JPH08123711A - Information processing device with maintenance guidance function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the behavior and reliability of maintenance work by executing the maintenance of an information processor while referring to maintenance guidance information stored in the processor on a screen. CONSTITUTION: The opened/closed state of a cover 2 is detected by a cover open/close detecting means 6 based upon an output from a sensor 5 to be turned on/off in accordance with the open/close of the cover 2. When the means 6 detects the opened state of the cover 2, a maintenance guidance information display controlling means 9 reads out prescribed guidance information from a file means 7, displays the information on the screen of a display device 3 and updates and controls the displayed contents of the maintenance guidance information interactively in cooperation with the display device 3 and an input device 4. When a cover for the information processor or a cover for an I/O device such as a printer is opened, guitance information is automatically displayed on the screen of the display device, so that even when a maintenance manual is not prepared, necessary information can be instantaneously obtained and maintenance work can be started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including various input / output devices for inputting / outputting information such as a printer and an ID card reader, and particularly to paper jams and paper outs in the input / output devices. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a maintenance guidance display function for displaying guidance information and facilitating maintenance work when a situation requiring maintenance work occurs or during regular maintenance service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid progress of multimedia in information processing devices, various input / output devices have come to be used. It is becoming difficult to perform quick and appropriate maintenance according to the type of equipment.

Conventional maintenance work is performed while looking at a maintenance manual in a document format created according to the device type of the device and an operation label attached to the device.
In addition to being cumbersome and inefficient, a maintenance worker who is not highly skilled has a problem that it is not always easy to immediately respond to any device failure and perform appropriate maintenance.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of performing quick and appropriate maintenance without the need to refer to a maintenance manual.

[0005]

According to the present invention, maintenance guidance information is stored in an information processing device itself, and when the device cover is opened, the maintenance guidance information is automatically displayed on a screen of a display device. Further, it is possible to display more appropriate maintenance guidance information in response to an instruction input from the input device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an information processing device, which may be the terminal device itself or a combination of a main device and a terminal device or an input / output device.

Reference numeral 2 is a cover that can be opened and closed for a device to be maintained, for example, an input / output device. Reference numeral 3 is a display device for displaying information. Reference numeral 4 is an input device for inputting operation instructions.

Numeral 5 is ON / O in response to opening / closing of the cover 2.
It is a FF sensor. Reference numeral 6 denotes a cover open / close detection unit that detects the open / closed state of the cover 2 based on the output of the sensor 5.

Reference numeral 7 is a file means. Reference numeral 8 is maintenance guidance information stored in the file means 7.
Reference numeral 9 reads out predetermined guidance information from the file means 7 when the cover opening / closing detection means 6 detects the open state of the cover 2, displays the guidance information on the screen of the display device 3, and displays the contents of the maintenance guidance information displayed on the display device 3. And maintenance guidance information display control means for performing interactive update control in cooperation with the input device 4.

[0010]

According to the present invention, when the cover of the information processing device to be maintained or the cover of the input / output device such as a printer connected to the information processing device is opened, the guidance information is automatically displayed on the screen of the display device. Therefore, it is possible to immediately obtain necessary information and start maintenance work without having a maintenance manual.

The maintenance guidance information is systematically created in advance in a tree structure or the like according to the device type, the maintenance content type, or the failure (error) type, and the hierarchical or guidance information is automatically generated interactively on the menu screen. It can be selected and efficiently displayed on the screen.

[0012]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment device in which the present invention is applied to an information processing terminal device. In the figure, 11 is an information processing terminal device, 12 is an MPU, 13 is a display device, 14
Is a keyboard or touch panel, 15 is a storage device,
16 is a maintenance guidance information display control program, 17 is maintenance guidance information, 18 is an I / O control device, 19 is a printer, 20 is an ID card reader, 21 is a device cover,
Reference numeral 22 is a cover sensor, and 23 is an interpersonal sensor.

Maintenance guidance information 17 is stored in the storage device 15 in advance. The display control of the maintenance guidance information 17 is performed by the maintenance guidance information display control program 16.

When the device cover 21 is opened during the operation of the device in the normal operation mode, the cover sensor 22 operates,
The MPU 12 is notified of the interruption. In response to this notification, the MPU 12 stops normal operation, transitions to the maintenance mode, and activates the maintenance guidance information display control program 16.

Maintenance guidance information display control program 1
6 reads out the maintenance guidance information 17 from the storage device 19 and displays it on the display device 13. When the maintenance guidance information 17 is hierarchically configured, initial guidance information such as the initially defined menu is displayed. After that, maintenance guidance information display control program 16
Is the keyboard 14 (or may be a touch panel)
According to the instruction input from, the corresponding guidance information is selected and the display information on the display device 13 is updated.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a schematic procedure for performing maintenance work in the above-described apparatus according to the present invention. When the maintenance worker opens the device cover in (2) during normal operation in (1), the sensor interlocking with the device cover detects in (3) and switches the normal operation mode to the maintenance mode, and maintenance guidance information display control Start the program. As a result, in (4), the maintenance guidance information is displayed in the maintenance work order. Then, as the maintenance work progresses, the maintenance guidance information is updated and displayed while interacting with the screen. When the maintenance work is completed, the maintenance worker closes the device cover in (5). As a result, the processing of the maintenance guidance information display control program is completed, and the maintenance mode (6) is returned to the normal operation mode.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a specific example of maintenance guidance in an information processing terminal device equipped with a printer, an ID card reader and the like. In FIG. 4A, 24 is an information processing terminal device, 25 is a device cover (shown in an opened state), 26 is a display unit, and 27 is a menu screen for maintenance guidance. When the device cover 25 is opened (cover open) as shown in the figure, the menu screen 27 is displayed on the display unit 26.
Is initially displayed. The menu screen 27 is for allowing the maintenance worker to select which of the paper replacement, the card summarization, and the paper summarization the maintenance work should deal with.

In FIG. 4B, 28 is a maintenance guidance screen for paper replacement which is updated and displayed as a result of selecting "paper replacement" on the menu screen 27 of FIG. 4A. Maintenance work for replacing the paper is executed according to the above.

FIG. 4C shows the state of the apparatus in which the maintenance work is completed and the apparatus cover 25 is closed. This returns to normal operation. Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5A shows an embodiment in which maintenance guidance information corresponding to an error state is automatically selected and displayed. In the figure, the control device 30 has a maintenance guidance display function, and the disk device 32 manages a plurality of different maintenance guidance information according to the error type of the I / O device. If an error occurs in any of the I / O devices,
The error information is notified to the control device 30 via the I / O control device 34. The control device 30 controls the maintenance guidance information 3 corresponding to the error type indicated by the notified error information.
3 is taken out from the disk device 32 and displayed on the display device 31.

FIG. 5B shows an embodiment in which the contents of maintenance such as processing and error types in the maintenance work executed corresponding to the maintenance guidance information display are recorded and stored in the disk device 32. By referring to this record later, it is possible to find a location where the device is likely to fail, and preventive diagnosis can be performed.

When the maintenance guidance is displayed, the operator does not always want to see all the screens as he becomes accustomed to the operation, and the necessary screens are limited. Therefore, in order to allow the user to display only necessary screens, it is possible to provide a customization function capable of skipping unnecessary screens by designating. This specified content is saved in the disk device.

Further, when the cover of the apparatus is opened, a dangerous operating mechanism such as a paper cutting mechanism of a thermal printer may be exposed to the human body. Therefore, in order to prevent danger, the I / O control device can reply to the command sent from the control device with a general reply that the cover is open, and can stop the operation.

In addition, the maintenance guidance screen is not a still image but a moving image and a voice.
For complex tasks, it is possible to give precise instructions. In this case, the moving image data is stored in the disk device or another storage device (CD-ROM or the like).

The contents of the displayed guidance are stored in a disk device or other recording device, but the contents can be easily rewritten and can be changed to desired contents for each user. . As a result, even after the introduction of the device, the device configuration is changed due to the expansion of the device or the like, and the guidance content is also changed, it is possible to deal with the situation.

In addition, when it is possible to predict that an error such as paper shortage will occur at the time of start-up or when the guidance is displayed when an error occurs, the content is displayed in advance to notify the occurrence of paper shortage. Can be prevented.

Further, when the control device becomes abnormal due to some cause during system operation and cannot be operated, a command is given to the I / O control device by an interpersonal sensor as shown in FIG. The information of the / O control device can be acquired. Further, by turning on and off the anti-personnel sensor at regular intervals, it is possible to display specific information by lighting or blinking an LED, or print information from a thermal printer.

A sensor on the I / O device side determines whether the operator is operating according to the contents of the maintenance guidance.
If it is judged from the operation of the switch or the like and the instruction is not in accordance with the instruction, the user can be alerted by the screen or voice.

Further, the replacement cycle of consumables such as printer paper can be recorded in a disk device or the like to roughly estimate the next replacement time. Using this prediction data, it is possible to reduce the number of maintenance operations by not only directly running out of paper, but also when performing maintenance due to other factors, so that they can be processed together when the time for replacement is approaching. Planned.

Further, the information processing apparatus targeted by the present invention may have a single unit structure or a combined structure of a plurality of independent device units. Therefore, there may be a plurality of device covers for each device unit, and there may be a plurality of sensors for calling the maintenance guidance information for each device cover.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment apparatus composed of two units. In the figure, 35 is an information processing terminal device, 36 is a main body device, 37 is a CRT, 38 is a touch panel, 39 is an input / output control board, 40 is a basic program, 41 is a guidance program, 42 is application software, and 43 is an RS232C interface. is there.

The information processing terminal device 35 is a unit in which information input / output mechanisms are integrated, and the main body device 36 is a unit having information processing and control functions. In the main body device 36, the basic program 40 performs support processing such as data input / output upon receiving a request from the system control or application software 42. The guidance program 41 is activated by the basic program 40 and controls the display of the maintenance guidance information.

The information processing terminal device 35 includes a printer, an ID card reader, an interpersonal sensor, and a front cover open detection sensor as an I / O device, and an input / output control board 39.
And is connected to the main body device 36 via the RS232C interface 43 and controlled by the basic program 40.

When the front cover open detection sensor detects that the front cover of the information processing terminal device 35 is opened during execution of the application software 42, the information is notified to the basic program 40, and the basic program 40 is notified by the application software 42. Is ended and the guidance program 41 is started.

The guidance program 41 displays predetermined maintenance guidance information on the CRT 37, monitors the instruction input from the touch panel 38, and updates the display content of the maintenance guidance information according to the instruction.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the maintenance of the information processing apparatus can be performed by referring to the maintenance guidance information stored in the apparatus on the screen, so that the user can store the maintenance manual as in the conventional case. In addition, maintenance workers do not have to carry it with them, and the response at the time of a failure can be speeded up. Furthermore, the maintenance guidance information can be displayed by selecting the necessary items in an interactive format, so depending on the maintenance target item, the content of the failure, the skill level of the maintenance worker, the maintenance work execution stage, etc.
Since appropriate information can be used efficiently, the attitude and reliability of maintenance work can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a schematic procedure for performing maintenance work according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of maintenance guidance.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Information processing device 2: Cover 3: Display device 4: Input device 5: Sensor 6: Cover open / close detection means 7: File means 8: Maintenance guidance information 9: Maintenance guidance information display control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a display device and an input device, comprising: a cover opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of a cover of the apparatus; a file means storing maintenance guidance information; and a cover opening / closing detecting means. When it is detected that the cover of the device is opened, the maintenance guidance information in the file means is displayed on the screen of the display device, and the contents of the maintenance guidance information displayed on the screen and the instruction information input by the input device are displayed. An information processing apparatus with a maintenance guidance function, comprising: maintenance guidance information display control means for updating the content of the maintenance guidance information in an interactive manner based on the above. 2. The information with maintenance guidance function according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance guidance information display control means selects and displays corresponding maintenance guidance information based on maintenance diagnosis information or error information. Processing equipment. 3. The maintenance guidance function-equipped information according to claim 2, wherein the maintenance guidance information display control means produces an alarm output when a maintenance operation that does not match the displayed maintenance guidance information is performed. Processing equipment. 4. The information processing with maintenance guidance function according to claim 1, wherein the cover of the device is a cover of a terminal device or an input / output device connected to the information processing device. apparatus.