JP6140359B2 - Device diagnostic apparatus and device diagnostic method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus diagnosis apparatus and method.

  Ventilators installed on the ceiling or the like require a long life, and therefore require filter cleaning, motor replacement, and the like. In the event of a failure, a quick response is required to maintain health.

  In Patent Document 1, the contents of failure and maintenance are digitally encoded and superimposed as a high-speed optical pulse train that cannot be visually recognized while the lamp flashing at a frequency that can be visually recognized to notify the necessity of repair or maintenance of the ventilator. However, it is disclosed that the inspection device that receives the optical pulse train decodes the optical pulse train and displays the contents of the failure or abnormality.

  In Patent Document 2, the plant monitoring and control apparatus stores a device information database that stores display information such as a unique name of a device installed on the site, a unique name of a control signal, a state / failure signal of a device, a sensor, and the like. A portable terminal device that displays measured values from the display, and displays control signals and measured values necessary for operation, and a barcode attached to the device is read by a barcode reader of the portable terminal device, and a device information database Is retrieved and displayed on a portable information terminal.

JP 2007-78224 A JP 2001-265424 A

  The technology of Patent Document 1 describes a device that reads a blinking signal of a lamp of a ventilator and obtains information on a failure or maintenance of the ventilator. It is specified as a ventilator and is a device that only needs to be able to read the blinking of a lamp attached to a specific ventilator.

  However, there are various types of equipment used in factories and plants, and the lamp flashing signals are different for each, so even if only the lamp flashing signal attached to a specific device can be read, There is a problem that maintenance of a plurality of installed devices cannot be performed by a single portable terminal device.

  Also, as in Patent Document 2, a database is searched based on information obtained by reading a bar code attached to a device, and even if maintenance information such as a device manual is obtained, a measured value from an actual device can be obtained. There is a problem that reading is impossible unless there is an interface with a device such as wireless communication.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, one of the representative device diagnosis apparatuses of the present invention photographs a barcode that describes device information for specifying a device to be diagnosed and blinking of a light emitting diode (LED) of the device. Camera to
A search unit that identifies the device based on the device information of the read barcode and obtains a diagnostic program necessary for diagnosing the device from a program list in which the device information and the diagnostic program are associated,
A diagnostic unit that outputs a diagnostic result of the device from blinking of the captured LED using the diagnostic program obtained by the search unit ;
The search unit, device diagnostic apparatus and outputs a display prompting the reading of the bar code again when the device information obtained from the flashing LED taken and captured device information of the bar code do not match It is.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to carry out diagnosis of a plurality of devices having only an output device with a single diagnostic device.

The block diagram of the structure of the apparatus of Example 1, a portable terminal, and a server apparatus Flowchart for explaining a search method for a specific device diagnostic program in the portable terminal of the first embodiment Flowchart for explaining a method of executing a specific device diagnostic program in the portable terminal of the first embodiment The figure explaining the example of the photography procedure of the barcode and the device Flowchart for explaining a method of searching for a specific device diagnostic program in the portable terminal of the second embodiment Diagram explaining an example of the structure of a program list The figure explaining the example of a display of the screen of a portable terminal Flow chart explaining an example of a method for creating an inspection record with a portable terminal during a patrol inspection The figure explaining the example of composition of inspection record

  Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

  The portable terminal 2 according to the first embodiment includes a unit that reads a barcode attached to a diagnosis target device. Separately, when a device flashing signal is used to communicate a device number or driving status to a mobile terminal, it is necessary to prepare a diagnostic program for communication in the terminal. If it is not in the portable terminal, the server apparatus is inquired based on information obtained from the barcode or the like, and the corresponding diagnostic program is downloaded.

  In addition, it is necessary to confirm that the device number obtained from the bar code matches the device number obtained from the blinking signal of the device.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a failure diagnosis system including devices 10 and 20, a mobile terminal 2, and server devices 82 and 86.

  The diagnosis target device A (10) includes an inspection program A (12) for inspecting the device A, a modulation program A (14) and an LED (16) for modulating the inspection result. The barcode for device A is 18. The barcode 18 is attached to the device A. Or the same format is posted at the user's hand. In any case, it is only necessary that the camera 32 of the mobile terminal 2 can shoot.

  The diagnosis target device B (20) includes an inspection program B (22) for inspecting the device B, a modulation program B (24) and an LED (26) for modulating the inspection result. The barcode for device B is 28. As with the barcode 18, the barcode 28 only needs to be photographed by the camera 32 of the mobile terminal 2.

  This bar code is an image related to a serial number (device number) for identifying hardware such as a device manufacturer number, device number, and model. If a manufacturer number or device is identified, for example, a bar code called a JAN code can be used to identify the number by 13 to 8 digits.

  Also, depending on the barcode format, information relating to the maintenance of the device, for example, a code called QR code (registered trademark), can be used to include information on the diagnostic program corresponding to the device.

  The maintenance network 80 includes a server device 82 and a server device 86. There are a plurality of server devices for each vendor or for each device. The server device can download the program 84 and the program 86 in response to an inquiry from the mobile terminal 2.

  Hereinafter, the mobile terminal 2 will be described in detail.

  The portable terminal 2 includes a search program (30) and a diagnosis unit (70).

  Cameras 32, 52, and 62 are also provided. Display devices 72 and 74 are provided. Since the camera 32, the camera 52, and the camera 62 are controlled by different programs, they are illustrated as separate cameras, but the same camera may be used. Since the display device 72 and the display device 74 are controlled by different programs, they are illustrated as separate display devices, but the same display device may be used.

  The configuration of the mobile terminal search program (30) will be described below.

  The search program (30) includes a scanner program 34 that reads a barcode with the camera 32.

  The search program (30) includes a program 36 for downloading and installing the diagnostic program A (50) and the diagnostic program B (60).

  The search program (30) holds the device number 38 and the program list 40 in the memory.

  The configuration of the diagnosis unit (70) of the mobile terminal will be described below.

  The diagnosis unit (70) installs a plurality of diagnosis programs. For example, the diagnostic program differs for each device. FIG. 1 illustrates a usable state after installing the diagnostic program A (50) for the device A (10) and the diagnostic program B (60) for the device B (10). For example, a diagnostic program for other devices such as device X and device Y can be installed.

  The configuration of the diagnostic program A (50) will be described below.

  The diagnostic program A (50) is a program 84 downloaded on the server unit 82 of the maintenance network 80 downloaded to the diagnostic unit 70.

  The diagnostic program A (50) includes a demodulation program A (54) for demodulating the blinking signal 92 received by the camera 52, and a determination program A (56) for determining the demodulated inspection result. Here, the demodulation program 54 is a program that is paired with the modulation program 14 of the device A, and the determination program 56 is a pair with the inspection program 12 of the device A.

  The configuration of the diagnostic program B (60) will be described below.

  The diagnostic program B (60) is a program 88 downloaded on the server device 86 of the maintenance network 80 downloaded to the diagnostic unit 70.

  The diagnostic program B (60) includes a demodulation program B (64) for demodulating the blinking signal 94 received by the camera 62, and a determination program B (66) for determining the demodulated inspection result. Here, the demodulation program 64 has a function that is paired with the modulation program 24 of the device B. The determination program 66 has a function that is paired with the inspection program 22 of the device B.

  Note that the modulation program of the present invention encodes the data format of the inspection program (for example, in a text format that can be visually confirmed by humans) into a bit string. Furthermore, it includes a modulation process for converting the encoded bit string into a blinking signal. However, encoding and modulation may be realized by separate programs.

  The demodulation program of the present invention includes a demodulation process for converting the received blinking signal into a bit string. Furthermore, the processing includes decoding from a bit string to a data format (for example, a text format that can be visually confirmed by a human). However, decoding and demodulation may be realized by separate programs.

  The programs described as software, such as search program 30, diagnostic program A 50, diagnostic program B 60, installation program 36, demodulation program A 54, determination program A 56, demodulation program B 64, determination program B 66, etc. It may be implemented as hardware such as an LSI.

  When each function of the portable terminal is implemented as a program, the portable terminal 2 is provided with a CPU and a memory, and is realized by the program stored in the memory being executed by the CPU.

  Next, the recording area on the memory, the program list 40, and the device number 38, which are commonly accessed by a plurality of programs such as the search program 30 and the diagnosis program A (50) and the diagnosis program B (60) of the diagnosis unit 70, will be described. To do.

  First, the device number 38 will be described.

  The device number 38 is a memory area for storing a device number.

  The device number 38 is updated every time the mobile terminal 2 captures a barcode.

  The diagnostic program compares the device number decoded by the program itself from the blinking signal with the device number 38. If the compared two device numbers match, the user can confirm the accuracy of the failure diagnosis processing procedure for photographing the barcode and blinking.

  It can be confirmed that the diagnostic program can decode the blinking signal of the device read by the scanner program.

The diagnostic program compares the device number decoded by the program itself from the blinking signal with the device number 38. If the compared two device numbers match, the user takes a picture of the barcode and blinking. Next, the program list 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The program list 40 is a list of diagnostic programs installed in the mobile terminal 2. The records in this table include, for example, a device number 602, a diagnostic program name 608 and a version 609, a server device name 604 storing the diagnostic program, and the like. In addition, a date 604 installed on the mobile terminal is included.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the program list 40. The list is a collection of records using the device number 602 as a search key.

  This record is registered when the program is installed. Or update. For example, the installation date and version of the device A corresponding to the read barcode A (18) are registered in the record 620. Alternatively, the installation date and version of the device B corresponding to the read barcode B (18) are registered in the record 622.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of searching for a diagnostic program for a device to be diagnosed.

  When the user finds the barcode 18 of the device A to be diagnosed (S302), the image is taken by the camera 32 of the mobile terminal 2. The photographed barcode image is input to the scanner program 34 (S204).

  When there is a bar code image, the scanner program 34 implements the bar code image by a device number or a site address (a combination of the server device A and the program name A instead of manual input. For example, http: // server_A / program_A ). If the barcode cannot be found, the user may manually enter the device number and the diagnostic program site address (the same address as above) (S205).

  Next, the search program 30 refers to the program list 40 (S206), and determines whether a program necessary for diagnosis of the device A is already installed in the mobile terminal. If it is not installed, the device number and site address are searched for registration. If there is no corresponding device number in the retrieved result list, it is determined that download / installation is necessary. Alternatively, even if it is registered in the list, if the registration date is old, the presence of the latest version is inquired (S208).

  The search program 30 makes an inquiry to the server device based on information identifying the vendor, model, and version of the device such as the device number described in the barcode, and makes a diagnosis program 50 (a demodulation program 54, a determination program 56 corresponding to the device A). ) Is downloaded (S210).

  Downloading the diagnostic program requires a communication line, and requires communication time and installation time, so if you ask the user whether or not to download, it will be easier to operate the mobile terminal .

  After downloading, the program list record is registered (S212). Or, in the case of reinstallation, the date and version of the program list are updated.

  The search program 30 updates the device number 38 using the device number registered / updated in the program list 40 (the device number where the diagnostic program is installed or reinstalled) (S214).

  The search program 30 searches the records in the program list 40 to determine whether or not a diagnostic program corresponding to the device number 38 included in the read barcode is already installed in the mobile terminal 2. If the diagnostic program is not installed and is connected to a communication line accessible to the server device of the maintenance network, the diagnostic program capable of diagnosing the device is downloaded from the server device and installed (S208).

  Hereinafter, the procedure of S208 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The search program 30 searches the records in the program list 40 to determine whether or not a diagnostic program corresponding to the device number 38 included in the read barcode is already installed in the mobile terminal 2. For example, it can be seen that the record X has information on the device X using the device X number as a search key. Here, the installation date 604 of the device X is a date (January 17, 2013) that is one year or more older than the date and time (for example, March 11, 2014) that is the start time of the search program. For example, when the search program is set to check for a program that is older than one year after installation, the search program 30 is sent to the server device (server_X) from the version (0.1) of the diagnostic program (program_X), Inquire if there is a new version of the diagnostic program. As a result of the inquiry, if the latest version is available, the corresponding program is downloaded and the diagnostic program X in the portable terminal is overwritten (if the portable terminal has sufficient storage capacity, it may be downloaded as another new program. If there is a problem with the processing of the new program, the old program can be used for diagnosis), and the installation date and version of the record 624 are updated.

  When the area for storing the program of the portable terminal is small, information such as the program installation date, the program execution date (omitted in FIG. 6), the number of times of execution (omitted in FIG. 6), etc. stored in the program list 40 is used. Before installing a new program, the oldest registered program is deleted from the storage area of the portable terminal and the program list is updated. Alternatively, a program that has not been used for a certain period (for example, two years) may be deleted and the program list may be updated.

  Thus, by registering / updating / deleting a record in the program list in order to delete / update the diagnostic program, the storage area of the portable terminal can be used efficiently.

  The blinking signal of the LED in the device to be diagnosed includes a device number, an error code, inspection result data, and the like. In general, the data format of the blinking signal is different for each device or vendor. The communication protocol of the blinking signal is the same. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a different program for each device as the diagnostic program for obtaining the inspection result by the blinking signal.

  Furthermore, even if the devices are from the same vendor, the diagnostic programs often differ depending on the device type and version.

  Since the diagnostic program is switched based on the program list, it is possible to select a diagnostic program that is useful for fault diagnosis of a specific device.

  The processing procedure will be described below using the flowchart of FIG.

  The user receives an input of a device number for specifying the device A by reading a barcode or manually (S302).

  The search program 30 selects the diagnostic program for the device A by searching the program list, and starts the diagnostic program corresponding to the selected device A (S304).

  The user visually confirms the blinking of the LED of the device A. If confirmed, the camera of the mobile terminal is operated to capture the blinking signal (S308).

  The demodulation program A (54) demodulates the captured blinking signal to create demodulated data (S310).

  The demodulation program A (54) decodes the device number from the demodulated data (S312). It is confirmed whether or not the decrypted device number matches the content stored in the device number 38 input in S302 (S314).

  If they do not match, the user is prompted to input again from the input of the device number because the LED of the device different from the device number has been photographed or an incorrect device number has been input.

  If they match, an error code indicating the occurrence of a failure, the execution result of the inspection program (the result of determining whether it is abnormal or normal. If there is an abnormality, the details are displayed. Details are information such as the failure location and operating time. (S316).

  If the user determines that a supplementary test is necessary based on the execution result of the inspection program (318), the user performs an additional test (S320).

  As an example of the additional test, for example, there is a test for monitoring a factor causing a serious accident such as an abnormal sound of a fan, an abnormal temperature of a room, or the like due to a hardware failure.

  The additional test is a test included in the downloaded program in order to supplement the device inspection program and requires confirmation work by the user. For this purpose, the test results are visualized and the user interactively fills in the questionnaire according to the manual.

  Based on the above inspection results and additional test results, a diagnosis result of the corresponding device is created and displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal (S322).

  FIG. 7 shows a screen example of the diagnosis result displayed on the mobile terminal. In the figure, the diagnosis result is displayed superimposed on the lighting position of the light emitting diode. Here, the lighting of the LED and the device number can be superimposed because the device number and the diagnostic table are associated with each other. The user can grasp the device and the content of the failure.

  The search program according to the first embodiment includes means for reading a barcode posted at a place where the corresponding device can be photographed. However, when a plurality of devices are arranged adjacent to each other, a plurality of barcodes and LEDs of the plurality of devices may be taken from the camera of the mobile terminal. In this case, it is conceivable that an erroneous bar code is read, and therefore an erroneous blinking of the LED is captured.

  If the barcode is not affixed to the target device and is described in the instruction manual or operation manual, the user needs to read the barcode after confirming that the barcode is compatible with the device. Attaching a barcode depends largely on the facility's operational mode. In addition to printed documents, barcodes may be attached as labels to facility equipment such as walls and pipes. For example, a user reads a label with a portable terminal. From the read position, the user visually checks the corresponding device. For example, the equipment is installed in an area where access is restricted such as closed, high place, dark place, high voltage, etc., and there may be many facilities that the user cannot access even during inspection.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the case (1) and the case (2) where the combination of bar code and device shooting is appropriate.

  In FIG. 4 (1), the user captures the blinking signal (92) of the device A (10) after capturing the barcode A (18) (a) (b).

  In this case, since the diagnostic program A 50 of the activated portable terminal is a diagnostic program corresponding to the device A (10), the device number and the inspection result of the device A can be decoded from the blink signal (92).

  In FIG. 4 (2), the user captures the blink signal (94) of the device B (20) after the barcode A (18) is captured (a) (b).

  In this case, since the diagnostic program A 50 of the activated mobile terminal is a diagnostic program corresponding to the device A (10), the device number and inspection result of the device B cannot be decoded from the blinking signal (94).

  Therefore, the user re-photographs the blinking signal (94) of the device B (20) after photographing the bar code B (28) instead of the bar code A (18) (c) (d).

  Thus, instead of the diagnostic program A 50, the diagnostic program B 60 corresponding to the device B that has been searched and started based on the information of the barcode B (28) is operating. It is possible to decrypt the device number and the inspection result.

  In this example, the case where the user who has selected the barcode A reselects the barcode B by his / her own judgment has been described.

  Next, an embodiment will be described in which the mobile terminal search program shows the barcode B instead of the barcode A as a candidate for re-selection based on the record at the time of past inspection using the barcode.

  For example, the previous inspection record is used as a basis for estimation.

  FIG. 8 shows a method of creating an inspection record with a mobile terminal during a patrol inspection. FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the inspection record 42. Hereinafter, the creation of the inspection record at the time of the cyclic inspection will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

  The user visits a plurality of locations in the facility according to the inspection manual. When a certain location is reached, the device barcode is read using the portable terminal (S802). The device number 902 of the device to be inspected can be decoded from the read barcode. The date / time 902 of the reading is combined with the device number 902 and recorded in the inspection record.

  The user confirms that there is no abnormality in the corresponding device from the location (for example, there is no blinking of the LED of the device to be inspected) (S804). If no abnormality is found, enter “No abnormality” in the result 906 of the inspection record. Separately, if an abnormality is found (when the LED is blinking), the process proceeds to failure diagnosis of the corresponding device. The user executes the downloaded diagnostic program.

  In accordance with the inspection manual, the user reads the barcode and repeats the inspection work as long as there is a device to be inspected at that location (S806). When there are no more devices to be inspected, the user moves to another location (S808), and repeats entry of the inspection record from reading the barcode at the destination. When there is no place for the user to move (S810), the patrol inspection is terminated.

  The inspection record 42 records the date and time (time stamp) when the barcodes of a plurality of devices are read in accordance with the cyclic inspection. However, the read date and time are not recorded at regular intervals. Over a period of time, the reading of a specific set of devices is concentrated. After that, there is a locality where reading of another set of devices is concentrated. One of the reasons for such locality is that, in the case of a patrol inspection in a facility, a period during which a set of devices are continuously read by bar code and visually inspected (for example, 5 minutes) In order to check this set, it is mentioned that it is shorter than the travel time of the user in the facility (for example, 30 minutes).

  The inspection record 42 is a record in which the bar code reading date and time in the past is recorded in time series. FIG. 9 shows an example in which device A, device B, device X, and device Y are subsequently inspected and their respective barcodes are read.

  By comparing the reading times, it can be estimated that the two devices A and B are the same set, the device X and the device Y are the same set, and only the other set.

  For example, compare the barcode reading date and time of device A and device B. In the figure, the difference between the reading date / time of device B and the reading date / time of device A is 2 minutes. In this facility, if the difference in reading date and time is 5 minutes or less, it can be estimated that A and B are the same set 903 if it can be assumed that they are the same inspection place. On the other hand, the difference between the reading date / time of device X and the reading date / time of device A is one hour. Within this facility, if the difference is 5 minutes or less, X can be estimated to belong to another set 905 if it can be assumed that it is the same inspection place.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a procedure in which the search program 30 estimates and searches for a diagnostic program B 60 instead of the diagnostic program A 50 by referring to the program list 40 and the inspection record 42 without waiting for the user's operation (c). To do.

  The search program 30 searches for the first diagnostic program A 50 (S502).

  The search program 30 measures the time after the first diagnostic program A 50 is activated. It is detected that a diagnostic table as a diagnostic result is not created within a set time (for example, 1 minute) (S504), or a problem that the imaging data cannot be demodulated due to an error code at the time of executing the diagnostic program is detected.

  One reason for not being able to demodulate is that the barcode of the read device may be different from the barcode of the blinking device.

  With reference to the inspection record 42 of the same portable terminal, based on the time stamps of the devices A and B, it is estimated that they were included in the same set (903 in the example of FIG. 9) in the cyclic inspection. When the set is the same, the place visually confirmed is the same position, and therefore, there is a high possibility that the substitute for the device A is the device B.

  Therefore, the search program 30 estimates that the user may have read the barcode A instead of the barcode B, and refers to the program list 40 (S506).

  The search program 30 searches for the second diagnostic program B 60 (S508).

  The search program 30 switches from the first diagnostic program A 50 to the second diagnostic program 60 when there is no new barcode input.

  The above embodiment is an example of switching between the device A, the device B, and the two devices. The same applies when there are three or more devices in one set. For example, a device with a threshold (5 minutes) from the time stamp of the device A may be sequentially switched from the device with the closest time stamp.

  In the above description, an example has been described in which an inspection record is created based on reading with a barcode in a patrol inspection. However, the inspection record including the case where the blinking of the LED is actually photographed (this may be distinguished from the diagnosis history as compared to the inspection record for checking the presence / absence of blinking, which is an inspection record including failure diagnosis of the device) It goes without saying that you may create.

  In the above description, the inspection record 42 has been described as being stored in the memory of the mobile terminal. However, the inspection records 42 of a plurality of portable terminals may be merged and stored in a database in any server device in the maintenance network 80 for centralized management. In that case, the threshold (5 minutes) may not be set. This is because the threshold value can be estimated by using a statistical process called cluster analysis. For this reason, it is possible to automate the process of collecting devices with similar reading times and the process of classifying the devices in the facility into several groups.

2 mobile terminals, 10, 20 devices, 12, 22 inspection programs, 16, 26 light emitting diodes, 18, 28 barcodes, 32, 54, 62 cameras, 30 search programs, 38 device numbers, 40 program lists, 42 inspection records, 50, 60, 84, 88 diagnostic programs

Claims (8)

A barcode that records device information for identifying a device to be diagnosed and a camera that captures blinking of the LED of the device;
A search unit that identifies the device based on the device information of the read barcode and obtains a diagnostic program necessary for diagnosing the device from a program list in which the device information and the diagnostic program are associated,
A diagnostic unit that outputs a diagnostic result of the device from blinking of the captured LED using the diagnostic program obtained by the search unit ;
The device diagnosis apparatus , wherein the search unit outputs a display prompting the user to read the barcode again when the device information of the photographed barcode does not match the device information obtained from the blinking of the photographed LED . The apparatus diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The device diagnostic apparatus is connected to a server apparatus that holds a diagnostic program via a communication line,
When the search unit cannot obtain a diagnostic program corresponding to the device from the program list, the device transmits a diagnostic program sending request together with device information of the device to a server device using a communication line. Diagnostic device. The apparatus diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 ,
It has an input unit that accepts input of device information instead of reading barcodes ,
If the device information input via the input unit and the device information obtained from the blinking of the captured LED do not match, the search unit outputs a display prompting the user to input the device information again. A device diagnostic apparatus characterized by that . The apparatus diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The search unit stores inspection records information is captured barcode in the past equipment and time information, if the device information obtained from flashing barcode or we obtained device information and LED does not match, the A device diagnostic apparatus that selects a candidate for correct device information based on inspection record information and obtains a diagnostic program corresponding to the correct device information. Shooting with a camera the barcode that describes the device information that identifies the device to be diagnosed and the blinking LED of the device,
Identifying the device based on the device information of the barcode read by the search unit, obtaining a diagnostic program necessary for diagnosing the device from a program list in which the device information and the diagnostic program are associated,
The diagnostic unit outputs the diagnostic result of the device from the blinking of the captured LED using the diagnostic program obtained by the search unit ,
The search unit outputs a display for prompting barcode reading again when the device information of the photographed barcode does not match the device information obtained from the blinking of the photographed LED. . In the apparatus diagnostic method of Claim 5 ,
When the search unit cannot obtain a diagnostic program corresponding to the device from the program list, the device transmits a diagnostic program sending request together with device information of the device to a server device using a communication line. Diagnosis method. In the apparatus diagnostic method of Claim 5 ,
Accepting input of information identifying the device from an input unit that accepts input of device information instead of reading a barcode ,
If the device information input via the input unit and the device information obtained from the blinking of the captured LED do not match, the search unit outputs a display prompting the user to input the device information again. device diagnostic wherein the. In the apparatus diagnostic method of Claim 5 ,
The search unit stores the diagnostic history information is taken blinking LED in the past equipment and time information, if the device information obtained from flashing barcode or we obtained device information and LED does not match, A device diagnosis method comprising: selecting a correct device information candidate based on the diagnosis history information and obtaining a diagnosis program corresponding to the correct device information.

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