JPH0364243A - Copy data control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely send the copy data to an integrated controller from a terminal equipment by connecting a transmission means to a telephone circuit after a prescribed waiting time if a telephone is busy when the prescribed conditions are satisfied for transmission of data. CONSTITUTION:A control system is provided with a terminal equipment which transmits the data on the information on the number of copy sheets and the maintenance request of a copying machine, etc., to an integrated controller via a telephone circuit 4. An on-line controller 30 usually connects a telephone 40 to the circuit 4 and performs a circuit connection process when a call is received from a center controller 50 or a call is sent from the controller 30 at the communication of data carried out to the controller 50. If the telephone 40 is busy when the data are sent to the controller 50, the using condition of the telephone 40 is confirmed after five minutes. Then the data are sent to the controller 50 when the telephone 40 is not busy. Thus the copy data can be surely sent to the integrated controller from the terminal equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a copy data management system for centrally managing a plurality of copying machines.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in order to centrally manage a large number of copying machines located in various locations in large-scale offices, etc., telephone lines such as extension lines have been used to check the number of copies made by each copying machine, the number of users, etc. A copy data management system has been put into practical use that monitors copy data and totals the number of copies for each department, for example.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the polling type copy data management system as described above, it is not possible to call the central management device from the terminal device. It was impossible to do so. Additionally, when the telephone line is shared with a telephone, there is a problem in that the terminal device and the central control device cannot be connected via the telephone line while the telephone is in use. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized control system that can be used from the terminal device side of each copying machine reliably after use, even when the telephone device is in use, when the telephone line to which the terminal device is connected is shared with a telephone device. Copy data management that can call the number of copies and send information other than the user, such as the occurrence of a malfunction that requires repair or the arrival of maintenance time based on the usage time and usage of the copier, etc. The goal is to provide a system.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The first invention of the present application is a method for centrally managing data such as the number of copies in a copying machine, operation records of users, or information regarding maintenance requests for managing the copying machine. In a copy data management system, the apparatus includes a terminal device for transmitting data via a telephone line, the terminal device comprising a transmitting means provided in the copying machine and transmitting the data, a telephone set, and the telephone set and the transmitting means. a line connecting means for connecting one of the above to the telephone line; and a line connecting means for connecting the telephone to the telephone line at all times, and connecting the transmitting means to the telephone line when a predetermined condition for data transmission is satisfied. In addition to transmitting the data, if the telephone is in use when the above conditions are met, the transmitting means is connected to the telephone line after waiting for a predetermined time;
The apparatus is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the line connection means and the transmission means so as to transmit the data.

A second invention of the present application provides the above-mentioned copy data management system comprising a terminal device that transmits data related to maintenance requests in the copying machine to a central management device for managing the above-mentioned copying machine via a telephone line. The terminal device includes a transmitting means provided in the copying machine and transmitting the data, and when the state of the copying machine satisfies a predetermined condition, connects the telephone line to the transmitting means and transmits the data to the central management device. If the telephone line is in use when the predetermined condition is met, the usage status of the telephone line is monitored, and when the telephone line is no longer in use, the transmission means is transmitted to The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the transmitting means to connect to a telephone line and transmit the data.

A third invention of the present application is provided with a terminal device that transmits data regarding the number of copies in a copying machine, operation record data of users, etc., and maintenance requests to a central control device that collects the above data via a telephone line. In the copy data management system, the terminal device includes a transmitting means provided in the copier for transmitting the data, a telephone, a scheduled transmission mode for transmitting the operation record data at a predetermined time, and the copier. has a priority transmission mode that transmits data related to the maintenance request when the state of If the telephone is not in use, the telephone waits for a predetermined period of time, and if the telephone is not used after that, the telephone is disconnected from the telephone line and the transmitting means is connected to the telephone line. The transmitting means is controlled to transmit the data, and when the telephone is used in the priority transmission mode, the usage status of the telephone is monitored, and when the telephone is no longer in use, the telephone The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the transmitting means so as to disconnect the transmitting means from the telephone line, connect the transmitting means to the telephone line, and transmit the data.

[Operation 1] By being configured as in the first invention, the control means always connects the telephone to the telephone line, and when a predetermined condition for data transmission is satisfied, the control means connects the telephone to the telephone. Connect to the telephone line and transmit the above data, and if the telephone is in use when the above conditions are met, connect the transmitting means to the telephone line after waiting for a predetermined time, and transmit the data. The line connecting means and the transmitting means are controlled so as to transmit.

By configuring as in the second invention, the control means connects the telephone line to the transmission means when the state of the copying machine meets a predetermined condition, and transmits the data to the central management device. If the telephone line is in use when the predetermined condition is met, the usage status of the telephone line is monitored, and when the telephone line is no longer in use, the transmission means is transmitted to the telephone line. The transmitting means is controlled to connect to the line and transmit the data.

By configuring as in the third invention, the control means can operate in a fixed transmission mode in which the operation record data is transmitted at a predetermined time, and in a fixed transmission mode when the state of the copying machine falls under a predetermined condition. It has a priority transmission mode for transmitting data regarding the maintenance request. The control means always connects the telephone to the telephone line, waits for a predetermined time when the telephone is in use at the time in the scheduled transmission mode, and then waits for a predetermined period of time before the telephone is used. If not, the transmitting means is controlled to disconnect the telephone from the telephone line, connect the transmitting means to the telephone line, and transmit the data. Furthermore, when the telephone is used in the priority transmission mode, the control means monitors the usage status of the telephone and releases the connection between the telephone and the telephone line when the telephone is no longer in use. and controls the transmitting means to connect the transmitting means to the telephone line and transmit the data.

[Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, a copy data management system which is an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in the following sections with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration of the copy data management system (2) Communication procedure in the copy data pipe P'l stem (3) Seven-way communication data in the copy data management system (4) Processing of the online controller (5) Processing of the copy data controller (6) Processing of center control device (1) Configuration of copy data management system FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a copy data management system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, this copy data management system records the number of copies, the number of jams,
Each system 1.2 consists of a terminal system 1 that counts copy data such as the number of troubles and the number of trouble occurrences, and a center system 2 that aggregates copy data related to each copying machine 10. They are connected by telephone lines 4a, 4b, and 4c via a switchboard 3 installed by the company, and transmit and receive the above-mentioned copy data.

The terminal system 1 includes a copy 110, copy data controllers 20a to 20d (hereinafter collectively referred to as 20), and online controllers 30a and 30b.
(hereinafter collectively referred to as 30), and a telephone 40.
a, 40b (hereinafter collectively referred to as 40).

The copy data controller 20 is connected to each copying machine LO in an 1:i ratio, and counts the copy data of the connected copying machine LO, turns on/off the power of the copying machine LO, and determines whether copying is in progress or not. The controller 20 detects the operating state of the copying machine 10, and controls the copying machine to permit or prohibit copying according to the type of magnetic card inserted into the controller 20 and the control processing state described later. conduct.

Note that each copy data controller 20 has a unique serial number.

The online controller 30 includes one or more copy data controllers 20 and one telephone *40a, 4
0b (hereinafter collectively referred to as 40), and when in telephone mode, the telephone 40 is connected to telephone lines 4a and 4b.
At the same time, in the communication mode, the copy data controller 20 and the center control device 50 are connected to each other to control communication between the respective devices 20 and 50. Note that the online controller 40 has a maximum of 10
The 10 copy data controllers 20 are connected, and the names of the 10 channels for connecting each controller 20 are hereinafter referred to as channels 1 to 10.

The center system 2 includes a center control device 50, a personal computer 60, and a CRT display device 7.
0.

The center control device 50 is connected to the exchange 3 via the telephone line 4C, and after receiving the copy data transmitted from the terminal system 1 and storing the copy data, the center control device 50 stores the copy data at a preset deadline time. Perform aggregation. The personal computer 60 is connected to the center control device 50 and controls the operation of the center control device 50, and also displays the aggregated copy data output from the device 50 on a CRT display device! 170.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the copy data controller 20.

In FIG. 2, the copy data controller 20 includes a microcomputer 21 that controls the operation of the controller 20. As shown in FIG. The microcomputer 21 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 101 that controls the operation of the microcomputer 21, and a CPUl0I.
A one-way memory (hereinafter referred to as
It's called ROM. ) 102, a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 103 which stores flags for controlling the CPUl0I and the above copy data and is used as a working area of the CPUl0I, and a parallel/serial converter for data communication with external devices. and serial input/output port circuits 104 and 105 that perform processing such as serial/parallel conversion, and each device 101 to 103 and each circuit 104 to 105 are connected via an internal bus B1.

A copying machine IO is connected to the serial input/output boat circuit 104 for transmitting and receiving the copy data and controlling the operation of the copying machine 10, and a display buffer memory 24 is connected to the serial input/output boat circuit 104 for displaying predetermined data to be described later. via L
An ED display 25 is connected. The serial input/output boat circuit 104 also includes an insertion sensor (not shown) for detecting insertion of a magnetic card, and an insertion sensor (not shown) for reading data stored in the magnetic card and for writing data to the magnetic card. A card data input/output device 22 equipped with a magnetic head (not shown) is connected, and a transport motor 23 for inserting and ejecting the magnetic card into the device 22 is also connected.

Further, an online controller 30 is connected to the serial input/output port circuit 105 via an interface circuit 26 in order to transmit and receive data.

Copy data controller 20 configured as above
has the following three modes of operation:

(a) Setting mode: Setting the current time, setting the call time,
This is a mode for setting a telephone number for scheduled calls and a telephone number for alarm calls.

(b) Communication mode: This is a mode in which data is transmitted and received with the center control device 50 via the online controller 30.

(c) Processing mode 2 This is an operation mode other than the above-mentioned setting mode and communication mode, and is a mode for performing internal processing of the copy data controller 20.

Furthermore, the following two types of magnetic cards are provided.

(a) Total card: This is a card for displaying the copy data stored in the copy data controller 20.

(b) Department card: In order to tally the number of copies for each department in the user's organization, a different code for each department (hereinafter referred to as department code) is stored in the department card, and the department card is used as the card data input. When inserted into the output device 22, the copying operation of the copier 10 is permitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the online controller 30.

In FIG. 3, the online controller 30 includes a microcomputer 31 that controls the operation of the controller 30. In FIG. The microcomputer 31 includes a CPU 201 that controls the operation of the microcomputer 31, and a ROM 202 that stores a control program for the CPU 201 and data necessary to execute the control program.
A RAM 203 is used as a working area for the CPU 201 to store data such as a flag indicating that the CPU 201 is not controlled and a preset transmission time, a real-time clock 204 is used to measure the current time, and a parallel RAM 204 is used for data communication with external devices. / The line connection state between the serial input/output port circuit 205 that performs processing such as serial conversion and serial/parallel conversion, the maintenance switch 206 that performs various settings during maintenance, and the center control device 150, and the line connection state during the above maintenance. It is provided with a monitor LED 207 for displaying the setting status, and each device and circuit 201 to 207 are connected via an internal bus B2.

Each copy data controller 20 is connected to the serial input/output port circuit 205 via an interface circuit 34 and a multiplexer 35 in order to transmit and receive data to and from each copy data controller 20. In addition,
When the number of copy data controllers 20 connected to the online controller 30 is i, the multiplexer 35 is not provided and the interface circuit 34 is directly connected to the copy data controller 20. The serial input/output port circuit 205 also includes a center control device 50.
In order to communicate data with
Hereinafter referred to as NCU. ) built-in modem (hereinafter referred to as
It's called a modem. )33 is connected.

A telephone 40 is connected to this modem 33, and the exchange 3 is also connected via a telephone line. modem 33
Normally, the telephone 40 is connected to a telephone line so that telephone calls can be made using the telephone 40, in accordance with control commands from the microcomputer 31. On the other hand, when the telephone 40 is in a communication mode for data communication with the center control device 50, the center control device 50 When a call is received from the online controller 30 or when a call is made from the online controller 30, the line connection is processed and the microcomputer 31
It modulates data input from the center using a predetermined modulation method and transmits the modulated data to the center control device 50 via the telephone line and exchange 3, and demodulates data received from the center control device 50 and outputs the demodulated data to the microcomputer 31. .

Note that when this communication mode ends, the line connection with the telephone line is canceled and the telephone line is connected to the telephone set 40.

Like the copy data controller 20, the online controller 30 configured as described above has three operating modes: a setting mode, a communication mode, and a processing mode. Note that in the communication mode, the online controller 30 has the following two transmission modes.

(a) Scheduled transmission mode: data is sent to the center control device 15
0, when the telephone 40 is in use, the usage status of the telephone 40 is checked after waiting for 5 minutes, and if the telephone 40 is not in use at this time, the data is transmitted to the center control device 50. It is.

(b) Alarm transmission mode: When the telephone 40 is in use when attempting to transmit data to the center control device 50, a mode in which the data is transmitted to the center control device 50 as soon as the telephone 40 becomes unused. be.

FIG. 4(A) is a front view of the maintenance switch 206 and monitor LED 207 in the online controller 30.

As shown in FIG. 4(A), on the right side of the panel, 10
(It's monitor LEDL, l to LIO are arranged, while on the left side of the panel, two monitor LEDL l to LIO are arranged.
1 and L12 and two switches ADJ and SEL are arranged. The monitor LEDs Ll to LIO display the line connection state with the center control device 50, and also represent the item and digit selected in the setting mode. In addition, the monitor LEDs Lll and L12 display the mode status in the setting mode, and the microcomputer 31
Displays error status during self-test. The setting switch ADJ is a switch for setting the items and numerical values selected by the selection switch SEL, and for starting execution of the self-test. The selection switch SEL has values from 0" to '9N and A" to F"
This switch is used to select from six types of self-tests.

FIG. 4(B) is a diagram showing how to operate the maintenance switch 206 and the display on the monitor LED 207.

As shown in Fig. 4 (B), by setting the selection switch SEL to an arbitrary value and pressing the setting switch ADJ, the 10th digit of the date or the first digit of the telephone number can be set. By setting the selection switch SEL to an arbitrary value and pressing the setting switch ADJ, the first year of the date or the second digit of the telephone number can be set, and the same applies hereafter. In addition, in the column of the operation method in FIG. 4(B), an example is shown in which 14:28 on March 14, 1989 is input.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the center control device 50.

In FIG. 5, the center control device 50 is the device 50.
A microcomputer 51 is provided to control the operation of the microcomputer 51.

The microcomputer 5I includes a CPU 301 that controls the operation of the microcomputer 51;
A ROM 302 that stores a control program and data necessary to execute the control program, and a CPU 30
CPU 30 stores flags and data for control of
A RAM 303 used as a working area of 1, a real-time clock 304 that measures the current time,
A serial input/output port circuit 305 performs processing such as parallel/serial conversion and serial/parallel conversion for data communication with an external device, and a bubble memory for storing the copy data received from the copy data controller 20. and an interface circuit 306 for connecting to a file device 61,
304 and circuits 305 and 306 are connected via an internal bus B3.

A modem 52 with a built-in NCU is connected to the serial input/output port circuit 305 in order to communicate data with the online controller 30. The modem 52 performs line connection processing when the online controller 30 makes a call, and similarly to the modem 33, modulates data output from the microcomputer 51 of the center control device 50 using a predetermined modulation method to connect the telephone line and It is transmitted to the online controller 30 via the exchange 3. At the same time, the data received from the online controller 30 is demodulated and output to the microcomputer 51, and the line connection with the telephone line is released when the communication ends. Further, a personal computer 60 is connected to the serial input/output port circuit 305 via an R5-232C interface circuit 53 in order to communicate data with the personal computer 60.

(2) Communication procedure in the copy data management system An example of the communication procedure during normal processing in the copy data management system configured above is shown in FIGS.
This will be explained below with reference to the communication sequence diagram of C). Here, it is assumed that ten copy data controllers 20 are connected to the online controller 30.

In step S2 of FIG. 6(A), the online controller 30 periodically performs connection confirmation processing for each copy data controller 20 connected. That is, first, the online controller 30
A processing mode request signal is transmitted to the copy data controller 20 of the copy data controller 20 .

In response, the copy data controller 20 of channel l sends a processing mode answer signal to the online controller 3 indicating that it has received the processing mode request signal.
Send to 0. Then, the online controller 30 similarly controls the copy data controller 20 of channel 2.
A processing mode request signal is transmitted to the controller 20, and a processing mode answer signal is received from the controller 20. Further, the online controller 30 transmits a processing mode request signal to the copy data controller 20 of channel 3. At this time, if the processing mode answer signal is not received within 3 seconds after transmitting the request signal, the processing mode request signal is transmitted again and the processing mode request signal is waited for. If the above answer signal is not received within 3 seconds after transmitting the processing mode request signal three times in the same manner, it is determined that connection with the copy data controller 20 of channel 3 is impossible. , sends a cancel signal to the copy data controller 20 of channel 3.

Thereafter, in the same manner, connection confirmation processing with the copy data controller 20 from channel 4 to channel 1O is performed.

In step S2 of FIG. 6(B), the online controller 30 causes the modem 33 to perform a line connection process with the center control device 50 at a predetermined transmission start time. Next, in step S3, the center control device 50 transmits a time request signal to the online controller 30, and in response, the online controller 30 transmits time data to the center control device 50.

Next, in step S4, the center control device 50
transmits a mode confirmation signal to the online controller 30 in order to switch the operation mode of the copy data controller 20 of channel l to the communication mode. In response, the online controller 30 transmits a communication mode request signal to the copy data controller 20, and in response, the online controller 30 transmits a communication mode request signal to the copy data controller 20.
After setting its own operation mode to the communication mode, it transmits a communication mode answer signal to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30.

Next, in step S5, the center control device 50
is a serial number request signal requesting notification of the serial number of the copy data controller 20, and the online controller 301? - and transmits the serial number data to the copy data controller 20, and in response, the copy data controller 20 transmits the serial number data to the center control device 150 via the online controller 30.

Next, the copy data is transmitted and received between the center control device 50 and the copy data controller 20. Here, the center control device 50 transmits a predetermined data request signal, which will be described in detail later, to the copy data controller 20, and in response, the copy data controller 20 transmits the copy data corresponding to the received data request signal to the center. This is done in the form of transmission to the control device 50.

After all the copy data has been transmitted and received, in step S6, the center control device 50 sends a count clear request signal in order to clear all the contents of the counter that counts the copy data in the copy data controller 20. , to the copy data controller 20 via the online controller 30, and in response, the copy data controller 20 clears all the contents of the counter, and then sends a clear answer signal to the center control device via the online controller 30. Send to 50. Next, the center control device 50 transmits a line switching request signal to the online controller 30 in order to perform channel switching to the copy data controller 20 of the next channel, that is, the copy data controller 20 of channel 2. In response, the online controller 30 transmits a processing mode request signal to the copy data controller 20 of channel 1, and in response, the copy data controller 20 of channel 1 transmits a processing mode answer signal to the online controller 30. The data is transmitted to the center control device 50 via. At this time, the online controller 30 controls the multiplexer 35 to switch to the copy data controller 20 of channel 2.

Next, in step S7, the copy data controller 2 for channels 2 to 10 (excluding those for which the connection could not be confirmed) is processed in the same manner as above.
The process for transmitting and receiving the above copy data is performed for 0. Furthermore, the center control device 50 transmits a mode confirmation signal to the online controller 30, and similarly to the above, receives a communication mode answer signal, transmits a serial number request signal, and receives serial number data in order. If the serial number of the copy data controller 20 that has finished transmitting and receiving the copy data is received first, it is determined that the transmitting and receiving of all the copy data has been completed, and in step S8, the serial number of the copy data controller 20 (this In this case, a line release request signal is sent to the online controller 30 in order to switch the operation mode of channel l) to the processing mode. In response, the online controller 30 transmits a processing mode request signal to the copy data controller 20 of channel l, and in response, the copy data controller 20
Processing mode answer signal to online controller 30
The data is transmitted to the center control device 50 via. With the above operations, a series of copy data transmission/reception processing is completed, and the center control device 50 causes the modem 52 to cancel the line connection.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are communication sequence diagrams showing an example of communication procedures during abnormality processing in the copy data management system.

As shown in FIG. 7, when a communication mode request signal is sent from the online controller 30 to the copy data controller 20 of channel l, a communication mode answer signal is received within 3 seconds after sending the request signal. If not, it transmits the communication mode request signal again and waits for the answer signal. After transmitting the communication mode request signal three times in the same manner, if the above answer signal is not received within 3 seconds, it is determined that connection with the copy data controller 20 of channel I is impossible. Then, a cancel signal is transmitted to the copy data controller 20 of channel 1, and a negative response signal is transmitted to the center control device 50.

Next, the center control device 50 transmits a line switching request signal to the online controller 30 in order to switch to the copy data controller 20 of the next channel.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, all the copy data controllers 20 from channel 1 to channel 10
If connection is not possible, a line release request signal is sent to the online controller 30, and in response, the online controller 30 sends a line release answer signal to the center control device 50. In response to receiving the line release answer signal, the center control device 50 sends the modem 52
to disconnect the line.

(3) Format of communication data in the copy data management system FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the format of communication data in the copy data management system. (e) is data transmitted from the online controller 30 to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30. Note that a reception command indicating the content of each data is placed at the beginning of each data.

FIG. 9(a) shows the format of the total number of copies data, which is composed of a received command, the serial number of the copy data controller 20, and data on the total number of copies.

FIG. 9(b) shows the format of data on the number of jam occurrences by location (meaning within a predetermined range set in advance in multiple locations in the copier 10), and the data is composed of the received command and each location. It consists of multiple blocks consisting of a code and the number of jam occurrences at that location.

(C) in FIG. 9 shows a 7-order format of data on the number of trouble occurrences by location, and the data includes the reception code,
It is composed of multiple blocks, each consisting of a location code and the number of trouble occurrences at that location.

FIG. 9(d) shows the format of the data on the number of copies by department and size, and the data consists of a received command, a department code, and the number of copies for each of the five sizes of the department. Consists of blocks.

(e) in FIG. 9 shows the format of time data, which consists of a received command, two digits each,
It consists of the following data: year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.

(4) Processing of the online controller 30 Fig. 1O (A
) and FIG. 10(B) show the online controller 30.
2 is a flowchart showing the main routine of FIG.

In FIG. 1O (A), the online controller 30
When the power is turned on and the program starts, first, in step 5100, initial settings of each circuit in the online controller 30 are performed, and then, in step 5LOL, it is determined whether the setting mode is selected. .

Here, the setting mode refers to setting the time of the real-time clock 204, setting the call time to the center control device 50, and telephone calls in the scheduled call mode and alarm call mode when making a call to the center control device 50, as described above. This is a mode for setting the number, and at the time of initial setting, the adjustment switch A of the maintenance switch 206 is
When the DJ or setting switch SET is pressed, the setting mode is selected and the process advances to step 5102.

After transmitting a setting mode request signal to the copy data controller 20 in step 5102, the setting mode flag is checked in step 5103.

This setting mode flag becomes "1H" when a setting mode answer signal is received from the copy data controller 20 in the communication interrupt processing described later. If the setting mode flag is "0H", a time-over check is performed in step 5109. conduct. Here, after transmitting the setting mode request signal, the copy data controller 20
for a predetermined time (in this example, it is 3 seconds).
If the setting mode answer signal is not received within this time, the time has expired and the setting mode request signal is sent to the copy data controller 20 again in step 5102. Until the time is over, the program flow loops between steps 5103 and 5109 and waits for the answer signal from the copy data controller 20. When the setting mode flag becomes “1” (Yes in step 5103), step 510
After resetting the setting mode flag in step 4, t:
In steps 5105 to 5IO8, current time setting processing, call time setting processing, fixed call telephone number setting processing, and alarm call telephone number setting processing are performed, respectively, and the process proceeds to step 511O. Note that each subroutine of steps 105 to 5108 will be described in detail later. The same applies to the following subroutines.

When the process of the above setting mode is completed or step 5i
If the setting mode is not selected in oi, copy data controller connection confirmation processing, modem connection confirmation processing, and time confirmation processing are performed in steps 5110 to 5112, respectively, and the process advances to step 5113.

In step 5113 and Sl 15, the scheduled transmission flag and alarm transmission flag are checked. Here, the scheduled transmission flag becomes "1" when the current time matches the transmission time in the time confirmation process of step 5l12, and on the other hand, the alarm transmission flag is set to "1" when the alarm transmission request signal is sent from the copy data controller 20 in the communication interrupt processing to be described later. When the on-time transmission flag and the alarm transmission flag are both "o", step 5i
Return to lo. On the other hand, if the 7 lag of either the on-time transmission flag or the alarm transmission flag is 1'', step 51
After resetting the flag in Step 10 or Sl 16, the process proceeds to Step 5117, where incoming call processing is performed to establish a line connection with the center control device 50, and Step 5l1
Proceed to step 8.

In step 5118, the incoming call 7 lag is checked. This incoming call flag indicates whether or not a line connection was established with the center control device 50 in the above incoming call process. If the flag is "OH2", it means that the line connection could not be established, and the process returns to step 5110.

On the other hand, when the incoming call flag is #l11, the line is connected to the center control device 50, so after resetting the incoming call flag in step 5119, step 5120 is performed.
Proceed to.

In step 5120, the count value n of the channel counter is set to 'l'', and the process proceeds to step 5121. This channel counter is a counter for sequentially switching a plurality of copy data controllers 20 to perform data communication with the center control device 50. Yes, the count value n of the counter
indicates the channel number of the copy data controller 20.

Next, in steps 5I21, 5124, and 5127, the mode request flag, switching request flag,
and check the release request flag. These flags are set by the center control device 50 in communication interrupt processing, respectively.
When a mode confirmation signal, a line switching request signal, and a line release request signal are received, the corresponding flag becomes 1".Here, when the mode request flag is )l III,
After resetting the mode request flag in step 5122 and performing copy data controller connection processing in step 5123, the process returns to step 5121. Also,
When the switching request flag is IH, step 5125
In step 5, reset the relevant switching request 7 lag.
After performing copy data controller disconnection processing in step 126, the process returns to step 5121. Further, when the release request flag is "l", the release request flag is reset in step 5128, and step 5129 is performed.
After performing the copy data controller disconnection process in step 5130, a line release answer signal is sent to the center control unit 50, and in step 5131
Disconnect the line connected in step 5II.
Return to O.

Note that in steps 5121, 5124, and 5127, if any of the 7 lags is "ON," the process directly returns to step 5121.

The above is the main routine processing of the online controller 30, and the processing of each subroutine within the main routine will be explained below.

Figure 11 shows the copy data controller connection confirmation process (
10 is a flowchart showing step S l l O) of FIG. 1O(A); FIG.

In step 5150 of FIG. 11, it is first checked whether the multiplexer 35 is connected in the online controller 30, and if it is connected (Yes in step 5150), the count value of the channel counter is checked in step 5151. After setting n to nl",
Proceed to step 5152. In step 5152,
Switching is made to connect the copy data controller 20 of channel n, and in step 5153, a processing mode request signal is transmitted to the selected copy data controller 2o.

Next, in step 5154, a processing mode answer signal is received from the copy data controller 20, and it is checked whether the processing mode flag is set to "1". The processing mode flag becomes 1' when the answer signal is received in the communication interrupt processing, similar to the above-mentioned 7 lag. While the processing mode flag is #011, the program 70- loops from steps 5157 to 5154, and when 3 seconds or more have elapsed since the processing mode request signal was transmitted, the program 70- loops from step 5157 to step 5154.
If the time has expired in step 57, it is checked in step 5158 whether or not the processing mode request signal has been retransmitted a predetermined number of times (twice in this embodiment) (hereinafter referred to as retry). This assumes that the copy data controller 20 cannot normally receive the transmitted processing mode request signal for some reason and cannot transmit the processing mode answer signal. If the above retry has not reached the predetermined number of times, step 51
The process returns to step 53 and repeats again from the process of transmitting the process mode request signal. On the other hand, if the processing mode answer signal cannot be received from the copy data controller 20 even after the predetermined number of attempts, the copy data controller 20
0 is not connected, and step 5159
After transmitting a cancel signal to the copy data controller 20 in step 3160, the connection flag of channel n indicating the connection state of the copy data controller 20 of channel n is reset, and step 5
Proceed to 161. On the other hand, if the processing mode flag is 'l'' in step 5160, step 5155
After resetting the processing mode flag in step 5156 and setting the connection flag of channel n to "l", the process proceeds to step 5161.

Next, in step 5161, l is added to the count value n of the channel counter, and if the count value n is "11" in step 5162, the connection confirmation for the copy data controller 20 of all channels is finished. , so return to the main routine. On the other hand, when the count value n is "10" or less,
The processing from step 5152 is similarly repeated for the copy data controller 2o of the next channel.

When the multiplexer 35 is not connected in step 5150, in steps 5163 to 5170, connection confirmation processing similar to the processing in steps 5153 to 5160 described above is performed for one copy data controller 2°. After that, return to the main routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the modem connection confirmation process (step 5ill in FIG. 10(A)).

At step 5180 in FIG. 12, it is first checked whether or not the modem 33 is connected to the online controller 30. If it is not connected, the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the modem 33 is connected, it is checked in step 5181 whether or not the modem 33 has been initialized. If it has not been initialized, the modem 33 is initialized in step 5182. After doing so, return to the main routine. Also, in step 5181, the modem 3
When the initialization processing in step 3 has been completed, the process returns to the main routine.

Figure 13 shows the time confirmation process (step 5 in Figure 10 (A)).
112).

In step 5200 of FIG. 13, first, the current time is read from the real-time clock 204, and then in step 5201 it is determined whether one minute has passed since the previously read time, that is, whether the "minute" data has changed. Check. This is a process for checking the transmission time only once per minute. In step 5201, if one minute has not elapsed since the previous output time, the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if one minute has elapsed, the transmission time is confirmed in step 3202 and thereafter.

First, in step 5202, a preset call time is read using the maintenance switch 206, and the read call time is compared with the current time read in step S200. The data to be compared is "day of the week", "hour", "minute", and step S203. Step 520
5. Each of the data set above in steps 5207 and 5209 is
If the set data is "undefined", it is determined that the transmission condition is satisfied, no matter what the corresponding data at the current time being compared is. For example, if you set a predetermined value for the ``day of the week'' data and set the ``day of the week'' data to ``indeterminate'', the transmission condition will be satisfied only once a month, and the ``day of the week'' data will be set to ``indeterminate''.
If the "day of the week" data is set to "indeterminate" and a predetermined value is set to the "day of the week" data, the transmission condition is satisfied only once a week.If each preset data is not "indeterminate", step 5204 and 5206, respectively. .5208 and 5210, it is checked whether the current time matches the corresponding data, and if they do not match, the process returns to the main routine.On the other hand, if the preset time matches the current time, step In step 5211, the scheduled transmission flag is set to "1" in order to enter the scheduled transmission mode, and then the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 14 shows the power incoming process for establishing a line connection with the center control device t50 (step 5117 in FIG. 10 (A)).
It is a 70-chart showing.

In step 5220 of FIG. 14, first, modem 3
3 is initialized, and if it is not initialized, the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, when the modem 33 has been initialized, it is checked in step 5221 whether the copy data controller 20 is connected. That is, the connection flag is checked. When the multiplexer 35 is not connected, the connection flag of one copy data controller 20 is "On," and when the multiplexer 35 is connected, the connection flag of the copy data controller 20 of all channels is "On."nO''
If so, it is determined that the copy data controller 20 is not connected, and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, at least one copy data controller 20
If the telephone 40 is connected, it is checked in step S221 whether the telephone 40 connected to the modem 33 is in use. Here, whether or not the telephone set 40 is in use is determined by a predetermined signal transmitted from the modem 33.

(Left below) When the telephone 40 is in use, it is determined whether the call mode is the alarm call mode or the scheduled call mode by checking whether the alarm call flag is '1'' in step 5225. Here, when in the alarm transmission mode, in order to immediately transmit predetermined data when the telephone 40 becomes unused,
Returning to step 5222, the process waits until the telephone 40 becomes unused. On the other hand, in the case of the scheduled call mode, in step 5226, whether or not the telephone 40 is in use is checked again a predetermined number of times (in this embodiment, this is 10 times).

), and if the above re-check has been performed a predetermined number of times or more, the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, in step 5226, if the recheck has not reached the predetermined number of times, step 522
After waiting for 5 minutes at step 7, the process returns to step 5222 again. With this, call 1! ! If the telephone 40 is in use and is in an alarm transmission mode that requires urgent data communication, as soon as the telephone 40 is unused and the telephone line is free, the process proceeds to step 5223.
A call process is performed to make a call to the center control device 50. On the other hand, in the scheduled call mode, if the telephone fi 40 is not in use after waiting for 5 minutes, step 522
Proceed to step 3 to perform call processing.

After the call processing in step 5223, step 52
24, it is checked whether the incoming call 7 lag indicating whether or not the line is connected to the center control device 50 is "l", and if it is 1", the process returns to the main routine, and on the other hand, the flag is is O'', the process advances to step 8226 described above. This incoming call flag becomes nIN when the line is normally connected to the center control device 50 in a call origination process to be described later.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the call processing (step 5223 in FIG. 14).

In step 5240 of FIG. 15, first, it is checked whether the transmission mode is the scheduled transmission mode or the alarm transmission mode by checking the alarm transmission flag, and if it is the scheduled transmission mode, step 5
After having the dialer in the modem 33 dial the telephone number for scheduled outgoing calls in step 5241, the process proceeds to step 5243.
Proceed to.

On the other hand, if it is the alarm transmission mode in step 5240, then in step 5242 the dialer in the modem 33 dials the telephone number for alarm transmission, and then the process proceeds to step 5243.

In step 5243, after the above-mentioned dialing, a predetermined response signal is received from the center control device 50, and the modem 33 is caused to check whether or not the line connection with the center control device 50 has been normally established. Here, the center control device fiL
The program flow loops from step 5245 to step 5234 until the line is successfully connected to 50, that is, until the call arrives, and when a predetermined time has elapsed after the dialing, that is, when the time has passed (
(Yes in step 5245), step 5246
After disconnecting the telephone line,
In step 5247, the incoming call flag is reset,
Return to main routine. On the other hand, step 524
When the line is successfully connected to the center control device 150 in step 3 (Yes in step 5243),
After setting the arrival 7 lag to i'' in step 5244,
Return to main routine.

Figure 16 shows the copy data controller connection process (10th
12 is a flowchart showing step 5123) in FIG.

In FIG. 16, first, in step 5260,
It is checked whether multiplexer 35 is connected, and if it is connected, the process advances to step 5261. In step 5261, it is checked whether the connection flag of the copy data controller 20 of channel n is 11111. If the connection flag is 0'', the process proceeds to step 5270. On the other hand, in step 5261, the connection flag is H1′′, step 52
channel n to multiplexer 35 at 62
After switching to connect the copy data controller 20, a communication mode request signal is transmitted to the copy data controller 20 in step 5263, and the process proceeds to step 5264.

In step 5264, it is checked whether the communication mode flag indicating whether or not a communication mode answer signal has been received from the copy data controller 20 is "1", and if it is "l", the above answer signal is Since the communication mode flag has been received, the communication mode flag is reset in step 5265, and a communication mode answer signal indicating that the copy data controller 20 is connected is transmitted to the center control device 5° in step 8266, and the main routine returns to the main routine. Return.

On the other hand, in step 5264, communication mode 7 lag is set to O.
If n, the answer signal has not been received, so the process proceeds to step 5267, and a predetermined period of time (in this embodiment, 3 seconds) after the communication mode request signal is transmitted.

) has elapsed, that is, whether the time has expired. If the time has not exceeded, the program 70- proceeds to step 8264, and the program 70- continues from step 5264 to step 5267 until the communication mode flag becomes ln or the time has expired.
loop between.

When the time has expired in step 5267, it is checked in step 5268 whether or not the number of retransmissions of the communication mode request signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (in this embodiment, it is two times). If the number of times has not been exceeded, the process advances to step 5263 and the communication mode request signal is transmitted again. On the other hand, if the predetermined number of times has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step 5269, where a cancel signal is sent to the copy data controller 20, and then the process proceeds to step 5270.

In step 5270, 1 is added to the count value n of the channel counter, and then in step 5271, it is checked whether or not the count value n is 11'', and the count value n is checked in step 5271.
is less than "10", the process returns to step 5261. On the other hand, when the count value n is "11", since the connection process has been performed for all copy data controllers 20, the count value n is set to l'' in step 5272, and then the process returns to step 5261.

On the other hand, when the multiplexer 35 is not connected in step 5260, in the processing from step 5273 to step 5279, the same processing as described above from step 5263 to step 5269 is performed for one copy data controller 20. After that, return to the main routine.

Figure 17 shows the copy data controller disconnection process (10th
Step 5126 and Stellaf”S 129 in Figure (B)
) is a flowchart showing the process.

At step 5300 in FIG. 17, it is first checked whether the multiplexer 35 is connected, and if it is connected, the process advances to step 5301. step 530
1, after transmitting a processing mode request signal to the copy data controller 20 of channel n, in step 5302, it is determined whether the processing mode flag indicating whether a processing mode answer signal has been received is #lpl. Check. In step 5302, when the processing mode flag is l'', the process proceeds to step 5303, and after resetting the processing mode flag, a line switching answer signal is transmitted to the center control device 5o in step 5304, and step 5307 Proceed to.

On the other hand, when the processing mode flag is 0'' in step 5302, it is determined in step 5305 whether or not a time has elapsed, that is, a predetermined period of time (in this embodiment, 3 seconds) after the transmission of the processing mode request signal. ) has elapsed, and if the time has not exceeded, proceed to step 5302, and the program flow loops from step 5302 to step 5305 until the processing mode flag becomes "i" or the time has expired. .

If the time has expired in Stellaf S 305, it is determined in step 5306 whether or not the processing mode request signal has been retransmitted a predetermined number of times (in this embodiment, two times) or more, and the processing mode request signal is retransmitted a predetermined number of times or more. If not, the process advances to step 5301 to retransmit the processing mode request signal or try again. Meanwhile, step 530
When it is determined in step 6 that the processing mode request signal has been retransmitted a predetermined number of times or more, 1 is added to the count value n of the channel counter in step 5307, and then in step 5308 it is determined whether the count value n is 11''. Decide whether or not.

If the count value n is not "11" in step 5308, the process directly returns to the main routine, and on the other hand,
When the count value n is '11', the count value n is set to #llll+ in step 5309, and then the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 5300 that the multiplexer 35 is not connected, step 5310, which is the same process as steps 5301 to 5306, is performed for one copy data controller 20.
After performing the processing from to step 5315, the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the current time setting process (step 5105 in FIG. 10(A)).

In step 5320 of FIG. 18, first, when data of the current time is inputted one digit at a time, the count value PO5 of the position counter indicating that digit is set to "1". Next, in step 5321, the setting switch ADJ
Wait for the button to be pressed, and when it is pressed, step 532
2, select the data for one digit of the current time by pressing the switch S
After inputting the set value of EL, in step 5323, the inputted data is set to the digit corresponding to the count value PO8 of the position counter in the current time data stored in the RAM 23Q, and Based on the data, the data of the corresponding digit in the real-time clock 204 is rewritten. Then,
In order to display the data at the set time on the display 25 of the data controller 20, the switch 5324 transmits the input data, and in step 5325
After adding l to the count value POS of the position counter in step 5326, the count value PO5 is
If it is "11", it returns as is; on the other hand, 't'.

”, the process returns to step 5321.

FIGS. 19 to 21 respectively show the outgoing time setting process (
Step 5106 in Figure 1O (A)), telephone number setting process for scheduled calling (Step 5lO7 in Figure 1O (A)),
and alarm dialing telephone number setting process (Figure 1O (A)
This is a flowchart showing step 5108), and in each of these processes, a calling time, a telephone number for fixed-time calling, and a telephone number for alarm calling are set in the same way as the current time setting process of FIG. 18. Note that in step 5366 of FIG. 20 and step 5386 of FIG. 21, the count value PO8 of the position counter is 17''.
Determine whether or not.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing communication interrupt processing in the online controller 3o, and this processing is started when data is received from the copy data controller 2o or the center control device 50 and the online controller 30 is interrupted. .

In step 5400 of FIG. 22, first, data stored in a register etc. used in the interrupt processing is temporarily saved, and then in step 5401, for example, if a parity error or unset data is received, etc. It is checked whether or not a communication error has occurred, and if there is a communication error, predetermined error processing is performed for the communication error that has occurred in step 5402, and then the process proceeds to step 5409. On the other hand, if no communication error has occurred in step 5401, step 7'S
After analyzing the received data in step 403,
In steps 5404 and 5406, the received data is either through data transmitted and received between the copy data controller 20 and the center control device 50 and in which the online controller 30 is not involved, or data transmitted from the copy data controller 20. mosquito,
Alternatively, it is determined whether the data is transmitted from the center control device 50.

When the received data is the above-mentioned through data ('1' e s in step 5404), the received data is sent to a device different from the source (for data sent from the copy data controller 20, to the center control device 50, On the other hand, data sent from the center control device 50 is sent to the copy data controller 20)
After the data is transferred to step 5409, the process proceeds to step 5409. Further, if the received data is not the above-mentioned through data but data transmitted from the center control device 50 (step 54
Yes in step 06), and processing for the received data in step 5407 (hereinafter referred to as data processing A).
That's what it means. ), the process advances to step 5409. Further, if the received data is not the through data but data transmitted from the copy data controller 20 (No in step 5406), step 540
After processing the received data (hereinafter referred to as data processing B) in step 8, the process advances to step 5409.

Next, after performing each of the above processes, the data in the register that was saved is restored in step 5409, and then the routine returns to the step before the interrupt.

FIG. 23 shows data processing A (step 5407 in FIG. 22).
) is a flowchart showing the process. This process is a process for data transmitted by the center control device 50 as described above, and the data includes a time data request signal, a line switching request signal, a mode confirmation signal, and a line release request signal.

Step S420 in FIG. 23. In steps 5422, 5424, and 5426, it is determined whether the received data is a time data request signal, a line switching request signal, a mode confirmation signal, and a line release request signal, respectively. If the received data is a time data request signal (Yes in step 5420),
In step 5421, the real-time clock 204
After reading the current time from and transmitting the data of the current time to the center control device 50, the process returns.

Further, if the received data is a line switching request signal (Yes in step 5422), step 542
After setting the switching request flag to i11 in step 3, the process returns. Furthermore, if the received data is a mode confirmation signal (Yes in step 5424)
), the mode confirmation flag is set to "1" in step 5425, and then the process returns. Further, if the received data is a line release request signal (Yes in step 5426), the release request flag is set to 1'' in step 5427, and then the process returns.

On the other hand, if the received data is neither a time data request signal, a line switching request signal, a mode confirmation signal, nor a line release request signal (steps 5420.5422.54
24, and 5426i: 8i CN o ), return as is.

FIG. 24 shows data processing B (step 5408 in FIG. 22).
). This process is a process for data transmitted from the copy data controller 20 as described above, and includes a processing mode answer signal, a communication mode answer signal, a setting mode answer signal, and an alarm transmission request signal. There is.

Step 5440 of FIG. In steps 5442, 5444, and 8446, it is determined whether the received data is a processing mode answer signal, a communication mode answer signal, a setting mode answer signal, or an alarm transmission request signal, respectively. If the received data is a processing mode answer signal, step 5.
If the received data is a communication mode answer signal (Yes in step 5442), the processing mode flag is set to ``B'' in step 5441, and the process returns.
s) After setting the communication mode flag to "I" in step 5443, the process returns.

Further, if the received data is a setting mode answer signal (Yes in step 5444), the setting mode flag is set to n1'' in step 5445, and then the process returns. Furthermore, if the received data is an alarm transmission request signal, step 84
(Yes in step 46), the alarm transmission 7 lag is set to "l" in step 5447, and then the process returns. On the other hand, if the received data is neither the answer signal nor the alarm request signal (step 54
40% No in 5442.5444 and 5446
), return as is.

(5) Processing of the copy data controller 30 FIG. 25 is a 70-chart showing the main routine of the copy data controller 30.

In FIG. 25, first, the copy data controller 3
0, the processing of the copy data controller 30 is started, and in step 5300, each circuit in the copy data controller 30 is initialized, and then in step 5501, the state of the copying machine 10 is changed. (As mentioned above, these include the power on/off of the copying machine 10, copying in progress, a jam occurring in the copying machine 10, trouble occurring, the copied paper being ejected and the copying operation being completed, etc.) is input from the copying machine 10, and data regarding the signal is stored in the RAM 103. Next, in steps 5502 to 5505i, display processing, card read/write processing, count processing, and communication processing, which will be described in detail later, are performed, respectively, and then the process returns to step 5501.

FIG. 26 is a 70-chart showing the display process (step 5502 in FIG. 25).

Steps 5510.5512.5514.5 in FIG.
516, 5518, and 5520, respectively, whether the copier 10 is powered off, whether it is set to communication mode, whether it is set to setting mode, and whether the tally card is a card data input/output device. 22, whether a department card is inserted into the card data input/output device 22, and whether a magnetic card is inserted into the card data input/output device 22.

When the copier 10 is powered off (step 5)
(Yes in step 510), and after turning off the display of the LED display 25 in step 5511, the process returns to the main routine. When the communication mode is set (Yes in step 5512), in step 5513 the data of "0NLINE" is output to the display buffer memory 24 and the data is displayed on the LED.
After displaying on the display 25, the process returns to the main routine. When the configuration mode is set (step 55)
14), and in step 5515, the data stored in the display buffer memory 24 is displayed on the LED.
After displaying on the display 25, the process returns to the main routine. When the tally card is inserted into the card data input/output device 22 (Yes in step 5516),
In step 5517, copy data controller 2
After the copy data stored in the RAM 103 in 0 is sequentially displayed on the LED display 25, the process returns to the main routine. When the department card is inserted into the card data input/output device 22 (Yes in step 5518), the department code and the number of copies of the department are displayed on the LED display 25 in step 5519, and then the process returns to the main routine. . If the magnetic card is not inserted into the card data input/output device 22 (Yes in step 5520), step 5521
The data of “CARD”° is displayed on the LED display 25.
After displaying the screen, return to the main routine.

FIG. 27 is a 70-chart showing card read/write processing (step 5503 in FIG. 25).

In steps 5530, 5532, 5534 and 5537 in FIG. 27, whether or not an insertion sensor (not shown) is turned on, which detects whether a magnetic card is inserted into the card data input/output device 22. mosquito,
Whether reading of the data stored in the magnetic card is completed, whether an eject switch (not shown) that commands ejection of the magnetic card is turned on, and
Check whether the eject flag is 11111.

When the insertion sensor is on (Yes in step 5530), card insertion processing, which will be described in detail later, is performed in step 5531, and then the process returns to the main routine. When the reading of data stored in the magnetic card is completed (Yes in step 5532),
After performing read completion processing, which will be described in detail later, in step 5533, the process returns to the main routine. When the eject switch is on (step 5534)
(Yes), in step 5536 an eject process, which will be described in detail later, is performed, and then the process returns to the main routine. When the eject flag is ``l'', Yes in step 5537), step 5
After resetting the eject flag in step 535, eject processing is performed in step 3536, and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, when the eject flag is "0" (No in step 5537),
In step 5538, it is checked whether the ejection of the magnetic card is completed by checking whether the insertion sensor is off or whether the ejection timer has counted a predetermined time, and the ejection of the magnetic card is completed. If the magnetic card has not been ejected (No in step 5538), the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the ejection of the magnetic card has been completed (step 553)
(Yes in step 5539), after performing discharge completion processing which will be described in detail later, the process returns to the main routine.

Figure 28 shows the card insertion process (step 553 in Figure 27).
1) is a flowchart showing the process.

In step 5550 of FIG. 28, first, the transport motor 23 is rotated in the magnetic card insertion direction (CW rotation direction), and in step 5551, the magnetic head in the card data input/output device 22 is set to read mode, and the magnetic card is inserted into the magnetic card. After reading the data stored in , the data is stored in RAMIO3, and in step 5552,
Starts a read timer that measures the time to read data stored in the magnetic card, and returns.

FIG. 29 shows the read completion process (step 553 in FIG. 27).
It is a 70-chart showing 3).

After the conveyance motor 23 is turned off in step 5560 of FIG. 29, the data read from the magnetic card is analyzed in step S561.

Next, in step 5562, it is checked whether or not there is an error in the read data, and if there is an error (No in step 5562), step 5566 is performed.
Returns after performing eject processing. On the other hand, if there is no error in the read data (step 55
In step 5563, it is checked whether the magnetic card is a department card, and if it is a department card (Yes in step 5563).
s) After permitting the copying machine 10 to perform a copying operation in step S5^4, the process returns.

On the other hand, if the magnetic card is not a department card (No in step 5563), the process prohibits the copying machine 10 from copying in step 5565, and then returns.

FIG. 30 shows the eject process (step 553 in FIG. 27).
6 and step 5566 of FIG. 29).

In step 5570 of FIG. 30, first, copying machine 1
0, and after rotating the transport motor 23 in the magnetic card ejection direction (CCW rotation direction) in step 5571, an eject timer that measures the ejection time of the magnetic card is started in step 5572. and return.

Figure 31 shows the discharge completion process (step 5539 in Figure 27).
) is a flowchart showing the process.

In step 5580 of FIG.
is turned off, and after clearing the data read from the magnetic card and stored in the RAM 103 in step 5581,
Return.

Figure 32 shows the counting process (step 5504 in Figure 25).
) is a flowchart showing the process.

Steps 5590, 5592, and 5594 in FIG.
In each step, it is checked whether one copy operation has been completed in the copying machine IO, whether a jam has occurred in the copying machine 10, and whether a trouble has occurred in the copying machine 10. If none of the conditions apply in each step, the process directly returns to the main routine.

When the copying operation for one sheet is completed in the copying machine 10 (Yes in step 5590), step 55
At step 91, a copy counter corresponding to the department of the currently inserted department card and the size of the copy paper on which the copying operation was performed is incremented, and then the process returns to the main routine. Further, when a jam occurs in the copying machine 10 (Yes in step 5592),
s) After incrementing the jam counter corresponding to the location where the jam occurred in step 5593, the process returns to the main routine. Further, when a trouble occurs in the copying machine 10, the trouble counter corresponding to the trouble point is incremented in step 5595, and an alarm is issued to the online controller 30 in step 5596 (after an i request signal is sent, the main routine is started). Return.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing communication processing (step 5505 in FIG. 25) in the copy data controller 20.

At step 5600 in FIG. 33, it is first checked whether or not there is received data, and if there is no received data (No at step 5600), the process directly returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if there is received data (Yes in step 5600), it is checked in step 5601 whether or not there is an error in the received data, and if there is an error (No in step 5601), the error is checked in step 5603. After performing necessary predetermined error handling, the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if there is no error in the received data (Yes in Stellaf 5601), command analysis processing, which will be described in detail later, is performed in step 5602, and then the process returns to the main routine.

Figures 34 (A) and (B) show command analysis processing (33rd
70-chart illustrating step s a 02) of the figure;

Steps 5610.561 in Figures 34(A) and (B)
2.5614.5615.56211S624.562
The data received at 6.5628.5630.5632 and 5635 are mode confirmation signals,
Is it a cancel signal, processing mode request signal, communication mode request signal, setting mode request signal, serial number request signal, jam count request signal, trouble count request signal, departmental count request signal, count clear request signal, display data signal? Check whether or not. Here, if there is no signal in each step, the process returns directly.

When a mode confirmation signal is received (step 5610
(Yes), the current mode in the copy data controller 20 is checked in step 5611, and if it is in the processing mode, a processing mode answer signal is sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30 in step 5613. Return after that, and if it is in communication mode again, step 56
In step 5623, the communication mode answer signal is sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30, and then the process returns.If the mode is set, the setting mode answer signal is sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30 in step 5623. Control bag (t5
Returns after sending to 0.

When a cancel signal or a processing mode request signal is received (Y e in step 5612 or 5614)
s) In step 5613, a processing mode answer signal is sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30, and then the process returns.

When the communication mode request signal is received (step 56
15), it is checked in step 5616 whether or not the copying machine 10 is copying, and if it is copying (Yes in step 5616), a processing mode answer signal is sent via the online controller 30 in step 5613. Returns after sending the data to the center control device 50. On the other hand, if copying is not in progress (No in step 5616), step 56
At steps 17 and 5618, it is checked whether a magnetic card is inserted into the card data input/output device 22 and whether a copy operation is permitted in the copying machine 10, respectively. Here, if a magnetic card is inserted and copy operation is permitted, step 5617
and Yes in step 5618), in order to eject the magnetic card, the eject flag is set to "1" in step 5619, and then the process proceeds to step 5620, where the communication mode answer signal is sent to the online controller 3.
0 to the center control device 50 and then returns. On the other hand, if the magnetic card is not inserted (No in step 5617) or if the copy operation is not permitted even if a magnetic card is inserted (Yes in step 5617 and step 56
18), the process directly advances to step 5620 and sends the communication mode answer signal to the online controller 3.
0 to the center control device 50 and then returns.

When the setting mode request signal is received (step 56
21), in step 5622, it is checked whether the copying machine 10 is prohibited from copying because, for example, the department card is not inserted or a jam or trouble occurs in the copying machine 10, and the copying operation is prohibited. (N in step 5622)
o) Proceed to step 5613, transmit a processing mode answer signal to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30, and then return. On the other hand, if the copy operation is prohibited (Yes in step 5622), a setting mode answer signal is sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30 in step 5623, and then the process returns.

When the serial number request signal is received (step 5)
624: Yes), and in step 5625, the serial number and total number of copies of the copy data controller 20 are sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30 in the format shown in FIG. 9(7)(a)(7). Return after sending.

When the jam count request signal is received (Yes in step 5626), in step 5627 the data on the number of jam occurrences for each cylinder location is stored as shown in FIG. 9(b).
After transmitting the data to the center control device 50 via the online controller 10-30 at a rate of 7, the process returns.

When the trouble count request signal is received (Yes in step 5628), in step 5629, data on the number of trouble occurrences for each location is stored as shown in FIG. 9(C).
After transmitting the data to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30 in the format shown in FIG.

When the departmental count request signal is received (Yes in step 5630), in step 5631 the online controller 30 sends the data of the number of copies by department and size in the format shown in FIG. 9(d).
The process returns after being sent to the center control device 50 via.

When the count clear request signal is received (Yes in step 5632), the data of the number of copies by department and size stored in the RAM 103 is cleared in step 5633, and then the clear answer signal is sent to the online controller 30. After transmitting the data to the center control device 50 via the host controller, the process returns.

When the display data signal is received (step 5635
(Yes), the process returns after storing the received display data in the display buffer memory 24 in step 5636.

(6) Processing of the center control device 50 FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the main routine of the center control device 50.

In step 5700 of FIG. 35, first, initial settings are made for each circuit in the center control device 50, and then in step 5701, it is checked whether or not the modem 52 is connected to the center control device 50, and the modem 52 is connected to the center control device 50. 5
If the modem 2 is not connected (No in step 5701), the process proceeds to step 5704; on the other hand, if the modem 52 is connected (No in step 5701), the process proceeds to step 5704.
s) In step 5702, it is checked whether the modem 52 has been initialized. Here, modem 5
If the modem 2 has been initialized (Yes in step 5702), the process proceeds to step 5704; on the other hand, if it has not been initialized (No in step 5702), the modem 52 is initialized in step 5703, and then the process proceeds to step 5704. move on.

In step 5704, the real-time clock 304
The current time is read from , and in step 5705 it is checked whether the current time is the deadline time for totaling the copy data set in advance using the personal computer 60. If it is not the deadline time (No in step 5705), the process proceeds to step 5707, and if it is the deadline time (Yes in step 5705), a deadline process to be described in detail later is performed in step 5706, and then the process proceeds to step 5707.

In step 5707, online controller 3
There is an incoming call from 0, and it is checked whether the line is connected to the online controller 30. If the line is connected (Yes in step 5707), data reception processing, which will be described in detail later, is performed in step 5708. , the process returns to step S701; on the other hand, if the line is not connected (No in step 5707), the process directly returns to step S701.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the deadline processing (step 8706 in FIG. 35). The center control device 50 is
The copy data stored in the 7-aisle device 61 is managed by dividing it into the following three types of data for each copying machine IO.

(a) Post-deadline data: This is the total data of the above-mentioned copy data sent from the copy data controller 20 after the center control device 50 has performed the deadline process.

(b) Deadline data: This is the total data of the above-mentioned copy data sent from the copy data controller 20 from the 1s cutoff time to the next deadline time.

(c) Accumulated data: cumulative data of the past copy data, which is updated by adding the previous deadline data to the accumulated data in the deadline process.

In step 5720 of FIG. 36, the previous deadline data is added to the cumulative data, and then, in step 5721, the post-deadline data is transferred to the deadline data, and finally, in step 5722, the post-deadline data is cleared,
Return to main routine.

FIG. 37 shows data reception processing (step 570 in FIG. 35).
8) is a 70-chart showing.

In step 5730 of FIG. 37, first, a time request signal is sent to the online controller 3o, and when time data is received from the online controller 30, the process proceeds to step 5731, and a mode confirmation signal is sent to the online controller 30. After that, a communication mode answer signal is received from the online controller 30. Next, in step 5732, a serial number request signal is transmitted to the copy data controller 20 via the online controller 30, and when the data of the serial number is received, in step 5733, the received serial number is sent to the copy data controller 20 via the online controller 30. By checking whether it is a serial number, it is checked whether the copy data has been received from all the copy data controllers 20 connected to the online controller 30.

When the copy data is received from all the copy data controllers 20 connected to the online controller 30 (Y in step 5733),
es) Proceed to step 5739; on the other hand, if the copy data has not been received from all the copy data controllers 20 (No in step 5733), proceed to step 5734.

In steps 5734, 5735, and 5736, a jam count request signal, a trouble count request signal, and a departmental count request signal are sent to the copy data controller 20 via the online controller 30, and data corresponding to each request signal is received. After that, in step 5737, a clear request signal is sent to the copy data controller 20 via the online controller 30.
RAM1 in the copy data controller 20
Clear all the above copy data stored in 03. Next, in step 5738, a line switching request signal is sent to the online controller 30,
After switching the online controller 30 to the copy data controller 20 of the next channel, the process returns to step 5731.

After transmitting the line release request signal to the online controller 30 in step 5739, step 57
At step 40, the modem 52 is caused to perform a line disconnection process with the online controller 30. Next, in step 5741, the received copy data is added to the post-deadline data to update the post-deadline data, and then the process returns to the main routine.

In the above embodiment, the exchange 3 installed by a telecommunications carrier is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an exchange such as a private branch exchange installed by a user may also be used.

In the above embodiments, the telephone lines 4a, 4b.

4c is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of communication lines such as digital lines other than telephone lines may be used.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 34(A), when a magnetic card is inserted and the copy operation is permitted (Yes in steps 5617 and 5618).
, step 561 to eject the magnetic card.
After setting the eject flag to 1'' in step 9, the process proceeds to step 5620, where the communication mode answer signal is sent to the center control device 50 via the online controller 30.
However, the process is not limited to this, and the process in step 5620 is performed without ejecting the magnetic card.
It may be configured to proceed to

[Effect 1 of the Invention As detailed above, according to the first invention of the present application, in a copy data management system, when a telephone is always connected to a telephone line and a predetermined condition for data transmission is met, the transmission means is connected to the telephone line to transmit data, and if the telephone is in use when the above conditions are met, the transmitter is connected to the telephone line after waiting for a predetermined time; Since the line connecting means and the transmitting means are controlled to transmit the data, the copy data can be reliably transmitted from the terminal device to the central management device.

According to the second invention of the present application, in the copy data management system, when the state of the copying machine corresponds to a predetermined condition, the telephone line is connected to the transmission means to transmit the data to the central management device; If the telephone line is in use when the above conditions are met, the usage status of the telephone line is monitored, and when the telephone line is no longer in use, the transmitting means is connected to the telephone line and the data is transmitted. Since the transmitting means is controlled to transmit the copy data, the copy data can be reliably transmitted from the terminal device to the central management device immediately after the telephone is used.

According to the third invention of the present application, the copy data management system has a scheduled transmission mode and a priority transmission mode, a telephone is always connected to a telephone line, and the telephone is activated at a predetermined time in the scheduled transmission mode. If the telephone is in use, it waits for a predetermined period of time, and if the telephone is not in use after that, the telephone is disconnected from the telephone line and the transmitting means is connected to the telephone line. controls the transmitting means to transmit data, and when the telephone is used in the priority transmission mode, monitors the usage status of the telephone, and when the telephone is no longer in use, the telephone The transmitting means is controlled to disconnect from the telephone line, connect the transmitting means to the telephone line, and transmit the data. The copy data can be reliably transmitted from the terminal device to the central management device immediately after use or after the predetermined time.

Therefore, in a copy data management system in which a telephone line is shared between a terminal device and a telephone, the terminal device uses the telephone line when the telephone is not in use, making it possible to use the telephone line more effectively. There are advantages.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a copy data management system that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a copy data controller shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a copy data controller shown in Fig. 1. A block diagram of the online controller. Figure 4 (A) is a front view of the maintenance switch and monitor LED in Figure 3. Figure 4 (CB) shows how to operate the maintenance switch in Figure 4 (A) and how to operate the switch. 5 is a block diagram of the center control device in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C) are diagrams showing communication procedures during normal processing in the copy data management system in FIG. 1. 7 and 8 are communication sequence diagrams showing the communication procedure during abnormality processing in the copy data management system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a communication sequence diagram of communication data in the copy data management system of FIG. Figures 10 (A) and 10 (B) are flowcharts showing the main routine of the online controller in Figure 1, and Figures 11 to 24 show subroutines of the online controller in Figure 1. 70-chart, FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the main routine of the copy data controller of FIG. 1, FIGS. 26 to 33, and FIG.
4(A) and FIG. 34 CB) are a 70-chart showing the subroutine of the copy data controller of FIG. 1, FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the main routine of the center control device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 37 are flowcharts showing a subroutine of the center control device of FIG. 1. l...terminal system, 2...center system, 3
...Exchange, 4a, 4b, 4c...Telephone line, 10
, lOa to 10d...Copy machine, 20.20a to 20d...Copy data control 0-7.21.31
...Microcomputer, 22...Card data input/output device, 23...Transport motor, 30.30a, 30b...Online controller,
33.52...Modulator/demodulator t (modem), 40.40
a, 40b-telephone, 50... center control device, 60... personal computer, 70... CRT display device, 203... RAM. 204...Real time clock.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Equipped with a terminal device that transmits data such as the number of copies made in the copying machine, operation records of users, etc., or information regarding maintenance requests to a central control device for managing the copying machine via a telephone line. In the copy data management system, the terminal device includes: a transmitting means provided in the copying machine and transmitting the data; a telephone; and a line connecting means connecting either the telephone or the transmitting means to the telephone line. and, when the telephone is always connected to the telephone line and a predetermined condition for transmitting data is met, the transmitting means is connected to the telephone line to transmit the data, and when the condition is met; , control means for controlling the line connecting means and the transmitting means to connect the transmitting means to the telephone line after waiting for a predetermined time and transmit the data when the telephone is in use; A copy data management system characterized by: (2) In a copy data management system comprising a terminal device that transmits data regarding maintenance requests for a copying machine to a central control device for managing the copying machine via a telephone line, the terminal device is configured to: a transmitting means provided in the copying machine for transmitting the data; and when the state of the copying machine satisfies a predetermined condition, connecting the telephone line to the transmitting means and transmitting the data to the central control device; , if the telephone line is in use when the predetermined condition is met, the usage status of the telephone line is monitored; and when the telephone line is no longer in use, the transmitting means is connected to the telephone line; A copy data management system comprising: control means for controlling the transmitting means so as to transmit the data. (3) In a copy data management system equipped with a terminal device that transmits data regarding the number of copies in a copying machine, operation record data of users, etc., and maintenance requests to a central management device that collects the above data via a telephone line. , the terminal device comprises: a transmitting means provided in the copying machine for transmitting the data; a telephone; a scheduled transmission mode for transmitting the operation record data at a predetermined time; It has a priority transmission mode that transmits data related to the maintenance request when the conditions are met, and the telephone is always connected to the telephone line, and when the telephone is in use at the above time in the scheduled transmission mode. waits for a predetermined time, and if the telephone is not in use after that, disconnects the telephone from the telephone line, connects the transmitting means to the telephone line, and transmits the data. In addition, when the telephone is used in the priority transmission mode, the usage status of the telephone is monitored and the telephone is connected to the telephone line when the telephone is no longer in use. A copy data management system comprising: control means for controlling the transmitting means to disconnect the telephone line, connect the transmitting means to the telephone line, and transmit the data.