JP2005236346A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of quickly and surely settling errors caused therein. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus 10 including copying functions; printer functions; scanner functions; and facsimile functions or the like, to which a plurality of output terminals are connected via a network, and having a function of managing the error caused at print processing and facsimile transmission / reception processing or the like, includes an error detection section 51 for detecting errors caused at print processing and the facsimile transmission / reception or the like; an error notice time setting section 53 for setting acquisition-enabled time of the error notice caused in the image processing apparatus 10 by each of the plurality of output terminals, in advance; and an error notice section 56 for informing the output terminal about the error notice, the output terminal being set to make the error notice to the error notice time setting section 53 when the error notification is conducted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a copying function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus for quickly eliminating the occurrence of an error when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus.

  In recent years, especially in companies, in order to save the installation space of various office equipment, not only the copying function but also the image scanner function, the facsimile function, the printer function, and the like are often used. It has become. Such an image processing apparatus is usually connected to a plurality of output terminals (PCs) or servers via a local area network (LAN) or the like, and further executes input / output processing of image data to an external storage device via various interfaces. In the image processing apparatus, once received or inputted image data is stored in an image memory, and thereafter output processing such as print output and data transfer is performed.

  The image processing apparatus as described above is often shared by a plurality of output terminals because of its high data processing capability. For example, when an error such as a paper jam or out of paper occurs, the subsequent processing is performed until the error is resolved. Even if the output data transmitted from the output terminal is once spooled and stored, there is a limit to the memory capacity of the image processing apparatus in order to spool all of the large amount of data transmitted from many output terminals. If you continue to spool data until you run out of memory space, data that cannot be stored in memory may be lost, so it goes without saying that you need to eliminate errors as soon as possible. Various methods have been considered for this purpose (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In order to solve the above problems, for example, in the abnormality notification system described in Patent Document 1 below, when an abnormality such as an error or a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus during job execution, the abnormality is detected as an abnormality detection unit. Then, the job sender identification unit recognizes the operation level of the transmission source corresponding to the job being executed at that time. The operation level is classified according to whether the user can solve the error or not, and in the latter case, the image processing apparatus is closest to the user who is physically closest to the image processing apparatus in which the abnormality occurred. It is designed to notify the occurrence of abnormalities. In Patent Document 1, abnormality occurrence information can be notified to a person or the like near an image processing apparatus in which an error has occurred, and an abnormality elimination operation can be performed promptly and reliably.

JP 2003-150359 A (paragraphs [0030], [0072])

  However, even if the abnormality of the image processing apparatus is notified by the method described in Patent Document 1, the person who receives the notification is not necessarily in a state where the error can be resolved at that stage. It is difficult to eliminate. In other words, it cannot be said that the physical closest is the most suitable for solving the error, and it is difficult to quickly and surely solve the error.

  In view of the above problems, the present inventor has studied various methods for performing accurate error notification to an optimal user who can eliminate an error, and as a result, all users who use the image processing apparatus have notified the error. When you receive the error, you can set a time for each user to work on the error promptly in advance, and when an error occurs, It has been found that if an error is notified to a set user, the error can be quickly and surely solved, and the present invention has been achieved.

  That is, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can quickly and reliably eliminate an error that has occurred in the image processing apparatus.

The invention of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 has a copying function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, etc., and a plurality of output terminals are connected via a network, and at the time of printing processing, facsimile transmission / reception processing, etc. An image processing apparatus having a function of managing errors occurring in the image processing apparatus,
An error detection unit that detects errors that occur during printing processing, facsimile transmission / reception, etc .;
An error notification time setting unit that sets in advance a time during which an error notification that has occurred in the image processing apparatus can be acquired for each of a plurality of output terminals;
An error notification unit for notifying an error to the output terminal set to perform error notification to the error notification time setting unit at the time of performing error notification;
It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes an output terminal identifying unit that identifies an output terminal that has caused an error, and an error has occurred. When the error detecting unit detects the error, the error notifying unit notifies the output terminal specified by the output terminal specifying unit of an error.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing device according to the first aspect, the image processing device further includes an error identification unit that identifies a type of error detected by the error detection unit, and Since the error notification time setting unit can set an error notification destination for each error type, the error notification destination can be changed according to the error type.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing device according to the second aspect, the output terminal specifying unit specifies an output terminal that has caused an error and specifies an attribute of the output terminal. The error notification destination set in the error notification time setting unit can be changed according to the attribute of the output terminal.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the error notification time setting unit can be set in each of a plurality of output terminals connected via a network. .

  The invention according to claim 6 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus further includes an error elapsed time monitoring unit that monitors an elapsed time since the error occurred, When an elapse of a set first time after the occurrence of an error is detected, the time is acquired as an error notification time, and the error notification time is set to notify the error notification time setting unit at the error notification time. An error notification is made to the terminal.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the error elapsed time monitoring unit has passed a second time set longer than the first time after an error has occurred. When this is detected, the system administrator is notified of an error.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the error is resolved after the error notification unit is notified of the error, the error notification made by the error notification unit is It is released.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention has the following excellent effects. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a notification destination for notifying an error according to a time zone convenient for the user using each output terminal and send an error notification. It is possible to quickly resolve the error without giving a notice.

  According to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to identify the output terminal that has caused the error, and by notifying this output terminal, it is possible to clearly notify the responsibility for the occurrence of the error. Thus, it becomes possible to eliminate the error without bothering other users.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the user who uses each output terminal is selected according to the type of error and notified of the error. Therefore, a certain amount of knowledge is required depending on the content of the error. However, it is possible to avoid unnecessary error notifications for users who cannot resolve errors.

  According to the invention of claim 4, by acquiring the attribute of the transmission destination of the data causing the error, for example, if the error notification is preferentially performed to the output terminal having the same attribute, the attribute is For example, in the case of a department belonging to a company, responsibility can be shared in units of departments, and an efficient image processing apparatus can be used.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a convenient time zone for each user can be set from each of the output terminals in the network, and the change can be made in real time, so that more efficient error notification can be performed. Become so.

  According to the invention of claim 6, an error notification is sent only to the data transmission source that first caused the error, and notification is made to each output terminal that is set to be able to notify the error after a predetermined first time has elapsed. If this is done, the user who sent the data that caused the error can be basically urged to eliminate the error, and the number of errors left can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 7, when an error is not resolved even after notifying each output terminal, a situation such as a memory overflow due to the error being left for a long period of time is notified to the system administrator. In addition, it is possible to expect the effect of reducing the number of users who have left an error by making a final notification to the system administrator.

  According to the invention of claim 8, the error notification is automatically resolved by eliminating the error notification, so that the output terminal that has received the error notification can be notified of the error resolution, and a plurality of users can be notified. However, it is possible to save unnecessary work such as eliminating errors.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify an image processing apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention. Other embodiments included in are equally applicable.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an image processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an error management unit in detail, and FIG. 3 is an image processing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing when the data output instruction is received, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the error processing subroutine of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the error notification time table. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 of the present invention includes at least an operation unit 12, a facsimile unit 14, a scanner unit 16, an external memory interface 18, an input image processing / generation unit 20, various host interfaces 22, job control, and the like. Section 24, information storage section 26, output control section 28, printing section 30, internal memory 32, and error management section 50.

  The operation unit 12, the facsimile unit 14, the scanner unit 16, the external memory interface 18, and various host interfaces 22 constitute input means for the image processing apparatus 10, and input image processing / generation unit 20 for managing these input data, respectively. Connected to.

  The operation unit 12 includes at least a touch panel type input means, and can perform various operations. The facsimile unit 14 is connected to a public telephone line 34 and transmits / receives facsimile data from the outside and image data supplied via the input image processing / generation unit 20 according to a predetermined communication method. The scanner unit is a general scanning function, and is used when a copying function or an image is acquired.

  The external memory interface 18 includes various interfaces such as a general-purpose parallel interface, serial interface, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, and PC-Card bus. The external memory interface 18 includes a semiconductor memory, an HDD, An external memory (storage means) 36 such as a CD, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD, a DVD-R, a DVD-RW, a DVD-RAM, or an FD is connected, and various kinds of image data are transmitted via the external memory 36. I / O etc. can be performed.

  The input image processing / generation unit 20 processes / generates data sent from the various host interfaces 22. Specifically, the input image processing / generation unit 20 reflects various settings stored in the information storage unit 26. For example, if the received data is an intermediate language such as PDL (page description language), the received data is rasterized, further compressed as necessary, and rasterized like scan data. For the processed data, compression processing is performed as necessary. Further, in the case of data in a predetermined format such as file data, rasterization processing, compression processing, and temporary storage of the internal file system are appropriately performed. To do.

  The various host interfaces 22 include a plurality of output terminals 40-1, 40-2,... Used by general users via the network 38, and an output terminal (may be a server) 40 for a system administrator. -N connected. The output terminals 40-1, 40-2,... Used by general users may have attributes, and there are output terminals having different attributes on the network, which are managed for each attribute. However, a description of the attributes will be given later.

  The job control unit 24 includes a CPU and the like, and is a part that performs various processes received by the image processing apparatus 10. The information stored in the information storage unit 26 is added to the data and sent to the output control unit 28. When an error occurs in the output control unit 28, the error management unit 50 is notified of the error. .

  The information storage unit 26 is a recording unit including an HDD, a non-volatile memory, and the like, and stores information in the network 38 connected to the image processing apparatus 10 and various settings set by the operation unit 12. Yes, it is a part to save attribute data and error message template.

  The output control unit 28 prints the image data sent via the input image processing / generation unit 20 and the job control unit 24 on a sheet by the printing unit 30 according to the purpose, or stores the image data in the external memory 36. Alternatively, the data is transmitted to a plurality of output terminals 40-1, 40-2, 40-3,..., A system manager terminal 40-n through various host interfaces 22. Note that a dedicated host PC 48 is connected to the image processing apparatus 10 via the output control unit 28, and the image data processed by the output control unit 28 is displayed on the host PC 48. In some cases, 40-n functions are provided.

  Next, the error management unit 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The error management unit 50 includes an error detection unit 51, an output terminal identification unit 52, an error notification time setting unit 53, an error identification unit 54, an error elapsed time monitoring unit 55, and an error notification unit 56.

  The error detection unit 51 is a part that detects an error that has occurred in the output control unit 28 and the printing unit 30 via the job control unit 24. The output terminal specifying unit 52 analyzes the data transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 and refers to the network information stored in the information storage unit 26, so that from which output terminal the data causing the error is transmitted. This is a part for specifying whether the received data is received or received by FAX.

  The error notification time setting unit 53 is a part for setting a notification destination to which the error notification unit 56 notifies an error when an error occurs. Regarding the setting, an error notification for each user is received. It is possible to set a time zone that can be set in advance by accessing the error notification time setting unit 53 from each of the output terminals 40-1, 40-2,. Regarding this setting, there can be a user who can be repaired and a user who is not, depending on the type of error. Therefore, it is preferable that a time zone can be set for each type of error. Incidentally, in the above description, the error notification time setting unit 53 can be accessed from each of the output terminals 40-1, 40-2,..., But access restrictions are provided such that only the system administrator can make changes. You may do it. In this case, depending on the administrator's authority, if the output terminals that can be notified are biased depending on the time of occurrence of the error, or if there are no output terminals that can be notified of errors in the time of frequent error occurrence, etc. It becomes possible to distribute the notification destinations evenly, and to use the image processing apparatus more efficiently.

  The error identification unit 54 is a part that identifies the content of the error detected by the error detection unit 51. When an error that requires a certain amount of knowledge occurs due to various error content generated in the image processing apparatus 10, for example. In addition, it is used when an error notification is made by selecting a user who can eliminate the error. In this screening method, for example, a plurality of error notification timetables may be created according to the error contents, and the error notification timetable may be selectively acquired and selected according to the error contents, in particular, the difficulty of error elimination. Then, register how much the image processing device user is using for each output terminal in the error notification time table as an attribute of the output terminal, and select it by referring to it Also good.

  The error elapsed time monitoring unit 55 is used when the error notification unit 56 is set to notify the notification destination with reference to the elapsed time from the occurrence of an error when the error notification unit 56 notifies the error. The time elapsed from the occurrence time is constantly monitored, and the error setting stored in the information storage unit 26 is referred to by the operation unit 12 or individual output terminals, and is set as the time for notifying the error. When the time is reached, the error notification time is acquired from the timer of the image processing apparatus 10, and the error notification time table 60 set by the error notification time setting unit 53 outputs the error notification time set to allow error notification. An error notification is sent to the terminal.

  The error notification unit 56 notifies an error to a plurality of users in the network. As a rough processing procedure, when an error occurrence is detected by the error detection unit 51, various settings relating to the error stored in the information storage unit 26 are referred to, and the error notification time setting unit 53 notifies the error notification at a predetermined time. An error notification message for notifying the occurrence of an error is displayed on the output terminal set to be enabled, the output terminal causing the error, or the output terminal of the system administrator. The error notification message displays data set as appropriate such as output terminal data causing an error occurrence, error occurrence time, and error type.

  In the following, referring to FIG. 3, processing steps in which the image processing apparatus of the present invention outputs data will be described. By the way, the processing steps when a print output instruction is received will be described here, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other processes such as facsimile transmission processing, scanning processing, and the like can be similarly applied. I will.

  The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention waits for an output instruction from the network 38 or the public telephone line 34 in step S01 when the power is turned on, and enters a loop state in step S01 until an output instruction is received. Yes. When an output instruction such as a print output instruction is received in step S01, the received data is recognized in step S02. This recognition is performed by the input image processing / generation unit 20 so that the data can be output according to the page description language or the like.

  When the data recognition is completed in step S02, the data is sent to the job control unit 24 and the output control unit 28, temporarily spooled in the internal memory 32 in step S03, and then data output is started in step S04. Since the content of the data output in this embodiment is a print output process, the data is sent from the output control unit 28 to the printing unit 30 and printed according to various settings.

  Step S05 constantly monitors whether, for example, a paper jam, out of toner, out of paper, or the like occurs during the output processing step in which data output is started in step S04. This monitoring is performed by the job control unit 24 and error detection. This is performed by the unit 51. When an error is detected here, the process proceeds to step S10 to perform error processing. Incidentally, although the error related to the processing of step S04 has been described here, monitoring is always performed even during each processing of steps S02 and S03. For example, when a spool error or the like due to a memory overflow of the internal memory 32 occurs, the process is similarly sent to step S10.

  If no error is detected in step S05, and the output process in which the error has been eliminated by the error processing step in step S10, when the output of the received data is completed, the end of the data output is recognized in step S06. It returns to the standby state (step S01).

  Next, the error processing subroutine in step S10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, as error processing setting in advance, immediately after an error occurs, an error notification is sent to the output terminal that caused the error occurrence, and after a predetermined first time has elapsed after the error occurrence, During the time of error notification acquired from the timer, the error notification time setting unit 53 performs error notification to the output terminal for which error notification permission is set, and after the second time elapses, the output terminal for system administrator Although the case where the error notification is set to 40-n will be described, the error notification destination and the error notification timing can be appropriately changed.

  The error detected by the error detection unit 51 in step S05 is recognized in step S11 by the error identification unit 54 as to what the error is, such as a paper jam, out of paper, or out of toner.

  Next, in step S12, the data that caused the error in the output terminal specifying unit 52 is transmitted from which output terminal among the output terminals 40-1, 40-2,. Recognize Further, regarding this transmission source specifying process, it is identified in step S13 whether or not the output destination can be specified. This is for the case where the output terminal cannot be specified, such as when the data that caused the error is output data by facsimile reception or when it is a print output process using a copy function, in which case After the error occurrence is displayed on the operation unit 12 of the main body of the image processing apparatus 10, the process proceeds to step S17.

  If the transmission destination of the data causing the error in step S15 can be specified, an error notification is made in step S16 that an error has occurred in the output terminal specified by the output terminal specifying unit 52 in steps S12 and S13. This is notified by the unit 56. Regarding the error notification message, it is more preferable to use a format stored in advance in the information storage unit 26 of the image processing apparatus 10 and simultaneously display an error on the operation unit 12 of the image processing apparatus 10 main body. After notifying the transmission source of the data that has caused the error in step S14, whether or not the error state of the image processing apparatus 10 has been resolved is monitored in step S15.

  Further, after notifying the occurrence of the error to the destination of the data that caused the error in step S14, the error is not eliminated and the error is not eliminated and the first time set in advance in step S16. When the error elapsed time monitoring unit 55 recognizes that elapses, an error notification time table 60 (see, for example, FIG. 5) set for each user in the error notification time setting unit 53 is acquired in step S17.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the error notification time table 60 is a time period in which error notification may be acquired for each of the output terminals 40-1, 40-2,. This is a table filled with As for the entry of the table, it is possible to access from each of the output terminals 40-1, 40-2,... Only a person having a certain authority, such as a person, may be allowed to enter. Furthermore, the attribute of each output terminal 40-1, 40-2,... Is embedded in this data. For example, when a large number of users stay in the network in the office, Various attribute data related to error notification, such as data, data related to the type of error that can be resolved for each user, and the title of each user, can be acquired at the same time.

  When the error notification time table 60 is acquired in step S17, the time for error notification is acquired from the timer built in the image processing apparatus 10 in step S18. In step S19, it is determined whether or not there is an output terminal that is set to be capable of error notification at the error notification time acquired in step S18. If there is no output terminal capable of notifying the error during the error notification time, the process proceeds to step S23, and if present, in step S20, an error is notified to the output terminal capable of notifying the error. At this time, the notification destination of the error is notified only to the output terminal of the same department as the output terminal that caused the error, for example, when multiple output terminals are set to be able to notify the error, etc. It is also possible to narrow down notification destinations, and various methods can be limited if the notification method and timing are set in advance.

  After notifying the occurrence of an error to the output terminal that is set to be capable of error notification in step S20, it is monitored in step S21 whether the error state of the image processing apparatus 10 has been eliminated. Further, after the error occurrence is notified to the output terminal set to be able to notify the error in step S20, the error is not resolved and the second time set in advance in step S22 has passed without the error being resolved. If the error elapsed time monitoring unit 55 recognizes that the error has occurred, an error notification is sent to the system administrator output terminal 40-n in step S23.

  After notification of the error to the system administrator output terminal 40-n in step S23, the subsequent processing is not performed until the error is resolved in step S24. When it is confirmed in steps S15, S21, and S24 that the error has been resolved, the error message displayed on the output terminal that has previously notified the error in step S25 is eliminated, and the printing process is resumed. It returns to the processing after S06. By the way, data that has received an output instruction during error processing is temporarily spooled, placed in a standby state, and output processing is performed after the error is resolved.

  Further, in the processes from step S18 to S22, when there are a plurality of error notification destinations, a plurality of predetermined first times are set for each of the error notification destinations, whereby the system administrator output terminal 40- Steps S18 to S22 may be repeated a plurality of times before the final notification is sent to n. In this case, the priority order is determined from the attributes of each output terminal, and the notification destination to be notified first is, for example, an error. By setting the output terminal to belong to the same department as the destination of the data that caused the occurrence of the error, and setting the notification destination to be notified next to the output terminal that belongs to a different department, the error occurrence is further eliminated. Error notification can be performed by selecting an appropriate person, and the image processing apparatus can be used more favorably.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an image processing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the error management unit in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing when the image processing apparatus of the present invention receives a data output instruction; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the error processing subroutine of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the error notification time table;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 12 Operation part 14 Facsimile part 16 Scanner part 18 External memory interface 20 Input image processing / generation part 22 Various host interfaces 24 Job control part 26 Information storage part 28 Output control part 30 Printing part 32 Internal memory 34 Public telephone line 36 External memory 38 Network 40-1,... Output terminal 40-n System administrator output terminal 50 Error management section 51 Error detection section 52 Output terminal identification section 53 Error notification time setting section 54 Error identification section 55 Error elapsed time Monitoring unit 56 Error notification unit 60 Error notification time table

Claims (8)

An image processing apparatus having a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, etc., and a function in which a plurality of output terminals are connected via a network and manage errors generated during printing processing, facsimile transmission / reception processing, etc. And the image processing apparatus
An error detection unit that detects errors that occur during printing processing, facsimile transmission / reception, etc .;
An error notification time setting unit that sets in advance a time during which an error notification that has occurred in the image processing apparatus can be acquired for each of a plurality of output terminals;
An error notification unit for notifying an error to the output terminal set to perform error notification to the error notification time setting unit at the time of performing error notification;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus further includes an output terminal specifying unit that specifies an output terminal that has caused an error. When the error detecting unit detects an error, the error notification unit is operated by the output terminal specifying unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an error is notified to the specified output terminal.   The image processing apparatus includes an error identification unit that identifies an error type detected by the error detection unit, and further allows the error notification time setting unit to set an error notification destination for each error type. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error notification destination can be changed according to the type of error.   The output terminal specifying unit specifies an output terminal that causes an error, specifies an attribute of the output terminal, and sets an error notification set in the error notification time setting unit according to the attribute of the output terminal The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the destination can be changed.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error notification time setting unit can be set in each of a plurality of output terminals connected via a network.   The image processing apparatus further includes an error elapsed time monitoring unit that monitors an elapsed time after the occurrence of the error, and when the passage of the set first time after the occurrence of the error is detected, the time The error notification time is acquired, and an error notification is sent to an output terminal that is set to notify the error notification time setting unit of the error notification time during the error notification time. Image processing apparatus.   The error elapsed time monitoring unit is configured to notify the system administrator of an error when detecting that a second time set longer than the first time has elapsed since an error has occurred. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the error is resolved after the error notification unit notifies the error, the error notification performed by the error notification unit is canceled.

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