JP3123775B2 - Communication equipment remote service system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device such as a facsimile.
Of regard remote service system, in particular, to a communication device remote service system that provides various services to exchange maintenance information, etc. by performing a predetermined remote communication between the communication device and the service center with remote capability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, communication devices such as facsimile machines have become multifunctional, and some have a remote control function capable of controlling various functions by transmitting a predetermined DTMF signal from an outside telephone. Many are widespread. Also,
CCI for maintenance of facsimile equipment and early detection of the cause of failure by manufacturer or service company
TT (International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee) V. 2. Description of the Related Art A remote diagnosis system using the 21 protocol is implemented using a remote control function of a facsimile machine or the like.

[0003] As an apparatus for performing a remote diagnosis using such a conventional remote control function, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is an image communication device described in JP-A-205167. In this device, a plurality of sensors for detecting the state of a predetermined location are provided, and the transmitted DTMF (Dual Tone-Mu
ltifrequency) signal, analyze a predetermined code, perform an operation test of a predetermined portion corresponding to the analysis result, detect an operation state with a sensor, and output a response signal corresponding to the detection signal to a calling side of the DTMF signal. , The failure of the image communication device can be diagnosed from a remote telephone.

In the facsimile machine remote maintenance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-22475, the customer's facsimile machine collects and stores the operating state of each part of the machine and the facsimile communication state with the partner machine. The information collected and stored in response to a request from the maintenance service base is transmitted to the maintenance service base.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus management system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-58963, a program or information unique to the apparatus stored in a memory in the facsimile apparatus is dedicated to change information from another location. A special device is provided to transmit the NSS signal and to enable rewriting.

[0006]

However, such a conventional remote diagnosis system for a communication device such as a facsimile device utilizing a remote control function requires a special device, which increases the cost of the communication device. ,
In addition, if the type of the communication device is different, the program must be changed for each type, and there is a problem that the cost is further increased by the trouble of the change.

Further, if it becomes possible to extract internal information of a communication device used by a user without using a special device, it is required to take measures to protect the privacy and information of the user. This was not taken into account. Further, conventionally, after performing a remote diagnosis, in order to inform the user that the remote diagnosis has been performed, the information is transmitted to the communication device as image information to that effect, but this transmission also increases the communication cost. There was a problem.

Accordingly, each of the inventions of the present application remotely controls a communication device using a DTMF signal, transmits an error history and setting information to a service center as image information, and registers a remote ID code in the communication device. The remote device ID code is shared between the communication device and the service center, and after the remote communication is completed, a remote communication completion report is output from the communication device itself, thereby eliminating the need for a special device. A low-cost, highly reliable communication device remote service system that realizes remote service, prevents information leakage due to the use of remote functions of others, and reduces the cost of sending a report of the end of remote communication from the service center. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A communication device having a remote function remotely controlled by a predetermined remote signal input via an external line, using the remote function between the communication device and a service center connected via the external line. In a communication device remote service system for performing predetermined remote communication and exchanging maintenance information and the like to provide various services, the communication device stores communication history information and various setting information of the device in a memory as information for maintenance. A predetermined DT from the service center via a line.
When a remote signal based on the MF signal is input, information on the maintenance is read from the memory, converted into image information, transmitted to the service center, and transmitted to the service center .
Information on maintenance at the service center
When the transmission of the
A predetermined report notifying that transmission of nonce information has been completed
Characterized by outputting the bets, a second aspect of the present invention,
The invention according to claim 1, wherein an ID code for a remote service is registered in the communication device, and the remote function of the communication device is validated by inputting the ID code from the service center. The information related to the maintenance is read out to the center, converted into image information and transmitted .

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a predetermined remote communication is performed between the facsimile machine and a service center connected via an external line by using a remote function of the communication device to exchange maintenance information and the like. In a communication device remote service system that provides various services, communication history information and various setting information of the device are stored in memory as information for maintenance in the communication device , and a predetermined DTMF signal is transmitted from a service center via a line. Is input from the memory, the information related to the maintenance is read out, converted into image information, and transmitted to the service center.

Therefore, the remote diagnosis of the communication device can be performed from the service center only by changing the program without requiring a special device for the communication device, and the communication device remote service system can be configured at low cost. Can be. In addition, as described later,
Therefore, information about maintenance is
When the transmission of the information has been completed,
Communication that maintenance information has been sent
A known report is output. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication device remote service system according to the first aspect, the communication device includes a remote service I / O.
The D code is registered, and the remote function of the communication device is enabled by inputting the ID code from the service center, and the information related to the maintenance is read from the communication device to the service center and converted into image information. Sent.

Therefore, in the communication device , the remote service can be executed with the approval of the user based on the ID code, and leakage of information in the communication device to another person can be prevented. As a result, we can protect the privacy and internal information of users who use the communication device ,
The reliability of the communication device remote service system can be improved.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the communication device remote service system, when the transmission of the information on the maintenance to the service center by the remote communication is completed, the maintenance information is transmitted from the communication device by the remote communication. A predetermined report notifying that the process has been completed is output.

Therefore, when the remote service is terminated, the user of the communication device can quickly obtain the remote transmission information, and can save the trouble of transmitting a remote service termination report from the service center. The transmission cost can be saved. As a result, communication costs in the communication device remote service system can be reduced, and operability can be improved.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus applied to the communication apparatus remote service system according to the first and second aspects of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus 1.
PU2, ROM3, RAM4, operation unit 5, scanner 6,
Plotter 7, DTMF receiver 8, NCU 9, and modem
Each component is connected to a bus 11.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
The respective parts of the facsimile machine 1 are controlled in accordance with the program in the ROM 3 to execute the sequence as the facsimile machine 1 and to execute the remote communication processing of the present invention. Further, the CPU 2 analyzes a DTMF signal transferred from the DTMF receiver 8 at the time of remote communication processing, and executes various remote services.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 3 stores a basic program as the facsimile machine 1, a remote communication processing program of each invention of the present application, and the like. RAM
A (Random Access Memory) 4 is a memory in which various data necessary when the CPU 2 executes the sequence as the facsimile apparatus 1, an ID code for enabling a remote function, communication history information, and in-apparatus setting information are stored. Have an area.

The operation unit 5 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and a display. Various input operations such as a transmission operation and a reception operation are performed by the operation keys. Various commands and various information transmitted from the facsimile machine to the operator are displayed. As the scanner 6, for example, C
An image scanner using a CD (Charge Coupled Device) is used, and the scanner 6 scans a document and reads image information of the document.

As the plotter 7, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element is used. The plotter 7 records an image directly on a thermosensitive recording paper or indirectly on an ordinary recording paper via an ink sheet. I do. Further, when the transmission is completed in the remote communication processing of each invention of the present application described later, the plotter 7 prints out a predetermined report notifying that fact.

The DTMF receiver 8 detects a DTMF signal from the received signal transferred from the NCU 9 and transfers it to the CPU 2. NCU 9 is connected to an external line,
A facsimile control signal is exchanged with a facsimile apparatus via a line, and a facsimile communication procedure is executed to transfer a received signal to the DTMF receiver 8.

The modem 10 modulates a transmission signal and demodulates a reception signal. Next, the operation will be described. The present embodiment is characterized in that the facsimile machine 1 executes remote communication processing by a remote control signal based on a DTMF signal from a service center (not shown) to execute various remote services. Hereinafter, the remote communication processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in the facsimile machine 1, the ID
It is checked whether the registration mode has been set (step S1). If the ID registration mode has not been set, the process proceeds to the incoming call check in step S4,
When the registration mode is set, the ID registration guidance is displayed on the display of the operation unit 5 to input the ID, and the remote service function is enabled (enable).
The state is set (steps S2 and S3).

Next, when a call is received to the NCU 9 via a line (step S4), it is checked whether or not the request is a remote mode request (step S5). If the request is not a remote mode request, normal reception processing is executed to execute step S1. ID
Returning to the registration mode check (step S6), if it is a remote mode request, it is checked whether it is a normal remote request (step S7). If the request is a normal remote mode request, a normal remote process is executed, and the process returns to step S1 for checking the ID registration mode (step S1).
8) If it is not a normal remote request, if the remote service function is enabled (step S)
9) Check whether the remote service ID has been input within a predetermined timer time (steps S10, S10)
11). If the remote service ID has not been input, the process returns to step S1 for checking the ID registration mode. If the remote service ID has been input, it is checked whether the remote service ID matches the one registered by the user of the facsimile apparatus 1 (step S1). S12). If they do not match, the process returns to the check of the ID registration mode in step S1, and if they do match, the communication history information and the internal setting information stored in the RAM 4 are converted into image information to be called terminal (such as a service center) (Step S13), and the enabled state of the remote service function is turned off (step S14).

Next, a report indicating that the communication history information and the internal setting information have been transmitted to the communication terminal having received the call by the remote communication is printed out from the plotter 7, and the process returns to the check of the ID registration mode in step S1 (step S1)
Five). The information of the facsimile machine 1 transmitted as the image information in the step S13 includes, for example, the model of the facsimile machine 1, the ROM version, the number of times of transmission / reception,
RTI (destination confirmation display: function to display the receiving side on the transmitting side) / CSI (called terminal identification) / phone number and result, machine setting status, various data registered in RAM, A history of errors that have occurred in the past (such as the occurrence of scanner, plotter, and cutter jams as well as communication errors) is transmitted.

As described above, the service center sends the ID
By inputting a code and requesting it with a predetermined DTMF signal, various types of maintenance information can be extracted using the remote control function of the facsimile machine 1, and the serviceman can use the facsimile machine 1 while staying at the service center. Failure diagnosis can be performed to take measures.

Therefore, it is not necessary to add a special device for using the remote control function to the facsimile machine 1, and the facsimile machine 1 can be realized only by changing the program, and a facsimile remote service system can be configured at low cost. In addition, when using the remote control function of the facsimile machine 1, registration of an ID code is required, so that the user of the facsimile machine and the service center share the ID code to prevent leakage of information in the machine to another person. Can be prevented and the privacy and information of the user is surely protected.

Further, the facsimile machine 1 prints out the completion of the transmission of the image information by the remote service communication and notifies the user of the completion of the transmission, so that the service center does not need to notify the end of the remote service. This can be omitted, and communication costs can be reduced.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication is performed by using a remote function as a representative example of a facsimile machine.
In the communication device remote service system to provide a device and various services to exchange maintenance information, etc. by performing a predetermined remote communication with the connected service center via the external line, information for maintenance to the communication device The communication history information and various setting information of the apparatus are stored in a memory, and when a remote signal based on a predetermined DTMF signal is input from a service center via a line, information on the maintenance is read out from the memory and converted into image information. Since it is converted and sent to the service center,
Without the need for special equipment to the communication device, it is possible to perform remote diagnostics only the communication device to change the program from the service center, it is possible to construct a communication device remote service system at a low cost.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication device remote service system according to the first aspect,
Register the ID code for the remote service on the communication device ,
The ID code from a service center remotely function of the communication device by the input is valid, since the transmission is converted into image information by reading the information on the maintenance of the facsimile device to a service center, the communication device in, it is possible to perform a remote service on the basis of the user's approval me to the ID code, communication
Leakage of information in the device to another person can be prevented.
As a result, it is possible to protect user privacy and internal information using a communication device, it is possible to improve the reliability of the communication device remote service system.

Further, the effects added to the first aspect of the present invention and
In the communication device remote service system, when the transmission of the information on the maintenance to the service center by the remote communication is completed, the communication device notifies the service center of the end of the transmission of the maintenance information by the remote communication. When the remote service is terminated, the user of the communication device can quickly obtain the remote transmission information, thereby eliminating the trouble of transmitting the remote service termination report from the service center. Transmission costs can be saved. As a result, communication costs in the communication device remote service system can be reduced, and operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a representative of a communication apparatus according to the first to third aspects of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which a facsimile remote service system as an example is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a remote communication process performed by the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 Operation part 6 Scanner 7 Plotter 8 DTMF receiver 9 NCU 10 Modem 11 Bus

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication device having a remote function remotely controlled by a predetermined remote signal input via an external line, the communication device being connected to the communication device via the external line using the remote function. In a communication device remote service system for providing various services by performing predetermined remote communication with a service center and exchanging maintenance information and the like, the communication device includes communication history information and various setting information of the device as information for maintenance. When a remote signal based on a predetermined DTMF signal is input from the service center via a line, information about the maintenance is read from the memory, converted into image information, and transmitted to the service center . Maintains the service center by remote communication
When transmission of information related to the
Notification that the transmission of maintenance information has been completed
A communication device remote service system for outputting a predetermined report . 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein an ID code for a remote service is registered in said communication device, and the remote function of said communication device is enabled by inputting said ID code from said service center. A communication device remote service system for reading the information related to the maintenance from the communication device to a service center, converting the information into image information, and transmitting the image information.