JP4624184B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program that execute an alternative function of a failed function.

Conventionally, when a part of the printing device fails, the user can specify the failed part by performing a simple operation, and the specified failure part is automatically disconnected from operation and the operation of the printing device is continued. There is known an operation method of a printing apparatus capable of performing the above (see, for example, Patent Document 1). If this operation method is used, functions that have not failed can be used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the entire apparatus from being suspended due to a partial failure of the apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-256782

  However, in the printing apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, since the failed part (function) is separated and only the non-failed part (function) is operated, the function that is still in failure is used. There is a problem that a desired job cannot be executed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and a control program capable of executing a desired job by using an alternative function of a failed function.

  The present invention relates to an identification function for identifying a faulty part and an identification function for specifying an alternative function of the faulty part in advance. A failure is detected from the alternative function storage unit when a failure detection unit that outputs identification information for specifying a part and execution of a job that uses a part in which a failure is detected by the failure detection unit are instructed. Control means for reading the identification information of the substitute function associated with the identification information for specifying the part and controlling execution of the job using the substitute function specified by the identification information of the substitute function It is characterized by.

  In the present invention, the alternative function storage means defines a priority order for specifying an alternative function to be used when a plurality of alternative functions are associated with one failure site, and the control means When there are a plurality of alternative function candidates to be specified, the alternative function to be used is specified based on the priority order.

  The present invention relates to an identification function for identifying a faulty part and an identification function for specifying an alternative function of the faulty part in advance. A control program that operates on an image forming apparatus provided with a failure detection unit that outputs identification information that identifies a region, and instructed to execute a job that uses the region in which a failure is detected by the failure detection unit In the case, the identification information of the alternative function related to the identification information for specifying the part where the failure is detected is read from the alternative function storage means, and the alternative function specified by the identification information of the alternative function is used. , Causing a computer to perform control processing for controlling execution of the job.

  In the present invention, the alternative function storage means defines a priority order for specifying an alternative function to be used when a plurality of alternative functions are associated with one failure site. When there are a plurality of alternative function candidates to be specified, the alternative function to be used is specified based on the priority order.

  According to the present invention, when execution of a job that uses a part (function) in which a failure is detected by the failure detection unit is instructed, the replacement function storage unit uses the identification information that identifies the part in which the failure is detected. Since the identification information of the related alternative function is read and the execution of the job is controlled using the alternative function specified by the identification information of the alternative function, even if there is a malfunctioning function, the alternative function The effect that a desired job can be executed using is obtained.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls the overall processing operation of the image forming apparatus 12. Reference numeral 2 denotes an input unit including a numeric keypad, function keys, a touch panel, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a document table and outputs digital image data. The image reading unit 4 may include a document feeding device that automatically guides a document to be read to a document table. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory that temporarily stores image data output from the image reading unit 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printing unit that transfers an image to printing paper based on image data stored in the image memory 5.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes an image transmitted from the transmission source FAX apparatus via the public line 20 while transmitting the image data stored in the image memory 5 to the transmission destination FAX apparatus or the like via the public line 20. It is a transmission / reception unit that receives data and stores it in the image memory 5. Reference numeral 8 denotes a communication unit that performs information communication with other network connection devices (such as an image forming apparatus and a personal computer) via the network 18. Reference numeral 9 denotes a failure detection unit that detects a failure of a functional module included in the image forming apparatus 12 and identifies a failure part. Reference numeral 10 denotes an address information storage unit in which address information such as a destination FAX and an e-mail address at the time of FAX transmission is stored for each destination. Reference numeral 11 denotes an alternative function storage unit in which functions that can be substituted are defined in advance for each failure part.

  The image forming apparatus 12 is connected to a network 18, and an image forming apparatus 13 and a personal computer 14 equivalent to the image forming apparatus 12 are connected to the network 18. The network 18 is connected to a router 17 for connecting to another network 19, and the network 19 is connected to an image forming apparatus 15 equivalent to the image forming apparatus 12 and a personal computer 16.

  Here, the failure detection target of the failure detection unit 9 will be described. The failure detection unit 9 performs failure detection in units of functional modules necessary when the image forming apparatus 12 attempts to execute any job such as a print job, a FAX transmission / reception job, an image reading job, and a copy job. Yes. In FIG. 1, a case where a job to be executed is FAX transmission / reception will be described as an example. The FAX transmission / reception includes an image reading unit 4 that reads a document to be transmitted, a printing unit 6 that prints a received FAX image on paper, and a transmission / reception unit 7 that transmits / receives an image via a public line 20. Use to run a job. Therefore, the failure detection unit 9 is configured to detect failures in the image reading unit 4, the printing unit 6, and the transmission / reception unit 7.

  Next, the table structure of the address information storage unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The address information storage unit 10 stores a FAX number, a network FAX address, an electronic mail address, and an IP address in association with each destination identification name for identifying a destination. The address information storage unit 10 does not necessarily store four address information (FAX number, network FAX address, e-mail address, and IP address) for one destination identification name. It is only necessary to store one piece of address information.

  Next, the table structure of the alternative function storage unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The substitute function storage unit 11 uses, for each failure part detected by the failure detection unit 9, an identifier for identifying a function (substitute function) capable of substituting the function of the failure part, and when this substitute function is used. An identifier for identifying a countermeasure to be taken is associated and stored. In the case where a plurality of alternative functions can be used for one failure site, the priority for executing each alternative function (the smaller the numerical value, the higher the priority) is defined in advance. Since there is a case where there is no substitute function depending on the failure part, an identifier indicating that there is no substitute function is defined, and there is a failure part where only countermeasures are defined.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 12 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the failure detection unit 9 performs failure detection of a failure detection target part, and outputs a failure notification including identification information for specifying the failure part to the control unit 1 when there is a part where a failure is detected ( Steps S1, S2). Upon receiving the failure notification from the failure detection unit 9, the control unit 1 logically separates the failed part (functional module) based on the failure part identification information included in the failure notification and excludes it from the control target ( Step S3). Here, a description will be given assuming that the transmission / reception unit 7 has failed.

  Next, the user operates the input unit 2 to select a menu for executing the FAX transmission function. The control unit 1 reads the content operated in the input unit 2 (step S4), and determines whether or not it is necessary to use a failed part (functional module) in order to execute the selected function ( Step S5). As a result, when it is not necessary to use the failed part to execute the selected function, the control unit 1 executes the selected function (step S6). Since this operation is the same as a normal operation, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, in order to execute the function selected by the user, when it is necessary to use a function module that has failed, the control unit 1 refers to the alternative function storage unit 11 to determine the location of the failed part. An alternative function is specified (step S7). The control unit 1 identifies the alternative function by reading the identification information of the alternative function and the identification information of the countermeasure associated with the identification information for identifying the failed part notified from the failure detection unit 9. At this time, when there are a plurality of alternative functions associated with the failed part, the control unit 1 reads out an alternative function with a high priority.

  Next, the control part 1 determines whether the function which substitutes for a failure part has been specified (step S8). This determination is made based on whether or not an alternative function corresponding to the failed part has been defined in the alternative function storage unit 11. For example, when the failure part is an image reading unit, there is no substitute function, and thus the substitute function cannot be specified. If there is no alternative function, the control unit 1 displays an error message on the display unit 3 (step S9). In this error message display, the content of the error message is selected based on the identification information for identifying the countermeasure stored in the alternative function storage unit 11, and the display operation is executed.

  When the alternative function is defined in the alternative function storage unit 11, the control unit 1 displays a message indicating that the function selected by the user is executed by the alternative function on the display unit 3. The user sees this message, and if there is no problem in executing with the alternative function, the user performs an operation permitting the execution in the input unit 2. On the other hand, when the execution of the alternative function is not permitted because the address information necessary for executing the alternative function is unknown, an operation of refusing to be executed in the input unit 2 is performed. In response to this, the control unit 1 refers to the alternative function storage unit 11 and, when there is another alternative function, reads the identification information of the other alternative function based on the priority order. Then, the control unit 1 again displays a message indicating that the function selected by the user is executed by the alternative function on the display unit 3. On the other hand, the user inputs from the input unit 2 whether to permit or reject the execution with the alternative function. As a result, when the execution of the alternative function is permitted, the alternative function can be identified. On the other hand, when the execution of all the alternative functions is rejected, the control unit 1 displays on the display unit 3 that the function necessary for executing the selected job has failed (step S9).

Next, when the alternative function can be identified, the control unit 1 identifies the countermeasure that needs to be performed for each identified alternate function based on the countermeasure identification information related to the alternate function, and executes this countermeasure process To do. If the job to be executed is FAX transmission, it is necessary to convert the FAX number into address information of a function that substitutes, so it is determined whether or not it is transmission (step S10). If the result of this determination is not FAX transmission, the next step S11 is skipped. On the other hand, in the case of FAX transmission, the control unit 1 displays a message instructing input of a destination FAX number on the display unit 3. In response to this message, the user operates the input unit 2 to activate the address book function. In response to this, the control unit 1 reads out address information for each destination stored in the address information storage unit 10 and displays it on the display unit 3. The user operates the input unit 2 to select a destination to be transmitted from the destinations displayed on the display unit 3. Control unit 1, to the selected destination, address information necessary to perform the functions to be an alternative, it is determined whether or not associated, if attached relationship, reading the address information . For example, when the user selects the destination identification name “AAA”, the address information of the network FAX, which is an alternative function to be executed, is read and held inside. On the other hand, when the address information necessary for the selected destination is not stored in the address information storage unit 10, the control unit 1 inputs the necessary address information (here, the address of the network FAX) to the display unit 4. Displays a message instructing In response to this message, the user inputs network FAX address information from the input unit 2. The control unit 1 stores therein the address information of the network FAX input from the input unit 2 (Step S11).
Note that the user may directly input the address information of the destination network FAX from the input unit 2 without using the address book function.

  Next, the user presses the execution key in the input unit 2. When detecting that the execution key is pressed, the control unit 1 outputs an image reading instruction to the image reading unit 4. In response to this, the image reading unit 4 guides the document to be transmitted one by one to the document table by the automatic document feeder, reads the image of the document one by one, and compresses the obtained image data for FAX transmission. The data is converted into data and stored in the image memory 5. Then, the control unit 1 notifies the communication unit 8 of the network FAX address information held therein, and issues a FAX transmission instruction by the network. In response to this, the communication unit 8 reads the image data stored in the image memory 5 and executes FAX transmission via the network to the image forming apparatus 15 specified by the address information.

  In the above description, the example in which the network FAX is used when the transmission / reception unit 7 breaks down has been described, but the read image stored in the image memory 5 can also be displayed on a personal computer or the like in the case of using e-mail. What is necessary is just to convert to the image data and to send an e-mail attached with the image data. In the case of file transfer, the read image stored in the image memory 5 may be converted into image data that can be displayed on a personal computer, and the converted image data may be transferred to the personal computer 16 as a file.

  Further, when the printing unit 6 fails and printing is performed using another image forming apparatus, the received FAX image data is stored in the image memory 5, and the image data is transferred to another image forming apparatus. The FAX reception image may be printed by the image forming apparatus 13 that has received the transferred image data. When transferring to a personal computer, the read image stored in the image memory 5 may be converted into image data that can be displayed by the personal computer, and the converted image data may be transferred to the personal computer 14 as a file.

  In this way, when execution of a job that uses a part (function) in which a failure is detected is instructed, an alternative associated with the identification information that identifies the part in which the failure has been detected from the alternative function storage unit 11 Since the function identification information is read and the execution of the job is controlled using the alternative function specified by the alternative function identification information, even if there is a malfunctioning function, it is desired to use the alternative function. Job can be executed.

  1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed, thereby executing an alternative function execution control. Processing may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 12 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the address information storage part 10 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the alternative function memory | storage part 11 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Input part, 3 ... Display part, 4 ... Image reading part, 5 ... Image memory, 6 ... Printing part, 7 ... Transmission / reception part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Communication part, 9 ... Failure detection part, 10 ... Address information storage part, 11 ... Alternative function storage part, 12, 13, 15 ... Image forming apparatus, 14, 16, ...・ PC, 17 ... router, 18, 19 ... network, 20 ... public line

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus connected to another information device via a network,
An alternative function storage means that stores the identification information for specifying the faulty part and the address information of the destination necessary for FAX transmission by the alternative function, and stored in advance;
A failure detecting means for detecting a failure of each part and outputting identification information for identifying the failed part;
The address of the destination related to the identification information for identifying the faulty part from the substitute function storage part when the execution of a FAX transmission job using the part in which the fault is detected by the fault detection part is instructed Control means for reading out the information and executing the FAX transmission job by realizing an alternative function of FAX transmission by using the communication means in the same image forming apparatus as the failed part. An image forming apparatus. In the alternative function storage means, when a plurality of alternative functions are related to one failure site, a priority order for specifying an alternative function to be used is defined,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of alternative function candidates to be specified, the control unit specifies an alternative function to be used based on the priority order. The control means converts a FAX number into one of a network FAX address, an e-mail address, or an IP address, and the data of the FAX transmission job is specified by the converted address information. network FAX transmitted to the information device, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that e-mail transmission, or file transfer.

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