JP7077677B2 - Error notification system, main unit, operation unit, error notification method, program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an error notification system, a main body device, an operation unit device, an error notification method, and a program.

When an error such as a paper jam occurs in an image forming apparatus, it is common to display the content of the error and the method for resolving the error (hereinafter, simply referred to as an error screen) on the operation panel. In recent years, an image forming apparatus has been known in which a main body and an operation unit have separate OSs (Operating Systems), and the main body and the operation unit communicate with each other to notify the main body of print settings and the like input to the operation unit. became. Even in such an image forming apparatus, when the main body detects an error, the content of the error is transmitted to the operation unit, and the operation unit displays an appropriate error screen.

Further, a technique has been devised in which a terminal device that communicates with an image forming device displays an error screen (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that determines whether or not an error notification is necessary to a terminal device according to the presence or absence of a terminal device capable of communicating when a trouble is detected, and notifies the terminal device when an error notification is required. ing.

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that an error cannot be notified at an appropriate timing for the user. For example, since the operation unit displays the error screen at the timing requested by the main body, the error screen is displayed even when the user is executing some application or the like on the operation unit and the operation unit displays the screen of this application. That is, it becomes impossible to present a screen other than the error screen to the user. In order to eliminate this inconvenience, the timing of notifying an error is lost if the screen of the application executed by the user in the operation unit is displayed with priority over the error screen.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an error notification system capable of displaying an error at an appropriate timing for the user.

In view of the above problems, the present invention determines the error detecting means for detecting an error occurring in the main body device, the priority determining means for determining the priority of the error detected by the error detecting means, and the priority of the error. A main unit having a transmission means for transmitting to the operation unit device, a receiving means for receiving the error priority from the main body device, and a notification timing of the error when the error priority is less than the threshold value. The error notification means includes a timing determining means for determining, an error notifying means for notifying the error at the error notification timing determined by the timing determining means, and a touch panel for receiving an operation on the operation unit device. Provided is an error notification system including an operation unit device for notifying the error at the timing when the touch panel receives the use of the function in which the error has occurred from the user .

It is possible to provide an error notification system that can display an error at an appropriate timing for the user.

It is an example of the figure explaining the outline of the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. This is an example of an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the image forming apparatus. This is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the image forming apparatus in a block shape. It is an example of the figure explaining the information included in the error notification. This is an example of a sequence diagram showing a procedure in which an image forming apparatus displays an error screen. This is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure in which the priority determination unit switches the display timing of the error screen according to the error priority. It is a figure which shows an example of an error screen. This is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure in which the priority determination unit switches the display timing of the error screen according to the error priority (when the error priority is three). It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, as an example of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, the image forming apparatus and the error notification method performed by the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Outline of operation of image forming device>
FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram illustrating an outline of the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment transmits an error priority from the main body 10 to the operation unit 20, and when the urgency is low, it is convenient for the application software (hereinafter referred to as an application) that operates in the operation unit 20. Notify the error at the right time. In addition, in FIG. 1, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the main body 10 (an example of the main body device) and the operation unit 20 (an example of the operation unit device) are separated, but the operation unit 20 is attached / detached even if it is fixed to the main body 10. It may be possible or a completely different device.
(1) Some error occurs in the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus 100.
(2) The main body 10 of the image forming apparatus 100 transmits an error notification including an error priority and an error type to the operation unit 20. An error handling application and other applications are installed in the operation unit 20. The other application is an application that displays a screen on the operation unit 20.
(3) When the error priority is high, the error processing application of the operation unit 20 displays an error screen immediately after receiving the error notification.
(4) If the error priority is low, the error handling app notifies the other apps that are displaying the screen that an error has occurred, and displays the error screen when the other apps are at a convenient time to display the error screen. do. Therefore, if the screen of the other application is displayed, the screen of the other application is continuously displayed. As an example of the timing that is convenient for displaying the error screen, there is the timing when the user performs an operation using the function in which the error occurred.
(5) Others The application outputs an error screen display request when it is convenient to display the error screen. When the error processing application acquires an error screen display request from another application, the error processing application displays an error screen on the operation unit 20.

In this way, when the error priority is less than the threshold value, the other application determines the display timing of the error screen. The other application can display the error screen at a timing convenient for the other application, for example, when the user performs an operation using the function in which the error has occurred. In addition, since the user needs to resolve the error when using the function in which the error has occurred, the error screen can be displayed at a timing convenient for the user who uses other applications. On the other hand, if the error priority is high, the error screen can be displayed immediately.

<Terminology>
An error is a state that deviates from the normal state. It may include not only whether it is normal or not, but also the degree of deviation from the normal state. For example, the higher the urgency for returning an error to a normal state, the higher the error priority. The degree of deviation from the normal state and the error priority tend to correlate, but the degree of deviation from the normal state and the error priority do not have to match. The error may be referred to as an abnormality, a malfunction, a failure, or the like.

Error notification means at least notifying that an error has occurred. In addition to directly notifying the occurrence of an error, it may be indirectly notified that an error has occurred by notifying the method of resolving the error. Further, the error notification is preferably a notification that can be visually detected by the user such as a screen display, but may be a notification that can be detected by hearing such as a voice message.

An error notification system is a system or device that detects an error in a system or device in which an error may occur. The error notification system may be a system or device different from the system or device in which the error may occur. In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus will be described as an example.

<Configuration example of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 2 is an example of an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 mainly has a main body 10 and an operation unit 20. The main body 10 includes an operating unit for realizing the function of the image forming apparatus 100, and the operation unit 20 provides a user interface for displaying information to the user and accepting the user's operation.

The main body 10 is roughly divided into a scanner unit 101 and a printer unit 102. The scanner unit 101 optically reads the original on the contact glass to generate image data. In FIG. 2, the ADF103 (Auto Document Feeder) is mounted on the contact glass. The ADF 103 is a device that automatically feeds paper.

The printer unit 102 performs image processing such as gamma conversion on the print data from the PC (Personal Computer) or the image data read by the scanner unit 101, and records the paper or the like by an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Print the image on the medium. Alternatively, the image data received by fax is printed on a recording medium.

The printer unit 102 has one or more paper trays 104 and a manual feed tray 105. The manual feed tray 105 at the time of use is opened to the right side of the main body 10. Further, the printer unit 102 has a paper ejection tray 106 below the scanner unit 101, and the recording medium on which the image is formed is ejected to the paper ejection tray 106.

In FIG. 2, the operation unit 20 is fixedly or detachably attached to the front of the main body 10. The mounting position of the operation unit 20 shown in the figure is merely an example, and may be mounted on the side surface of the main body 10, the periphery of the scanner unit 101, or the like. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may have a plurality of operating units 20.

The image forming apparatus 100 may be called a multifunction device. That is, the image forming apparatus 100 stores a printer function for forming an image on a print medium such as paper, a copy function realized by a scanner and a printer function, a FAX function realized by a scanner and a telephone line (or a network), and data. It may have a function or the like. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may be referred to as a printer, a copying machine, a copying machine, a FAX apparatus, or the like, reflecting these functions. When the image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction device, it may be called an MFP (Multi-Function Peripherals). The image forming apparatus 100 may not have any other functions as long as it has one or more of a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, or a function for accumulating data.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is merely an example of an information processing apparatus or an electronic device in which the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 communicate with each other. For example, even in devices such as electronic blackboards, projectors, and video conference terminals, the present embodiment can be applied as long as there is a device in which the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 communicate with each other and the operation unit 20 displays a screen.

<Hardware configuration example of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a main body 10 and an operation unit 20. The main body 10 and the operation unit 20 can communicate with each other.

The main body 10 can perform an operation according to the operation received by the operation unit 20. Further, the main body 10 can also communicate with an external device such as a client PC (personal computer), and can perform an operation according to an instruction received from the external device.

Next, the hardware configuration of the main body 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 14, and a communication I /. An F (Interface) 15, a connection I / F 16, and an engine unit 17 are provided, and these are connected to each other via a system bus 18. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 3, the configuration in which the main body 10 has the HDD 14 has been described as an example, but for example, there may be a configuration in which the main body 10 does not have the HDD 14 and a sufficient storage area cannot be secured.

The CPU 11 comprehensively controls the operation of the main body 10. The CPU 11 controls the operation of the entire main body 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 12 or the HDD 14 using the RAM 13 as a work area (work area), and has the above-mentioned copy function, scanner function, fax function, printer function, and the like. Realize various functions of.

The communication I / F 15 is an interface for connecting to the network 8. The connection I / F 16 is an interface for communicating with the operation unit 20 via the communication path 30. For example, if communication is performed using the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, communication and charging can be performed with a single cable.

The engine unit 17 is hardware that performs general-purpose information processing and processing other than communication in order to realize a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function. For example, it is equipped with a scanner that scans and reads an image of a document, a plotter (image forming unit) that prints on a sheet material such as paper, and a fax unit that performs fax communication. Further, it may be provided with specific options such as a finisher for sorting printed sheet materials and an ADF (automatic document feeder) that automatically feeds documents. The image forming method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

Next, the hardware configuration of the operation unit 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a flash memory 24, a communication I / F 25, a connection I / F 26, and an operation panel 27, which are system buses. They are interconnected via 28. It is assumed that these have the same functions as the main body 10, or even if they are different from the main body 10, there is no problem in the explanation of the present embodiment.

The operation panel 27 is a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and it is preferable that the operation panel 27 is integrally provided with a touch panel. The operation panel 27 is used as a display device and an input device. The operation panel 27 displays a soft key and accepts its press. Further, the operation panel 27 may have a hard key.

For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 3, the configuration in which the operation unit 20 has the flash memory 24 has been described as an example, but for example, there may be a configuration in which the operation unit 20 does not have the flash memory 24.

<About functions>
FIG. 4 is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the image forming apparatus 100 in a block shape.

<< Main body >>
The main body 10 has an abnormality / failure detection unit 31, a basic function unit 32, an error screen management unit 33, a status monitoring unit 34, an error priority determination unit 35, and an error notification unit 36. These functions possessed by the main body 10 are functions or means realized by operating any of the components shown in FIG. 3 by a command from the CPU 11 according to a program expanded from the HDD 14 to the RAM 13. be. This program is distributed from a server for program distribution or stored in a storage medium.

First, the basic function unit 32 provides the basic functions of the main body 10 in response to user operations and the like. For example, it provides a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, a fax function, and the like. It also controls actuators (motors, clutches, etc.) required to provide each function, switches ON / OFF, temperature control of the fixing unit, and sensors that detect the opening and closing of paper and covers.

The state monitoring unit 34 monitors the basic function unit 32 and acquires device monitoring data representing the state of the main body 10. The device monitoring data preferably includes the state of the main body 10 which is presumed to be highly related to the abnormality or failure. For example, the device monitoring data includes a paper jam, a cover open, a decrease in the remaining amount of consumables such as paper, and the like. The condition monitoring unit 34 can detect an error based on the device monitoring data. Further, the condition monitoring unit 34 acquires from the abnormality / failure detection unit 31 that the service call described below has been issued.

The abnormality / failure detection unit 31 monitors the abnormality or failure of the basic function unit 32. Generally, an abnormality or failure is notified to the maintenance server by a predetermined information called a service call. An abnormality or failure is also an aspect of the state of the main body 10, but the state (device monitoring data) is only the state of the main body 10, whereas the service call means that some trouble has occurred. Many service calls indicate that a problem has occurred that is difficult for the user to recover. Therefore, when a service call occurs, an error is detected, and it tends to be determined that the error priority is high.

When the error priority determination unit 35 acquires the information related to the error from the status monitoring unit 34, the error priority determination unit 35 determines the error priority. The information about the error is the content of the error such as a paper jam, a cover open, and a low remaining amount of consumables such as paper. The service call is also information about the error. In addition, the error type is specified from the contents of these errors.

Table 1 shows a table for determining the error priority.

表１ではエラー優先度とエラー種別が対応付けられている。一例として、サービスコールのエラー優先度は高い（emergency）と判断し、それ以外の紙詰まりなどのエラーをエラー優先度が低い（normal）と判断する。

In Table 1, the error priority and the error type are associated with each other. As an example, it is determined that the error priority of the service call is high (emergency), and other errors such as paper jams are determined to have low error priority (normal).

The error notification unit 36 transmits an error notification regarding an error determined by the error priority determination unit 35 that an error has been detected to the operation unit 20. The error notification includes the error priority and error type. The error type indicates, for example, what kind of error has occurred by a number or the like.

The error screen management unit 33 manages screen data for the operation unit 20 to display the error screen. The screen data is stored in the error screen data DB 39. The screen data of the error screen may be static or dynamic. The static screen data includes unchanged information such as device configuration information, images and moving images required to generate an error screen, and display wording data. The static screen data includes the content of the error and the method of resolving the error. The dynamic screen data includes information that changes dynamically, such as the state of the main body 10. The error screen management unit 33 transmits the screen data of the error screen in response to the request from the operation unit 20.

At least static screen data is stored in the error screen data DB 39. Since the dynamic screen data is generated each time, it does not have to be stored in the error screen data DB 39. The screen data is associated with the error type, and when the operation unit 20 acquires the screen data, the static screen data associated with the error type can be displayed. The error screen data DB 39 is constructed in any one or more of the ROM 12, the RAM 13, and the HDD 14 shown in FIG.

<< Operation unit >>
First, the error processing application 40 and the other application 50 operate on the operation unit 20. The error processing application 40 is an application that notifies the user of an error, such as displaying an error screen. The other application 50 is an application that is displaying a screen when an error occurs among any applications that operate on the operation unit 20 (the error processing application 40 is not included). For example, there are a print application, a copy application, a scanner application, a FAX application, and the like.

Since the error processing application 40 is an application independent of the other application 50 in this way, the operation unit 20 can display the error screen by suppressing the change of the other application 50. On the other hand, the error processing application 40 and the other application 50 need to communicate with each other, but since the developers of the error processing application 40 and the other application 50 are the same company or related to each other, they can communicate with each other relatively easily. ..
-Error handling application 40
The error processing application 40 includes an error screen acquisition unit 41, an error notification receiving unit 42, an error screen display unit 43, a priority determination unit 44, and an application communication unit 45. These functions of the error processing application 40 are such that any of the components shown in FIG. 3 operates according to an instruction from the CPU 21 according to the error processing application 40 expanded from the flash memory 24 to the RAM 23. It is a function or means to be realized. The error handling application 40 is distributed from a server for program distribution or in a state of being stored in a storage medium.

The error notification receiving unit 42 receives the error notification transmitted from the main body 10. The error notification receiving unit 42 sends an error notification to the error screen acquisition unit 41 and the priority determination unit 44.

The error screen acquisition unit 41 acquires the screen data of the error screen from the main body 10. First, when the operation unit 20 is started for the first time, static screen data is acquired from the main body 10, and when an error notification is received, dynamic screen data corresponding to the error notification is acquired from the main body 10. The error screen acquisition unit 41 sends static screen data and dynamic screen data to the error screen display unit 43.

The priority determination unit 44 determines whether or not the error priority included in the error notification is equal to or higher than the threshold value. If it is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the error screen display unit 43 displays the error screen. If it is less than the threshold value, the application communication unit 45 is notified to the other application 50 that an error has occurred.

The application communication unit 45 communicates with the other application 50. Since the OS (Operating System) is operating in the operation unit 20, communication is performed via the OS as necessary. First, the other application 50 is notified that an error has occurred, and an error screen display request is received from the other application 50. When the error screen display request is received, the error screen display unit 43 displays the error screen.

The error screen display unit 43 displays the error screen on the operation panel 27 by using the static error screen image data and the dynamic error screen screen data associated with the error type.

・ Other apps 50
The other application 50 has a communication unit 46 and a timing determination unit 47. These functions of the other application 50 are realized by operating any of the components shown in FIG. 3 by a command from the CPU 21 according to the other application 50 expanded from the flash memory 24 to the RAM 23. Function or means. The other application 50 is distributed from a server for program distribution or in a state of being stored in a storage medium.

The communication unit 46 communicates with the error processing application 40. First, the fact that an error has occurred is received from the other application 50, and an error screen display request is transmitted to the error processing application 40. The timing determination unit 47 determines whether or not it is the timing to display the error screen. As described above, this timing is convenient for displaying the error screen for the other application 50.

<About error notification>
FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram illustrating information included in the error notification. As mentioned above, the error notification includes the error priority and the error type. In FIG. 5, there are "emergency" and "normal" as error priorities. "Emergency" corresponds to high priority and "normal" corresponds to low priority.

The error type indicates what kind of error occurred. "Service_call" indicates a service call. Service calls are numbered by type. "Jam" indicates a paper jam or a document jam, "cover_open" indicates that the cover is open, and "stapl_end" indicates that the remaining amount of staples is zero.

<Operation procedure>
FIG. 6 is an example of a sequence diagram showing a procedure in which the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment displays an error screen.

S1: The error processing application 40 operated by the operation unit 20 acquires static screen data necessary for displaying an error screen from the main body 10 at the first startup. Static screen data may be acquired from the network or read from a portable storage medium.

S2: It is assumed that the condition monitoring unit 34 of the main body 10 detects an error based on the service call or the device monitoring data.

S2.1: When an error is detected, the error priority determination unit 35 determines the error priority by referring to the table in Table 1, and the error notification unit 36 sends an error notification including the error priority and the error type to the operation unit. It is transmitted to the error processing application 40 of 20.

S2.1.1: Since the error notification receiving unit 42 of the error processing application 40 receives the error notification from the main body 10 and sends the error notification to the error screen acquisition unit 41, the error screen acquisition unit 41 causes the error type for the main body 10. To request the dynamic screen data required to display the error screen. As a result, the error screen acquisition unit 41 acquires dynamic screen data.

S2.1.2: The error screen display unit 43 builds an error screen by combining static screen data and dynamic screen data. Construction means to generate the image data of the error screen, and the error screen is not displayed yet.

The error processing application 40 of the operation unit 20 controls the display timing according to the notified error priority.

S2.1.3: First, when the error priority is "emergency", the priority determination unit 44 causes the error screen display unit 43 to immediately display the error screen.

S2.1.4: When the error priority is "normal", the priority determination unit 44 notifies the other application 50 displaying the screen on the operation panel 27 that an error has occurred via the application communication unit 45. do. When there is no other application 50 displaying the screen on the operation panel 27, the priority determination unit 44 may immediately display the error screen on the error screen display unit 43 even if the error priority is "normal". As a result, if the other application 50 is not displaying the screen, an error can be notified immediately. The presence / absence of the other application 50 displaying the screen, the name of the other application 50 displaying the screen, etc. are managed by the OS, and the priority determination unit 44 displays the screen on the operation panel 27 by inquiring to the OS. It is possible to determine whether or not there is another application 50.

S3: The communication unit 46 of the other application 50 displaying the screen on the operation panel 27 receives the fact that an error has occurred, and whether or not the timing is convenient for the timing determination unit 47 to display the error screen. to decide.

S3.1: When it is determined that the timing is convenient for displaying the error screen, the communication unit 46 sends an error screen display request to the error processing application 40. One example of a convenient timing for displaying an error screen is, for example, a timing when a user tries to use a function related to an error by operating the operation unit 20. This allows the user to be notified of an error when it must be resolved.
-If the error is a paper jam, the timing when the user sets the copy or printer or starts executing these jobs (presses the start button).-If the error is a document jam, the timing when the scan setting is made, copy. If the timing error when the settings are made or when the execution of these jobs is started (start button is pressed) and the remaining amount of staples is zero, the timing when the user sets the staples or the staples are used. Timing of starting job execution (pressing the start button) In such a timing determination method, it can be said that the error notification timing is determined based on the usage status of the application operated by the operation unit 20.

Another example of a convenient timing for displaying the error screen is a timing at which the user has not operated the other application 50 for a predetermined time or longer. This allows users to be notified of errors when they do not use the screen immediately. Another example of a convenient timing for displaying the error screen is the timing when the user terminates the other application 50. As a result, an error can be notified when the screen of the other application 50 is no longer needed.

S3.1.1: When the application communication unit 45 of the error processing application 40 receives the error screen display request, the error screen display unit 43 displays the error screen. As a result, the error screen display unit 43 displays the error screen.

<Judgment processing of priority judgment unit>
FIG. 7 is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure in which the priority determination unit 44 switches the display timing of the error screen according to the error priority. The process of FIG. 7 is executed after step S2.1.2 of FIG.

The priority determination unit 44 determines whether or not there is another application 50 displaying the screen (S10). If the determination in step S10 is No, the process proceeds to step S30 because it is difficult to hinder the user's operation even if the error screen is displayed immediately.

If the determination in step S10 is Yes, the priority determination unit 44 determines whether or not the error priority is "emergency" (S20). If the determination in step S20 is Yes, the priority determination unit 44 determines that the error screen is immediately displayed (S30).

If the determination in step S20 is No, the timing determination unit 47 determines a timing that is convenient for the other application 50 to display the error screen (S40).

<Example of error screen>
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an error screen. In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the paper sensor detects a paper jam. In FIG. 8A, the image corresponding to the message 401 "Please open the right cover" is displayed. The user reads the message and opens the right cover.

In FIG. 8B, the image corresponding to the message 402 "Please remove the jammed paper" is displayed. The paper removed here is the paper at the location of the paper jam detected by the paper sensor. The user removes the paper.

In FIG. 8 (c), the image corresponding to the message 403 "Please close the right cover securely" is displayed. The user closes the right cover.

Such an error screen hides the screen of the other application 50, but in the present embodiment, the error screen is displayed at a timing convenient for displaying the error screen for the other application 50, so that the error screen is displayed at an appropriate timing for the user. An error screen can be displayed.

<When there are three error priorities>
In the above embodiment, two cases where the error priority is "emergency" and "normal" have been described, but there may be a case where there are three error priorities such as "emergency", "normal", and "low". The processing in this case will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure in which the priority determination unit 44 switches the display timing of the error screen according to the error priority (when the error priority is three).

The processing of steps S10 to S30 may be the same as in FIG. 7. When No is determined in step S20 and the error priority is "normal" or "low", the timing determination unit 47 of the other application 50 determines the display timing, "low", in the case of the predetermined "normal". It is determined that the error screen is displayed at the display timing of the case (S42).

Regarding the timing when the user tries to use the function related to the error by the operation of the operation unit 20, "normal" and "low" may be the same. The predetermined display timings of "normal" and "low" are, for example, the timings at which the buttons associated with each other are pressed on the screen of the other application 50. By associating "normal" with a button that is used more often than "low", the display timing in the case of "normal" can be made earlier than the display timing in the case of "low".

Further, the display timing may be changed depending on the non-operation time. The display timing in the case of "normal" is, for example, the timing in which the user operation is continued for a predetermined time I or more, the timing is interrupted, and the display timing in the case of "low" is, for example, the user operation is continued for a predetermined time II (>). The timing is interrupted for a predetermined time I) or more. By doing so, the display timing in the case of "normal" can be made earlier than the display timing in the case of "low".

<Hardware configuration when the operation unit is removable from the main unit>
The operation unit 20 does not need to be fixed to the main body 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. In the description of FIG. 10, the difference from FIG. 3 will be mainly described. In the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 10, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 include wireless communication I / Fs 19 and 29.

The wireless communication I / F 19 is a communication device (communication module, communication unit, communication chip, etc.) for communicating with the operation unit 20 mainly by wireless communication. Communication standards include, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), wireless LAN ad hoc mode, Wi-Fi direct, and NFS (Near Field). Communication), RFID, etc. Alternatively, wireless communication of a proprietary standard may be used.

With the wireless communication I / Fs 19 and 29, the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 can communicate with each other regardless of whether they are wired communication or wireless communication. For example, when the operation unit 20 is attached to the main body 10, it communicates by wire and charges, and when the operation unit 20 is not attached to the main body 10, it communicates wirelessly.

As described above, the operation unit 20 and the main body 10 may be separate devices, and may be fixed or detachable. The separate devices mean, for example, that they operate on different OSs, that the housings are separated, that they are executed by different CPUs, and the like.

<Summary>
As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment can display an error screen at a timing convenient for other applications. In addition, since the user needs to resolve the error when using the function in which the error has occurred, the error screen can be displayed at a timing convenient for the user who uses other applications. On the other hand, if the error priority is high, the error screen can be displayed immediately.

<Other application examples>
The operation unit 20 is not limited to the information processing device that can be attached to and detached from the multifunction device, and may be a general-purpose information processing device that is sold independently of the multifunction device. For example, a tablet, a smartphone, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like may be used. An image forming apparatus 100, an electronic blackboard, a projector, a video conference terminal, or the like of the present embodiment, a device in which the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 communicate with each other and the operation unit 20 displays a screen, and general-purpose information independent of the device. The processing device is an example of an error notification system.

The device of the main body 10 may be a device that can be remotely controlled and notifies an error to the remote-controlled operation unit 20 when a trouble occurs. For example, it can be applied to a video conference terminal, an electronic blackboard, a projector, and the like. It can also be applied to, for example, surveillance cameras and home appliances that can be operated from smartphones.

Further, the configuration example shown in FIG. 4 is divided according to the main functions in order to facilitate understanding of the processing by the main body 10 and the operation unit 20. The present invention is not limited by the method of dividing the processing unit or the name. The processing of the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 can be further divided into more processing units according to the processing content. Further, one processing unit can be divided so as to include more processing.

The status monitoring unit 34 is an example of error detection means, the error priority determination unit 35 is an example of priority determination means, the error notification unit 36 is an example of transmission means, and the error notification reception unit 42 receives. The timing determination unit 47 is an example of timing determination means, the error screen display unit 43 is an example of error notification means, the error processing application 40 is an example of a first application, and the other application 50 is an example of means. Is an example of the second app.

10 Main unit 20 Operation unit 40 Error handling application 50 Other applications 100 Image forming device

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-73632

Claims (11)

Error detection means for detecting errors that occur in the main unit,
A priority determining means for determining the priority of the error detected by the error detecting means, and a priority determining means.
A main unit having a transmission means for transmitting the priority of the error to the operation unit device, and
A receiving means for receiving the priority of the error from the main body device, and
When the priority of the error is less than the threshold value, the timing determining means for determining the notification timing of the error and the timing determining means.
An error notification means for notifying the error at the error notification timing determined by the timing determination means, and an error notification means.
It has a touch panel that accepts operations on the operation unit device, and has.
The error notification means includes an operation unit device that notifies the error at the timing when the touch panel accepts the use of the function in which the error has occurred from the user .
Error notification system with. The error notification system according to claim 1, wherein the timing determination means determines the error notification timing based on the usage status of the application operating in the operation unit device. The operation unit device has a priority determination means for determining whether or not the priority of the error is equal to or higher than a threshold value.
When the priority determining means determines that the priority of the error is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the priority determining means immediately notifies the error without causing the timing determining means to determine the notification timing of the error. The error notification system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the error notification system is to be used. The error notification means notifies an error by displaying an error screen.
When the application executed by the operation unit device is displaying the screen, the timing determination means determines the error notification timing.
When the application executed by the operation unit device does not display the screen, even if the priority of the error is less than the threshold value, the priority determining means determines the error notification timing to the timing determining means. The error notification system according to claim 3, wherein the error is immediately notified without causing the error. The error notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the timing determining means determines the timing at which the function in which the error has occurred is used as the error notification timing. The receiving means is a function of the first application that performs an error notification executed by the operation unit device.
The timing determination means is a function of the second application executed by the operation unit device.
When the first application notifies the second application that the error has been detected,
The error notification system according to claim 5, wherein the timing determination means determines the notification timing of the error. The error notification means is a function of the first application that performs error notification executed by the operation unit device.
The timing determination means is a function of the second application executed by the operation unit device.
When the first application is notified that it is time to notify the error of the second application,
The error notification system according to claim 6, wherein the error notification means notifies the error at the notification timing of the error determined by the timing determination means. A receiving means that receives error priority from the main unit, and
When the priority of the error is less than the threshold value, the timing determining means for determining the notification timing of the error and the timing determining means.
An error notification means for notifying the error at the error notification timing determined by the timing determination means, and an error notification means.
It has a touch panel that accepts operations on the operation unit and
The error notification means is a main body device that communicates with an operation unit device that notifies the error at the timing when the touch panel accepts the use of the function in which the error has occurred from the user .
Error detection means for detecting the error that occurred in the main unit, and
A priority determining means for determining the priority of the error detected by the error detecting means, and a priority determining means.
A main unit having a transmission means for transmitting the priority of the error to the operation unit device. An operation unit that communicates with the main unit,
A receiving means for receiving the priority of an error that has occurred in the main body device from the main body device, and
When the priority of the error is less than the threshold value, the timing determining means for determining the notification timing of the error and the timing determining means.
An error notification means for notifying the error at the error notification timing determined by the timing determination means, and an error notification means.
It has a touch panel that accepts operations on the operation unit and
The error notification means is an operation unit device that notifies the error at the timing when the touch panel accepts the use of the function in which the error has occurred from the user . The step in which the main unit detects an error that has occurred in the main unit,
A step of determining the priority of the error detected in the step of detecting the error, and a step of determining the priority of the error.
It has a step of transmitting the priority of the error to the operation unit device, and has.
The step in which the operation unit device receives the priority of the error from the main body device, and
When the priority of the error is less than the threshold value, the step of determining the notification timing of the error and
It has a step of notifying the error at the error notification timing determined in the step of determining the error notification timing.
The operation unit device has a touch panel that receives an operation on the operation unit device.
In the step of notifying the error, an error notification method for notifying the error at the timing when the touch panel accepts the use of the function in which the error has occurred from the user . Error detection means for detecting errors that occur in the main unit,
A priority determining means for determining the priority of the error detected by the error detecting means, and a priority determining means.
An operation unit device that communicates with a main body device having a transmission means for transmitting the priority of the error to the operation unit device.
A receiving means for receiving the priority of the error from the main body device, and
When the priority of the error is less than the threshold value, the timing determining means for determining the notification timing of the error and the timing determining means.
It is made to function as an error notification means for notifying the error at the notification timing of the error determined by the timing determination means.
The operation unit device has a touch panel that receives an operation on the operation unit device.
The error notification means is a program for notifying the error at the timing when the touch panel accepts the use of the function in which the error has occurred from the user .

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