JPH11134018A - Diagnostic device and machine-readable storage medium where program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a serviceman to specify the cause of a failure without visiting the user's house if a house appliance with a bidirectional communication function that unspecified users are using like an internet-incorporated television receiver gets out of order. SOLUTION: When a user reports a failure to the service center, a serviceman sends a self-diagnostic function execution instruction to the internet-incorporated television receiver 301 by using a personal compute 318 as the service center. Consequently, a self-diagnostic function part 312 performs a self-diagnostic process to specify a faulty component and an abnormal user set value, thereby generating self-diagnostic result information including faulty components information indicating the faulty component and abnormal set value information indicating the abnormal user set value. This self-diagnostic result information is sent to the personal computer 318 at the service center through a telephone line 317 and displayed. The serviceman looks at the display and specifies the cause of the fault.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for diagnosing home electric appliances having two-way communication means with the outside, and more particularly to a self-diagnosis apparatus capable of identifying the cause of a failure of the home electric appliance itself and transmitting it to an external device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As home electric appliances having two-way communication with the outside, television receivers with a built-in Internet function have been known.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional television receiver 101 with a built-in Internet.
PU 113, a modem unit 115 for converting an analog signal of the telephone line 116 into a digital signal, and a TV signal 104
Switching IC1 for switching between video and video signal 105
06, a regulator 103, a display circuit 108 for converting an output signal of the CPU 113 into a signal that can be mixed with an output signal 107 of the input switching IC 106, and a CRT 10
9 and a reset IC 110.

[0004] The CPU 113 includes a display processing unit 111, a self-diagnosis function unit 112, and a modem interface unit 114.
And

[0005] When information is sent from a provider via a telephone line 116 to a television receiver 101 via a telephone line 116 by analog signals, the modem unit 1
At step 15, the signal is converted into a digital signal. This digital signal is supplied to the display circuit 108 via the modem interface unit 114 and the display processing unit 111, and the display circuit 108
Input switching IC for digital signal from display processing unit 111
The output signal 107 is converted into an analog signal that can be mixed with the output signal 107 and output. The information sent to the provider is
The digital signal is converted into an analog signal by the modem unit 115 and transmitted to the telephone line 116.

Next, a process performed when a failure occurs in the television receiver 101 with a built-in Internet will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

When a user reports a failure to the service center (S201), the service person travels to the user's home (S202) and causes the television receiver 101 with built-in Internet in the user's home to perform a self-diagnosis (S2).
03).

[0008] Television receiver 1 with built-in Internet
In 01, the self-diagnosis function unit 112 performs a self-diagnosis according to the following procedure.

First, Ackno is input from the input switching IC 106.
Check whether there is a wredge (ACK) (S20)
4). If there is an ACK, it is determined that there is no failure in the input switching unit (S212).

If there is no ACK, the reset IC
The state of 110 is confirmed (S205). If the state of the reset IC 110 is normal, the input switching IC 106 outputs A
Since CK is not returned, it is determined that the input switching IC 106 has a failure (S208).

If the state of the reset IC 110 is abnormal, the state of the regulator 103 is confirmed (S20).
6). Then, the state of the regulator 103 is normal (5
In the case of V), the state of the reset IC 110 is not normal even though the state of the regulator 103 is normal, so it is determined that the reset IC 110 has a failure (S209).

If the state of the regulator 103 is abnormal, the input voltage 102 of the regulator 103 is normal (1
2V) is confirmed (S207). And
If the input voltage 102 of the regulator 103 is normal, it is determined that the regulator 103 has a failure because the regulator 103 is not normal despite the normal input voltage 102 (S210). On the other hand, if the input voltage 102 is not normal, a self-diagnosis similar to that described above for the preceding stage is performed, and a failed portion is specified (S211).

Further, the self-diagnosis function unit 112 includes a CPU 1
It is checked whether or not any of the user setting values (such as luminance) stored in a memory (not shown) in the memory 13 has an abnormal value (S213). If there is a user setting value having an abnormal value, the value and the item name are held.

When the above processing is completed, the self-diagnosis function section 112 displays on the CRT 109 a self-diagnosis result including faulty part information indicating a faulty part and abnormal setting value information indicating an abnormal user setting value. (S214). If there is no failed component, the failed component information is "no failed component", and if there is no abnormal user set value, the abnormal set value information is "no abnormal set value".

If there is a failed part based on the self-diagnosis result displayed on the cathode ray tube 109, the service person informs the user that there is a failed part (S215).
After creating a parts order list based on the information on the failed part and returning to the service center, the customer places an order for the failed part with the parts storage department or the like using a terminal device such as a personal computer located at the service center (S216). ). Also,
If there is no faulty component and there is an abnormality in the user setting value, it is determined that there is a user setting error, the user setting value is changed to an appropriate value, and the content of the setting error is transmitted to the user (S215).

Now, for example, if there is a message from the user at the service center that the Internet screen operates normally but the picture does not appear on the television screen and the video screen, as described above, the serviceman is in the user's home. To make a self-diagnosis by the television receiver 101 with built-in Internet, which has been notified of the failure (S201).
To S203).

Thus, the self-diagnosis function unit 112 performs self-diagnosis of the television receiver 101 with built-in Internet in the same manner as described above (S204 to S213). In this self-diagnosis, for example, the determination result of S205 is Y
If ES is detected, the self-diagnosis function unit 112 displays a self-diagnosis result including failure component information indicating that the input switching IC 106 has failed on the CRT 109 (S
214). The serviceman who sees this display informs the user that there is a failed part (S215), returns to the service center, creates a parts order list based on the failed parts information, and places an order for the failed part (S216). ). And
When the ordered parts are ready, the user again travels to the user's home to repair the Internet-installed television receiver 101.

For example, if a service center reports that a picture is dark only when a video is received from a user, as described above, the service person travels to the user's home and, as described above, a television with built-in Internet that reports a failure. Cause the receiver 101 to execute self-diagnosis (S201
To S203).

Thus, the self-diagnosis function unit 112 performs a self-diagnosis of the television receiver 101 with built-in Internet (S204 to S213). If it is determined in step S213 that the user setting value for determining the brightness during video reception is abnormal, the self-diagnosis result including the abnormal setting value information indicating that the user setting value is abnormal is displayed on the cathode ray tube 109. It is displayed above (S214). The serviceman who sees this display informs the user of the display and changes the user set value to a normal value (S215).

[0020]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

The first problem is that a service technician must travel to a user's home to identify the cause of the failure.

A second problem is that the serviceman must return to the service center and place an order for a part after specifying the failed part.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a serviceman who travels to a user's home when a failure occurs in a home appliance having a two-way communication function used by an unspecified user, such as a television receiver with a built-in Internet. The purpose of the present invention is to enable the cause of failure to be specified without doing so.

Incidentally, JP-A-8-115125 discloses that
A technology is described that allows each peripheral device connected to the network to periodically perform self-diagnosis and notify the service center when a serious error is detected based on the self-diagnosis result. I have. However,
It is not appropriate to apply such technology to home appliances used by unspecified users. In the above-described conventional technology, self-diagnosis is performed periodically, and if there is an error, a service center is notified of the occurrence of the error. For this reason, communication is performed with the service center even if the user does not wish, and the communication fee is charged to the user.

[0025]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a two-way communication function with the outside and a self-diagnosis function so that a serviceman can specify a faulty part without traveling to a user's home. A diagnostic device for identifying the cause of a failure of a home appliance, wherein the home appliance performs a self-diagnosis on its own product by receiving a self-diagnosis function execution command from an external device via a communication line, and A self-diagnosis function unit for specifying the component; and a communication unit for notifying the external device of the failed component specified by the self-diagnosis function unit via the communication line.

In this configuration, when the user notifies the service center of the failure of the home electric appliance, the service person uses an external device such as a personal computer installed in the service center to provide the home appliance having the failure notification. Send a self-diagnosis function execution command to the product. This allows
The self-diagnosis function unit in the home electric appliance executes the self-diagnosis to specify the faulty component, and the communication unit notifies the external device of the faulty component specified by the self-diagnosis function unit.

Further, the present invention provides the self-diagnosis function unit which can identify the cause of a failure without having to travel to the user's home even when the cause of the failure is a user set value set by the user. Has a configuration for specifying an abnormal user setting value at the time of self-diagnosis, the communication unit notifies the external device via the communication line of the abnormal user setting value specified by the self-diagnosis function unit. It has a configuration to

In this configuration, the self-diagnosis function section includes:
At the time of self-diagnosis, an abnormal user setting value is specified, and the communication unit notifies the external device of the abnormal user setting value specified by the self-diagnosis function unit via a communication line.

According to the present invention, in order to ensure the ordering of the faulty component, the external device includes a faulty component ordering unit for ordering the faulty component notified from the home electric appliance.

In this configuration, when a faulty component is notified from the home electric appliance, the faulty component ordering unit performs a faulty component ordering process.

Further, according to the present invention, when the cause of the failure is a user set value, the external device can be removed from the home electric appliance so that the service person can remove the cause of the failure without traveling to the user's home. When a certain user setting value is notified, the home appliance includes a self-diagnosis result analysis unit that notifies the home appliance via the communication line of a coping method, and the home appliance includes a coping method notified from the external device. A display unit for displaying is provided.

In this configuration, when an abnormal user setting value is notified from the home electric appliance, the self-diagnosis result analyzing unit in the external device notifies the home electric appliance of a coping method.
This coping method is displayed on the display unit of the home electric appliance, and the user changes the user setting value to a correct value while watching the display.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. A television receiver 301 with a built-in Internet at a user's home and a personal computer 318 in a service center are connected by a telephone line 317.

Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
01, a CPU 313, a modem unit 316 for converting an analog signal of the telephone line 317 into a digital signal,
An input switching IC 306 for switching between a signal 304 and a video signal 305; a regulator 303;
3, a display circuit 308 for converting the output signal into a signal that can be mixed with the output signal 307 of the input switching IC 306, a cathode ray tube 309, a reset IC 310, and the recording medium 23.
4 is provided.

Recording medium 3 connected to CPU 313
Reference numeral 24 denotes a semiconductor memory or other recording medium,
A program for causing U313 to function as a diagnostic device is recorded. This program is read by the CPU 313, and by controlling the operation of the CPU 313, a display processing unit 311, a self-diagnosis function unit 312, a self-diagnosis instruction decoding unit 314, and a modem interface unit 315 are realized on the CPU 313. .

The recording medium 323 connected to the personal computer 318 in the service center is
It is a disk, a semiconductor memory, or another recording medium in which a program for causing the personal computer 318 to function as a part of the diagnostic device is recorded. The program recorded on the recording medium 323 is read by the personal computer 318, and by controlling the operation of the personal computer 318, the self-diagnosis result analyzing unit 319 is stored on the personal computer 318.
, Faulty part ordering section 320 and self-diagnosis function instruction section 32
2 is realized. Also, the personal computer 318
Includes a modem unit 321.

When information is sent from a provider via a telephone line 317 to the television receiver 301 via a telephone line 317, the modem unit 3
At 16 it is converted to a digital signal. This digital signal is supplied to the display circuit 308 via the modem interface unit 315 and the display processing unit 311.
Digital signal input from display processing unit 311
The output signal 306 is converted into an analog signal that can be mixed with the output signal 307 and output. The information sent to the provider is
The digital signal is converted into an analog signal by the modem unit 316 and transmitted to the telephone line 317.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of this embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
When the user of the trouble enters the service center from the user No. 01 (S401 in FIG. 2), the serviceman sends the failure report to the personal computer 318 in the service center to the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet. The user inputs a telephone number or the like, and instructs the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet to transmit a self-diagnosis function execution command (S402).

Upon receiving this instruction, the self-diagnosis function instruction unit 322 in the personal computer 318 issues a self-diagnosis function execution instruction, and the modem unit 321 converts the instruction into an analog signal. Transmission to the Internet built-in television receiver 301 (S
403).

Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
The modem unit 316 in 01 converts the self-diagnosis function execution command sent in the form of an analog signal into a digital signal and outputs it.

When the digital signal is output from the modem unit 316, the modem interface unit 315 determines whether the digital signal is an electronic mail (S405). If it is determined that the received message is an e-mail (S405: YE
S) passes it to the display processing unit 311 and
09 is displayed (S407). On the other hand, if it is determined that the message is not an electronic mail (S405: NO), the information from the modem unit 316 is passed to the self-diagnosis command decoding unit 314.

When the self-diagnosis command decoding unit 314 determines that the information passed from the modem interface unit 315 is a self-diagnosis function execution command (S406: YES), it activates the self-diagnosis function unit 312. Thereby, the self-diagnosis function unit 312 executes a self-diagnosis process (S40).
8).

Here, the self-diagnosis processing performed in S408 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When executing the self-diagnosis, the self-diagnosis function unit 312 first checks whether or not there is an ACK from the input switching IC 306 (FIG. 4, S501). If there is an ACK, it is determined that there is no failure in the input switching unit (S509).

If there is no ACK, reset IC
The state of 310 is confirmed (S502). If the state of the reset IC 310 is normal, ACK is not returned even though the reset is normally performed.
It is determined that the input switching IC 306 has a failure (S50).
6).

On the other hand, if the state of the reset IC 310 is abnormal, the state of the regulator 303 is confirmed (S503). When there is no problem in the state of the regulator 303, the state of the regulator 303 is normal (5
Despite V), since the state of the reset IC 310 is not normal, it is determined that the reset IC 310 has a failure (S507).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the state of the regulator 303 is abnormal, it is confirmed whether or not the input voltage 302 of the regulator 303 is normal (12 V) (S504). When the input voltage 302 of the regulator 303 is normal, the regulator 303 is not normal even though the input voltage 302 is normal.
It is determined that the regulator 303 has a failure (S50
8). On the other hand, when the input voltage 102 is not normal, the self-diagnosis is performed on the power supply portion in the same manner as described above, and the failure portion is specified (S505).

Further, the self-diagnosis function unit 312
It is checked whether any of the user setting values (such as luminance) stored in a memory (not shown) in the memory 13 has an abnormal value (S510). If there is a user setting value whose value is abnormal, the value and the item name (such as luminance) are held. The determination as to whether the user setting value is abnormal is made based on, for example, whether the difference between the user setting value and the factory shipment value is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio with respect to the factory shipment value. .

When the above processing is completed, the self-diagnosis function unit 312 creates self-diagnosis result information including faulty part information indicating a faulty part and abnormal set value information indicating an abnormal user set value (S511). ). The above is the processing performed in S408.

When the self-diagnosis processing is completed, the self-diagnosis function unit 312 sends the self-diagnosis result information created in S511 to the modem unit 316 via the modem interface unit 315 (S409 in FIG. 2). Thereby, the modem unit 316
Converts the self-diagnosis result information from a digital signal to an analog signal and sends it to the personal computer 318 in the service center via the telephone line 317 (S41).
0).

The modem section 321 in the personal computer 318 is a television receiver 3 with a built-in Internet.
When the self-diagnosis result information is sent from 01, it is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the converted self-diagnosis result information is passed to the self-diagnosis result analysis unit 319.

Thus, the self-diagnosis result analyzer 319
Displays the self-diagnosis result information on a display device (not shown) and analyzes the contents (S411 in FIG. 3). Then, as a result of the analysis, when it is determined that the television receiver with built-in Internet 301 has a failed part (S412).
Is YES), a part order list is created based on the failed part information in the self-diagnosis result information, and the created part order list is passed to the failed part ordering unit 320 (S413). As a result, the failed part ordering unit 320 places an order for the failed part by e-mail to the parts storage department (S414). afterwards,
The self-diagnosis result analysis unit 319 creates an e-mail indicating the content of the failure (for example, “The input switching IC has failed. Repair is required.”), And the Internet via the modem unit 321 and the telephone line 317. The data is transmitted to the built-in television receiver 301 (S415, S418).

On the other hand, if there is no faulty part and there is an abnormality in the user setting value (NO in S412), it is determined that the user setting error has occurred, and an e-mail indicating the coping method (for example, “brightness Please adjust the brightness because the settings are incorrect. ")
The data is transmitted to the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet via the telephone line 317 (S416 to S418).

The electronic mail from the service center is converted from an analog signal into a digital signal by the modem section 316 and passed to the modem interface section 315.

When the modem interface unit 315 confirms that the electronic mail passed from the modem interface unit 315 is from the service center (S4).
19 is YES), and is passed to the display processing unit 311 to be displayed on the cathode ray tube 309 (S420), and thereafter, this processing is ended. Here, when the e-mail displayed on the cathode ray tube 309 describes a countermeasure for a user setting value setting error, the user changes the user setting value according to the countermeasure.

On the other hand, the modem interface unit 3
If it is determined that the e-mail passed from 15 is not from the service center (S419: NO), the e-mail is displayed on the cathode ray tube 309 (S42).
1) Wait for an e-mail to be sent from the service center.

Now, for example, if there is a notification from the user at the service center that the Internet screen operates normally but no picture appears on the television screen and the video screen, the service person will be notified of the personal computer in the service center. The self-diagnosis function execution command is transmitted from the 318 to the Internet built-in television receiver 301 which has received the failure notification (FIG. 2, S401 to S403).
In this case, it is assumed that the failure of the input switching IC 306 is the cause of the failure.

Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
When the self-diagnosis function execution command is sent (YES in S406 in FIG. 2), the self-diagnosis processing is performed using the self-diagnosis function unit 312 (S501 to S511 in FIG. 4).
In this example, since the cause of the failure is the failure of the input switching IC 306, the determination result in S502 is YES, and self-diagnosis result information including failure component information indicating that the input switching IC 306 has failed is created. (S511).

The self-diagnosis result information created in S511 is transmitted to the modem interface unit 315 and the modem unit 31.
6, transmitted to the personal computer 318 in the service center via the telephone line 317 (FIG. 2, S40).
9, S410).

When the self-diagnosis result analyzer 319 in the personal computer 318 receives the self-diagnosis result information from the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet, it analyzes the information (S411 in FIG. 3). In the case of this example, the self-diagnosis result information includes failure component information indicating that the input switching IC 306 has failed, and S4
Since the result of the determination in step 12 is YES, the self-diagnosis result analysis unit 319 orders the failed component using the failed component ordering unit 320 and transmits an e-mail indicating the content of the failure to the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet. Yes (4
13 to S415, S418).

[0063] Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
In 01, when an e-mail is sent from the service center (S419: YES), it is sent to the cathode ray tube 309.
(S420).

As another example, when a user notifies that a picture is dark only when receiving a video, the following processing is performed.

When the user receives the above-mentioned trouble report,
The service person sends a self-diagnosis function execution command from the personal computer 318 in the service center to the television receiver with built-in Internet 301 that has reported the failure (S401 to S403 in FIG. 2). In this case, it is assumed that a setting error of the user setting value is the cause of the failure.

Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
When the self-diagnosis function execution command is sent (YES in S406 in FIG. 2), the self-diagnosis processing is performed using the self-diagnosis function unit 312 (S501 to S511 in FIG. 4).
In this example, since the cause of the failure is an abnormality in the user setting value, in S510, a user setting value for determining the brightness at the time of video reception is searched for as the user setting value having an abnormal value. Then, in S511, self-diagnosis result information including abnormal set value information indicating that the user set value is abnormal is created.

The self-diagnosis result information created in S511 is transmitted to the modem interface unit 315 and the modem unit 31.
6, transmitted to the personal computer 318 in the service center via the telephone line 317 (FIG. 2, S40).
9, S410).

When the self-diagnosis result analyzer 319 in the personal computer 318 receives the self-diagnosis result information from the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet, it analyzes it (S411 in FIG. 3). In the case of this example, the self-diagnosis result information includes abnormality set value information indicating that there is an abnormality in the user setting value for determining the brightness at the time of video reception, and the determination result in S412 is NO. Then, the self-diagnosis result analysis unit 319 creates an e-mail indicating a coping method and transmits the e-mail to the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet (S416 to S418).

[0069] Television receiver 3 with built-in Internet
In 01, when an e-mail indicating the coping method is sent from the service center (S419: YES), it is displayed on the CRT 309 (S420). The user who sees this e-mail changes the user settings according to the action described therein.

In the above-described embodiment, the telephone line is used as the communication line.
TV or two-way communication satellite broadcasting can also be used. In the above-described embodiment, only the self-diagnosis function for the input switching unit is specifically shown. However, in actuality, each unit (power supply unit, signal processing unit, and the like) of the television receiver 301 with built-in Internet is actually used. A self-diagnosis is performed to identify a failed component.

[0071]

A first effect of the present invention is that a serviceman can specify a failed part without having to travel to a user's home. The reason is that when a self-diagnosis function execution command is sent from an external device such as a personal computer installed in the service center, a self-diagnosis function unit that executes a self-diagnosis and identifies a faulty part, This is because the communication unit such as the modem unit 316 that notifies the external device of the failed component specified by the function unit is provided.

A second effect of the present invention is that even when the cause of the failure is the user set value, the cause of the failure can be specified without traveling to the user's house. The reason is that the self-diagnosis function unit identifies the abnormal user setting value during self-diagnosis, and the communication unit notifies the external device via the communication line of the abnormal user setting value identified by the self-diagnosis function unit. Because you do.

A third effect of the present invention is that an order for a failed part can be reliably performed. The reason is,
This is because a failure part ordering unit for ordering a failure part notified from the home electric appliance is provided.

A fourth effect of the present invention is that when the cause of the failure is the user set value, the cause of the failure can be eliminated without the service technician traveling to the user's home. The reason is that, when a user setting value having an abnormality is notified from the home electric appliance, a self-diagnosis result analysis unit that notifies a coping method to the home electric appliance is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example at the time of a self-diagnosis processing in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Television receiver with built-in Internet 103 Regulator 106 Input switching IC 108 Display circuit 109 CRT 110 Reset IC 111 Signal processing unit 112 Self-diagnosis function unit 113 CPU 114 Modem interface unit 115 Modem unit 116 Telephone line 301 Internet television receiver 303 Regulator 306 Input switching IC 308 Display circuit 309 CRT 310 Reset IC 311 Display processing unit 312 Self-diagnosis function unit 313 CPU CPU 314 Self-diagnosis instruction Decoding unit 315 ... Modem interface unit 316 ... Modem unit 317 ... Phone line 318 ... Personal computer 319 ... Self-diagnosis result analysis unit 320 ... Faulty parts ordering unit 321 ... Modem unit 322 ... Self-diagnosis machine The instruction section 323, 324 ... recording medium

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A diagnostic device which has a two-way communication function with the outside and has a self-diagnosis function for identifying a cause of failure of a home appliance, wherein the home appliance is self-diagnosed from an external device via a communication line. When the function execution command is sent, the self-diagnosis function unit that executes self-diagnosis for the own product and specifies a faulty component, and outputs the faulty component specified by the self-diagnosis function unit to the external device via the communication line. A diagnostic device comprising: a communication unit that notifies a device. 2. The self-diagnosis function unit has a configuration for specifying an abnormal user setting value at the time of self-diagnosis, and the communication unit transmits the abnormal user setting value specified by the self-diagnosis function unit. The diagnostic device according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration for notifying the external device via a communication line. 3. The diagnostic device according to claim 2, wherein the external device includes a faulty part ordering unit for ordering a faulty part notified from the home electric appliance. 4. The external device further includes a self-diagnosis result analysis unit that notifies the home appliance via the communication line of a coping method when an abnormal user setting value is notified from the home appliance. The diagnostic device according to claim 3, wherein the home appliance includes a display unit that displays a coping method notified from the external device. 5. A machine-readable recording medium on which a program for performing self-diagnosis of home electric appliances by a computer is stored. The computer receives a self-diagnosis function execution command from an external device via a communication line. A self-diagnosis function unit that performs self-diagnosis on the own product and identifies a failed component; and a communication unit that notifies the external device of the failed component identified by the self-diagnosis function unit via the communication line. A machine-readable recording medium on which a program for functioning is recorded.