JPH11220563A - Management system for remote image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management system for remote image forming system, by which an occupied state of communication channels is grasped dynamically in the case of receiving remote notice from the image forming device, so as to use the communication channels efficiently. SOLUTION: This system consists of a communication controller 1080 for connecting to an image forming device via a communication channel and a service center 1000 connecting to the communication controller via a public channel. When the service center receives a notice from the image forming device and number of received notices receiving a communication port exceeds a reception upper limit number, a notice with most notice item numbers and a telephone number of the communication port with a minimum reception assigned number are detected, and the detected value is sent to the communication controller to rewrite setting information at the notice. Thus, the communication channel is used efficiently, and the system quickly copes with the notice from a remote place.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote image forming apparatus management system for monitoring a failure point of an image forming apparatus delivered to a customer from a remote place, and more particularly to communication of report information from the image forming apparatus at the customer. A remote image that is automatically transmitted to a host computer or the like via a line, performs analysis based on the number of received information, and dynamically changes the port for receiving a report from the customer's image forming apparatus according to the analysis result. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use environment of OA equipment cannot be constructed without a network. Similarly, in the maintenance and repair environment of OA equipment, remote maintenance is performed using OA equipment (personal computer) at a remote place using a network as a tool.

On the other hand, image forming apparatuses, like other OA equipment, are equipped with many advanced functions at the same time as digitization, and provide remote maintenance using a network as a tool.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional remote image forming apparatus management system, as the number of installed image forming apparatuses increases, the communication line becomes blocked and an abnormal situation occurs in the remote image forming apparatus. Sometimes it may not be possible to respond urgently. Even if a new emergency situation with higher urgency occurs, it is not possible to quickly respond to the new emergency situation, which leads to a decrease in service to customers. Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the number of installed remote monitoring terminal devices is increased. As a result, the number of communication lines for calling the service center is also increased in proportion, and the cost is increased. .

According to the present invention, a service center enables a smooth reception schedule of a report from an image forming apparatus at a remote place, thereby suppressing an increase in the cost of newly added equipment (monitoring terminal device, communication line) and receiving a report. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote image forming apparatus management system that dynamically grasps the state of occupation of a communication line and enables efficient use of the communication line.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a remote image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention comprises an interface device connected to the image forming device via a communication line, and an interface device and a public line network. A remote image forming apparatus management system comprising a service center connected through a first storage means for storing a control program and report setting information used for reporting to the service center; A request analysis process for analyzing a request from the image forming apparatus and the service center using the stored control program, a request execution process for executing the request analyzed by the request analysis process, and a setting value change for changing a report setting value of the image forming device And a set value verification process for verifying the validity of the set value of the notification from the image forming apparatus. The service center receives a report from the interface device, information on the total number of reports received by each receiving unit, information on the upper limit value of the report received by each receiving unit, A counting table for each receiving means, including information on the number of allocated interface devices assigned to each receiving means, information on the number of the report to the receiving means, identifier information for identifying the report from the image forming apparatus, and And a report type count table including information on the total number of received messages, a telephone number information on the interface device, and an identification number information on the image forming apparatus connected to the interface device. Storage means, and processing means for performing a process based on the notification from the image forming apparatus, the processing means,
The number of messages received from the image forming apparatus is counted using the second storage unit, and when the counted number of received messages exceeds a preset value, a request for changing individual report setting values is reported. Output to an interface device connected to the image forming apparatus.

[0007] The processing means provided in the service center receives the message transmitted from the image forming apparatus through the interface device by the receiving means, and receives the total number of receptions of the receiving means which has received the report in the counting table for each receiving means. , The identifier of the received report is detected, the total number of received identifiers of the detected identifier in the report type count table is counted up, and the total number of received receivers is the upper limit value information of the count table for each receiver. If the number exceeds the upper limit, the receiving means having the smallest number of allocations is detected using the allocated number information of the counting table for each receiving means, and the detected receiving means is allocated. The number is counted up and the detected report number of the receiving means is obtained from the report number information of the counting table for each receiving means, and the report type counting table is obtained. From the received data, the identification number of the reporting image forming apparatus is detected, and the identification number of the reporting image forming apparatus is detected. To obtain the report number of the interface device connected to the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the report, and to the interface device connected to the image forming apparatus that has reported using the detected report number, the acquired identifier is detected. The report number of the receiving means may be transmitted, and a request to rewrite the report setting information stored in the first storage means may be issued.

[0008] When data is sent from the service center, the interface device described above uses a request analysis process to specify a designation code for designating a device requesting a process included in the data and a request item code representing the processing content. Analyze, if the analysis result is a processing request to the image forming apparatus connected to the interface device, verify whether the request item code is correct or not by setting value verification processing, and verify the verification result with the correct request item code. If it is determined that there is, the data transmitted from the service center is transmitted to the designated image forming apparatus, the processing report returned from the designated image forming apparatus is transmitted to the service center, and the request item code is incorrect. If it is determined, an error code is sent to the service center, and the analysis result of the request analysis process is sent to the interface device. If the request is a valid request item code, it verifies whether the request item code is correct or not by the set value verification process, and if it determines that the verification result is a correct request item code, performs the process specified by the request execution process and reports the process report. An error code may be transmitted to the service center and, if it is determined that the verification result is an incorrect request item code, the error code may be transmitted to the service center.

The above interface apparatus further includes a time measuring means for measuring time. When the time for collecting the counter value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus is reached, a selecting cycle is performed between polling cycles for each image forming apparatus. Insert, issue a request to output the count value of the total number of copies, perform polling successively to the image forming apparatus that has responded, receive the count value of the total number of copies, and count the received count value of the total number of copies. It is preferable that the date and time information at the time of reception is added and stored in the storage unit, and in the next selecting cycle, selecting is not performed on the image forming apparatus that has responded.

The above interface apparatus further includes a time measuring means for measuring time. When the time for collecting the count value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus is reached, selecting is performed at the timing of polling each image forming apparatus. A request is made to output a count value of the total number of copies, polling is continuously performed on the image forming apparatus that has responded to the selecting, a count value of the total number of copies is received, and a count value of the received total number of copies is received. Is added to the storage unit with the date and time information when it was received, and in the next cycle, the responding image forming apparatus performs polling, and selects only the unresponsive image forming apparatus. Then, a request to output a count value of the total number of copies may be issued.

In the above image forming apparatus, when the remote report key provided on the operation input section is pressed by the operator, the remote interface is transmitted to the connected interface device together with a code for identifying the report by the remote report key. When the notification data is reported and an abnormality is detected by the self-diagnosis function provided in the image forming apparatus itself, a remote notification data is transmitted to a connected interface device together with a code identifying that the report is due to the self-diagnosis abnormality. If it is determined that maintenance should be performed by the self-diagnosis function,
It is preferable to report the remote report data together with a code for identifying the report by the advance warning.

The above-mentioned service center may further include output means for outputting each information of the receiving means counting table and the report type counting table stored in the second storage means.

[0013] The above interface apparatus further comprises an input means capable of inputting a setting from an operator, and the control means, when the notification setting information is input from the input means, converts the input notification setting information into a first message. May be changed to the report setting information stored in the storage means.

[0014] A remote image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention includes an interface apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line, and a service center connected to the interface apparatus and a public line network. A remote image forming apparatus management system for transmitting and receiving information such as a remote report key report, a self-diagnosis abnormality report, a pre-warning report, and a total counter value automatic report, and analyzes requests from an image forming apparatus and a service center. A request analysis unit, a request execution unit that executes the request analyzed by the analysis unit, a setting value change unit that changes an individual notification setting value of the image forming apparatus, and a verification of the validity of the setting value of each notification. Setting value verifying means, counting means for counting the number of received messages from the interface device, and receiving number counted by the counting means. When exceeding the value, it is characterized in that a change request means for performing the change request individual notification settings.

[0015] The counting means may be a means for counting the number of received reports for each message.

The counting means may be a means for counting the number of received reports for each communication port.

The service center may further include output means for outputting the number of receptions for each message and each communication port counted by the counting means.

The above-mentioned setting value changing means is operated at any time from a service center remotely through a public line network or the like according to a predetermined communication protocol to change individual notification setting values of the image forming apparatus. It may be a means.

The above-mentioned setting value changing means may be a means for directly changing individual notification setting values of the image forming apparatus by a serviceman's operation at any time via a portable device.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a remote image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 39 show an embodiment of the remote image forming apparatus management system of the present invention.

First, a system configuration of an embodiment of a remote image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The service center 1000 in the remote image forming apparatus management system according to the present embodiment executes clients 1010, 1010a,.
n, information received by the client 1010n;
A server 1020 that controls an external recording device 1030 that stores various management tables and master information described below, a printing device 1050 that outputs various information, and a client 10
, 1010n, a FAX server device 1040 for controlling information transmitted from the server 10 to the service station 2000, and clients 1010, 1010a,.
It is configured by a LAN 1060 for transmitting and receiving various information (data and control) between the server 1020, the printing device 1050, and the FAX server device 1040. Communication to the client via the image forming apparatus 1090 and the public line network 1070 is to send warning information on a failure that occurs in the image forming apparatus 1090 at the client to the client 1010n, or receive information from the client 1010n. It comprises a control device 1080. The service station 2000 receives information from the client 1010 n of the service center 1000 and
n, a terminal device 2010 for controlling transmission of information to the service center, and a facsimile device 202 for transmitting and receiving information between service centers.
0, a telephone device 2030.

First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus 1090 serving as a remote control device placed at a customer will be described with reference to FIG. Client 101 as a management device (to perform overall management) provided in service center 1000
, 1010n are public network 1
070 (hereinafter, referred to as a public line)
000 is connected to the communication control device 1080. The communication control device 1080 includes an image forming device (PPC) 1090, a telephone (TEL) 1096 as an external communication device, and a facsimile (FAX) 109.
7 is connected. Although a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1090 can be connected to the communication control apparatus 1080, a single apparatus may be used. Further, the models of the plurality of image forming apparatuses need not all be the same type,
Devices other than the image forming apparatus 1090 may be connected. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that up to five image forming apparatuses 1090 can be connected to one communication control apparatus 1080, and the communication control apparatus 1080 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1090 are connected by a multi-drop connection according to the RS-485 standard. Have been. Then, the communication control device 10
Communication control between the image forming apparatus 80 and each image forming apparatus 1090 is performed according to a basic data transmission control procedure (BSC). That is, by establishing a data ring by a polling / selecting method of centralized control using the communication control device 1080 as a control station, communication with an arbitrary image forming device 1090 is possible. Each image forming apparatus 1090 has an address setting switch 29 (see FIG. 4).
Thus, a unique value can be set, and the polling address and the selecting address of each image forming apparatus 1090 are determined.

Next, the configuration of the communication control device 1080 will be described with reference to FIG. In the communication control device 1080 shown in FIG. 3, a CPU 9 for controlling all the devices described below is installed at the center, and the CPU 9 has a switching unit 10 for switching to a public line 1070 or TEL6 or FAX7. , Modem 11 and image forming apparatus 109
Communication interface 12 using a transceiver for RS-485 connected to a battery 0 (BATT)
The RAM 13, the ROM 14, the clock 15, and the self-calling permission SW 16 connected to the RAM 13 a are connected. As a result, the signal from the public line 1070 is first switched to the switching unit 1
Input to 0. If the communication from the public line 1070 is addressed to the telephone 1096 (or facsimile 1097) connected to the communication control device 1080, the public line 1070 is connected to the telephone 1096 (or facsimile 1097) and the service center is connected. 10
For communication from 00, the public line 1070 is connected to the modem 1
Connect to 1. Further, communication with the image forming apparatus 1090 can be performed by the communication interface 12. These controls and processes are performed mainly by the CPU 9 in accordance with control means in the ROM 14 described later. RAM 13
Is used to temporarily store a communication text, in addition to storing an intermediate result of the processing. Also, R
In the AM 13, various parameters required for the operation of the communication control device 1080 are also written from the service center 1000 side. . Normal communication control device 1080
Has been continuously energized for 24 hours and always
The battery 13a is backed up so that the contents of these parameters and the communication text are not lost due to accidental power-off, power-off for safety, etc.

Next, control means which can be realized by the CPU based on a program stored in the ROM 14 will be described with reference to FIG. The control means based on the program stored in the ROM include a request analysis means 3301, a request execution means 3
302, setting value changing means 3303, setting value verification means 33
04. Before describing each control means, a definition of a request to be analyzed will be described. Image forming apparatus 1
090 or a request from the communication control 1080 to the service center 1000 is called a report reason code. The report reason code is a remote report key (b) provided in the image forming apparatus.
, A self-diagnosis error by the image forming apparatus, a pre-warning report, and a total counter value report. Also, the communication control device 1080 or the image forming device 109
A request to access 0 is called a processing code. There are three types of processing codes: Read request, Write request, and Execute request. A detailed description of the report reason code and the processing code will be given later. The request analysis unit 3301 analyzes the report reason code sent from the image forming apparatus 1090 to the communication control apparatus 1080,
This is a means for analyzing the processing code sent from the communication control device 1080 to the image forming apparatus 1090 and the processing code sent from the communication control device 1080 to the image forming apparatus 1090. The request execution unit 3302 is a unit that processes various requests analyzed by the request analysis unit 3301. The setting value changing means 3303 is a means for setting and updating parameters in the parameter storage area (FIG. 14). The setting value verification unit 3304 is a unit that verifies whether the access is valid when accessing the parameter storage area.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, an image forming apparatus 1090 will be described.
The configuration of the control unit 24 will be described. The control of the image forming apparatus main body by the control unit 24 shown in FIG. The RAM 27 is used for storing intermediate results of the processing. Also, the CPU 25
Are connected to various devices as described below. The communication interface unit 28 is a part that communicates with the communication control device 1080.
Can be set. The communication permission switch 30 sets permission / prohibition of communication with the communication control device 1080. The operation unit 31 includes a keyboard or the like, and can perform an input operation from the outside. The optical system control unit 32 controls the driving of the exposure lamp. The high-voltage power supply unit 33 includes a charging charger, a separation charger,
Power is supplied to the transfer charger, pre-transfer charger (PTC), and developing bias. The motor control unit controls the main motor. Heater control unit 3
5 controls the driving of the fixing heater. The sensor sensitivity control unit 36 includes a light receiving gain of the P sensor, a P sensor LED
Are used to vary the light emission voltage of the ADS sensor, the light reception gain of the ADS sensor, the light reception gain of the lamp light amount sensor, and the like. The A / D converter 37 is used to input a lamp voltage, a P sensor emission voltage, a P sensor light reception voltage, a potential sensor output, an ADS sensor output, a lamp light sensor output, a drum current sensor output, and a fixing thermistor voltage.

Next, the mechanical structure of the exposure optical system, the developing unit, the paper feeding unit, and the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 1090 will be described with reference to FIGS. The following description is not so directly related to the configuration of the main part of the present embodiment described later. First, FIG.
090 represents the configuration of the exposure optical system. ADF (automatic document feeder) on the surface of the contact glass 38
39 are mounted. Below the contact glass 38, a first scanner 42 including an exposure lamp 40 and a first mirror 41, a second scanner 45 including a second mirror 43 and a third mirror 44, a lens 46, A third scanner 49 including a mirror 47 and a fifth mirror 48 and a sixth mirror 50 are arranged. The light from the sixth mirror 50 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 5 of the developing section.
It is led to 1.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of the developing section of the image forming apparatus 1090. The light from the sixth mirror 50 is guided onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. Around the photosensitive drum 51, an eraser 52, a potential sensor 53,
Developing unit 54, toner cartridge 55, PT
C56, PTL 57, and a pair of registration rollers 58
, A transfer charger 59, a separation charger 60, a separation claw 61, a cleaning unit 62, and a charging charger 63. Cleaning unit 6
2, a P sensor 64 and a cleaning brush 66 are provided.
, A cleaning blade 65 and a quenching lamp 67 are arranged.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the sheet feeding unit of the image forming apparatus 1090. Inside the housing, first to fourth paper feed units 68 to 71 and first to fourth trays 72 to 75 are arranged in pairs. In addition, the first and second
A right vertical transport unit 76 is provided on the side of the paper feed units 68 and 69, and a horizontal transport unit 78 is provided above the third and fourth paper feed units 70 and 71 so as to merge with the left vertical transport unit 77. Are arranged. A double-sided paper feeding unit 79a and a double-sided tray 79b are provided at positions connected to the horizontal transport unit 78. A manual feed table 80 is provided on the outer side of the housing.
The table 80 is connected to a manual paper feed unit 81. The conveyance belt 8 is located at a position close to the registration roller 58 and the photosensitive drum 51.
2 are provided.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1090 constituted by the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 will be described. The photoreceptor drum 51 is rotatably supported by a drum shaft (not shown) and rotates counterclockwise in response to a copy command or the like. The document 87 fed onto the contact glass 38 by the ADF 39 is scanned and exposed by the first scanner 42. The reflected light image from the contact glass 38 is the first
An image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 sequentially from the mirror 41 to the sixth mirror 50. The photoconductor drum 51 is charged by the charging charger 63 and forms a latent image on the photoconductor drum 51 by a reflected light image. This latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing unit 54. At the time of development, a dark or faint image can be obtained depending on the bias voltage. On the other hand, the transfer paper 88 stored in the first to fourth trays 72 to 75 and the double-sided tray 79b is fed at a predetermined timing by each of the paper feed units 68 to 71 and 79a. The toner image is sent to the registration roller 58 through -78 and to the photosensitive drum 51 having a toner image. Then, the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper 88 by the transfer charger 59. By lowering the potential of the transfer paper 88 by the separation charger 60, the adhesion between the photosensitive drum 51 and the transfer paper 88 is reduced. Thereafter, the separated transfer paper 88 is sent to a fixing unit (not shown) by a transport belt 89, where it is fixed and discharged out of the apparatus. After the transfer, since the toner image which has not been completely transferred is attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 51, the drum surface is cleaned by the cleaning unit 62, and the uneven surface potential is made constant by the quenching lamp 67.

FIG. 9 shows the operation unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1090.
1 (see FIG. 4), and symbols A to A shown in the figure indicate various keys and displays provided on the panel unit 83. Table 1 shows the names and functions of various keys and displays corresponding to the symbols A to W shown in FIG.

[0031]

[Table 1]

A guidance display section 86 for notifying operations and warnings is provided at the upper center of the panel section 83. The present embodiment is characterized in that a remote report key (b) and a remote report display (b) are provided.
The remote report key (b) is used when a user requests a service, and the remote report display (a) is for lighting up that the remote report is being performed. In this embodiment, the remote notification key dedicated to the remote is provided. However, such a key is not provided independently, but the remote control function is realized by using other keys and using the pressing order, pressing time, pressing combination, and the like. You may do so.

As described above, the remote image forming apparatus management system of the present invention comprises a communication control apparatus 1080 connected to an image forming apparatus 1090 (also including a telephone 1096 and a facsimile 1097) via a communication line. Communication control device 1080 and public line network 1070
The service center 1000 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1090 via a remote control key, a remote report key report, a self-diagnosis abnormality report, a prior warning report, a total counter value automatic report, and the like. Notifying the abnormality of the forming apparatus 1090, the image forming apparatus 1090 and the service center 1000
A communication control device analyzes a request from the communication control device and executes the request. When the communication setting value of the image forming device 1090 is changed, the validity of the setting value of each message is changed. Setting value verification means for performing verification, and change request means for counting the number of received reports of the image forming apparatus 1090 at the customer's site and requesting a change of each report set value when the number of received messages exceeds a specific value. It is characterized by having. Hereinafter, specific descriptions of the various means according to the present invention will be sequentially provided.

First, a method of transmitting the count value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus 1090 to the communication control apparatus will be described. Generally, the image forming apparatus 109
In order to perform maintenance of 0, a counter value such as the total number of copies is used. To perform maintenance using such a counter value, the image forming apparatus 109
By transmitting the total counter value from 0 to the communication control device 1080 periodically, the service center recognizes the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus and determines the necessity of maintenance. In this case, based on the clock in the communication control device 1080, the communication control device 1080 is connected to all the image forming apparatuses 1090 connected to the communication control device 1080.
When the time reaches the total counter value collection time in the parameters set in the communication control device 108,
The request for total copy number information is sequentially made every day to all the image forming apparatuses 1090 connected to “0”. The new total copy number information of the image forming apparatus 1090 that responded is updated in the value read out the previous day including the date and time when the total copy number was acquired, and stored in the communication control device 1080. Further, when the power of the image forming apparatus 1090 which has requested the total copy number information is turned off and communication is disabled, the image forming apparatus 1090
After the response reception of the data from the image forming apparatus 90 is postponed, the processing is performed on the next image forming apparatus 1090. Then, when a request is made to all image forming apparatuses 1090, a request is made again to image forming apparatuses 1090 that cannot be received. Normally, the total counter value collection time is set at night when the power supply of the image forming apparatus 1090 is considered to be turned off, and the image forming apparatus 1090 is set as the time elapses.
Is turned on, and the image forming apparatus 1090 performs such data communication while idling and adjustment of each unit are performed immediately after the power is turned on. Accordingly, even when the image forming apparatus 1090 is in a communication disabled state, such as when the power of the image forming apparatus 1090 is turned off, the service center 1000 can know the counter value.

Next, a method for transmitting the count value of the total number of copies collected from the image forming apparatus 1090 of the communication control apparatus 1080 to the service center 1000 will be described. The method of collecting the count value of the total number of copies of the service center 1000 includes a method in which the service center 1000 periodically accesses the communication control device 1080 on a closing day of each month and obtains information on the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus. , Communication control device 1
There are two methods of automatically transmitting to the service center 1000 by the communication control device 1080 when the automatic call date and time of the total counter value set in 080 has been reached. Such a method is set by the total counter value automatic call permission SW 16 (see FIG. 2) provided in the communication control device 1080. In this case, the total counter value automatic call permission SW 16 is turned on.
In the case of, a call is made to the reporting destination telephone number indicated by the parameters set in the communication control device 1080,
The service center 10 stores the counter value of the total number of copies.
Send to 00. Total counter value automatic call permission SW
If the number 16 is OFF, an automatic call is not made and the service center 1000 has access. In such an example, the data to be communicated periodically is used as the counter value of the total number of copies. However, other data may be used, or another data may be added to perform communication. In this system, the communication control device 1080 can shorten the access time by not issuing a data request to the unconnected image forming device 1090.

Next, the remote notification processing of the image forming apparatus 1090 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
A of 0 indicates an example of a remote notification using a remote notification key (b) provided on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 1090. When the remote report key (b) on the image forming apparatus 1090 is pressed, remote report data is transmitted to the request analysis unit 3301 via the communication interface 12 in the communication control device 1080. With this reception, the telephone number of the service center 1000 is referred from the parameter storage area 903 stored in the communication control device 1080 from the service center 1000 via the public line 1070 in advance, and a call is made to the service center 1000, and the remote report data is transmitted. Send At this time, the data transmitted to the service center 1000 is set in the parameter storage area 906 stored in the communication control device 1080 from the data of a plurality of models received by the communication control device 1080 from the image forming device 1090. Only certain types of data are transmitted to the service center 1000. When the communication control device 1080 completes transmitting the predetermined data to the service center 1000, the communication control device 1080 makes a communication between the communication control device 1080 and the image forming device 1090 to the image forming device 1090 that is the transmission source. The report result report indicating the result is transmitted. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1090 of the transmission source can know that the communication has been completed in a normal state or that communication has not been performed due to some abnormality.

FIG. 10B shows an example of remote notification by the self-diagnosis function. Usually, the image forming apparatus 1090
Is provided with a self-diagnosis function. When the image forming apparatus 1090 is in a danger state or an unusable state, for example, when an abnormality in the fixing temperature is detected, or when the electronic volume of each adjustment point cannot be adjusted. In addition, the user or serviceman is notified in a form such as "error" or "serviceman call". Even when an abnormality is detected by such a self-diagnosis function of the image forming apparatus 1090, data of a remote notification is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1090 to the request analysis unit 3301 via the communication interface 12 in the communication control apparatus 1080. Is done.
In response to this reception, the service center 1000 is referred to in advance from the parameter storage area 913 stored in the communication control device 1080 from the service center 1000 via the public line 1070, and the service center 1000 is referred to.
000 and transmits data of a remote report due to a self-diagnosis abnormality. The communication control device 1080 that has received the remote notification data transmits the remote notification data to the service center 1000 in the same manner as when the remote notification key (b) is pressed, and sends the notification result to the transmission source image forming apparatus 1090 at the end of the communication. Submit the report.

FIG. 10C shows an example of remote notification by a prior warning. When the image forming apparatus 1090 determines that it is preferable to perform maintenance, for example, when the abnormal state has not been reached by the self-diagnosis function but the state is very close to the abnormal state, the communication control apparatus 1080 may issue a warning as a warning.
Request analysis means 33 via the communication interface 12 in the
01 is transmitted to the remote reporting data of the advance warning. In the case of a remote notification due to a self-determination abnormality, the image forming apparatus 1090 is necessarily in an unusable state. However, in the case of a remote notification based on an advance warning, the image forming apparatus 1090 remains in a use state, and communication is in progress. If the original is set and the start key is pressed, the copying operation is performed. At this time, the communication may be interrupted when the load on the controller is heavy due to the copy processing, or when there is a possibility that the contents included in the transmission data are changed by the copy operation and the consistency may not be obtained. Since such remote notification data of the advance warning is of low urgency, the communication control device 1080 which has received the data does not immediately transmit the data to the service center 1000, but the telephone 1096 or the facsimile 1097 connected to the communication control device 1080. The transmission is performed at a time convenient for communication, such as a time zone in which the frequency of use is low or a traffic zone of the public line 1070 is small.
Such time setting is performed in advance by the service center 1000.
From the communication control device 1 via the public line 1070
It can be set in the parameter storage area 927 stored in 080. Unlike the case of other remote reports, the pre-warning remote report does not transmit a report report to the image forming apparatus 1090. In addition, the remote notification of the advance warning notifies the service center 1000 at a predetermined time 927 stored in the parameter storage area in the communication control device 1080. Prior warning information received by the communication control device 1080 until a predetermined time is stored in the RAM 13 in the communication control device 1080. At a predetermined time, the data is transmitted to the service center 1000 at once. Further, the communication control device 10
Reference numeral 80 automatically transmits the advance warning information to the service center 1000 before the predetermined time is reached when the advance warning information is received within a predetermined time or longer. Service Center 1000
If the information can be transmitted correctly, the management information and the like relating to the advance warning information in the communication control device 1080 are deleted.

Next, referring to FIG.
A case of accessing the image forming apparatus 1090 from 00 will be described. This access method is roughly classified into three types: a Read request, a Write request, and an Execute request. FIG. 11A shows a Read process for a Read request. Read processing refers to processing of reading logging data, various set values, output values of various sensors, and the like in the image forming apparatus 1090. Service Center 1000
Dials the communication control device 1080 to which the target image forming device 1090 is connected, and outputs a Read request. The communication control device specifies the image forming device based on the Read request sent from the service center 1000, and sends the Read request to the specified image forming device 1090. Image forming apparatus 1090 that has received the Read request
Transmits the requested data to the communication control device. The communication control device that has received this transmits the data received from the image forming apparatus to the service center.
B in FIG. 11 shows the Write processing. The Write process is a process of rewriting various setting values by transmitting data from the service center 1000. The service center 1000 dials the communication control device 1080 to which the target image forming device 1090 is connected, and
Output rite request. The communication control device specifies the image forming apparatus according to the Write request sent from the service center 1000, and sends the specified image forming apparatus 1090 the Wri request.
Send te request. Image forming apparatus 10 that has received a Write request
90 rewrites the transmitted various set values and sends the response to the request to the communication control device 1080 together with the rewritten set values. The communication control device that has received this response sends the received response to the service center. C in FIG. 11 shows the Execute processing. Execute processing refers to causing the image forming apparatus 1090 to perform processing such as a test operation. The service center 1000 dials the communication control device 1080 to which the target image forming apparatus 1090 is connected, and outputs an Execute request. The communication control device is a service center 1000
The image forming apparatus is specified by the Execute request sent from the server, and the Execute request is sent to the specified image forming apparatus 1090. The image forming apparatus 1090 that has received the Execute request
A process such as a test operation is performed, and a response to the request is sent to the communication control device 1080 together with the test operation result.
The communication control device that has received this response sends the received response to the service center. In any of the above processes, the communication control device 108 to which the target image forming apparatus 1090 is connected from the service center 1000
Dial "0" and the communication control device 1080 receives those request data. After receiving the request from the communication control apparatus, the image forming apparatus 1090 processes the request, and transmits a response to the request to the communication control apparatus 1080. Communication control device 1080 transmits this to service center 1000,
This ends one processing unit.

Next, referring to FIG.
A case where the communication control device 1080 is accessed from 00 will be described. This access method is roughly classified into three types: a Read request, a Write request, and an Execute request. FIG. 12A shows the Read process. Processing for reading the setting parameters and status in the communication control device 1080, and processing for reading out the information in the image forming apparatus 1090 in advance and reading out the information when the information is stored in the communication control apparatus 1080 Means The service center reads the communication control device 1080
Output the request. The communication control device 1080 that has received the Read request sends the setting parameters and status in the communication control device 1080 and the communication control device 1080 in advance to the service center as a response to the request.
Sends the read information inside the image forming apparatus 1090 and the like. FIG. 12B shows a Write process, which is a process of setting parameters of the communication control device 1080 by sending data from the service center 1000. The service center 1000 is the communication control device 1
Data for setting the parameters of the communication control device is transmitted to 080, and a Write request is output. The communication control device changes the parameters in the RAM 13 to the parameters sent from the service center and transmits a response to the service center. FIG. 12C shows an Execute process, which is a process of causing the communication control device 1080 to perform a test such as a function check. The service center 1000 is a communication control device 1080
Output an Execute request to Upon receiving the request, the communication control device performs a test such as a function check, and outputs a response to the service center.

Next, referring to FIG.
A case where the communication control apparatus 1080 accesses the image forming apparatus 1090 without going through the 00 will be described. FIG. 13 shows the case of the Read processing. In this access, the communication control device 1080 reads out the information inside the image forming apparatus 1090, holds the data inside the communication control device 1080, and thereafter, if necessary, For enabling reading from the service center 1000. The communication control device 1080 outputs a Read request to the image forming device 1090. The image forming apparatus 1090 that has received this request outputs internal information to the communication control device as a response to the request.

Next, the configuration of the data parameters and the data format used when performing the access processing of the remote notification operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First, various parameters stored in the RAM 13 in the communication control device 1080 will be described. FIG. 14 shows various parameters stored in the RAM 13 in the communication control device 1080. A model number 90 and a serial number (machine number) 91 of the image forming apparatus 1090 are registered for each of the image forming apparatuses 1090 connected to the communication control apparatus. At the time of notification from the image forming apparatus 1090, this is added and transmitted to the service center 1000, and is used to determine the address of the image forming apparatus 1090 to be selected when accessing from the service center 1000. In addition, a function of a checksum 92 for detecting when parameter values are rewritten or lost due to malfunction of the communication control device 1080, consumption of a backup battery, communication error, and the like is added. . Further, for each remote report reason, the communication destination telephone number 903, 913, 923, the number of redials 904, 914, 924, the redial interval time 905, 915, 925, the service center 100
Data types (jam occurrence count, number of copies, etc.) 906, 916, and 926 to be transmitted to 0 are set. These parameters are written from the service center 1000 side through the public line 1070, and the portable device 3301 for parameter setting is connected to the communication control device 1080.
To write directly to the communication control device 1
The setting may be made by providing an operation unit on the 080, or by setting from the image forming apparatus 1090. In this case, since the parameter setting is important, confidentiality is enhanced by adding an ID (password) to the communication data. This ID is not determined uniquely for each communication control device 1080, but is determined when the first parameter is specified by the set value verification means 3304 in the communication control device 1080. After that, it can be changed by communication or the like. Instead, it becomes possible by initializing the communication control device 1080 in a procedure. The ID is set by the set value verification unit 3304 in the communication control device 1080 every time communication is performed, so that erroneous data for confirmation and entry from a different system are prevented. Different I
When D is received a predetermined number of times, this error is recorded internally and automatically notified to the service center 1000 to notify the system administrator. It checks every time such ID communication is performed to prevent hackers and the like. In this example, the ID cannot be changed by communication, but the content may be changed by using a second change password.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the configuration of the format of communication data at the time of remote notification. FIG. 15A illustrates a case where the image forming apparatus 1090 is connected to the communication control apparatus 1080.
Indicates the data format sent to The first field is a report reason code 97, which is information for determining types such as a remote report by a remote report key (b), a remote report by a self-diagnosis abnormality, and a remote report of a prior warning. The next field is an information code 98, which is a record of detailed information of the report reason code that has occurred, which is function information, history information, and status information (the status of consumables such as toner, oil, copy paper, output values of various sensors, Information such as set values of various adjustment points and connection states of various units) is included.
FIG. 15B illustrates an example of the configuration of a data format transmitted from the communication control device 1080 to the service center 1000. In addition to the data from the image forming apparatus 1090 described above, a field of a model number 90 and a field of a serial number 91 are added at the top in order to specify the image forming apparatus 1090 that has generated information. Further, at the rear part, an occurrence time 99 at which the notification factor occurs is provided by a clock in the communication control device 1080. The data area is stored in the RAM 13 of the communication control device 1080.
Service center 1 according to the parameters installed in
000 can be selected (function information, history information, and status information). FIG. 15C illustrates an example of the configuration of a data format sent from the communication control device 1080 to the image forming device 1090. From the communication control device 1080 to the service center 100
This indicates the content of the report result transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1090 when the report to 0 has been completed, and includes a report result report code 101 and a report result report content 102.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a data format configuration when the service center 1000 accesses the image forming apparatus 1090. FIG. 16A shows the data format of the Read processing. Service center 100
0 to the communication control device 1080, the model number 90 and the serial number 9 of the target image forming device 1090
Following to 1, a Read request code 10 representing Read processing
3 and an item code 104 for performing Read are transmitted.
From the communication control device 1080 to the image forming device 1
Transmission to 090 is performed with the fields of the model number 90 and the serial number 91 removed. The image forming apparatus 1090 that has received this data transmits the requested read data 105 to the communication control apparatus 1080 together with the Read response code 106. Then, the communication control device 1080 adds the model number 90 and the serial number 91 again and transmits the result to the service center 1000. FIG. 16B shows a data format at the time of the Write processing. As in the case of the above-described Read processing, the service center 1000 sends the model number 90 and the serial number 91 of the target image forming apparatus 1090 to the communication control apparatus 1080, followed by the Write representing the Write processing.
Request code 108 and item code 10 for writing data
7 and the data to be written are transmitted. Upon receiving the data, the communication control device 1080 stores the model number 90 and the serial number 91 in the image forming apparatus set in the data.
Transmit the data with the field removed. Upon receiving this data, the image forming apparatus 1090 stores the item code representing the item of the written data and the written data 109 in the communication control device 1080 in the Write response code 1.
Transmit with 10. And the communication control device 10
At 80, the model number 90 and the serial number 91 are added again to the data sent from the image forming apparatus and transmitted to the service center 1000. Normally, the image forming apparatus 10
90 and the write data 107 received by the image forming apparatus 10
Although the data 90 matches the write data 109 to be transmitted, the data may be rounded to a boundary value and written when the received data is out of the valid range. In such a case, the data does not match. FIG. 16C shows a data format at the time of Execute processing. In the communication from the service center 1000 to the communication control device 1080, when the operation target cannot be performed only by the item code 104, an operation content supplement code 111 for supplementing the operation content is added, and an Execute request code 112 and a model number are added. 90 and a serial number 91. Communication control device 10
80 receives this data, and stores the model number 90 and serial number 91 in the image forming apparatus 1090 set in the data.
Is transmitted. The image forming apparatus 1090 that has performed the requested operation displays the operation result information code 11
3 together with the Execute response code 114 to the communication control device 1080. Communication control device 108
0 adds the model number 90 and the serial number 91 to the data received from the image forming apparatus 1090 and transmits the data to the service center.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a data format configuration when the service center 1000 accesses the communication control device 1080. A in FIG.
Indicates the data format of Read processing. First, the communication control device 108 from the service center 1000
In 0, a code of the target communication control device 1080, a Read request code 103 representing Read processing,
An item code 104 for performing Read is transmitted. Upon receiving this data, the communication control device 1080 reads out the data, an item code representing the item of this data,
Read response code 106 and communication control device 10
It is transmitted to the service center 1000 together with the code of 80. 17B shows the data format of the Write processing. The service center 1000 sends the communication control device 1080 a code of the target communication control device 1080, a Write request code 108 indicating Write processing, a code of an item for performing Write, and data 107 to be written. The communication control device 1080 that has received these data writes the data in the RAM 13 and stores the identification code of the communication control device 1080, the Write response code, and the Write response code in the service center 1000.
The item code of the data subjected to the rite process and the written data 109 are transmitted. C in FIG. 17 represents a data format of the Execute processing. From the service center to the communication control device 1080, the operation target can be set only by the item code, including the code of the target communication control device 1080, the Execute request code 112 indicating the Execute process, and the item code indicating the item to execute the Execute process. When there is no operation content, an operation content supplement code 111 for supplementing the operation content is added and transmitted. Upon receiving this data, the communication control device 1080 executes the requested processing, adds an operation result information indicating an operation result, an item code, an Execute response code, and a code for identifying the communication control device to the service. Send to the center. In any case, the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Although the data format is almost the same as when accessing 090, a communication control device code 115 representing a communication control device 1080 is provided here instead of the model number 90 and the serial number 91.

FIG. 18 shows a communication control device 1080.
1 shows an example of the configuration of a data format at the time of accessing the image forming apparatus 1090 from. This processing is performed by the service center 1000 described above from the image forming apparatus 1090.
It has the same configuration as the data format between the communication control device 1080 for Read processing and the image forming device 1090 when accessing to the server. The communication control device 1080 transmits a Read request for requesting Read processing and an item code indicating an item of data to be read to the image forming apparatus 1090. The image forming apparatus 1090 that has received the data transmits the read data 105 and the item code 104 representing the read data to the communication control device together with the Read response code. In this case, the image forming apparatus 1090 is
There is no need to distinguish between an access from the communication control device 1080 and an access from the communication control device 1080.

The operation of the remote notification using the data having the above-described data parameters and data format will be described. Now, in the data format shown in FIG. 15, the data from the image forming apparatus 1090 is sent with the report reason code 97 added thereto. The request analysis means 3304 in the communication control device 1080 identifies the report reason code 97 and classifies it into the following contents. 1. 1. Data by remote notification key (b) 2. Data due to self-diagnosis abnormality 3. Pre-warning data Data by Total Counter Value The data classified in this way is stored in the communication control device 1080, and the report destination telephone numbers 903, 913, and 9 in the parameter storage area corresponding to these data.
23, 933 is selected and transmitted to the selected telephone number. In this case, centralized management can be performed by making the report destination telephone numbers 93 of the classification destination the same, and management at individual locations can be performed by making individual. In the configuration of FIG. 1, the service center 10
Although 00 is one place, in actual work, the number of copies and the like can be managed using the service center 1000 installed in another place.

Next, the operation of the remote notification control of the image forming apparatus 1090 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, FIG. 19 shows a state of the notification control of the image forming apparatus 1090. Now, when the communication permission switch 30 (see FIG. 4) is ON (step S1 /
YES), first, it is confirmed whether or not the remote notification key (b) has been pressed (step S2). When the remote report key (b) is pressed (step S2 / YES), remote report data is transmitted to the request analysis unit 3301 via the communication interface 12 in the communication control device (step S3). With this reception, the service center 1000 refers to the telephone number of the service center 1000 from the parameter storage area 903 stored in the communication control device 1080 via the public line 1070 in advance, calls the service center 1000, and transmits the remote report data. Send. If the remote notification key has not been pressed (step S2 / NO), it is checked whether a self-diagnosis abnormality has occurred (step S4). When the image forming apparatus determines that an abnormality has occurred due to self-diagnosis (step S4 / YE
S), the remote report data is transmitted to the request analysis unit 3301 via the communication interface 12 in the communication control device 1080 (step S5). By receiving this data, the service center 1000 sends the public line 1 in advance.
070, the telephone number of the service center 1000 is referred from the parameter storage area 913 stored in the communication control device 1080, and the service center 100 is referred to.
A call is made to 0, and remote report data due to a self-diagnosis abnormality is transmitted. If it is determined that the notification is not due to the occurrence of a self-diagnosis abnormality (step S4 / NO), it is checked whether or not a prior warning state is present (step S6). If it is determined that the notification is a remote notification by a prior warning (step S6 / YES),
As a warning, remote report data of a prior warning is transmitted to the request analysis unit 3301 via the communication interface 12 in the communication control device 1080 (step S7). The advance warning information received by the communication control device 1080 up to a predetermined time is stored in the R in the communication control device 1080.
The information is stored in the AM 13 and transmitted to the service center 1000 at a predetermined time.

FIGS. 20 to 22 are flow charts for explaining in detail the contents of each remote notification process. First, the control flow of the remote notification using the remote notification key (b) of the image forming apparatus 1090 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, when the remote notification key (b) is pressed, the image forming apparatus
The remote report data is transmitted to the request analysis means 3301 via the communication interface 12 in the area "0". Next, in step S12, it is confirmed whether or not the transmission was successful. When the notification cannot be performed normally, such as no response from the communication control device 1080 (step S12 / NO), the operation unit 3
1 is displayed on the screen to notify the user (step S
17). When transmitted normally (step S12 / YE
S), the timer for timeout determination is reset (step S13), and a report of a report result from the communication control device 1080 is waited (step S14). In the present embodiment, the timeout period is set to 3 minutes, and when the notification result is not received within 3 minutes (step S15 / YE
S) The notification failure is displayed on the operation unit 31 to notify the user (step S17). When the report of the report is received within the timeout period (step S14 / YES), it is determined whether or not the report is successful (step S16). When the notification is normally made (step S16 / Y
ES), the completion of the automatic notification is displayed on the operation unit 31 (step S18). If the notification has failed (step S16 / NO), a message to that effect is displayed on the operation unit 31 (step S17) to notify the user.

Next, referring to FIG. 21, an image forming apparatus 1090 will be described.
The control flow of the remote notification due to the self-diagnosis abnormality will be described. In step S21, when an abnormality is detected by the self-diagnosis function, image forming apparatus 1090 transmits remote notification data to request analysis means 3301 via communication interface 12 in communication control apparatus 1080. Next, in step S22, it is confirmed whether or not the transmission was successful. When the notification cannot be performed normally due to no response from the communication control device 1080 (step S22 /
NO), a message to that effect is displayed on the operation unit 31 to notify the user (step S17). If the transmission has been normally performed (step S22 / YES), the timer for timeout determination is reset (step S23), and a report of the report result from the communication control device 1080 is waited (step S2).
4). In the present embodiment, the time-out period is set to 20 minutes, and if a notification result is not received within 20 minutes (step S26 / YES), a notification failure is displayed on the operation unit 31 to notify the user (step S27). When the report of the report is received within the timeout period (step S24 / YES), it is determined whether or not the report is successful (step S25). If the notification has been made normally (step S25 / YES), the operation unit 31 displays that the automatic notification has been completed (step S28). If the notification has failed (step S25 / NO), a message to that effect is displayed on the operation unit 31 (step S27) to notify the user.

Next, referring to FIG. 22, an image forming apparatus 1090 will be described.
The control flow of the remote notification by the prior warning of the above will be described. In step S31, the image forming apparatus 1090 has not reached the abnormal state due to the self-diagnosis function, but if it is determined that maintenance should be performed, for example, when the state is very close to the abnormal state, the communication in the communication control apparatus 1080 is warned. Request analysis means 3301 via the interface
To send remote warning data of advance warning.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1090 when accessed from the communication control apparatus 1080 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the overall flow of the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. If the communication permission switch 30 is ON (step S41 / YES), it is checked whether the communication interface unit 28 has received data (step S42). Communication interface unit 2
8 (step S42 / YE)
S), this is received (step S43), and the received data is identified by the request code described in the first field. If the request code described in the first field is a Read request code (step S44 / YES), the R
Read the data specified in the item code of the ead request,
It is transmitted together with the Read response code to the communication control device (step S45). The request code described in the first field is not the Read request code (step S44 /
NO), if it is a Write request code (step S4
6 / YES), writes the write data received by the Write request to the item specified by the item code. Then, the Write response code is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 together with the written data (step S47). If the request code described in the first field is not the Write request code (step S46 / NO), but is the Execute request code (step S48 / YES), the Exe
The function of the item described in the item code of the cute request is checked, and the check result is transmitted to the communication control device together with the Execute response code (step S49). If the request code in the first field is not any of the above request codes, an error code is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 (step S50).

Next, referring to FIG. 24, a flow of a Read process performed by the image forming apparatus 1090 in accordance with a Read request sent from the communication control device 1080 will be described.
First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the item code of the Read request sent from the communication control device is a correct item code that can be read. If it is determined that the item code is correct and can be read (Step S5)
1 / YES), and returns the value of the requested item to the communication control device together with the Read response code (step S5).
3). If it is determined that the item code is not a correct item code that can be read (Step S51 / NO), an error code is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 (Step S5).
2).

Next, referring to FIG. 25, a processing flow of the Write processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1090 in accordance with the Write request sent from the communication control device 1080 will be described.
First, in step S61, it is determined whether or not the item code of the Write request sent from the communication control device is a correct item code capable of Write processing. If it is determined that the item code is correct (step S61 / YES), it is determined whether or not the write data sent from the communication control device is within the valid range. If it is determined that it is within the valid range (step S62 / YES), the received write data is written (step S65), and the written value is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 together with the Write response code (step S66). If it is determined that the data to be written is out of the valid range (step S62 /
NO), it is determined for each item code whether or not the data is data that can be rounded to the boundary value and written (step S63). When it is determined that the data is rounded to the boundary value and can be written (step S63 / YES), the boundary value is written (step S64), and the written value is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 together with the Write response code (step S66). . If it is determined that the data cannot be written rounded to the boundary value (step S63)
/ NO), and transmits the error code to the communication control device 108.
Send to 0. Whether to allow rounding to the boundary value or not is set for each item code. For example, there are cases where the influence of rewriting is large even within the effective range, such as setting of the fixing temperature, Rounding to the boundary value is prohibited for the telephone number of the service center 1000 that has no meaning in the numerical value, and items that do not affect the image quality such as the auto reset time are rounded to the boundary value for convenience. Allow
When the auto reset time is desired to be as long as possible, if the value to be written is set to the maximum value of the number of digits, the maximum value is automatically selected on the image forming apparatus 1090 side.

Next, the processing flow of the Execute processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1090 in accordance with the Execute request sent from the communication control apparatus 1080 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S71, it is determined whether or not the item code of the Execute request sent from the communication control device is a correct item code that can be subjected to Execute processing. Execu
If it is determined that the item code is a correct item code that can be processed (step S72 / YES), it is determined whether or not additional operation contents are necessary (step S72). If not necessary (step S72 / NO), the designated operation is executed (step S74), and the operation result information is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 together with the Execute response code (step S75). If it is determined that the supplement of the operation content is necessary (step S72 / YES), it is determined whether or not the supplement of the operation content is within the valid range (step S7).
3). If it is determined that the operation content supplement is data within the effective range (step S73 / YES), the operation is performed according to the supplemented information (step S74), and the operation result information is transmitted to the communication control device 1080 together with the Execute response code (step S74). Step S75). If it is determined that the operation supplement content is out of the valid range (step S7)
(3 / NO), and transmits the error code to the communication control device (step S76).

Next, the communication sequence between the communication control device 1080 and the image forming device 1090 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 27 illustrates a communication sequence in an idle state when five image forming apparatuses 1090 are connected to the communication control apparatus 1080. The communication control device 1080 sequentially executes a polling sequence using the polling address of each image forming apparatus 1090. When there is no transmission data, image forming apparatus 1090 polled by the polling address transmits a response indicating that there is no transmission text data to communication control apparatus 1080. In FIG. 27, the communication control device 1080 inquires whether the image forming device at the address has transmission text data. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving the EO
A negative response to T is transmitted to the communication control device, and a response indicating no transmission text data is issued. Hereinafter, this operation is repeated, and the polling sequence is sequentially executed for the image forming apparatuses starting from the address.

Next, FIG. 28 shows a communication sequence in the case where there is a remote report transmission text in the image forming apparatus at the address.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, the communication control device 108
0, as in the case of the communication in the idle state in FIG. 27, inquires whether the image forming apparatus at the address has transmission text data. The image forming apparatus of the address that has received this transmits a negative response of the EOT to the communication control device, and issues a response indicating that there is no transmission text data. The communication control device 1080 that has received the negative response from the image forming apparatus at the address inquires whether the image forming apparatus at the address has transmission text data. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this is RS-485.
Send outgoing text on the line. Upon receiving this, the communication control device transmits an ACK signal to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving the ACK signal transmits the EOT signal to the communication control device 10.
80 and end the communication. Communication control device 1080 that has completed communication with the image forming apparatus at the address
Makes an inquiry as to whether or not there is transmission text data in order in the image forming apparatuses at the addresses 1 to 6.

Next, a communication sequence when transmitting the text of the communication result report from the communication control device 1080 to the image forming apparatus at the address will be described with reference to FIG. In this communication sequence, after the current polling is completed, a selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus at the target address, and text is transmitted to the image forming apparatus at the address. After the text transmission, the process returns to the original polling cycle. In FIG. 29, when the text of the report result is received from the service center while polling the image forming apparatus of the address, after the polling of the image forming apparatus of the current address is completed, The selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control device. The communication control device that has received the ACK signal transmits the transmission text data to the image forming device at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address that has received the transmission text data transmits an ACK signal to the communication control device. The communication control device that has received the ACK signal transmits the EOT signal to the image forming apparatus at the address, and ends communication with the image forming apparatus at the address. The communication control device that has completed this communication restarts the polling cycle from the image forming device at the address.

Next, when the service center 1000 or the communication control device 1080 accesses the image forming device of the address, the communication control device 1080
The communication sequence between the address and the image forming apparatus at the address will be described with reference to FIG. Communication control device 108
0 selects the image forming apparatus at the target address, and transmits any of a Read request, a Write request, and an Execute request text. Immediately thereafter, polling is performed for the same image forming apparatus, and a response to the request is received. In FIG. 30, a selective sequence is transmitted using a selective address of the image forming apparatus of the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control device 1080. The communication control device that has received the ACK signal transmits the transmission text data to the image forming device at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address at which the transmission text data was received is sent an ACK to the communication control apparatus 1080.
Send a signal. Upon receiving this ACK signal, the communication control device 1080 sends the EO to the image forming apparatus at the address.
A T signal is transmitted, and a polling sequence is transmitted to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits a transmission text representing a response to the request. Upon receiving this response, the communication control device 1080 transmits an ACK signal to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving the ACK signal transmits the EOT signal to the communication control device, and ends the communication with the communication control device. Actually, the above sequence is inserted during the polling cycle shown in FIG.

Next, regular data processing, that is, a transfer sequence of a counter value of the total number of copies that is periodically performed will be described with reference to FIG. When the collection time of the total copy number counter value is reached, the communication control device 1080 inserts a selecting cycle for sequentially selecting the image forming apparatuses 1090 at addresses between the polling cycles. When a response is received during the selecting cycle, immediately after that, the same image forming apparatus 1090 is polled, data is received, date and time information at the time of reception is added, and the data is stored in the internal storage unit 13. In the selecting cycle, the selecting is not performed on the image forming apparatus 1090. In the example shown in FIG. 31, in the first selecting cycle, there is also a response from the image forming apparatus 1090 at the address, and to the image forming apparatus 1090 at the address at which the previous data could not be received in the next selecting cycle. We are doing selection for only. Then, in the next selecting cycle, the data reception of all the image forming apparatuses 1090 has been completed, and the state returns to the state where only the normal polling cycle shown in FIG. 28 is performed. In FIG. 31, first, a selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus of the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal is the communication control device 1
In step 080, an ACK signal is transmitted. The communication control device that has received the ACK signal transmits the transmission text data to the image forming device at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address that has received the transmission text data transmits an ACK signal to communication control apparatus 1080. The communication control device 1080 that has received the ACK signal transmits an EOT signal to the image forming apparatus at the address, and further transmits a polling sequence to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits the transmission text as a response to the request. Upon receiving this response, the communication control device 1080 transmits an ACK signal to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving the ACK signal transmits an EOT signal to the communication control apparatus, and the communication between the image forming apparatus at the address and the communication control apparatus ends. The communication control device 1080 adds the date and time information at the time of reception and stores it in the RAM 13, and does not select the image forming apparatus at the address from the next selecting cycle. Next, a selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus at the address. It is assumed that there is no response from the image forming apparatus at the address to which this signal has been sent. Next, a selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control apparatus 1080, and thereafter executes the same transfer sequence as the image forming apparatus at the address. Communication control device 108
0 collects the counter value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus at the address, and when storing the counter value in the RAM 13 is completed, transmits a selective sequence using the selective address of the image forming apparatus as the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control apparatus 1080, and thereafter executes the same transfer sequence as the image forming apparatus at the address. The communication control device 1080 collects the counter value of the total number of copies of the address of the image forming apparatus, and when the storage in the RAM 13 is completed, next transmits a selective sequence using the selective address of the address of the image forming apparatus. It is assumed that there is no response from the image forming apparatus at the address to which this signal has been sent. Next, a polling sequence is sequentially executed by using the polling addresses of the respective image forming apparatuses. next,
The selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control apparatus 1080, and thereafter executes the same transfer sequence as the image forming apparatus at the address. The communication control device 1080 collects the counter value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus at the address, and stores it in the RAM.
When the storage of the image data in the address 13 is completed, a selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus having the address. It is assumed that there is no response from the image forming apparatus at the address to which this signal has been sent. Next, a polling sequence is sequentially executed by using the polling addresses of the respective image forming apparatuses. Next, a selective sequence is transmitted using the selective address of the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal is the communication control device 1080
An ACK signal is transmitted, and the same transfer sequence as that of the image forming apparatus at the address is executed thereafter. The communication control device 1080 collects the counter value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus at the address, and stores the counter value of the total number of copies of all the image forming apparatuses in the RAM 13. Then, only the normal polling cycle shown in FIG. Return to the state in which In this embodiment, the five image forming apparatuses 1090 are connected to each other. However, when there is a vacant connection, it is possible to prevent selection from going to an empty address. is there.
The communication control device 1080 starts collecting the counter value of the total number of copies, either when the collection time has been reached or when power is applied to the communication control device 1080.

Next, another example of the scheduled data processing will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, when the collection time of the counter value of the total number of copies is reached, each image forming apparatus 10
At the timing of polling 90, selecting is performed instead of polling. The image forming apparatus 1090 which has responded to the selecting is immediately polled and receives data. The first cycle for the image forming apparatus 1090 from the address immediately after the collection time of the counter value of the total number of copies for the image forming apparatus 1090 is the same as in FIG. 31, but no polling cycle is inserted next. In the second cycle, the image forming apparatus 1090 for which data reception has already been completed.
Is polled, and the image forming apparatus 1090 that has failed to receive data performs again selecting for a counter value request. All image forming apparatuses 10
When the data of 90 can be received, it returns to the normal state in which only polling is performed. In the example shown in FIG. 32, first, there is a response from the image forming apparatus 1090 of the address,. When the reception is completed, the data of all the image forming apparatuses 1090 can be received in the next cycle. In FIG. 32, a selective sequence is transmitted to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control device 1080. The communication control device that has received the ACK signal transmits the transmission text data to the image forming device at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address that has received the transmission text data transmits an ACK signal to communication control apparatus 1080. This ACK
The communication control device 1080 having received the signal transmits an EOT signal to the image forming apparatus at the address, and further transmits a polling sequence to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits the transmission text as a response to the request. Upon receiving this response, the communication control device 1080 transmits an ACK signal to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving the ACK signal transmits an EOT signal to the communication control apparatus, and the communication between the image forming apparatus at the address and the communication control apparatus ends. The communication control device 1080 adds the date and time information at the time of reception and stores the information in the RAM 13. Next, the selective sequence is transmitted to the image forming apparatus at the address. It is assumed that the image forming apparatus at the address does not respond to this signal. Next, a selective sequence is transmitted to the image forming apparatus at the address. The image forming apparatus at the address receiving this signal transmits an ACK signal to the communication control apparatus 1080, and thereafter executes the same transfer sequence as the image forming apparatus at the address. When the counter values of the total number of copies of all the image forming apparatuses are stored in the RAM 13, the state returns to the state where only the normal polling cycle shown in FIG. 27 is performed.

After performing one of the regular data processes as shown in the above two examples, the communication control device further performs the following process. When the date and time indicated by the parameters set in the communication control device 1080 are reached, a call is made to the report destination telephone number indicated by the parameters set in the communication control device 1080, and the connected image forming apparatus The counter value of the total number of copies transmitted from the
Send to However, if the client 1010n or the communication control device 1080 accidentally loses power or the set date and time is set to only a leap year such as February 29, There are years when the total counter can be processed and years when it cannot, resulting in operational inconvenience. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the processing is not completed on the date and time indicated by the parameter, monitoring is continuously performed, and this operation is performed until the processing is completed. In a year without February 29, processing is performed on March 1 when the month changes. Further, the current image forming apparatus 1090 has advanced functions such as colorization and digitalization.
Some devices are connected to a plurality of devices 90 from one. In this embodiment, up to three total counters can be connected to one image forming apparatus. At this time, the data is transferred to the client 1010 of the service center 1000.
n, the individual counters are sent to the individual image forming apparatus 1.
If the data is to be transmitted to the client 1010n of the service center 1000 separately for 090, an extra transmission cost is required. In this embodiment, when the date and time indicated by the parameter set in the communication control device 1080 is reached, the scheduled data stored in the communication control device 1080 is stored in a specific storage area including the acquisition date and time. This information can be read from the service center 1000. In addition, when reading, together with information on the total number of copies
The timed data at that time can be read together.

Next, the service center 100 of this embodiment
The specific configuration of the main part on the 0 side will be described. First, FIG. 33 shows the internal configuration of the service center 1000. The service center 1000 includes a modem 1011 installed in the service center 1000 via a communication control device 1080 at a customer site and a public line network or the like.
1011a, 1011b,... 1011n. Each modem 1011n is connected to the client 10
10n. The connection form between the modem and the client includes a case where one modem is connected to one client and a case where a plurality of modems are connected to one client. One client and one modem
In this case, the modem 1011n is directly connected to the serial port (COM1) of the client 1010n. When a plurality of modems are connected to one client, the MCA of the client 1010n is used.
A modem is connected via the RIC board inserted in the slot. The RIC board itself has a small OS, and downloads a protocol driver described later on its own memory, and each downloaded protocol driver can operate asynchronously with multitasking. Normally, client 1010n when using multiple ports
In order to reduce the load on the CPU, a program for implementing the communication protocol is downloaded into the RIC.

Next, a specific example of the management table according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is provided with a counting unit for counting the number of reports from the image forming apparatus 1090.
4, a port count table 3400 that counts the number of information items of a report for each communication port, and a count table 3500 for each message that counts the number of messages received from the image forming apparatus 1090 shown in FIG. , FIG. 36
And a customer-specific management table 3600 for storing the telephone numbers of the communication control devices of the customers shown in FIG.

Next, the respective management tables will be described in detail. The port count table 3400 shown in FIG.
The total number of reports 3400a1 to 3400 resident on the file server 1020 installed in the service center 1000 and storing the total number of reports received by the communication port.
400an, upper limit values 3400b1 to 3400bn for storing the upper limit value of the report received by each communication port, and the number of allocated communication control devices 3400c1 for storing the number of customer communication control devices 1080 allocated to each communication port. To 3400 cn and a port telephone number 3400d in which the telephone number of each communication port is stored.
1 to 3400 dn. The port count table 3400 has the same number of entries as the number of modems 1011 installed in the service center, and each entry corresponds to a communication port. Further, each time a message from the image forming apparatus 1090 is received, the count is incremented, and the number of received messages is counted for each communication port.

Next, the report-specific counting table 3500 shown in FIG. 35 includes report identifiers 3500a1 to 3500an resident on a file server installed in the service center 1000 and storing identifiers for identifying reports. Total number of received messages storing another total number of received messages 3500b1 ~
3500bn. This table is used when counting the number of reports from the image forming apparatus 1090, identifies a report each time a report from the image forming apparatus 1090 is received, and counts up the number of received reports for each report.

The customer-specific table 3600 shown in FIG.
Are resident on a file server installed in the service center 1000, and the model numbers 3600a1 to 3600an for registering the model number of the image forming apparatus 1090 of the customer from the service center 1000, and the serial numbers 3600b1 to 3600 for registering the serial number. 3600bn, customer telephone numbers 3600c1 to 3600c for registering the telephone numbers of the communication control devices 1080 installed at the customers.
n. This table is used when the service center 1000 issues a request to the image forming apparatus 1090 and the communication control apparatus 1080 at the customer's destination, and detects the telephone number of the communication control apparatus installed at the customer's location. Used.

Next, a specific example of the operation processing of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the processing flow of the service center 1000 that has received the notification from the communication control device 1080 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S81, the client 1010n in the service center 1000 that has received the notification from the communication control device 1080 verifies whether or not there is data received from the communication control device 1080. If the received data does not exist (step S81 / NO), the process ends. If the received data exists (step S81 / YES), the message reason code 97 is extracted from the received data, and whether or not the message is a message is verified (step S83). If the received data is not a report (step S83 / NO), the process exits. If the received data is a report (step S83 / YES), the client 1 that has received the report
The entry of the port count table 3400 corresponding to the modem 1011n connected to 010n is searched, and the total report number 3400an of the searched entry is counted up (step S84). Next, in step S85,
The received report is identified, a corresponding entry is searched based on the report identifier 3500an of the report-specific counting table 3500, and the total number of received entries 3500bn of the searched entry is counted up. Next, in step S86, the total number of reports 3400an counted up is compared with the report upper limit 3400bn of the entry, and the total number of reports 3
It is verified whether or not 400an exceeds the upper limit of the report. If the upper limit of the report has not been exceeded (step S86)
/ NO), exit this process. If the upper limit of the report is exceeded (step S86 / YES), the communication port with the smallest assigned number among the assigned communication control devices stored in the port count table 3400, and the telephone number of this communication port as the port telephone number (Step S87). Next, in step S88, the number of allocated communication control devices 3400cn of the detected entry is counted up. Next, in step S89, the count table 3500 for each report is searched to detect the report most frequently received from the customer, and the report identifier 3500an indicating the maximum value of the number of reports is acquired. Next, in step S90, a model number 90 and a serial number 91 are extracted from the received data in order to obtain a telephone number for calling the communication control device 1080 installed at the customer site, and the extracted model number 90 and serial number are extracted. The customer-specific table is searched using the number 91. Next, in step S91, a request for changing the parameter area stored inside the communication control device 1080 is made using the customer telephone number acquired in step S90. This change request includes step S
A request for changing the port telephone number of the service center, which is required when the communication control device next makes the most frequently received report from the customer obtained at 89, is included.
The port telephone number to be changed is the port telephone number acquired in step S87. For example, step S8
If the report obtained at step 9 is a remote report using the remote report key, the communication control device 108 is used by using the communication control device telephone number of the customer obtained at step S90.
A change request is made to 0. This change request includes a request to change the contact telephone number stored in the remote report by the remote report key in the parameter area of the communication control device to the port telephone number acquired in step 87. When the communication control device receives the change request, the contact telephone number at the time of the remote report using the remote report key in the parameter area is changed to the port telephone number acquired in step S87. Thereafter, the customer's image forming apparatus 10
At the time of the remote report by the remote report key at 90, the report is sent to the changed port telephone number. Therefore, it becomes possible to dynamically change the receiving port of the report from the customer.

Next, referring to FIG.
A processing flow of the communication control device when a change request from 00 is received will be described. In step S101,
Whether a change request from the service center 1000 has been received,
Confirm whether or not. In step S102, communication control device 1080 having received the change request from service center 1000 verifies the validity of the ID code for security verification. If the received ID code is incorrect (step S102 / NO), an error notification is transmitted to the service center 1000 (step S102).
108), and the process ends (step S109). If the received ID code is valid (step S1
02 / YES), the received processing code is identified (step S103). If the received processing code is not a Write request (step S103 / NO), control is transferred to a processing routine corresponding to the processing code, and the processing is continued (step S111). If the processing code is a Write request (step S103 / YES), an item code is extracted from the received data, and it is verified whether or not the Write request is a parameter area change request (step S104). If the Write request is a request other than the parameter area change request (step S104 / NO), the control is shifted to step S110 to continue the processing to perform another Write request. If the Write request is a request for changing the parameter area (step S104 / YES), the change data of the parameter area of the received data is written in the parameter area (step S105). After the writing is completed, it is verified whether the Write request is completed normally or abnormally (step S10).
6). If abnormal termination (step S106 / YE)
S), an error notification is transmitted to the service center 1000 (step S108), and the process ends (step S1).
09). In the case of normal termination (step S106 / N
O), the value written as a notification of normal termination is transmitted to the service center 1000, and the processing is terminated (step S1).
07).

Finally, the processing flow when the above various management tables are printed out by the printing apparatus 1050 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Service center 1
When the 000 operator inputs various commands from the client 1010n, the input commands are decoded, and the process shifts to command processing task control (step S1).
21). When the input command is a command other than the management table output command (step S121 / N
O) The process proceeds to step S127 to perform another command process. When the input command is a management table output command (step S121 / YES), it is verified whether or not the output list is a port count table (step S122). If it is the output of the port count table (step S122 / YES), the output device outputs the total list for each port accumulated in the port count table (step S125). If the output list is the output of the report-specific count table (step S123 / YES), the output device outputs the report-specific aggregation list stored in the report-specific count table (step S126). In the case of a command other than the above (step S122 / NO and step S123 / NO), an error message is displayed on the client 1010n, and the process ends (step S124). The output device described above is a printing device 1 installed in the service center 1000.
050 or output to a display device on the client 1010n.

[0071]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
The remote image forming apparatus management system according to the first aspect includes a first storage unit in which the interface device stores a control program and report setting information used when notifying the service center, and an image forming apparatus and a service based on the control program stored in the storage unit. A request analysis process for analyzing a request from the center, a request execution process for executing the request analyzed by the request analysis process, a setting value change process for changing a report setting value of the image forming apparatus, and a notification of a report from the image forming apparatus. Control means for executing a set value verification process for verifying the validity of the set value; and a service center receiving means for receiving a report from the interface device, and receiving the report received by each of the receiving means. Information on the total number of received messages, information on the upper limit value of the report received by each receiving means, and information on the interface device assigned to each receiving means A report type comprising: a receiving-unit-specific count table comprising the number-of-apparatus information, report number information to the receiving unit, identifier information for identifying a report from the image forming apparatus, and total received number information for each identifier. Second storage means for storing a customer-specific table including a counting table, telephone number information of the interface device, and identification number information of the image forming device connected to the interface device, and a notification from the image forming device Processing means for performing processing based on the number of messages received from the image forming apparatus using the second storage means, and the counted number of received messages is set in advance. When the setting value is exceeded, a request to change the individual notification setting value is output to the interface device connected to the image forming device that has sent the notification, thereby enabling communication of the image forming device from a remote place. For the reception,
Dynamically grasp the occupation status of the communication line, change the destination telephone number of each report and the setting of monitoring information, improve the use efficiency of the communication line, and increase the number of installed image forming devices, It is possible to reduce the cost of adding service center equipment. Further, it is possible to easily and quickly change the destination telephone number of each report and the setting of the monitoring information, thereby enabling a flexible system operation. Also, by counting the reports from the customer image forming apparatus for each report, it is easy to grasp the operation status of the customer image forming apparatus, and it is possible to set and change the monitoring content easily and quickly. . In addition, by counting the number of reports received from the customer's image forming device by receiving means, it is possible to dynamically grasp the occupation status of the communication line when receiving a report, thereby improving the use efficiency of the communication line. Can be achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, when the processing unit provided in the service center receives the message transmitted from the image forming apparatus through the interface unit by the receiving unit, the counting table for each receiving unit is provided. Count up the total number of received messages received by the receiving means, detect the identifier of the received message, count up the total number of detected identifiers in the report type counting table, and count the total number of received messages received by the receiving means Is greater than or equal to the upper limit value information of the counting table for each receiving means, and if it exceeds the upper limit value, using the assigned number information of the counting table for each receiving means, the reception of the smallest number of allocations is performed. Detects the means, counts up the number of detected receiving means allocated, and reports the detected report number of the receiving means to the report number in the counting table for each receiving means. Acquired by the information, it obtains the identifier of the notification Most Problem number often from Problem type counting table,
Further, in order to detect the image forming apparatus that has sent the notification, the identification number of the image forming apparatus that has sent the notification is detected from the received data. Acquiring the report number of the interface device, and transmitting the acquired identifier and the report number of the detected receiving means to the interface device connected to the image forming apparatus that has reported using the detected report number, and By issuing a request to rewrite the report setting information stored in the storage means, in response to the reception of the report of the image forming apparatus from a remote location, the status of the occupation of the communication line is dynamically grasped, and the destination telephone number of each report is transmitted. And the setting of monitoring information to improve the efficiency of communication line usage and to increase the number of service center facilities It makes it possible to suppress the door. Further, it is possible to easily and quickly change the destination telephone number of each report and the setting of the monitoring information, thereby enabling a flexible system operation. Also, by counting the reports from the customer image forming apparatus for each report, it is easy to grasp the operation status of the customer image forming apparatus, and it is possible to set and change the monitoring content easily and quickly. .
In addition, by counting the number of reports received from the customer's image forming device by receiving means, it is possible to dynamically grasp the occupation status of the communication line when receiving a report, thereby improving the use efficiency of the communication line. Can be achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, when the data is sent from the service center, the interface device specifies the designation code for designating the device requesting the process included in the data and the processing content. The request item code is analyzed by a request analysis process, and if the analysis result is a process request to the image forming apparatus connected to the interface device, it is determined whether the request item code is correct by the set value verification process. Verify, and if the verification result is determined to be a correct request item code, send the data sent from the service center to the designated image forming apparatus and send the processing report returned from the designated image forming apparatus to the service center If it is determined that the request item code is incorrect, an error code is sent to the service center, and the request analysis process is further performed. If the analysis result is a processing request to the interface device, the setting item verification process verifies whether the request item code is correct or not, and if it is determined that the verification result is the correct request item code, specifies by the request execution process Performs the specified processing, sends a processing report to the service center, and, if it determines that the verification result is an incorrect request item code, sends an error code to the service center to process the processing request sent from the service center. Analyze, accurately process requests to the designated image forming device,
And it can be transmitted quickly. When the processing request from the service center is directed to the interface device itself, the request item code is accurately determined, the processing is performed accurately and promptly, and the processing result is transmitted to the service center. It is possible to confirm whether or not the requested processing has been executed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote image forming apparatus management system, wherein the interface device further comprises a time measuring means for measuring a time, and when the time for collecting the counter value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus is reached, each image forming operation is started. A selecting cycle is inserted between polling cycles for the apparatus, a request for outputting a count value of the total number of copies is issued, polling is continuously performed on the image forming apparatus which has responded, and the count value of the total number of copies is received. The count value of the total number of copies received is stored in the storage unit with the date and time information when the count was received, and in the next selecting cycle, selecting is performed on the image forming apparatus that has responded. By not having
Even when the image forming apparatus is in a communication disabled state, such as when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off, the service center can know the counter value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote image forming apparatus management system, wherein the interface device further includes a time measuring means for measuring a time, and when the count value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus reaches the collection time, each image forming apparatus is started. At the timing of polling the apparatus, selecting is performed, a request for outputting a count value of the total number of copies is issued, and polling is continuously performed on the image forming apparatus which has responded to the selecting, and the count value of the total number of copies is calculated. Receive and count the total number of copies received
The date and time information at the time of reception is added and stored in the storage unit, and in the next cycle, the image forming apparatus that has responded performs polling, and performs selection for only the image forming apparatus that has not responded. By issuing a request to output the count value of the total number of copies, the service center can know the counter value even when the image forming apparatus is in a communication disabled state, such as when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, when the operator presses a remote report key provided on the operation input unit, the remote report key is transmitted to the connected interface device. The remote reporting data is reported together with a code identifying that the report is based on the information, and when an abnormality is detected by the self-diagnosis function provided in the image forming apparatus itself, the connected interface device is notified of the self-diagnosis abnormality. The remote reporting data is reported together with a code to identify that it is the case, and if it is judged that maintenance should be performed by the self-diagnosis function, it is identified to the connected interface device that it is a warning by prior warning. The remote reporting data along with the code to perform , It is possible to report to the service center for maintenance.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, the service center further includes an output unit for outputting each information of the receiving unit counting table and the report type counting table stored in the second storage unit. Accordingly, it is easy to grasp the operation status of the image forming apparatus at the customer's site and the usage rate of the communication line in the service center, and it is possible to operate the system flexibly.

In the remote image forming apparatus management system according to the eighth aspect, the interface device further includes an input unit capable of inputting a setting from an operator, and the control unit receives notification setting information from the input unit. And changing the input notification setting information with the notification setting information stored in the first storage means, thereby setting the destination telephone number and monitoring contents,
Change registration can be performed easily and quickly, and a flexible system can be operated.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote image forming apparatus management system, comprising: an interface device connected to the image forming device via a communication line; and a service center via the interface device and a public line network. A remote image forming device management system that sends and receives information such as remote notification key notification, self-diagnosis abnormality notification, advance warning notification, and total counter value automatic notification of image forming devices, and analyzes requests from image forming devices and service centers. Request analyzing means for executing the request analyzed by the analyzing means, setting value changing means for changing the individual report setting values of the image forming apparatus, and verifying the validity of the setting values of the individual messages Setting value verifying means, counting means for counting the number of messages received from the interface device, and receiving messages counted by the counting means. And a change request means for requesting a change of an individual notification setting value when the value exceeds a specific value, thereby dynamically occupying the communication line in response to reception of a notification from the image forming apparatus from a remote location. Understand the situation, change the settings of the destination telephone number and monitoring information of each report, improve the use efficiency of the communication line, and reduce the cost of adding service center equipment due to the increase in the number of installed image forming devices. Make it possible.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, the counting means is a means for counting the number of received reports for each message, so that the counting is performed for each message of the image forming apparatus at the customer. The operation status of the image forming apparatus can be easily grasped, and the setting and change registration of the monitoring contents can be easily and quickly performed.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, the counting means is a means for counting the number of received reports for each communication port. Can be grasped, and the use efficiency of the communication line can be improved.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the remote image forming apparatus management system, the service center further includes an output unit for outputting the number of received messages and the number of received data for each communication port counted by the counting unit. It is easy to grasp the operation status of the forming equipment and the usage rate of the communication line,
Flexible system operation becomes possible.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote image forming apparatus management system, wherein the setting value changing means is operated remotely from a service center at any time via a public network or the like according to a predetermined communication protocol to perform image formation. Remote image forming device management that enables easy and quick setting and change registration of destination telephone numbers and monitoring contents by means of changing individual notification setting values of the device, enabling flexible system operation System.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the remote image forming apparatus management system, wherein the setting value changing means directly changes the individual notification setting values of the image forming apparatus by a serviceman's operation at any time via the portable device. With this arrangement, setting and change registration of a destination telephone number and monitoring contents can be performed easily and quickly, and a flexible system can be operated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a remote image forming apparatus management system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit.

10A is a sequence diagram illustrating a remote notification operation using a remote notification key, FIG. 10B is a sequence diagram illustrating a remote notification operation using a self-diagnosis function, and FIG. .

11A is a sequence diagram for explaining a Read process, FIG. 11B is a sequence diagram for explaining a Write process, and FIG. 11C is a sequence diagram for explaining an Execute process.

12A is a sequence diagram for explaining a Read process, FIG. 12B is a sequence diagram for explaining a Write process, and C is a sequence diagram for explaining an Execute process.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating a Read process.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing various parameters stored in the communication control device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of communication data.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a data format when the service center accesses the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a data mat when a service center accesses a communication control device.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a data format when the communication control device accesses the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a control flow of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a remote report flow using a remote report key.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a remote notification flow due to a self-diagnosis abnormality.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a remote notification flow based on advance warning.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a control flow of the communication control device.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the image forming apparatus during Read processing.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the image forming apparatus at the time of Write processing.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the image forming apparatus during the Execute processing.

FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication in an idle state between the image forming apparatus and the communication control apparatus.

FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram in a case where there is a remote report transmission text in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram when transmitting a text of a report result from the communication control device to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a communication sequence between the communication control device and the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a transfer sequence of a counter value.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a transfer sequence of a counter value.

FIG. 33 is a connection configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a service center.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a port count table.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a count table for each message.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a customer-specific table.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the service center when receiving a report from the communication control device.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the communication control device when a change request is received from a service center.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating an output flow of a management table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 service center 1010 client 1080 communication control device 1090 image forming device 1070 public line network 2000 service station 3301 request analysis unit 3302 request execution unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A remote image forming apparatus management system comprising: an interface device connected to an image forming device via a communication line; and a service center connected to the interface device via a public line network. An interface device configured to store a control program and report setting information used for reporting to the service center; and a request from the image forming apparatus and the service center by the control program stored in the storage unit. A request analysis process for analyzing; a request execution process for executing a request analyzed by the request analysis process; a setting value change process for changing a report setting value of the image forming apparatus; and a setting value of a report from the image forming apparatus. A setting value verification process for verifying the validity of: and control means for executing: Receiving means for receiving a report from the interface device, information on the total number of reports received by each receiving means, information on the upper limit value of the report received by each receiving means, and information allocated to each receiving means. Number-of-assigned-number information of interface devices, report number information to each receiving unit, a receiving-unit-specific count table, and identifier information for identifying a report from the image forming apparatus;
A total number of received information for each identifier, a report type counting table comprising: a telephone number information of the interface device; an identification number information of an image forming device connected to the interface device; and a customer-specific table comprising: And a processing unit for performing a process based on a report from the image forming apparatus, wherein the processing unit stores the number of received reports from the image forming apparatus in the second Counting is performed using the storage means, and when the number of received message counts exceeds a preset set value, an individual report setting value change request is output to an interface device connected to the image forming apparatus which has notified the request. A remote image forming apparatus management system, characterized in that: 2. The processing unit provided in the service center, when the receiving unit receives a message sent from the image forming apparatus through the interface device,
Count up the total number of receptions of the reception unit that has received the notification in the counting table for each reception unit, detect the identifier of the received notification, and count up the total number of receptions of the detected identifier in the notification type counting table. Then, it is detected whether or not the total number of receptions of the received receiving means exceeds the upper limit value information of the counting table for each receiving means. If the total number exceeds the upper limit, allocation of the counting table for each receiving means is performed. Using the number information, the receiving means with the smallest number of allocations is detected, the detected number of allocated receiving means is counted up, and the notification number of the detected receiving means is the notification number in the counting table for each receiving means. Information, obtains the identifier of the report with the largest number of reports from the report type counting table, and further receives the Detecting the identification number of the image forming apparatus that has reported from the data, and searching the customer-specific table from the detected identification number to obtain the reporting number of the interface device connected to the reporting image forming apparatus, Using the detected report number, the acquired identifier and the report number of the detected receiving unit are transmitted to an interface device connected to the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the report, and the report stored in the first storage unit is transmitted. 2. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein a request for rewriting the setting information is issued. 3. When data is sent from the service center, the interface device sends a request code specifying a device requesting a process included in the data and a request item code indicating the process content. Analyze in the analysis process, if the analysis result is a processing request to the image forming apparatus connected to the interface device, if the request item code is correct by the set value verification process,
If the verification result is determined to be a correct request item code, the data transmitted from the service center is transmitted to the designated image forming apparatus, and the processing report returned from the designated image forming apparatus is returned. Is transmitted to the service center, and when it is determined that the request item code is not correct, an error code is transmitted to the service center, and further, the analysis result by the request analysis processing is a processing request to the interface device. The set value verification process verifies whether the request item code is correct or not, and when it is determined that the verification result is a correct request item code, performs the process specified by the request execution process,
3. The remote image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a processing report is transmitted to the service center, and an error code is transmitted to the service center when the verification result is determined to be an incorrect request item code. Management system. 4. The interface device further includes a timer for measuring time, and when the collection time of the counter value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus is reached, selecting is performed between polling cycles for each image forming apparatus. Insert a cycle
A request to output the count value of the total number of copies is issued, polling is continuously performed to the image forming apparatus that has responded, the count value of the total number of copies is received, and the received count value of the total number of copies is received. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the date and time information at the time of the selection is added and stored in the storage unit, and in the next selecting cycle, the selecting is not performed on the image forming apparatus that has responded. Remote image forming device management system. 5. The interface device further includes a timer for counting time, and when the count time of the count value of the total number of copies of the image forming apparatus is reached, selecting at a timing of polling each image forming apparatus. To output the count value of the total copy number, perform polling continuously to the image forming apparatus that has responded to the selecting, receive the count value of the total copy number, and The count value of the number of copies is stored in the storage unit with date and time information at the time of reception added.
In the next cycle, the responding image forming apparatus performs polling, selects only the unresponsive image forming apparatus, and issues an output request for the total copy count. 2. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a remote report key provided on an operation input unit is pressed by an operator, the image forming apparatus transmits a code to the connected interface device together with a code for identifying the report by the remote report key. When the remote reporting data is reported, and an abnormality is detected by the self-diagnosis function provided in the image forming apparatus itself, a remote identification code is transmitted to the connected interface device together with a code identifying that the report is due to the self-diagnosis abnormality. When the report data is reported, and it is determined that it is better to perform the maintenance by the self-diagnosis function, the remote report data is transmitted to the connected interface device together with a code for identifying the report by a pre-warning. 3. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein a notification is issued. 7. The service center according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs each information of the counting table for each receiving unit and the counting table of the report type stored in the second storage unit. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1. 8. The interface device further includes an input unit capable of inputting a setting from an operator, and the control unit, when report setting information is input from the input unit, the input report setting 6. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein information is changed from the notification setting information stored in the first storage unit. 9. An interface device connected to the image forming device via a communication line, and a service center connected to the interface device and a service center via a public line network, and a remote report key notification of the image forming device. In a remote image forming apparatus management system for transmitting and receiving information such as a self-diagnosis abnormality report, a pre-warning report, and a total counter value automatic report, a request analysis unit for analyzing a request from the image forming apparatus and a service center; Request execution means for executing a request analyzed by: a setting value changing means for changing an individual notification setting value of the image forming apparatus; and a setting value verification means for verifying the validity of the setting value of each notification. A counting means for counting the number of received messages from the interface device; and the number of received messages counted by the counting means indicates a specific value. And a change request unit for requesting a change of each notification setting value when the number exceeds the limit. 10. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 9, wherein said counting means is means for counting the number of received reports for each message. 11. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 9, wherein said counting means is means for counting the number of received reports for each communication port. 12. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 9, wherein said service center further comprises an output unit for outputting the number of receptions for each report and each communication port counted by said counting unit. . 13. The setting value changing means, which is remotely operated from a service center as needed via a public line network or the like according to a communication protocol defined in advance to change individual notification setting values of the image forming apparatus. 10. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 9, wherein the remote image forming apparatus management system performs the following. 14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said setting value changing means directly changes individual notification setting values of said image forming apparatus by a serviceman's operation as needed via a portable device. The remote image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1.