JP3811588B2 - Remote management system for postal sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote maintenance system for maintaining and managing a mail sorting machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Postal sorting machines are deployed at post offices throughout the country (by city, town, village). On the other hand, maintenance bases where maintenance personnel for postal sorting machines are stationed are also located in the vicinity of post offices with postal sorting machines (regional and prefectural units). In general, a method of centralized management at a center (one place or regional unit) is used.
[0003]
In addition, when a failure occurs at the post office, an initial diagnosis is performed at the center, and if necessary, a maintenance staff resident at the maintenance base is requested to dispatch. In this case, it is necessary to perform an initial diagnosis at a place (center) away from the place of failure (each post office).
[0004]
Normally, the maintenance terminal device described in the present invention is a terminal device provided in this center, and is mainly used as a means for initial diagnosis and fault isolation.
[0005]
Note that, depending on the maintenance operation mode, a maintenance terminal device may be deployed at the maintenance base. Therefore, the maintenance base and the center will be collectively referred to as a maintenance base.
[0006]
In the conventional technology, the situation is heard from the local operator by telephone inquiry, or the maintenance target device such as ATM in the remote place is connected to the maintenance terminal device in the maintenance base and the communication line like the remote management method such as ATM. In other words, the maintenance terminal device is monitored by transmitting various states of the device to the maintenance base.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the telephone inquiry, it takes time to find out various information necessary for isolating the contents of the trouble, and it is difficult to obtain accurate information. In addition, local operators were required to have specialized skills.
[0008]
On the other hand, in the remote management method such as the ATM, it is possible to know the actual various states through the maintenance terminal device, but in order to obtain the accurate state information of the device, obtain information according to the device to be monitored, And it is necessary to provide it so that the maintenance staff at the maintenance base can easily judge.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a remote management method in which a maintenance staff at a maintenance base can easily grasp the state of a mail sorting machine.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, on one display screen of the display device of the maintenance terminal device, at least (1) information for specifying the mail sorting machine being displayed, and (2) power on / off of the mail sorting machine, operation / Operating state of the operation panel with operation buttons for instructing stop, etc., and (3) operational status including the current number of postal items supplied, number of categories, classification rate, etc., and faults in connection devices, lines, etc. By displaying the display contents of the operation screen including the display unit for displaying the status and the operation unit for performing the reduction operation of various devices such as the barcode reader, and (4) the operation status of the operation screen, the maintenance site can be displayed. Provide a remote management method that allows maintenance personnel to easily grasp the status of the mail sorting machine.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a network configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
A maintenance terminal device 111 that performs operations and displays related to remote maintenance work is installed, a maintenance base 11 that manages and manages the remote maintenance work, a mail sorting machine 122 that is a system device for sorting mails by destination, a mail sorting machine An information input device 123 that receives an image of a postal item 122 that could not be recognized / sorted by the destination from the postal sorting machine 122 and displays the postal image on a display, and performs input operation of name information by means of a keyboard or the like; A post office 12 that installs a support terminal 121, a support terminal 121, a postal sorting machine 122, an information input device 123, and the like that collectively manage a plurality of devices such as a sorting machine 122 and an information input device 123 from the standpoint of maintenance. , And a line 101 for connecting the maintenance base 11 and the post office 12.
[0013]
The mail sorting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is an overall front view of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The postal sorting machine 21 is a display unit that displays the current mail supply number of the postal sorting machine, the number of divisions, the classification rate, etc., and the connection unit, the failure state of the line, etc. An operation screen 201 having an operation unit for performing a degeneration operation of the device, an operation panel 202 having an operation button for instructing on / off of the mail sorting machine, operation / stop, and the like, a supply unit for setting mail items and feeding them one by one 203, a scanner 204 for reading a postal image for recognizing a destination and a postal image for display on the information input device, a bar code reader 205 for reading a bar code printed on a postal item, and identifying a postal item Inkjet printer 206 for printing an identification bar code for printing, inkjet printer 207 for printing an address code such as a recognition result, and mail Sorting box 208 for dividing and storing, made from the transport path 209 for conveying the mailpieces to sorting boxes from the supply unit 203.
[0015]
Usually, setting such as selection of a division work is performed on the operation screen 201 and the operation panel 202, and mail is set in the supply unit 203. Thereafter, when the operation of the mail sorting machine is started on the operation panel 202, the mails fed from the supply unit 203 are transported (sorted) along the transport path 209 to the sorting box 208. In the middle of the conveyance path, the scanner 205 captures an image of the mail and performs recognition processing such as address information. If a barcode is printed on the mail, it is read by the barcode reader 205.
[0016]
The address recognition result is printed by the address bar code printing inkjet printer 207. The identification barcode printing inkjet printer 206 prints an identification barcode on all mail items. Thereafter, the mail is transported to the target sorting box.
[0017]
In addition, selection of a division work performed on the operation screen 201 means selection of a normal division designation surface. The division designation surface is a table for designating which division box the mail piece should be divided into (category destination) based on information such as the address reading result, and the division designation surface differs depending on the type of the division work. That is, it is possible to change the contents of the division work by changing the division designation surface.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is an overall block diagram of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0019]
The postal sorting machine 31 is a variety of display units and bar code readers that display the operating status including the current number of postal mail supplies, the number of categories, the classification rate, etc., and the fault status of connection devices, lines, etc. An operation screen 301 having an operation unit for performing a degeneration operation of the device, an operation panel 302 having operation buttons for instructing on / off of the mail sorting machine, operation / stop, and the like, as shown in FIG. Sorting machine main body 304 that transports mail to the target sorting box, the operation screen 301, operation panel 302, sorting machine main body 304, that is, control of the entire mail sorting machine, and transmission / reception of information to / from the information input device and support terminal It comprises a control device 303 for controlling the above.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation panel of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation panel 41 includes a switch 401 for turning off the power of the mail sorting machine, a switch 402 for turning on the power of the mail sorting machine, a switch 403 for clearing statistical information, a switch 404 for notifying that a jam has been removed, and a classification in case of emergency. Switch 405 for emergency stop of the machine, switch 406 for displaying / switching the operation mode, switch 407 for displaying / switching the reading mode, switch 408 for operating / stopping the mail sorting machine, starting / stopping the supply of mail Switch 409 for switching, switch 410 for operating / stopping the shaking table for aligning the postal items, switch for switching between operating in conjunction with a device for identifying stamps and stamping postmarks (CFC), or operating the mail sorting machine alone 411. Test the contamination status of sensors installed for the purpose of transporting mail in the sorting machine body. A switch 412.
[0021]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the operation screen of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation screen 51 is registered to select an area 501 for displaying statistical information such as the number of processes, an area 502 for displaying an OCR reading (recognition process) result, an area 503 for displaying an error message or a guidance, and a classification designation surface. And touch buttons 504, 505, 506, and 507 for displaying and selecting a list of section designation planes, and a section designation plane display area 508 for displaying the name of the selected section designation plane. When selecting a category designation surface, if any one of the touch buttons 504 to 507 is touched, a list of category designation surfaces is displayed. Therefore, the operator selects a category designation surface to be selected from the category designation surface list.
[0022]
The maintenance terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0023]
FIG. 6 shows an overall block configuration diagram of the maintenance terminal apparatus described in FIG. The maintenance terminal device includes an operation for selecting a post office for line connection and a display section 61 for displaying the status of the connection destination post office, a printing section 62 for printing information on the display section as necessary, and a postal for mail connection. It comprises an operation unit 63 that performs a station selection operation, a line connection unit 64 that performs line connection with a post office, and a control unit 65 that controls each of the above parts.
[0024]
FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation / display screen of the display unit of the maintenance terminal device. The operation / display screen 71 of the maintenance terminal apparatus includes a post office that performs line connection, a connection post office / connection apparatus selection area 701 that is an area for selecting an apparatus, and a classification designation plane name that is selected by a postal sorting machine. , Operation screen status display area 702 for displaying the status of the operation screen, such as statistical information such as classification rate, fault message display area 703 for displaying fault messages displayed on the operation screen of the postal sorting machine, operation of the postal sorting machine An operation panel status display area 704 for displaying the status of the operation panel such as a start button, various setting status display areas 705 for displaying the status of various setting operations such as degeneration of the mail sorting machine and the status of each connected terminal, It consists of an update period setting area 706 for setting the information update method and switching the connection / disconnection of the line between the maintenance base and the post office.
[0025]
The post office that performs line connection in the connection post office / connection device selection area 701 and the method of selecting the apparatus display a list of items that can be selected by pressing the area selection button and the apparatus selection button in the area, Select by means such as a mouse.
[0026]
If the operation screen differs depending on the type of connection device, the manufacturing year, etc., there is a method of switching the screen of the maintenance terminal device according to the form, which is included in this embodiment.
[0027]
FIG. 8 shows an example of a message format for realizing the method of switching the screen of the maintenance terminal device according to the type of connection device, the manufacturing year, etc. described in FIG. In the message transmitted from the support terminal to the maintenance terminal device, information such as the device model name, manufacturing date, version information, etc. is added to the information managed by the maintenance terminal device as shown in FIG. By displaying the corresponding screen, switching to the optimal screen is realized.
[0028]
In this embodiment, information such as the model name, date of manufacture, and version information of the apparatus has been described in the method of adding to the message. However, there is a method in which the information is collectively expressed by symbols. include.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the method of transmitting the information to the maintenance terminal device has been described. However, a method of pre-registering the device configuration of each station with the maintenance terminal device and not transmitting the message is also included in the present embodiment.
[0030]
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show typical processing flowcharts for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
[0031]
FIG. 9 shows a typical process flow diagram for explaining the process executed in the maintenance terminal apparatus. In the connection post office / connection device selection area on the maintenance terminal screen, the operator selects a connection post office (step 91). Connect to the support terminal of the selected post office (step 92). A request for connection device configuration such as the number of postal sorting machines and information input devices shown in FIG. 1 is transmitted to the connected support terminal (step 93). After receiving the connection device configuration from the support terminal (step 94), the configuration list is displayed in the connection post office / connection device selection area (step 95). From the displayed connection devices, the operator selects a device to be connected (step 96). Request the status information of the selected device from the support terminal (step 97). After receiving the status information of the device requested from the support terminal (step 98), the received information is edited and displayed in the operation screen status display area, failure message display area, operation button status display area, and various setting status display areas of the maintenance terminal apparatus. The information is displayed (step 99). When periodic transmission is set in the update cycle setting area of the maintenance terminal device (step 100), the support terminal is requested again for status information of the selected device (step 97). If sequential transmission is set in the update cycle setting area of the maintenance terminal device (step 100), the process is terminated. If another post office is selected in the connection post office / connection device selection area (step 91) during the processing (step 92 to step 99), the processing is interrupted and the selected post office is selected. Connection to the support terminal is started (step 92). If another device is selected in the connection post office / connection device selection area (step 96) during the processing (step 87 to step 99), the processing is interrupted and the device of the selected device is selected. Request status information from the support terminal (step 97).
[0032]
In this embodiment, the processing flow for receiving the connection device configuration from the support terminal has been described. However, after the device configuration of each station is pre-registered in the maintenance terminal device, the connection post office selection and the connection device selection operation are performed, the support is performed. A processing flow for requesting status information from the terminal is also included in this embodiment.
[0033]
Further, in steps 97 to 98, the example in which only the status information related to the device selected by the maintenance terminal device is requested from the support terminal has been described. However, the status information of all the devices deployed at the selected post office can be obtained at one time. The maintenance terminal device also has a method of switching which terminal status information is displayed among all previously acquired devices, and is included in this embodiment.
[0034]
In this embodiment, the method of selecting a connection post office by an operator (step 91) has been described. However, when a faulty telephone is received from an operator of the post office with the postal sorting machine, the incoming call is received. As a trigger, there is also a method of automatically searching the network address of the post office where the failure has occurred from the telephone number, automatically connecting to the post office and the device of the network address, and obtaining status information, It is included in this embodiment.
FIG. 10 shows a typical process flow diagram for explaining the process performed by the support terminal. After establishing a connection with the maintenance terminal device (step 101), the connection device configuration is acquired according to the connection device configuration transmission request (step 102) received from the maintenance terminal (step 103), and the connection device held by the support terminal The configuration is transmitted to the maintenance terminal device (step 104). Thereafter, the status information is connected to the requested device from the maintenance terminal device (step 105), and the status information of the device, for example, the operation panel / operation screen managed by the control device of the mail sorting machine described in FIG. After acquiring information such as a failure message (step 106), the acquired state information is transmitted to the maintenance terminal device (step 107). Here, when a change request for the connection destination device is received from the maintenance terminal device (step 108), acquisition of the status information of the device is started (step 106). If the maintenance terminal device requests to transmit status information for the same device after a certain period (step 109), the process starts from step 106. Further, when a disconnection request is sent due to an interruption operation or a connection destination station change operation in the maintenance terminal device (step 111), the processing is immediately interrupted (step 112), and the series of flow ends.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the processing flow for transmitting the connection device configuration to the maintenance terminal device (step 104) has been described. However, the device configuration of each station is pre-registered in the maintenance terminal device, and the connection device configuration is connected to the maintenance terminal device. A processing flow that sometimes does not transmit the connection device configuration is also included in this embodiment.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, the connection device configuration is confirmed / acquired by a method such as broadcast in response to an inquiry from the maintenance terminal device, and then the connection device configuration is transmitted to the maintenance terminal device. There is also a method of holding the configuration in advance at the support terminal, which is included in this embodiment.
[0037]
With regard to the periodic acquisition and transmission of status information at the support terminal, in the above embodiment, maintenance is performed when the maintenance terminal device is connected (step 101) or when status information is requested from the maintenance terminal device (step 106). The method of receiving the update cycle from the terminal device and actively performing the status information acquisition / transmission processing flow has been described, but there is also a method of acquiring information only when requested by the maintenance terminal device. included.
[0038]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the status information is acquired and transmitted in response to a request from the maintenance terminal device. However, the operation status (failure content, classification rate, etc.) is monitored by the support terminal or each device, and a connection device failure occurs. There is also a method of sending status information from the support terminal or each device to the maintenance terminal device, or a method of sending only a warning message to the maintenance terminal device, triggered by a change in the operating status such as the division rate being lower than the reference value Included in this example.
[0039]
In the above embodiment, the support terminal is described as a separate terminal. However, there is a method in which each device has the function of the support terminal and each device directly transmits and receives to / from the maintenance terminal device, and is included in this embodiment. .
[0040]
In the above-described embodiment, the method of installing the maintenance terminal device at the maintenance base and performing remote management is described. However, there is a method of installing the installation location of the maintenance terminal device in each station, each post office, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. In addition, there is a method of using it as an operation management terminal by restricting information to be handled and handling operation statistical information, which is included in this embodiment.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by displaying the operation status of the postal sorting machine subject to maintenance on the display screen of the maintenance terminal device, the maintenance staff at the maintenance base can easily grasp the status of the postal sorting machine. The same initial diagnosis as in
[0042]
In addition, this makes it possible to improve maintainability, such as enabling prompt and accurate instructions (guidance) to the station staff.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an overall front view of a mail sorting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an overall block diagram of a mail sorting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an example of an operation panel of a mail sorting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation screen of the mail sorting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an overall block configuration diagram of a maintenance terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows an example of an operation / display screen of the display unit of the maintenance terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a data format example according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a typical processing flow diagram for explaining processing performed by the maintenance terminal device according to the embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 10 is a typical processing flow diagram for explaining processing performed by the support terminal according to the embodiment of this invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Maintenance base, 12 ... Post office, 101 ... Line, 111 ... Maintenance terminal device, 121 ... Support terminal, 122 ... Postal sorting machine, 123 ... Information input device,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Mail sorting machine, 201 ... Operation screen, 202 ... Operation panel, 203 ... Supply part, 204 ... Scanner, 205 ... Bar code reader, 206 ... Inkjet printer for identification barcode printing, 207 ... Inkjet printer for address code printing, 208 ... Division box, 209 ... Conveying path

Claims (2)

A postal sorting machine comprising a postal sorting machine that is deployed at a post office and sorts mail according to information such as destinations, and a maintenance terminal device that is deployed at a maintenance base and manages the status of the postal sorting machine In the remote management system of
The postal sorting machine is
An operation panel for instructing the operating state of the mail sorting machine;
An operation including a display unit for displaying the current mail supply number, the number of divisions, and the classification rate of the postal sorting machine, a failure state of the connection device, and an operation unit for performing a degeneration operation of the device in the postal sorting machine. Screen,
In response to a change in state of the postal sorting machine, the operation panel and a transmission unit for transmitting state information of the operation screen to an external device,
The maintenance terminal device
A control for transmitting a request for transmitting information indicating the operation state of the operation panel and the display state of the operation screen to the mail sorting machine and receiving information transmitted from the mail sorting machine in response to the transmission request. A control unit to perform,
Operation to display the connected post office / connection device selection area, which is an area for selecting post offices and devices to be connected to the line, and the name and statistical information selected for the postal sorting machine and the status of the operation screen. A screen status display area, a fault message display area for displaying fault messages displayed on the operation screen of the postal sorting machine, an operation panel status display area for displaying the status of the operation panel of the postal sorting machine, and a postal sorting machine Various setting status display areas for displaying the status of various setting operations and the status of each connection terminal, and an update cycle setting area for switching the setting of the information update method for each area and connection / disconnection of a line between the maintenance base and the post office And a display device for displaying a display screen comprising: a remote management system for a postal sorting machine. In the above remote management system,
When the maintenance terminal receives a message from the postal machine that has failed,
2. The postal sorting machine remote management system according to claim 1, wherein the postal sorting machine is discriminated from the result of the incoming call, and a status information transmission request is transmitted to the postal sorting machine.

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