JP4337557B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a remote operation device that remotely controls the image forming apparatus via a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine that forms and outputs an image on a recording medium such as paper, and a remote operation device such as a PC (Personal Computer) that remotely operates the image forming apparatus via a communication network are provided. Various image forming systems have been devised (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  In the image forming apparatus, an image forming job is created / changed (hereinafter collectively referred to as editing) and executed based on various processing requests input from the operation unit of the main body of the image forming apparatus or the remote operation device. The

  The image forming job is control data including image data to be output and a job ticket for the image data. The job ticket is, for example, output as a booklet, stapling, punching, This is control data for defining output conditions for image data such as double-sided / single-sided printing, paper selection, magnification, number of output copies, image shift amount, stamp position, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus performs exclusive processing when editing the job ticket, and determines whether the input output condition (edit contents) can be processed simultaneously with the already registered output condition, one by one, Control to register only output conditions that can be processed simultaneously in the job ticket. Here, the exclusive process is a process for determining whether or not another function setting or printing is possible based on the machine condition of the image forming apparatus and the prohibition condition of the function setting. For example, according to such exclusive processing, when the function “output as a booklet” is selected, the function “single-sided printing” cannot be selected because it is always duplex printing in the case of a booklet. However, since the “shift amount” does not represent a function, it can be changed regardless of other function setting situations. When the function “shift” is selected, other function setting states are referred to.

This output condition is divided into those that require exclusive processing and those that do not. Output conditions that require exclusive processing are, for example, stapling, punching, double-sided / single-sided printing, etc. Output conditions that do not require exclusive processing are, for example, the number of copies, image shift amount, stamp position, etc. is there.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-306204 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-357072 JP 2002-281195 A

However, the above prior art has the following problems.
When editing a job ticket of an image forming apparatus from a remote operation apparatus, since the exclusive process is performed in the image forming apparatus, the remote operation apparatus accesses the image forming apparatus every time an output condition is newly input. Therefore, the exclusion process must be requested for the new output condition. For this reason, even though the job ticket of the image forming apparatus is edited by the remote operation apparatus, a large load is applied to the image forming apparatus, which is inefficient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a remote operation device that remotely operates the image forming apparatus via a network when a job ticket is edited by the remote operation device. This is to reduce the load on the image forming apparatus.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1
In an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on job data ; and a remote operation device for remotely operating the image forming apparatus via a network.
The image forming apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing, as job data, an image forming job including image data to be output and a job ticket that is data defining output conditions for the image data;
A control unit for updating job data in the storage unit based on a job ticket edited by the remote operation device;
With
The remote control device is:
An exclusive processing unit that performs exclusive processing on the edited contents of the job ticket;
When a job list is acquired from the image forming apparatus according to the input instruction and a job ticket for the selected job is acquired from the job list , and then an editing instruction for the job ticket is input, the instruction is issued. A remote operation control unit that controls to perform exclusive processing on the edited content using the exclusive processing unit;
It is provided with.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1,
The exclusive processing unit preferably has the same function as the exclusive processing unit included in the image forming apparatus.

Further, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, as in the invention according to claim 3,
The remote control unit is
It is preferable that the content of the next editable job ticket is specified based on the processing result of the exclusive processing, and whether or not an edit instruction can be input is controlled based on the content of the specified editable job ticket.

  According to the present invention, when editing a job ticket of an image forming apparatus from a remote operation apparatus, the remote operation apparatus accesses the image forming apparatus every time a new editing instruction is input to the job ticket. There is no need to request execution of exclusive processing for the edited content. For this reason, the exclusive processing is not performed at all in the image forming apparatus, so that the load on the image forming apparatus can be greatly reduced.

The configuration of the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10 and a remote operation device 20 for remotely operating the image forming apparatus 10 via a network N.

  Here, the image forming apparatus 10 is, for example, a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, a scanner, or a complex machine of these, and the remote operation apparatus 20 is a PC or the like. The network N is assumed to be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), etc., but is not limited to a telephone line network, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line network, an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Suscriber Line) line network. It may be configured to include various communication lines such as a mobile communication network, a communication satellite line, a CATV (CAble TeleVision) line, an optical communication line, and a wireless communication line.

Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image formation control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, an image forming unit 16, and the like, and these units are connected to each other via a bus 17. .

  The image formation control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown). Here, the CPU performs a variety of programs stored in the ROM using a predetermined area of the RAM as a work area, and comprehensively controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. In particular, the image formation control unit 11 executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The image formation control unit 11 includes an exclusive processing unit 11a that performs an exclusive process when editing a job ticket. When a job ticket editing instruction is input via the operation unit 13, the image forming control unit 11 edits the job ticket using the exclusive processing unit 11a. Then, the job data 12a is updated based on the edited job ticket. In this job ticket, information for determining whether or not exclusive processing is necessary for each item indicating the output condition is recorded.

  Here, the exclusive processing unit 11a may represent a function of a program stored in the ROM of the image formation control unit 11, or may represent hardware in the image formation control unit 11. May be.

  The RAM of the image formation control unit 11 has a work area for storing jobs being processed or waiting for processing (jobs to be processed) and a work area for storing job tickets being edited. Is formed. Here, each job includes image data to be output and a job ticket that defines an output condition of the image data. Jobs stored in the work area of the RAM are sequentially loaded into the RAM from the unprocessed jobs of the following job data 12a.

  The storage unit 12 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) capable of freely writing, erasing, and reading data, and may be provided in a fixed manner or provided in a detachable manner. It may be.

  The storage unit 12 stores job data 12a including one or more registered jobs (including processed, processed, and unprocessed jobs).

  The storage unit 12 stores a job list of the job data 12a. The job list is edited (that is, created and changed) by the image formation control unit 11, and the contents of the list are updated each time a job is added or processing is started / finished. The job list stored in the storage unit 12 reflects the latest list contents.

  The operation unit 13 includes a pointing device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and transmits various input instruction signals to the image formation control unit 11.

  The display unit 14 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and the like, and displays various image data input from the image formation control unit 11.

  The communication unit 15 includes an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the remote control device 20 via the network N.

  The image forming unit 16 includes a scanner unit 16a and a printer unit 16b. The scanner unit 16a reads an image from a document and outputs image data. The printer unit 16b outputs an image on a recording medium such as paper based on the image data. Form. Further, the image forming unit 16 includes a post-processing device (not shown) that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching on a recording medium after image formation.

Next, the configuration of the remote control device 20 will be described.
The remote operation device 20 includes a remote operation control unit 21, a storage unit 22, an operation unit 23, a display unit 24, a communication unit 25, and the like, and these units are connected to each other via a bus 26.

  The remote operation control unit 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown). Here, the CPU executes various programs stored in the ROM using a predetermined area of the RAM as a work area, and comprehensively controls each unit of the remote operation device 20. In particular, the remote operation control unit 21 executes the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The remote operation control unit 21 includes an exclusive processing unit 21a that performs exclusive processing when editing a job ticket. When an instruction to edit a job ticket to the image forming apparatus 10 is input via the remote operation control unit 21, the image forming apparatus 10 is performed using the exclusive processing unit 21a.

  Here, the exclusive processing unit 21a has the same function as the exclusive processing unit 11a. That is, the exclusive processing unit 21 a can execute an exclusive process unique to the image forming apparatus 10. As a result, there is no difference between editing the job ticket from the image forming apparatus 10 and from the remote operation apparatus 20.

  The exclusive processing unit 21a may represent a function of a program stored in the ROM of the remote operation control unit 21, or may represent hardware in the remote operation control unit 21. Also good.

  The storage unit 22 is a storage device such as an HDD that can freely write, erase, and read data. The storage unit 22 may be fixedly provided, or may be provided detachably.

  The operation unit 23 includes a pointing device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and transmits various input instruction signals to the image formation control unit 11.

  The display unit 24 includes an LCD, a CRT, and the like, and displays various image data input from the remote operation control unit 21. In particular, the display unit 24 displays a job list or job ticket editing screen.

  The communication unit 25 includes an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the remote control device 20 via the network N.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the job ticket editing process described below, each process of steps A1 to A7 is performed by the remote operation control unit 21 of the remote operation device 20, and each process of steps B1 to B4 is performed by the image formation control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10. Is done.

  First, in the remote operation device 20, when an instruction to start editing processing for the job ticket of the image forming apparatus 10 is input via the operation unit 23, a job list request of the image forming apparatus 10 is sent to the image forming apparatus 10. Is transmitted (step A1).

  After step A1, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the requested job list to the remote operation device 20 (step B1).

  After step B1, in the remote operation device 20, the job list transmitted from the image forming device 10 is displayed on the display unit 24, and the job ticket request related to one job selected and input from the job list is an image. It is transmitted to the forming apparatus 10 (step A2).

  After step A2, the image forming apparatus 10 temporarily stores the requested job ticket in the work area in the RAM of the image forming control unit 11 in response to the job ticket request transmitted from the remote operation device 20. At the same time, it is transmitted to the remote control device 20 (step B2).

  After step B2, the remote operation device 20 makes an edit request for the job ticket transmitted from the image forming device 10 (that is, an input request for edit contents for each output condition included in the job ticket) (step A3). .

  Here, the job ticket editing screen is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 24 (step A33). This job ticket editing screen displays a list of items for designating output conditions such as stapling and punching. The user performs edit input (input of edit contents) for the output condition for each of the above items via the job ticket edit screen.

  After step A3, exclusive processing is performed by the exclusive processing unit 21a based on the contents of the current job ticket (it is determined whether or not editing is possible), and the job ticket is edited based on the exclusive processing result (step A4). .

  Here, the next editable item is selected by the exclusive process based on the editing result, and the selected editable item is reflected on the job ticket editing screen. For example, the next non-editable item is shaded and displayed so that the user cannot select and input the item.

  The job ticket editing result performed in step A4 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 (step A5).

  After step A5, the image forming apparatus 10 updates the job ticket temporarily stored in the work area in the RAM of the image forming control unit 11 based on the editing result transmitted from the remote operation apparatus 20, and this fact is updated. The remote control device 20 is notified (step B3).

  After step B3, the remote control device 20 requests selection input as to whether or not to edit the job ticket (step A6), and when a selection input indicating that editing is not ended is made (step A6; No) ), The process proceeds to step A3. In this case, the job ticket editing screen displayed in the step A33 is displayed with the next editable item reflected.

  When a selection input for ending editing is made at step A6 (step A6; Yes), this is notified to the image forming apparatus 10 (step A7). Thereafter, in the image forming apparatus 10 that has received the editing completion notification, the job data 12a is temporarily stored in the job ticket updated in step B3 (that is, in the work area in the RAM of the image forming control unit 11). Updated based on the job ticket (step B4).

  As described above, the remote operation device 20 capable of remotely operating the image forming apparatus 10 includes the exclusive processing unit 21a having the same function as the exclusive processing unit 11a of the image forming apparatus 10, and includes a job ticket for the image forming apparatus 10. At the time of editing, exclusive processing is performed using this exclusive processing unit 21a. The remote operation device 20 edits the job ticket based on the exclusive processing result, and notifies the image forming device 10 of the editing result. The image forming apparatus 10 edits the job ticket based on the editing result.

  Therefore, when editing a job ticket of the image forming apparatus 10 from the remote operation apparatus 20, the remote operation apparatus 20 accesses the image forming apparatus 10 each time a new editing input is made for the output condition, and There is no need to request execution of exclusive processing for a new editing input. For this reason, the exclusive processing is not required at all in the image forming apparatus 10, so the load on the image forming apparatus 10 can be reduced.

  The description in the present embodiment shows an example of the image forming system according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the image forming system 1 in the present embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart explaining the content of the job ticket edit process to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Image formation control part 11a Exclusive process part 12 Memory | storage part 12a Job data 13 Operation part 14 Display part 15 Communication part 16 Image formation part 16a Scanner part 16b Printer part 20 Remote operation device 21 Remote operation control Unit 21a Exclusive processing unit 22 Storage unit 23 Operation unit 24 Display unit 25 Communication unit N Network

Claims (3)

In an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on job data ; and a remote operation device for remotely operating the image forming apparatus via a network.
The image forming apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing, as job data, an image forming job including image data to be output and a job ticket that is data defining output conditions for the image data;
A control unit for updating job data in the storage unit based on a job ticket edited by the remote operation device;
With
The remote control device is:
An exclusive processing unit that performs exclusive processing on the edited contents of the job ticket;
When a job list is acquired from the image forming apparatus according to the input instruction and a job ticket for the selected job is acquired from the job list , and then an editing instruction for the job ticket is input, the instruction is issued. A remote operation control unit that controls to perform exclusive processing on the edited content using the exclusive processing unit;
An image forming system comprising:   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the exclusive processing unit has the same function as an exclusive processing unit included in the image forming apparatus. The remote control unit is
The content of the next editable job ticket is specified based on the processing result of the exclusive processing, and whether or not an edit instruction can be input is controlled based on the content of the specified editable job ticket. Item 3. The image forming system according to Item 1 or 2.

Images