Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus manages a plurality of external apparatuses while collecting information regarding each external apparatus through a network using a communication condition acquired through the network. A managed object specifying part specifies managed object apparatuses that are managed by the image forming apparatus through a communication part. An apparatus correspondence communication condition acquiring part receives via the communication part information regarding communication condition corresponding to the managed object apparatuses specified by the managed object specifying part, and stores in a memory part the received information by relating to identification information of the managed object apparatuses. An apparatus monitoring part refers to the communication conditions stored in the memory part on an individual managed object apparatus basis so as to acquire state information via the communication part, and stores the acquired state information in the memory part. An information providing part provides to external apparatuses through the communication part the state information of each managed object apparatus stored in the memory part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to image forming apparatuses and, more particularly, to an image forming apparatus such as a copy machine provided with a function to manage external apparatuses.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a so-called complex copy machine, which is provided with a facsimile function, has prevailed in image forming apparatuses such as a copy machine. A facsimile-function-added copy machine is naturally provided with a communication circuit connected to an external line. If an image forming apparatus is provided with a function to manage a plurality of external apparatuses, it is convenient since the state of the external apparatuses can be unitarily managed through communication between the image forming apparatus and a central station.

However, since a protocol for transmission and reception of information may be different among external apparatuses to be managed, the image forming apparatus, which manages the external apparatuses, must be provided with a function to correspond to a plurality of protocols or communication conditions of the external apparatuses to be managed.

However, in order to switch a protocol for each external apparatus, a plurality of protocols corresponding to all of the external apparatuses must be provided in one image forming apparatus, which manages the external apparatuses so as to switch to one of the protocols corresponding to one of the external apparatuses to communicate with. Such a function requires a complex structure of a communication means. Additionally, such a function requires a large memory capacity, which is inconvenient for an image forming apparatus having a limited memory capacity.

Moreover, when making an image forming apparatus manage a plurality of external apparatuses, it is necessary to have the image forming apparatus store beforehand information regarding the managed object apparatuses, which are to be managed by the image forming apparatus. Thus, it is necessary to give a consideration so that a setup for such a storing procedure can be easily performed.

Additionally, it is necessary to consider how to check the status information of each of the external apparatuses, which are to be managed by the image forming apparatus. Further, when reviewing the state information through an external apparatus or setting a function to an external apparatus, communication must be performed with the image forming apparatus as a managing apparatus, and, therefore, the image forming apparatus must change a communication condition or a protocol each time communicating with a different external apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful image forming apparatus in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can manage a plurality of external apparatuses connected through a network while collecting information regarding each external apparatus through the network using a communication condition acquired through the network.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to the present invention an image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means; input means which directs operations to the image forming means; display means which performs a display according to operations of the input means; memory means which stores image data required for the operation of the image forming means; communication means which communicates with external apparatuses; and control means which controls operations of the aforementioned means, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises; managed object specifying means which specifies managed object apparatuses that are managed by the image forming apparatus through the communication means; apparatus correspondence communication condition acquiring means which receives via the communication means information regarding communication condition corresponding to the managed object apparatuses which the managed object specifying means specified, and stores in the memory means the received information regarding communication condition by relating to identification information of the managed object apparatuses; apparatus monitoring means which refers to the communication conditions stored in the memory means on an individual managed object apparatus basis so as to acquire state information via the communication means on individual managed object apparatus basis, and stores the acquired state information in the memory means; and information providing means which provides to external apparatuses through the communication means the state information of each managed object apparatus stored in the memory means.

According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus can manage a plurality of external apparatuses connected through the network while collecting information regarding each external apparatus through the network using a communication condition acquired through the network.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the managed object specifying means may comprise a managed object limiting part which selects the managed object apparatuses from among apparatuses communicable through the communication means. Additionally, the managed object specifying means may select the managed object apparatuses prior to acquire discrimination information from the external apparatuses communicable through the communication means.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may further comprise scanner means which scans character images on a medium and character recognition means which converts the character image read by the scanner means into character data, wherein the managed object limiting part acquires data of the discrimination information, which corresponds to apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses, recorded on the medium by the scanner means and the character recognition means, and stores the data of the discrimination information in the memory means as information for specifying the managed object apparatuses.

The managed object limiting part may have an external file acquiring function to acquire an external file in which the discrimination information of apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses is stored, and the managed object limiting part reads the data of the discrimination information from the external file and stores the data of the discrimination information in the memory means as information for specifying the managed object apparatuses.

The managed object limiting part may select apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses after acquiring the discrimination information from the apparatuses communicable through the communication part. Alternatively, the managed object limiting apparatus may select the apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses in accordance with managed object apparatus individually selecting operation applied from the input means after acquiring the discrimination information from the apparatuses communicable through the communication part, and stores the data of the discrimination information in the memory means as information for specifying the managed object apparatuses.

The managed object limiting apparatus may cause the display means to display the discrimination information of the apparatuses communicable through the communication part after acquiring the discrimination information from the apparatuses communicable through the communication part, and, thereafter, selects the apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses in accordance with managed object apparatus individually selecting operation applied from the input means and stores the data of the discrimination information in the memory means as information for specifying the managed object apparatuses.

The managed object limiting part may acquire the discrimination information from the apparatuses communicable through the communication part and stores the acquired discrimination information in the memory means, the managed object limiting part generating a list of kinds of elements contained in the acquired discrimination information on an individual item basis and displaying the list on the display means, and upon receipt of selection from the input means of kinds in the list displayed on the display part, the managed object limiting part stores the discrimination information containing the selected kinds in the memory means as the apparatus to be set as the managed object apparatuses.

The managed object limiting part may display the discrimination information containing the elected kinds on the display means before storing the discrimination information in the memory means as the discrimination information of the apparatus to be set as the managed object apparatuses, and receives from the input means a confirmation input as to whether or not the apparatuses corresponding to the displayed discrimination information are appropriate for the managed object apparatuses.

Additionally, the discrimination information of the apparatuses may include information regarding manufacture's names of the apparatuses. The discrimination information of the apparatuses may include information regarding models of the apparatuses.

The managed object limiting part may use Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) when acquiring the discrimination information from the apparatuses; and the discrimination information is constituted by items of Management Information Base (MIB).

The managed object limiting part may use Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) when acquiring the discrimination information from the apparatuses, and the discrimination information is constituted by items of Management Information Base (MIB).

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may further comprise remote start means for starting an operation of the managed object specifying means when receiving a start command of the managed object specifying means from the external apparatuses through the communication means.

In the image forming apparatuses according to the present invention, a request to a canter apparatus which manages the image forming apparatus and reception from the center apparatus may be performed according to Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will now be given, with reference toFIG. 1, of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus C according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus C shown inFIG. 1is connected to external apparatuses K, CE and PC via a local area network (LAN), and has a function as a managing apparatus which manages the external apparatuses. The LAN is connected to a further large network such as the Internet. Additionally, the image forming apparatus C is also connected to a center apparatus100via the network to which the LAN is connected. Here, K indicates a managed object apparatus which is an object to-be managed by the image forming apparatus C; CE indicates a portable terminal which is connectable to the LAN; and PC indicates a computer which is located at a user's site and connectable to the LAN.

The image forming apparatus C shown inFIG. 1comprises an image forming part1, an input part2which directs operations to the image forming part1, a display part3which performs a display according to operations of the input part2, a memory part4which stores image data required for the operation of the image forming part1, a communication part5which communicates with a plurality of external apparatuses, and a control part6which controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned parts.

The control part6of the image forming apparatus C further comprises a managed object specifying part7, an apparatus correspondence communication condition acquiring part8, an apparatus monitoring part9, and an information providing part11. The managed object specifying part7specifies managed object apparatuses K, which are managed by the image forming apparatus C, through the communication part5. The apparatus correspondence communication condition acquiring part8stores in the memory part4the information regarding communication condition T, which corresponds to the managed object apparatuses K specified by the managed object specifying part7, by relating the information to identification information S of the managed object apparatuses K. The apparatus monitoring part9acquires state information J of each of the managed object apparatuses K through the communication part5by referring to the communication condition T stored in the memory part4, and stores the acquired state information J in the memory part4on an individual managed object apparatus basis. The information providing part11provides to external apparatuses through the communication part5the state information J of each managed object apparatus K stored in the memory part4.

FIG. 2is an illustration of a structure of software, which the control part6performs. In the software performed by the control part6, a plurality of functional processes are concurrently performed based on a multi-task general operating system (OS) such as UNIX®. InFIG. 2, various application processes (NRS, PRINT, COPY, FAX, SCAN), which the control part6performs, are indicated in the uppermost layer. A plurality of service processes (WSC, RCS, ECS, MCS, OCS, FCS, NCS) are provided between the application process and the general OS. The lowermost layer inFIG. 2indicates a hardware structure.

NCS (Network Control Service) functions as the communication part5among the above-mentioned service processes. Additionally, MCS (Memory Control Service) manages read and write operations of the memory part4. Moreover, WCS (Web Control Service) realizes a Web server part18and a Web client part23. Operations of other parts of the control part6are realized by NRS_APL (NRS_Application) of the application process, and RCS (Remote Control Service) of the service process.

The managed object specifying part7of the image forming apparatus C according to the present embodiment is provided with a managed object limiting part12, which determines or select apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses K from among apparatuses that are communicable through the communication part5.

The managed object limiting part12is provided with a function, as one of functions to be achieved by the managed object limiting part12, to discriminate apparatuses, which are set as the managed object apparatuses K, prior to acquire discrimination information of the apparatuses which are communicable through the communication part5, from the apparatuses concerned.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the image forming part1, a scanner part13which reads a character image on a medium and a character recognition part14which converts the character image read by the scanner part13into character data are provided so as to realize the function to select apparatuses to be set as the managed object apparatuses K. The managed object limiting part12acquires the discrimination information S of the apparatuses that are set as the managed object apparatuses K through the scanner part13and the character recognition part (optical character reader: OCR)14. The discrimination information S is printed on a medium and read by the canner part13and converted into data by the character recognition part14. The managed object limiting part12stores the discrimination information S in the memory part4as data for specifying the managed object apparatuses K.

Moreover, the managed object limiting part12is provided with an external file acquisition function15so as to acquire an external file on which the discrimination information S of the apparatuses made into the managed object apparatuses K according to the external file acquisition function15. The managed object limiting part12reads the data of the discrimination information S of the apparatuses from the acquired external file concerned, and is capable of storing the data of the discrimination information S of the apparatuses in the memory part4as the discrimination information S for specifying the managed object apparatuses K. Here, the external file may be acquired from a recording medium on which the external file is recorded by connecting the recording medium to an interface of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, data of the external file may be acquired through the communication part5.

Moreover, the managed object limiting part12is provided with a function to limit the apparatuses that are set as the managed object apparatuses K after acquiring the discrimination information of the apparatuses which are communicable through the communication part5from the apparatuses concerned.

That is, the managed object limiting part12selects the apparatuses set as the managed object apparatuses K according to a managed object apparatus individually selecting operation performed on the input part2, after acquiring the discrimination information of the apparatuses which are communicable through the communication part5from the apparatuses concerned. The managed object limiting part12stores the discrimination information S of the selected apparatuses in the memory part4as discrimination information S for specifying the managed object apparatuses K. The managed object apparatus individually selecting operation is an operation to make a selection by displaying a list of the discrimination information of the apparatuses on the display part3, indicating only the discrimination information of the apparatuses made into the managed object apparatuses K by an operation of the input part2by reversing display, and pressing a determination button.

The managed object limiting part12also has a sorting function16to sort and display the discrimination information of the apparatuses according to items consisting of the discrimination information when causing the display part to display the discrimination information of the apparatuses. The items consisting the discrimination information include type information and manufacturer information of the apparatuses.

Therefore, when causing the display part2to display the discrimination information of the apparatuses, the managed object limiting part12can sort and display the discrimination information for each manufacturer and for each type of apparatuses.

Moreover, the managed object limiting part12is capable of acquiring the discrimination information of the apparatuses, which are communicable through the communication part5, and storing the acquired discrimination information in the memory part4. Then, the managed object limiting part12generates a list of kinds of elements contained in each of the items, which constitute the acquired discernment information. The managed object limiting part12causes the display part3to display the list, and receives from the input part2an instruction of selection of the kind in the list which is displayed by the display part3. Then, the managed object limiting part12stores the discrimination information containing the selected kind in the memory part4as the discrimination information S of the apparatuses, which are set as the managed object apparatuses K.

FIG. 3shows an example of the discrimination information S of the managed object apparatuses and an example of the state information. InFIG. 3, Model/Number, IP address, Media Access Control (MAC) Address, and Manufacturer Name correspond to the discrimination information S of the managed object apparatuses K, and are acquired as MIB information. In the Model/Number, a part followed by a hyphen represents a model number, and there may be a case in which two or more Model/Numbers have the same model number. The number after the hyphen is a serial number, which does not duplicate in the same model. Therefore, the Model/Number can uniquely identify each apparatus. As the state information, an abnormal communication time (abnormality generated time) and a normal communication time (return to normal time) are managed. It can be judged that the apparatus is functioning normally at present when the normal communication time is later than the abnormal communication time. A report day is a date on which a notification of predetermined state information is sent from the image forming apparatus to the center apparatus100.

For example, when there are two each of apparatuses of manufacturers A and B, the two kinds, i.e., manufactures A and B, are displayed on the display part3as elements contained in the item of manufacture information. Then, when the manufacturer A is selected according to the instruction input through the input part2, the two apparatuses of which item of manufacture information indicates the manufacture A are selected as managed object apparatuses.

FIG. 4shows apparatus information required for connecting the image forming apparatus C to the center apparatus100. The apparatus information is also stored in the memory part4, and the telephone number and conditions of telephone calling of the center apparatus100are specified beforehand. In order to connect the image forming apparatus C to the center apparatus100, the connection can be made through a public telephone network or through LAN and the Internet.

The managed object limiting part12causes the display part3to display discrimination information including the selected kind before storing in the memory part4the discrimination information of the apparatuses set as managed objects. Then, the managed object limiting part12receives from the input part2a confirmation input as to whether the apparatuses corresponding to the selected discrimination information are appropriate for the manages objects, and stores the information in the memory part4as the discrimination information S of the managed object apparatuses K.

As mentioned above, the manufacturer information and model information of the apparatuses concerned are included in the items, which constitute the apparatus discrimination information. When acquiring the apparatus discrimination information from the apparatuses concerned, the managed object limiting part12uses a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and the discernment information consists of items of Management Information Base (MIB).

FIG. 5shows an example of information representing communication conditions of each apparatus. The information representing communication condition is also stored in the memory part4. In the information, with respect to the apparatus corresponding to the model information1234, it is specified that a counter value (a number of printing pages) is acquired in the form of MIB by SNMP and alarm information is acquired in the form of XML by HTTP.

The managed object specifying part7having the managed object limiting part12, is activated by an operation to input part2or a remote activation part17. The remote activation part17starts an operation of the managed object specifying part7when receiving a start command for the managed object specifying part7through the communication part5from external apparatuses (portable terminals CE of a customer engineer and/or customer terminals PC).

Here, the method to limit the managed object apparatuses by the managed object limiting part12can be selected previously from among the above-mentioned limiting methods of a plurality of managed objects through an operation to the input part2or a remote operation made by an external apparatus.

In the present embodiment, a request to the center apparatus100and reception of information from the center apparatus100are performed according to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

Moreover, the information providing part11is provided with a Web server part18which provides to an external apparatus the state information J for each managed object apparatus stored in the memory part4through the communication part5.

Moreover, the apparatus monitoring part9acquires the abnormality generated time and the return to normal time as the state information J for each managed object apparatus, and stores the acquired time information in separate memory areas, respectively.

Additionally, the apparatus monitoring part9has an abnormality determining part19which determines that a managed object apparatus having a return to normal time later than an abnormality generated time is currently working in a normal state, and determines that a managed object apparatus having a return to normal time earlier than an abnormality generated time is currently working in an abnormal state. Moreover, the apparatus monitoring part9has a schedule functional part21which acquires the above-mentioned state information periodically at a preset time.

Moreover, the memory part4stores a first acquisition procedure for acquiring state information J from the managed object apparatuses K which should be managed through the communication part5and a second acquisition procedure for acquiring the state information J of the image forming apparatus as one of the managed object apparatuses. Therefore, the apparatus monitoring part9performs the first acquisition procedure when acquiring the state information from the managed object apparatuses K which should be managed through the communication part5, and performs the second acquisition procedure when acquiring the state information of the image forming apparatus itself.

Upon reception of an information providing request through the communication part5from a portable terminal CE of a customer engineer or a customer terminal PC which is an external apparatus, the Web server part18reads the state information J according to the request concerned from the memory part4, and transmits the state information J to the portable terminal CE or the customer terminal PC which made the request.

The control part6is provided with self review part22which reads the state information J from the memory part4according to an operation of the input part2and displays the state information J concerned on the display part3. Moreover, the control part6is provided with a Web client part23which sends a review request of the state information to an external image forming apparatus via the communication part5, and displays the state information received from the external Web server part concerned through the communication part5on the display part3.

Here, inFIG. 1, the image forming part1comprises mechanisms and sensors necessary for performing electro-photographic printing. The input part2is a part which has an input means having a touch key panel or buttons. The display part3is constituted by a liquid crystal display panel or the like. The memory part4includes a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disc drive (HDD), etc. as a memory. The communication part5includes a modem connectable to the center apparatus100through a public telephone network and a protocol interface which communicates with managed object apparatuses through LAN. The control part6comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and an application specification integrated circuit (ASIC). The control part6can carry out parallel processing of the processes for realizing the function of each part contained in the control part6on the multitask general-purpose operating system.

A description will now be given of an operation of the image forming apparatus C according to the present embodiment.

First, the managed object specifying part7is activated by operating the input part2, the portable terminal CE or the customer terminal PC. When the managed object specifying part7is activated, the managed object limiting part12is activated so as to store the identification information S in the memory part4in accordance with a previously selected limiting method of the managed object apparatuses K.

Then, the apparatus correspondence condition acquiring part8is activated so as to send the discrimination information of the managed object apparatuses stored in the memory part4to the center apparatus100through the communication part5.

Upon reception of the discrimination information S regarding the managed object apparatuses, the center apparatus100searches for a communication condition for each apparatus corresponding to the discrimination information concerned, and sends the information regarding the communication condition to the image forming apparatus C.

Upon reception of the information regarding communication condition from the center apparatus100, the apparatus correspondence communication condition acquiring part8relates the communication condition J concerned to the discrimination information S of the corresponding managed object apparatuses, and stores the information in the memory part4.

Then, the apparatus monitoring part9is activated so as to acquire the state information of each managed object apparatus K and the image forming apparatus itself and store the state information in the memory part4.

FIG. 6shows a procedure carried out by the image forming apparatus C to collect logs from one of the managed object apparatuses K. It should be noted that arrows in the figure indicate a flow of commands, requests and data, and numbers represents sequence thereof. When NRS starts log collection according to schedule service of RCS, the managed object apparatus K from which logs should be collected is specified in RCS, and communication conditions corresponding to the apparatuses are identified and a request is sent to the managed object apparatus K in accordance with SOAP. The managed object apparatus K receives the request according to SOAP, and RCS sends to MRS a request of outputting the logs. NRS of the managed object apparatus K sends a command through MCS to read the logs and transfer the logs to RCS. The read log is sent to the image forming apparatus C by NCS. Upon reception of the logs by NCS, the image forming apparatus C causes MCS to store the logs in the memory part4as state information of the managed object apparatus concerned.

Then, when a review request of the state information J is sent to the information providing part11and the request made through the input part2, the self review part22is operated and the requested state information is displayed on the display part3. On the other hand, when the review request is made by the portable terminal CE or the customer terminal PC, the Web server part18is operated and the state information J stored in the memory part4is transmitted to the portable terminal CE or the customer terminal PC which made the request.

Moreover, when it is desirable to receive information provided by an external Web server, the Web client part23is activated so as to review the information provided by the external Web server part by displaying the information on the display part3.

FIG. 7shows a procedure for reviewing through a portable terminal CE state information managed by the image forming apparatus C. It should be noted that, in the figure, arrows indicate a flow of commands, requests and data, and numbers attached to the arrows represents their sequence. When a request is made through HTTP according to a Web client function of the portable terminal, the state information read by MCS is transferred to WCS in the image formation apparatus C, and, then, the state information is sent to the portable terminal CE according to HTTP. Thus, the state information can be reviewed through the Web client part of the portable terminal.

FIG. 8shows a procedure for reviewing information held by the center apparatus through the portable terminal CE. In this case, a request (HTTP) from the portable terminal CE is processed by the image forming apparatus C, and, then, the information providing request (SOAP) is sent from the image forming apparatus C to the center apparatus100. The information provided from the center apparatus100to the image forming apparatus C according to SOAP is transferred from the image forming apparatus C to the portable terminal CE according to HTTP. The thus-provided image can be reviewed through the Web client function of the portable terminal CE.

FIG. 9shows a procedure of sending a notification of an abnormality generated in the managed object apparatus K to the customer terminal PC and the center apparatus100. The state information of the managed object apparatus K is periodically acquired by schedule service of RCS according to SOAP, and is accumulated in the memory part4of the image formation apparatus C by MCS. If abnormality of the managed object apparatus K is detected based on the state information, an abnormality notification function is activated so as to send an abnormality notification to the center apparatus100according to SOAP, and an electronic mail is sent to the customer terminal PC according to SMTP. In the center apparatus100, a predetermined abnormality processing is performed based on the received abnormality notification. In the customer terminal PC, an electronic mail which notifies occurrence of the abnormality can be reviewed through an interface such as the Web client function.

FIG. 10is an example of a screen for reviewing the state information by the portable terminal CE or the customer terminal PC. In the example shown inFIG. 10, the state information is displayed with a model and a serial number to which an installation place of the apparatus, date and time of occurrence of the abnormality and a contact number of a person in charge are related.

FIGS. 11A and 11Bshow examples of a procedure for reviewing the state information. If the discrimination information of the managed object apparatuses is elected as shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, CGI of a Web page may be prepared so that the list of abnormal logs of the selected apparatus is displayed.

According to the present embodiment explained above, the setting of the managed object apparatuses K to the image forming apparatus C can be easily performed according to the function of the managed object specifying part7. Moreover, since the apparatus correspondence communication condition acquiring part8prepares an appropriate communication condition for each managed object apparatus, the state information can be properly acquired from various managed object apparatuses K. Moreover, according to the function of the information providing part11, the state information can be reviewed on the display part3of the image forming apparatus C or through the external terminals CE and PC, and, thereby, the state information of a plurality of apparatuses can be checked without moving. Moreover, a communication line between the image forming apparatus C and the center apparatus100is always maintained due to the managing function of the managed object apparatuses being incorporated into the image forming apparatus C, and there is a small risk of unexpected accident. Thus, a stable management can be achieved.

The present application is based on Japanese priority applications No. 2002-118849 filed Apr. 22, 2002 and No. 2003-109350 filed Apr. 14, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.