JP2007125850A - Imaging device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of an imaging device by a user when a job loaded in the imaging device and remaining unprocessed is transferred to another imaging device. <P>SOLUTION: Image data remaining unprocessed for an imaging process in the imaging device, are retained correspondingly with identification information and the identification information is registered in an external device. Further, another imaging device which receives an input of the identification information from the external device sends the identification information to the imaging device. In addition, the imaging device sends image data corresponding to the received identification information to the other imaging device, and executes an imaging process of the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of receiving and printing print data from a host computer and other image forming apparatuses, and a control method thereof.

  There is a printing apparatus that receives print data described in PDL (page description language) from a host computer or the like, converts the PDL data into image data, and prints the image data. A printing apparatus that can communicate with a plurality of host computers via a network may receive print data from a plurality of host computers at one time. In such a case, the user who has requested printing to the printing apparatus may have to wait for a considerable time until the requested print data is printed in order to process the previously submitted print job. Furthermore, there are cases where printing is awaited when an error occurs in the printing apparatus.

Patent Document 1 describes that a plurality of print jobs input to a printing apparatus are displayed in a list, the designated print job is transferred to another printing apparatus, and printing processing is performed by the other apparatus. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the print processing is waited for by a print job that has been input first, or the print processing is waited for by an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus.
JP 2005-156762 A

  However, in the above conventional technique, for example, it is necessary to select another printing apparatus from the operation screen of the printing apparatus in which a print job is input, and the user's operation for selecting a desired printing apparatus is complicated. . It is also difficult to confirm the location and status of the actually selected printing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made for such a problem, and further improves the operability of the user when a job that has been input to an image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus and is in an unprocessed state is moved to another image forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a method thereof.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives image data transmitted from an information processing device, and an image forming unit that performs image forming processing based on the image data received by the receiving unit. Means, holding means for holding a plurality of image data for which the image forming process has not been processed, registration means for registering identification information corresponding to each of the plurality of image data held in the holding means in an external device, In response to registration of identification information by the registration means, control means for controlling the image forming processing of image data corresponding to the registered identification information not to be executed, and the identification information from the external device Identification information receiving means for receiving the identification information from another input image forming apparatus, and an image corresponding to the identification information received by the identification information receiving means. Data, and a transmitting means for transmitting to said another image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the operability of the user when moving a job that has been input to the image forming apparatus and is in an unprocessed state to another image forming apparatus is improved.

Example 1
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming system for carrying out the present invention. An information processing apparatus 101 such as a host computer can convert a figure or text created by a user using application software into PDL data and send it to the image forming apparatus in accordance with an instruction from the user. is there. Reference numeral 102 denotes a network line such as a LAN. The host computer 101 is also connected to the network line 102, and can communicate with other computers and network devices via the network. Reference numerals 103 and 104 denote multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as MFPs), which have a copy function, a FAX transmission / reception function, a function for printing out PDL data transmitted from the personal computer in response to an instruction from the personal computer 101, and the like. Further, the MFPs 103 and 104 are also provided with a reader function for reading information on a non-contact IC and a writer function for writing information on the non-contact IC. Reference numeral 105 denotes a user who operates a host computer 101 and MFPs 103 and 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes an ID card owned by the user, to which a non-contact IC indicated by 107 is added. The reader / writer function of the MFPs 103 and 104 can be used to cause the MFP side to read information, and conversely, information can be written from the MFP.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the inside of the multifunction device 200.
2 in FIG. 2 is roughly divided into an image reader unit 201 that reads an original image and a printer unit 202 that reproduces image data read by the image reader unit 201. The image reader unit 201 is a part that reads a document with a resolution of 400 dpi (dots / inch) and performs digital signal processing. The printer unit 202 is a part that outputs an image corresponding to the original image read by the image reader unit 201 to a specified sheet at a resolution of 1200 dpi on a full color. In the image reader unit 201, a document 204 on a document table glass (hereinafter, platen) 203 is irradiated with a lamp 205. Thereafter, an image is formed on a three-line sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 210 that is guided to the mirrors 206, 207, and 208 and converts the collected light into an electric signal by the lens 209. Then, the full color information red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components are sent to the signal processing unit 211. The carriages 205 and 206 are fixed at a speed of v, and 207 and 208 are at a speed of 1/2 v by mechanically moving in the direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction of the line sensor. Is scanned (sub-scanning). The read image is stored in a memory (not shown). Next, the image data is read again from the inside of the memory, and the signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read image signal to obtain magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), black (Bk). ) And sent to the printer unit 202. In addition, one component of M, C, Y, and Bk is sent to the printer unit 202 for one document scan in the image reader unit 201, and one printout is performed by a total of four document scans. Complete. M, C, Y, and Bk image signals sent from the image reader unit 201 are sent to the laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 in accordance with the transmitted image signal. The laser beam scans on the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216. Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing unit, which includes a magenta developing unit 219, a cyan developing unit 220, a yellow developing unit 221, and a black developing unit 222. The four developing units are alternately in contact with the photosensitive drum 217 and formed on the photosensitive drum. The latent image development is developed with toner. A transfer drum 223 winds a sheet supplied from the sheet cassette 224 or 225 around the transfer drum 223, and transfers an image developed on the photosensitive drum onto the sheet. In this way, after the four colors M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially transferred, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 226 and is discharged after the toner is fixed on the sheet.

  FIG. 3 shows in detail the configuration of the part of the MFP that processes the electrical signal of the printer unit that prints on a recording medium such as paper. Reference numeral 310 denotes a CPU for controlling each part of the printer. A RAM 302 temporarily stores the results calculated by the CPU and image data handled by the printer. A ROM 303 stores a program for operating the CPU, font data for generating image data, and the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes a local bus to which the CPU, RAM, and ROM are connected. Reference numeral 305 denotes an I / O bus, which is an internal bus for function expansion. Reference numeral 306 denotes a bridge circuit for connecting the local bus and the I / O bus. A printer unit 307 is a part for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. There are various types of printer units such as an electrophotographic system and a bubble jet (registered trademark) system. A printer interface unit 308 is used to connect the printer unit to the I / O bus, and can transfer image data stored in the RAM 302 to the printer unit 307 in accordance with instructions from the CPU. It is. A hard disk drive 309 is used for spooling image data and storing programs for the CPU 301 to perform various processes. Reference numeral 311 denotes a network interface controller, which is used to connect to the local area network shown at 14 in FIG. An image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) 312 is for performing image processing such as resolution conversion. A raster image processor 313 develops image data in a page description language transferred from the outside via a network interface circuit 311 into a bitmap image according to an instruction from the CPU 301. Furthermore, it is used for storing the bitmap data developed in the RAM 302. Reference numeral 314 denotes a video RAM into which display data displayed on an external CRT or LCD panel by the CPU is written. A video interface 315 serves as an interface for displaying display data stored in the VRAM on an external CRT or LCD panel. Reference numeral 316 denotes an extended I / O interface, which is an interface circuit for allowing the CPU of 301 to communicate with a portable device, for example. Communication forms include forms such as serial communication, wireless communication such as Bicentro interface or Bluetooth. Reference numeral 500 denotes an RFID reader / writer unit for reading / writing data from / to an RFID described later by wireless communication.

  FIG. 4 shows in detail the configuration of the portion of the MFP that processes the electrical signal of the scanner unit. Reference numeral 401 denotes a CPU for controlling each part of the scanner. A RAM 402 temporarily stores the results calculated by the CPU and image data read by the scanner. A ROM 403 stores a program for operating the CPU. Reference numeral 404 denotes a local bus to which the CPU, RAM, and ROM are connected. Reference numeral 405 denotes an I / O bus, which is an internal bus for function expansion. Reference numeral 406 denotes a bridge circuit for connecting the local bus and the I / O bus. A scanner unit 407 converts an optical signal read from a document placed on a document table (not shown) into electronic data using a CCD or the like, and transfers the electronic data. Reference numeral 408 denotes a scanner interface unit for connecting the scanner unit to the I / O bus. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU, electronic data obtained by reading a document transferred from the scanner is transferred to a RAM 402. It is possible. A network interface controller 410 is used to connect to the local area network indicated by 14 in FIG. Reference numeral 409 denotes an image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) for performing image processing such as resolution conversion. Reference numeral 411 denotes an extended I / O interface, which is an interface circuit for allowing the CPU of 401 to communicate with a portable device, for example. Communication forms include forms such as serial communication, wireless communication such as Bicentro interface or Bluetooth. Reference numeral 500 denotes an RFID reader / writer unit for reading / writing data from / to an RFID described later by wireless communication.

  The reader / writer unit 500 for reading or writing the non-contact IC attached to the document reading unit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The reader / writer unit 500 includes a transmission antenna unit 501 for transmitting radio waves to the non-contact IC unit 600 shown in FIG. 6 and a modulation circuit 502 for modulating radio waves transmitted from the transmission antenna. Also, a receiving antenna unit 503 for receiving radio waves transmitted from a non-contact IC unit 600, a demodulating circuit 504 for demodulating a signal received from the receiving antenna unit of 503, and a transmitting antenna unit 501; A modulation circuit 502 and a reception antenna unit 503 are further included. In addition, a control unit 505 for controlling the demodulation circuit 504, an I / F unit 506 that communicates with a host device, and a power source that is connected to the transmission antenna unit 501 and supplies power to the 600 contactless IC 507 is further included.

  The control unit 505 modulates a radio wave for supplying power and data to be transmitted using a modulation circuit 502 according to an instruction from the outside, and transmits the radio wave from the transmission antenna unit 501 to the outside. In addition, a radio signal received from the outside can be received by the receiving antenna unit 503, demodulated by the demodulation circuit 504, and then converted to be handled as a data signal.

  6, the non-contact IC unit 600 will be described in detail. The non-contact IC unit 600 modulates and demodulates a radio wave 605, a non-volatile memory 601, an antenna unit 602, a resonance capacitor unit 603, a power forming unit rectifying and smoothing a power source 604 And a control unit 606. The antenna portion 602 is combined with a resonance capacitor 603 so that a resonance circuit can be configured. When a radio wave signal for supplying power is sent from the outside, it is received by a resonance circuit and supplied to the power generation unit indicated by 604, and the power generation unit of 604 operates 600 non-contact ICs. Therefore, it becomes possible to supply electric power. The power is supplied to a non-volatile memory 601 and a post-modulation circuit 605. A control unit 606 is used to control 600 non-contact IC units. Along with radio waves for supplying power from the outside, data for reading or writing in from the non-contact IC unit is also transmitted and received at the same time. The signal sent to the non-contact IC unit 600 is demodulated by the post-modulation circuit 605 and stored in the non-volatile memory 601 through the control unit 606. The data read from the non-volatile memory 601 by the control unit 606 is modulated by the post-modulation circuit 605 and can be transmitted as a radio signal from the antenna unit 602.

  Next, in the system according to the present embodiment, a process from printing of PDL data received from the host computer 101 via the network 102 onto a recording medium such as paper will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step in FIG. 7 is processed by the CPU 301 of the printer unit in FIG. 3 reading out a predetermined program stored in the ROM, HD, etc. to the RAM and executing it.

  First, in step S701, the CPU 301 initializes a network interface controller (hereinafter referred to as NIC) indicated by 311 in FIG. Thereafter, the CPU 301 sets an address on the RAM 302 for storing the received data, and activates the DMA controller built in the NIC 311. As a result, data received from the network can be transferred to a predetermined area of the RAM 302.

  In step S702, the process waits until PDL data is received from the host computer from the network. When PDL data is received from the network 102, the PDL data is transferred to the RAM 302 by the DMAC inside the NIC 311.

  Next, in step S703, the CPU 301 removes the header portion of the network packet from the PDL data transferred to the RAM 102. Further, the CPU 301 assigns a unique ID so that the PDL data stored in the HDD 309 and other PDL data can be managed separately. The allocated ID information and the user ID information are associated with each other and stored in the RAM 302 as file management information. Here, it is assumed that the user ID information is received separately from the PDL data or as information added to the PDL data when the PDL data is received from the host computer 101.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of file management information stored in the RAM 302. As shown in FIG. 8, the job ID information assigned to identify the PDL data by the CPU 301, the ID information of the user who transmitted the PDL data, and the information on the head sector when the data is stored on the HDD 309, respectively. Associated and stored. As a result, the CPU 301 can recognize from the file management information on the RAM 302 where the data matching the job ID or user ID is stored on the HDD 309.

  In step S <b> 704, in order to temporarily store the PDL data in the HDD 309, the CPU 301 performs initial setting of the IDE I / F 310 and activation of the DMAC for the HDD 309. As a result, the PDL data stored in the RAM 302 is transferred to the HDD 309.

  In step S <b> 705, the CPU 301 stores the PDL data temporarily stored in the HDD 309 in step S <b> 704 on the RAM 302 again. Specifically, the initialization of the IDE I / F 310 and the activation of the DMAC for the HDD 309 are performed, and the PDL data is retransferred to the RAM 302 again.

  Next, the CPU 301 reads the PDL data stored on the RAM 302 in the process of S706, and converts the PDL data into an intermediate data format that can be handled by the RIP 313 so that the RIP 313 converts the data into bitmap data. Then, the converted intermediate data is stored in the RAM 302.

  Next, in the processing of S707, the CPU 301 initializes and activates the RIP 313, thereby reading intermediate data stored in the RAM 302 by the DMAC in which the RIP 313 is built. Then, a bitmap image is generated, and the generated bitmap image is written to the RAM 302.

  Next, in step S <b> 708, the CPU 301 stores the bitmap image stored in the RAM 302 in the initial setting of the IDE I / F 310 and DMAC activation for the HDD 309 and stored in the RAM 302.

  Next, in step S709, the CPU 301 communicates with the printer 307, activates the DMAC in the printer I / F 308, and reads the bitmap data stored in the RAM 302 without the intervention of the CPU 301. . Then, by transferring the data to the printer unit 307, the printer unit 307 performs a printing process on a recording medium such as paper. When the printing process is completed, all the processes are completed.

  Next, a process when the MFP is processing another print job, for example, or when the print process cannot be performed immediately due to an error such as a paper jam will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing in the MFP until the user acquires information on PDL data in the MFP using an ID card owned by the user. Each step in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is processed by the CPU 301 of the printer unit of FIG. 3 reading a predetermined program stored in the ROM, HD, or the like into the RAM and executing it.

  First, in the processing of S901, the CPU 301 waits until an interrupt signal from the RFID I / F 500 is input. When the user 105 holds the user's own ID card 106 over the MFP and the RFID I / F 500 of the MFP detects the RFID 107 built in the ID card 106, the RFID I / F 500 notifies the CPU 301 of an interrupt signal.

  When the user 105 holds the ID card 106 over the MFP and an interrupt signal from the RFID I / F 500 is notified to the CPU 301, the process proceeds to S902.

  In step S <b> 902, the CPU 301 reads information from the RFID 107 built in the ID card 106 and reads user ID information stored in the RFID 107. At this time, if the user ID information is “tanaka”, the CPU 301 recognizes that the user 105 whose user ID information is “tanaka” is operating.

  Next, in step S903, the CPU 301 searches the file management information stored in the RAM 302 shown in FIG. 8, and PDL data corresponding to the user ID “tanaka” is stored on the HDD 309 inside the MFP. Search for whether or not it exists.

  As a result of the search, if it is detected that the PDL data of job ID # 1023 is stored in the HDD 309 as shown in FIG. 8, the process proceeds to S905.

  On the other hand, if the PDL data corresponding to the input user ID is not stored in the HDD 309, the process proceeds to S <b> 904 and a message indicating that the job transmitted by the user is not stored on the operation unit is displayed. Terminate the process.

  In step S905, the CPU 301 reads job ID information from the RAM. Further, when the file management information also stores the reception time of the PDL data received from the network 102, the information is also read.

  In step S906, the job ID of PDL data stored in the HDD 309 and other information are displayed on the operation unit. When there are a plurality of jobs corresponding to the input user ID, a list of a plurality of jobs is displayed in a list format.

  Next, when the user 105 viewing the information displayed on the operation unit uses the operation unit of the MFP to instruct a PDL data transfer request, the CPU 301 shifts the process to S908. If there are a plurality of jobs displayed on the operation unit in S906, the user can designate a desired job and instruct a data transfer request.

  On the other hand, if the user does not make a PDL data transfer request in the process of S907, the CPU 301 ends all the processes.

  In step S <b> 908, the CPU 301 performs an operation of writing job ID information read from the RAM 302, here, a number # 1023, to the RFID 107 built in the user ID card 106 of the user 105 via the RFID I / F 500. Specifically, a message such as “Hold the ID card over the MFP” is displayed on the operation unit, and the job ID information is written on the held ID card.

  Further, the CPU 301 writes the IP address of the MFP uniquely assigned on the network 102 to the RFID 107 via the RFID I / F 500.

  In this way, simply by holding the ID card 106 owned by the user 105, job ID information for specifying PDL data stored in the MFP and an IP address for specifying the MFP on the network 102 are obtained. It becomes possible to acquire easily.

  Next, a process for causing the other MFP to perform a printing process using the ID card 106 incorporating the RFID 107 in which the job ID and the IP address of the MFP are written will be described using the flowchart of FIG. . Hereinafter, an MFP that has received PDL data from a host computer (that is, an MFP that performs the processing of FIGS. 7 and 9) is described as a first MFP, and an MFP that acquires print data from the first MFP is described as a second MFP. . The flowchart in FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation in the second MFP. Each step shown in FIG. 10 is processed by the CPU of the second MFP (CPU 301 shown in FIG. 3) executing a program stored in the memory.

  First, in the processing of S1001, the CPU 301 stands by until there is a transfer request indicating that the user 105 operates the operation unit of the second MFP and acquires PDL data from the first MFP. In step S1001, when the user 105 notifies the CPU 301 of the transfer request by operating the operation unit of the second MFP, the CPU 301 detects the interrupt request from the operation unit, and the process proceeds to step S1002.

  In step S <b> 1002, the user 105 waits until the user holds the owned ID card 106 over the second MFP. When the user 105 holds the ID card 106 over the second MFP, the RFID I / F 500 detects the RFID 107 and notifies the CPU 301 by interruption.

  When the interrupt signal is notified from the RFID I / F 500, the CPU 301 next reads the job ID information written in the RFID 107 as described above in the processing of S1003.

  Further, in the processing of S1004, the CPU 301 reads the IP address on the network of the first MFP that is similarly written in the RFID 107.

  The CPU 301 that has read the IP address information notifies the first MFP via the network 312 of the PDL data transfer request via the NIC 311 in the process of S1005.

  If the first MFP accepts a PDL data transfer request and cannot transfer PDL data due to some cause, the first MFP notifies that the PDL data cannot be transferred. In this case, the process proceeds to S1007, the operation unit of the second MFP is notified that PDL data cannot be transferred, and all the processes are terminated. As a factor in this case, a case where the power of the first MFP is turned off is considered.

  In the process of S1006, when notified from the first MFP that the PDL data transfer request is accepted, the CPU 301 moves the process to S1008, and acquires job ID information for identifying the user's PDL data read from the RFID 107. Send to the first MFP.

  Next, after the job ID information is transmitted in the process of S1109, if the first MFP cannot transfer the PDL data indicated by the job ID for some reason, the process proceeds to S1007 to indicate that the data transfer cannot be performed. And finish all processing.

  In the process of S1009, when receiving that the first MFP can transfer the PDL data, the CPU 301 shifts the process to S1010 and receives the PDL data from the first data. Thereafter, as described above, image data is formed and output on a recording medium such as paper in accordance with the flow from S704 onward in FIG.

  When the first MFP finishes transferring the PDL data to the second MFP, the CPU 301 inside the first MFP deletes the PDL data stored in the HDD 309. Further, the job ID and user ID information corresponding to the transferred PDL data is deleted from the file management information shown in FIG. 8 stored in the RAM 302 in the first MFP. Thus, all the PDL data transfer processing is completed.

  As described above, when the first MFP cannot immediately print the PDL data received from the host computer, the second MFP can be used to print the PDL data. In the above embodiment, when data is to be transferred from the first MFP to the second MFP, there is a possibility that print processing has already started in the first MFP. In this case, printing processing is performed in both the first MFP and the second MFP, and printing paper is wasted. Therefore, in step S908 of FIG. 9, the print processing of the written job in the first MFP may be stopped in accordance with the processing of writing the job ID into the RFID on the user ID card. Thereby, it is possible to prevent printing from being duplicated with the printing processing by the second MFP.

(Example 2)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the image processing system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  According to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process from the host computer 101 to the user MFP 105 transmits PDL data to the first MFP and the file management information on the RAM 302 is formed as shown in FIG. is there.

  The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that PDL data is transferred from the first MFP only by operating the second MFP without the user operating the first MFP. is there.

  This operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 11 shows an operation flow of the CPU 301 in the second MFP in FIG.

  First, in step S1101, the CPU 301 waits until the user 105 operates the operation unit of the second MFP and requests to transfer PDL data from another first MFP.

  When the user 105 operates the operation unit of the second MFP to make a transfer request for PDL data, the CPU 301 detects that a transfer request has been made by an interrupt signal from the operation unit. Next, the CPU 301 requests the operation unit from which IP address of the MFP to transfer the PDL data, and requests the user 105 to input the IP address. The user 105 can directly input the IP address using the operation. In addition, the IP address of the MFP used as a default is stored in advance in the RFID 107 built in the ID card 106 owned by the user 105. The IP address information can be notified to the CPU 301 via the RFID I / F 500 by holding the RFID 107 over the second MFP.

  In step S <b> 1103, the CPU 301 acquires the IP address of the first MFP when the user 105 performs an operation.

  Next, in step S1104, the CPU 301 displays a user authentication request on the second operation unit to the user 105, and requests that the ID card 106 owned by the user 105 be held over the second MFP.

  Next, after the ID card of the user 105 is held over, the CPU 301 in the second MFP that has acquired the IP address accesses the IP address designated in the processing of S1105, and the first MFP can transfer the data. Inquire whether or not. If the first MFP cannot transfer data via the network 102 for some reason, the CPU 301 in the second MFP determines that the PDL data transfer process cannot be performed in step S1106. Display on the operation unit.

  In step S1105, the CPU 301 in the second MFP that has detected that data can be transferred to the first MFP accesses the RFID 107 in the ID card 106 owned by the user 105 from the RFID I / F 500. . Then, the user ID information is acquired, and the user ID information is transmitted in the process of S1107. If the user ID of the user 105 is “tanaka”, this ID information is transmitted, and the job ID assigned to the PDL data transmitted by “tanaka” to the first MFP is held inside the first MFP. Inquire whether or not.

  Next, when the first MFP is notified that the PDL data transmitted by “tanaka” in step S1108 is not held in the first MFP, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S1106. In step S1106, a message indicating that the PDL data transfer process cannot be continued is displayed on the operation unit of the second MFP.

  Next, in the processing of S1108, the CPU 301 in the second MFP notified that the PDL data transmitted by “takana” can be transferred from the first MFP advances the processing to S1109. In step S <b> 1109, the CPU 301 displays the reception time of the data, if there is the ID information of the job or the reception time of the PDL data added to the file management information of FIG. 8, on the operation unit of the second MFP. . If there are a plurality of PDL data transmitted by “tanaka”, the job ID information of all the PDL data is displayed, and the user is prompted to input the PDL data corresponding to the job ID information. .

  In step S1110, when the CPU 301 detects that the user has selected the job ID by operating the operation unit of the second MFP, the process advances to step S1111.

  In the processing of S1111, the network 102 is accessed via the NIC 311, and the job ID information selected by the user 105 is transmitted to the first MFP. If the first MFP that has received the job ID information cannot transfer the PDL data for some reason, a notification is sent to the second MFP via the network 102. If the CPU 301 in the second MFP detects that the first MFP cannot transfer PDL data, the process advances to step S1106. In step S1106, the operation unit of the second MFP is notified that the PDL data transfer process cannot be continued, and all the processes are terminated.

  If it is determined in step S1112 that the first MFP can transfer PDL data, the process advances to step S1113.

  In step S1113, the CPU 301 in the second MFP receives the PDL data from the first data, and then forms image data on a recording medium such as paper according to the flow from step S704 in FIG. 7 as described above. And output.

  When the first MFP finishes transferring the PDL data to the second MFP, the CPU 301 inside the first MFP deletes the PDL data stored in the HDD 309. Further, the job ID and user ID information corresponding to the transferred PDL data is deleted from the file management information shown in FIG. 8 stored in the RAM 302 in the first MFP. Thus, all the PDL data transfer processing is completed.

  According to the second embodiment, when the first MFP cannot immediately process the PDL data received from the host computer, the second MFP can be used without operating the first MFP. Printing processing for PDL data can be performed.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile device, and the like) including a single device You may apply to.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, it is needless to say that an OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Yes.

  Further, the program code read from the recording medium is written into a memory provided in an extension function board inserted into the computer or a function extension unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instructions in the program code, the case where the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a multifunction machine. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer controller. FIG. It is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the scanner controller. It is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the non-contact IC reader / writer. It is a block diagram showing the non-contact IC internal configuration. It is the flowchart explaining the operation | movement which converts PDL data into bitmap data and outputs. It is the schematic which shows file management information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which a user acquires data from a first MFP to an RFID. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of transferring data from the first MFP to the second MFP. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of transferring data from the first MFP to the second MFP.

Explanation of symbols

101 Host computer 102 Network line 103, 104 MFP (MFP)
106 ID card 107 RFID

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus,
Receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
Image forming means for performing image forming processing based on image data received by the receiving means;
Holding means for holding a plurality of image data that has not undergone the image forming process;
Registration means for registering identification information corresponding to each of a plurality of image data held in the holding means in an external device;
Control means for controlling the image forming processing of the image data corresponding to the registered identification information not to be executed in response to the identification information being registered by the registration means;
Identification information receiving means for receiving the identification information from another image forming apparatus to which the identification information is input from the external device;
Transmitting means for transmitting image data corresponding to the identification information received by the identification information receiving means to the other image forming apparatus;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the image data received by the receiving unit in association with the identification information.   The reception means receives user identification information for identifying a user together with the image data, and the storage means stores the image data, the identification information, and the user identification information in association with each other. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2.   User identification information receiving means for receiving the user identification information from the external device is further included, and the registration means stores the identification information stored in association with the user identification information received by the user identification information receiving means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is registered in the external apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deleting unit that deletes the image data in response to transmitting the image data to another image forming apparatus by the transmitting unit. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a card having a non-contact IC. An image forming apparatus control method comprising:
A receiving step for receiving image data transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
An image forming step of performing an image forming process based on the image data received in the receiving step;
A holding step for holding a plurality of image data in which the image forming process is unprocessed in a storage unit;
A registration step of registering identification information corresponding to each of a plurality of image data held in the storage unit in an external device;
A control step for controlling not to execute the image forming process of image data corresponding to the registered identification information in response to the identification information being registered by the registration step;
An identification information receiving step of receiving the identification information from another image forming apparatus to which the identification information is input from the external device;
A transmission step of transmitting image data corresponding to the identification information received by the identification information reception step to the other image forming apparatus;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising:

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