DE10250193B4 - Method and control device for analyzing operating data of a printer - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for analyzing operating data of a printer,
wherein the printer includes a central controller (12) with an operating system (14),
the controller (12) is connected via a system bus (22) to a microprocessor-controlled device controller (24) comprising a main software module (26) and a plurality of sub-modules (A, B, N; A1, A2, An; B1 , B2, Bn; N1, N2, Nn),
in the controller (12) and in the modules of the device control (24) accumulate operating data, which are prepared in the form of communication protocols accessible via at least one data bus (22, 28, 30) trained as a software module Trace Manager (20) are,
several profiles (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8) of operating states are defined, each profile (P8, P2) being assigned a selection of communication protocols of the modules involved,
at least one profile (P1 to P8) is selected via a control panel menu (32, 42, 60, 70),
and during the analysis of operating states on the trace manager ...

Description

The The invention relates to methods and control means for analyzing operating data, referred to as trace data, at a printer. Such trace data is operating state data that is the current one Describe the operating status of a printer. A printer, in particular a high-performance printer a variety of microprocessor controlled assemblies and assemblies, each of which software modules are assigned. Trace data will be with conventional printers stored at each individual assembly and can be serviced by a technician be retrieved there. In case of failure or critical operating conditions the trace data from the maintenance personnel from the assigned to the relevant modules Memory areas and analyzed this trace data to to be able to determine the error and countermeasures to take. Usually the maintenance person has a computer attached to that particular assembly is connected to retrieve the trace data.

at Occurrence of critical operating conditions of the printer or at Errors that occur are generally a technically well-trained service technician called to the customer to spot the critical operating condition or analyze the error case using the trace data. It is possible that Trace data locally to a storage medium, such as a floppy disk, store and then evaluate that data in a remote location, however, this requires considerable know-how in order to find the right ones locally Trace data on the high-performance printer capture.

Out U.S. Patent 5,243,382 A is a control system for a printer or copier known in which a portable maintenance device to a maintenance interface connectable is. The printer or copier transmits first Data with status information of the printer or copier with Help a connection between the maintenance device and the printer or copier. Furthermore you can the maintenance device second data is input containing status information. At least one pair of stored control information on the Basis of the first and second state information can by the maintenance device be issued. Furthermore, it is known from US Patent 5,243,382 A, the stored data to a data processing system to transfer.

From the document US 6, 038, 690 A. a system for automatic remote diagnosis for franking machines is known. Trace data of various actions are recorded in a central controller. This central controller is accessed to perform an analysis of the trace data.

From the document US 5, 038, 319 A is a remote-controlled recording of operating data in a printing press known. In an Event Log mode, data is recorded when a particular event occurs, and data is stored centrally in non-volatile memory and transmitted via modem and floppy disk.

Out the document Freihof, M. u. a., "The Big Book Outlook 2000", Data Becker GmbH and Co. KG, first edition 1999, ISBN: 3-8158-1410-3, pages 168 to 174, is a choice addresses of an address book using a graphical interface known.

It The object of the invention is to specify methods and control devices, with their help critical operating conditions of a printer in a simple manner recorded and the trace data can be analyzed comfortably.

These The object is solved by the features of the independent claims. advantageous Trainings are in the dependent claims specified.

According to the invention a method for analyzing operating data of a printer is provided, where the printer has a central controller with an operating system contains the controller over a system bus with a microprocessor-controlled device control connected, which is a main software module and a variety of sub-modules contains in the controller and in the modules of the device control operating data in Form of communication protocols incurred via data buses accessible to a trained as a software module Trace Manager and in which multiple profiles of operating conditions are defined, wherein Each profile has a selection of communication protocols of those involved Assigned to modules and in the analysis of operating conditions on dependent on the trace manager from a selected one Profile is accessed.

In the invention, a service technician no longer needs to query the trace data for the individual modules, but can access the trace data centrally via the trace manager. For this purpose, the service technician can access the operating data according to the communication protocols on the basis of profiles which are assigned to specific operating states and error states. The Profiles have generally been predefined based on likely operating conditions and error conditions.

advantageously, the service technician is engaged in accessing the trace manager Control panel menu led. This Control panel menu points to the various profiles to which an explanatory text is attached, so that the service technician can quickly decide which trace data be analyzed advantageously. The guidance is made via the control panel menu in the form of index cards, which ensures a clear presentation is.

at a preferred embodiment of Invention is using a remote data transfer to the data trace manager accessed and controlled. Using a file transfer can trace data also teleconferred become. This allows the service technician from a remote location from the analysis of the critical operating condition.

To the better understanding The present invention is described below in the drawings illustrated embodiments Referred to, described by specific terminology are. It should be noted, however, that the scope of protection of This invention should not be limited, since such changes and further modifications to the devices shown and / or the method and such other applications of the invention, as they are shown, as usual current or future Expertise of a competent Be considered professional.

The Figures show embodiments of the Invention, namely

1 a representation of the structure of the various modules and modules of a high-performance printer,

2 the representation of the display of the input menu with which the trace manager is accessed,

3 the display of the control panel menu in the "Trace Profile" function,

4 the display of the control panel menu in the "trace-transfer" function,

5 the display of the control panel menu with the function "Delete traces"

6 the display of diagnostic data using an internet browser,

7 linking an SNMP software agent to the Internet browser,

8th the base structure for the file formats,

9 the structure definition for entries, and

10 the basic structure for an entry in a diagnostic event.

1 shows in a block diagram various units of a high-performance printer 10 , This high performance printer 10 contains a controller 12 , which performs central control functions, such as the preparation of the printer data. The controller 12 contains an operating system 14 through which access is made to a plurality of functional modules that function as a single module block 16 are shown. About the operating system 14 is also on a diagnostic software module 18 which provides a service technician assistance in diagnosing faults and critical operating conditions. In the diagnostic software module 18 is the Trace Manager designed as a software module 20 integrated, whose function will be explained in more detail below.

The controller 12 is via a system bus 22 with a device control 24 connected as software modules a main module 26 and submodules A, B to contain any number N. Furthermore, the device control contains 24 to the sub-modules A, B to N connected sub-modules A1 up to a number An, B1 to Bn and N1 to Nn, which are designed as power modules, for example. The connection between the main module 26 and the sub-modules A, B to N via a bus 28 , and the further connection to the submodules takes place via further submodule buses 30 , The main module 26 and the sub-modules A, B to N operate according to the known master-slave mode. All modules in the device control 24 as well as of course in the controller 12 are microprocessor-controlled, resulting in a variety of operating data. These operating data are processed as communication protocols that communicate via the data buses 30 . 28 . 22 the trace manager 20 are accessible. On the basis of the operating data in the communication protocols can be for a particular event, such as an error or the exceeding of a limit, the various processes, mapped by this operating data, tracked and thus the operating state are analyzed. The tracking of operating data for such operating states is also called tracing. A special feature is based on 1 to recognize that the access to the various trace data that can occur in the various modules, not directly on these modules, but centrally via the trace manager 20 , Access to the Trace Manager 20 takes place via a control panel menu.

2 shows the entry menu after the trace manager has been called via the diagnostics software module 18 , The presentation of the menu 32 is based on index cards, whereby a clear user guidance is possible. In the first line 34 of the menu 32 An operator is advised that it is within the Trace Manager software module. In the line below 36 are the functions of the trance manager specified under which an operator can choose. The following functions can be selected: "Create Trace", "Trace Profile", "Trace Transfer" and "Delete Traces". At the in 2 menu shown, the first named function "Create trace" is selected. In the display field 38 which also contains a software actuation switch, is notified to the viewer in which operating state "on" or "off" the trace data generation is. In the present case, the state "off" is selected.

In the block below 40 the service technician is informed which profile has been selected. In the present example, the profile was 8th selected. In the display panel below, the viewer is now informed about which communication protocols in the modules of the controller 12 and / or in the device control 24 were selected with the help of software switches. The numbers shown in parentheses refer to associated software switches, which in turn are assigned certain functions. For example, the function "Boot" means that the selected profile 8th in the controller to be stored as trace data those relating to the booting state. The same applies to the other functions "Reset", "Pages" and "Fatal Err", each of which relates to specific communication protocols. The same applies to the illustration on the right concerning the device control. Here, the parenthesized digit again denotes a software switch. In the example mentioned "(0)", a so-called trigger is set, to which a date is assigned in square brackets. This date refers to a specific error message. A set trigger means that the trace data is consecutively recorded until the trigger with the mentioned error code occurs. The row below refers to a sub-module whose numerical assignment is indicated in square brackets. Order now under the profile 8th To generate the trace data, the software button in box 38 with value "I" are pressed by touching, which leads to this profile 8th associated trace data are generated.

3 shows the menu 42 at the "Trace Profile" function selected by the service technician. In the left presentation block 44 All existing profiles are listed. In the present example the profiles 1 to 8th as well as "no-profile" and "profile-default". The "no-profile" example means that none of the default profiles are used to obtain trace data. In the case of "Profile-default", the profile is defined for a critical error state. With the help of a scroll bar to be operated by the service technician 46 one of the profiles is selected, in this example the profile 2 , This selected profile is again communicated in the middle of the presentation under the heading "Selected profile" (Block 48 ). In the right part of the picture are in field 45 the trigger possibilities associated with this profile are listed, using the scroll bar 50 a certain trigger is selected, in this example "no-trigger". The trigger function is in the display block 52 in the middle of the menu picture 42 highlighted again. The representations in the blocks 48 and 52 give the service technician a good overview of the selected parameters. In the underlying presentation block 54 they are the profile 2 associated parameters for the different communication protocols.

The service technician may refer to the maintenance documentation or, on the basis of a specification by a development engineer or a specialist, decide which one in the block 44 displayed profiles to create the correct documents about the trace data in case of difficult or even sporadic error messages. It is also pointed out here the possibility that an experienced maintenance engineer or development engineer can define and assemble further profiles in addition to the existing profiles or delete certain profiles.

4 shows the representation of the control panel menu with the function "trace transfer". In the left data block 62 the content of the trace directory is shown. Each row shows the serial number of the printer along with the current date and time. So the first line has the meaning that the current printer has the serial number 80005. Furthermore, the current date is given as June 24, 2002 and the time is 11:57:44. These values therefore contain trace data. Using the scroll bar 64 The service technician can select the trace data to be transferred. In the right presentation block 64 The trace data selected from the trace directory is reproduced. With the help of software actuation knob 66 a file transfer program is started and the selected transfer data are either transferred to an external data carrier, for example a notebook for the service technician. It should be noted that a remote transmission to a remote data sink is also possible.

5 shows a menu representation 70 , which belongs to the function "delete traces". In the block shown on the left 72 the content of the trace directory is reproduced, from which a selection can be made with the aid of the scroll bar, which is then displayed in the right-hand representation block 76 appears. With the help of software buttons 78 . 80 Either all trace data of the trace directory or only the selected trace data can be deleted.

Based In the illustrated example it is clear that with the aid of the invention a simple, targeted Selection and configuration of the required and required trace data can be done by the technician. An access option on the trace data can also be from a remote location, for example from the office of the service technician. In this way, no unnecessary times occur by driving to the customer or picking up trace data. The transfer from trace data or error data from the printer to the technician accelerated by the activation of the trace manager.

• – das Auftreten von Fehlern, beispielsweise das Auftreten von Hardwarefehlern, Firmwarefehlern und Softwarefehlern;
• – Änderungen von Softwarekomponenten, z.B. Updates von Firmware;
• – Änderungen von Hardwarekomponenten, z.B. der Wechsel von Verbrauchsteilen oder Verschleißteilen, das Upgraden von Hardwarekomponenten;
• – das Einschalten eines Druckers, z.B. das Protokollieren des Systemausbaus;
• – Änderungen von Freischaltcodes bzw. Freischaltkeys.

The following 6 to 10 deal with a further aspect of the invention, according to the diagnosis-relevant events are presented at a printer the maintenance technician in a clear manner. In this aspect of the invention, control of the printer determines binary diagnostic data of diagnostic events in the printer. Such diagnostic events are, for example, the wear of consumables and their necessary replacement, the depleted consumables, such as toner, the changes in assemblies or the software, etc. To provide a clear presentation, several different diagnostic event types are defined. For example, set as diagnostic event types:

• The occurrence of errors, for example the occurrence of hardware errors, firmware errors and software errors;
• - Changes to software components, eg updates of firmware;
• - changes of hardware components, eg the change of consumables or wear parts, the upgrading of hardware components;
• - switching on a printer, eg logging the system configuration;
• - Changes to activation codes or activation keys.

ever according to diagnostic event type will be different diagnostic data saved.

6 shows in a block diagram the treatment of diagnostic data and their assignment to a diagnostic event type. The diagnostic data is first converted into XML data. Such XML data correspond to the standard of the "world wide webs" (www), whereby a high flexibility of the representation form is given for the description of Internet pages. Each diagnostic event type, as defined above, for example, is assigned an XSL structure as a description language for representing the XML data. An XSL browser (Internet browser) displays the edited XML data in connection with the XSL structure. The display form can be stored as an XSL file for each printer type on the respective printer itself.

7 illustrates that a software agent is taking over the recording of diagnostic events in the printer. This software agent works according to the well-known SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) communication principle, which is a standard protocol for network management in the Internet world for the communication of network elements among each other. This software agent is responsible for the administration (configuration, parameters, functional description, etc.) of associated modules and software modules and for the communication with other software modules for administrative purposes in the printer. The printer and the browser can be connected to each other via a LAN connection (LAN Local Area Network). By controlling the SNMP software agent with the aid of an applet, ie a software window in the Java programming language, the diagnostic data are prepared and a selection can be made in the form of filtering or statistics.

The 8th . 9 and 10 show the structure definition for the required file formats. Each entry has an in 8th reproduced basic structure. The program element in the first line defines the length of the complete structure. The following program line identifies the diagnostic event type. The next line defines the diagnostic event, such as the occurrence of an error.

8th shows program elements for defining an entry. The meaning of the program element becomes recognizable in the comment line.

10 shows the structure of a diagnostic entry. This entry contains the base structure described above. The next section sets the fixed structure associated with a particular diagnostic event type. In the following Section indicates the variable data associated with the diagnostic event.

Although in the drawings and in the foregoing description preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, this should be considered pure by way of example and not limiting the invention.

It It should be noted that only the preferred embodiments shown and described and all changes and modifications, currently and in the future are within the scope of the invention, to be protected.

Claims (13)

Method for analyzing operating data of a printer, in which the printer has a central controller ( 12 ) with an operating system ( 14 ), the controller ( 12 ) via a system bus ( 22 ) with a microprocessor-controlled device control ( 24 ), which is a main software module ( 26 ) and a plurality of submodules (A, B, N; A1, A2, An; B1, B2, Bn; N1, N2, Nn), in the controller ( 12 ) and in the modules of the device control ( 24 ) Operating data, which are prepared in the form of communication protocols, which are available via at least one data bus ( 22 . 28 . 30 ) a Trace-Manager trained as a software module ( 20 ), several profiles (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8) of operating states are defined, each profile (P8, P2) being assigned a selection of communication protocols of the modules involved, via a control panel menu (FIG. 32 . 42 . 60 . 70 ) at least one profile (P1 to P8) is selected, and in which for analyzing operating conditions on the trace manager ( 20 ) is accessed depending on the selected profile (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8). Method according to Claim 1, in which for each profile the selection of communication protocols by software switches in the controller ( 12 ) and / or in modules of the device control ( 24 ) is set. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data stream the communication protocols are stopped by means of a trigger becomes. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the trace manager ( 20 ) within a diagnostic program module ( 18 ), which is controlled by the controller ( 12 ) is processed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the access of an operator to the trace manager ( 20 ) via the control panel menu ( 32 . 42 . 60 . 70 ) he follows. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which via the control panel menu ( 32 . 42 . 60 . 70 ) to the functions Create Trace, Display Trace Profile, Transfer Trace, and Clear Trace. Method according to Claim 6, in which, in the Trace function, the trace generation state on the control panel menu ( 32 ) as well as the software settings available for the selected profile (P8) ( 40 ) are displayed. Method according to Claim 7, in which the function Trace Profile on the control panel menu ( 42 ) the different profiles and the trigger possibilities ( 45 ) and the selected profile and trigger ( 52 ) being represented. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the function trace transfer on the control panel menu ( 60 ) the contents of the trace directory ( 62 ), the trace selected for transfer ( 64 ) and a software switch ( 66 ) to start the transfer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the function Delete trace on the control panel menu ( 70 ) the contents of the trace directory ( 72 ) and the selected traces ( 76 ) as well as a software switch ( 78 . 80 ) to start the deletion process. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which by means of remote data transmission to the trace manager ( 20 ) is accessed and controlled. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which within the trace manager ( 20 ) defining a particular profile by selecting communication protocols and specifying software switches. Control device for analyzing operating data of a printer, in which the printer has a central controller ( 12 ) with an operating system ( 14 ), the controller ( 12 ) via a system bus ( 22 ) with a microprocessor-controlled device control ( 24 ), which is a main software module ( 26 ) and a plurality of submodules (A, B, N; A1, A2, An; B1, B2, Bn; N1, N2, Nn), in the controller ( 12 ) and in the modules of the device control ( 24 ) Operating data, which are prepared in the form of communication protocols, which are transmitted via data buses ( 22 . 38 . 30 ) as a softwa re-module Trace Manager ( 20 ), several profiles (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8) of operating states are defined, each profile (P8, P9) being assigned a selection of communication protocols of the modules involved, using a panel menu ( 32 . 42 . 60 . 70 ) at least one profile (P1 to P8) is selectable, and in the analysis of operating conditions on the trace manager ( 20 ) is accessed depending on the selected profile (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8).