JP4109534B2 - Remote processing apparatus, remote processing system, and remote processing program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote processing device, a remote processing system, and a remote processing program for executing remote diagnosis on a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, or the like having a communication function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication terminal devices such as facsimile machines can perform failure diagnosis and repair from a remote diagnosis center or other communication terminal devices using their communication functions (for example, Patent Document 1). ).
[0003]
According to such a conventional remote diagnosis system, the diagnosis center performs a diagnosis request or a repair request by making a read request or a write request for an operation parameter or a program in the facsimile device via a line from the diagnosis center. The service person can respond by remote operation without going to the place where the facsimile machine is installed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-45266
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional technology, since the operator manually processes each case at the diagnosis center, the number of cases that one operator can handle is limited. Relying on manual work, there was a problem in terms of work efficiency.
[0006]
On the other hand, by using a data processing terminal in which a computer and a modem are combined and executing a predetermined program, it is conceivable to automate so that a huge number of users can be diagnosed.
[0007]
However, in an automated remote diagnosis system, if an emergency such as a power failure or software lock occurs on the remote side during automatic execution of the diagnosis, it will be re-targeted to the user who is executing it regardless of the success or failure of the diagnosis. It was very troublesome to redo the diagnosis schedule.
[0008]
The present invention has been solved in view of this point, and greatly improves the work efficiency of the diagnosis work, enables a large amount of remote diagnosis at a time, and performs the diagnosis work by power failure, software lock, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote processing device, a remote processing system, and a remote processing program capable of safely and easily recovering a remote diagnosis even when the process is interrupted.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention prepares a job file in which each job related to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, spools the job registered in the job file to the communication spooler unit, and performs data processing corresponding to the job being spooled Communication with a terminal is executed, and a job for which remote processing has been completed by communication with the data processing terminal is deleted from the job file.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job file in which each job relating to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, a communication spooler section in which the job registered in the job file is spooled, and a job being spooled A remote processing apparatus comprising: a communication control unit that executes communication with a corresponding data processing terminal, and a control unit that deletes a job that has been remotely processed by communication with the data processing terminal from the job file. It is.
[0011]
According to the remote processing apparatus configured as described above, all jobs registered in the job file are automatically connected to the corresponding data processing terminal and the job is executed. The amount of work can be reduced. In addition, since the job execution results are sequentially reflected in the job file, the remote processing can be safely and easily restored even when the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like during communication of a certain job.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing device according to the first aspect, when the job is abnormally terminated during communication with the data processing terminal, the control unit puts the job in the spool on hold, The fact that the job in the job file is in a pending state is set.
[0013]
As a result, even if the job ends abnormally, it remains as a remaining job without being deleted from the job file. Therefore, recommunication is possible after recovery on the remote side, and remote processing can be reliably performed after recovery.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing device according to the second aspect, the job status is changed to stopped as the job hold state.
[0015]
As a result, the job file displays “stop” as the status of the remaining job, so that the job that ended abnormally in the previous communication can be easily recognized, and the remote processing can be reliably performed after recovery.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing device according to the third aspect, the communication control is performed if a job whose status has been stopped by the previous communication is presented and a re-communication instruction is received from the operator for the job. It is assumed that the communication with the data processing terminal corresponding to the unit is executed again.
[0017]
As a result, a job whose status has been stopped in the previous communication is not executed unless there is a recommunication instruction from the operator. Therefore, the operator can give a recommunication instruction while checking the abnormally terminated data processing terminal. Remote processing with finer grain becomes possible.
[0018]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, job information necessary for executing each job is information on jobs to be collectively processed for each job. A registered batch transfer file; and job file generation means for generating the job file from the batch transfer file when a batch processing request is generated.
[0019]
As a result, when a batch processing request occurs, a job file is generated from the batch transfer file. If the operator prepares a batch transfer file, all jobs can be automatically executed by simply giving a batch processing request. The burden can be greatly reduced. In particular, in a system in which jobs are periodically generated for a large number of the same data processing terminals as in remote diagnosis, batch job execution can be performed only by managing batch transfer files.
[0020]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote processing system comprising a plurality of data processing terminals having a communication function and a center device that executes remote processing by communication with the data processing terminals, the center device Includes a job file in which each job related to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, a communication spooler section in which the job registered in the job file is spooled, and a data processing terminal corresponding to the job being spooled. A remote control system comprising: a communication control unit that executes communication between the data processing terminal and a control unit that deletes a job for which remote processing has been completed by communication with the data processing terminal from the job file.
[0021]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing system according to the sixth aspect, if the job ends abnormally during communication with the data processing terminal, the center device places the job in the spool on hold, It is set that the job in the job file is in a pending state.
[0022]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing system according to the seventh aspect, the center device changes the status of the job to stop as the job is on hold.
[0023]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing system of the eighth aspect, the center device presents a job whose status has been stopped by the previous communication, and a re-communication instruction is given to the job from the operator. If there is, the communication control unit again executes communication with the corresponding data processing terminal.
[0024]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication spooler means for spooling each job of a job file in which a job relating to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, and data processing corresponding to the job in the spool. A remote processing program that functions as a communication control unit that executes communication with a terminal and a control unit that deletes a job for which remote processing has been completed through communication with the data processing terminal from the job file.
[0025]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing program according to the tenth aspect, if the job ends abnormally during communication with the data processing terminal, the control unit places the job in the spool on hold, The fact that the job in the job file is in a pending state is set.
[0026]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing program according to the eleventh aspect, the control means changes the status of the job to stop as the job is put on hold.
[0027]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing program according to the twelfth aspect, the control means presents a job whose status has been stopped by the previous communication, and a re-communication instruction is given to the job from the operator. If there is, the communication control means again executes communication with the corresponding data processing terminal.
[0028]
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the remote processing program according to any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, when the batch processing request is generated, the control means is information on a job to be batch processed, The job file is generated from a batch transfer file in which job information necessary for execution is registered for each job.
[0029]
Hereinafter, a remote processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0030]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of software related to remote diagnosis in the remote diagnosis center apparatus 10. The remote diagnosis center device 10 can be constructed by a computer having a hard disk, and is configured to execute the remote diagnosis system 11. The remote diagnosis system 11 is a function executed by a CPU mounted on a computer reading and processing an application program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM.
[0031]
The remote diagnosis center device 10 is connected to a target data processing terminal (facsimile device, copier, multifunction device, personal computer, or other terminal device) via a communication network by a modem 12. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, one remote diagnosis center apparatus 10 can simultaneously connect to a plurality of data processing terminals via a plurality of channels. For example, four modems 12 are provided so that four channels can communicate simultaneously.
[0032]
The present invention is not limited to remote diagnosis. If the data processing terminal is remotely accessed from the remote diagnostic center device 10 and can download data, programs, etc., or can download predetermined data, the data processing terminal can be used as a diagnostic target, repair target, upgrade target device, etc. It is not limited. In the present embodiment, “remote diagnosis” of a multifunction peripheral will be described as an example.
[0033]
The remote diagnostic center device 10 includes a user interface 13. The user interface 13 includes a GUI, a keyboard, and the like. An operator in the center inputs an operation to the remote diagnosis center apparatus 10 via the user interface 13, and displays a job status, an operation main screen, a remote diagnosis result, and the like to the operator.
[0034]
In remote diagnosis using the remote diagnosis center device 10, a job file 14 is created. In the job file 14, a plurality of jobs (for example, about 10,000 jobs) to be processed at a time are registered. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the job file 14. As shown in the figure, a serial number JOB number 31 is assigned to all jobs registered in the job file 14. If the data processing terminal is a multi-function peripheral, “JOB status”, “communication type”, “dial number”, “communication port”, “fax model name”, “user file name”, and “communication reserved time” are stored for each job. Registered as “JOB status” is information indicating the current status of the job. For example, “communication” indicating communication with the data processing terminal, “waiting” indicating that the communication port is idle, Describes “stopping” indicating job stoppage. “Communication type” is information indicating the processing contents to be executed by connecting to the data processing terminal. For example, “transmission” indicating that a program, abbreviated telephone number information and parameters are transmitted to the data processing terminal, counter information “Reception” indicating that various types of information other than the above are received from the data processing terminal, “Counter survey” for receiving various types of counter information from the data processing terminal, and the like are described. “Dial number” is the telephone number of the data processing terminal to be accessed. In the “communication port”, for example, when four channels are prepared, data indicating which communication port (modem) is used for communication is input. The “user file name” is set to a storage location (full path) for storing data received from the data processing terminal. The “communication reservation time” is registered when the time to connect to the data processing terminal is determined.
[0035]
As described above, job information necessary for executing an arbitrary job is registered in each job registered in the job file 14, but the job information is not limited to the items described above. You may add and delete arbitrarily according to the contents of each job. Also, completely different job information is registered depending on the type of data processing terminal.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 1, the remote diagnosis system 11 includes a main unit 21, a communication spooler unit 22, and a communication control unit 23. The main unit 21 recognizes the operation contents of the operator input through the user interface 13 and displays an operation screen related to the work. Further, the main unit 21 spools the batch processing job to the communication spooler unit 22 to instruct job execution, updates the job information of the job file 14, and stores received data in the user file 15. The communication spooler 22 develops jobs registered in the job file 14 delivered from the main unit 21 one by one, executes communication, and sequentially deletes completed jobs. The communication control unit 23 is a part that executes communication control with a data processing terminal connected via a modem 12 (communication line).
[0037]
Next, the operation content of the remote processing system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0038]
The operator activates the remote diagnostic system 11 via the user interface 13 of the remote diagnostic center device 10 (step S100). Here, when performing remote diagnosis of several thousand and 10,000 data processing terminals collectively, jobs for all the data processing terminals are registered in the job file 14. The job registration will be described later.
[0039]
When the system is activated, the main unit 21 checks whether there is a job file 14 placed on a storage medium such as a hard disk (step S101). Since the job file 14 is set to be deleted when all jobs are completed, when the job file 14 is determined to be “present”, it means that the remaining job exists. For example, in the previous batch remote diagnosis, if an abnormal situation (power failure, personal computer lock, etc.) has occurred in the remote data processing terminal, the job remains.
[0040]
When “Yes” is determined in step S101, a message “remaining JOB exists” is displayed via the user interface 13 (step S102). The operator can know that a part of the job remains in the previous batch remote diagnosis by looking at the message “remaining JOB exists”.
[0041]
Here, the operator inputs a job file deletion instruction via the user interface 13 when deleting a job that has not been processed in the previous batch remote diagnosis. On the other hand, if the operator checks and executes the remaining job, the next step is performed without inputting the job file deletion instruction (step S103).
[0042]
If it is determined in step S103 that the remaining job confirmation or re-communication is to be performed without inputting a deletion instruction, each “JOB status” of the remaining job remaining in the job file 14 is changed to “stopped”. Then, the main screen of the remote diagnosis system 11 is displayed (step S105).
[0043]
As a result, when the “JOB status” is set to “stopped”, the communication processing is not automatically executed even if the communication spooler unit 22 and the communication control unit 23 are activated. It is possible to prevent communication from being executed until it is done. For example, when the same job is executed from another computer, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that data is written twice in the data processing terminal.
[0044]
Next, when the operator selects “function transfer” (indicating general communication related to maintenance) on the main screen displayed on the user interface 13, communication processing of the job registered in the job file 14 is started (step S106). . When the communication process is started, the main unit 21 delivers all jobs registered in the job file 14 to the communication spooler unit 22 (step S107), and activates the communication spooler unit 22 (step S108).
[0045]
The main unit 21 displays the “stopped” job spooled at the head of the communication spooler unit 22 on the operation screen, and determines whether or not “re-communication designation” is present (step S109). The operator determines whether or not the job inquired on the operation screen is a job to be re-communication, and if it is determined that re-communication is to be performed, an operation input of “re-communication designation” is performed. For example, a corresponding job and a check box for selecting the presence / absence of re-communication are displayed via the user interface 13, and if the check box is checked, the corresponding job is recognized as “re-communication designated”. The method by which the operator selects the presence / absence of re-communication is not limited to the above method.
[0046]
In this way, even when the remaining jobs are re-communication, the operator can re-check and re-communication only any jobs, so jobs that have already been executed on other computers or remote side failures are not recovered If it is known, an operator can judge and eliminate an inconvenient job when it is re-executed or a job that is predicted to end in error again.
[0047]
If it is determined that the job inquired of the operator is “re-communication designation” (step S109), the communication spooler unit 22 branches to step S115 and activates the communication control unit 23.
[0048]
When there are a plurality of jobs, the communication control unit 23 controls a plurality of lines simultaneously in order to execute the number of jobs corresponding to the number of channels in parallel. That is, when the port number is not fixed by “communication port”, the vacant ports are sequentially assigned, and a call is made from the assigned port to the “dial number” of the job via the modem 12. When a telephone line is established with the data processing terminal, the processing shown in “Communication type” is executed. For example, if the “communication type” is reception, a reception command is transmitted to the partner data processing terminal via the communication line. The other party's data processing terminal transfers the various information of its own device, stores the received data in the user file 15 with the full path specified by the user file name of the job information, and recognizes that “communication JOB normal end”. (Step S116) The modem 12 is instructed to disconnect the line, and the communication control by the communication control unit 23 is terminated (Step S117). FIG. 6 shows an example of data transferred from a multifunction machine as a data processing terminal.
[0049]
Here, when communication with the partner data processing terminal is started, the main unit 21 changes the “JOB status” of the corresponding job registered in the job file 14 during communication. In addition, the “JOB status” is changed to “waiting” for a job waiting for a port to become available.
[0050]
When one job ends normally, the job is deleted from the job file 14 (step S118). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a job waiting in the communication spool unit 22 while waiting for a free channel (step S121). If there is a job waiting, the process returns to step S115 again and the job waiting is executed. To do. At this time, the “JOB status” of the job is changed from standby to communication.
[0051]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S116 that the job in communication does not end normally, the communication control unit 23 is instructed to end the communication (step S119), and the “JOB status” of the job is determined. Is changed to “stopped” (step S120). For example, it corresponds to a case where a communication error occurs due to a telephone line failure or data processing terminal side use.
[0052]
If it is determined in step S121 that there is no job waiting, it is determined whether there are any remaining jobs (step S122). Note that when the process branches from step S109 to step S115, jobs that have been “stopped” are processed one by one, so there is no job waiting.
[0053]
If it is determined in step S122 that there is a “stopped” remaining job, the process branches back to step S109, and the “stopped” job spooled at the head of the communication spooler unit 22 is displayed on the operation screen. The presence / absence of “re-communication designation” is determined (step S109).
[0054]
By repeating the processing from step S115 to step S122 via step S109, when there is finally no job whose “JOB status” is “stopped”, the job file 14 is deleted (step S123), and the communication spooler. The unit 22 is terminated (step S124).
[0055]
If the job file 14 is not created when the remote diagnostic system 11 is executed, the process branches to step S110 to display the main screen of the remote diagnostic system 11 via the user interface 13. A transfer start button for causing the remote diagnosis system 11 to execute a job is provided on the main screen. If the operator activates the transfer start button (step S111), a batch transfer request is generated, and automatic generation processing of the job file 14 is executed (step S112). This is realized by porting the job information registered in the batch transfer file 16 to the job file 14.
[0056]
The batch transfer file 16 is a file created in advance by the operator, and job information is described for each job to be batch transferred. When the data processing terminal is a multifunction machine or a facsimile, the job information of each job includes the above-mentioned “communication type”, “dial number”, “communication port”, “fax model name”, “user file name”, “communication reserved time”, and the like.
[0057]
As described above, if a job is defined in the batch transfer file 16, the job file 14 is automatically generated from the batch transfer file 16 automatically by simply pressing the transfer start button on the main screen. As described above, the job registered in the job file 14 is automatically executed.
[0058]
When the job file 14 is generated, the job registered in the job file 14 is transferred to the communication spooler unit 22 (step S113), and the communication spooler unit 22 is activated (step S114). Further, the communication control unit 23 is activated (step S115), and a dial-up connection is made to a designated dial number for executing the first job (a plurality in the case of parallel processing). The subsequent procedure is as described above.
[0059]
In the above description, jobs that should not be re-executed manually by the operator between step S108 and step S109 are excluded. It may be programmed so that “Yes” can be selected.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the work efficiency of the diagnosis work is greatly improved to enable a large amount of remote diagnosis at one time, and the diagnosis work is interrupted by a power failure, software lock, etc. Even in this case, it is possible to provide a remote processing device, a remote processing system, and a remote processing program that can safely and easily recover remote diagnosis.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a remote diagnostic center device in a remote processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic communication conceptual diagram of a remote processing system according to the above embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial flowchart showing the operation contents of the remote diagnosis center apparatus according to the above embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial flow chart showing the operation contents of the remote diagnosis center apparatus according to the above embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data transferred in the remote processing system according to the above embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Remote diagnostic center apparatus 11 Remote diagnostic system 12 Modem 13 User interface 14 Job file 15 User file 16 Batch transfer file 21 Main part 22 Communication spooler part 23 Communication control part

Claims (14)

Between the job file in which each job related to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, the communication spooler section in which the job registered in this job file is spooled, and the data processing terminal corresponding to the job being spooled A remote processing apparatus comprising: a communication control unit that executes the communication of: and a control unit that deletes a job for which remote processing has been completed through communication with the data processing terminal from the job file. The control unit sets the job in the spool to a hold state and sets the job in the job file to be in a hold state when the job ends abnormally during communication with the data processing terminal. The remote processing apparatus according to claim 1. The remote processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the status of the job is changed to stopped as the hold status of the job. A job whose status has been stopped by the previous communication is presented, and if there is a re-communication instruction from the operator for the job, the communication control unit again executes communication with the corresponding data processing terminal. The remote processing apparatus according to claim 3. A batch transfer file in which job information necessary for executing each job is registered for each job, and the job file is generated from the batch transfer file when a batch processing request occurs. The remote processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a job file generation unit. A remote processing system comprising a plurality of data processing terminals having a communication function and a center device for executing remote processing by communication with these data processing terminals,
The center device includes a job file in which each job related to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, a communication spooler section in which the job registered in the job file is spooled, and data corresponding to the job being spooled. A remote processing system comprising: a communication control unit that executes communication with a processing terminal; and a control unit that deletes a job for which remote processing has been completed through communication with the data processing terminal from the job file. If the job is abnormally terminated during communication with the data processing terminal, the center device puts the job in the spool in a hold state and sets the job in the job file to be in a hold state. The remote processing system according to claim 6. The remote processing system according to claim 7, wherein the center device changes the status of the job to stopped as the job is on hold. The center device presents a job whose status has been stopped by the previous communication, and if there is a re-communication instruction from the operator for the job, the communication control unit again communicates with the corresponding data processing terminal. 9. The remote processing system according to claim 8, wherein the remote processing system is executed. The computer executes communication between a communication spooler means for spooling each job of a job file in which a job related to remote processing for each data processing terminal is registered, and a data processing terminal corresponding to the job being spooled. A remote processing program that functions as a communication control unit and a control unit that deletes a job for which remote processing has been completed by communication with the data processing terminal from the job file. The control unit sets the job in the spool to a hold state and sets the job in the job file to be in a hold state when the job ends abnormally during communication with the data processing terminal. The remote processing program according to claim 10. The remote processing program according to claim 11, wherein the control unit changes the status of the job to stopped as the job is on hold. The control means presents a job whose status has been stopped by the previous communication, and if there is a re-communication instruction from the operator for the job, the communication control means again communicates with the corresponding data processing terminal. The remote processing program according to claim 12, wherein the remote processing program is executed. When a batch processing request is generated, the control unit generates the job file from a batch transfer file in which job information necessary for executing each job is registered for each job. The remote processing program according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that:

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