JP3556198B2 - Copier, host computer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a copying machine and a host computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The copier has a so-called help function, in which a simple explanation is displayed on a display means by pressing a predetermined setting key when it is desired to see an explanation of a copying operation, for example, a magnification, a one-sided / two-sided / split setting, etc. There are things to prepare. By using this help function, the user can easily refer to the help manual without having to check it each time.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Thus, in order to ensure that the functions can be used, a large memory for storing information related to the copying operation in the copying machine is required. For this reason, it is difficult to store detailed information on a copying operation in a memory having an economically allowable capacity, and only simple information can be stored. Therefore, if one wants to know more detailed information than the information stored in the memory, the user must refer to the operation manual. However, when the user tries to refer to the operation manual, the manual is often not stored around the user, and the operator's request may not be answered.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and a main technical problem thereof is to provide a copier management system that can refer to detailed information with a so-called function without using a large-capacity memory. is there.
[0005]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a copier management system capable of transmitting a necessary portion of an operation manual to a facsimile registered in advance when an operation manual related to a copy operation is desired.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, there is provided a copier management system for managing a copier connected to a host computer via a line, wherein the copier management system is provided in the copier and includes a plurality of copying operations. Information storage means having a first storage area for storing simple help information relating to the copying machine, a second storage area for temporarily storing detailed help information relating to a copying operation transmitted from the host computer, and a copying machine. A detailed information requesting means provided to request the host computer via the line for detailed help information on the plurality of copying operations; and a detailed information requesting means provided in the copying machine and related to the copying operation stored in the help information storing means. A display means for displaying information; a database provided in the host computer for storing detailed information on the plurality of copying operations; A help information search means for searching the database for detailed help information on the corresponding copy operation based on a request from the detailed information request means; and a request from the detailed information request means via a line. A communication means for communicating with the host computer and communicating detailed help information relating to the copying operation retrieved by the help information retrieval means to the copying machine; .
[0007]
Further, according to the present invention, the database stores operation manuals related to a plurality of copy operations, and the copier includes a manual transmission request unit that requests transmission of the operation manuals. A copier management system for transmitting an operation manual requested by the manual transmission requesting means to a facsimile registered in advance is provided.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a copier management system configured according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier management system configured according to the present invention. The copier management system includes a copier 2 and a host computer 6 connected to the copier 2 via a public line 4. As shown, the copier management system is configured such that a host computer 6 manages a plurality of copiers 2, 2.
[0010]
The copier 2 includes an exposure unit for reading the original, an image forming unit for forming the original read by the exposure unit into a toner image, and an image forming unit for transferring the toner image formed by the image forming unit to a transfer sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit disposed in the transfer area, a paper feeding unit that supplies transfer paper to the transfer area, a fixing unit that heats and fixes the toner image transferred to the transfer paper in the transfer area. The copying machine 2 includes a control unit 20 shown in FIG. The control unit 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes arithmetic processing according to a control program, a read-only memory (ROM) that stores a control program and the like, a readable and writable random access memory (RAM) that stores an arithmetic result, and the like. It is constituted by a microcomputer including an input / output interface and the like. A help information memory 21 as a help information storage unit is connected to the control unit 20. The help information memory 21 is constituted by a readable / writable random access memory (RAM). As shown in FIG. 3, simple help information on a plurality of copying operations (1), (2), and (3) such as, for example, scaling factors is stored in the help information memory 21. A first area 211 stored in advance and a second area 212 capable of temporarily storing one of detailed help information relating to the copy operations (1), (2), and (3) transmitted from the host computer 6 are provided. Have. An operation panel 22 is connected to the control unit 20. The operation panel 22 is provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body, and includes a setting unit 221 such as an input key and a display unit 222 including a liquid crystal display element or an LED. The control unit 20 is further connected to the public line 4 via a network control unit (NCU) 23 and a modem 24.
[0011]
The host computer 6 is installed in a service center or the like, and as shown in FIG. 4, a central processing unit (CPU) 61 for executing arithmetic processing according to a control program, a read-only memory (ROM) 62 for storing a control program and the like. , A read / write random access memory (RAM) 63 for storing calculation results and the like, and an input / output interface (I / F) 64. The central processing unit (CPU) 61 is also connected to a CRT 65 as display means, a keyboard 66 for input, a storage device 67 as a database, and the like. The storage device 67 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), and a plurality of copying operations (1) (2) stored in the help information memory 21 for each model of the copying machine 2 as shown in FIG. An area 671 for storing detailed information related to (3), an area 672 for storing operation manuals related to the copying operations (1), (2), and (3), and a preset area for each copying machine 2 The database includes an area 673 for storing a transmission facsimile telephone number. The input / output interface (I / F) is connected to the public line 4 via a communication modem 68.
[0012]
The copier management system according to the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0013]
Copying Machine First, the operation of the copying machine 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power of the copier 2 is turned on and a fixed magnification key of the setting unit 221 disposed on the operation panel 22 is pressed, for example, a screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 222. In the screen shown in FIG. 8, the positions where “enlarge”, “reduce”, and “help” are displayed are configured to function as touch sensors. Therefore, when "Enlarge" is pressed, a plurality of magnifications are displayed on the display means 222, and when "Reduce" is pressed, a plurality of reduction magnifications are displayed, and a desired magnification is displayed from the displayed magnifications. Select and set. On the other hand, if the user wants to see the explanation on the magnification, he / she presses “Help” on the screen shown in FIG. The control unit 20 checks whether or not “Help” on the screen shown in FIG. 8 has been turned on (step S1). If the “Help” has not been turned on, the control unit 20 executes other processing such as enlargement and reduction, and “Help” is turned on. If so, a simple explanation about the scaling factor is displayed on the display means 222 as shown in FIG. 9, and "detailed information display" and "manual transmission" are displayed (step S2). On the screen shown in FIG. 9, “detailed information display” and “manual transmission” are also configured to function as touch sensors. Next, the control unit 20 checks whether or not “detailed information display” on the screen shown in FIG. 9 has been turned on (step S3), and if not turned on, shifts to step S7 to be described later, and “detailed information display” Is turned on, the flow advances to step S4 to start communication with the host computer 6 through the public line 4 via the network control unit (NCU) 23 and the modem 24, and request detailed help information on the magnification. Then, the detailed help information transmitted from the host computer 6 is downloaded to the second area 212 of the help information memory 21 (Step S5). In step S5, if the detailed help information transmitted from the host computer 6 has been downloaded to the second area 212 of the help information memory 21, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S6 to display the display means 222 as shown in FIG. A detailed description of the magnification is displayed, and "manual transmission" is displayed. With the image displayed on the display means 222 in this manner, detailed help information on the magnification can be viewed.
[0014]
Next, in step S7, the control unit 20 checks whether or not "manual transmission" is turned on in the screen shown in FIG. 9 in step S2 and the screen shown in FIG. 10 in step S6. When the "manual transmission" is turned on, the process proceeds to step S8 to start communication with the host computer 6 through the public line 4 via the network control unit (NCU) 23 and the modem 24, and to enter a manual for the magnification. Request transmission by facsimile (step S9).
[0015]
Host Computer The host computer 6 operates according to each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. When the central processing unit (CPU) 61 of the host computer 6 confirms the arrival of the transmission signal from the copying machine 2 (step P1), it checks the transmitted model of the copying machine 2 and the help information code (step P1). P2). Next, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 proceeds to step P2, and checks whether or not there is a request for detailed help information from the copying machine 2. If there is no request for detailed help information in Step P2, the process proceeds to Step P6 described later. If there is a request for detailed help information in step P2, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 proceeds to step P3, in which the detailed help information requested by the copying machine 2 (in this case, detailed help information relating to the magnification) is displayed. A search is made from the storage device 67 as a database. Then, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 transmits the detailed help information on the scaling factor retrieved from the storage device 67 to the copying machine 2 which has requested (step P2).
[0016]
Next, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 checks in step P6 whether or not there is a manual transmission request, and if there is no manual transmission request, the process ends. If there is a manual transmission request, the process proceeds to step P7. A corresponding manual (this time, a manual relating to the scaling factor) is searched from the storage device 67 as a database, and a facsimile telephone number designated by the copying machine 2 that requested the search is searched. Then, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 transmits the searched manual relating to the magnification to the designated facsimile (step P8). In this way, the manual relating to the magnification ratio transmitted from the host computer 6 is printed by the facsimile 100 designated by the copying machine 2 which has requested, as shown in FIG.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the database stores an operation manual relating to the copying operation, and by requesting the transmission of the operation manual from the copier, the host computer transmits the requested operation manual to the pre-registered facsimile. As a result, the user can immediately obtain the relevant operation manual if required. Therefore, it is not necessary to attach an operation manual to each of the copying machines, and even when the operation manual is revised, it is only necessary to update the data of the host computer, and quick information transmission becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a copier management system configured according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a copying machine constituting the copying machine management system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a help information memory provided in the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a host computer constituting the copier management system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a storage device as a database provided in the host computer shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an image displayed on a display unit provided in the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an image displayed on display means provided in the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image displayed on display means provided in the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state where an operation manual has been transmitted from the host computer shown in FIG. 4 to a facsimile designated to the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
2: Copier 4: Public line 6: Host computer 20: Control unit 21: Help information memory 211: First area 212: Second area 22: Operation panel 23: Network control unit (NCU)
24: Modem 61: Central processing unit (CPU)
62: Read only memory (ROM)
63: random access memory 64: input / output interface (I / F)
65: display means 66: keyboard for input 67: storage device 671 as database: area 672 for storing detailed explanation information area 672: area for storing operation manual 673: area for storing transmission facsimile number 68: modem

Claims (2)

A copying machine connected to a line connecting a host computer or the like,
A first storage area provided in the copying machine and storing simple information about the copying machine;
Information storage means having a second storage area for temporarily storing detailed information about the copier communicated from the host computer;
A detailed information requesting unit disposed in the copying machine, for requesting the host computer for detailed information on the copying machine via a line;
Display means for displaying information about the copier stored in the information storage means ;
Detailed information request means for communicating a request for detailed information to the host computer;
A copying machine having a manual requesting means for communicating a request for transmission of a manual corresponding to detailed information to a facsimile machine corresponding to a number registered in advance to the host computer . A host computer connected to a line to which a copying machine or the like is connected,
A database for storing detailed information on the plurality of copying operations;
Information search means provided in the host computer for searching the database for detailed information on the corresponding copy operation based on a request from the detailed information request means of the copying machine;
Detailed information transmitting means for transmitting detailed information to the copying machine if there is a request for transmitting detailed information from the transmission requesting means of the copying machine;
A host computer , comprising: manual transmission means for transmitting a manual corresponding to detailed information to a facsimile apparatus corresponding to a pre-registered number when a manual transmission request is issued by the manual request means .

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