JPH11355493A - Digital combined machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user side o report the fault occurrence situation to a manager side by starting at the time of emergency of a digital combined machine and reporting the situation of a device body to the manager. SOLUTION: A combined machine 1 decides if trouble is self-repairable. Although it is restored by automatically repairing in the case of it is self- repairable, an instruction to press down an emergency button is shown on a displaying part of an operating part when it is decided as impossible and a user presses down the emergency button. In such a case, an optional step part is transmitted through a LAN 4 connected from the combined machine body 1, retracing an error code in the combined machine and operation procedure record operated by the user back to the past, to a computer 2 of a manager. The operation procedure record is provided so as to store a step part that is preliminarily set by the manager in the machine 1 from the latest operation step. And, information in the machine 1 is transmitted to the computer 2 through a file transfer protocol from the machine 1 to the computer 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printer function, and a fax function, an operation method generally tends to become complicated as the number of functions increases. Problems such as accidents also tend to increase.

[0003] Conventionally, how to deal with a case in which the user encounters these malfunctions or accidents is described in an operation manual or the like, and the user searches for a solution in the operation manual according to the situation. , According to the applicable procedure.

[0004] Alternatively, when a malfunction or accident occurs, a means has been taken in which a user verbally explains to a manager through a telephone.

[0005] There is also a means for recording a certain error code with respect to the situation of malfunction or accident, so that the administrator can collect this record.

[0006] These means record and hold in the apparatus information about when and what kind of printing was performed by the apparatus and when and what kind of error occurred. Send to host computer,
Alternatively, it is a function of transmitting a record in response to a call request from a host computer on the administrator side.

There is also a method of applying this function and always obtaining the latest information by accessing information from a computer on the manager side at regular time intervals.

[0008]

However, it has been difficult for an operator to deal with the contents of the trouble properly by using a manual according to the contents of the trouble.

[0009] Further, the method of giving an explanation to a manager in charge of occurrence of a trouble by telephone is different from the method of expressing the contents of the trouble depending on the user and the degree of understanding varies. There was a drawback that it was difficult to do.

[0010] The work history of the apparatus body is recorded and held,
In the method of transmitting data to the administrator's host computer at regular intervals through a telephone line, or transmitting a record in response to a call request from the computer at the time of the administrator's side, the usage status of the device and the failure rate etc. Although it is an effective means to analyze by collecting surveys and statistics, there is a problem that it is difficult to deal with the immediacy to respond when a problem occurs. Furthermore, it is not possible to obtain a detailed history covering detailed operation steps until a problem occurs, and it is difficult to investigate a more detailed cause.

There is also a method in which the latest information is always obtained by accessing this information at regular time intervals from a computer on the administrator side by applying this function.
If the interval of accessing information by this method is frequent, the amount of information flowing on the network increases, and there is a problem that transmission to other information is adversely affected. Naturally, if the access interval is extended, there is a problem that the immediacy is lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described aspects.
It is an object of the present invention to provide means for allowing a user to actively notify a manager of a failure occurrence situation in the case of a malfunction or accident as described above.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in the present invention, there is provided a digital multi-function peripheral according to any one of the following items (1) to (8) to achieve the above object. It is.

(1) In a digital multifunction peripheral connected to a computer network and having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, and an image scanning function, the digital multifunction peripheral is activated in an emergency such as a malfunction or accident. A digital multifunction peripheral provided with means for notifying the administrator of the digital multifunction peripheral of the status of the apparatus main body.

(2) In the digital multi-function peripheral described in the above (1), means for notifying the administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of the situation by activating the digital multi-function peripheral in an emergency such as malfunction or accident occurrence A digital multifunction peripheral provided on an operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral and being a button or switch that can be easily identified by a user.

(3) In the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above (1), means for notifying the administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of a situation by activating the digital multi-function peripheral in an emergency such as malfunction or accident occurrence A digital multifunction peripheral that transmits data to the digital multifunction peripheral through the connected computer network using TCP / IP, which is a standard protocol.

(4) In the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above (1), a specific situation of a malfunction or an accident is transmitted to a computer of an administrator, and is clearly displayed on the computer so as to be easily recognized. .

(5) Among the digital multifunction peripherals described in the above (3), the specific situation of the malfunction or accident of the digital multifunction peripheral includes a past operation history up to the malfunction or accident. Digital multifunction peripheral.

(6) Among the digital multifunction peripherals described in the above (3), the digital multifunction peripheral and the computer of the administrator exist on the same LAN.

(7) Among the digital multifunction peripherals described in the above (3), the computer of the digital multifunction peripheral and each computer of the administrator are not on the same LAN, and are also connected via an Internet network through a gateway. Digital multifunction devices that are possible.

(8) Among the digital multifunction peripherals described in the above (3), a function of using the user management function of the digital multifunction peripheral to transmit information on the user in use, in addition to malfunctions and accidents, to the computer of the administrator. Digital multifunction peripheral having

[0022]

According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, when a malfunction or accident occurs in this type of digital multi-function peripheral, the user actively notifies the manager of the status of the occurrence of the fault, thereby enabling the necessary measures to be taken promptly. It can be done reliably.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail based on a plurality of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) <Structure> FIG.
1 shows a system configuration block diagram of an embodiment of FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a multifunction machine main body which is an image forming apparatus, 2 denotes an administrator computer, and 3a and 3b denote
Each computer for general users, 4 is a LAN (Locala)
1 Area Network).

<Operation> FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a processing operation sequence in the case where a trouble occurs due to some problem in step S2 when a user performs a copying operation in the multifunction device main body 1 in step S1. The multifunction device 1 first determines whether the trouble can be self-repaired (step S3). If possible, it is automatically repaired and returned (step S4), but if it is judged impossible,
An instruction to press the emergency button is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit (step S5), and the user can press the emergency button on the operation unit (step S6).

When the user presses the emergency button, an error code inside the multifunction machine and an operation procedure record operated by the user are transmitted to the administrator's computer 2 through the LAN 4 connected from the multifunction machine body 1 in the past. The arbitrary steps are transmitted retrospectively (step S7). The operation procedure record is provided so that the steps set by the administrator in advance in the multifunction device 1 are stored from the latest operation step (step S8).

As for the exchange of information between the two, basically, TCP / IP (Transmission Con
trol Protol / Internet Prot
ocol), and is transmitted from the MFP 1 to the administrator computer 2 by FTP (File).
The information in the multifunction device 1 is transmitted to the administrator computer 2 by Transfer Protocol (step S9).

In the administrator computer 2, the FTP
Utility software for automatically expanding and displaying received information is provided when the server software must always be running and the information file is sent. It must be running on

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of these network communication protocols.

First, the multifunction device 1 has an operation procedure code generation unit and an error code generation unit in the application layer, and is configured so that respective information can be transmitted by FTP through the FTP client unit.

The transport layer and the network layer are:
It is formed by standard TCP / IP, and in this embodiment, the physical layer is Ethernet, which is connected to a computer on the administrator side. The transport layer and the network layer are also formed by standard TCP / IP on the computer on the administrator side, and the application layer has an FTP server unit.
Transmission information from the TP client can be received. The received information is processed and displayed by the operation procedure interpreting unit and the error code interpreting unit so that the administrator can easily recognize the information. With this information, the administrator can accurately grasp the trouble situation of the multifunction device 1 to be managed.
Troubles can be promptly dealt with.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a system configuration block diagram showing a multifunction peripheral according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a multifunction machine main body, 3a, 3
b denotes each computer for general users, and 4 denotes a LAN. 12 is a proxy (Proxy) server, 5 is L
A gateway for connection between the AN 4 and the Internet, 6 is the Internet, and 2 is a computer for a manager at a remote place communicated via the Internet 6. Also,
The gateway 5 also functions as a firewall.

The second embodiment is characterized in that the administrator's computer 2 at a remote location is communicated via the Internet 6, whereby not only on the same LAN 4 but also on multiple LANs. The administrator computer 2 can collect the failure status of the machine 1. In this case, the gateway 5 is set so that FTP can be transmitted to both the multifunction device 1 and the administrator computer 7.

When the emergency button is pressed on the multifunction device 1 in which some trouble has occurred, the multifunction device body 1
An error code in the multifunction device 1 and a record of the operation procedure operated by the user are transmitted to the computer 2 for the administrator retroactively by an arbitrary number of steps in the past through the LAN 4 connected to the computer.

The transmission destination is the address of the administrator's computer 2 on the network via the Internet 6. In the network of the second embodiment, the gateway 5 also functions as a firewall. The client PCs 3a and 3b are sent to the Internet 6 through the gateway 5 after passing through the proxy server 12 once.

Information passed through the Internet 6 arrives at the administrator computer 2 through the gateway 5 on the administrator computer 2 side. In the computer 2 for the administrator, similarly to the first embodiment, the FTP server software must always be running, and when the information file is sent, the received information is automatically expanded and displayed. Utility software is provided, but this software must be running on the administrator computer 2.

According to the present embodiment, there is an effect that the trouble situation of the multifunction device 1 can be grasped very concretely even from a remote place beyond the frame of the LAN 4 operated in a relatively narrow range.

(Embodiment 3) A method of adding user information to information transmitted to the administrator's computer 2 when the user presses the emergency button when a trouble occurs in the multifunction peripheral 6 is described. The result is referred to as a third embodiment.
Although illustration is omitted, in the third embodiment, the management card device of the multifunction peripheral 1 is used.

The management card is mainly used for restricting the copying function for each user or user group, and the card issued for each user or user group is used for the card slot of the multifunction device 1 at the time of use. To be managed.

In a multifunction machine operated using the management card function, the user must insert the management card into the card slot in order for the user to use the copy function. When you press the emergency button,
By referring to the contents of the management card, it is possible to transmit the contents with the information on the user added to the manager.

With this function, the administrator can specify the user or user group that caused the trouble, and can present a treatment method suitable for the user or the user group. More specifically, a group in which the administrator can handle a user
By dividing the group such as a group capable of replenishing consumables such as toner, it becomes possible to give an appropriate instruction to the user who has caused the trouble.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained: (1) Connect to a computer network, copy function,
In a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a print function and an image scanning function, the digital multi-function peripheral is started up in an emergency such as a malfunction or an accident, so that an administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral can notify the status of the apparatus body. Is provided, the user can actively notify the administrator of the failure occurrence status when a failure occurs.

(2) In the above-mentioned digital multifunction peripheral, by starting up in an emergency such as a malfunction or an accident,
The means for informing the administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of the situation is provided on the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral, and is provided with buttons or switches that can be easily identified by the user. Buttons or switches can be activated.

(3) The means for informing the administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of the situation by activating the digital multi-function peripheral in the event of an emergency such as a malfunction or accident is provided by a standard protocol through the connected computer network. Transmission to a digital multi-function peripheral using TCP / IP enables operation on a general computer, an operating system (OS), and a network.

(4) The specific situation of a malfunction or accident, transmitted to the administrator's computer and clearly indicated on this computer, allows the administrator to quickly and accurately grasp the contents of the fault. It is possible to do.

(5) To confirm the user's operation procedure because the specific situation of the malfunction or accident of the digital multifunction peripheral includes the past operation history up to the malfunction or accident. Operations that are prone to failure
The function can be analyzed and the specific procedure up to the occurrence of the failure can be reproduced to accurately confirm and deal with the failure.

(6) Since the digital multi-function peripheral and the computer for the administrator are on the same LAN, it is not necessary to set up a network for operating the digital multi-function peripheral, and the introduction of the computer is not required. It will be easier.

(7) The digital MFP and the administrator's computer are not on the same LAN but can be connected via the Internet through a gateway. However, even in the same LAN, the administrator can quickly grasp the failure status of the digital multi-function peripheral even in a remote place via the Internet.

(8) By using the user management function of the digital multi-function peripheral and transmitting the information of the user in use to the administrator's computer in addition to the malfunction or accident, the digital multi-function peripheral is provided. For example, the administrator can use the information of the user in grasping the failure and taking specific measures, thereby enabling more accurate processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a network of a complex system according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a trouble processing operation sequence according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network communication protocol according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a network of a complex system according to a second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital multifunction machine 2 Computer for administrator 3a, 3b Computer for general user 4 LAN 5 Internet gateway 6 Internet

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A digital multifunction peripheral connected to a computer network and having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, and an image scanning function, is activated in an emergency such as a malfunction or accident of the digital multifunction peripheral. A digital multi-function peripheral comprising means for notifying an administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of the status of the apparatus main body. 2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the means for notifying the administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of the situation by activating the digital multi-function peripheral in the event of an emergency such as malfunction or accident. A digital multifunction peripheral provided in an operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral, wherein the multifunction peripheral is a button or a switch that can be easily identified by a user. 3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the means for notifying the administrator of the digital multi-function peripheral of the situation by activating the digital multi-function peripheral in the event of an emergency such as a malfunction or accident. Through the established computer network, the standard protocol TC
A digital multifunction peripheral that transmits data to the digital multifunction peripheral using P / IP. 4. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein a specific situation of the malfunction or accident is transmitted to a computer of an administrator, and is clearly indicated on the computer. Digital MFP. 5. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the specific state of the malfunction or accident of the digital multifunction peripheral includes a past operation history up to the malfunction or accident. A digital multifunction peripheral characterized by the following. 6. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the digital multi-function peripheral and each computer of the administrator exist on the same LAN. 7. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the computer of the digital multifunction peripheral and a computer of an administrator are not on the same LAN, but can be connected via an Internet network through a gateway. A digital multifunction peripheral characterized by the following. 8. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the digital multifunction peripheral has a function of transmitting user information to the administrator's computer in addition to malfunctions and accidents by utilizing the user management function of the digital multifunction peripheral. A digital multifunction peripheral characterized by the following.