JP4429283B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus and a personal computer, and a communication method and a communication program that can cope with the possibility of these thefts .

  With the spread of the Internet and the appearance of various home appliances in accordance with IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), many products are connected to the Internet. Recently, the number of cases in which a virtual store is established in the Internet and electronic commerce is performed is increasing. As a result, customers such as small businesses or individual users can receive maintenance services on an as-needed basis when they need them, without having to conclude a maintenance contract with a maintenance center or an agent in advance. ing. It is also possible to expand the maintenance network on the product sales side and simplify the procedure for maintenance contracts on the purchase side.

  Under such circumstances, it has been proposed to automatically perform ordering processing and electronic payment processing for maintenance parts and the like of a facsimile machine via the Internet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this proposal, the facsimile apparatus is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network). The operation unit of this facsimile machine inputs the credit number and the purchaser's account information specific to the expiration date for the purchaser of the machine to pay for the maintenance parts and maintenance services, selects the dealer, Enter the addressee. In addition, the device status monitoring unit monitors the operating status of the components in use on its own terminal, and if maintenance exceeds the pre-defined tolerance range or the device becomes difficult to use, maintenance that requires repair or replacement is required. A part is extracted as an ordered item and is output to a notification information generation unit. The notification information generation unit has a table that associates the type of device status and the name of information necessary for notification, in addition to the information input from the operation unit and the information obtained from the device status monitoring unit, A device name, a machine number, and an installation date as device information to be notified to the store side are collected and output to an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) client unit. The HTTP client unit converts the information obtained from the notification information generation unit into a format that is sent to the store side, and outputs the obtained information to a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol control unit. . The TCP / IP protocol control unit outputs information obtained from the HTTP client unit to the network control unit according to the TCP / IP protocol, and the network control unit ensures that the information obtained from the TCP / IP protocol control unit reaches the gateway. Data link control is performed. The gateway performs routing control so as to reach the seller according to the information indicating the HTTP server included in the information received from the purchase side facsimile apparatus of the apparatus, and sends the information from the facsimile apparatus on the purchase side of the apparatus to the Internet. It has become.

  The HTTP client unit converts the information obtained from the notification information generation unit into a format that is sent to the store side, and the account information on the purchase side of the device is output to an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encoding unit and sent to the store side. The information on the purchase side of the device is eavesdropped by a third party on the transmission path in the middle of the information delivery, so that it cannot be decrypted even if the information is stolen. It may come to become. In this case, the SSL encoding unit outputs the account information on the purchase side of the concealed device to the HTTP client unit, and the HTTP client unit outputs the obtained information to the TCP / IP protocol control unit.

Further, the store side device corresponding to the facsimile apparatus is configured by an operation unit, a storage unit, a notification information analysis unit, an HTTP server unit, a TCP / IP protocol control unit, and a network control unit, and is connected to a LAN. It may be. This retailer side apparatus receives information sent from the facsimile apparatus on the purchase side of the apparatus from the Internet, and places an order from the purchase side of the apparatus to the HTTP server section via the LAN, network control section and TCP / IP protocol control section. Information is output. In addition, the HTTP server unit outputs information obtained from the TCP / IP protocol control unit to the notification information analysis unit, and the notification information analysis unit analyzes information obtained from the HTTP server unit to display the component information as device information and an order. In order to confirm the validity of the account information on the purchase side of the equipment and device by decomposing it into the account information on the purchase side of the property and device, inquire the bank, credit sales company or other financial institution, and if it is valid, it will be settled If it is invalid, the purchase side is notified. The notification information analysis unit then compares the purchaser's account information with the purchaser's account information and if the purchaser's account information is in stock. If there is not enough in stock, the purchasing department is urged to replenish, and this information is output to the storage unit and the operation unit, and is input in advance before the facsimile machine on the purchase side of the device falls into a difficult state. The buyer-specific account information and the maintenance part model number are notified to a pre-selected dealer, and maintenance part ordering processing and maintenance service settlement processing are performed.
JP 2004-120233 A (paragraphs 0063 to 0069, FIG. 1)

  However, in this conventional proposal, the purchaser of the device only enters into a contract with the dealer and requests maintenance parts and maintenance services. For this reason, there has been a problem that the information on the store side required by the purchase side of the apparatus is insufficient, or new information on the store side is lacking. In addition, since the purchase side of the device only unilaterally signs a contract with a predetermined store, the contract is not necessarily concluded considering the circumstances of the purchase side of the device.

  Furthermore, in this conventional proposal, when a device such as a facsimile device itself or a storage medium such as a hard disk storing a control program in the device is stolen, the fact is not known until the purchaser notices the information. There was a risk that the damage caused by the leak would increase.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a communication program capable of notifying the device itself or a storage medium storing the device control program when the possibility of theft occurs. .

In the present invention, (a) a communication means for communicating with a destination including a specific communication device set in advance using the Internet, and (b) a notification destination in the case where the possibility of theft of the own device occurs is set in advance. Notification destination setting means, (c) connection environment storage means for storing a connection environment with the communication destination each time the communication means communicates with the specific communication device, and (d) the specific communication device. A connection environment comparison unit that compares the connection environment described above with the previous connection environment stored in the connection environment storage unit each time communication is performed with the connection environment comparison unit; communication and notifying means for notifying the notification destination set by the notification destination setting means that the time it is determined that device comprises.

In the present invention , (b) a notification destination setting step for presetting a notification destination when the possibility of theft of the own device occurs, and (b) each time communication is made with a specific communication device via the Internet. A connection environment storage step of storing a connection environment with a communication destination in a predetermined connection environment storage means; and (c) the above-described connection environment every time communication with the specific communication device is performed in the predetermined connection environment storage means. A connection environment comparison step for comparing with the stored previous connection environment, and (d) when it is determined in this connection environment comparison step that the connection environment is different from the previous one, to the notification destination set in the notification destination setting step described above The communication method includes a notification step for notifying that effect.

Further, according to the present invention , (b) a notification destination setting process for presetting a notification destination when the possibility of theft of the device itself occurs as a communication program, and (b) a specific specification via the Internet. A connection environment storing process for storing a connection environment with a communication destination in a predetermined connection environment storing means each time communication is performed with a communication device; and (c) the connection environment described above each time communication is performed with the specific communication device described above. A connection environment comparison process to be compared with the previous connection environment stored in the predetermined connection environment storage means; and (d) the notification destination setting described above when it is determined in this connection environment comparison process that the connection environment is different from the previous one. Notification processing for notifying the notification destination set in the processing is executed.

As described above, according to the present invention, when there is a possibility of theft to a device such as a facsimile device or a storage medium such as a hard disk storing a control program in the device, a notification to that effect is given. Is called. Therefore, damage due to leakage of information from the storage device such as a hard disk in which the device itself or a control program in the device is stored can be minimized.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  <System configuration>

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part of a component handling system for a communication apparatus when the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. In the component handling system 100 of this communication apparatus, a facsimile apparatus 101 which is a target of parts maintenance and supply of consumables is connected to a first LAN 102 provided in an office where the facsimile apparatus 101 is purchased. For example, in addition to the first server 103, one end of the first gateway 104 is connected to the first LAN 102, and connection to other networks is possible. In this embodiment, the other end of the first gateway 104 is connected to the Internet 105.

  On the other hand, a second LAN 106 is disposed in the office of a distributor as a parts management company that manages maintenance of specific parts of the facsimile apparatus 101 and replenishment of parts as consumables. The second LAN 106 is connected to the Internet 105 by a second gateway 107. The second LAN 106 is connected to a facsimile part management apparatus 108 for managing parts of the customer's facsimile apparatus 101 and a second server 109. In this embodiment, the facsimile parts management apparatus 108 is composed of a personal computer. However, a similar apparatus can be constructed by adding an additional function to another communication terminal such as a facsimile apparatus by software or hardware. Can do.

  Also connected to the Internet 105 is a parts management server 111 that receives orders for various maintenance parts and consumables of the facsimile apparatus 101 and manages their delivery. The parts management server 111 communicates with the transportation means 112 such as the delivery company's vehicle to deliver necessary maintenance parts or consumables to the requested facsimile machine 101 or repairs depending on the contract contents. Service personnel are dispatched for this purpose.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the configuration of the facsimile apparatus on the facsimile purchaser side of this embodiment. In addition to the facsimile function unit 120 that performs image transmission / reception, image reading, and printing of received images, the facsimile apparatus 101 includes various circuit components for realizing a component contract as a premise of the present embodiment. Yes. These circuit components will be described next. However, at least some of these circuit components are software by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a ROM (Read Only Memory) as a storage medium storing a control program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a working memory. Can be realized. The facsimile function unit 120 may share some of these circuit components.

  In this embodiment, the operation unit 121 that is also used for the operation of the facsimile function unit 120 includes an agent information storage unit 122 that stores information about a plurality of agents, and a customer information storage unit 123 that stores information about customers. It is connected. In the communication device parts handling system 100, when any of some predetermined specific parts in the facsimile apparatus 101 is broken or near the end of its life, or as the remaining parts as consumables are reduced, When a problem in continuous use occurs, parts are ordered to solve the problem and a service person is dispatched to a preset agent. This request is made in a format in which the facsimile apparatus 101 sends notification information to the facsimile part management apparatus 108 (FIG. 1).

  A notification information generation unit 124 that generates notification information to be transmitted to the facsimile part management apparatus 108 illustrated in FIG. 1 inputs customer information 125 from the customer information storage unit 123, while notification information 127 is required from the apparatus state monitoring unit 126. Is supposed to be entered. Here, the notification required information 127 indicates that the operation of each part is monitored by a sensor (not shown) of the facsimile apparatus 101, and that the operation exceeds an allowable range or that the corresponding maintenance part is difficult to repair or replace. When it becomes necessary, when it is confirmed that there is a possibility that such a problem may occur due to the end of its service life, or when there is a problem in continuous use such as the time for replacement as a consumable item is approaching This is information for notifying the facsimile parts management apparatus 108 shown in FIG. Some consumables, like a toner supply device, have their own sensors and inform the device body that the time for replacement is approaching.

  The customer information storage unit 123 is configured to obtain monitoring information 129 from a communication history storage / monitoring unit 128 that stores and monitors the communication history when various maintenance parts and consumables are ordered. The communication history storage / monitoring unit 128 acquires communication history information 132 from a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol control unit 131. The TCP / IP protocol control unit 131 sends the agency information 133 sent from the facsimile part management apparatus 108 to the agency information storage unit 122 via the Internet 105 shown in FIG. That is, the agent information 133 provided by the facsimile component management apparatus 108 side sequentially passes through the second LAN 106, the Internet 105, the first gateway 104, and the first LAN 102 shown in FIG. Will be updated to the latest information. Thereby, the customer who purchased the facsimile apparatus 101 can grasp the latest information about the agency and the transition of the prices of consumables and maintenance parts without delay.

  The communication history storage / monitoring unit 128 stores the Internet connection environment when the notification information is sent to the facsimile part management apparatus 108 as a communication history, and when the notification information is newly sent. The Internet connection environment is compared with the past history. If the facsimile apparatus 101 is stolen, the installation environment is different, so the Internet connection environment is usually different. When the comparison result is inconsistent, the communication history storage / monitoring unit 128 can send monitoring information 129 to that effect to the facsimile part management apparatus 108 or a predetermined Internet address so as to notify the abnormality. Yes. The e-mail may be transmitted to a predetermined destination.

  Information about an agent that replenishes, repairs, or replaces a specific part is not limited to one agent. For example, the manufacturer selects a plurality of agents (or agent candidate stores) that a plurality of customers wished to select in the past, and sends information about these to the customer side facsimile apparatus through the facsimile part management device 108 of one agent. 101 may be distributed. It is also possible for the customer who purchased the facsimile apparatus 101 to make an agency contract independently and store the information in the agency information storage unit 122.

  The notification information generation unit 124 includes a table (not shown) that represents the status type of each unit in the apparatus and the names of information necessary for notification. Then, in addition to the customer information 125 obtained from the customer information storage unit 123 and the notification required information 127 obtained from the device state monitoring unit 126, the facsimile device 101 as device information to be notified to the facsimile part management device 108 side. The device name, unique machine number and installation date are collected to generate notification information.

  The SSL encoding unit 136 that inputs the notification information 135 is connected to the TPM encryption unit 139. The notification information 137 is concealed by the encryption key 141 by the security chip that constitutes the TPM encryption unit 139. This is a transmission path in the middle of information reaching the facsimile parts management apparatus 108 via the Internet 105, for example, even if the account information of the customer is intercepted by a third party or the information is stolen. This is to prevent decryption. Thus, in the present embodiment, the notification information 137 can be safely notified by the presence of the TPM encryption unit 139. The SSL encoding unit 136 outputs the confidential customer account information to the TCP / IP protocol control unit 131. The TCP / IP protocol control unit 131 outputs the notification information 137 obtained from the SSL encoding unit 136 to the network control unit 138 according to the TCP / IP protocol.

  The network control unit 138 performs data link control so that the notification information 142 obtained from the TCP / IP protocol control unit 131 reaches the first server 103 shown in FIG. The first server 103 performs routing control according to the information received from the facsimile part management apparatus 108 shown in FIG. As a result, the packet transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 101 is transmitted to the Internet 105 from the first gateway 104 shown in FIG. In this way, it is possible to request maintenance management of the facsimile part management apparatus 108 and supply of consumables.

  A user who purchases the facsimile machine 101 and enters into a contract for maintenance of a predetermined specific part or replenishment of a part as a consumable part or dispatch of a service person can pay for the consumable part or the maintenance part. When paying or paying for maintenance services, payment is made with a credit card. The operation unit 121 is used to input user account information such as a credit card number and an expiration date required at this time. In addition, the user can use the agency information stored in the agency information storage unit 122 in advance for maintenance parts such as rollers, pads, heaters, and light sources, and consumables such as paper, toner, and photosensitive drums. When selecting a distributor as a store, the operation unit 121 can be used for selection or a delivery destination of these parts can be input.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of the configuration of the facsimile part management apparatus. The facsimile part management apparatus 108 according to the present embodiment is prepared corresponding to the number of agents, but one of them is representatively described here for the sake of simplicity. The facsimile part management apparatus 108 is composed of a personal computer having a communication function. Of course, other communication devices such as a facsimile machine may be used. The facsimile part management apparatus 108 according to the present embodiment uses a CPU (not shown), a storage medium such as a hard disk storing a control program, and a RAM as a working memory, so that at least a part thereof is realized by software.

  Among these, the network control unit 151 is connected to the second LAN 106 shown in FIG. 1, and receives notification information such as an order sent from the facsimile machine 101 on the customer side from the Internet 105. The notification information 152 received by the network control unit 151 is input to the SSL decryption unit 155 via the TCP / IP protocol control unit 153. The SSL decryption unit 155 is connected to the TPM encryption unit 156. The TPM encryption unit 156 includes an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip with a built-in encryption key. As a result, since the encrypted data is physically separated from the stored hard disk, the possibility that the information sent from the facsimile machine 101 on the customer side is decrypted becomes extremely low.

  The SSL decryption unit 155 decrypts the customer account information acquired from the TCP / IP protocol control unit 153 based on the key information stored in the TPM encryption unit 156. The notification information analysis unit 157 analyzes the decrypted information 158 to decompose it into device information, ordered items, customer account information, and a destination. Then, the disassembled information 158 is stored in the customer information storage unit 159, respectively. Further, the notification information analysis unit 157 also performs a process of confirming the validity of the customer account information after the disassembly. That is, an inquiry is made to a bank, a credit sales company or other financial institution, and if the sent customer account information is valid, it is set as an object of settlement. If it is invalid, this is notified to the facsimile apparatus 101 as a customer.

  The notification information analysis unit 157 also determines whether or not the ordered item is in stock for the ordered quantity when it is customer account information. If there is a necessary stock, information for shipping is sent to the component management server 111 shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the ordered quantity is not in stock, it is urged to replenish goods corresponding to a purchasing department (not shown).

  The notification information analysis unit 157 also sends information indicating these processes to the customer information storage unit 159. The customer information storage unit 159 outputs the processing information 161 to the operation unit 162. The operation unit 162 includes a keyboard (not shown), an input device such as a mouse as a pointing device, and an output device such as a display and a printer for displaying visual information.

  The administrator of the facsimile part management apparatus 108 uses the operation unit 162 to input the features of the agency and the latest information. Information 163 input from the operation unit 162 is stored in the agency information storage unit 164. The facsimile part management apparatus 108 reads out the information 165 from the agency information storage unit 164, for example, periodically and sends it to the facsimile machine 101 on the customer side. Specifically, the information 165 read from the agency information storage unit 164 includes a TCP / IP protocol control unit 153, a network control unit 151, a second LAN 106, a second server 109, a second gateway 107, and The data is sent to the facsimile machine 101 on the customer side via the Internet 105. When a plurality of agents share information and distribute it to each customer, the information is accumulated on, for example, a server (not shown) on the manufacturer side, and then periodically distributed to each facsimile apparatus 101. It may be a thing.

  <System operation example>

  FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing in the agent contract mode for the customer to perform replenishment of parts of the facsimile apparatus and dispatch of a service person in the present embodiment. A customer who purchases or rents the facsimile apparatus 101 can perform agency contract processing not only at the time of purchase or rental but also at any time thereafter. This process is performed by a CPU (not shown) executing a control program stored in a storage medium (not shown) of the facsimile apparatus 101 shown in FIG. The agent contract mode is set by selecting the “device management” item from the menu screen displayed on the display (not shown) provided in the operation unit 121 of the facsimile apparatus 101. This is done by entering a password known only to the administrator in the password entry field displayed at that time.

  When the mode is shifted to the agent contract mode, the display shows an option of “new registration” for the agent, or confirmation of the previously registered contents and registration for change (step S201). When the administrator selects “new registration” (step S202: Y), the CPU (not shown) of the facsimile apparatus 101 reads the agency information from the agency information storage unit 122 and displays the agency list on the display (step S202). S203). At this time, not only the names of the respective agents but also the scope and characteristics of the business performed by these agents may be displayed easily.

  When the administrator selects one agency (step S204: Y), details of the contract contents of the agency are read from the agency information storage unit 122 and displayed on the display (step S205). For example, for consumables such as toner, the price and delivery date are displayed for each item. When the administrator performs a key operation for determining the agent (step S206: Y), the agent is selected for the service of consumables, for example, or the replacement is performed when the service life of the maintenance part approaches. Registration of the contents of the agency contract is performed (step S207).

  On the other hand, when the administrator examines detailed information about other agents (step S206: N), a key operation for displaying the next agent is performed (step S208: Y). In this case, the information of the next agency is read from the agency information storage unit 122 (step S209), and the contents are displayed on the display (step S205). While neither the determination operation of the agency nor the examination process of the next agency is performed (step S206: N, step S208: N), the information of the currently selected agency is continuously displayed on the display. Will be. When the administrator cancels the new registration of the agency (step S204: N, step S210: Y), the agency contract mode process ends (end).

  On the other hand, when the administrator confirms the contents of the agency registration or changes the agency depending on the situation (step S211: Y), the contract contents of the currently registered agency are displayed on the display. (Step S212). If the administrator confirms the registration contents without registering the agency, in step S212, it is displayed that the agent is not registered.

  The administrator can consider whether or not to change the agent in a state where the contract contents of the agent currently registered on the display are displayed. At this time, if the contract contents registered in step S207 are divided and registered for several fields such as maintenance parts and consumable parts, the registration can be changed for each field. When the registration is changed (step S213: Y), the process proceeds to step S203, and the agent registration process is performed as described above. If the current contract content is not changed (step S213: N, step S214: Y), the processing ends as it is (end).

  FIG. 5 specifically shows the contract registration process shown in step S207 of FIG. Whether the above-mentioned CPU uses the operation unit 121 (FIG. 2) to make a collective contract with one agency for all fields, or specify specific fields and make individual contracts with several agencies. Are monitored (step S221, step S222). When the administrator performs an operation for making a collective contract with one agent (step S221: Y), the purchase or exchange of articles related to the facsimile apparatus 101, repair, and dispatch of a service person are selected. A contract is made with one agency, and the contents are registered in a predetermined area of the agency information storage unit 164 (step S223).

  On the other hand, when the administrator selects the individual contract of the agency (step S222: Y), each form of the individual contract is displayed as a menu on the display (step S224). For example, various contract forms are displayed, such as contracting only the consumables with the agent, or receiving service parts replenishment but not automatically dispatching service personnel. Only one item can be selected at a time. If the selection is made (step S225: Y), a contract with the agency is registered for the selected field (step S226). Here, when all the contracts for the same agency are completed (step S227: Y), the registration process of the contract contents is ended (END).

  When contracts in other fields are further made for the same agent (step S227: N), the process returns to step S224, and the next field is selected from the individual contract menu (step S225: Y). In this way, individual contracts divided into various contract contents are possible for the same agency. For example, when the toner is purchased from this agent, but the roll paper is purchased from another agent, in this embodiment, consumables are not specified at once, but are further subdivided into fields (articles). ) To sign a contract.

  FIG. 6 shows the flow of ordering processing by the facsimile part management apparatus on the agency side. The facsimile parts management apparatus 108 also performs this processing by a CPU (not shown) executing a control program stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk. That is, when notification information is sent from the facsimile apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 1 (step S241: Y), the SSL decryption unit 155 decrypts the account information included therein (step S242). The notification information analysis unit 157 analyzes the decrypted information 158, disassembles it into device information, ordered items, customer account information, and a destination, and stores them in the customer information storage unit 159 (step S243).

  The notification information analysis unit 157 determines whether the obtained account information is valid (step S244). If the account information is invalid (N), the notification information analysis unit 157 notifies the facsimile apparatus 101 that has transmitted the notification information that the account information is invalid. (Step S245). As a result, the administrator of the facsimile apparatus 101 can transmit the corrected notification information again.

  When the account information is valid (step S244: Y), when the goods are ordered, it is determined whether or not all of them are in stock (step S246). When it is requested to dispatch a service person, it is determined whether the person can be procured immediately. If there is a stock or if there is no problem in dispatching the service person (Y), the process of dispatching goods or dispatching the service person is executed (step S247). On the other hand, if these executions are not possible immediately (step S246: N), countermeasures for delays such as delivery or dispatch date and time are examined by executing the control program, and the result is sent to the facsimile apparatus 101. Notification is to be made (step S248).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of information communicated between the customer-side facsimile machine and the agency-side facsimile part management apparatus. FIG. 2A shows “apparatus information” representing the facsimile apparatus 101 itself shown in FIG. 2 and “ordering parts” indicating articles ordered as notification information. Here, “heater unit” is ordered as a maintenance part. Has been.

  FIG. 2B shows a “agent” that performs sales and maintenance. Here, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is also appended, and the administrator of the facsimile apparatus 101 can acquire content information about the goods and services handled.

  FIG. 8C shows “purchaser account information” and “destination” as the installation location of the facsimile apparatus 101 shown in FIG. This is input from the operation unit 121 (FIG. 2) by the administrator of the facsimile apparatus 101.

  FIG. 8 shows a warning process when the facsimile apparatus or a part thereof is stolen. Each time the facsimile apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 2 sends notification information to the facsimile part management apparatus 108 shown in FIG. 1 (step S261: Y), the communication environment is stored as a communication history with the connection environment to the Internet 105 at that time. Stored in the monitoring unit 128 (step S262). Then, the communication history stored last time is read from the communication history storage / monitoring unit 128, and the connection environment between the two is compared (step S263).

  If the comparison result does not match (step S264: Y), the installation location of the facsimile apparatus 101 is different, or a storage medium such as a hard disk (not shown) arranged in the facsimile apparatus 101 is used for another device. There is a possibility. Therefore, monitoring information indicating that there is a possibility of theft due to the movement of the installation location is created (step S265). Then, the created monitoring information is transmitted to the destination designated by the method designated by the administrator (step S266). For example, when the administrator of the facsimile apparatus 101 designates transmission by electronic mail, the monitoring information is transmitted to the designated destination. If the administrator does not give a special transmission instruction, the monitoring information is sent to the facsimile part management apparatus 108.

  The facsimile part management apparatus 108 monitors the arrival of monitoring information, and when this occurs, the registered administrator confirms the presence or absence of theft by telephone or e-mail. A document to that effect may be transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 101 itself, and if the document is undeliverable, the registered administrator may be checked for theft by telephone or e-mail.

  After the process of step S265, the facsimile apparatus 101 clears its own account information (step S267). As a result, for example, even if a person who stole the facsimile apparatus 101 tries to receive delivery of parts of the facsimile apparatus 101 continuously at a place different from the place where the facsimile apparatus 101 has been installed, the account information is cleared. You will not be able to do this later. In this way, account information can be prevented from being spoofed by a third party. In addition, unless the third party changes the delivery destination of the parts or the place where the service person visits at the time of theft, the third party does not continuously enjoy the convenience of the purchaser.

  In the embodiments described above, since the communication device on the customer side is a facsimile device, a problem solving organization such as a manufacturer or an agent who has sold the communication device can use facsimile communication as a means for transmitting information to the customer. If the facsimile part management apparatus 108 of the embodiment is also a facsimile apparatus, the customer side can also transmit information by facsimile.

  In the embodiment, the facsimile apparatus is exemplified as the communication apparatus. However, the present invention is similarly applied to other communication terminals such as a personal computer, a television, a telephone, and a refrigerator having a function of connecting to the Internet. Can be applied.

  In the embodiments, the case where a credit card is used for settlement is taken as an example. However, it is natural that various methods for electronic transactions can be applied to the present invention as long as the identity is confirmed.

  Furthermore, although the embodiment has been described on the assumption that facsimile communication is performed over the Internet, it goes without saying that alternative communication using the facsimile communication network is also an effective means when any failure occurs.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a main part of a component handling system for a communication apparatus when the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of a structure of the facsimile apparatus by the side of the facsimile purchaser of a present Example. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the structure of the facsimile components management apparatus of a present Example. It is a flowchart showing the process in the agency contract mode which a facsimile apparatus performs in a present Example. 5 is a flowchart specifically showing a contract registration process on the facsimile apparatus side shown in step S207 of FIG. It is a flowchart showing the flow of ordering processing by the facsimile part management apparatus on the agency side in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information communicated between a customer-side facsimile machine and an agency-side facsimile part management apparatus in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing a warning process when the facsimile apparatus or a part thereof is stolen in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Communication device component handling system 101 Facsimile device 102 First LAN
105 Internet 106 Second LAN
108 Facsimile Parts Management Device 111 Parts Management Server 121, 162 Operation Unit 122, 164 Agent Information Storage Unit 123, 159 Customer Information Storage Unit 124 Notification Information Generation Unit 126 Device Status Monitoring Unit 128 Communication History Storage / Monitoring Unit 136 SSL Encoding 138, 151 Network control unit 139, 156 TPM encryption unit 155 SSL decryption unit 157 Notification information analysis unit

Claims (7)

Communication means for communicating with a destination including a specific communication device set in advance using the Internet;
A notification destination setting means for presetting a notification destination when the possibility of theft of the own device occurs;
Connection environment storage means for storing a connection environment with the communication destination each time the communication means communicates with the specific communication device;
A connection environment comparison unit that compares the connection environment with a previous connection environment stored in the connection environment storage unit each time communication is performed with the specific communication device;
A communication unit comprising: a notification unit configured to notify the notification destination set by the notification destination setting unit when the connection environment is determined to be different from the previous one by the connection environment comparison unit. . 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification destination setting unit is configured to notify an administrator of an e-mail using an e-mail address of an administrator of the specific communication apparatus. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function as a facsimile apparatus for performing facsimile communication, wherein the specific communication apparatus is managed by a person who performs order management of facsimile apparatus parts via the Internet. Or the communication apparatus of Claim 2 . A notification destination setting step for presetting a notification destination when the possibility of theft of the own device occurs;
A connection environment storage step of storing the connection environment with the communication destination in a predetermined connection environment storage means each time communication is made with a specific communication device via the Internet;
A connection environment comparison step of comparing the connection environment with the previous connection environment stored in the predetermined connection environment storage means each time communication with the specific communication device is performed;
Notification step for notifying the notification destination set in the notification destination setting step when the connection environment is determined to be different from the previous one in this connection environment comparison step
A communication method characterized by comprising: 5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein in the notification destination setting step, a setting is made to notify the administrator by e-mail using an e-mail address of the administrator of the specific communication device. On the computer,
A notification destination setting process in which a notification destination is set in advance when a possibility of theft of the own device occurs;
A connection environment storage process for storing a connection environment with the communication destination in a predetermined connection environment storage means every time communication is made with a specific communication device via the Internet;
A connection environment comparison process for comparing the connection environment with the previous connection environment stored in the predetermined connection environment storage means every time communication with the specific communication device is performed;
Notification processing for notifying the notification destination set in the notification destination setting processing when the connection environment is determined to be different from the previous one in this connection environment comparison processing
A communication program characterized by causing 7. The communication program according to claim 6, wherein in the notification destination setting process, a setting is made to notify the administrator by e-mail using an e-mail address of the administrator of the specific communication device.

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