JPH09297694A - Device and method for arranging repair work - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange repair by collecting the information of fault factors. SOLUTION: A microcomputer 14 of a video camera 1 installed at home H detects the defect of an operation, generates prescribed fault analytic data based on the detected result and outputs these data through a home bus 6 and a telephone line 7 to a fault discriminating device 5 installed at a center S. The fault discriminating device 5 analyzes the fault analytic data and transfers a fault diagnostic program for getting further detailed information to the video camera 1. The microcomputer 14 transmits fault discrimination data provided by executing the fault diagnostic program to the fault discriminating device 5. While using the analyzed result of the fault discrimination data analyzed by a fault position discriminating device 22 and information stored in a relational information DB 25, a microcomputer 24 at the fault discriminating device 5 manages the stock of parts required for the repair and generates the job schedule of a maintenance person to perform the repair.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a repair work arrangement device and method, and more particularly, to a failure by analyzing a failure determination data generated by transferring a predetermined failure diagnosis program and executing the failure diagnosis program. Identify the cause,
The present invention relates to a repair work arrangement device and method for making arrangements for corresponding repairs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, when repairing an electronic device such as a broken home electric appliance, the broken home electric appliance is brought to a repair window such as a predetermined service center or the manufacturer is requested to carry out on-site repair.

[0003] Then, after the repair person investigates the home electric appliance and identifies the faulty part, a repair part is ordered as needed.

[0004]

However, in the conventional repair work, since the repair person investigates the broken home electric appliance based on the small amount of information obtained from the user (user of the home electric appliance), originally, There is a problem that unnecessary investigation, for example, investigation of a normal part may be performed, and there is a problem that it takes an excessive amount of time to specify a failure point.

Further, since a repair person investigates the broken home electric appliance to identify the defective part, it is impossible to prepare the parts necessary for the repair in advance. Therefore,
For example, in the case of an on-site repair, when the repair person does not bring the necessary parts for the repair, it is necessary to bring the necessary parts to the user's home again. As a result, there have been problems that human rights costs become large and it is difficult to perform repair work quickly.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and by executing a predetermined failure diagnosis program in advance, the failure location is specified, and the parts required for repair and the maintenance work for performing the repair work are performed. The staff can be arranged.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a repair work arranging device, and a transfer means for transferring a failure diagnosis program for analyzing a cause of failure through a predetermined wired or wireless communication line. Receiving means for receiving, through a communication line, the failure determination data for specifying the detailed failure cause generated by the execution of the failure diagnosis program, and the specification for analyzing the failure determination data and identifying the failure cause Means and arrangement means for making arrangements for carrying out repairs corresponding to the cause of the failure.

According to a fifth aspect of the repair work arrangement method, a step of transferring a failure diagnosis program for analyzing the cause of the failure via a predetermined wired or wireless communication line, and the failure diagnosis program are executed. Receiving the failure determination data for specifying the detailed failure cause generated by the above, through the communication line, analyzing the failure determination data to specify the failure cause, and repairing corresponding to the failure cause. And a step of making an arrangement for performing.

In the repair work arrangement device according to the first aspect, the transfer means transfers the failure diagnosis program for analyzing the cause of the failure via a predetermined wired or wireless communication line, and the receiving means, The failure determination data for identifying the detailed cause of failure generated by executing the failure diagnosis program is received through the communication line, and the identifying means analyzes the failure determination data to identify the cause of failure. , Arrangement means make arrangements for repairs to deal with the cause of the failure.

In the repair work arrangement method according to the present invention, the failure diagnosis program for analyzing the cause of the failure is transferred via a predetermined wired or wireless communication line, and the failure diagnosis program is executed. Arrangements for receiving the failure determination data, which is generated by, to identify the detailed cause of the failure through the communication line, analyzes the failure determination data to identify the cause of the failure, and makes repairs corresponding to the cause of the failure. Will be done.

[0011]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a failure cause analysis system to which a repair work arrangement device of the present invention is applied.

Home appliances (video camera 1, personal computer 2, TV (television) receiver 3, and refrigerator 4) installed in the home H are connected to the center via the home bus 6 and the telephone line 7 as needed. It can be connected to the failure determination device 5 installed in S. That is, for example, when a failure occurs in the video camera 1 installed in the home H, the user of the home H connects the video camera 1 to the home bus 6.

As a result, predetermined data are mutually exchanged between the video camera 1 and the failure determination device 5 of the center S, and the cause of failure of the video camera 1 is automatically specified.
Parts required for repair are arranged, and the work plan of maintenance personnel who perform repair work is adjusted.

Similarly, when a failure occurs in another home electric appliance (personal computer 2, television receiver 3, and refrigerator 4), the user of the home H sets the predetermined home electric appliance in which the failure has occurred to the home bus. 6, so that predetermined data can be exchanged between the failure determination device 5 of the center S and a predetermined home electric appliance. It should be noted that household appliances, such as T
The V receiver 3 and the refrigerator 4 may be connected to the home bus 6 in advance.

An image of a predetermined subject is input to the CCD camera 13 via the lens 11 of the video camera 1 and the adjusting circuit 12 for changing the optical system thereof. The CCD camera 13 generates a video signal corresponding to the video of the subject and supplies it to the signal processing circuit 15.

The signal processing circuit 15 subjects the video signal supplied from the CCD camera 13 to predetermined signal processing, and outputs a VCR (Video Cassette Record) (not shown) via the output circuit 16.
It is designed to output to a recording device such as rder).

The microcomputer 14 performs various controls of the video camera 1, for example, the adjustment circuit 12 to realize an optical system corresponding to a subject, and the signal processing circuit 15.
On the other hand, control such as instructing predetermined signal processing is performed. In addition, a defective operation of the video camera 1 is detected, failure analysis data for specifying the cause of failure is generated based on the detection result, and output to the home bus 6 via the signal processing circuit 15 and the transmission / reception circuit 17. It is designed to do. Further, the transmission / reception circuit 17 and the signal processing circuit 15
The failure diagnosis program input from the home bus 6 via the CPU is executed, and the failure determination data generated as a result is output to the home bus 6 via the signal processing circuit 15 and the transmission / reception circuit 17. . Furthermore, a predetermined message and failure information (failure content, which is input from the home bus 6 via the transmission / reception circuit 17 and the signal processing circuit 15).
Information such as repair method, repair time, and repair cost)
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 18.

These data (fault analysis data, fault diagnosis program, fault determination data, message, and fault information) are sent to the video camera 1 and the fault determination device 5 of the center S via the home bus 6 and the telephone line 7. Therefore, it is designed to be given and received.

The failure analysis data or failure determination data transmitted from the video camera 1 is received by the transmission / reception circuit 23 of the failure determination device 5 and supplied to the failure location determination circuit 22.

The failure point determination device 22 is configured to analyze the failure analysis data or the failure determination data and supply the result to the macro computer 24.

The microcomputer 24 is adapted to display the analysis result on the CRT 21. In addition, a failure determination program for acquiring more detailed information according to the analysis result is related information DB (database).
The data is read from the digital camera 25, and transmitted to the video camera 1 via the macro computer 24, the failure location determination device 22, the transmission / reception circuit 23, the telephone line 7, and the home bus 6. Further, from the failure information accumulated in the related information DB 25, the failure information corresponding to the failure cause analysis result supplied from the failure location determination circuit 22 is read out,
It is adapted to be transmitted to the video camera 1. Furthermore, inventory management of parts is performed based on the analysis result of the cause of failure, and an operation plan of a maintenance person who performs repair is also generated.

The video camera 1 installed in the home H
Similar to the case of the video camera 1, the predetermined failure analysis data, the failure judgment data, the failure judgment program, the message, or the failure information is exchanged between the home electric appliances other than the above and the failure judgment apparatus 5. ing.

As a communication means between the home H and the center S, a wire such as an optical fiber cable can be used in addition to a telephone line. Further, it may be wireless such as a mobile communication line.

Next, the processing operation of the failure cause analysis system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

It is assumed that the video camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a failure and the user connects the video camera 1 to the home bus 6. At this time, in step S1 of FIG. 2, the microcomputer 14 of the video camera 1 detects the malfunction of the video camera 1, and based on the detection result, the malfunction of the predetermined data including the dump data of the predetermined control buffer is detected. The signal processing circuit 1 generates the failure analysis data representing the state.
5, transmission / reception circuit 17, home bus 6, and telephone line 7
To the failure determination device 5 of the center S via. The failure analysis data is received by the transmission / reception circuit 23 of the failure determination device 5 and supplied to the failure location determination circuit 22. afterwards,
The failure analysis data is analyzed by the failure point determination circuit 22,
The analysis result is sent to the CRT 2 via the microcomputer 24.
1 is displayed.

In a succeeding step S2, the microcomputer 24 obtains more detailed information on the cause of the failure, and a predetermined information stored in the related information DB corresponding to the analysis result supplied from the failure point determination device 22. The failure diagnosis program is read out and transmitted to the video camera 1. The transmission / reception circuit 17 of the video camera 1 receives the failure diagnosis program and supplies it to the microcomputer 14 via the signal processing circuit 15. Then, the microcomputer 14
Executes a failure diagnosis program and generates failure determination data.

Subsequently, in step S3, the microcomputer 14 outputs the failure determination data to the home bus 6 via the signal processing circuit 15 and the transmission / reception circuit 17. The failure analysis data is received by the transmission / reception circuit 23 of the failure determination device 5 via the home bus 6 and the telephone line 7, and is supplied to the failure location determination circuit 22.

Next, in step S4, the failure point determination circuit 22 analyzes the failure determination data and supplies the analysis result to the microcomputer 24. Then, the analysis result is converted into a corresponding video signal by the microcomputer 24 and displayed on the CRT 21.

In the subsequent step S5, the microcomputer 24 determines whether or not the failed home electric appliance (video camera 1) can be repaired based on the analysis result and the information accumulated in the related information DB 25. When it is determined in step S5 that the repair is impossible, the microcomputer 24 transmits a predetermined message indicating that the repair is impossible to the video camera 1 in step S6. This message is received by the transmission / reception circuit 17 of the video camera 1 and displayed on the liquid crystal display device 18 via the signal processing circuit 15 and the microcomputer 14.

In this way, the user of the home H can know whether or not the failure of the video camera 1 can be repaired. In addition, in step S6, in addition to the message indicating that the repair is impossible, it is also possible to transmit a message including a description of a failure location and a simple failure cause.

If it is determined in step S5 that repair is possible, in step S7 the microcomputer 24
Determines whether it can be repaired by the user.
If it is determined in step S7 that the user can repair it, in step S8, the microcomputer 24
Searches for a corresponding repair method from the related information DB 25 and sends it to the video camera 1. Then, this repair method is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 18 of the video camera 1.

In this way, the user of the home H can know the repair method when the failure of the video camera 1 can be repaired by himself.

If it is determined in step S7 that the repair cannot be performed by the user, the microcomputer 24 searches the related information DB 25 for failure information such as repair cost and repair time in step S9, and the video camera 1 To transmit. This failure information is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 18 of the video camera 1. The user of home H uses the liquid crystal display device 1
By referring to the failure information displayed on the display 8, the repair intention to decide whether or not to repair is determined, and by operating a predetermined ten-key or button (not shown) of the video camera 1, the repair intention is determined. To transmit.

In the subsequent step S10, the repair intention information is transmitted to the failure determination device 5 and displayed on the CRT 21.

In the subsequent step S11, the microcomputer 24, based on the transmitted repair intention information,
Determine whether the user wants repair. If it is determined that the repair is not desired, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 ends, but if it is determined that the user desires the repair, the subroutine process (repair preparation process) of step S12 is executed. To be done.

Details of the processing in step S12 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S21 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 24 searches the related information DB 25 on the basis of the analysis result supplied from the failure point determination device 22 to find a predetermined component necessary for repairing the video camera 1. decide.

In a succeeding step S22, it is determined whether or not the parts required for repair are in stock. If it is determined that the parts required for repair are in stock, the process branches to step S27, but if it is determined that the parts required for repair are not in stock,
In step S23, the microcomputer 24 determines the number of parts (parts required for repair) to be ordered from the parts center according to a predetermined equipment purchase plan.

In step S24, an order is placed to the parts center, and in step S25, the microcomputer 24 updates the ordered parts list in accordance with the order contents. Subsequently, when the ordered parts are received in step S26, the process branches to step S27, and in step S27, the microcomputer 24 updates the parts inventory list.

In this way, the inventory of parts required for repair is automatically managed according to a predetermined parts purchase plan.

In subsequent step S28, the microcomputer 24 provides detailed breakdown repair work attributes relating to repair such as breakdown type, repair difficulty level, work time required for repair, parts inventory information, and parts arrival time information as related information. DB
Search from 25.

Next, in step S29, the related information DB2
Based on the personnel information of the maintenance personnel (information such as special skills and work speeds that each maintenance personnel has) accumulated in 5, for each maintenance personnel,
The repair time required for repair is estimated, and in step S30,
Based on the work plan of the maintenance personnel accumulated in the related information DB 25, the optimal maintenance personnel for repairing the video camera 1 is selected.

In the following step S31, the microcomputer 24 updates the work plan of the maintenance personnel selected in step S30.

When the repair preparation process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is completed in this way, step S13 of FIG.
The selected maintenance staff repairs a predetermined home electric appliance (video camera 1) using the inventory-managed parts required for repair according to the work plan.

In this way, through the communication line, the failure location of the failed home electric appliance is specified in advance, the inventory of the parts required for the repair is managed, and the optimum repair for the predetermined repair content is performed. A person in charge can be selected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the failure cause analysis system to which the repair work arrangement device of the present invention is applied. In the failure cause analysis system of FIG. 4, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

The failure cause analysis system shown in FIG.
This is an example of a configuration in which each home electric appliance installed in the home H shown in FIG. 2 does not have a communication mechanism, and only the failure diagnosis communication device 32 communicates with the failure determination device 5 installed in the center S. Here is an example.

Household appliances (31-1) installed in the home H
31 to 31-n) can be connected to the home bus 6 as necessary, and can be connected to the failure diagnosis communication device 32 via the home bus 6.

The microcomputer 41 of the home electric appliance 31-1 performs various controls of the home electric appliance 31-1 and also performs the essential operation of the home electric appliance 31-1.
No. 2 defective operation is detected, and predetermined failure analysis data is generated based on the detection result. Further, from the failure diagnosis communication device 32, the home bus 6 and the input / output circuit 4 are connected.
4 is input to the signal processing circuit 43 and downloaded by the signal processing circuit 43 and subjected to predetermined processing, and then executed to generate predetermined failure determination data, or the signal processing circuit The failure analysis data and the failure determination data are output to the failure diagnosis communication device 32 via the 43, the input / output circuit 44, and the home bus 6.

Although not shown, the other home appliances (31-2 to 31-n) are also configured in the same manner as the home appliance 31-1.

The microcomputer 51 of the failure diagnosis communication circuit is input to the signal processing circuit 52 via the home bus 6 and the input / output circuit 53, and the failure analysis data and the failure judgment which have been subjected to the predetermined processing by the signal processing circuit 52 are performed. The network address of the failure determination device 5 is added to the data, or the demodulation corresponding to the telephone line 7 is performed and output to the failure determination device 5 via the signal processing circuit 52, the transmission / reception circuit 54, and the telephone line 7. Has been done. In addition, the failure diagnosis program received via the telephone line 7, the transmission / reception circuit 54, and the signal processing circuit 52 is passed through the signal processing circuit 52, the input / output circuit 53, and the home bus 6 to a predetermined home electric appliance 31-. 1 to 31-n.
Furthermore, the predetermined failure information and message transmitted from the failure determination device 5 are displayed on the CRT 55.

The processing operation of the failure cause analysis system of FIG. 4 is the same as the processing shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 2 and 3, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

Although the fault diagnosis communication device 32 has only the communication function, it may be possible to perform a simple fault diagnosis. In that case, when a failure occurs in the home electric appliances 31-1 to 31-n, a simple failure diagnosis program is read from the predetermined RAM of the microcomputer 51 and executed on the predetermined home electric appliances 31-1 to 31-n. Then, the result (fault determination data) is analyzed, and the analysis result is transmitted to the fault determination device 5. Thereafter, a failure diagnosis program for acquiring more detailed failure judgment data is transmitted from the failure judgment device 5 to the predetermined home electric appliances 31-1 to 31-n via the failure diagnosis communication device 32,
The execution result (fault determination data) is transmitted to the fault determination device 5 via the fault diagnosis communication device 32.

In this way, the predetermined failure diagnosis program is transferred from the failure judgment device 5 installed in the center S, and is executed by the failed home electric appliances 31-1 to 31-n. Can be transferred to the center S for analysis, inventory of parts required for repair can be managed, and a work plan for maintenance personnel can be created.

Therefore, the maintenance staff who repairs the failed home electric appliances can know the failure points of the failed home electric appliances 31-1 to 31-n in advance, and therefore the already prepared parts are used. Then, quick repair work can be performed.

Further, since a predetermined maintenance person is selected based on the repair contents and the maintenance person's work plan, the optimum maintenance person can carry out the repair work with a reasonable work plan.

Further, since inventory management of parts required for repair is automatically performed, based on a predetermined parts purchase plan,
The parts required for repair can be always kept in the center S efficiently.

Furthermore, since the repair cost and the time required for repair can be transmitted to the user as a diagnosis result of the failed home electric appliances 31-1 to 31-n together with a brief description of the details of the failure, The user can refer to this and select whether or not to repair.

In the above-described embodiment, the microcomputer 24 of the failure determination device 5 automatically manages the inventory of parts and the work of maintenance personnel.
The observer may give these instructions to the microcomputer 24 if necessary.

[0060]

As described above, according to the repair work arrangement device of the first aspect and the repair work arrangement method of the fifth aspect, the failure diagnosis program for analyzing the cause of the failure is wired or wireless. Transfer via a predetermined communication line,
Receive the failure judgment data generated by the execution of the failure diagnosis program, analyze and identify the cause of failure,
Since the arrangement for repairing the cause of the failure is made, the human rights cost required for the repair work can be reduced and the quick repair work can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a failure cause analysis system to which a repair work arrangement device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the failure cause analysis system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating details of a subroutine process of step S12 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of another failure cause analysis system to which the repair work arrangement device of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 video camera, 2 personal computer,
3 TV receiver, 4 refrigerator, 5 failure determination device,
6 home buses, 7 telephone lines, 11 lenses, 1
2 adjustment circuit, 13 CCD camera, 14 microcomputer, 15 signal processing circuit, 16 output circuit, 17 transmission / reception circuit, 18 liquid crystal display device, 2
1 CRT, 22 failure location determination circuit, 23 transmission / reception circuit, 24 microcomputer, 25 related information DB, 31-1 to 31-n home electric appliances, 32
Failure diagnosis communication device, 41 microcomputer,
42 processing circuit, 43 signal processing circuit, 44 input / output circuit, 51 microcomputer, 52 signal processing circuit, 53 input / output circuit, 54 transmitting / receiving circuit,
55 CRT

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transfer means for transferring a failure diagnosis program for analyzing a cause of a failure via a predetermined wired or wireless communication line, and a detailed failure generated by executing the failure diagnosis program. Receiving means for receiving failure determination data for specifying the cause via the communication line, specifying means for analyzing the failure determination data and specifying the failure cause, and performing repair corresponding to the failure cause An arrangement device for arranging a repair work arrangement device. 2. The arranging means transmits the content of the repair through the communication line, receives an input for determining whether or not to perform the repair, and makes the arrangement in response to the determination. The repair work arrangement device according to claim 1, wherein the repair work arrangement device is provided. 3. The repair work arrangement device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement means selects a maintenance worker who performs the repair and creates a work plan of the maintenance worker. 4. The repair work arrangement device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement means manages an inventory of predetermined parts necessary for the repair. 5. A step of transferring a failure diagnosis program for analyzing a cause of failure through a predetermined wired or wireless communication line, and a detailed cause of failure generated by executing the failure diagnosis program. Receiving the failure determination data for identifying the failure through the communication line, analyzing the failure determination data to identify the failure cause, and making an arrangement for performing repairs corresponding to the failure cause. A method for arranging repair work, comprising the step of: