JP2006178601A - Data transmission system and data transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide accurate information on a remote computer even when a serious failure occurs in a line function between a remote computer and a computer of a help desk person who needs that information To the help desk computer.
A transmission destination detection unit that analyzes update information to identify a destination, a latest information imaging function unit that images the update information and the specific destination information, and the imaged update information. A remote computer 1 having a display unit 21 for displaying specific destination information, and a decoding function unit 32 for decoding the specific destination from the imaged update information and an image obtained by capturing the specific destination information. A center computer 100 having a photographing function-equipped mobile phone 30 for transmitting the imaged update information and an image information decoding function unit 101 for decoding the transmitted image information.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for allowing an original center computer to receive data, operation records, etc. acquired by a computer at a remote location, or failure data, etc., even when normal connection is not possible. is there.

In a distributed computer system, when a failure occurs in a remote computer, in order to resolve the failure, log information, operation history, and equipment related to the failure occurring in the corresponding remote computer It is necessary to send the configuration information and the like to a help desk or call center that handles failure analysis so that the person in charge can grasp the situation and analyze the information. For example, a case where a failure occurs while a bank ATM is used by a customer or a case where a failure occurs during stock transaction processing using the Internet at home is applicable.
In such a case, if there is no means for notifying the occurrence of a failure or means for transferring data such as analysis information between information transfer destinations such as help desk personnel from a remote computer, information between the two parties is lost. The only means of communication is verbal notification by telephone. However, transmission by telephone conversation is difficult to transmit information accurately, and it takes time to transmit information. Also, it is difficult for general users to refer to log information, operation history, device configuration information, etc. recorded inside a remote computer. Cannot be notified. In other words, even if there is a line that notifies the occurrence of a failure or log information between information transfer destinations such as help desk personnel from a remote computer, there is a failure in the network for the transmission, and data can be transferred. Without it, you can only do status reports over the phone.

Although different from the above data transmission, in Patent Document 1 “Data providing method, code issuing device, electronic device, program and recording medium”, information such as a telephone number and an e-mail address is preliminarily stored as a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code. A technology that converts information into information, optically reads this information into a mobile phone, decodes the two-dimensional barcode information inside the mobile phone, and obtains information such as a phone number and email address, that is, by manual input The idea of reading information into a mobile phone without key operation is shown.
JP 2004-46781 A

In conventional data transmission, redundancy is provided to the system so that data can be sent from a remote computer using a protection line even if a normal line fails. However, when a serious failure occurs in the system and the standby system goes down, there is a problem that data transmission cannot be performed.
The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used for data acquisition and is not used for transmitting operation log information and the like in a remote computer from a remote computer side to a help desk person or the like.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention can be used even when a serious failure occurs in the line function between a remote computer and a computer on the help desk person in need of the information, and the communication is interrupted. The purpose is to accurately convey the information on the remote computer side to the help desk computer. This technique can be applied even when there is no means for transmitting information from a remote computer.

The data transmission system according to the present invention includes a transmission destination detection unit that analyzes update information and identifies a destination, a latest information imaging function unit that images the update information and the specific destination information, and the image A remote computer having a display unit for displaying the updated information and specific destination information,
A mobile phone with a photographing function having a decoding function unit for decoding a specific destination from an image obtained by photographing the imaged update information and the specific destination information, and transmitting the imaged update information to the specific destination;
A center computer having an image information decoding function unit for decoding the transmitted image information.

  According to the present invention, information on a remote computer is converted into image information, output to a predetermined contact, displayed, the image is taken with a digital camera, and the updated image information is used as photo data for a cellular phone network or the like. Using the communication means, and without the destination input, the image is analyzed by the center computer on the help desk staff side to obtain information held by the original remote computer, and there is a serious failure in the transmission system of the system. Even if it occurs, the original information can be obtained accurately even with computer data that does not normally have transmission means.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
A technology for converting data into two-dimensional barcode information represented by QR codes and a technology for decoding the two-dimensional barcode information are known, but the combination order has been devised, and additional technology has been added. A unique system for forming a transmission line and transmitting original data to a desired center computer will be described. In other words, the order of combination of the constituent technologies is important for this technology.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of the data transmission system according to the present embodiment. In the configuration shown in the figure, as an internal configuration of the remote computer 1, a memory 11 that records device information inside the remote computer, and a memory that records log information such as logs of operations and processes performed in the remote computer and operation history, etc. 12 and not the conventional fixed information, but of the recorded information, the latest information representing the latest device state is encoded into imaging information such as a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code by performing a predetermined update process. The latest information imaging function (encoding) unit 13 and the failure ID detected by the failure cause or log information (classification code) are analyzed to identify the company and the department in charge who should send the imaging information. It is comprised from the transmission destination detection part 16 and the display apparatus 21 which displays this encoded two-dimensional barcode image.
The camera-equipped mobile phone 30 is a device having a photographing function and a communication function such as e-mail. As an internal configuration thereof, the photographing function unit 31 that is an imaging mechanism such as a camera and the two-dimensional barcode image data that has been photographed are decoded. The decoding function unit 32 identifies a necessary transmission destination, and the communication function unit 33 notifies the transmission destination where image data is decoded and detected by a method such as mail transmission. There is also a network 51 that connects the camera-equipped mobile phone 30 and a transmission destination.

Further, the receiving-side center computer that receives the image data receives the image data from the network 51 as a mail, receives the image data from the center-side mail server 120 that operates a help desk and the like, and the mail server 120. The center computer 100 analyzes the image contents. The center computer 100 has an internal configuration of an image information decoding function unit 101 that decodes imaging information such as a QR code sent from a remote computer, and a display device that displays output information decoded by the image information decoding function unit 101 111.
The functions of these units are functions that are executed by hardware including a processor (not shown), a memory that describes a program that is read and executed by the processor, and an input device that writes the program to the memory.

Next, the operation of the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of a mail transmission destination (information transmission destination) included in the image data of the two-dimensional barcode.
When a problem such as a failure occurs in the remote computer 1 (step 211, description of the step is omitted hereinafter), the log information etc. is displayed in a two-dimensional bar by a program that recognizes the failure that was not described in the above configuration. The latest information imaging function unit 13 for converting an image such as a code is activated (212). As the latest information at this time, the updated log information, the reason for determining the failure, the corresponding information inside the device before and after the update, and the like are selected as imaging information. Further, the mail transmission destination detection unit 16 selects the information transmission destination shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to the failure that occurred at this time, and performs encoding including the transmission destination information (251). For example, when the memory is a direct malfunction trigger, the server maintenance department is selected, and the information transmission destination address serversupport @ abc. co. jp is read. When this imaging process is completed, information relating to the transmission method of the image such as the converted image and the mail address is displayed on the display device 21 (213).

The remote user 40 takes an image using the camera-equipped mobile phone 30 or the like (214). The decoding function unit 32 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 30 decodes the information transmission destination of FIG. 3 from the image data captured by the imaging function unit 31 (252), and uses the information transmission destination address as a mail transmission destination as the communication function unit. Tell 33. The communication function unit 33 designates the captured image data as this address and transmits it to the center (253).
The mail server 120 on the center side receives the mail (216), and the image information decoding function unit 101 in the center computer 100 decodes the image information (217), and displays the log information or the like as the decoding result on the display device 111. (218). The center help desk staff and the like refer to the display (219) to obtain information.
In this way, by applying the method of the present invention, even if a means for transferring information between the remote computer and the center is not permanently installed, or even when a normal network fails and transmission is not possible, Necessary maintenance information of imaging information can be transmitted accurately and quickly by transfer.
As described above, according to the method of the above embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of inputting by the user on the remote side or to avoid an input error. In addition, by making it difficult for the user to refer to the destination address, an effect of making it difficult to become a target of a malicious mail attack can be expected.

A modification of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of another system in the present embodiment. Compared with the configuration of FIG. 1, an input device 23 is added so that a remote user 40 can issue an instruction. Further, the information from the mail transmission destination detection unit 16 that detects the mail transmission destination from the internal information or log information of the remote computer 1b is transmitted to the display device 21b instead of encoding. The display device 21b is configured to display transmission destination information from the mail transmission destination detection unit 16 separately from the encoded imaging information. Further, in this case, the camera-equipped mobile phone 30b does not need the decoding function unit, and simply transmits the captured imaging information as it is from the communication function unit 33 to a separately designated mail transmission destination.
Next, the operation of the configuration system of FIG. 3 will be described based on the sequence diagram of FIG.
In the sequence diagram of FIG. 2, reference numeral 231 denotes a method change portion. The program or the like inside the remote computer 1b does not detect an abnormality, but the user may detect an abnormality. In this case, the remote user 40 uses the input device 23 to instruct the latest information imaging function unit 13 to image information. In this case, when the mail transmission destination detection unit 16 of the remote computer 1b analyzes the internal information or log information of the device and determines that, for example, a failure has occurred in the hard disk, the image information is displayed together with the display of the imaging information. , The information delivery destination is the server maintenance department, and the information delivery destination address is serversupport @ abc. co. jp, is output to the display device 21b (213). The remote user 40 inputs the e-mail address displayed on the display device 21b to the camera-equipped mobile phone 30, and transmits it to the center (215). The sequence after the mail is the same as in FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of FIG. 4, even if the program in the remote computer 1b does not detect an abnormality, this function can be used at the user's discretion. Also, in terms of function implementation, the function of the present invention is reduced without affecting the existing system without modifying the function to start the process of imaging information at the time of abnormality detection to the business program etc. It becomes possible to incorporate. Further, even if the camera-equipped mobile phone 30b does not have a decoding function, the latest information on the remote computer side can be transmitted to a designated center.

This system can also be applied for emergency data transmission in a system having ordinary communication means.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the present embodiment. For the functional block having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the center computer monitors each piece of information stored in the device internal information storage memory 11 or the log information storage memory 12 provided in the remote computer 1c for storing fault information on the remote side. The “monitoring and notification function unit 14” for notifying to 100, the network 52 for the notification, and the “information collecting server 140” for receiving this notification on the center computer 100 side are added.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the system configuration of FIG. The addition of steps 241, 242, 243, and 244 to the sequence diagram of FIG. 2 or FIG. 5 is a sequence change.
Although the changed part of the operation is clear also from the sequence of FIG. 7, the main points will be described below.
In the configuration of FIG. 6, the monitoring and notification function unit 14 in the remote computer 1 c normally monitors the failure and notifies the center computer 100 of the information via the network 52 and the information collection server 140 as appropriate. However, the transmission apparatus or method described above can be applied as a function complement when the network 52 of the notification path cannot notify information due to a serious failure or the like.
That is, when the occurrence of a failure is detected, the monitoring and notification function unit 14 first executes processing for notifying the information collection server 140 of failure information (241). When notification cannot be made for some reason (242), non-delivery is detected (243), and the log information imaging conversion function is activated (244). The subsequent sequence is the same as in the first embodiment.
As described above, even when the occurrence of a failure or the function of notifying log information cannot be temporarily used, log information or the like can be notified by using the present system and method as a complementary function. Further, by automatically displaying on the display device, it is possible to prompt the user to perform processing.

Still another modification will be described.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the present embodiment. For the display of imaging information, a printing device 24 is provided instead of the display device 21 in the configuration shown in FIG. The mail transmission destination is displayed on the display device 21c.
Next, the operation will be described. The processing sequence is almost the same as that in FIG. 2, but image data is printed out by the printing device 24. In the output by the previous display device 21, there may be a case where information cannot be transferred correctly depending on conditions such as the resolution of the display device. However, if the output is performed largely using the printing device 24, the resolution is improved. For example, in a bank ATM or the like, a transaction record is printed and presented to the user. Thus, there is a possibility that the accuracy of information notification can be improved.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a system configuration in the present embodiment. In the configuration of the first embodiment, a case where there are a plurality of information transmission destinations is described.
Next, the operation will be described.
In order to deal with a system failure, there are cases where information should be provided to a plurality of departments in charge and handled simultaneously. For example, a field engineer department in charge of hardware replacement or a department in charge of business program development. The configuration of FIG. 9 is an operation of automatically transmitting information of a remote computer to a plurality of destinations by broadcasting by specifying a plurality of destination addresses specified in the configuration of FIG. Otherwise, the operation is the same as the sequence of FIG.

Another system configuration in the present embodiment will be described.
In FIG. 2, although not described in detail in the first embodiment, a configuration is shown in which a function for changing the contact address depending on the content of the detected failure is added. That is, the mail transmission destination detection unit 16 analyzes the failure ID indicating the failure part, selects an information transfer destination mail address corresponding to the detected ID, and displays the mail address on the display device 21.
Next, the operation will be described.
For example, when a failure occurs in the hard disk and the detected failure ID (classification code) is HDD, refer to the table in FIG. 2, the information is sent to the server maintenance department, and the destination email address is the server support @ abc. co. It can be seen that it is jp. Although the destination in this example is only one place, a plurality of places can be listed.
In the configuration of FIG. 9, the camera-equipped mobile phone 30 is provided with the decoding function unit 32. However, if the configuration does not have this function, the remote user 40 separately transmits the remote computer 1b to the display device 21b. The imaging information is transmitted by setting the address of the mail transmission destination that is transmitted and displayed.
In the configuration of FIG. 9, that is, if the camera-equipped mobile phone 30 is provided with the decoding function unit 32, the destination shown in FIG. It can be transmitted, avoiding delays such as information transfer, and expecting quick response to failures.

Still another modification will be described. In other words, in the configuration of FIG. 1, a function is added in which a contact can be changed according to the time when a failure is detected. FIG. 10 is an example of a correspondence table showing a failure detection time zone and an information transfer destination mail address corresponding to the failure detection time zone.
Next, the operation will be described.
For example, when a failure is detected at time 02:00, referring to the table of FIG. 10, the information is sent to the help desk 3 and the destination mail address is helpdesk-us @ abc. com. Although the destination in this example is only one place, a plurality of places can be listed.
With this operation, it is possible to directly transmit information to a department capable of responding to the corresponding time, avoiding delays such as information transfer, and expecting quick response to failures.

Still another modification will be described.
11 is a diagram showing a system configuration in this case, and a mail transmission function unit 160 on the center side is added to the functional block in the first embodiment.
Next, the operation will be described.
12 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the system of FIG. The sequence of steps 261 to 267 is added to the sequence diagram in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

When there is no additional element in this configuration, the mail transmission function unit 160, the remote contact to the help desk or the like is mainly a telephone. In this case, there is a risk that the information is not transmitted accurately and quickly, but it can be confirmed that the information has been received at the help desk. On the other hand, in the case of the sequence shown in FIG. 12, only by transmitting information using the method of the first embodiment, the remote user can determine whether the contact has been accepted, the handling status, the meds, etc. I can't know. In order to cope with this, the center side makes an e-mail contact at the time of receiving information (261), notifies the information provider of the progress of the analysis process by e-mail, or makes a call back (265). Make a report.
In this way, the remote user can grasp the situation by receiving the notification sequentially. If communication is performed with the telephone connected as in the current system, the communication fee is wasted. In addition, in the case of communication by telephone, the center side personnel must concentrate on dealing with one telephone partner, but in this embodiment, the remote user is contacted only when the situation changes or the treatment method is determined. Thus, it becomes possible for the center-side personnel to process a plurality of problems in parallel, leading to an improvement in work efficiency.

Still another modification will be described.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a system configuration in this case, and each element of the encryption function unit 15 on the remote computer side and the encryption / decryption function unit 102 on the center side with respect to the functional blocks of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Has been added.
Next, the operation will be described.
Before the information is converted into an image on the remote computer 1 side, the encryption function unit 15 encrypts the information using an encryption key (encryption method is not required) that can be used with the center side. On the side of the center computer 100 receiving this information, the received signal is first decrypted by the encryption / decryption function unit 102 into the original plain text, and the image information decryption function unit 101 decodes the imaging information. Then, the subsequent processing is performed only when decoding is successful, and when it is impossible, the processing is discarded.
When receiving information by e-mail or the like, there is a concern that the contents of the notification may be leaked or attacked by notification of false information from a malicious person. In order to avoid this, an encryption function is provided.

Still another modification will be described.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a system configuration in that case, and a filter function unit 103 on the center side is added to the functional blocks of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The filter function is a function for judging whether or not the accepted information can be taken in according to some setting condition and discarding data after image decoding that does not meet the setting condition.
Next, the operation will be described.
For example, it is assumed that failure occurrence time information is added when information is converted into an image on the remote computer side. The center side that has received the information confirms the failure occurrence time when decoding from the imaging information. If it is a notification of a failure, it is unnatural to send information on the old date and time, and it can be determined that it is not necessary to send it to the normal processing route. The filter function unit 103 determines whether or not the acquired failure occurrence time is within a certain allowable time range, and filters whether to perform normal processing or to perform another processing such as discarding. Alternatively, if the destination does not correspond to the assumed failure, the decoded data is discarded because it is unnatural information.
As described above, when receiving information by e-mail or the like, there is a concern of being attacked by notification of false information from a malicious person. In the case of an attack, it may be possible to accept previously acquired information because the information is correct, but this method makes it possible to filter unnatural information.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the basic composition of the data transmission system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an information transmission destination included in image data in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing another process flow in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing another process flow in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data transmission system in Embodiment 2 of this invention. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence table showing information transfer destination mail addresses corresponding to failure detection time zones in Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing another process flow in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing another system configuration in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e Remote computer, 11 Information storage memory inside device, 12 Log information storage memory, 13 Latest information imaging function (encoding) section, 14 Monitoring and notification function section, 15 Encryption function section, 16 mail transmission destination detection unit, 21, 21b, 21c display device, 23 input device, 24 printing device, 30, 30b mobile phone with camera, 31 photographing function unit, 32 decoding function unit, 33 communication function unit, 51 network, 100 Center computer, 101 Image information decryption function section, 102 Encryption / decryption function section, 103 Filter function section, 111 Display device, 112 Input device, 120 Mail server, 140 Information collection server, 160 Mail transmission function section, 212 Log information image information Encoding step, 217 image decoding step Step 218 Decoded log information display step 231 Imaging processing start step 241 Failure detection transmission step 243 Non-delivery detection step 244 Log information imaging start step 251 Destination address incorporation step 252 Decode Destination address extracting step, 253 Sending to extracted address.

Claims (6)

A transmission destination detection unit that analyzes update information and identifies a destination, a latest information imaging function unit that images the update information and the specific destination information, and displays the imaged update information and specific destination information A remote computer having a display unit,
A mobile phone with a photographing function having a decoding function unit for decoding a specific destination from an image obtained by photographing the imaged update information and the specific destination information, and transmitting the imaged update information to the specific destination;
A data transmission system comprising: a center computer having an image information decoding function unit for decoding the transmitted image information.   2. The transmission destination detection unit of the remote computer analyzes the contents of the failure to detect transmission information to a plurality of destinations, and the latest information imaging function unit also images the plurality of destination information. Data transmission system.   The transmission destination detection unit of the remote computer analyzes the failure contents and detects transmission information to a specific destination determined by the failure occurrence time, and the latest information imaging function unit images the information of the specific destination. 3. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission system is a data transmission system.   3. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission destination detection unit of the remote computer analyzes a failure content and determines a specific destination based on information indicating a failure location.   2. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the center computer includes a filter function unit that determines whether or not the transmitted data meets a predetermined setting condition. On the remote computer side, a transmission destination detection step of analyzing the update information and specifying the destination;
A latest information imaging step of imaging the update information and the information of the identified destination;
A display step for displaying the imaged update information and specific destination information;
In the mobile phone with a photographing function, a decoding step for decoding the specific destination from the imaged update information and the image obtained by capturing the specific destination information;
Transmitting the imaged update information to a destination obtained by the decoding;
A data transmission method comprising: an image information decoding step for decoding the transmitted image information on the center computer side.

Images