JP7035638B2 - Electronic equipment and maintenance operation management method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electronic devices and maintenance operation management methods.

Conventionally, it may be necessary to limit what a maintenance worker (CE: Customer Engineer) can perform maintenance work on a product, and a technique that can set a range in which maintenance operations can be performed for each CE is known in advance (for example). , Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 is an electronic device that can set a range in which maintenance operations can be performed. When the validity of the maintenance operator (CE) of the electronic device is confirmed, the predetermined document 1 responds to a change instruction. This is to temporarily change the maintenance operation range.

However, in the conventional technology that limits the range in which maintenance operations can be performed for each CE, important items are determined from the maintenance operation items of the CE when the equipment is introduced, but even if the maintenance operation of the important items is executed, the device administrator Could not manage the maintenance operation.

Further, in recent years, there are cases where a specific organization (for example, a security certification evaluation organization) reviews important security items (items that should be managed by the administrator) among maintenance operation items by evaluation after product launch. Important items differ for each product, and CE manages to set the maintenance operation items described in the setting manual for CE to the set values determined at the time of device introduction (operation start). However, when the maintenance operation items are changed or the set values are changed after the operation of the device is started, the administrator cannot grasp the change.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and the important items among the maintenance operation items performed by the maintenance worker (CE) can be managed by the maintenance worker and the manager. , And maintenance operation management methods.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an electronic device, which is an input receiving unit that accepts input of user identification information for identifying a user, and an item indicating a maintenance operation of the electronic device. A maintenance operation item is provided with an item management unit that sets a certain maintenance operation item as an important item that is an item managed by a maintenance worker who performs the maintenance operation and an administrator who manages the electronic device, and the input reception unit is the maintenance work. After receiving the input of the first identification information for identifying the person, the item management unit receives the change instruction for canceling the setting of the important item, and the item management unit receives the change instruction and then identifies the manager. When the identification information of 2 is received and the authentication process is successful, the setting of the important item is canceled.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the maintenance worker and the manager can manage the important items among the maintenance operation items performed by the maintenance worker (CE).

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of authentication information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of maintenance operation item information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a login screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a CE mode screen. FIG. 8-1 is a flowchart showing the flow of maintenance management operation processing executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 8-2 is a flowchart showing the flow of maintenance management operation processing executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of electronic devices and maintenance operation management methods will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a case where an electronic device is applied to an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 communicates with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 71, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 72, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 73, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 74. It includes an I / F75, an operation panel 76, and an engine I / F77, and each part is communicably connected by a bus 78.

The CPU 71 is an arithmetic unit that controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 100. The ROM 72 is a non-volatile storage device that stores a program for the image forming apparatus 100. The RAM 73 is a volatile storage device used as a work area for calculation of the CPU 71. The HDD 74 is an external storage device that stores various data such as image data and print data.

The communication I / F75 is an interface for communicating data using a network. The operation panel 76 is, for example, a touch panel or the like, and is a device that accepts an input to the image forming apparatus 100 and displays a state, a setting, or the like of the image forming apparatus 100. The operation panel 76 is an example of a display unit.

The engine I / F77 is an interface for communicating with the printer engine 79. The printer engine 79 is a hardware device that realizes a scanner function, a printer function, and the like. Here, the scanner function is a function of reading original data and generating a scanner image. The printer function is a function of executing image processing on the above-mentioned scanner image or data transmitted from an information processing apparatus or the like, and printing a plotter image, which is a format that can be output, on printing paper.

Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a display control unit 101, an input reception unit 102, an authentication unit 103, an item management unit 104, an execution unit 105, a log management unit 106, and a storage unit 120. And have.

The storage unit 120 stores various information, screens, and the like, and is realized by the HDD 74. Specifically, the storage unit 120 stores authentication information used for user authentication. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of authentication information. As shown in FIG. 3, the authentication information is associated with a user ID (identification), which is user identification information, a user password, and a role. The user ID and password are used to execute the user authentication process. The role indicates the type of the user, and is, for example, a CE (Customer Engineer) who is a maintenance worker who performs a maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 100 (electronic device) or an administrator who manages the image forming apparatus 100. There are general users and so on. Thereby, when the user ID and the password are input, it is possible to determine the type of the user such as whether the user who input them is a CE or an administrator. Here, the CE user ID and password are examples of the first identification information, and the administrator user ID and password are examples of the second identification information.

Further, the storage unit 120 stores maintenance operation item information which is information related to the maintenance operation item which is an item indicating the maintenance operation of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of maintenance operation item information. As shown in FIG. 4, the maintenance operation item information is associated with a maintenance operation item number, an operation item name, an item type, an important management state, and attributes 1, 2, and 3.

The maintenance operation item number is a number indicating a maintenance operation item, and is, for example, "5-5812-1", "5-5816-1", or the like. The operation item name is the name of the maintenance operation item, and is, for example, "service telephone number setting", "CSS setting", or the like. The item type is a type indicating the type of maintenance operation item, and is, for example, "character string type", "integer type", "execution type", and the like. "Character string type" and "integer type" indicate maintenance operation items displayed by character strings and integers. "Execution type" indicates the maintenance operation item to be executed. The important management status indicates whether or not the maintenance operation item is set as an important item, and is indicated by "No" or "Important". Important items are, for example, items that the CE (maintenance worker) and the administrator should grasp and manage for security reasons. The attributes 1, 2, and 3 are information related to the maintenance operation, and are, for example, setting values of maintenance operation items by characters or integers, execution contents of the maintenance operation, and the like.

Further, the storage unit 120 stores information (maintenance operation item number, operation item name, etc.) for identifying the maintenance operation item when the maintenance operation is executed, the execution parameter, and the execution date and time as a log.

The display control unit 101 displays various screens and information on the operation panel 76. For example, when the image forming apparatus 100 is activated, the display control unit 101 displays a menu screen as an initial screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen. As shown in FIG. 5, on the menu screen, a copy button instructing execution of copying, a scanner button instructing execution of scanning, a fax button instructing execution of fax transmission, and the like are displayed. Then, a login button a for the user to log in is displayed at the upper right of the menu screen.

When the login button a displayed on the menu screen is touched (pressed), the display control unit 101 displays a login screen for logging in by inputting the user ID and password of the CE or the administrator. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a login screen. As shown in FIG. 6, on the login screen, a user ID input field b, a password input field d, a login button g for logging in after the user ID and password are input, and a menu screen from the login screen. The cancel button f for returning to is displayed.

From the login screen, the CE user ID and password are entered, and when you log in (authentication processing is successful), the CE executes maintenance operations, sets or cancels important items, and changes the maintenance operation setting values. The CE mode is changed to the CE mode, and the display control unit 101 displays the CE mode screen. The CE mode screen is, for example, a screen for inputting an execution instruction for maintenance operation, a change instruction for setting and canceling important items, and a change input for setting values of maintenance operation, and is an example of a maintenance operation screen. be.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a CE mode screen. As shown in FIG. 7, the CE mode screen is generated based on the maintenance operation item information shown in FIG. 4, and the maintenance operation item number h, the maintenance operation item i, the important management status j, and the important management flag check are performed. The box k, the logout button n, and the detailed information α are displayed. The maintenance operation item number h is the same as the maintenance operation item number shown in FIG. 4, and is a number indicating a maintenance operation item. The maintenance operation item i is the same as the operation item name shown in FIG. 4, and is the name of the maintenance operation item. The maintenance operation item i is selected when it is touched (pressed). When the log-out button n is touched, the log-out button n is logged out.

The important management state j is the same as the important management state shown in FIG. 4, and indicates whether or not the maintenance operation item is set as an important item. Specifically, if the check box k of the important management flag is checked, the selected maintenance operation item is set as an important item, and if it is unchecked (if it is not), it is selected. It can be seen that the maintenance operation items that have been performed are not set as important items. Therefore, when the check box k is checked, the setting to make the selected maintenance operation item an important item is accepted, and when the check box is unchecked, the setting to cancel the selected maintenance operation item from the important item is accepted. .. Checking or unchecking the check box is the input of the change instruction.

Further, the detailed information α is the details corresponding to the selected maintenance operation item when any of the maintenance operation items i is touched and selected. The detailed information α in FIG. 7 shows a case where a maintenance operation item of a character string type or an integer type item type is selected. As shown in FIG. 7, for example, when a character string type or integer type maintenance operation item is selected, a change input field l for inputting a setting value and a soft keyboard (keyboard displayed on the screen) are displayed. The operation button m for opening is displayed. When the operation button m is touched, the soft keyboard is displayed, and the setting value of the maintenance operation item can be input by touching the character of the soft keyboard.

Further, when the maintenance operation item of the execution type item type is selected, for example, an execution button for executing the maintenance operation is displayed, and when the execution button is touched, the maintenance operation is executed. The touch (pressing) of the execution button is the input of the execution instruction.

In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, an example of shifting to the CE mode by a user entering a user ID and a password from the login screen to log in has been described, but a predetermined operation (for example, a gesture or a key operation) has been described. The configuration may be such that the mode shifts to the CE mode depending on the combination of the above and the like.

The input receiving unit 102 receives input of various instructions and input of selection by the user. Specifically, the input receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to log in by touching the login button a on the menu screen (FIG. 5).

Further, the input receiving unit 102 accepts input of user identification information, specifically, a user ID and password of a CE, an administrator, or a general user on the login screen (FIG. 6). Further, the input receiving unit 102 sets the selection input of the maintenance operation item and the maintenance operation item as important items on the CE mode screen (FIG. 7) displayed after receiving the input of the CE user ID and the password from the login screen. Input, input settings (change instructions) to cancel maintenance operation items from important items, input characters and numbers when changing the setting values of maintenance operation items, input maintenance operation execution instructions indicated by maintenance operation items, etc. Accept.

When the authentication unit 103 receives the input of the user ID and password (user identification information) from the login screen (FIG. 6), the authentication unit 103 collates with the authentication information (FIG. 3) stored (stored) in the storage unit 120 for authentication. Perform processing.

The item management unit 104 manages the setting of maintenance operation items of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, for example, when the check box k (FIG. 7) of the important management flag is checked, the item management unit 104 sets the maintenance operation item to the important item managed by the maintenance worker and the administrator. Further, when the check box k of the important management flag is unchecked, the item management unit 104 cancels the setting of the important item set in the maintenance operation item.

When the execution instruction of the maintenance operation item is input, the execution unit 105 executes the maintenance operation indicated by the maintenance operation item. Here, when the maintenance operation item is not set as an important item, the execution unit 105 executes the maintenance operation as it is when the execution instruction is input in the CE mode. On the other hand, when the maintenance operation item is set as an important item, the execution unit 105 executes the maintenance operation when the administrator authentication process is successful after the execution instruction is input in the CE mode.

When the maintenance operation indicated by the maintenance operation item set as the important item by the execution unit 105 is executed, the log management unit 106 records in the storage unit 120 a log indicating that the maintenance operation has been executed.

Next, the maintenance operation management process executed by the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8-1 and 8-2. 8-1 and 8-2 are flowcharts showing the flow of maintenance management operation processing executed by the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. In addition, in FIGS. 8-1 and 8-2, the case where the operation is performed by CE as a user will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8-1, first, when the image forming apparatus 100 is started, the display control unit 101 displays a menu screen (FIG. 5) (step S10). The input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the login button has been pressed (touched) from the menu screen (step S11). If the login button is not pressed (step S11: No), it waits until it is pressed. When another instruction input such as a print instruction is received from the menu screen, the process based on the received instruction is executed.

When the login button is pressed (step S11: Yes), the display control unit 101 displays the login screen (FIG. 6) (step S12). The input receiving unit 102 accepts the input of the user ID and password by CE from the login screen (step S13).

The authentication unit 103 collates the received user ID and password with the authentication information (FIG. 3) of the storage unit 120 to perform an authentication process. If the CE authentication process is not successful (step S14: No), the login screen is returned again. On the other hand, when the CE authentication process is successful (step S14: Yes), the mode shifts to the CE mode, and the display control unit 101 displays the CE mode screen (FIG. 7) (step S15).

The input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the selection of the maintenance operation item has been accepted from the CE mode screen (step S16). If the selection of the maintenance operation item is not accepted (step S16: No), the process waits until it is accepted.

On the other hand, when the selection of the maintenance operation item is accepted (step S16: Yes), the display control unit 101 displays detailed information according to the selected maintenance operation item (step S17). The input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the check box of the important management flag is pressed (step S18). If the check box of the important management flag is not pressed (step S18: No), the process proceeds to step S25.

On the other hand, when the check box of the important management flag is pressed (step S18: Yes), the item management unit 104 determines whether or not the selected maintenance operation item is set as an important item (step S19). If the selected maintenance operation item is not set as an important item, that is, if the check box is not checked (step S19: No), the item management unit 104 sets the maintenance operation item as an important item (step S19: No). Check the check box) (step S20), and proceed to step S25.

On the other hand, when the selected maintenance operation item is set as an important item, that is, when the check box is checked (step S19: Yes), the display control unit 101 displays the login screen (FIG. 6). (Step S21). Then, the input receiving unit 102 accepts the input of the administrator's user ID and password from the login screen (step S22).

The authentication unit 103 collates the received user ID and password with the authentication information (FIG. 3) of the storage unit 120 to perform an authentication process. If the administrator authentication process is not successful (step S23: No), the login screen is returned again (step S21). On the other hand, when the administrator authentication process is successful (step S23: Yes), the item management unit 104 cancels the setting of the important item of the selected maintenance operation item (unchecks the check box) (step S24). ..

Next, the input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the execution instruction of the maintenance operation indicated by the selected maintenance operation item has been received from the CE mode screen (step S25). If the execution instruction is not accepted (step S25: No), the process proceeds to step S31.

On the other hand, when the execution instruction is received (step S25: Yes), the input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the selected maintenance operation item is an important item (step S26). If it is not an important item (step S26: No), the process proceeds to step S30.

On the other hand, if it is an important item (step S26: Yes), the display control unit 101 displays a login screen (FIG. 6) (step S27). Then, the input receiving unit 102 accepts the input of the administrator's user ID and password from the login screen (step S28).

The authentication unit 103 collates the received user ID and password with the authentication information (FIG. 3) of the storage unit 120 to perform an authentication process. If the administrator authentication process is not successful (step S29: No), the login screen is returned again (step S27).

On the other hand, when the administrator authentication process is successful (step S29: Yes), the execution unit 105 executes the maintenance operation indicated by the selected maintenance operation item based on the execution instruction received in step S25 (step S30). ).

Next, the input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the input of the set value of the maintenance operation indicated by the selected maintenance operation item has been accepted from the CE mode screen (step S31). If the input of the set value is not accepted (step S31: No), the process proceeds to step S37.

On the other hand, when the input of the set value is accepted (step S31: Yes), the input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the selected maintenance operation item is an important item (step S32). If it is not an important item (step S32: No), the process proceeds to step S36.

On the other hand, if it is an important item (step S32: Yes), the display control unit 101 displays a login screen (FIG. 6) (step S33). Then, the input receiving unit 102 accepts the input of the administrator's user ID and password from the login screen (step S34).

The authentication unit 103 collates the received user ID and password with the authentication information (FIG. 3) of the storage unit 120 to perform an authentication process. If the administrator authentication process is not successful (step S35: No), the login screen is returned again (step S33).

On the other hand, when the administrator authentication process is successful (step S35: Yes), the item management unit 104 changes the set value of the selected maintenance operation item based on the set value received in step S31 (step S36). ).

Next, the input receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the logout button has been pressed (touched) from the CE mode screen (step S37). If the log-out button is not pressed (step S37: No), the process returns to step S15. On the other hand, when the log-out button is pressed (step S37: Yes), the user is logged out and the process ends.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment receives the input of the CE user ID and password from the login screen, and when the CE authentication process is successful, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the CE mode and displays the CE mode screen. Then, the selection of the maintenance operation item is accepted from the CE mode screen, and when the selected maintenance operation item is an important item, the maintenance operation execution instruction indicated by the maintenance operation item and the setting of the important item are canceled (changed). When the instruction) etc. are accepted, the login screen is displayed and the input of the administrator's user ID and password is accepted. If the administrator authentication process is successful, perform maintenance operations or cancel the settings of important items. Therefore, the administrator can grasp and manage the execution of the maintenance operation which is an important item and the cancellation of the setting of the important item. Therefore, the maintenance worker and the manager can manage the important items among the maintenance operation items that the maintenance worker (CE) performs the maintenance operation.

In the above embodiment, the maintenance worker and the administrator can manage important items by performing the administrator authentication process, but the log to the effect that the maintenance operation is executed is output or the log is output. The maintenance worker and the administrator may manage important items by both the authentication process of the administrator and the output of the log.

The program executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in a ROM or the like in advance. The program executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format on a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It may be configured to be recorded and provided on a readable recording medium.

Further, the program executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading via the network. Further, the program executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

The program executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment has a module configuration including each of the above-mentioned parts (display control unit, input reception unit, authentication unit, item management unit, execution unit, log management unit), and is actually As for the hardware, the CPU (processor) reads a program from the ROM and executes the program, so that each part is loaded on the main storage device and each part is generated on the main storage device. Further, for example, a part or all of the functions of the above-mentioned parts may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the electronic device of the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus is shown, but any electronic device that performs maintenance operations can be applied.

100 Image forming device 101 Display control unit 102 Input reception unit 103 Authentication unit 104 Item management unit 105 Execution unit 106 Log management unit 120 Storage unit

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-303215

Claims (5)

It ’s an electronic device,
An input reception unit that accepts input of user identification information that identifies a user,
It is provided with an item management unit that sets maintenance operation items, which are items indicating maintenance operations of the electronic device, to important items, which are items managed by the maintenance worker who performs the maintenance operation and the administrator who manages the electronic device. ,
After receiving the input of the first identification information for identifying the maintenance worker, the input receiving unit receives a change instruction for canceling the setting of the important item.
After receiving the change instruction, the item management unit receives the second identification information for identifying the administrator, and when the authentication process succeeds , the electronic device cancels the setting of the important item. Further equipped with an execution unit for executing the maintenance operation,
The input receiving unit further receives the input of the execution instruction of the maintenance operation, and receives the input.
When the maintenance operation item indicating the maintenance operation for which the execution instruction has been received is set as the important item, the execution unit receives the second identification information after receiving the execution instruction and performs authentication processing . The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance operation is executed when the above-mentioned maintenance operation is performed. The electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising a log management unit that records a log indicating that the maintenance operation has been executed when the maintenance operation of the maintenance operation item set in the important item is executed. A display control unit that displays a login screen for inputting the user identification information, a maintenance operation screen for inputting the change instruction and the execution instruction, and a display unit.
When the input of the user identification information is accepted, an authentication unit that collates with the authentication information for authenticating the user stored in the storage unit and performs an authentication process is further provided.
The display control unit displays the maintenance operation screen when the authentication process of the first identification information input from the login screen is successful, and receives the change instruction or the execution instruction from the maintenance operation screen. If the above login screen is displayed,
After receiving the change instruction, the item management unit cancels the setting of the important item when the authentication process of the second identification information input from the login screen is successful.
The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the execution unit executes the maintenance operation when the authentication process of the second identification information input from the login screen is successful after receiving the execution instruction. .. A maintenance operation management method performed on electronic devices.
With the first item management step of setting the maintenance operation item, which is an item indicating the maintenance operation of the electronic device, to an important item, which is an item managed by the maintenance worker who performs the maintenance operation and the administrator who manages the electronic device. ,
A first reception step for receiving the first identification information for identifying the maintenance worker, and
After accepting the input of the first identification information, the second acceptance step of accepting the change instruction for canceling the setting of the important item, and
After receiving the change instruction, the third reception step of receiving the second identification information for identifying the administrator, and the third reception step.
A maintenance operation management method comprising a second item management step of canceling the setting of the important item when the authentication process is successful by receiving the second identification information after receiving the change instruction.

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