JP2000305198A - Photo processing equipment management system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a management system of a photographic processing apparatus which can solve a problem that no communication result is left when data is changed or the like and can improve service efficiency of a service person. thing. SOLUTION: A photographic processing apparatus 10 for processing a photographic photosensitive material, and internal data are taken in from the photographic processing apparatus
A management computer for determining the quality of the photo processing apparatus based on the internal data; and a communication means for connecting the photo processing apparatus to the management computer. Apparatus 10
And a communication history storing means for storing a communication history including the change of the internal data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus for processing photographic light-sensitive materials, and a management computer for fetching internal data from the photographic processing apparatus and determining the quality of the photographic processing apparatus based on the internal data. And a communication system for connecting the photographic processing apparatus and the management computer with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photographic processing apparatus for developing and printing photographic light-sensitive materials such as photographic paper and negative film, the operation of each part is automated, and even if an operator has little technical knowledge about photographic processing, It has become easier to handle. In order to maintain the quality of photo processing equipment, it is necessary to periodically check and adjust each part based on internal data, but it is not possible to perform properly due to lack of technical knowledge There were many.

[0003] Therefore, (1) a service technician having the specialized knowledge of a photo processing device manufacturer goes to a place (photo store) where the photo processing device is set and writes internal data to a floppy disk. I took it home and checked it. Alternatively, (2) the floppy disk into which the internal data is written is collected at a service base by courier service or the like. Alternatively, (3) Insert the floppy disk with the internal data into the PC and use a general communication technology such as e-mail.
The data was collected at the service base.

[0004] In the above-described method, when the internal data is checked at a service base remote from the place where the photo processing device is installed, it takes time until the data is checked when the serviceman takes home or uses a courier service. It often takes too long. In particular, the need for data is often urgent, and the longer it takes, the lower the profit of the photo shop. In addition, collection of internal data also includes periodic maintenance of the photo processing device, so that if data collection takes time, service quality will be degraded.

In order to solve such a problem, as described at the beginning, the photographic processing apparatus and the management computer are connected by communication means such as a telephone line, and internal data is taken in from the photographic processing apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art A management system that determines the quality of the photographic processing apparatus based on data is known. Such a system does not require a service person to visit each photo shop for collecting internal data, so that the time for collecting internal data can be shortened and the service quality can be improved.

[0006]

However, the above management system has the following problems. That is, when the management computer connects to the photo processing apparatus, the communication contents cannot be understood by anyone other than the operator because the contents of the communication do not remain. In particular, the management computer may change the internal data based on the result of importing the internal data of the photo processing device. I could not tell if the change was made. For this reason, other operators need to confirm the operator who has changed the data. Further, when a problem occurs due to data change, it takes time to analyze the cause.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the inconvenience that no communication result remains when data is changed, and to improve the service efficiency of a service person. And a management system for the photographic processing apparatus.

[0008]

A management system for a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has a photographic processing apparatus for processing a photographic photosensitive material, and fetches internal data from the photographic processing apparatus. A management computer that determines the quality of the photo processing device based on internal data,
A communication unit that connects the photo processing device and the management computer; and a data change unit that changes the internal data of the photo processing device via the communication unit on the management computer side. Communication history storing means for storing a communication history including a change in the internal data.

According to this configuration, the photographic processing apparatus and the management computer are connected via the communication means, and the quality of the photographic processing apparatus can be determined by taking in the internal data of the photographic processing apparatus. One or more management computers may be connected. The communication means may be wired such as a telephone line or wireless. And
The management computer is provided with communication history storage means, and can store communication history including data changes. Therefore, when one operator changes the data by operating the management computer, another operator checks the communication history to confirm that there has been an operation such as a past data change and to confirm the data change content. be able to. Therefore, even if a problem occurs due to the data change, the cause can be immediately analyzed. As a result, it was possible to provide a management system for a photographic processing apparatus capable of solving the problem that no communication result was left when data was changed or the like and improving the work efficiency of a service person.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication history storing means stores at least the photograph processing device that has performed the communication, the date and time of performing the communication, and the changed internal data as a communication history. Can be

According to this configuration, it is possible to immediately confirm which communication was performed with which photographic processing apparatus from the contents stored in the history.

As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication history storage means stores a communication error as a communication history when the connection with the photo processing device is not normally performed. . If communication to the photo processing device fails or terminates normally due to a failure in the communication means, etc., the communication error is saved as a communication history to analyze the cause of the communication error and immediately correct it. Can respond to

[0013] In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The communication history storage means may display a communication history for each communication content on a monitor connected to the management computer. The communication contents are, for example, collected internal data, error data, and the like. The error data is data indicating that the taken-in internal data of the photo processing apparatus exceeds a predetermined range and is in an abnormal state. For example, if the temperature of the developing solution of the photographic processing apparatus is expected to be too high to produce a print of predetermined quality, the solution temperature data is treated as error data. By picking up and displaying a specific item in this way, the work efficiency of the operator can be improved.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, another management system for a photographic processing apparatus includes a photographic processing apparatus for processing a photographic light-sensitive material, fetching internal data from the photographic processing apparatus, and based on the internal data. A management computer that determines the quality of the photo processing device; and a communication unit that connects the photo processing device to the management computer. The photo processing device is connected to the management computer. Communication history storing means for storing a history of communication contents in the event of a failure.

According to this configuration, when there is a connection by the communication means from the management computer, the communication history can be stored on the photo processing apparatus side. For example, by leaving information on which management computer was connected to which operator and when, it is possible to immediately confirm the content communicated on the photo processing device side, and to want to know more detailed content of the communication content,
The confirmation can be immediately made to the management computer side.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication history storage means stores, as a communication history, the fact that the communication has been performed when there is a communication from a computer having no access right. . If you try to connect to the photo processing device from a place where you do not have access right, by leaving such access as a history record, you can monitor the connection from unspecified people,
Preferred for security.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Overall Configuration of Photo Processing Apparatus Management System> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a photo processing apparatus management system. A photo processing apparatus 10 is installed in the photo shop 1, and a modem 11 is further connected to the photo processing apparatus 10. Examples of the photographic processing device 10 include a device for developing a negative film, a device for printing and exposing the image of the negative film on photographic paper, and a device for fully automatic processing from the loading of the negative film to the creation of the print. Modem 11
Is separate from the photographic processing device 10, but may be incorporated in the photographic processing device 10. The number of the photo processing apparatuses 10 installed in the photo shop 1 may be two or more.

The service base 2 has a management computer 20 and a modem 2 connected to the management computer 20.
1, a monitor 22, and a keyboard 23 are provided. The management computer 20 can be constituted by a normal personal computer, and the modem 21 may be built in the management computer 20. Although a plurality of service bases 2 exist in various places, only one service base may be provided.

Each photo shop 1 and the service base 2 are connected by wired communication means such as a telephone line or an optical fiber network, or by wireless communication means.

<Structure of Management Computer> FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining main functions of the management computer 20. These functions are performed by the management computer 2
This is realized by a program or the like stored in 0. The management computer 20 includes a data setting unit 24 that can set internal data to be captured from the photo processing device 10 and a photo processing device 1 that captures internal data.
A photo processing device setting means 25 for setting 0 and a data changing means 26 for setting and changing internal data of the photo processing device 10
A data storage unit 28 for temporarily storing the internal data of the photographic processing device 10 captured via the communication control unit 27,
Judgment means 29 for judging the quality of photo processing device 10 based on the fetched internal data, and communication content designating means 30 for designating the communication content stored in communication history storage means 31
A communication history storage unit 31 for storing the contents of communication with the photo processing apparatus 10; and a timer 32 having a clock function for storing communication date and time.

The data setting means 24 sets data to be taken. The number of items of internal data to be captured may be as many as 500 items or more depending on the model, and it is time-consuming and inefficient to always capture all internal data. Depending on the type of internal data, there are data to be fetched and checked in a relatively short cycle, and data not to be checked. Therefore, it is preferable to arbitrarily set internal data to be captured and to capture only internal data that needs to be checked.

The judgment result is displayed on the monitor 22, for example, by the judgment means 29, and the operator judges whether the internal data should be changed or not. If it is determined that the data should be changed, data is input from the keyboard 23 and the data changing means 26 changes the internal data. The changed internal data can be transmitted to the photo processing device 10 via the communication control unit 27, and the internal data of the photo processing device 10 can be rewritten. For example, if it is determined that the temperature data of the developing solution is too high and high quality printing cannot be performed, change the internal data (such as the heater control temperature) so that the developing solution temperature is appropriate. And rewrite it.

The communication history storage means 31 is provided in the photograph processing device 1.
The contents of communication with the storage device 0 are stored, and may be configured by, for example, an internal storage device such as a hard disk or an external storage device such as a floppy disk or MO disk. The contents stored as the communication history include the serial number of the photo processing device. , Communication date and time, contents of changed internal data, operator name, and the like. By saving these contents, another operator can immediately confirm the communication contents at a later date. The change of the internal data may cause a problem in the photo processing device 10 in some cases. However, by clearly storing the communication history as described above, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a trouble in the photo processing device 10 in advance. become able to.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that a plurality of operators may change the same internal data, but even if a trouble occurs after the change of the internal data, the communication history can be saved to analyze the cause. And trouble can be solved early.

The communication history storage means 31 stores any communication error, for example, when communication with the photo processing apparatus 10 is not performed normally, when communication can be performed but the communication cannot be terminated normally. The communication error can be stored as a communication history. As a result, the cause of the communication error can be analyzed immediately, and the connection state between the management computer 20 and the photo processing device 10 can be immediately returned to a normal state.

The communication content designating means 30 designates the communication content of the communication history stored in the communication history storage means 31 and causes the monitor 22 to display the communication content. For example, items such as collected internal data, error data, and mail transmission can be designated and displayed as communication contents. For example, when the internal data is specified, the communication history of the internal data of the photo processing device 10 in a certain photo shop 1 can be displayed on the monitor 22. When the error data is specified, the communication history of the error data can be displayed on the monitor 22 in the same manner. From the communication history of the internal data, it is possible to check (predict) in advance whether or not the quality of the photo processing device 10 is going to deteriorate in the future. In the mail transmission, the mail is exchanged in addition to the transmission of the internal data, and only the communication history of the mail transmission can be displayed.

<Configuration of Photo Processing Apparatus> Next, main functions of the photo processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. A control device 12 having a CPU as a core controls operations of a printing exposure unit 13, a development processing unit 14, a drying processing unit 15, and other parts of the photographic processing device 10. Also,
The control of each unit is performed based on each sensor 16, and the result obtained from each sensor 16 is stored in the memory 17 as internal data. The printing exposure unit 13 projects and exposes the image frame of the developed negative film onto photographic paper. The developing unit 14 performs a developing process on the photographic paper on which the image is printed. The drying unit 15 dries the photographic paper after the development process.

Examples of the sensors 16 include a temperature sensor provided in a developing tank, a sensor for detecting the rotation amount of a developing solution replenishment pump, and a photometric sensor for calculating the amount of exposure of three colors of YMC. Is raised. When a connection is made from the management computer 20,
It is possible to transmit internal data via the communication control unit 19. When communication with the management computer 20 is performed, the communication contents are stored in the communication history storage unit 18.
And save it as a communication history. Examples of the communication history storage unit 18 include a hard disk and a floppy disk.

The contents to be stored in the communication history storing means 18 include the management computer 20 that has been accessed, the operator name thereof, the communication date and time, and changed internal data. Thereby, when any trouble occurs in the photo processing device 10, the connected management computer 20 and its operator can be specified.
Troubles can be resolved early. Also, when a connection is attempted from a computer without access right, the connection is not actually made, but the fact that an access is made by a person without access right is stored in the communication history storage unit 18. Thus, it is possible to monitor a connection (access) from an unspecified person, and it is possible to improve security.

<Flowchart in Management Computer> Next, the management computer 20 and the photograph processing apparatus 10
The flow of the procedure for performing communication with the server will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when performing communication, the operator sets internal data to be captured (# 0).
1). If this setting is not made, all internal data will be fetched. Next, the settings of the photographic processing device 10 from which the internal data is to be taken are made (# 02).
Thus, the preparation for communication is completed, and the management computer 20 is connected to the photo processing device 10 (# 0).
3). After the connection is completed, the internal data of the photo processing device 10 is captured (# 04). The fetched internal data is temporarily stored in the data storage unit 28, and the content is displayed on the monitor 22. Also, the internal data taken in by the judging means 29 is checked, and it is checked whether it is normal or not and whether an error has occurred.
As a result of checking the internal data, when it is determined that the internal data needs to be changed, the details of the change are input (# 05). If there is no need to change, step # 05 is omitted.

Next, it is determined whether or not the line has been disconnected (# 06). If the line has not been disconnected, data communication including the changed internal data is performed (# 07). Next, it is determined whether or not write communication (data change) has been performed (# 08), and if not (in the case of communication without data change), the process returns to step # 06. When the write communication is performed, the communication history is stored (# 09). In this embodiment, the communication history is stored only when the write communication is performed. However, the communication history may be stored even in the case of a simple communication in which the write communication is not performed.

<Flowchart in photographic processing apparatus>
Next, a procedure in the photo processing device 10 when communication is performed will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. First,
It is determined whether or not access has been made (# 20). If there is access, it is determined whether or not there is an access right (# 21). If there is no access right, the fact that there has been communication is stored as a communication history (# 24). If there is an access right, it is connected to the management computer 20 and can perform communication (# 22). After the connection, data communication is performed (# 23), and the content of the data communication is stored as a communication history (# 24).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a management system for a photo processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating main functions of a management computer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating main functions of a photo processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart (management computer side).

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart (photo processing apparatus side)

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 photo processing device 18 communication history storing means 20 management computer 22 monitor 26 data changing means 30 communication content specifying means 31 communication history storing means

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Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photographic processing apparatus for processing photographic light-sensitive materials, a management computer for fetching internal data from the photographic processing apparatus, and determining the quality of the photographic processing apparatus based on the internal data; A management system for a photographic processing apparatus, comprising: a communication unit for connecting the photographic processing apparatus to the management computer; and a data change unit configured to change the internal data of the photographic processing apparatus via the communication unit on the management computer side. And a communication history storing means for storing a communication history including a change in the internal data. 2. The communication history storage means according to claim 1,
The management system for a photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communicating photographic processing apparatus, the date and time of the communication, and the changed internal data are stored as a communication history. 3. The communication history storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication error is stored as a communication history when the connection with the photo processing device is not normally performed.
Or the management system for a photographic processing apparatus according to 2. 4. The communication history stored in the communication history storage means can be displayed on a monitor connected to the management computer for each communication content. The management system for a photographic processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. A photographic processing apparatus for processing a photographic light-sensitive material, a management computer for fetching internal data from the photographic processing apparatus and determining the quality of the photographic processing apparatus based on the internal data; And a communication means for connecting the management computer with the management computer. The communication system for storing a history of communication contents when the connection from the management computer is made on the photo processing device side. A management system for a photograph processing apparatus, comprising a history storage unit. 6. The communication history according to claim 5, wherein, when there is a communication from a computer having no access right, the communication history storing means stores the fact that the communication has been performed as a communication history. Management system for photo processing equipment.