house management system for managing an image forming apparatus in an organization;
An apparatus management system comprising: a portable terminal of a user of the image forming apparatus;
The portable terminal comprises an input device, a display device and a camera,
The apparatus management system includes apparatus specifying means for specifying the image forming apparatus included in the image captured by the camera based on the position of the image forming apparatus and the position and direction of the portable terminal.
The portable terminal displays, on the display device, a composite image of an image of a request operation unit for requesting a response to the image forming apparatus specified by the apparatus specifying unit, and the photographed image. User request information indicating a request from the user corresponding to a forming apparatus is transmitted to the in-house management system according to an operation on the request operation unit by the input device.
When the in-house management system receives the user request information, the administrator of the image forming apparatus in charge of the user request information corresponds to the target of the user request information for the image forming apparatus. A device management system characterized by requesting to.   The apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal can include at least one of a comment input by the input device and the photographed image in the user request information. . The in-house management system provides the administrator with a request display screen for displaying a request indicated in the user request information,
When the plurality of requests exist, the in-house management system determines the priorities of the plurality of requests based on a specific condition, and the plurality of requests in the request display screen in the order based on the determined priorities. The apparatus management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus management system displays them side by side. The apparatus management system comprises an extra-organization management system for managing the image forming apparatus in a plurality of the tissues;
The in-house management system is configured to transmit, in response to a request from the administrator, administrator request information indicating a request from the administrator in response to the image forming apparatus targeted by the user request information. Sent to the management system
When the outside organization management system receives the manager request information, the service person in charge of the image forming apparatus targeted for the manager request information corresponds to the target of the manager request information for the image forming apparatus. The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device management system is requested.   When the at least one of the comment input by the input device and the photographed image is included in the user request information, the in-house management system may include the input included in the user request information. The apparatus management system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of a comment input by a device and the photographed image is included in the manager request information. The in-house management system may perform completion notification information for notifying completion of the response to the image forming apparatus targeted by the administrator request information, in response to the notification of completion from the service person. Send to
When the in-house management system receives the completion notification information, the administrator request information for the image forming apparatus, which is the target of the completion notification information, completes the response to the image forming apparatus of the completion notification information. The present invention is characterized by notifying at least one of the administrator who is the transmission source of the user, and the user who is the transmission source of the user request information to the image forming apparatus targeted for the completion notification information. The device management system according to claim 4 or 5.

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