JP2005100261A - Image forming device and print job management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely backup only a print job required by a user. <P>SOLUTION: An MFP 1A comprises a print job receipt means S21 for receiving job data; a specification information receipt means S23 for receiving a storage location list for specifying other MFP 1B-1E to which the job data are transmitted; storage means S22 and S24 for storing the received job data in association with the storage location list by a job number; an instruction receipt means S28 for receiving a deletion instruction showing whether the job data are deleted or not; and a deletion instruction transmission means S29 for specifying other MFP 1B, 1D, and 1E storing the job data based on the storage location list on condition that the deletion instruction is received and transmitting the deletion instruction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a print job management program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that stores a print job and prints it according to an instruction from a user, a print job management program executed thereby, and the image forming apparatus The present invention relates to a print job management program that is executed by a printer server that manages the job.

  In recent years, usage patterns in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of printers are connected to a network are increasing. According to this usage pattern, one printer, which is a plurality of computers, can be shared. Further, one of a plurality of printers can be selected from one computer and printed. Further, there is a usage method in which a user of a computer transmits a print job to a plurality of printers in advance and then outputs the previously transmitted print data from a desired printer. In this case, among the plurality of printers that have transmitted the print data, there is a problem that the printer that does not output the print data does not delete the print data indefinitely.

A network system that solves this problem is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-216116. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-216116 discloses a network system in which a plurality of printers having a pull print function, a document server, a virtual printer server, and data processing devices of various users are connected via a predetermined communication medium. The selection means for selecting one or more appropriate printers from the plurality of printers when issuing a pull print print job to the data processing apparatus, and the same for all the printers selected by the selection means An issuing means for issuing each print job; and detecting means for detecting a printer that first started execution of the print job in the virtual printer server; and execution of the print job first started by the detection means When a printer is detected, the other print jobs that have not started executing the print job are Network system comprising: the deleting means, the instructing deletion of the print job have been described for printer.
JP 2001-216116 A

  However, in the network system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-216116, when execution of a print job is detected by any of a plurality of printers, the print job is deleted in all printers to which the print job has been issued. For this reason, there is a problem that the print job cannot be backed up after the print job is executed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of reliably backing up only a print job required by a user and the image forming apparatus. To provide a print job management program executed in the apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a print job management program executed by a printer server capable of reliably backing up a print job.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes: a print job receiving unit that receives a print job; and specification information for specifying another device to which the print job is transmitted. Specific information receiving means for receiving the received print job, storage means for storing the received print job in association with the specific information, instruction receiving means for receiving a delete instruction indicating whether or not to delete the print job, and a delete instruction And a deletion instruction transmitting means for specifying another device based on the specific information and transmitting a deletion instruction to the specified other device.

  According to the present invention, the print job and the specific information for specifying another device to which the print job is transmitted are received, and the print job is stored in association with the specific information. Then, on the condition that the deletion instruction is accepted, another device is specified based on the specific information, and the deletion instruction is transmitted to the other device. Since a delete instruction is sent to another device on the condition that the delete instruction has been accepted, the print job is not deleted on the other device until the delete instruction is accepted, and there are multiple unnecessary print jobs. Will not be stored in other devices. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably backing up only a print job required by a user.

  Preferably, the specific information includes status information indicating whether another device stores a print job, and further includes display means for displaying the specific information.

  According to the present invention, since status information indicating whether or not another device stores a print job is displayed, the user can easily determine in which device the print job is stored. .

  Preferably, the deletion instruction is output to the computer so as to be instructed to another device via the computer that has transmitted the print job.

  Preferably, the deletion instruction is controlled to execute deletion after a predetermined time has elapsed since the instruction was received.

  Preferably, the predetermined time is input by the user together with acceptance of the deletion instruction.

  Preferably, the predetermined time is set in advance separately from the reception of the deletion instruction.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a print job management program receives a print job, receives specific information for specifying another device to which the print job has been transmitted, and received print Storing a job in association with specific information, receiving a deletion instruction indicating whether or not to delete a print job, and specifying another device based on the specific information on condition that the deletion instruction has been received Then, the image forming apparatus is caused to execute a step of transmitting a deletion instruction to the specified other device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a print job management program capable of reliably backing up only a print job required by a user.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a print job management program is a print job management program executed by a printer server that manages a plurality of printing apparatuses, and the print job is transferred to at least two of the plurality of printing apparatuses. A step of transmitting, a step of detecting whether or not at least two printing apparatuses that have transmitted the print job have received the print job, a step of storing information specifying the print job and the detected result in association with each other, A step of detecting that a print job has been output by at least one of the two printing apparatuses that have transmitted the print job, and an instruction to delete the print job from the printing apparatus in which the output of the print job has been detected. In accordance with the stored detection results, an instruction to delete the print job is specified by specifying the printing device that stores the print job. A step of, to be executed by the printer server.

  According to the present invention, the job is transmitted to at least two of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and it is detected whether at least two printing apparatuses that have transmitted the print job have received the print job, and information for specifying the print job; The detected results are stored in association with each other. When it is detected that at least one of the two printing apparatuses that transmitted the print job has output the print job, an instruction to delete the print job is received from the printing apparatus from which the output of the print job has been detected. In accordance with the above-described conditions, an instruction to specify a printing apparatus that stores the print job according to the stored detection result and to delete the print job is transmitted. For this reason, in a printing apparatus that does not execute a print job, the print job is not deleted until an instruction to delete the print job is received, so that only the print job required by the user can be reliably backed up. A print job management program can be provided.

  Preferably, the detecting step includes a step of detecting a communication error while transmitting the print job.

  According to the present invention, since a communication error is detected while a print job is being transmitted, it is possible to easily confirm a device that has failed to transmit the print job.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a print system 10 includes multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) 1A to 1E connected to a network 3, a printer server 2, and user computers 4A and 4B. In the figure, an example in which five MFPs 1A to 1E, one printer server 2, and two user computers 4A and 4B are connected to the network 3 will be described, but the user computers 4A and 4B are singular. The number of MFPs 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> E is not necessarily five as long as they are plural. The printer server 2 may be a plurality of printers, and any one of the MFPs 1A to 1E may also serve as the printer server.

  MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 1A to 1E are image processing apparatuses, which include a scanner for reading a document, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper based on image data, and a facsimile. A reading function, a copying function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and a printing function for printing data are provided. The MFP 1 receives job data output from the user computers 4A and 4B via the printer server 2 and outputs the job data with the image forming apparatus. In addition, the MFPs 1A to 1E output image data output by the scanner using the image forming apparatus.

  Further, a memory card 6 that is a portable and detachable storage device is attached to the MFP 1A. The print job management program stored in the memory card 6 is executed by a central processing unit (CPU) provided in the MFP 1A. Note that the print job management program may be stored in an IC chip type semiconductor memory mounted on the substrate instead of being read from the memory card 6. The MFP 1A executes a program stored in the semiconductor memory by the CPU. Further, if an EEPROM (electrically erasable / programmable read only memory) is used as the semiconductor memory, for example, the stored contents can be rewritten or additionally written, so that another computer connected to the network 3 can be stored in the EEPROM of the MFP 1A. The stored print job management program may be rewritten, or a new print job management program may be added and written. Further, the MFP 1A may download a print job management program from another computer connected to the network 3, and store the print job management program in the EEPROM.

  Here, the MFP will be described as an example, but any printer having an image forming function and connected to the network 3 may be used.

  The user computers 4A and 4B are general personal computers. In the user computers 4A and 4B, various application programs for generating printing data such as a document creation program, a drawing program, a spreadsheet program, an image editing program, and a drawing program are executed. The user operates the user computers 4A and 4B to cause the user computers 4A and 4B to execute these application programs and generate print data. If an instruction to output the print data generated by the user computers 4A and 4B is given, job data obtained by adding the job mode to the print data is transmitted to the MFPs 1A to 1E via the printer server 2. The The job mode is data that defines the number of prints, the number of pages to be printed on one recording medium, and the like. The print data and the job mode are collectively called job data. Here, a case where job data is transmitted will be described as an example, but only print data may be transmitted.

  The MFPs 1A to 1E store the received job data in a storage device such as a hard disk included in the MFP 1A to 1E. The MFPs 1A to 1E output the stored job data in response to a user operation.

  Job data can be transmitted from the user computers 4A and 4B to all the MFPs 1A to 1E, but can be transmitted to at least one MFP selected from the MFPs 1A to 1E. The user of the user computers 4A and 4B selects which of the MFPs 1A to 1E transmits the job data when transmitting the job data.

  The printer server 2 is a general personal computer. Since the hardware configuration is well known, description thereof will not be repeated here. A CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) 5 is mounted on the printer server 2. The print job management program recorded on the CD-ROM 5 is read by a CD-ROM drive or the like and temporarily stored in the hard disk. Further, it is read from the hard disk to a random access memory (RAM) and executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  The network 3 is a local area network (LAN), the Internet, or a general public line, and may be wired or wireless. Although an example in which the MFPs 1A to 1E and the printer server 2 are connected via the network 3 is shown here, the MFPs 1A to 1E and the printer server 2 may be connected using a serial line or a parallel line.

  Although the print job management program executed in the printer server 2 is stored and distributed in the CD-ROM, the print job management program executed in the MFP 1A is stored in the memory card 6 and distributed. Other recording media, for example, flexible disks, cassette tapes, hard disks, optical disks (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC cards (including memory cards), optical cards, A medium carrying a fixed program such as a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, an EPROM (Erasable and Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) may be used.

  Furthermore, the print job management program may be provided from another computer via the network 3 instead of via a recording medium.

  The program here is a concept including not only a program directly executable by the CPU but also a program in a source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  In the print system 10 according to the present embodiment, as described above, when the user operates the user computers 4A and 4B and transmits job data to the plurality of MFPs 1A to 1E desired by the user, the MFPs 1A to 1E receive the data. The job data is temporarily stored in a recording medium such as a hard disk. Here, a case will be described in which all MFPs 1A to 1E are designated and job data is transmitted to all of MFPs 1A to 1E. The job data is assigned a job number, and any of the MFPs 1A to 1E can specify the stored print job by the job number. Instead of using the job number, for example, the print job may be specified by the file name of the data that is the basis of the print data included in the job data.

  The user computers 4A and 4B designate and transmit the MFPs 1A to 1E to the printer server 2 without directly transmitting job data to the MFPs 1A to 1E. For this reason, the transmission processing of the user computers 4A and 4B is simplified. The printer server 2 transfers job data to the designated MFPs 1A to 1E. Thus, job data is stored in all of MFPs 1A to 1E.

  The user can output job data from any of the MFPs 1A to 1E. Further, since the same job data is stored in a plurality of MFPs 1A to 1E, even if some reason, for example, when one of the MFPs 1A to 1E is infected with a computer virus and the job data is destroyed, the data is destroyed. Job data can be output from the remaining MFPs. Further, when the MFPs 1A to 1E are installed at different locations, job data can be output from the MFP installed at a desired location.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the functions of the MFP in the present embodiment. Since all the functions of the MFPs 1A to 1E are the same, the MFP 1A will be described as an example here. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 1A includes a control unit 100 that controls the entire MFP 1A, an image reader unit 101 that reads image data from a document, a printer unit 102 that prints an image on a sheet, and MFP 1A over network 3. A communication unit 103 for connection, a storage unit 104 for storing job data and the like, and an operation panel 105 which is an interface with the user are included.

  The communication unit 103 is an interface for connecting the MFP 1 </ b> A to the network 3. Therefore, the control unit 100 can communicate with the printer server 2 and receives job data from the user computers 4A and 4B via the printer server 2. The control unit 100 stores the job data transmitted from the user computers 4A and 4B in the storage unit 104. The storage unit 104 is a magnetic recording device such as a hard disk.

  The image reader unit 101 irradiates a document with light, receives the reflected light with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and outputs image data to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 performs predetermined image processing such as noise removal processing and color conversion processing on the image data, and outputs print data to the printer unit 102.

  The printer unit 102 is controlled by the control unit 100, and according to the printing data included in the job data stored in the storage unit 104 or the printing data generated from the image data output from the image reader unit 101, paper or the like An image is formed on the recording medium. The printer unit 102 forms an image with a single color (for example, black). A color image may be formed.

  Operation panel 105 is provided on the upper surface of MFP 1A. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel provided in the MFP. Referring to the figure, operation panel 105 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 91, a numeric keypad 92, a clear key 93 for returning a set numerical value to an initial value, an interrupt key 94 for executing interrupt copying, A copy start key 95 is provided.

  The liquid crystal touch panel 91 includes a liquid crystal display device and a touch panel made of a transparent member placed on the liquid crystal display device. The touch panel is a coordinate input device. The operation panel 105 displays a button on a liquid crystal display device, for example, and detects an operation of the user pressing the displayed button with a touch panel. Thereby, it is not necessary to use a switch button fixed to the input device, and various operations can be input.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the print system according to the present embodiment. Here, assuming that job data is transmitted from the user computer 4A to the MFPs 1A to 1E, the left column shows processing executed by the user computer 4A, and the central column shows processing executed by the printer server 2. In the right column, processes executed by the MFPs 1A to 1E are shown. Here, the MFP 1A will be described as an example. Further, the MFPs 1A to 1E to which job data is transmitted from the user computer 4A are also referred to as designated MFPs.

  Referring to FIG. 4, job data is received by user computer 4 </ b> A by an operation instructing printing by user to user computer 4 </ b> A (step S <b> 01). As described above, the job data includes print data and job mode. Normally, a printer driver program is installed in the user computer 4A. The printer driver program is executed, and an input screen for creating job data is displayed in accordance with an operation instructing printing by the user. . The input screen includes a column for inputting a file name for specifying a file that the user desires to print, and a column for inputting designation of a job mode. In the user computer 4A, when a file name is input, the data specified by the file name is converted into print data to be a part of job data.

  The input screen includes a field for designating the MFP. Input to this column is information for specifying MFPs 1A to 1E, for example, a list of output destinations listing names given in advance to MFPs 1A to 1E, and the user can select a desired list from the output destination list. By selecting the MFP, the designation of the MFP is accepted (step S02). In step S02, a plurality of MFPs can be specified. Thereby, a plurality of output destinations can be designated. Further, the MFP designated in step S02 is the designated MFP. Here, the designated MFPs are MFPs 1A to 1E. The designated MFP refers to an MFP that stores job data in the storage unit 104. Therefore, job data is stored and backed up in all designated MFPs as will be described later.

  Next, a job number is assigned (step S03). The job number may be automatically assigned by the user computer 4A or may be directly input by the user. In any case, it is recognized by the user at this stage. The job number only needs to be one that can identify one of the plurality of job data when there are a plurality of job data. For example, the user computer 4A can use a serial number generated by counting up each time job data is received.

  Then, the job data accepted in step S01, the designated MFP accepted in step S02, and the job number assigned in step S03 are transmitted to the printer server 2 (step S04).

  The printer server 2 is in a standby state until job data, a designated MFP, and a job number transmitted from any of the user computers 4A and 4B are received (NO in step S11). Here, those data are received from the user computer 4A. If they are received (YES in step S11), the process proceeds to step S12, and the received job data and job number are transmitted to the designated MFP. For this reason, since the job data is stored in a plurality of designated MFPs, the job data can be backed up. For example, while job data is being read and executed by a specified MFP, even if the print operation is interrupted for some reason such as a paper jam and the job data disappears, the job data is not Since it is stored without being deleted, the job data can be backed up reliably. If there are a plurality of designated MFPs, they are transmitted to all designated MFPs. The printer server stores location information assigned in advance on the network 3 of the MFPs 1A to 1E. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a position information table of the MFP, and IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are associated with the MFPs 1A to 1E as the position information assigned to the respective MFPs 1A to 1E.

  In step S13, the transmission state for each designated MFP is detected (step S13). The printer server 2 and the MFPs 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> E communicate according to a predetermined communication protocol, and it is detected whether the job data and the job number can be normally transmitted by communication according to the communication protocol. The transmission status indicates whether or not the job data and the job number can be transmitted normally.

  A storage location list listing the transmission states for each detected designated MFP is created (step S14). The storage location list is information that is created for each job data and indicates a transmission state for each designated MFP. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage location list. Referring to FIG. 6, the storage location list associates information (job storage status) indicating whether or not job data is stored for each of designated MFPs 1A to 1E (print job transmission destinations). The job storage state is “OK” or “Error”. “OK” indicates that the job data can be normally transmitted from the printer server 2 to the designated MFPs 1A, 1B, and 1D, that is, the job data is stored in the designated MFPs 1A, 1B, and 1D. This indicates that the job data could not be normally transmitted from the server 2 to the designated MFP 1C, that is, the job data is not stored in the designated MFP 1C. This is because the job data received by the receiving MFPs 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> E is stored in the storage unit 104 only when the job data is normally transmitted. The storage location list shown in the drawing indicates that job data is stored in MFPs 1A, 1B, 1D, and 1E among the designated MFPs 1A to 1E, and indicates that job data is not stored in MFP 1C.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the printer server 2 stores the created storage location list in a storage device such as a hard disk (step S15). Then, the job number and the corresponding storage location list are transmitted to the designated MFP (step S16). Note that it is not necessary to transmit to the designated MFP indicating that the transmission status has not been transmitted. This is because the probability of a communication error is high. Note that the storage location list may also be transmitted to a designated MFP to which job data has not been transmitted. Although it may be impossible to transmit again due to a communication error, in the unlikely event that transmission is possible, the user may browse the storage location list on the MFP and confirm the MFP in which the job data is stored, as will be described later. it can.

  On the other hand, designated MFP 1A executes two major processes, a storage process and a print process. The storage process is a process for receiving and storing job data from the printer server 2 (steps S21 to S24), and the print process is a process for executing and printing the job data stored in the storage process (step S21). S25 to step S29). In the figure, these processes are described as a series of processes, but they may be executed independently when job data is received and when a job number is specified.

  First, the storage process will be described. The designated MFP 1A is in a standby state until it receives job data and a job number (NO in step S21). When the designated MFP 1A receives the job data and job number transmitted by the printer server 2 (YES in step S21), the process proceeds to step S22, and the received job data is associated with the job number in the storage unit 104. Remember.

  Next, the process waits until the storage location list and the job number are received (NO in step S23). When the designated MFP 1A receives the storage location list and job number in response to transmission by the printer server 2 (YES in step S23), the process proceeds to step S24, and the storage unit associates the received storage location list with the job number. 104.

  Thereby, the job data and the storage location list are stored in the storage unit 104 in association with the job number. Even when a plurality of job data are received, they are stored in association with the job number together with the storage location list, so that the job data and the storage location list can be specified by the job number.

  Next, print processing will be described. The designated MFP 1A enters a standby state until the designation of the job number is accepted (NO in step S25). The designation of the job number is input by the user operating the operation panel 105 of the designated MFP 1A. For example, a list of all job data stored in the storage unit 104 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 91 of the operation panel 105, and an area in which desired job data is displayed from the list of job data displayed by the user is displayed. A job number is designated by touching with a finger. The job data list may be displayed by listing job numbers, or by including the user name, file name, etc. in the job data, the user name and file name may be displayed separately or in parallel. May be displayed. The designation of the job number may be transmitted from the user computers 4A and 4B to the MFP 1A. In this case, a print instruction specifying a job number may be transmitted unilaterally from the user computers 4A and 4B, or the user computers 4A and 4B and the MFP 1A communicate with each other as described above. Instead of the operation panel 105, a user computer may be operated.

  When designation of the job number is accepted (YES in step S25), designated MFP 1A proceeds to step S26, reads the job data stored in storage unit 104 in association with the job number, and executes the job. The job execution refers to printing the print data included in the job data in accordance with the job mode included in the job data. As a result, when the user desires the print data that the user has transmitted to the designated MFPs 1A to 1E in advance, the desired designated MFP 1A can be printed.

  Next, the storage location list stored in the storage unit 104 in association with the job number designated in step S25 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 91 of the operation panel 105 (step S27). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a storage location list display screen displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. FIG. 7 shows a storage location list display screen displayed on the operation panel of the designated MFP 1A.

  Referring to FIG. 7, storage location list display screen 200 includes a region 201 for displaying a storage location list and a region for displaying three buttons 202, 203, and 204. In an area 202, an item “print job transmission destination” and an item “job storage state” are displayed. Under the “print job transmission destination” item, the designated MFPs 1A to 1E other than the designated MFP 1A are displayed. Here, MFP1B to MFP1C are displayed and MFP1A is not displayed because the storage location list display screen 200 is a screen displayed on MFP1A. The MFP 1A may be displayed. Under the “job storage status” item, “OK” is displayed when job data is stored, and “error” is displayed when the job data is not stored. In FIG. 7, job data is stored in the MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E, and job data is not stored in the MFP 1C.

  The user can confirm in which other MFP the job data printed earlier is stored by browsing the area 201 of the displayed storage location list display screen.

  The button 202 displays the character string “Keep it as it is”, the button 203 displays the character string “Delete print job”, and the button 204 displays the character string “Delete after storage for a fixed time”. The When any of these buttons is touched with a finger, designated MFP 1A executes different processes.

  Returning to FIG. 4, after the storage location list is displayed in step S27, the user waits for an instruction. The user's instruction is input to the MFP 1A when any of the buttons 202, 203, and 204 in the storage location list display screen 200 shown in FIG. 7 is touched with a finger. If the instruction by the user is a deletion instruction, the process proceeds to step S29, and if not, step S29 is skipped and the process ends (step S28). The delete instruction is an instruction input when the button 203 or the button 204 is touched. The instruction input when the button 202 is touched is a storage instruction that is not a deletion instruction.

  If a delete instruction is input, the job number and delete instruction are transmitted to the printer server 2 in step S29. The MFP 1A also deletes the job data stored in the MFP 1A.

  On the storage location list display screen 200, an MFP from which job data is to be deleted may be designated. In this case, a job number and a deletion instruction are transmitted to a specified MFP instructed to delete job data by the user among the specified MFPs that store job data.

  Further, in the MFP 1A, there are two types of deletion instructions: a first deletion instruction and a second deletion instruction. The first deletion instruction is an instruction input when the button 203 is touched. When the first deletion instruction is input, the MFP 1A transmits the job number and the deletion instruction to the printer server 2 as soon as the button 203 is touched. In the printer server 2, a deletion instruction is transmitted to the other MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E. As a result, unnecessary job data can be easily deleted from all the other designated MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E that store the job data.

  The second deletion instruction is an instruction input when the button 204 is touched. When the second deletion instruction is input, the MFP 1A displays a time input screen in association with the touch of the button 204. After the time input on the time input screen has elapsed, the MFP 1A displays the job number and the deletion instruction. 2 to send. As a result, the job data is stored in the other MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E and the backed up state can be maintained for a certain period of time until a certain period of time designated by the user elapses. The time until deletion is performed may be set in advance instead of being input each time. The deletion instruction may be output from the MFP 1A after a lapse of a certain period of time after receiving the instruction, or when the deletion instruction is received, the time information until deletion execution and the deletion instruction may be output.

  On the other hand, the printer server 2 is in a standby state until a job number and a deletion instruction are received from any of the designated MFPs 1A, 1B, 1D, and 1E that store job data (step S17). Actually, when a job number and a deletion instruction are received, an interrupt is generated and the process proceeds to step S18. As described above, MFP 1A reads out job data and transmits a delete instruction after executing the job. Therefore, receiving the delete instruction corresponds to detection of MFP 1A that has read the job data and executed the job. Reading job data and executing a job is also simply referred to as job output.

  In step S18, the storage location list stored in step S15 is read, and MFPs 1A, 1B, 1D, and 1E that store job data are specified. Then, the job number and the deletion instruction are transmitted to the other MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E except for the MFP 1A that has transmitted the job number and the deletion instruction. The network addresses of the other MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E as the transmission destinations are obtained from the location information table of the MFP shown in FIG. 5 stored in advance.

  In MFP 1A, when an MFP from which job data is to be deleted, for example, MFP 1B, is specified, information specifying the specified MFP 1B is received from MFP 1A, and the job number and deletion are specified in MFP 1B specified by the information. Instructions are sent.

  In step S29, the MFP 1A may directly transmit the job number and the deletion instruction to the other MFPs 1B, 1D, and 1E without transmitting them to the printer server 2. In this case, as the designated MFP to be transmitted, the designated MFP that stores the job data is acquired from the storage location list stored in the storage unit 104 in association with the job number. As the network address of the designated MFP as the transmission destination, the MFP location information table shown in FIG. 5 may be stored in advance in the storage unit 104 of the MFP 1A, or the storage location list is received from the printer server 2. At this time, it may be received from the printer server 2.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of deletion processing executed by the MPF. In the figure, a case where the deletion process is executed by the MFP 1B will be described as an example. MFP 1B enters a standby state until a job number and a deletion instruction are received (NO in step S31). When the job number and the deletion instruction are received, the process proceeds to step S32. Here, step S29 of the process shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the MFP 1A, and the job number and the deletion instruction from the MFP 1A are received via the printer server 2. In step S <b> 32, the job data stored in the storage unit 104 in association with the received job number is deleted from the storage unit 104. As a result, unnecessary job data is deleted. The same processing is performed when the job number and the deletion instruction are directly transmitted from the operated MFP 1A without going through the printer server 2.

  In the present embodiment, the printer server 2 and the user computers 4A and 4B are separated, but the user computers 4A and 4B may have the function of the printer server 2.

  The embodiments described above include the following inventions.

(1) input means for inputting an output instruction for the print job from the outside;
Output means for outputting the print job in response to an input of the output instruction,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction receiving unit receives the deletion instruction in response to an input of the output instruction.

(2) The image forming apparatus according to (1),
Deletion instruction input promoting means for outputting a signal for prompting the input of the deletion instruction in response to the input of the output instruction.

  (3) The image formation according to claim 2, wherein the display unit separately displays other devices to which the print job has been transmitted by separating a device storing the print job from a device not storing the print job. apparatus.

(4) A management server for managing a plurality of printing apparatuses,
Transmitting means for transmitting a print job to at least two of the plurality of printing devices;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not at least two printing apparatuses that have transmitted the print job have received the print job;
Storage means for storing the information specifying the print job and the detected result in association with each other;
Detecting means for detecting that the print job is output by any one of at least two printing apparatuses that have transmitted the print job;
On the condition that an instruction to delete the print job is received from the printing apparatus in which the output of the print job is detected, the printing apparatus that stores the print job is specified according to the state information stored in the storage unit And a delete instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to delete the print job.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 is a diagram showing an overview of a printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an outline of functions of an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel provided in the MFP. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the printing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a position information table of an MFP. It is a figure showing an example of a preservation place list. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a storage location list display screen displayed on the operation panel of the MFP. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the deletion process performed by MPF.

Explanation of symbols

  1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E MFP, 2 printer server, 3 network, 4A, 4B user computer, 10 print system, 91 liquid crystal touch panel, 100 control unit, 101 image reader unit, 102 printer unit, 103 communication unit, 104 storage unit, 105 operation panel, 200 storage location list display screen.

Claims (9)

Print job receiving means for receiving a print job;
Specific information receiving means for receiving specific information for specifying other devices to which the print job has been transmitted;
Storage means for storing the received print job in association with the specific information;
Instruction receiving means for receiving a deletion instruction indicating whether or not to delete the print job;
Deletion instruction transmission means for identifying the other device based on the identification information and transmitting the deletion instruction to the identified other device on condition that the deletion instruction is accepted. Image forming apparatus. The specific information includes status information indicating whether the other device stores the print job,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the specific information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion instruction is output to the computer so as to be instructed to the other device via the computer that has transmitted the print job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion instruction is controlled to execute deletion after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the instruction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined time is input by a user together with acceptance of a deletion instruction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined time is set in advance separately from reception of a deletion instruction. Receiving a print job;
Receiving specific information for specifying another device to which the print job is transmitted;
Storing the received print job in association with the specific information;
Receiving a deletion instruction indicating whether or not to delete the print job;
The step of identifying the other device based on the identification information and transmitting the deletion instruction to the identified other device on the condition that the deletion instruction has been received. Print job management program to be executed. A print job management program executed by a computer that manages a plurality of printing apparatuses,
Transmitting a print job to at least two of the plurality of printing devices;
Detecting whether the at least two printing devices that have transmitted the print job have received the print job;
Storing the information specifying the print job and the detected result in association with each other;
Detecting that the print job has been output by any one of at least two printing apparatuses that have transmitted the print job;
On the condition that an instruction to delete the print job is received from a printing apparatus in which the output of the print job is detected, a printing apparatus that stores the print job is specified according to the stored detection result, and the printing is performed. A print job management program that causes a computer to execute a step of transmitting an instruction to delete a job. The print job management program according to claim 8, wherein the detecting step includes a step of detecting a communication error while transmitting the print job.

Images