JP3634294B2 - Image forming apparatus management system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a printing machine, and a management system for an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management host computer are connected by a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a host computer that manages the plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected by a network, and the operation state of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is centrally managed by the host computer. An image forming apparatus management system is known. Then, such an image forming apparatus management system is built in the same user, and jobs are shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, or a job of a failed image forming apparatus is processed by another image forming apparatus. There is already provided a technique for improving the job processing capability by processing instead.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a conventional image forming apparatus management system concentrates data of each image forming apparatus when, for example, a job such as a print job is performed on another image forming apparatus instead of the failed image forming apparatus. The managing host computer can grasp details of the installation location and specifications of other image forming apparatuses that execute jobs, but details of the installation location and specifications of other image forming apparatuses that execute jobs on the failed image forming apparatus side. I couldn't figure it out. For this reason, in the conventional image forming apparatus management system, the operator of the failed image forming apparatus cannot freely select another image forming apparatus for executing a job, and is not necessarily user-friendly. .
[0004]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus management system that are easy to use for a user.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 relates to a management system for an image forming apparatus in which computers incorporated in a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network so that various data can be transmitted and received. The image forming apparatus includes an operating state detecting unit that detects an operating state, a display unit that displays various function selection screens and communication data, and various data of other image forming apparatuses connected via a network. A network search key for inputting a signal, communication means for enabling transmission and reception of various data, and a computer for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus based on a control program and an input signal are provided. Among these, the computer includes a storage unit that stores at least installation location data, specification data, and job data, and a data transfer function unit that reads the job data from the storage unit and transmits the job data to another image forming apparatus. Yes. The computer (1) outputs a network search signal to the computer of another image forming apparatus by turning on the network search key, while receiving a network search signal from another image forming apparatus. A computer which operates the means to acquire the operation result, attaches the installation location data and the specification data read from the storage means to the acquired data, generates transmission data, and outputs the transmission data to the network search signal (2) When the transmission data corresponding to the network search signal is received , if there is only one other image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is automatically selected, and other image forming If there are multiple devices, the closest image forming device is automatically selected. Sends job data by the data transfer function unit to the selected image forming apparatus, the one to execute the job based on the job data, it receives job data from another image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus of the job data transmission destination Then, a job based on the job data is executed instead of the other image forming apparatus.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus management system according to the first aspect, the computer generates transmission data by attaching an address on the network to the job data read from the storage means. Is transmitted to the computer of another selected image forming apparatus.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a computer connected via a network to a computer included in another image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an operating state detecting unit that detects an operating state, a display unit that displays various function selection screens and communication data, and various data of other image forming apparatuses connected via a network. A network search key for inputting a signal, communication means for enabling transmission and reception of various data, and a computer for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus based on a control program and an input signal are provided. Among these, the computer includes a storage unit that stores at least installation location data, specification data, and job data, and a data transfer function unit that reads the job data from the storage unit and transmits the job data to another image forming apparatus. ing. The computer (1) outputs a network search signal to another computer by turning on the network search key. On the other hand, when receiving a network search signal from another computer, Acquire the operation result, attach the installation location data and the specification data read from the storage means to the acquired data, generate transmission data, and transmit the transmission data to the computer that has output the network search signal. 2) When the transmission data for the network search signal is received , when there is only one other image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is automatically selected, and when there are a plurality of other image forming apparatuses. selects the image forming apparatus of the nearest location from them automatically, and the selection When the job data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the data transfer function unit, the image forming apparatus to which the job data is transmitted performs a job based on the job data, and when job data is received from another image forming apparatus, A job based on the job data is executed instead of another image forming apparatus.
[0008]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the computer generates transmission data by attaching a network address to job data read from the storage means, and selects the transmission data. The image data is transmitted to a computer of another image forming apparatus.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, a computer 2 is built in a copying machine 1 as a plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same user, the plurality of computers 2 are connected by a network, and the computer 2 operates the copying machine 1. It manages so that various data, such as information, can be transmitted / received.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the copying machine 1 constituting the image forming apparatus management system.
[0013]
The copying machine 1 includes an exposure unit for reading a document, an image forming unit including a photoconductor and a developing unit for converting an image read by the exposure unit into a toner image, and a toner formed by the image forming unit. A transfer unit disposed in a transfer area for transferring the image to the transfer paper, a paper supply unit for supplying the transfer paper to the transfer area, and a toner image transferred to the transfer paper by heating and pressurizing the transfer paper Fixing means for fixing. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 1 includes an operating state detecting means 3 having various sensors for detecting a failure, jam (paper jam), copy count and the like of each part of the copying machine 1, and a copying machine. An input means 4 such as a keyboard, a touch panel, and an operation button of an operation panel arranged at the upper part of the main body; a display means 5 such as a liquid crystal display device for displaying various data related to the operation of the copying machine 1 and a function selection screen; A communication unit 6 that enables transmission / reception of data to / from the computer 2 of another copier 1 and a computer 2 that controls the operation of the communication unit 6 and the operation state detection unit 3 are provided. Here, the above-mentioned input means 4 includes a network search key 4a for inputting a signal for obtaining various data of other copiers 1 connected by a network. The communication means 6 includes all of communication software and communication devices that enable communication via a network.
[0014]
The computer 2 includes a CPU 7 that executes arithmetic processing according to a control program, a ROM 8 that stores a control program, a storage unit 8 that includes a readable / writable RAM that stores arithmetic results, and an input / output interface (not shown). ing. When an external storage device 10 such as a hard disk is installed in the copying machine main body, the computer 2 is also connected to the external storage device 10. Here, the storage means 8 includes a telephone number, an identification number such as an IP address and an ID, job data, failure data, installation location data (such as the XX section of the A floor and the center of the A building B floor), specification data ( Whether color printing is possible, printable size, etc.) are stored.
[0015]
Further, the computer 2 has a data transfer function unit 11, reads job data from the storage unit 8 based on the ON operation of the data transfer key 4 b constituting the input unit 4, and the read job data is selected. To other copiers 1. When the computer 2 receives the network search signal from the other computer 2, the computer 2 operates the operating state detecting means 3 to detect the operating state, and transmits the detected data with the installation location data and specification data attached thereto. Data is generated, and the transmission data is transmitted to the other computer 2 to which the network search signal is output. At this time, the detection result of the operation state includes whether or not the copying machine 1 is processing a job, the job quantity, the failure state, and the like.
[0016]
The operating state of the management system for the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described.
[0017]
When one of a plurality of copiers 1 connected via a network fails and the operation state detection means 3 detects the failure state, failure data corresponding to the failure state is read from the storage means 8 and read. The issued failure data is transmitted to a failure management host computer in a service center (not shown) via the Internet, and a service center operator requests dispatch of a repair service person. The service center manages a plurality of sales offices. The service center receives failure data and other emergency calls from users, and requests the sales offices to dispatch repair service personnel.
[0018]
However, in such a case, since it takes a long time from the failure of the copying machine 1 to the completion of the repair by the service person, the job data being processed by the failed copying machine 1 is transferred to another copying machine 1 and the job data is transferred. If job processing is continued in the previous copying machine 1, the job processing efficiency is improved. At this time, in order for the user (the user of the failed copier 1) to select the job data transfer destination copier 1, at least the operating state of the other copier 1 connected via the network (whether the job is being processed) No., whether alternative output is possible, number of jobs, etc.), specifications (whether color printing is possible, printable size, etc.), installation location (XX section of A floor, center of A building, B floor, etc.) It is convenient. Therefore, the user turns on the network search key 4a and obtains data such as the operating status, specifications, installation location, and the like of the other copier 1 via the computer 2.
[0019]
When the user turns on the network search key 4a, the computer 2 transmits a network search signal to the computer 2 of another copier 1. When the computer 2 of the other copying machine 1 receives the network search signal from the failed copying machine 1, it activates the operation state detecting means 3 to determine whether or not the job is being processed, the number of registered jobs, the job Operation data such as a predicted process completion time is detected, transmission data is generated by attaching installation location data and specification data to the operation data, and the transmission data is transmitted to the computer 2 that has output the network search signal.
[0020]
The computer 2 of the copying machine 1 that has received transmission data from another computer 2 displays the received data on the display means 5. As a result, at least detailed data such as the operating status, specifications, installation location, etc. of other copiers 1 connected via the network are sequentially displayed on the display means 5 of the copier 1 in the order of IP addresses. Therefore, the user who has used the failed copier 1 can select an alternative copier 1 that is convenient for him. As a method for selecting one copying machine 1 from a plurality of copying machines 1, for example, a copying machine list and a copying machine selection key 4c are displayed on the touch panel type display means 5, and the copying machine selection key is displayed. It can be considered as an example that the desired alternative output copying machine 1 is determined by pressing 4c, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a method according to the configuration of the display means 5 or the input means 4 can be adopted. That's fine.
[0021]
Here, the user who has used the failed copier 1 selects the copier 1 to be output as an alternative, and turns on the data transfer key 4b. As a result, the data transfer function unit 11 of the computer 2 of the failed copier 1 reads the job data from the recording unit 8 and transmits the read job data with the IP address of the destination copier 1 attached thereto. When the computer 2 of the destination copier 1 receives the job data via the network, the computer 2 controls the operation of each part of the copier 1 based on the job data, and executes the job instead of the failed copier 1 (for example, , Print work). Here, the job data includes all data necessary for job execution, such as print function setting data and scanner unit read data (original read data).
[0022]
According to the present embodiment as described above, when one of a plurality of copying machines 1 connected by a network becomes unusable due to a failure or jam, the copying machine 1 that cannot be used is built-in. The computer 2 can operate the computer 2 of another copier 1 connected by a network to acquire detailed data such as the installation location, specifications, job processing status, etc. of the other copier 1, and the acquired data is displayed on the display means 5. Can be displayed. Therefore, the user of the copying machine 1 that can no longer use can easily select another copying machine 1 that can substitute output with the data displayed on the display means 5 according to his / her own use. Can be made more efficient.
[0023]
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the user of the copying machine 1 that can no longer use can select another copying machine 1 to be used for alternative output, and can simply output the job data by turning on the data transfer key 4b. Can be transferred to the copying machine 1. Therefore, the interrupted job or the unprocessed job is smoothly and efficiently executed by the alternative copying machine 1.
[0024]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the computers 2 built in the copying machine 1 are connected to each other via a network, and various data are transmitted and received between the computers 2 and 2 of each copying machine 1. There is no need for a host computer that manages the data of all copying machines 1 and controls the transmission and reception of the management data.
[0025]
(Modification of this embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the case where the user of the copying machine 1 that can no longer use the user selects the alternative copying machine 1, and may be configured as follows.
[0026]
That is, when the computer 2 of the copying machine 1 that can no longer be used has only one replaceable copying machine, the copying machine 1 is automatically selected and various data (installation) of the selected copying machine 1 are installed. The location, specifications, etc.) are transmitted to the copy machine 1 that can no longer be used, and the display means 5 of the copy machine 1 that can no longer use can display various data of the alternative copy machine 1 and copy that can no longer be used. The job data of the machine 1 may be automatically transmitted to the alternative copying machine 1.
[0027]
Further, when there are a plurality of copy machines 1 that can be replaced, the computer 2 of the copy machine 1 selects the copy machine 1 closest to the copy machine 1 that can no longer be used from the installation location data, and the selected copy machine 1 The various data are transmitted to the copying machine 1 that can no longer be used, and the various data of the alternative copying machine 1 are displayed on the display means 5 of the copying machine 1 that can no longer be used. The job data may be automatically transmitted to the alternative copying machine 1.
[0028]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the network of the management system for the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 20 at an external service center, a host computer 21 at a sales office, a PHS 22 such as a service person, and the like. The communication terminal device may be connected via the firewall 23 and the Internet.
[0029]
In the above-described embodiment, the copying machine 1 is exemplified as the image forming apparatus, and the management system for the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited thereto, and the image forming apparatus may be a facsimile, a printer, a multifunction machine of these, It can be widely applied to printing machines and the like.
[0030]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, each copying machine 1 is provided with a mail communication means that enables mail transmission, a mail server is arranged on the network, and data transmission / reception between each copying machine 1 is performed by e-mail. You may do it.
[0031]
The network may be either a ring network as shown in FIG. 1 or a bus network as shown in FIG.
[0032]
The network may be either a wired format using a coaxial cable or an optical fiber, or a wireless format using PHS or the like.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, for the sake of convenience, a mode in which a network search signal is input from the copying machine 1 that can no longer be used due to a failure or the like is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Network search signal is input from an arbitrary copier 1 selected by the user, various data of other copiers 1 are collected in the arbitrarily selected copier 1 and used for each job. The copier 1 may be selected, and jobs corresponding to the selected copier 1 may be transmitted separately. Further, one job may be distributed and processed in each selected copying machine 1 to improve processing efficiency.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, computers built in a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected by a network, and a computer of one image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses is connected to another image forming apparatus. The computer is operated to acquire detailed data such as the installation location, specifications, job processing status, etc. of other image forming apparatuses capable of job processing, and the acquired data is displayed on the display means. Therefore, the user of the image forming apparatus can easily select another image forming apparatus that can perform alternative output or distributed output with the data displayed on the display unit, according to his / her own use, and the job processing efficiency. Can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a management system for an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for controlling a copying machine and a host computer that constitute the image forming apparatus management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram according to a modified example of the image forming apparatus management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine (image forming apparatus), 2 ... Computer, 3 ... Operation state detection means, 4a ... Network search key, 5 ... Display means, 6 ... Communication means, 8 ... Storage means

Claims (4)

A management system for an image forming apparatus in which computers built in a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network so that various types of data can be transmitted and received.
The image forming apparatus includes an operation state detecting unit that detects an operation state, a display unit that displays various function selection screens and communication data, and a signal for obtaining various data of other image forming apparatuses connected via a network. A network search key to be input, a communication means that enables transmission and reception of various data, and a computer that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus based on a control program and an input signal,
The computer
A storage unit that stores at least installation location data, specification data, and job data; and a data transfer function unit that reads the job data from the storage unit and transmits the job data to another image forming apparatus.
While a network search signal is output to a computer of another image forming apparatus by turning on the network search key,
When a network search signal is received from another image forming apparatus, the operation state detection unit is operated to acquire the operation result, and the installation location data and the specification data read from the storage unit are attached to the acquired data and transmitted. Generating data and transmitting the transmission data to the computer that has output the network search signal;
When the transmission data for the network search signal is received , if there is only one other image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is automatically selected, and if there are a plurality of other image forming apparatuses, The image forming apparatus closest to the installation location is automatically selected , job data is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus by the data transfer function unit, and the job data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus of the job data transmission destination. While running a job based on
When job data is received from another image forming apparatus, a job based on the job data is executed instead of the other image forming apparatus.
An image forming apparatus management system. 2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein an address on the network is added to the job data read from the storage unit to generate transmission data, and the transmission data is transmitted to a computer of another selected image forming apparatus. The management system of the image forming apparatus described in 1. An image forming apparatus including a computer connected via a network to a computer included in another image forming apparatus,
An operating state detecting unit for detecting an operating state, a display unit for displaying various function selection screens and communication data, and a network search key for inputting signals for obtaining various data of other image forming apparatuses connected via a network; A communication unit that enables transmission and reception of various data, and a computer that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus based on a control program and an input signal.
The computer
A storage unit that stores at least installation location data, specification data, and job data; and a data transfer function unit that reads the job data from the storage unit and transmits the job data to another image forming apparatus.
While outputting a network search signal to another computer by turning on the network search key,
When a network search signal is received from another computer, the operating state detecting unit is operated to acquire the operation result, and the transmission data is attached with the installation location data and the specification data read from the storage unit to the acquired data. Generating and transmitting the transmission data to the computer that has output the network search signal;
When the transmission data for the network search signal is received , if there is only one other image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is automatically selected, and if there are a plurality of other image forming apparatuses, The image forming apparatus closest to the installation location is automatically selected , job data is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus by the data transfer function unit, and the job data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus of the job data transmission destination. While running a job based on
When job data is received from another image forming apparatus, a job based on the job data is executed instead of the other image forming apparatus.
An image forming apparatus. 4. The computer according to claim 3, wherein a transmission data is generated by attaching an address on the network to the job data read from the storage unit, and the transmission data is transmitted to a computer of another selected image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

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