JP2019192064A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming system that can manage, from a remote location, an image forming apparatus belonging to a network in which communication with the outside is regulated.SOLUTION: An image forming system 10 comprises: an MFP 40 that belongs to a network 10b; a data management system 70 that is installed outside the network 10b and cooperates with the MFP 40 to cause the MFP 40 to provide a network print service; and a remote management system 80 that is installed outside the network 10b and manages the MFP 40 from a remote location. The remote management system 80 is connected to the MFP 40 via the data management system 70.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus disposed in a store (hereinafter referred to as “CVS shop”) of a convenience store (hereinafter referred to as “CVS shop”) (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Conventionally, a remote management system for managing an image forming apparatus from a remote location is known.

JP 2010-201816 A JP 2013-167709 A

  However, the image forming apparatus arranged in the CVS shop belongs to a network of a vendor that develops the CVS shop, and can freely communicate with a system outside the network of the vendor that develops the CVS shop. There is a problem that it cannot be managed by the remote management system.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming system capable of remotely managing an image forming apparatus belonging to a network in which communication with the outside is restricted.

  An image forming system according to the present invention provides an image forming apparatus belonging to a specific network and a service provided outside the network and cooperating with the image forming apparatus to cause the image forming apparatus to provide a specific service And a remote management system that is arranged outside the network and manages the image forming apparatus from a remote location, the remote management system being connected to the image forming apparatus via the service providing system It is characterized by.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention is arranged outside the network to which the image forming apparatus belongs, and via a service providing system that cooperates with the image forming apparatus to provide the image forming apparatus with a specific service, Since the remote management system is connected to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus belonging to the network in which communication with the outside is restricted can be managed from a remote location.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the service providing system manages received data, and the specific service prints by the image forming apparatus based on the data managed by the service providing system. Services may be included.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention is arranged outside the network to which the image forming apparatus belongs, and via a service providing system that cooperates with the image forming apparatus to cause the image forming apparatus to provide a network print service. Since the remote management system is connected to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus belonging to the network in which communication with the outside is restricted can be managed from a remote location.

  The image forming system of the present invention includes a function reinforcing device that belongs to the network and is connected to the image forming apparatus and reinforces the function of the image forming apparatus, and is provided between the image forming apparatus and the function reinforcing apparatus. The connection may be a bridge connection.

  With this configuration, in the image forming system of the present invention, since the connection between the image forming apparatus and the function reinforcing apparatus is a bridge connection, a device such as a hub is separately provided between the image forming apparatus and the function reinforcing apparatus. There is no need to be provided. Therefore, the image forming system of the present invention can be realized at a low cost, and the cable between the image forming apparatus and the function reinforcing apparatus is not easily removed inadvertently, and the safety can be improved. .

  The image forming system of the present invention can remotely manage image forming apparatuses belonging to a network in which communication with the outside is restricted.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the kiosk terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 in a state where communication is performed between a Java application of the MFP and an application of the kiosk terminal. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which communication between the Java application of the MFP and the outside of the multi-copy machine is performed without using the application of the kiosk terminal. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 in a state where communication between an application of a kiosk terminal and the outside of the multi-copy machine is performed.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 10 includes a multi-copy machine 30 disposed in a CVS shop 20.

  The multi-copy machine 30 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 40 as an image forming apparatus, and a kiosk terminal 50 as a function reinforcing device that is connected to the MFP 40 and reinforces the function of the MFP 40. The connection 10a between the MFP 40 and the kiosk terminal 50 is a bridge connection. Since the multi-copy machine 30 employs a bridge connection as the connection 10 a, it is not necessary to separately provide a device such as a hub between the MFP 40 and the kiosk terminal 50. Therefore, the multi-copy machine 30 can be realized at a low cost, and the cable between the MFP 40 and the kiosk terminal 50 is not easily removed carelessly, and the safety can be improved.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 40.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the MFP 40 includes an operation unit 41 that is an operation device such as a button for inputting various operations and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. Unit 42, a printer 43 that is a printing device that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 44 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, and an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) and communication such as a public telephone line Fax communication unit 45, which is a fax device that performs fax communication via a line, and communication with an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or directly via wired or wireless without going through the network Communication device A communication unit 46, a storage unit 47 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various types of information, and a control unit 48 that controls the entire MFP 40. .

  At least a part of the operation unit 41 and the display unit 42 constitute a touch panel.

  The storage unit 47 stores firmware 47a including a Java (registered trademark) platform and a Java application program 47b that operates on the Java platform.

  The control unit 48 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random) as a memory used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit 48. Access Memory). The CPU of the control unit 48 executes a program stored in the storage unit 47 or the ROM of the control unit 48.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the kiosk terminal 50.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the kiosk terminal 50 includes an operation unit 51 that is an operation device such as a button for inputting various operations, and a display unit 52 that is a display device such as an LCD for displaying various information. A photo printer 53 that is a printing device for printing a photo, a storage medium communication unit 54 that communicates with an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or A communication unit 55 that is a communication device that directly communicates with an external device via a wired or wireless connection without using a network, and a storage unit that is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD that stores various types of information. 56 and a control unit 57 for controlling the kiosk terminal 50 as a whole.

  At least a part of the operation unit 51 constitutes a touch panel together with the display unit 52.

  The storage unit 56 stores an application program 56a.

  The control unit 57 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM as a memory used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit 57. The CPU of the control unit 57 executes a program stored in the storage unit 56 or the ROM of the control unit 57.

  In FIG. 1, a function realized by executing a Java application program 47b (see FIG. 2) by the control unit 48 (see FIG. 2) of the MFP 40 is depicted as a Java application 48a. Similarly, a function realized by executing the application program 56a (see FIG. 3) by the control unit 57 (see FIG. 3) of the kiosk terminal 50 is depicted as the application 57a.

  The multi-copy machine 30 can communicate between the Java application 48a and the application 57a as shown in FIG. 4, and the multi-copy machine 30 and the multi-copy machine can be communicated with each other without using the application 57a as shown in FIG. Communication with the outside of the copying machine 30 can be performed, and communication between the application 57a and the outside of the multi-copying machine 30 can be performed as shown in FIG.

  The multi-copy machine 30 can provide various services according to operations from the operation unit 41 (see FIG. 2) or the operation unit 51 (see FIG. 3). For example, the multi-copy machine 30 provides a copy service in which an image read from a document by a scanner 44 (see FIG. 2) is printed by a printer 43 (see FIG. 2), and an external storage medium to a storage medium communication unit 54 (see FIG. 2). 3. A service for printing a document acquired via the printer 43 using the printer 43, and a service for printing a photograph acquired from an external storage medium via the storage medium communication unit 54 using the photo printer 53 (see FIG. 3). A service for printing a document acquired from an external mobile terminal via the communication unit 55 (see FIG. 3) by the printer 43, and a photo acquired from an external mobile terminal via the communication unit 55 by the photo printer 53 The image read from the document by the service scanner 44 is removed via the storage medium communication unit 54. It can provide such services to store the service to be stored in the storage medium, via the communication unit 55 the image read from a document by the scanner 44 to the outside of the mobile terminal.

  The multi-copy machine 30 can provide a service (hereinafter referred to as “network print service”) that executes printing based on data managed by a data management system 70 described later. The network print service includes, for example, a service for printing a document acquired from the data management system 70 via the communication unit 55 by the printer 43, and a photo acquired from the data management system 70 via the communication unit 55 by the photo printer 53. Services to be included.

  The multi-copy machine 30 can provide a service (hereinafter referred to as “content print service”) for printing content provided from a content providing system described later. The content print service includes, for example, a service for printing a document provided from the content providing system using the printer 43, a service for printing a photo provided from the content providing system using the photo printer 53, and the like.

  The multi-copy machine 30 can provide a service (hereinafter referred to as “public facsimile service”) for transmitting or receiving a fax using a fax management system 92 described later. The public facsimile service includes, for example, a service for printing a fax managed by the fax management system 92 by the printer 43, and a service for causing the fax management system 92 to manage an image read from a document by the scanner 44 as a fax.

  The image forming system 10 can include one or more CVS shops other than the CVS shop 20 similar to the CVS shop 20. Similar to the CVS shop 20, the CVS shop included in the image forming system 10 includes a multi-copy machine.

  All the MFPs included in the image forming system 10 are provided by one manufacturer. All kiosk terminals included in the image forming system 10 are provided by an MFP manufacturer (hereinafter referred to as “MFP manufacturer”) included in the image forming system 10. That is, all the multi-copy machines included in the image forming system 10 are provided by the MFP manufacturer.

  The image forming system 10 includes a CVS-side system 60 managed by a vendor (hereinafter referred to as “CVS vendor”) that develops a CVS shop included in the image forming system 10. All the multi-copy machines included in the image forming system 10 and the CVS-side system 60 belong to the network 10b managed by the CVS vendor. The CVS side system 60 is a system that must be passed through in communication between the multi-copy machine inside the CVS vendor network 10b and the system outside the CVS vendor network 10b. The CVS side system 60 is configured by at least one computer.

  The image forming system 10 includes a data management system 70 as a service providing system of the present invention that manages data for CVS. The data management system 70 is managed by the MFP manufacturer. The data management system 70 is configured by at least one computer.

  The data management system 70 is a remote management system linkage function 70b for linking a network print service providing function 70a that cooperates with a multi-copy machine and a remote management system 80 described later in order to allow the multi-copy machine to provide a network print service. And an external system linkage function 70c for linking with an external system such as a content providing system and a fax management system 92 described later, and service usage for collecting service usage logs in a multi-copy machine included in the image forming system 10 Log collection function 70d, charging function 70e for managing sales in the multi-copy machine included in the image forming system 10, and kiosk terminal application update function 7 for updating the application program of the kiosk terminal included in the image forming system 10 And f, and a time query function 70g to query the time with an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server.

  The data management system 70 manages users of the network print service using the network print service providing function 70a. The data management system 70 receives data transmitted from a computer (not shown) of the user of the network print service by the network print service providing function 70a via the Internet, and the received data is received by the user of the network print service. And the network print service providing function 70a. Therefore, the user of the network print service provides the network print service based on the data managed by the network print service providing function 70a by, for example, logging in to the multi-copier included in the image forming system 10. Can receive.

  The data management system 70 collects service use logs in the multi-copy machine included in the image forming system 10 from the multi-copy machine by the service use log collection function 70d, and based on the collected logs, sales in the multi-copy machine is collected. The accounting function 70e is used for accounting, and the accounted sales are notified to a specific destination by the accounting function 70e. Logs collected by the service use log collection function 70d are stored in association with times managed by the MFP and the kiosk terminal in the multi-copy machine included in the image forming system 10, respectively.

  The data management system 70 can manage the exact time by inquiring the time to the NTP server by the time inquiry function 70g. Then, the MFP included in the image forming system 10 inquires of the data management system 70 about the time, thereby suppressing the occurrence of a difference between the time managed by the data management system 70 and the time managed by the MFP itself. be able to. Similarly, the kiosk terminal included in the image forming system 10 inquires of the data management system 70 about the time, thereby causing a difference between the time managed by the data management system 70 and the time managed by the kiosk terminal itself. Occurrence can be suppressed. Therefore, the image forming system 10 can maintain the consistency of the service use log in the multi-copy machine included in the image forming system 10.

  The connection 10c between the CVS side system 60 and the data management system 70 is a dedicated line. Therefore, the image forming system 10 can improve the safety of data transmitted and received between the CVS side system 60 and the data management system 70.

  The image forming system 10 includes a remote management system 80 that manages MFPs included in the image forming system 10 from a remote location. The remote management system 80 is managed by the MFP manufacturer, and can manage MFPs used in various industries, that is, execute a fleet management service in addition to the MFPs included in the image forming system 10. . The remote management system 80 is configured by at least one computer.

  The remote management system 80 includes a remote management function 80a for managing the MFP included in the image forming system 10 from a remote location, and a time inquiry function 80b for inquiring the time to the NTP server.

  The remote management system 80 collects logs related to management of MFPs included in the image forming system 10 from the MFP by the remote management function 80a, and manages the MFPs by the remote management function 80a based on the collected logs. For example, the remote management system 80 uses the remote management function 80a to predict when consumables such as toner disappear in the MFP and when a failure occurs in the MFP based on a log collected from the MFP. A specific destination can be notified by the management function 80a. When the remote management system 80 notifies the time when the consumable item is exhausted, it is not necessary to purchase the consumable item unnecessarily by the user of the MFP, thereby improving the efficiency of logistics and reducing the cost. Since the remote management system 80 notifies the MFP of the occurrence of a failure, it is possible to prevent the failure occurring in the MFP, so the downtime in the MFP is reduced and the service is stabilized by the MFP. Can be provided. The log collected by the remote management function 80a includes, for example, information on the number of printed sheets in the MFP, information on the amount of toner consumed in the MFP, and information on the occurrence time of the jam in the MFP. The log collected by the remote management function 80a is stored in association with the time managed by the MFP in the MFP included in the image forming system 10.

  The remote management system 80 can update the firmware of the MFP and the Java application program included in the image forming system 10 with the remote management function 80a.

  The remote management system 80 inquires the time of the time inquiry function 80b to the same NTP server as the time inquiry function 70g, thereby managing the time managed by the data management system 70 and the time managed by the remote management system 80 itself. Can be prevented from occurring.

  The image forming system 10 includes a content providing system 91 that provides content to be printed by the MFP. The content providing system 91 is configured by at least one computer.

  The image forming system 10 can include one or more content providing systems similar to the content providing system 91 in addition to the content providing system 91.

  The content providing system included in the image forming system 10 is managed by a vendor that is neither a CVS vendor nor an MFP manufacturer.

  The content provided by the content providing system included in the image forming system 10 is, for example, an idle bromide, a score, a newspaper, or the like.

  Of the screens displayed on the display unit of the MFP or kiosk terminal included in the image forming system 10, the content screen provided by the content providing system included in the image forming system 10 is provided by the content providing system. The Therefore, the MFP manufacturer does not need to create a content screen provided by the content providing system included in the image forming system 10.

  Among the screens displayed on the display unit of the MFP or kiosk terminal included in the image forming system 10, a screen for displaying a screen provided by the content providing system is provided by the data management system 70. Therefore, the image forming system 10 does not need to update the Java application program of the MFP or the application program of the kiosk terminal even if the number of content providing systems with which the data management system 70 cooperates increases.

  The image forming system 10 includes a fax management system 92 that manages fax data to be printed by the MFP. The fax management system 92 is composed of at least one computer. The fax management system 92 is managed by a vendor that is neither a CVS vendor nor an MFP manufacturer.

  The image forming system 10 includes a bridge connection between the MFP and the kiosk terminal, and a DNS (Domain Name System) setting in each of the MFP, the kiosk terminal, and the data management system 70. The multi-copy machine can be linked with a system outside the network 10b of the CVS vendor, such as a remote management system 80, a content providing system, and a fax management system 92.

  As described above, the image forming system 10 is disposed outside the network 10b to which the MFP belongs, and the remote management system via the data management system 70 that cooperates with the MFP to allow the MFP to provide a network print service. Since 80 is connected to the MFP, the MFP belonging to the network 10b in which communication with the outside is restricted can be managed from a remote location.

  The data management system 70 may cooperate with the multi-copy machine in order to cause the multi-copy machine to provide services other than the network print service.

  In the image forming system 10, since the data management system 70 includes the remote management system cooperation function 70 b, functions included in the remote management system 80, such as updating of MFP firmware and Java application programs, are included in the data management system 70. There is no need. That is, the image forming system 10 can suppress functions provided in the data management system 70. Therefore, the image forming system 10 can reduce the cost required for the development of the data management system 70.

  The image forming system 10 is a system for a specific CVS chain. However, each module included in the image forming system 10 can be reused for a system for a chain of CVS, which is different from the target chain of the image forming system 10, and a system for an industry other than CVS. Can be reused for.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than an MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, a fax dedicated machine, and a scanner dedicated machine.

10 image forming system 10a connection 10b network (specific network)
40 MFP (image forming apparatus)
50 Kiosk terminal (function reinforcement device)
70 Data management system (service provision system)
80 Remote management system

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus belonging to a specific network;
A service providing system that is arranged outside the network and cooperates with the image forming apparatus to cause the image forming apparatus to provide a specific service;
A remote management system disposed outside the network and managing the image forming apparatus from a remote location;
The image forming system, wherein the remote management system is connected to the image forming apparatus via the service providing system. The service providing system manages received data,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the specific service includes a network print service for printing by the image forming apparatus based on the data managed by the service providing system. A function reinforcing device belonging to the network and connected to the image forming apparatus to reinforce the function of the image forming apparatus;
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the image forming apparatus and the function reinforcing apparatus is a bridge connection.

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