JPH0573793A - Abnormality occurrence report system of centralized control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically contact a maintenance (service) center with phone in the case of the occurrence of abnormality in an electronic apparatus by providing a central controller with the watchdog timer function for each electronic apparatus and the automatic communication function to the maintenance center. CONSTITUTION:Various electronic apparatus 2 to 4 and a central controller 5 are arranged in a prescribed position 1 of an office or the like. When power sources of electronic apparatus 2 to 4 are turned on, discrimination codes and the telephone number of a maintenance center 7 are sent from apparatus 2 to 4 to the central controller 5 and are registered. Electronic apparatus 2 to 4 are monitored at intervals of a certain time based on a watchdog timer by the central controller 5. If information of abnormality detection is sent from electronic apparatus 2 to 4, the central controller 5 automatically dials the maintenance center 7 with its registered telephone number. Discrimination numbers of electronic apparatus 2 to 4 where abnormality occurs, abnormality occurrence contents, etc., are transmitted to the maintenance center 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for intensively monitoring and notifying a failure occurring in an electronic device such as an information processing device using electronic parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a conventional example in the case where a failure occurs in each electronic device. The prior art will be described below with reference to this figure.

When an error occurs during the operation of each of the electronic devices 2 to 4, an error code corresponding to the error is displayed and the operation is stopped. The user who notices that it is out of order uses the telephone 8 to report the situation to the maintenance center 7. The maintenance center 7 which received the telephone call judges the situation after listening to the situation of the failure and so on, and goes to the site to perform appropriate treatment and has the repair done. The user of each electronic device waits for the repair to be completed, knows that the repair is completed, and then uses it again.

[0004]

Conventionally, when an electronic device such as a copying machine or a facsimile has a failure during use,
The problem is that it is not possible to recognize that the failure has occurred until the person notices it, and it is troublesome to notify the maintenance (service) center of the failure of the person. Therefore, it takes time to recover. There is.

[0005]

As a central controller connected to various electronic devices to be monitored, it is provided with a watchdog timer function for each electronic device and an automatic communication function to a maintenance center corresponding to the occurrence of an abnormality. ..

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

At a predetermined place 1 such as an office, various electronic devices 2 to 4, a central controller 5 for monitoring / reporting, and an interface 6 connecting them are arranged. Each electronic device includes an abnormality detection unit. Further, the central controller is configured to be connected to each maintenance center related to each device in another place via a telephone line.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of each electronic device, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the central controller.

Now, when the power of each electronic device is turned on, each device sends its own identification code and the telephone number of the maintenance center to the central controller 5, and each device is registered when it is activated. (3-1, 3-2).

After that, each electronic device waits for its use and executes its own specific processing operation (for example, a copying operation in the case of a copying machine). (3-3, 3-4).

Further, each electronic device has a central controller 5
Is monitored by the watchdog timer at regular intervals (3-5, 3-6).

If an abnormality occurs at the start-up of each electronic device, the central controller 5 is notified of its own identification code, the telephone number of the maintenance center and the abnormal operation (3-6, 3-7).

Further, in response to the watchdog timer processing from the central controller, if each electronic device is normal, it responds as normal, but if an abnormality is detected on the electronic device side, it responds as abnormal. It will be. (3-5,3-
6).

On the other hand, the central controller registers the received identification code of each electronic device and the telephone number of the maintenance center as being in operation.

This information is used when performing the watchdog timer process for the operating electronic equipment (4-
5) It becomes information for discriminating which electronic device is to be used. Further, when the abnormality of each electronic device is detected, it is also used as information for confirming which electronic device has an abnormality and which maintenance center is notified by the central controller side (4-7). , 4-8).

In this way, the central controller, which has received the identification code of each electronic device and the telephone number of the maintenance center, judges that the device registered thereafter is in operation and determines that the electronic device in operation is in operation. Monitoring (watchdog timer processing) is performed at regular intervals (4-1, 4-2, 4-3.
4-5, 4-6).

In the above process, when there is no response from the monitored electronic device, it is determined that the electronic device is down and the maintenance center 7 is notified (4-
11, 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, 4-10).

Further, when the information of the abnormality detection is sent from each electronic device, the maintenance center 7 is similarly notified (4-11, 4-7 to 4-10).

As a method of notifying the maintenance center 7 from the central controller 5, the telephone number to the registered maintenance center is derived from the identification number of the electronic device in which the abnormality has occurred, and automatic dialing is performed to establish a line with the maintenance center. Connect (4-7, 4-8, 4-9). Then, the central controller transmits the identification number of the electronic device in which the abnormality has occurred, details of the abnormality, etc. (4-10).

When this process is completed, the process returns to the monitoring of other electronic devices in operation, and the monitoring is continued again.

[0022]

As described above, the present invention has the watchdog timer function for each electronic device and the automatic communication function to the maintenance center corresponding to the occurrence of an abnormality, so that the abnormality can be detected in each electronic device. In the event of an occurrence, it is possible to automatically notify the maintenance center of each occurrence, so that recovery work can be performed immediately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of each electronic device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the central controller in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Use place 2 Electronic blackboard 3 FAX 4 Other electronic equipment 5 Central controller 6 Interface 7 Maintenance center-8 Telephone

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Various electronic devices for transmitting their own identification codes and their maintenance center telephone numbers when the power is turned on,
A storage unit that is connected to a plurality of the electronic devices and registers the identification code and the telephone number, a watchdog timer that monitors each electronic device at regular intervals, and a telephone number of each maintenance center when an abnormality occurs in each electronic device Centralized control type abnormality occurrence notification system consisting of a central control equipped with an automatic dial section for dialing.