JP2010102390A - Electronic apparatus and log management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus and a log management system reducing stop time when a log storage area becomes full. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus records operation histories of various functions in log files which are stored in a log storage part. The electronic apparatus includes a communication part transmitting/receiving various signals to/from the outside, and a control part which causes the communication part to transmit notification mail notifying that a log storage usage exceeds a predetermined threshold value to the outside when the log usage of the log storage part exceeds the predetermined threshold value, causes the communication part to transmit the log file to the outside to save the log file stored in the log storage part when the communication part receives a log save instruction from the outside, and causes the log storage part to delete the operation histories of the various function stored in the log file when the communication part receives a log delete instruction from the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device that stores a log and a log management system that manages a log of the electronic device.

  Various electronic devices such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a printer, a multifunction peripheral, and a home appliance include hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory, and software executed by the CPU. In general, such an electronic device stores a log file in which hardware and software operation histories are recorded for use by development personnel and maintenance personnel for later operation inspection and failure analysis. I keep doing it. However, since the storage area for storing the log file is limited, the storage area is filled with the log file with the passage of time, and no further log file can be stored.

  In order to solve the problem as described above, Patent Document 1 below discloses an image forming apparatus capable of storing an audit log, which is a use history of the apparatus, without omission. The image forming apparatus includes an identification unit that identifies a storage unit that stores an audit log, a determination unit that determines whether a used capacity of the storage unit has reached a predetermined reference value, and an attribute of an access user And determining whether the used capacity of the storage means has reached the reference value, the access users that can be used are limited based on the identification result of the identification means.

Patent Document 2 below discloses a log recording device that records a log of an image device in accordance with importance. In this log recording device, when a log registration request is received, it is determined whether or not the log requested for registration is a type of job that is not recorded based on information registered in advance by the administrator, and log information is determined based on the determination result. Perform a recording operation. In this log recording device, after storing the log, it is determined whether or not a new log can be recorded on the hard disk. If recording is impossible, the log is recorded according to the type of job. If there is no log that can be deleted, and the administrator directly inputs the password to the image device, the log is moved from the hard disk to the backup drive.
JP 2008-65490 A JP 2006-41764 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned patent document 1, when the used capacity of the storage means reaches a predetermined reference value, the audit log can be stored without omission by limiting the users to be used according to the user attributes. I can do it. However, in Patent Document 1, in order to limit the users that can be used when the used capacity of the storage means reaches a predetermined reference value, a specific user can save the storage means by deleting or moving the audit log. It cannot be used for a while until the used capacity of becomes less than the standard value.

  Also, in Patent Document 2, after storing the log, it is determined whether or not a new log can be recorded on the hard disk. If recording is impossible, the log is deleted according to the type of job. If there is no log that can be deleted, the administrator directly inputs the password to the image device, and the log is moved from the hard disk to the backup drive. Since the log is not backed up until is input, the user must wait for the use of the image device until the administrator arrives at the image device. As described above, the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that when the storage area of the log is full, it cannot be used for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides an electronic device and a log management system that can shorten the period of suspension of use caused by a log storage area becoming full. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solving means relating to an electronic device, an electronic device records an operation history of various functions in a log file and stores the log file in a log storage unit. A communication unit for transmitting / receiving various signals to / from the outside, and a notification for notifying that the log storage usage amount exceeds a predetermined threshold when the log storage usage amount of the log recording unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value Send the mail to the communication unit, and when the communication unit receives a log save instruction from the outside, send the log file to the communication unit to save the log file stored in the log storage unit. When the communication unit receives a log deletion instruction from the outside, a means is provided that includes a control unit that causes the log storage unit to delete operation histories of various functions recorded in the log file.

  In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the electronic device, in the first solving means, when the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit is based on instruction information included in the log deletion instruction. Then, a means is adopted in which deletion is instructed and information of items in the operation history is deleted from the log file to the log storage unit.

  In the present invention, as the third solving means relating to the electronic device, in the first or second solving means, when the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit includes instruction information included in the log deletion instruction. Based on the above, means for causing the log storage unit to delete the operation history of the function instructed to be deleted is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solving means relating to the electronic device, in any one of the first to third solving means, when the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit receives the log deletion instruction. A means for deleting the operation history before a predetermined time when deletion is instructed from the log file is adopted based on the instruction information.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means relating to the electronic device, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, when the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit has the log saving instruction Based on the instruction information, a means is adopted in which an operation history is recorded in the log file in the future by overwriting the log storage unit.

Furthermore, in the present invention, as a first solving means related to the log management system, an electronic device adopting any one of the first to fourth solving means, the notification mail received from the electronic device, and the notification mail And a log management device that transmits various instructions to the electronic device based on a request from the management terminal, the management terminal responding to the received operation instruction, the log save request Alternatively, the log deletion request is transmitted to a log management device, and the log management device transmits the log save instruction to the electronic device when receiving the log save request, and receives the log save request when receiving the log save request. Is transmitted to the electronic device, and when the communication unit accepts the log save instruction, the control unit of the electronic device transmits the log file to the log management device to the communication unit. Is, the log management apparatus employs a means of saving the said log file received from the electronic device.

  According to the present invention, as a second solving means related to the log management system, in the first solving means, the management terminal saves a log or logs even if a predetermined time elapses after receiving the notification mail. If a delete operation instruction is not accepted, means for automatically transmitting the log save request to the log management apparatus is employed.

  According to the present invention, an electronic device records an operation history of various functions in a log file, and saves the log file in a log storage unit. The communication unit transmits and receives various signals to and from the outside; When the log storage usage of the recording unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, a notification mail notifying that the log storage usage has exceeded the predetermined threshold is sent to the communication unit. When the log save instruction is received, in order to save the log file stored in the log storage unit, the log file is transmitted to the communication unit to the outside, and when the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction from the outside, it is recorded in the log file. And a control unit that causes the log storage unit to delete operation histories of various functions.

  Thus, conventionally, when the storage area of the electronic device becomes full or nearly full due to the log file, the administrator has to visit the electronic device to save or delete the log file. Then, since the log file of the electronic device can be saved and deleted by remote operation, the period of stoppage of use of the electronic device caused when the storage area of the log file becomes full can be shortened.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment relates to a multifunction peripheral having both a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, which is one of image forming apparatuses included in an electronic apparatus of the present invention, and a log management system including the multifunction peripheral.
First, the system configuration of the log management system A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a log management system A according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the log management system A is composed of a multi-function device B, a management computer C, a log management server D, and a public network E.

  The multi-function device B executes a copy process based on a copy start instruction, executes a print process based on a print instruction received from a client computer (not shown), and further transmits a FAX transmitter (not shown) via the public network E. When a facsimile is received from (), a reception result output process is executed based on the facsimile image data. The multi-function device B is connected to the management computer C and the log management server D via the public network E, and when the log storage usage of the storage area for storing logs exceeds a predetermined threshold, the public network E Via the notification mail, the management computer C is notified that the log storage usage amount of the storage area for storing the log exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The details of the operation of the multifunction machine B will be described later.

  The management computer C is a desktop or notebook personal computer, and is connected to the multifunction machine B and the log management server D via the public network E. The management computer C receives the notification mail from the multifunction device B via the public network E. Then, when this management computer C receives a notification mail from the multifunction device B, the manager in charge of managing the multifunction device B with the management computer C has a predetermined log storage usage amount for storing the log of the multifunction device B. Recognize that the threshold is exceeded.

  The log management server D is connected to the multifunction machine B and the log management server D via the public network E. The log management server D is a server provided for the purpose of managing the log of the multifunction device B, and is based on the log management program stored in its own ROM and various instructions from the management computer C. Save the log and delete the log.

  The public network E is a public telephone network and the Internet network, and connects the multifunction machine B, the management computer C, and the log management server D. The public network E is a signal transmission path in communication among the multifunction machine B, the management computer, and the log management server D. Note that the notification mail is transmitted from the multifunction device B to the management computer C via the Internet network of the public network E and a mail server (not shown) installed in the public network E.

A functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral B in the log management system A having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction peripheral B in the log management system A according to the present embodiment.
The multi-function device B includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, a random access memory (RAM) 3, various sensor groups 4, a paper transport unit 5, an image reading unit 6, an image data storage unit 7, An image forming unit 8, a communication I / F unit 9, an operation display unit 10, and a log storage unit 11 are provided.

The CPU 1 includes a control program stored in the ROM 2, various detection signals received from the various sensor groups 4, document image data, print image data and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7, and a communication I / F unit. 9 controls the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral B based on various instructions input from a client computer (not shown) via 9 and operation instructions input from the operation display unit 10. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described as the operation of the multifunction device B below.
The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 1 and other data.

The RAM 3 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 1 executes a control program and performs various operations.
The various sensor groups 4 are various sensors necessary for image forming operations such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like. To the CPU 1.

  The paper transport unit 5 includes a transport roller for transporting the print paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 8, a motor for driving the transport roller, and a print paper after the image forming process to a discharge tray (not shown). It is composed of a conveying roller for conveying, a motor for driving the conveying roller, and the like.

The image reading unit 6 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and causes the CCD sensor to read images of documents sequentially fed by the ADF so that document image data based on the document image is obtained. Output. The image reading unit 6 outputs the document image data to the CPU 1, while the CPU 1 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 7.
The image data storage unit 7 is, for example, a flash memory. Under the instruction of the CPU 1, the original image data, the print image data received by the communication I / F unit 9 from a client computer (not shown), and the communication I / F unit 9 The facsimile image data received from the public network E is stored.

The image forming unit 8 controls the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 5 with toner based on the original image data, print image data, or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7 under the control of the CPU 1. An image forming image to be formed is transferred, and fixing processing of the image forming image is performed by a fixing roller.
The communication I / F unit 9 is connected to a client computer (not shown) and the public network E, and transmits and receives various signals between the client computer and the public network E.

  The operation display unit 10 includes a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numeric input key), a touch panel 10a, and various other types. Operation keys are provided, and instructions for operating the keys are output to the CPU 1 and various screens are displayed on the touch panel 10a under the control of the CPU 1. The copy function switching key, the print function switching key, the scan function switching key, and the facsimile function switching key are keys for switching the MFP B to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. .

  The log storage unit 11 is, for example, a flash memory, and stores a log file in which operation histories of a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function in the multifunction peripheral B are controlled under the control of the CPU.

Next, operations of the multifunction peripheral B, the management computer C, and the log management server D in the log management system A configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are sequence diagrams illustrating operations of the multifunction peripheral B, the management computer C, and the log management server D of the log management system A according to the present embodiment.
First, a user who intends to use the multifunction device B inputs a login code assigned to the multifunction device B to the multifunction device B using the numeric keypad of the operation display unit 10.

  The CPU 1 determines whether or not the operation display unit 10 has accepted the input of the login code (step S1). If it is determined “NO” in step S1, that is, the operation display unit 10 has received the input of the login code. If not, the process waits until the input of the login code is received. If it is determined “YES” in step S1, that is, if the operation display unit 10 receives the input of the login code, the input login code is input. Is permitted to log in (step S2).

  Then, after logging in to the multifunction device B, the user who wants to copy the document switches to the operation mode of the copy function by pressing the copy function switching key of the operation display unit 10. Further, the user sets various copy conditions by operating the keys of the operation display unit 10, and when setting of the copy conditions is completed, the user sets a document on the ADF of the image reading unit 6 and starts the operation display unit 10. Pressing the key causes the MFP B to start the copy process.

  After step S2, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the operation display unit 10 has received a copy start instruction by pressing the start key (step S3). If it is determined “NO” in step S3, that is, the operation display unit. If the operation display unit 10 has not received a copy start instruction, the operation display unit 10 waits until a copy disclosure instruction is received. If “YES” is determined in step S3, that is, the operation display unit 10 issues a copy start instruction. If accepted, the image reading unit 6 is caused to execute reading of a document image and generation of plaintiff image data based on the document image, and the image forming unit 8 is caused to perform image formation on a print sheet based on the document image data. Furthermore, a log file that records the operation history of this copy function operation is generated and the log file is stored as a log. 11 is stored (step S4).

  This log file includes the copy function operation history, the number of copies, the number of documents, billing information, copy conditions such as density adjustment, double-sided copy, and divided copy, various detection results detected by the various sensor groups 4, and executed control Each item, such as the program function name, local variable value, and global variable value, is recorded over time. In addition to the copy function, the log file stores operation histories of the print function, scan function, and facsimile function.

  When the copying process is completed and the storage of the log file in step S4 is completed, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the log storage usage amount of the log storage unit 11 exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, 90%). (Step S5), if “NO” is determined in Step S5, that is, if the log storage usage amount of the log storage unit 11 does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, the next copy start instruction is issued as usual. Returning to the accepting state (step S6), if “YES” is determined in step S5, that is, if the log storage usage amount of the log storage unit 11 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the communication mail is sent to the public network. The communication I / F unit 9 is caused to transmit to the management computer C via E (step S7).

  When the management computer C receives the communication mail from the multi-function device B in step S7, the management computer C displays the notification mail on the display (step S8). FIG. 6 is an example showing a notification mail received from the multifunction machine B displayed by the management computer C of the log management system A according to the present embodiment. In this notification mail, as shown in FIG. 6, a message indicating that the storage area of the log storage unit of the multifunction device B has exceeded a predetermined threshold is “the log storage usage amount of the multifunction device B exceeds 90%. Is displayed. Further, in this notification mail, a log save button and a log delete button are displayed in order to allow the administrator to select to save or delete the log file of the MFP B.

Then, the administrator operates the keyboard or mouse of the management computer C to press the log save button or the log deletion button of the notification mail.
The management computer C determines which of the log save button and the log deletion button of the notification mail has been pressed (step S9), and determines that the log backup button has been pressed in step S9. An HTML (HyperText Markup Language) file on the log saving location selection screen is received via the HTML file, and the log saving location selection screen is displayed on the display based on the HTML file (step S10).

 FIG. 7 is an example showing a log save location selection screen displayed by the management computer C of the log management system A according to the present embodiment. In the log save location selection screen, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of servers that are log file save location candidates are displayed in a list, and a check box and a log save execution button corresponding to each server in the list are displayed. Has been.

Then, the administrator operates the keyboard or mouse of the management computer C to check the check box of the server that is selected as the log save location, and when the log save location is selected, the administrator presses the log save execution button. .
When the log saving location is selected and the log saving execution button is pressed, the management computer C transmits a log saving request having log saving location information indicating the log saving location to the log management server D via the public network E. (Step S11).
When the log management server D receives a log save request from the management computer C, it sends a log save instruction to the multifunction device B (step S12), and receives the save log file sent by the multifunction device B as a response to the log save instruction. Then (step S13), based on the log save location information of the log save request, the save log file is saved to the server at the log save location (step S14).

 When the management computer C determines that the log deletion button is pressed in step S9, the management computer C receives the HTML file of the log deletion item selection screen from the log management server D via the public network E, and logs based on the HTML file. A deletion item selection screen is displayed on the display (step S15). FIG. 8 is an example showing a log deletion item selection screen displayed by the management computer C of the log management system A according to the present embodiment. In the log deletion item selection screen, as shown in FIG. 8, each item recorded in the log file is displayed in a list, and a check box corresponding to each item in the list and a log deletion execution button are displayed. ing.

Then, the administrator operates the keyboard or mouse of the management computer C to check the check box of the item to be selected as the log deletion item. When the selection of the log deletion item is completed, the administrator presses the log deletion execution button. .
When the log deletion item is selected and the log deletion execution button is pressed, the management computer C transmits a log deletion request having log deletion item information indicating the log deletion item to the log management server D via the public network E. (Step S16).
When the log management server D receives a log deletion request from the management computer C, the log management server D transmits a log deletion instruction having the log deletion item information to the multi-function device B (step S17).
When the communication I / F unit 9 receives the log deletion notification, the CPU 1 of the multi-function peripheral B deletes the information of the item instructed to be deleted from the log file of the log storage unit 11 based on the log deletion item information of the log deletion instruction. (Step S18).

  As described above, in the log management system A according to the present embodiment, the CPU 1 of the multifunction peripheral B notifies the communication I / F unit 9 when the log storage usage amount of the log storage unit 11 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The mail is transmitted to the management computer C. The management computer C displays a notification mail and transmits a log save request or a log deletion request to the log management server D based on an operation instruction from the administrator. When the log management server D receives the log save request or the log delete request, the log management server D executes the save of the log file of the multifunction machine B or the deletion of the information recorded in the log file.

  As described above, conventionally, when the storage area of the multifunction device becomes full or nearly full due to the log file, the administrator has to visit the multifunction device to save or delete the log file. In the embodiment, since the log file of the MFP B can be saved and deleted by remote operation, it is possible to reduce the period of suspension of use of the MFP caused by the log file storage area becoming full. I can do it.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multi-function peripheral which is one of image forming apparatuses. However, the present invention can be used as long as it can record a log and execute communication. It can be applied to all electronic devices such as computers.

(2) In the above embodiment, when the management computer C displays the notification mail, the administrator presses the log backup button or the log deletion button, and logs management of the log backup request or the log deletion request based on the pressed button Although transmitted to the server D, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, even if a management computer C does not have an administrator and a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) has elapsed since the management computer C received the notification mail, the notification mail log save button or log deletion button When is not pressed, the management computer C may transmit a log save request to the log management server D with the preset server as the log save location.

(3) In the above embodiment, when the log deletion button of the notification mail is pressed, the management computer C displays a log deletion item selection screen, and allows the administrator to select a log deletion item by this log deletion item selection screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, in addition to the items to be deleted, the management computer C deletes only the operation history of a specific function such as a copy function as a deletion method, deletes information before a predetermined time, and is recorded in a log file. It is also possible to display options such as overwriting existing information and allow the administrator to select them. Then, the management computer C transmits a log deletion request reflecting the information selected by the administrator to the log management server D.

It is a system configuration figure of log management system A concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the multifunction machine B in the log management system A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the multifunctional machine B of the log management system A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, the management computer C, and the log management server D. It is a sequence diagram (continuation of FIG. 3) which shows operation | movement of the multifunctional machine B of the log management system A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, the management computer C, and the log management server D. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram (continuation of FIG. 4) showing operations of the multifunction peripheral B, the management computer C, and the log management server D of the log management system A according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an example which shows the notification mail received from the multifunctional machine B which the management computer C of the log management system A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention displays. It is an example which shows the log saving location selection screen which the management computer C of the log management system A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention displays. It is an example which shows the log deletion item selection screen which the management computer C of the log management system A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention displays.

Explanation of symbols

  A ... log management system, B ... multifunction machine, C ... management computer, D ... log management server, E ... public network, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... various sensors, 5 ... paper transport unit , 6 ... Image reading unit, 7 ... Image data storage unit, 8 ... Image forming unit, 9 ... Communication I / F unit, 10 ... Operation display unit, 10a ... Touch panel, 11 ... Log storage unit

Claims (7)

An electronic device that records an operation history of various functions in a log file and stores the log file in a log storage unit,
A communication unit that transmits and receives various signals to and from the outside;
When the log storage usage of the log recording unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, a notification mail notifying that the log storage usage exceeds a predetermined threshold is sent to the communication unit to the outside,
When the communication unit receives a log save instruction from the outside, in order to save the log file stored in the log storage unit, the log file is transmitted to the outside to the communication unit,
When the communication unit receives a log deletion instruction from the outside, a control unit that causes the log storage unit to delete operation histories of various functions recorded in the log file,
An electronic device comprising the electronic device.   When the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit is instructed to delete based on the instruction information included in the log deletion instruction, and deletes item information in the operation history from the log file to the log storage unit The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   When the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit causes the log storage unit to delete the operation history of the function instructed to be deleted based on the instruction information included in the log deletion instruction. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:   When the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit deletes the operation history before a predetermined time instructed to be deleted from the log file based on instruction information included in the log deletion instruction. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   When the communication unit receives the log deletion instruction, the control unit causes the log storage unit to record an operation history in the log file in the future based on instruction information included in the log save instruction. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. An electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A management terminal that receives the notification mail from the electronic device and displays the notification mail;
A log management device that transmits various instructions to the electronic device based on a request from the management terminal;
In response to the received operation instruction, the management terminal transmits the log save request or the log deletion request to a log management device,
The log management device transmits the log save instruction to the electronic device when receiving the log save request, and transmits the log deletion instruction to the electronic device when receiving the log save request,
When the communication unit receives the log save instruction, the control unit of the electronic device causes the log management device to transmit the log file to the communication unit,
The log management system, wherein the log management device saves the log file received from the electronic device. The management terminal automatically sends the log save request to the log management device when it does not accept a log save or log delete operation instruction even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the notification mail. The log management system according to claim 6.

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