JP2007210239A - Network printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the time and procedure for analyzing the obstacle of a printer while enabling an operator without expert knowledge to perform the analysis operation. <P>SOLUTION: The network printer is equipped with a means by which a plurality of same-type printers connected to the same network can recognize each existence mutually, a means by which each printer can exchange various state information and a means for displaying the state information of the printers to the operator. The printer has a function with which a normal printer acquires the state information of the same-type printer which has generated the obstacle and compares it with own state and then displays the difference to the operator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network printer provided with means capable of recognizing each other's existence and exchanging status information between the printers.

  The conventional printer failure analysis method when a failure occurs in the printer has the expertise of the printer after the operator collects information such as various setting values of the printer and various printer logs recorded by the printer. The cause is identified by analyzing the printer status at the time of failure using the log analysis tool.

  If the cause cannot be identified by various setting values or printer logs, an engineer with printer expertise will reconstruct the network settings and print job environment at the time of failure with the operator, and investigate the problem by reproducing the failure. The technique is also performed.

  Conventionally, it is known to compare with a set value stored in the printer at the time of a printer error (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a configuration is known in which when a printer can search for a printer of the same type as itself, the firmware is detected to detect whether the firmware is new or old (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-31146 A

JP 2003-91427 A

  In the failure analysis method described above, the operator must manually obtain various information, and then request an engineer to analyze the failure. Thus, the operator cannot identify the cause of the failure and find solutions or workarounds early. It was. In the case of a failure that cannot be referred to by the operator and occurs depending on the settings inside the printer, the engineer cannot identify the cause with only the operator's acquired information as described above, and the engineer can perform detailed analysis. It was necessary to reproduce the failure in the environment, and it took a lot of time to confirm the failure occurrence status and the reproduction procedure.

  In the case of Patent Document 1, it is conceivable that the comparison judgment in the printer in which the failure has occurred once returns to a normal state or it takes time until self-judgment because restart is necessary.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the time required for the cause analysis of the above-mentioned printer failure, and to identify the cause of the failure without requiring relatively advanced printer knowledge. Find workarounds early.

  In the present invention, a plurality of same-type printers connected to the same network recognize each other, and a normal printer obtains various printer status information for a printer that cannot continue printing due to a failure, The main feature is that the cause of failure is analyzed and the result is displayed to the operator.

  According to the present invention, status information is obtained from a printer of the same type in which a normal printer has caused a printing failure, the status information is compared with its own status information, the cause of the failure is analyzed, and the contents are transmitted to the operator. The display can shorten the analysis time of the cause of the failure, and the operator can examine the countermeasure plan and the avoidance plan without requiring high-level specialized knowledge.

  Means that two printers having this function connected to the same network can recognize each other, means that can obtain printer status information from a printer that cannot continue printing due to a failure, and normal printer that obtains printer status information Compared to the above, it is realized by having means for displaying the cause of the failure or the content of the difference to the operator.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system to which a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. Reference numeral 1 denotes a printer 2 to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied using a print job transmission or a Web browser application. 3 is a print unit that performs printing, 4 is a mutual recognition management unit that performs mutual recognition with other printers of the same type, and 5 is a printer that transmits and receives printer status information, and compares and analyzes results to a Web browser. The printer status information management unit 5 to be displayed is a storage device included in the printer, 7 is a network interface unit, and 8 is a printer equivalent to the printer 2.

  FIG. 2 is an outline of display when the host 2 accesses the printer 2 via the Web, 9 is an overall view of the browser display when accessed using the Web browser, and 10 is a network address for the mutual recognition management unit 4. 11 is a screen for displaying the contents of printer status information of the printer status information management unit 5. It is assumed that the upper host 1, the printer 2, and the printer 8 are connected to the same network.

  Here, in order to perform mutual recognition between the printer 2 and the printer 8, the network address of the printer 8 and the serial number unique to the printer are registered in the mutual recognition management unit 4 of the printer 2 from the mutual recognition registration screen 10 of the Web browser 9. It is in a state. Similarly, by setting the printer 2 in the same manner for the printer 8, it is possible to recognize the existence of each other. In this state, a print job is transmitted from the upper host 1 to the printer 8, and a failure occurs.

  Based on these, the process from acquiring the printer status information of the printer 8 from the printer 2 of FIG. 1 to analyzing and displaying the fault will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 below.

  First, in step 100 of FIG. 3 (abbreviated as S100, and hereinafter the same), the operator confirms an abnormality of the printer 8 displayed on the Web browser of the printer 2. Next, with reference to the mutual recognition registration screen 10 of the Web browser 9 of the printer 2, the selected item of the registered printer 8 is checked, and printer status information acquisition is executed (S 101). The printer 2 inquires the printer status information management unit 5 of the printer 8 to send the printer status information (S102). The printer 8 determines whether it is ready to respond to the inquiry from the printer 2 (S103). If the printer 8 cannot respond in S103, it is displayed on the Web browser 9 of the printer 2 that there is no response from the printer 8 (S109). If the printer 8 can respond in S103, the printer status information management unit 5 of the printer 8 transmits the printer status information and receives it by the printer status information management unit 5 of the printer 2 (S104). The received printer status information is analyzed by the printer status information management unit 5 of the printer 2. Processing for analysis will be described after S110 (S105). The printer 2 reads the analysis result from the storage device 6 that stores the analysis results, and changes the color of the display portion and displays the contents on the printer status information display screen 11 of the Web browser 9 for the setting values with different abnormal parts or states ( S106). In S107, the operator determines whether or not to print the contents displayed on the printer status information display screen 11 of the Web browser 9 of the printer 2, and when the comparison content printing is selected, it is displayed on the printer status information display screen 11 of the Web browser 9. The transmitted content is transmitted to the printing unit 3 for printing (S108).

  Details of the analysis performed in S105 will be described. In step S110, various setting values such as printer paper size settings and network settings that can be set by the operator are compared. If there is a difference between the statuses of the printer 2 and the printer 8, the contents are stored in the storage device 6 (S111). Subsequently, the processing states of various tasks are analyzed, and whether or not tasks unnecessary for printing occupy the memory is compared (S112). If a difference is found between the printer 2 and the printer 8, the contents are stored in the storage device 6 (S113). Further, the usage amount of the memory necessary for processing the page image, the memory necessary for the system, and the memory necessary for the printer description language analysis unit is analyzed (S114), and there is a difference between the states of the printer 2 and the printer 8. If there is, the content is stored in the storage device 6 (S115). Finally, the printer description language information is analyzed (S116), and the time required to create one page of image data, the number of font searches, the number of graphic generations, and the like are compared. If there is, the contents are stored in the storage device 6 (S117).

  According to the present invention, when multiple printers of the same type are connected to the same network, if any failure occurs in one printer, the status of the failed printer is acquired from the same type of printer in which no failure has occurred. By analyzing, the failure analysis time can be shortened, and the operation can be performed by an operator having no specialized knowledge.

  Further, the present invention is configured so that a normal printer acquires and compares data from a faulty printer at a remote location, and further informs the host computer of the contents, so that the initial status is set up inside the faulty printer. It is possible to notify the host at an earlier stage than in the case where the comparison is performed after the activation / reactivation.

  Furthermore, even if there is no person nearby, it is possible to notify the abnormality to a host (operator) located away via the network.

1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system to which a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. It is a conceptual diagram when it accesses using the web browser which is an Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the implementation method of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host host 2 Printer 3 Print part 4 Mutual recognition management part 5 Printer status information management part 6 Storage device 7 Network interface part 8 Printer 9 Web browser 10 Mutual recognition registration screen 11 Printer status information display screen

Claims (1)

A network printer having means for allowing a plurality of same-type printers connected to the same network to recognize each other, means for exchanging various state information between the printers, and means for displaying printer state information to an operator A network printer characterized in that a normal printer obtains the status information of the same-type printer in which a failure has occurred and compares the status information with its own status to display the difference to the operator.

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