JP6667606B2 - Image processing device and maintenance system - Google Patents

Description

  This embodiment relates to an image processing apparatus and a maintenance system.

  The maintenance system is a system that monitors the status of an image processing device such as a digital multifunction peripheral. In some maintenance systems, a remote management apparatus instructs an image processing apparatus to perform maintenance settings. However, the conventional maintenance system only instructs the image processing apparatus to set values.

JP 2005-249885 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and a maintenance system capable of setting by specifying time.

According to the embodiment, the image processing device includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit communicates with a management device that specifies a maintenance policy. The control unit, when receiving a maintenance policy including a setting item in which a setting value and a time at which the setting is performed from the management device by the communication unit, sets the setting value of the setting item to the specified time. Set to a value.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration inside the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the management device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a display example of a policy setting screen for setting a maintenance policy. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a combination of a designated time and a set value in the maintenance policy shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a display example of a policy setting screen when setting values of a maintenance policy are set in units of time. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a combination of a designated time and a set value in the maintenance policy shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a change in a time-series set value of the time unit illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a display example of a policy setting screen as communication settings. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a maintenance policy in the management device. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example in the digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a maintenance policy application process in the digital multi-function peripheral.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The maintenance system shown in FIG. 1 includes a digital multifunction peripheral (MFP: Multi Function Periphera 1) 2 as an image processing apparatus (image forming apparatus) and a management apparatus 3. In the maintenance system, the digital multifunction peripheral 2 and the management device 3 are connected via a communication line 4. The maintenance system may be configured to connect the plurality of digital multifunction peripherals 2 to the management device 3 via the communication line 4. The communication line 4 can use the Internet or a public line network such as a telephone line (other communication lines may be used).

  The digital multifunction peripheral 2 has a copy, a scanner, a printer, or various data communication functions. The digital multifunction peripheral 2 may be any device that performs settings according to the maintenance policy. For example, the digital multifunction peripheral 2 may be, for example, a copy machine, a scanner device, or an image processing device that processes an input image.

  The management device 3 performs maintenance management for the digital MFP 2 in the maintenance system. The management device 3 is configured by, for example, a cloud server. The management device 3 holds a maintenance policy to be set in the digital multifunction peripheral 2. The management device 3 supplies a maintenance policy to the digital MFP 2 in response to an inquiry from the digital MFP 2.

  Next, the configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral (MFP) 2 as an image forming apparatus will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example in the digital multifunction peripheral 2.
The digital multifunction peripheral 2 includes a main control unit 21, a scanner 22, and a printer 23. The printer 23 includes a photosensitive drum 102, a charger 103, an exposure unit 104, a developing unit 105, a transfer charger 106, a peeling charger 107, a cleaner 108, a paper feeding unit 109, a paper transporting unit 110, a fixing unit 111, A printing unit 112 and a paper discharge tray 114.

  The scanner 22 optically reads an image of a document to acquire image data. The scanner 22 outputs the read image data to the main control unit 21. The main control unit 21 controls each unit. When copying an original, the main control unit 21 forms (prints) an image of the original on paper as an image forming medium by controlling each unit of the printer 23 according to image data of the original read by the scanner 22. .

  The photosensitive drum 102 rotates in the sub-scanning direction (the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 102). A charger 103 is disposed near the periphery of the photoconductor drum 102. The charger 103 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 102. The exposure unit 104 emits light or turns off in accordance with an image signal while scanning the semiconductor laser in the exposure unit 104. The laser light emitted from this semiconductor laser becomes light that is scanned in the main scanning direction (the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 102) by a deflector such as a polygon mirror.

  The semiconductor laser irradiates the laser beam onto the photosensitive drum 102 via an optical system such as a lens. In the charged photosensitive drum 102, the portion irradiated with the laser beam has a lower potential. The portion of the photosensitive drum 102 where the laser beam has been irradiated, where the potential has decreased, becomes an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 105 applies a developer (toner) to the photosensitive drum 102. The developing device 105 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 102 as a toner image using a developer.

The printer 23 has a paper tray 113. The paper feed roller 115 separates the papers 130 in the paper tray 113 one by one and sends out the papers to the paper supply unit 109. The paper supply unit 109 supplies the paper to the transfer position of the photosensitive drum 102. The transfer charger 106 transfers the toner image to the supplied paper. The separation charger 107 separates the sheet from the photosensitive drum 102. The paper transport unit 110 transports the paper 130 onto which the toner image has been transferred. The fixing device 111 fixes the toner image on the paper 130. The paper discharge unit 112 discharges the paper 130 on which an image is printed on the paper discharge tray 114.
Further, the cleaner 108 removes the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 102 after the transfer of the toner image onto the paper 130 is completed. After the residual toner is removed by the cleaner 108, the photosensitive drum 102 returns to the initial state, and enters a standby state for the next image formation.
The printer 23 can continuously perform the image forming operation by repeating the above process operations.

Next, a configuration of a control system in the digital multifunction peripheral 2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the main control unit 21 in the digital multifunction peripheral 2.
The digital multifunction peripheral 2 includes a main control unit 21, a scanner 22, a printer 23, and an operation panel 24. The main control unit 21 includes a processor (CPU) 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a nonvolatile memory 204, a communication interface 205, an HDD 206, a scanner interface 207, a printer interface 208, a timer 209, a clock 210, and the like.

  The processor 201 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 201 controls the entire MFP 2. The processor 201 executes various processes by executing a program stored in the ROM 202 or the nonvolatile memory 204. The ROM 202 stores a control program, control data, and the like. The RAM 203 functions as a working memory or a buffer memory. The nonvolatile memory 204 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory 204 stores a control program, control data, and the like.

The communication interface 205 is an interface for performing communication with an external device. The communication interface 205 is an interface for communicating with the management device 3 via a network. The HDD 206 is a storage device. The HDD 206 stores image data and the like.
A scanner I / F 207 is an interface for controlling the scanner 22 according to an instruction from the processor 201. The printer I / F 208 is an interface for controlling the printer 23 according to an instruction from the processor 201.

  Timer 209 counts time. The timer 209 functions as a schedule timer that counts time based on a schedule set by the processor 201. The clock 210 measures the current time. The processor 201 may function as a timer by counting time using the clock 210. The processor 201 may function by clocking by acquiring the current time from an external device accessible via the communication interface.

  The operation panel 24 is a user interface to which an operation instruction from a user is input. The operation panel 24 has an operation unit 241 and a display unit 242. For example, the operation panel 24 may be configured by a display device as a display unit 242 having a touch panel as the operation unit 241. The operation panel 24 may be provided with hard keys as the operation unit 242.

Next, the configuration of the management device 3 in the maintenance system according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the management device 3.
In the configuration example shown in FIG. 4, the management device 3 includes a processor (CPU) 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a communication interface 304, a storage unit 305, an input unit (operation unit) 306, and a display unit 307.

  The processor 301 controls the overall control of the management device 3. Further, the processor 301 has a function of implementing various processes by executing a program. The ROM 302 stores a program executed by the processor 301. The RAM 303 functions as a working memory or a buffer memory. Note that the program executed by the processor 301 may be stored in the storage unit 305.

Communication interface 304 is an interface for communicating with MFP 2 via communication line 4. The storage unit 305 is configured by a storage device such as an HDD. The storage unit 305 stores, for example, a maintenance policy for the digital multi-function peripheral 2.
The input unit (operation unit) 306 is an input interface for inputting data. The input unit 306 is an input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device, and a touch panel. Further, the input unit 306 may input data from a storage medium such as a memory card or an external storage device. The display unit 307 is an output interface (output unit) for outputting information. The display unit 307 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device. In addition, the management device 3 may include an output interface that outputs data to a storage medium such as a memory card or an external storage device.

Next, a maintenance policy applied to the digital MFP 2 will be described.
In the maintenance system, the management device 3 sets a maintenance policy to be applied to the digital MFP 2. The maintenance policy is information on operation settings applied (set) to the digital multifunction peripheral 2. The maintenance policy may be considered as a command (setting request) supplied from the management apparatus 3 to the digital multifunction peripheral 2. The management device 3 receives an input of a maintenance policy applied to the digital MFP 2 by the administrator. For example, the administrator uses the input unit 306 of the management device 3 to input a maintenance policy applied to the digital MFP 2.

FIG. 5 is a display example of a policy setting screen for setting a maintenance policy in the management device 3.
The processor 301 of the management device 3 displays a policy setting screen for setting a maintenance policy on the display unit 307 according to an operation by the administrator. For example, the processor 301 displays a policy setting screen for designating a maintenance policy applied to the digital multi-function peripheral designated by the administrator. Further, the processor 301 may create a maintenance policy to be input on the policy setting screen, and then set the digital MFP to which the created maintenance policy is applied.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the policy setting screen includes an input field 501, an input field 502, a selection button 503, an input field 504, an add button 505, a create button 506, and a cancel button 507. The input field 501 is an input field for inputting a policy name. The policy name is an arbitrary name specified by the administrator for the maintenance policy (setting content) to be set (created). The administrator uses the input unit 306 to enter an arbitrary setting name in the policy name input field 501.

  The input field 502 is an input field for inputting a setting code. The setting code is code information indicating a setting item. The administrator inputs a setting code corresponding to the item to be set in the input field 502. The selection button 503 is a button for selecting a setting condition. A select button 503 selects a setting condition for the setting item input in the input field 502 from a pull-down menu. The input field 504 is an input field for inputting a setting value. The administrator inputs a setting value according to the setting condition selected by the selection button 503 for the setting item in the input field 502 into the input field 504.

  The add button 505 is a button for instructing to add a setting item. The administrator designates an add button 505 to add another setting item. The create button 506 is a button for instructing creation of a maintenance policy. The administrator inputs a create button 506 when setting the settings displayed on the policy setting screen as a maintenance policy. A cancel button 507 is a button for instructing to cancel the setting content input on the policy setting screen.

  For example, FIG. 5 shows an input example in which the setting item indicated by the setting code “01-1111” is set to “1”. When the creation button 506 is instructed in the input state shown in FIG. 5, the management device 3 sets a maintenance policy for setting the setting value of the setting code “01-1111” to “1”. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a time-series change of a set value according to the maintenance policy of the set content shown in FIG. The example illustrated in FIG. 6 indicates that the setting value of the setting code “01-1111” is a constant value (“1”) regardless of the time.

  When the create button 506 is instructed, the processor 301 of the management device 3 creates the maintenance policy input on the policy setting screen as information in a predetermined data format. The data format of the information indicating the maintenance policy may be any data format that the digital MFP 2 can recognize. The processor 301 stores the information indicating the created maintenance policy in the storage unit 305 in association with the digital MFP 2 to which the maintenance policy is applied. The processor 301 responds (transfers) the information indicating the maintenance policy stored in the storage unit 305 in response to the inquiry from the digital MFP 2.

Next, a case where the set value of the maintenance policy applied to the digital multifunction peripheral 2 is set in units of time will be described.
FIG. 7 is a display example of a policy setting screen when setting values of a maintenance policy are set in units of time. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the setting contents shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the time-series set values shown in FIG. 7 in chronological order.

  The value “8,10; 17,5; 20,1” input in the input field 504 of the policy setting screen shown in FIG. 7 sets the setting contents shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a maintenance policy in which the setting values of the setting code “01-1112” are set to “10” at 8:00, “5” at 17:00, and “1” at 20:00. .

  In the maintenance policy shown in FIG. 7, the set value of the setting code “01-1112” changes in a time series as shown in FIG. That is, the setting value of the setting code “01-1112” is “10” from 8:00 to 17:00. Also, the setting value of the setting code “01-1112” is “5” from 17:00 to 20:00. The set value of the setting code “01-1112” is “1” from 20:00 to 8:00.

  For example, the setting code “01-1112” shown in FIG. 7 is a power saving timer setting. The power saving timer setting is to shift to the power saving mode if there is no operation by the user for the set time. The power saving mode is an operation mode in which power consumption is reduced by, for example, turning off the display unit 242 and lowering the standby temperature of the fixing unit 111 (or turning off the fixing unit 111). The maintenance policy shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 sets the power saving timer setting to 10 minutes during the day (8:00 to 17:00). In the evening (17: 00-20: 00), the power saving timer is set to 5 minutes. At night and early morning (20: 00-8: 00), the power saving timer is set to one minute.

  According to these settings, the time to enter the power saving mode can be delayed during working hours (daytime) when the digital MFP 2 is frequently used. Further, it is possible to immediately enter the power saving mode during the night when the digital multifunction peripheral 2 is not used. Furthermore, in the time zone immediately after work (evening), the digital multifunction peripheral 2 can be set to enter the power saving mode by setting it at an intermediate level between daytime and nighttime. That is, since the set value can be set by specifying the time in the maintenance policy specified by the management device, it is possible to make detailed settings according to the operation mode. In addition, since the setting value of the time specification can be specified by the management device, there is no need for the administrator to directly operate and set each digital multifunction peripheral 2 each time the maintenance policy is changed.

  The setting items that can be set by specifying the time in the maintenance policy are not limited to the power saving timer setting. For example, the standby temperature of the fixing device 111 may be set by a set value of a time designated by a maintenance policy. The lower the standby temperature of the fixing device 111 is, the more power is saved, but it takes time to return to the predetermined fixing temperature. Therefore, as a maintenance policy, it is conceivable to set the standby temperature of the fixing device 111 to a high set value during the day and to set a low set value during the night and early morning.

  Further, the security strength may be set by a set value of the time designation in the maintenance policy. For example, as a maintenance policy for the digital multifunction peripheral 2, it is conceivable that the security strength is reduced during the daytime and the security strength is increased during the night and early morning. For example, it is possible to set to permit use of the digital multi-function peripheral 2 during the day without user authentication, and to permit use of the digital multi-function peripheral 2 only to a user having a predetermined authority at night and early morning.

  Further, the maintenance policy may allow the communication timing between the digital MFP 2 and the management device 3 to be set. The management device 3 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a cloud server. It may be difficult for the management device 3 such as a cloud server to unilaterally transmit (push) the maintenance policy to the digital multifunction peripheral 2 due to network security. For this reason, in the present maintenance system, after receiving the inquiry from the digital MFP 2, the management device 3 transfers the maintenance policy to the digital MFP. Therefore, the communication timing between the digital MFP 2 and the management device 3 is set on the digital MFP 2 side. The management device 3 can set the communication timing for the digital MFP 2 as a maintenance policy.

FIG. 10 is a display example of a policy setting screen as communication settings.
The processor 301 of the management device 3 displays a policy setting screen for setting a maintenance policy as communication settings on the display unit 307 in response to an operation by the administrator. For example, the processor 301 displays a policy setting screen for specifying communication settings for the digital multi-function peripheral specified by the administrator.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the communication setting policy setting screen 600 includes an input field 601, selection fields 602a and 602b, a selection button 603, a selection button 604, an input field 605, a creation button 606, and a cancel button 607. The input field 601 is an input field for inputting a policy name. The policy name is an arbitrary name specified by the administrator for the maintenance policy (setting content) to be set (created). The administrator uses the input unit 306 to enter an arbitrary setting name in the policy name input field 501.

  The selection columns 602a and 602b are columns for selecting one of them. When the selection field 602a is selected, the communication settings by the selection button 603 and the selection 604 become valid. When the selection field 602b is selected, the communication settings in the input field 605 become valid. The selection button 603 and the selection button 604 are buttons for selecting a communication time. A selection button 603 and a selection button 604 respectively select information on communication time from a pull-down menu. The input field 605 is an input field for inputting a setting value. The administrator inputs the time of the communication interval in the input field 605 as a numerical value.

  A create button 606 is a button for instructing creation of a maintenance policy as communication settings. The administrator inputs a create button 606 when setting the communication settings displayed on the policy setting screen as a maintenance policy. A cancel button 607 is a button for instructing cancellation of the setting content input on the policy setting screen. FIG. 10 shows an input example of a maintenance policy which is set to communicate between the digital multifunction peripheral 2 and the management apparatus 3 at 9:00 every Monday. When the create button 606 is instructed in the display state shown in FIG. 10, the processor 301 creates a maintenance policy for performing communication at 9:00 every Monday.

Next, the operation of the management device 3 in the maintenance system according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the management device 3 according to the maintenance policy.
When the administrator gives an instruction to create a maintenance policy through the input unit 306 (ACT1, YES), the processor 301 accepts the designation of the target digital MFP 2 (ACT2). The processor 301 may accept designation of the target digital MFP 2 after creating the maintenance policy. When the target digital MFP 2 is specified, the processor 301 displays a policy setting screen for setting a maintenance policy on the display unit 307 (ACT 3). For example, when an instruction to create a communication setting maintenance policy is issued, the processor 301 displays a communication setting policy setting screen as shown in FIG. Further, when an instruction to create a maintenance policy for setting the power saving timer is issued, the processor 301 displays a policy setting screen as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 on the display unit 307.

  The processor 301 receives an input of a setting value including a time designation on the policy setting screen displayed on the display unit 307 (ACT4). When a create button for creating a maintenance policy is instructed (ACT5, YES), the processor 301 creates a maintenance policy of the input setting contents (ACT6). The processor 301 creates information indicating a maintenance policy in a predetermined data format. After creating the maintenance policy, the processor 301 stores the created maintenance policy in the storage unit 305 (ACT 7). When the target digital MFP 2 is specified, the processor 301 stores information indicating the maintenance policy in the storage unit 305 in association with the digital MFP 2.

  Further, the processor 301 receives an inquiry from the digital MFP 2 (ACT8). When receiving the inquiry from the digital MFP 2 (ACT8, YES), the processor 301 responds to the digital MFP 2 with the maintenance policy (ACT9). For example, the processor 301 searches the storage unit 305 for a maintenance policy applied to the digital multifunction peripheral 2 that is the inquiry source. When detecting the maintenance policy applied to the digital MFP of the inquiry source, the processor 301 transmits the detected maintenance policy as a response. If the processor 301 determines that there is no maintenance policy to be applied to the digital MFP 2 that is the inquiry source, it notifies that there is no maintenance policy as a response.

  According to the processing of ACT 1-9 described above, the management device creates a set value including the time designation input by the administrator as a maintenance policy applied to the digital multi-function peripheral 2. The management device stores a maintenance policy of the setting content input by the administrator in the storage unit. The management device transmits the maintenance policy stored in the storage unit in response to an inquiry from the digital multi-function peripheral. Thus, the management device can receive the set value of the time designation for the digital multifunction peripheral and instruct each digital multifunction peripheral.

Next, the operation of the digital MFP 2 will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the digital multifunction peripheral 2.
The processor 201 of the digital multifunction peripheral 2 sets an operation to be performed in units of time as a schedule timer. For example, the processor 201 sets the timing at which the maintenance policy is acquired from the management device (communication timing with the management device) as a schedule timer. Further, the processor 201 also sets a schedule timer for the time designation of various settings based on the maintenance policy.

  After setting the schedule timer, the processor 201 monitors whether or not the time set as the schedule timer has elapsed (ACT11). When the time set in the schedule timer elapses (ACT11, YES), the processor 201 determines whether it is the maintenance policy reception timing (communication timing with the management device) (ACT12).

  If the processor 201 determines that it is not the maintenance policy reception timing (ACT12, NO), the processor 201 determines whether it is the timing to set the time designation (ACT13). If the processor 201 determines that it is time to set the time designation (ACT13, YES), the processor 201 sets the time designation setting value (ACT14).

  If the processor 201 determines that it is the maintenance policy reception timing (communication timing with the management device 3) (ACT12, YES), the processor 201 transmits an inquiry to the management device 3 (ACT15). After transmitting the inquiry, the processor 201 receives a response from the management device 3 (ACT 16). If there is a maintenance policy to be applied to the digital MFP, the management device 3 transfers the maintenance policy as a response to the inquiry. When there is no maintenance policy setting or when there is no change in the maintenance policy, the management device 3 may notify the inquiry that there is no change in the maintenance policy as a response.

  Upon receiving the response to the inquiry, the processor 201 determines whether there is a change in the maintenance policy applied to the digital MFP 2 based on the information received as the response (ACT 17). When determining that there is a change in the maintenance policy, the processor 201 executes a maintenance policy application process (ACT 18).

  Next, a process of applying a maintenance policy in the digital MFP 2 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for describing an operation example of a maintenance policy application process in the digital multifunction peripheral 2.
When applying the maintenance policy received from the management device 3, the processor 201 analyzes the maintenance policy received from the management device 3 (ACT 21). For example, the processor 201 determines a setting item corresponding to the setting code specified by the maintenance policy. Further, the processor 201 analyzes setting values for each setting item.

  Based on the analysis of the maintenance policy, the processor 201 determines whether or not the maintenance policy includes a time-specified set value (ACT 22). If it is determined that the maintenance policy does not include the set value for the time specification (ACT22, NO), the processor 201 sets the set value specified by the maintenance policy (ACT23).

  If it is determined that the maintenance policy includes the set value for the time designation (ACT22, YES), the processor 201 acquires the current time (ACT24). For example, the processor 201 acquires the current time using the clock 210. Further, the processor 201 may acquire the current time from an external device via the communication line 4. In this case, the processor 201 can always obtain an accurate current time from the external device if the environment allows access to the external device that provides the current time based on the standard time.

  When acquiring the current time, the processor 201 calculates a time to be set in the timer 209 as a schedule timer based on the current time (ACT 25). For example, the processor 201 calculates the time from the current time to the specified time for the set value specified in the maintenance policy (ACT 25). The processor 201 sets the calculated time to the timer 209 as a schedule timer (ACT 26). By setting the schedule timer, the processor 201 can recognize the timing of executing communication with the management device or the timing of executing setting.

  According to the maintenance policy application process described above, the digital multi-function peripheral determines whether or not the maintenance policy transferred from the management device includes a time-specified set value. When the digital multifunction peripheral includes the set value for specifying the time, the digital multifunction peripheral sets the schedule timer based on the current time. As a result, the digital multi-function peripheral can set the communication execution timing or the setting execution timing as the schedule timer according to the set value of the time designation in the maintenance policy.

  As described above, this embodiment is a maintenance system in which a management device remotely manages a digital multifunction peripheral (image processing device). In the maintenance policy supplied to the image processing apparatus, the management apparatus instructs a setting value for the image processing apparatus in units of time. Further, the image processing apparatus decodes the maintenance policy supplied from the management apparatus, and executes a setting process in units of time as specified by the maintenance policy. Accordingly, the maintenance system can perform maintenance setting of the image processing apparatus in units of time according to the maintenance policy specified by the management apparatus.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which a program to be executed by the processor is previously recorded in the memory in the device. However, the program executed by the processor may be downloaded from the network to the device, or may be installed from the recording medium into the device. The recording medium may be any recording medium that can store a program such as a CD-ROM and is readable by the device. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading in advance may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or the like inside the apparatus.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.
Hereinafter, the contents described in the claims at the time of filing the application of the present application will be additionally described.
[1]
An image processing device,
A communication unit that communicates with a management device that specifies a maintenance policy;
After transmitting an inquiry to the management device by the communication unit, receiving a response from the management device to the inquiry,
A control unit that, when receiving a maintenance policy including a setting value of a time designation as the response, sets a setting value corresponding to the time designation every time the time designated by the time designation is reached;
An image processing apparatus having:
[2]
In addition, a timer that counts the set time,
An acquisition unit for acquiring the current time,
The control unit includes:
On the basis of the current time obtained by the obtaining unit, a time until the time specified by the time specification of the maintenance policy is set in the timer,
When the time counted by the timer reaches the set time, set a set value corresponding to the time specification,
The image processing device according to [1].
[3]
A maintenance system including an image processing device and a management device,
The management device,
A first communication unit that communicates with the image processing device;
An input unit for inputting a set value of a maintenance policy applied to the image processing apparatus at a specified time,
A storage unit that stores a maintenance policy created based on the information input by the input unit,
A first control unit that responds to the image processing device in response to an inquiry from the image processing device by the first communication unit with a maintenance policy stored in the storage unit,
The image processing device,
A second communication unit that communicates with the management device;
After transmitting an inquiry to the management device by the second communication unit, receiving a response from the management device to the inquiry,
A second controller configured to set a set value corresponding to the time specification each time the time specified by the time specification is reached, when a maintenance policy including a set value of the time specification is received as the response. ,
Maintenance system.
[4]
The image processing apparatus further includes:
A timer for counting the set time,
An acquisition unit for acquiring the current time,
A second control unit of the image processing apparatus,
On the basis of the current time obtained by the obtaining unit, a time until the time specified by the time specification of the maintenance policy is reached is set in the timer,
When the time counted by the timer reaches the set time, set a set value corresponding to the time specification,
The maintenance system according to [3].
[5]
The input unit of the management device inputs a time to communicate with the image processing device,
The storage unit of the management device stores a communication setting maintenance policy including a time designation based on the time input by the input unit,
The maintenance system according to any one of [3] and [4].

  2 Digital multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus), 3 Management device, 21 Main control unit, 201 Processor (control unit, second control unit), 205 Communication interface (communication unit, second communication unit) 209: timer, 301: processor (first control unit), 304: communication interface (first communication unit), 305: storage unit, 306: input unit, 307: display unit.

Claims (7)

An image processing device,
A communication unit that communicates with a management device that specifies a maintenance policy;
When the communication unit receives a maintenance policy including a setting item in which a setting time and a setting value are specified from the management device , the setting value of the setting item is changed to the setting value specified at the specified time. A control unit to set,
An image processing apparatus having: In addition, a timer that counts the set time,
An acquisition unit for acquiring the current time,
The control unit includes:
On the basis of the current time obtained by the obtaining unit, a time until the time specified in the setting item included in the maintenance policy is reached is set in the timer,
When the time counted by the timer reaches the set time, the set value of the setting item is set to a specified set value,
The image processing device according to claim 1. The control unit, after receiving a maintenance policy including a power saving timer setting as a setting item in which the time to execute the setting and the setting value are specified, and reaches the time specified in the power saving timer setting, the image processing Setting the set time of the power saving timer for shifting the device to the power saving mode to the set value specified in the power saving timer setting,
The image processing device according to claim 1. Further, after forming a developer image on the recording medium, a printer for fixing the developer image on the recording medium using a fixing device for controlling the temperature of the developer image,
The control unit includes:
After receiving the maintenance policy including the setting of the standby temperature of the fixing device as a setting item in which the setting execution time and the set value are specified, when the time specified in the setting of the standby temperature of the fixing device is reached, Setting the standby temperature of the fixing device to a set value specified in the setting of the standby temperature of the fixing device;
The image processing device according to claim 1. A maintenance system including an image processing device and a management device,
The management device,
A first communication unit that communicates with the image processing device;
An input unit for inputting a setting value and a time at which the setting is executed for a setting item that specifies a time at which the setting is executed in the maintenance policy applied to the image processing apparatus;
A storage unit that stores a maintenance policy created based on the information input by the input unit,
A first control unit that transmits the maintenance policy stored in the storage unit to the image processing apparatus by the first communication unit,
The image processing device,
A second communication unit that communicates with the management device;
When a maintenance policy including a setting item in which the setting execution time and the setting value are specified is received from the management device by the second communication unit, the setting value of the setting item is specified at the specified time. Setting a set value, a second control unit,
Maintenance system. The image processing apparatus further includes:
A timer for counting the set time,
An acquisition unit for acquiring the current time,
A second control unit of the image processing apparatus,
On the basis of the current time obtained by the obtaining unit, a time until the time specified in the setting item included in the maintenance policy is reached is set in the timer,
When the time counted by the timer reaches the set time, the set value of the setting item is set to a specified set value,
The maintenance system according to claim 5. The input unit of the management device inputs a time to communicate with the image processing device,
The storage unit of the management device stores a maintenance policy of communication settings including a time designation based on the time input by the input unit,
The maintenance system according to claim 5.