JP2009043040A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an image forming device connected to a network to always perform execution by proper software. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming devices A, B and a server C are connected by the network 1. The image forming devices A, B each have: a storage part 7 storing an executing program; a detection part 11 outputting error information of the device; and a transmission/reception part 15 transmitting the error information to the server C. The server C has: a transmission/reception part 37 receiving the error information, and transmitting restoring software; a setting part 39 storing the restoring software corresponding to an error; and a management control part 43 output-controlling the restoring software corresponding to the received error information from the transmission/reception part 37. The image forming devices A, B restore the executing program inside the storage part 7 by the received restoring software in a control part 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly to an improvement of an image forming system suitable for, for example, a copying machine or a multi function peripheral (MFP) that is executed by software.

  In recent years, copiers and multifunction peripherals have been equipped with software (firmware) to operate installed electronic circuits, and so-called software is used to improve defects and improve functions of the software. Version upgrades and upgrades are executed, and various methods for upgrading these versions have been proposed.

  For example, the firmware management apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-99393 (Patent Document 1) is also of this type.

That is, the management apparatus of Patent Document 1 calculates the number of system errors in the current firmware within a certain period of time and reads the number of system errors of the past version from the storage device. Comparing the number of system errors of the version firmware and determining whether there is a version of firmware with a smaller number of system errors than the current version. An electronic device equipped with firmware is operated under appropriate firmware.
JP 2006-99393 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 described above, the problem of the management device is not solved until firmware is provided that is unlikely to cause an error, and there is a concern that it takes time to solve the problem or the problem expands.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to always operate an image forming apparatus connected to a network with appropriate software without interposing a human service, thereby reducing costs. An object is to provide a possible image forming system.

  In order to solve such a problem, the image forming system according to the present invention is configured by connecting one or more image forming apparatuses and a server for managing the same through a network.

  The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores a program for executing the apparatus, a detection unit that outputs error information regarding an error of the apparatus, and transmits error information from the detection unit to the server and from the server. Based on the program stored in the storage unit, the transmission / reception unit that receives the repair software, and controls the operation of the device. When the detection unit outputs error information, the error information is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit. A control unit that controls and stores and controls a program in the storage unit corresponding to the software when the software for repairing is received.

  In addition, the server receives error information from the image forming apparatus via the network and transmits the repair software to the corresponding image forming apparatus, and based on the error information from the image forming apparatus. A storage unit for storing management data for managing the repair software corresponding to each error information, and the repair software corresponding to the received error information with reference to the stored management data A management control unit that designates the image forming apparatus and controls the output of the restoration software from the output unit.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, a configuration in which the detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects an error of a program that executes the operation of the apparatus as the error information is also possible.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the storage unit of the server stores the operation configuration in the image forming apparatus, and the management control unit can output and control repair software suitable for the operation configuration.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the transmission / reception unit of the server outputs search control information to an external device connected to the network, and the restoration obtained via the network based on the search control information. Software is output to the management control unit, and when there is no repair software corresponding to the received error information, the management control unit forms the search control information for retrieving and acquiring the repair software, and the transmission / reception unit The restoration software acquired based on the search control information may be transmitted from the corresponding image forming apparatus.

  In such an image forming system according to the present invention, when the image forming apparatus outputs error information of the apparatus, the error information is transmitted to the server, and the server refers to the received management data and receives it. When there is repair software corresponding to the error information, the image forming apparatus is designated and the repair software is transmitted, and the image forming apparatus that has received the repair software corresponds to the storage software corresponding to the repair software. Since the stored program is restored and stored and controlled, the occurrence of errors can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced in the image forming apparatus connected to the network without going through human repair work.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, when the detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects an error of a program that executes the operation of the apparatus as the error information, it is easy to specify repair software that suppresses the occurrence of the error. More appropriate repair software can be selected.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the storage unit of the server stores the operation configuration in the image forming apparatus, and the management control unit outputs the restoration software suitable for the operation configuration. More appropriate restoration software can be selected in consideration of the operation configuration.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the transmission / reception unit of the server outputs search control information to an external device via the network and outputs the obtained restoration software to the management control unit. When there is no repair software corresponding to the received error information, the control unit forms the search control information and controls the output from the transmission / reception unit, and applies the repair software acquired based on the search control information. In the configuration in which the transmission control is performed on the image forming apparatus, it is possible to select and acquire from an external device externally and transmit the image to the image forming apparatus without being repaired in advance. It is possible to ensure program repair.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, in an image forming system according to the present invention, a plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B and a server C are connected via a network 1. The network 1 is a known one such as an in-house LAN or the Internet.

  Since the image forming apparatuses A and B have substantially the same configuration, only the image forming apparatus A will be described and details of the image forming apparatus B will be omitted.

  First, the image forming apparatus A will be described.

  The image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 5, a storage unit 7, a printing unit 9, a detection unit 11, an operation display unit 13, and a transmission / reception unit 15 with the control unit 3 as the center. (MFP) is configured. Note that the image forming apparatus A has a configuration other than this, but since it is not the gist of the present invention, description and illustration are omitted.

  The image reading unit 5, for example, a known scanner that optically reads an image from a printed document having a plurality of pages under the control of the control unit 3 and generates electronic image data as a print job by performing a filtering process or the like. The image data for each page is stored and controlled in the storage unit 7.

  The storage unit 7 stores read image data from the image reading unit 5 and received image data to be described later from the transmission / reception unit 15, stores detected error information to be described later, and stores a program for executing the control unit 3. For example, a stored non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a hard disk.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 9 includes a plurality of paper feeding units 21 and 23 in which different printing papers 19 arranged at the lower part of the main body case 17 are set, a toner cassette 25 in which printing toner is stored, A transfer fixing unit 27 that develops the above-described image data into print image data, develops the toner with toner from the toner cassette 25, and transfers and fixes the image onto the print paper 19, and the print paper 19 on which the image is transferred and fixed. A color or monochrome print engine having a paper discharge unit 29 or the like for discharging the paper.

  Reference numerals 31 and 33 denote a reversing conveyance unit 31 that reversely conveys the printing paper 19 for duplex printing in the printing unit 9 and a conveyance belt that conveys the printing paper.

  1 detects an operation error of the control unit 3, the image reading unit 5, the storage unit 7, the printing unit 9, the operation display unit 13, and the transmission / reception unit 15 under the control of the control unit 3, and detects error information. Is output to the control unit 3, details will be described later.

  The operation display unit 13 is disposed, for example, in the upper part of the main body case 17 of FIG. 2 and is a known liquid crystal display panel as a display unit capable of displaying various operation states, and a place where an image relating to the operation of the apparatus is displayed. It has a function as an operation unit (setting unit) that can accept an operation by touching.

  The transmission / reception unit 15 in FIG. 1 transmits / receives image data to / from another image forming apparatus B via the network 1 according to a predetermined protocol, and transmits the error information described above to the server C. An interface unit that receives a restoration program and other control information, which will be described later, from C.

  Note that when the transmission / reception unit 15 is connected to the network 1, a connection is automatically established between the other image forming apparatus B and the server C. However, since it is not a main part of the present invention, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The image reading unit 5, the storage unit 7, the printing unit 9, the operation display unit 13, and the transmission / reception unit 15 execute the above-described operations by the execution program in the storage unit 7 under the control of the control unit 3. In some cases, the intermediate data may be temporarily stored in the storage unit 7 during the operation.

  The above-described detection unit 11 detects an error that occurs when the image reading unit 5 reads a document or generates electronic image data, detects an error when controlling storage of image data in the storage unit 7, and print unit 9. For paper jam errors when feeding or transporting the printing paper 19 in the printer, toner cassette 25 itself or toner presence / absence detection errors, print image image data development, development, transfer, and fixing operation errors, etc. It has a function of identifying and detecting a corresponding execution program.

  The detection unit 11 detects errors in operation (system) errors of the image forming apparatus A itself, such as a display error in the operation display unit 13 or an operation acceptance error, or a failure error such as a decrease in communication speed although transmission / reception is possible in the transmission / reception unit 15. It has a function of identifying and detecting the occurrence location and the corresponding execution program.

  Note that when the storage unit 7 is used during an operation of the control unit 3, the image reading unit 5, the printing unit 9, the operation display unit 13, or the transmission / reception unit 15 by the detection unit 11, the storage unit 7 7 includes a mode in which an error is detected based on whether the storage area in FIG.

  The control unit 3 includes a CPU and a ROM (none of which is shown) that stores, for example, a startup program of the CPU. The control unit 3 includes the above-described image reading unit 5, storage unit 7, printing unit 9, and detection. The unit 11, the operation display unit 13, the transmission / reception unit 15, and the like are controlled, and a function unit (not shown) of the multifunction peripheral is controlled. Note that the CPU executes various image forming processes by an execution program in the storage unit 7.

  The control unit 3 has a function of controlling transmission of error information from the transmission / reception unit 15 to the server C via the network 1 in a state where the image forming apparatus A is specified when the error information is acquired from the detection unit 11 described above. ing. The control unit 3 has a function of controlling transmission / reception of the error information by controlling the transmission / reception unit 15 before the stop operation when the error location or the execution program is stopped.

  When the control unit 3 receives the repair software from the server C by the transmission / reception unit 15, the control unit 3 decodes the repair software, reads out the execution program corresponding to the software from the storage unit 7, and repairs the software. And having the function of controlling the storage in the storage unit 7 by repairing with the software for use.

  Repair using repair software corresponds to a method that replaces the entire corresponding execution program with the repair software, a method that replaces a part of the corresponding execution program with the repair software, and a repair software. There is a method of changing (replacing) a function, parameter, or the like of an execution program, which is so-called version upgrade or upgrade.

  The image forming apparatus B in FIG. 1 has substantially the same configuration as the image forming apparatus A, but the description and illustration are omitted as described above.

  Subsequently, the server C will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the server C has a transmission / reception unit 37, a setting unit 39, a storage unit 41, a management control unit 43, an operation unit 45, and a display unit 47 with the main control unit 35 as a center. Although having a general configuration, the description of the configuration not directly related to the present invention is omitted.

  The transmission / reception unit 37 receives error information from the image forming apparatuses A and B via the network 1 and outputs the error information to the management control unit 43 under the control of the main control unit 35, and sends predetermined control information via the network 1. And an interface unit that outputs the image forming apparatuses A and B.

  When the transmission / reception unit 37 is connected to the network 1, a connection is automatically established with the other image forming apparatuses A and B. For example, the transmission / reception unit 37 designates a destination by using a known network address or the like. The transmission / reception function is the same as the transmission / reception unit 15 of the image forming apparatus A described above.

  Under the control of the main control unit 35, the setting unit 39 is readable / writable for each image forming apparatus (MFP) A and B in which error information and a repair program that suppresses the occurrence of this error are pre-set as management data and stored It is memory.

  As the management data, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, for each of the image forming apparatuses (MFPs) A and B, “Error 1”, which is a memory shortage error, “Error 2”, which is another memory shortage error, “Error 3” which is an operation error in the unit 21, “Error 4” which is an operation error in the paper feeding unit 23, and identification codes “No. 1111” to “No. 1111” to “Repair program” which suppress the occurrence of these errors. No. 4444 ”or“ No. zzz ”to“ No. vvvv ”are formed in a list table shape.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the management data includes the operation configuration (operating environment) for each of the image forming apparatuses (MFPs) A and B, for example, the type “toner cassette” of the toner cassette, and the type “sheet feeding” of the sheet feeding units 21 and 23. Section 1 ”,“ sheet feeding section 2 ”, storage capacity“ storage capacity ”of the storage section 7, a list of CPU operating speeds (not shown), and the like are also included.

  The storage unit 41 stores the management data, the repair program managed by the management data, the operation programs of the main control unit 35 and the management control unit 43, and the main control unit 35 and the management control unit 43 are operating. Is a readable / writable memory for temporarily storing intermediate data, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a hard disk, and may be shared by the setting unit 39 described above.

  The management control unit 43 reads the management data of the setting unit 39, determines the presence / absence of error information corresponding to the received error information, and designates a repair program corresponding to the error information when there is corresponding error information In addition, the image forming apparatuses A and B that are transmission sources of the corresponding error information are specified and transmission is controlled from the transmission / reception unit 37.

  Moreover, the management control unit 43 refers to the management data in FIG. 3B when designating the repair program, and repair software suitable for the configuration of the image forming apparatus A that is the source of error information, for example, the storage capacity of the storage unit 7 It has a function to control the output.

  The operation unit 45 is an input unit such as a well-known keyboard arranged in a main body case (not shown) of the server C under the control of the main control unit 35. It has a function to accept instructions.

  The display unit 47 has a function of displaying the operation state of the server C under the control of the main control unit 35 and the operation unit 45.

  The main control unit 35 is formed with a CPU and a ROM that stores a startup operation program for the CPU, and includes the transmission / reception unit 37, setting unit 39, storage unit 41, management control unit 43, operation unit 45, and While controlling the display part 47 grade | etc., It bears a part of function of functions, such as the management control part 43 grade | etc.,.

  Next, the operation of the above-described image forming system according to the present invention will be briefly described.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the management data (profile setting value) described above is set in the setting unit 39 of the server C, and the memory shortage error has occurred in the image forming apparatus A.

  In the image forming apparatus A, for example, the transfer fixing unit 27 of the printing unit 9 detects when a “memory shortage error” occurs when the storage unit 7 cannot secure the storage area used during the development of the print image image data. The unit 11 detects the error and outputs error information. The control unit 3 transmits the error information from the transmission / reception unit 15 to the server C via the network 1, and the server C receives the error information at the transmission / reception unit 37. Output to the management control unit 43.

  The management control unit 43 refers to the management data shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, determines whether there is error information corresponding to the received error information, and corresponds to the error information when there is corresponding error information. In addition, a repair program (for example, No. 1111) suitable for the operating environment is specified, the image forming apparatus A as the transmission source is specified, and transmission is controlled from the transmission / reception unit 37. To the control unit 3.

  As the repair program (No. 1111) corresponding to the “memory shortage error”, for example, a program that does not use the memory (storage unit 7) or reduces the used capacity during operation can be considered.

  In the image forming apparatus A, the control unit 3 decodes the received restoration software, reads out an execution program corresponding to the software from the storage unit 7, repairs it with the restoration software, and stores the restoration program in the storage unit 7 4 is output to the operation display unit 13 and displayed as shown in FIG.

  The same operation is performed for other error information.

  As described above, in the image forming system of the present invention, the server C and the plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B are connected via the network 1.

  The image forming apparatuses A and B include a storage unit 7 that stores programs for executing the apparatuses A and B, and a detection unit 11 that outputs error information related to program errors for executing the apparatuses A and B. The error information from the detection unit 11 is transmitted to the server C and the repairing unit 15 receives the repair software from the server C, and the devices A and B based on the program stored in the storage unit 7. When the detection unit 11 outputs error information, it controls transmission of the error information from the transmission / reception unit 15, and when the repair software is received, the corresponding program in the storage unit 7 is executed. And a control unit 3 that controls and stores the data.

  In addition, the server C receives error information from the image forming apparatuses A and B via the network 1 and transmits the repair software to the corresponding image forming apparatuses A and B, and the error. When the management data for storing the management data for managing the repair software for suppressing the occurrence of the error that is the source of the information corresponding to each error information and the repair software corresponding to the reception error information are in the management data, A management control unit 43 that controls the output of the restoration software from the transmission / reception unit 37 by designating the image forming apparatuses A and B is provided.

  Therefore, if an error occurs in the image forming apparatuses A and B, an appropriate repair software is transmitted from the server C to repair the execution program, and the image forming apparatuses A and B perform human repair work. It is possible to operate in an appropriate state without intervening, and it is possible to reduce the cost on the user side.

  In addition, the setting unit 39 of the server C stores the operation configuration in the image forming apparatuses A and B, and the management control unit 43 controls the output of the repair software suitable for the operation configuration. By analyzing the errors occurring in the apparatuses A and B, it is possible to ensure an operation suitable for the environment by using the stored repair software (defect repair information).

  By the way, in the image forming system of the present invention, the error information detected by the image forming apparatuses A and B is not limited to the above-mentioned memory shortage error, but an error in the image reading unit 5, a read / write error in the storage unit 7, and a printing unit 9. Information on system errors of the image forming apparatuses A and B themselves, such as paper jams, errors related to image formation or toner cassette 25, display / operation acceptance errors on the operation display unit 13, and failure errors such as a decrease in transmission / reception capability in the transmission / reception unit 15 The restoration software output from the server C can achieve the object of the present invention as long as it is restoration software that suppresses the occurrence of errors that are the basis of error information from the image forming apparatuses A and B.

  Furthermore, in the image forming system of the present invention, when the management control unit 43 does not detect error information corresponding to the received error information and cannot specify a corresponding repair program, other electronic devices (not shown) on the network 1 For example, a configuration in which a search is made from another server or an image forming apparatus (MFP) is also possible.

  Corresponding to this, in the server C, the transmission / reception unit 37 is formed so that the search control information is output to the external device via the network 1 and the obtained repair software is output to the management control unit 43. When there is no repair software corresponding to the received error information, search control information to be searched and transmitted is formed and output from the transmission / reception unit 37, and the repair acquired based on the search control information The management control unit 43 may be formed so as to control transmission of software to the corresponding image forming apparatus A.

  In addition, in other servers, image forming apparatuses, and other electronic devices, if the search control information is received and corresponding repair software is set in advance, this is transferred to the server C via the network 1. What is necessary is just to comprise, for example, a control part, a memory | storage part, a transmission / reception part, etc. so that transmission is possible.

  In such a configuration, even if the corresponding repair software is not in the server C, it can be retrieved and acquired from an external device externally and transmitted to the image forming apparatus to be repaired, and various program repairs in the image forming apparatus are possible. .

  Furthermore, in the image forming system of the present invention, the number of image forming apparatuses A and B connected to the network is not limited to two, but one or more image forming apparatuses A and B and a server C that manages them. It can be implemented.

  Note that the server C described above does not have to be an independent device on the network 1, and includes, for example, image forming apparatuses A and B connected to the network 1 and the same type of functional parts built in a printer (not shown). Is possible.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining the management data (profile setting value) in this invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display state indicating that restoration has been performed by software for restoration in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 3 Control part 5 Image reading part 7, 41 Storage part 9 Printing part 11 1st detection part (detection part)
13 Operation display section (operation section, display section)
15, 37 Transmission / reception unit 17 Main body case 19 Printing paper 21, 23 Paper feeding unit 25 Toner cassette 27 Transfer fixing unit 31 Reverse conveyance unit 33 Conveying belt 35 Main control unit 39 Setting unit 43 Management control unit 45 Operation unit 47 Display unit A, B Image forming apparatus C Server

Claims (4)

An image forming system in which one or more image forming apparatuses and a server managing the image forming apparatus are connected via a network;
The image forming apparatus includes:
A storage unit for storing a program for executing the device;
A detector that outputs error information relating to an error of the device;
Transmitting and receiving the error information from the detection unit to the server, and receiving and receiving software for repair from the server,
Based on the program stored in the storage unit, execution control of the apparatus is performed, and when the detection unit outputs the error information, the error information is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit, and the repair software is A control unit that, when received, repairs and stores the program in the storage unit corresponding to this,
The server
A transmission / reception unit that receives the error information from the image forming apparatus via the network and transmits the restoration software to the corresponding image forming apparatus;
A storage unit for storing management data for managing the restoration software for suppressing the occurrence of an error that is a source of the error information from the image forming apparatus corresponding to each error information;
A management control unit that refers to the stored management data and, when there is the restoration software corresponding to the received error information, designates the image forming apparatus and outputs the restoration software from the output unit; ,
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects an error of the program that executes the operation of the apparatus as the error information. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit of the server stores an operation configuration in the image forming apparatus, and the management control unit outputs and controls the restoration software suitable for the operation configuration. The transmission / reception unit of the server outputs search control information to an external device connected to the network, and manages and controls the repair software obtained via the network based on the search control information. And when the repair software corresponding to the received error information does not exist, the management control unit forms the search control information for searching and acquiring the repair software and performs output control from the transmission / reception unit. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein transmission control of the restoration software acquired based on the search control information is performed to the corresponding image forming apparatus.

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