JP3355468B2 - Copier management system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a copier management system, and more particularly to a copier management system for managing a copier connected to a host computer via a line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine, a program function for storing data relating to setting conditions of a copying function such as a scaling factor and a margin shift in a memory, and retrieving data relating to setting conditions designated by a predetermined selection key. Is provided.

[0003]

However, if many copying functions are to be set for convenience, a large memory for storing them is required. For this reason, if a memory having an economically allowable capacity is used, data relating to the setting conditions stored in the memory is mainly used frequently. However, in some cases, although the frequency of use is low, storing the data relating to the setting conditions in the memory can prevent the operability from being significantly reduced. For example, a full-color copying machine has an automatic adjustment function for adjusting the color balance. General adjustments are possible with automatic adjustment, but the sense of color varies slightly from person to person. Also, fine adjustment of the color balance is required depending on the type of the document. For this reason, in order to match the type of original and the sense of each person, it is necessary to have a professional service person adjust the color balance. Considering such a situation, it is possible to further improve the workability by preparing several types of setting conditions and specifying the setting conditions that match the operator's feeling before copying to adjust the color balance. it can. However, under the situation where the memory capacity is limited, it is difficult at present to set color balance adjustment or the like that is infrequently used and requires a large amount of memory area.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is that a copier management system capable of executing a large number of copying functions as needed without using a large-capacity memory. It is to provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a copier management system for managing a copier connected to a host computer via a line, comprising: And an additional function setting memory for temporarily storing data relating to additional setting conditions of the copying function transmitted from the host computer, and data for the additional setting conditions provided to the copying machine and transmitted to the host via a line. A setting condition requesting means for requesting the computer, a database provided in the host computer and storing data relating to additional setting conditions, and a database provided in the host computer and corresponding to the request from the setting condition requesting means. Setting condition searching means for searching for data relating to additional setting conditions to be set, and a request from the setting condition requesting means A communication means for communicating with the host computer via the setting computer and data relating to the additional setting conditions retrieved by the setting condition retrieval means to the copying machine. You.

Further, according to the present invention, the copying machine includes a function setting memory having a first area in which predetermined setting conditions are stored in advance and a second area in which additional setting can be stored. A copier management system is provided in which the function setting memory is set in the second area of the function setting memory.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a copier management system constructed according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier management system configured according to the present invention. The copying machine management system includes a copying machine 2 and a host computer 6 connected to the copying machine 2 via a public line 4. As shown, the copier management system includes a host computer 6.
Is configured to manage a plurality of copying machines 2, 2.

The copying machine 2 includes an exposure unit for reading the original, an image forming unit for forming the original read by the exposure unit into a toner image, and a transfer of the toner image formed by the image formation unit onto a transfer sheet. Transfer means provided in the transfer area, a paper feeding means for supplying transfer paper to the transfer area, a fixing means for heating and fixing the toner image transferred to the transfer paper in the transfer area, and the like. . The copying machine 2 includes a control unit 20 shown in FIG. Control unit 2
Reference numeral 0 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes arithmetic processing according to a control program, a read-only memory (ROM) that stores a control program and the like, a readable and writable random access memory (RAM) that stores arithmetic results, and the like. It is constituted by a microcomputer including an interface and the like. The control unit 20 is connected to a function setting memory 21 for storing data relating to setting conditions of the copying function. The function setting memory 21 is configured by a random access memory (RAM) that is readable and writable in the illustrated embodiment, and relates to predetermined setting conditions that are frequently used, such as a scaling factor and a margin shift, as shown in FIG. Data (1) (2) (3)
Are stored in advance in a first area 211 and a second area 212 in which additional storage is possible. The second area 212 of the function setting memory 21 in this embodiment functions as an additional function setting memory for temporarily storing data relating to the setting conditions of the copying function transmitted from the host computer. An operation panel 22 is connected to the control unit 20. The operation panel 22 is provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body, and includes a setting unit 221 such as an input key and a display unit 222 constituted by a liquid crystal display element or an LED. The control unit 20 is further connected to the public line 4 via a network control unit (NCU) 23 and a modem 24.

The host computer 6 is installed at a service center or the like, and as shown in FIG. 4, executes a central processing unit (CP) which executes arithmetic processing according to a control program.
U) 61, a read-only memory (ROM) 62 for storing control programs and the like, a readable and writable random access memory (RAM) 63 for storing calculation results and the like, and an input / output interface (I / F) 64. The central processing unit (CPU) 61 has a CRT as a display means.
65, an input keyboard 66, a storage device 67 as a database, and the like are also connected. Storage device 67
Is constituted by, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), and as shown in FIG. 5, data (4) and (5) relating to additional setting conditions of the copying function for each model of the copying machine 2.
(6) (7) (8) are stored and a database is constructed. The data related to the additional setting conditions stored in the storage device 67 is other than the data (1), (2), and (3) related to the high predetermined setting conditions stored in the function setting memory 21 provided in the copying machine 2. For example, it is data that requires a relatively large storage capacity such as color balance adjustment or data that is used relatively infrequently. The input / output interface (I / F) is connected to a public line 4 via a communication modem 68.
It is connected to the.

The copier management system according to the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

Copying Machine First, the operation of the copying machine 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power of the copying machine 2 is turned on and it is confirmed that, for example, an additional function setting key of the setting means 221 provided on the operation panel 22 is turned on (step S1).
The control unit 20 of the copying machine 2 proceeds to step S2 to start communication with the host computer 6 through the public line 4 via the network control unit (NCU) 23 and the modem 24, and is stored in the storage device 67 for the host computer 6. A request is made for a data menu relating to the additional setting conditions that have been set (step S3). Then, the control unit 20 displays a data menu on the additional setting condition transmitted from the host computer 6 on the display unit 222 (Step S3). When a menu of data relating to the additional setting condition is displayed on the display unit 222 of the copying machine 2, the operator can set the desired additional setting data No. Is designated by, for example, the ten keys of the setting unit 221. The control unit 20 sets the additional setting data No. Is confirmed (step S5), the data No. relating to the additional setting condition designated for the host computer 6 is read. Request data.
Then, the data regarding the additional setting condition transmitted from the host computer 6 is downloaded to the second area 212 of the function setting memory 21 and is temporarily stored. As described above, by temporarily storing the data regarding the additional setting condition in the second area 212 of the function setting memory 21, the copying machine 2 functions as a copying machine temporarily including the stored data regarding the additional setting condition. The function setting memory 2
The data relating to the additional setting conditions downloaded and temporarily stored in the first second area 212 are cleared at the end of the copying operation, for example, by specifying a clear key, or when the power is turned on in the next copying operation and the initial setting is performed. It is supposed to be.

Host Computer The host computer 6 operates according to each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. When the central processing unit (CPU) 61 of the host computer 6 confirms the arrival of the transmission signal from the copying machine 2 (step P1), it confirms the model of the transmitted copying machine 2 (step P2). Then, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 proceeds to step P3, and checks whether or not a menu of data relating to additional setting conditions has been requested from the copying machine 2. If the menu of the additional setting data is requested in step P3, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 proceeds to step P4 and transmits the menu of the additional setting data to the copying machine 2. Then, in step P5, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 checks whether data relating to the additional setting conditions has been requested, and if the data relating to the additional setting conditions has been requested, the storage device 67 serving as a data database. The requested No. Search for additional setting data (step P
6). Then, the central processing unit (CPU) 61 transmits the additional setting data retrieved from the storage device 67 to the copying machine 2 that has requested (step P7).

[0014]

In the copier management system according to the present invention, when it is desired to add a desired function in the copier, the copier communicates with the host computer to request data relating to the desired additional setting conditions. The computer searches the database for data relating to the relevant setting conditions, and transmits the data relating to the setting conditions to the copying machine that has requested the data. The copier temporarily downloads the data regarding the additional setting conditions transmitted from the host computer to the additional function setting memory. Therefore, by providing a memory having a capacity for storing data relating to one additional setting condition, data relating to an additional setting condition necessary when a desired function is to be added can be immediately obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the copier has a first area in which predetermined setting conditions are stored in advance and a second area in which additional setting can be stored.
And a function setting memory having an area of
Is configured to function as an additional function setting memory for storing data relating to the additional setting conditions, so that the capacity of the function setting memory is increased by the amount of storing the data relating to one additional setting condition. It is possible to immediately obtain data on additional setting conditions necessary when adding a desired function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a copier management system configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a copier constituting the copier management system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a function setting memory provided in the copying machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a host computer constituting the copier management system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a storage device as a database provided in the host computer shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the host computer shown in FIG. 4;

[Description of Signs] 2: Copier 4: Public line 6: Host computer 2: Control unit 21: Additional program memory 22: Operation panel 23: Network control unit (NCU) 24: Modem 61: Central processing unit (CPU) 62 : Read only memory (ROM) 63: Random access memory 64: Input / output interface (I / F) 65: Display means 66: Keyboard for input 67: Storage device as database 68: Modem

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI H04M 11/00 303 H04N 1/32 Z H04N 1/32 H04L 11/00 310D (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , (DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 G03G 15/00 303 G03G 15/36 G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 21/02-21/04 G03G 21/14

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A copying machine management system for managing a copying machine connected to a host computer via a line, wherein the data is provided in the copying machine and is transmitted from the host computer and relates to additional setting conditions of a copying function. An additional function setting memory which is provided in the copying machine and which requests the host computer via the line for the data relating to the additional setting condition; and an additional setting condition provided in the host computer. And a setting condition search means provided in the host computer for searching for data relating to the relevant additional setting condition from the database based on a request from the setting condition request means; and a setting condition requesting means. From the host computer via a line, and Copier management system characterized by comprising: a communication means for communicating to the copier data regarding the searched additionally set condition by means. 2. The copying machine according to claim 1, further comprising a function setting memory having a first area in which predetermined setting conditions are stored in advance and a second area capable of additionally storing a predetermined setting condition. 2. The copier management system according to claim 1, wherein said copier management system is set in said second area.