JP2000013545A - Image output device, image output method, recording medium, image output data storage device and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image output device, an image output method, a recording medium, an image output data storage device and a network system capable of efficiently performing an image output processing. SOLUTION: After this image output device is turned to an off-line state due to the lack of the recording paper of an A3 size, whether or not a job using the recording paper other than one of the A3 size is present is discriminated in a CPU (step S57). When a job using the recording paper other than the one of the A3 size is present and the recording paper to be used in the job is present in one of paper feed cassettes, printing information related to the job during a processing at present and environment information inside a printer are saved in an environment information saving area (step S59) and the image output processing of interrupt printing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image output device, an image output method, a recording medium, an image output data storage device, and a network system shared by a plurality of host computers in a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image output device is shared in a network environment, an image output request is sent from a host computer connected to the network to an image output device selected by a certain method. I have. The selection of the image output device at this time generally selects the closest one from the host computer, and the host computer presets the image output device that is always used.

[0003] In the use of the image output device in such a network environment, a request for image output is sent from a plurality of host computers to a specific image output device, and the request is queued in the image output device. From the queue, the image output device sequentially performs image output processing with a certain priority.

[0004] For example, when an output instruction is given to an image output device having a plurality of paper feed cassettes so as to print on A3 size recording paper, the image output device sets the paper feed cassette in accordance with the instruction. The size of the recording paper set is checked, and if there is an A3 size corresponding to the size of the recording paper, the paper cassette is selected as the paper cassette to be used, and the image output process is started. When the paper cassette of the image output device is in the manual mode, when the recording paper in the paper cassette runs out during the output, an operator call for a shortage of the recording paper is made at that time, and the image output device goes offline. On the other hand, when the paper cassette of the image output device is in the auto mode, when the recording paper in the paper cassette runs out during output, the recording paper set in the paper cassette other than the paper cassette being used is used. The paper size is checked, and if the other paper cassette has a desired recording paper size (A3 size in this case), the paper cassette is selected again as the paper cassette to be used, and the image output process is continued. If there is no desired recording paper size, an operator call for recording paper shortage occurs at that time, and the image output apparatus goes offline.

In an image output apparatus capable of performing color printing, for example, among monochrome toners, there are B (black) toners among C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and B (black) toners. Output is possible as long as it is performed, but in the case of color printing, if at least one of CMY is in a state without toner, color output cannot be performed. It becomes an operator call and goes offline.

[0006]

Therefore, after the image output apparatus goes off-line, the operator sets a recording sheet of a size that has caused an operator call for recording sheet shortage in the sheet feeding cassette and interrupts the operation. Unless the middle image output process is continued, the image output device remains off-line, and the image output process is interrupted. Even when output request data is stored in the queue of the image output device, the image output process is not performed, and the image output device cannot be used efficiently.

Further, after the image output apparatus goes off-line in color printing, unless the operator replenishes the toner of the color that caused the operator call without toner and continues the interrupted output processing, The image output device remains off-line, and the image output process has been interrupted. As in the case where the recording paper is insufficient, even when the data of the output request is accumulated in the queue of the image output device, the image output process is not performed, and the image output device cannot be used efficiently.

[0008] The above-mentioned matter is the case where the image output apparatus has a print queue. However, the image output apparatus has a print server, and an output request from the host is once registered in the print queue in the print server. rear,
Even in the case where the configuration is such that data is transferred from the print server to the image output device, as described above,
The image output device remains offline unless the operator performs the action that caused the operator call when the recording paper is insufficient or the toner is empty, and continues the interrupted image output processing. I was Therefore, even when output request data is stored in a print queue in a print server in a network, image output processing is not performed, and resources including an image output device in the network cannot be used efficiently.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image output device, an image output method, a recording medium, an image output data storage device, and a network system capable of efficiently performing image output processing in order to solve the above problems. It is in.

[0010]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output apparatus, comprising: an image output unit for outputting an image of image output data; A recognition unit for recognizing that the failure has occurred, and, when the recognition unit recognizes that the failure has occurred during the image output of the image output data, performing a process of outputting the image of the image output data not related to the failure. And control means for controlling so as to cause an interruption.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control means determines that the image output apparatus outputs a predetermined image during one image output of the image output data by the image output means. A first interruption determining means for determining whether or not an interrupted image can be output on a recording paper other than the recording paper of the predetermined size when the recording medium goes offline due to a shortage of recording paper of a size; A first image output data selecting means for selecting another one of the image output data when it is determined that the output is possible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control means controls the image output apparatus to output one image of the image output data by the image output means. A second interruption determining means for determining whether or not an interrupted image can be output with a toner other than the predetermined toner when the printer goes offline due to a shortage of a predetermined toner; and the second interrupt determining means can output the interrupted image. And a second image output data selecting means for selecting another one of the image output data when the judgment is made.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output apparatus according to the second or third aspect, further comprising interrupt permission setting means for setting whether or not the interrupt image output is permitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the second aspect, the image output apparatus is connected to an information input apparatus via a network.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the fifth aspect, the information input device can set whether or not to permit the interrupted image output via the network. It is characterized by being.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, the image output apparatus further includes storage means for storing environment information of the image output apparatus including the image output data. It is characterized by the following.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus according to the seventh aspect, when the image output apparatus goes off-line, environment information of the image output apparatus including the one image output data is transmitted. It is stored in the storage unit, and the environment information is retrieved from the storage unit after the interruption image is output.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output apparatus according to any one of the second to eighth aspects, further comprising a paper discharging means for discharging the recording paper.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the ninth aspect, there is provided one discharging means for discharging a recording sheet to which one of the image output data has been output, And further discharging means for discharging the output recording sheet.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the paper discharging means outputs a recording sheet on which one of the image output data is output and another one of the image output data. The paper sheet is discharged between the recording paper and the recording paper.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, further comprising a display unit for displaying a message indicating a state of the image output device. I do.

An image output device according to a thirteenth aspect is the image output device according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, further comprising a plurality of paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the failure is a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, the image output means includes one of a recording head of ink jet, dot impact, and thermal transfer. It is characterized by having.

The image output method according to claim 16, further comprising an image output step of outputting an image of the image output data, wherein a recognition step of recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output; A control step of performing control so as to interrupt an image output process of image output data that is not related to the failure when the recognition step recognizes that the failure has occurred during the image output of the output data. Features.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output method.
In the above image output method, the failure may be a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner.

A recording medium according to claim 18 is a recording medium storing a program including an image output module for outputting an image of image output data, a recognition module for recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output, A control module for controlling, when the recognition module recognizes that the failure has occurred during the image output of the image output data, to interrupt an image output process of image output data not related to the failure. The program is recorded.

A recording medium according to a nineteenth aspect is the recording medium according to the eighteenth aspect, wherein the failure is a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner.

An image output system comprising an image output data storage device for storing image output data, and an image output means for outputting an image of the image output data received from the image output data storage device. In the network system including the device, the image output data storage device recognizes that the failure has occurred, and the device failure recognition unit recognizes that the failure has occurred in the image output device. Control means for interrupting an image output process of image output data which does not involve the obstacle, wherein the image output device is configured such that the image output device is interrupted from the image output data storage device. Control means for controlling image output of the image output data not related to the obstacle to be performed. .

A network system according to a twenty-first aspect is characterized in that, in the network system according to the twentieth aspect, the failure is a failure due to a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner.

The image output data storage device according to claim 22 is
An image output data storage device that is connected to an image output device that outputs an image of image output data and stores the image output data, wherein a device failure recognition unit that recognizes that a failure has occurred in the image output device; When the failure recognizing unit recognizes that the failure has occurred, a control unit is provided for controlling so as to interrupt an image output process of image output data not related to the failure.

The image output data storage device according to claim 23 is
23. The image output data storage device according to claim 22, wherein the failure is a failure due to insufficient recording paper or insufficient toner.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a printer 1. The printer 1 includes a CPU 2 for controlling each component of the printer 1, which will be described later, and a ROM 3 including a control program controlled by the CPU 2. , A RAM 4 used as a work area of the CPU 2. The CPU 2 includes a recognition unit, a control unit, a first interruption determination unit, a second interruption determination unit, a first image output data selection unit, a second image output data selection unit, and a device failure recognition unit described in the claims. Constitute.

The RAM 4 has an interrupt print permission flag section 4a serving as an interrupt permission setting means for setting whether or not to permit interrupt print. An off-line state counter 4b for counting up the duration of the state, an off-line state time-up section 4c for determining the time to interrupt the current job and shift to the interrupt printing process, and an input buffer 4d for storing the received print data. And an environment information save area 4e as a storage unit for saving environment information relating to a print job that has been interrupted when interrupt printing is started.

Further, the printer 1 is provided with a communication control unit 5 which performs communication processing with another host computer, a printer or the like.
And a panel device 6 including buttons for setting the printer 1, a display device 7 as a display device such as an LCD, an external storage device 8 such as a hard disk, and a feeding device as a paper feeding device for feeding recording paper. A paper mechanism 9, a paper discharging mechanism 10 as a paper discharging means for discharging the recording paper, a timer (not shown) for counting up the offline state counter 4b, and an image output mechanism (illustrated as an image outputting means) No). Some image output mechanisms use a recording head such as an ink jet, dot impact, and thermal transfer.

The CPU 2 is connected to a ROM 3, a RAM 4, a communication control unit 5, a panel device 6,
It is connected to a display device 7, an external storage device 8, a paper feed mechanism 9, and a paper discharge mechanism 10.

The permission of interrupt printing set by the interrupt printing permission flag section 4a can be set via the panel device 6, and can also be set from the host computer via the communication control section 5.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the printer 1 of FIG.
The printer 1 includes a paper feed mechanism 9 including paper feed cassettes A to D, and a plurality of paper discharge mechanisms 10. A3 size recording paper is set in the paper cassette A, and recording papers of different sizes are set in the paper cassettes B to D.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a print queue of a plurality of printers connected to a network. In FIG.
Printer 1 and Printer 3 connected to the network
0, each of the printers 31 to 50 has a print queue. The print queue of the printer 1 includes a plurality of jobs, and includes information such as a job name, a host name, and a size of a recording sheet used in the job. And stored in the external storage device 8. Printer 1
Then, the job JOB001 is output first, and then the job JOB002 is output.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the interrupt printing process in print 1.

First, when the printer 1 uses the job JOB00 using the A3-size recording paper contained in the paper cassette A,
1 (step S41), and in step S42, C
It is determined whether or not the PU2 has detected an error that cannot continue the output of the job JOB001. If no error has been detected, the process returns to step S41. If an error has been detected, the process returns to step S43. The CPU 2 determines whether there is no recording paper of A3 size in the paper cassette A.

In step S43, A3
If there is a recording sheet of a size, the error is not caused by the shortage of the recording sheet, and the serviceman performs an error process (step S45). Thereafter, in step S46, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the error has been cleared, and if the error has not been cleared, the CPU 2 proceeds to step S4.
Returning to step 5, the serviceman continues to process the error, and if the error is cleared, the process returns to step S41 to continue outputting the job JOB001.

In step S43, A3
If there is no recording paper of the size, in step S47, the CPU 2
It is determined whether the three size recording paper is set in another paper cassette, that is, any of paper cassettes B to D.
If three sizes of recording paper are set in another paper cassette, the currently selected paper cassette A is
Change to a paper cassette in which three sizes of recording paper are set (step S48), and return to step S41.
While the image output process is continued, if A3 size recording paper is not set in another paper cassette, the CP
U2 takes the printer 1 off-line, and the LCD 7 displays a message indicating that an error occurs due to insufficient recording paper and that A3 size recording paper is set in the paper cassette A (step S49).

Next, at step S50, the CPU 2
Checks the on / off state of the interrupt print permission flag section 4a,
When the interrupt print permission flag section 4a is off,
Since the interrupt printing process is not set, the process returns to step S45 to perform error processing. On the other hand, if the interrupt printing permission flag unit 4a is on, the printer 1 is set to execute the interrupt printing process. An equipped timer (not shown) resets the offline state counter 4b (step S51), and counts up the offline state counter 4b (step S52).

Next, in step S53, the CPU
2 determines whether the value of the offline state counter unit 4b has reached the value of the offline state time-up unit 4c, and determines whether the value of the offline state counter unit 4b has not reached the value of the offline state time-up unit 4c. In step S54, the CPU 2 checks whether or not A3 size recording paper is set in any of the paper feed cassettes A to D, and returns to step S52 if A3 size recording paper is not set. When the timer counts up the off-line state counter unit 4b, and the A3-size recording paper is set, the currently selected paper cassette A is replaced with the paper cassette in which the A3-size recording paper is set. (Step S55), and returns to step S41 to continue the image output processing.

In step S53, the value of the offline state counter 4b is changed to the value of the offline state time-up section 4.
If the value of c has been reached, the CPU 2 checks the print queue of the printer connected to the network to start the interrupt printing process (step S56). In step S57, the CPU 2 is set in any of the paper cassettes. The CPU 2 determines whether or not there is a job that uses a recording sheet other than the non-A3 size. If there is no job that uses a recording sheet other than the A3 size, the process proceeds to step S51.
The same processing is repeated, and if there is a job that uses a recording sheet other than the A3 size, step S
At 58, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the recording paper used in this job is in any of the paper feed cassettes A to D.
If there is no recording paper, the process returns to step S51 and the same processing is repeated. If there is recording paper, the print information on the job JOB001 currently being processed and the environment information in the printer 1 are stored in the environment information save area 4e. (Step S59), and the LCD 7 displays information (job name and the like) indicating that the interrupt printing process is to be started (step S60).

Thereafter, image output processing of a job using a recording sheet other than A3 size selected in step S57 as a job for interrupt printing is performed (step S6).
1) When the image output process is completed, the LCD 7 displays information (job name and the like) indicating that the interrupt print process has been completed (step S62), and print information and the printer 1 for the job JOB001 saved in step S59. The environment information in the job is restored from the environment information save area 4e (step S63), and the process returns to step S41 to resume the interrupted image output processing of the job JOB001.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
After the image output device goes offline due to lack of A3 size recording paper, the CPU 2 determines whether there is a job using recording paper other than A3 size (step S).
57) If there is a job that uses a recording sheet other than the A3 size, and the recording sheet used in this job is in any of the paper feed cassettes A to D, the print information and the job JOB001 currently being processed are The environment information in the printer 1 is saved in the environment information save area 4e (step S5).
9) Since the image output processing of the interrupt printing is performed, the image output processing can be efficiently performed without interrupting the image output processing in the offline state.

In the present embodiment, only the offline continuation time from the offline state is treated as a condition for shifting to the interrupt printing process (step S53). However, a priority level is set for the job, and the interrupt printing is performed. Even if the condition is satisfied, a job with a higher priority level may not be interrupted by a lower job. As a result, image output processing can be performed according to the usage environment of the operator.

Further, in this embodiment, the destination of the job after the shift to the interrupt printing process is not described. However, in the case of the printer 1 having only one destination, the start of the interrupt printing is not described. The printer 1 may be configured to output a partition sheet or the like for clarifying the job identification at the end of the job. In the case of the printer 1 having a plurality of paper discharge destinations, the paper is not discharged to the paper discharge destination of the interrupted job.
The printer 1 may be configured to select another discharge destination and discharge the interrupted print job. By doing so, the output of the interrupt print job and the output of the interrupted job are separated, and confusion can be avoided.

Further, in the present embodiment, step S6
LCD7 displays a message to start interrupt printing at 0
However, the same message may be notified to the host computer requesting the interrupted job or the host computer requesting the job for performing the interrupt printing process via the communication control unit 5. At this time, if the name of the operator who has requested each job is present as an item in the print queue, the operator can be notified by e-mail or the like. Thereby, the operator can easily determine whether or not the image output processing of the job has been completed.

In this embodiment, step S59 is performed.
And print information on job JOB001 and printer 1
Was saved in the environment information save area 4e.
Job JOB0 may be saved in the external storage device 8 or the like.
01 may be stopped. When canceling the job JOB001, the image output process of the job JOB001 is entirely skipped, and the fact that all the image output processes have been skipped is notified to the host computer that has requested the job JOB001.

It should be noted that the job JOB001 is interrupted, the interrupt printing is terminated, and then the interrupted job JOB001 is canceled.
Job JOB0 to the host computer that requested
01 may be issued. In this way, even if the image output processing of job JOB001 is interrupted, it can be performed to the end.

In this embodiment, the case where the image output device is short on recording paper has been described. For example, in a color printer, at least one of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is used. The present invention can be applied even when the toner is insufficient. In this case, interrupt printing can be performed for a job of only black (B), that is, monochrome printing. This embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the interrupt printing process in the printer 1.

First, the CPU 2 analyzes the data sent from the host computer (step S71),
A page buffer is created in the input buffer 4d based on the analysis result (step S72).

Next, in step S73, CMYK
The remaining amount of toner of each color is checked, and if it is determined that there is toner of all colors, image output processing is performed (step S76), and the process returns to step S71, while it is determined that there is no toner of at least one color. If so, the CPU 2 takes the printer 1 off-line, and the LCD 7 displays a message indicating that an error has occurred due to insufficient toner and that the toner of the insufficient color is to be set (step S74).

Next, in step S75, the CPU
2 checks the on / off state of the interrupt print permission flag section 4a. If the interrupt print permission flag section 4a is off, the error processing is performed because the interrupt processing is not performed (step S77). In step S78, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the error has been cleared. If the error has not been cleared, the CPU 2 proceeds to step S77.
On the other hand, if the error is cleared, the process returns to step S7.
Proceed to 6.

If it is determined in step S75 that the interrupt print permission flag section 4a is ON, the flow advances to step S81 to determine whether or not the data to be printed is color printing. If it is not color printing, the process proceeds to step S82 to check whether there is black (B) toner. If there is black (B) toner, the image output process of step S76 is performed, while black (B) toner is If there is no toner, an error process of step S77 is performed.

If it is determined in step S81 that the data to be printed is color printing, a timer (not shown) provided in the printer 1 resets the off-line state counter unit 4b (step S83) and sets the off-line state. The counter unit 4b counts up (step S84).

Next, in step S85, the CPU
2 determines whether the value of the offline state counter unit 4b has reached the value of the offline state time-up unit 4c, and determines whether the value of the offline state counter unit 4b has not reached the value of the offline state time-up unit 4c. Performs the error processing in step S77, and if the value of the offline state counter unit 4b has reached the value of the offline state time-up unit 4c, the printing of the printer connected to the network to start the interrupt printing process is performed. The CPU 2 checks the queue (step S86).

Next, in step S87, the CPU 2 determines whether or not there is a job that can be subjected to interrupt printing without using the insufficient toner. If there is no job, the process returns to step S83, while the job is present. In this case, the print information on the job currently being processed and the environment information in the printer 1 are saved (save processing) in the environment information save area 4e (step S88), and the information that the LCD 7 starts the interrupt print processing (job Is displayed (step S89).

Thereafter, image output processing is performed for a job which can be subjected to interrupt printing without using the insufficient toner selected in step S87 as a job for interrupt printing (step S90).
The information (job name, etc.) indicating that the CD 7 has completed the interrupt printing process is displayed (step S91), and the print information and the printer 1 relating to the job saved in step S88.
The environment information in the job is returned from the environment information save area 4e (step S92), and the process returns to step S71 to resume the image output processing of the interrupted job.

In this embodiment, after the page buffer is created (step S72), it is checked whether or not there is toner (step S73).
If it is determined that color printing or monochrome printing is performed at the stage of performing 71), the presence or absence of toner may be checked at that time.

As described above, in this embodiment, after the image output device goes offline due to lack of toner, the CPU 2 determines whether or not there is a job that can be interrupted without using the insufficient toner. (Step S8
7) If there is the job, the print information and the environment information in the printer 1 relating to the job currently being processed are saved (save processing) in the environment information save area 4e (step S8).
8) Since the image output processing for interrupt printing is performed, the image output processing can be efficiently performed without interrupting the image output processing in the offline state.

The present invention is also applicable to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to an image output device. In this case, a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention is mounted on an image output device, and the program stored on the recording medium is read out by the image output device, whereby the effect of the present invention is achieved. Can be enjoyed. In the above embodiment, a reading device that reads a program stored in a recording medium may be connected to the CPU bus 11, or the program may be directly stored in the external storage device 8.

The program includes an image output module for outputting an image of the image output data, a recognition module for recognizing that a failure that does not execute the image output has occurred,
A control module for controlling, when the recognition module recognizes that the failure has occurred during the image output of the image output data, to interrupt an image output process of image output data not related to the failure. .

As a recording medium, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
D-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape,
A non-volatile memory card or the like can be used.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a network according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The network according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes the printer 1 and the printer 2 as the image forming apparatus described in the first embodiment, and the print server 100 as the image output data storage device. , Host computers 110 and 120, and a communication line 200 for connecting them to each other.

The print server 100 includes a communication control unit 101 for controlling communication with the communication line 200 and the print server 1.
CPU 1 as a control means for controlling each component of 00
02, a ROM 103 for storing a control program used by the CPU 102, a RAM 104 used as a work area of the CPU 102, and an external storage device 105 such as a hard disk. Also, the external storage device 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a print queue 10 including a plurality of jobs and including information such as a job name, a host computer name, a printer name, and the size of recording paper used in the job.
6 is stored.

The job instructed by the host computer 110 or 120 to print is temporarily stored in the print server 10.
0 and registered in the print queue 106. In the print queue 106, a printer is selected by a known method. For example, when the printer 1 is selected, a job is transmitted to the printer 1.

The print server 100 determines whether to interrupt the job of the printer 1 or 2. For example, when an error occurs in the printer 1, the printer 1 notifies the print server 100 that manages the print queue of the error information, and the print server 100 determines an error condition based on the notified information, and determines the error status. Is transmitted to the printer 1 to cause the printer 1 to interrupt the job. When the error level is low, that is, when the recording paper is insufficient or the toner is insufficient, the printer 1 performs control so that the CPU 2 can receive a job transmitted from the print server 100 without taking the printer 1 offline.

FIG. 9 shows the CPU 10 of the print server 100.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a control program of control executed by a second control program;

First, in step S101, it is determined whether or not all data of the job currently being processed has been transferred to a predetermined printer. If the job has been transferred, the print queue 106 is checked for a job to be processed next (step S10).
2) If there is no job to be processed, this control is ended. If there is a job to be processed, the job is transferred to a predetermined printer (step S103), and the process returns to step S101.

In step S101, if all data of the job currently being processed has not been transferred to the predetermined printer, the data transfer to the predetermined printer is continued (step S104).

Next, in step S105, it is determined whether an error has occurred based on the information sent from the printer. If no error has occurred, the process returns to step S101. If an error has occurred, the process proceeds to step S106, and it is determined whether the error is an error due to insufficient recording paper or insufficient toner.

If it is determined in step S106 that the error is other than the shortage of the recording paper or the toner, the transfer of the job to the printer is stopped (step S107). It is determined whether or not the error has been cleared (step S108). If the error on the printer side has not been cleared, step S
On the other hand, when the error on the printer side is released, the process returns to step S101.

If it is determined in step S106 that the error is due to insufficient recording paper or insufficient toner, the process proceeds to step S106.
Proceeding to 109, it is determined whether or not to perform the interrupt printing process. If the interrupt printing process is not performed, the process returns to step S107. As described in the first embodiment of the present invention, a timer counter is provided in the print server 100, and it is determined that the interrupt printing process is performed only when the error is not cleared after a certain period of time. You may.

When the interrupt printing process is performed in step S109, the print queue 106 is checked (step S110), and it is determined whether there is a job that does not use the insufficient recording paper or toner (step S1).
11). If there is a job that does not use the recording paper or toner that is insufficient, the job is transferred to a predetermined printer, and an interrupt printing process is started (step S1).
12), and return to step S101.

In step S111, if there is no job that does not use the insufficient recording paper or toner,
Proceeding to step S113, it is determined whether the error on the printer side has been cleared (step S113). If the error on the printer side has been cleared, the process returns to step S101. If the error on the printer side has not been cleared, the process returns to step S110.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control program for control executed by the CPU 2 of the printer 1.

First, an image output process is performed by the printer 1 (step S121). Then, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred during the image output process that the output cannot be continued (step S122). If no error that cannot be output has occurred, the process returns to step S121,
While the image output process is continued, if an error that cannot be output has occurred, the error information is notified to the print server 100 (step S123).

Next, in step S124, it is determined whether or not the error has been cleared. If the error has been cleared, the process returns to step S121. If the error has not been cleared, the process proceeds to step S125. Then, it is determined whether or not the print server 100 has issued an instruction for interrupt printing. If there is no interrupt printing instruction, the process returns to step S124. If there is an interrupt printing instruction, the print information on the job currently being processed and the environment information in the printer 1 are stored in the environment information save area 4e. The save (backup process) is performed (step S126), and the LCD 7 displays information (job name and the like) indicating that the interrupt print process is started (step S127).

Thereafter, an image output process for a job that can be interrupted is performed (step S128). When the image output process is completed, the LCD 7 displays information (job name and the like) indicating that the interrupted print process has been completed (step S12).
9) The print information relating to the job saved in step S126 and the environment information in the printer 1 are restored from the environment information save area 4e (step S130), and the process returns to step S121 to perform image output processing of the interrupted job. Resume.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when there is a job that does not use the recording paper or toner that is insufficient, the print server 100 transfers the job to a predetermined printer, and executes the interrupt printing process. The printer 1 is started (step S112).
When an instruction for interrupt printing is issued from 00, image output processing of a job that can perform interrupt printing is performed (step S).
128). That is, when an error level such as recording paper shortage or toner shortage is low, it is possible to receive a job from the print server 100 without taking the printer 1 off-line and perform image output processing. Can be.

[0089]

As described above in detail, according to the image output apparatus of the first aspect, the recognition means recognizes that a failure has occurred in the image output and recognizes the image output data during the image output. When the means recognizes that a failure has occurred, the control means controls so as to interrupt the image output processing of image output data which does not involve the failure, so that even if a failure occurs, the image output processing is not interrupted. Thus, image output processing can be performed efficiently.

According to the image output method of the present invention, it is recognized that a failure has occurred in the image output in the recognition step, and that a failure has occurred in the recognition step during the image output of the image output data. In such a case, the control process controls so that the image output process of the image output data not related to the failure is interrupted, so that even if the failure occurs, the image output process is not interrupted.
Image output processing can be performed efficiently.

According to the recording medium of the seventeenth aspect, the recognition module recognizes that a failure has occurred in the image output,
When the recognition module recognizes that a failure has occurred during the image output of the image output data, the control module performs control so as to interrupt the image output processing of the image output data that does not involve the failure. Also, the image output processing can be efficiently performed without interrupting the image output processing.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: an image output data storage device for storing image output data; and an image output means for outputting an image of the image output data received from the image output data storage device. An output device, wherein the image output data storage device is controlled so as to interrupt an image output process of image output data which is not related to the failure when the device failure recognition means recognizes that a failure has occurred, and Since the output device is controlled so that the image output means performs image output of image output data that is not involved in the interruption interrupted from the image output data storage device, even if a failure occurs, the image output processing is not interrupted, Image output processing can be performed efficiently.

According to the image output data storage device of claim 22, when the device failure recognizing means recognizes that a failure has occurred in the image output device, the image output processing of the image output data which is not related to the failure is interrupted. As a result, even if a failure occurs, the image output processing can be efficiently performed without interrupting the image output processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the printer 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a print queue of a plurality of printers connected to a network.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an interrupt printing process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an interrupt printing process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an interrupt printing process in the printer 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an interrupt printing process in the printer 1.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a network according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control program for control executed by a CPU 102 of the print server 100.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control program of control executed by a CPU 2 of the printer 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 4a Interruption print permission flag 4b Offline status counter 4c Offline status time-up 4d Input buffer 4e Environment information saving area 5 Communication control unit 6 Panel 7 LCD 8 External storage device 9 Paper feed unit 10 Paper ejection Mechanism

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 K F term (Reference) 2C061 AQ01 AQ04 AQ05 AR01 HJ03 HL01 HQ06 HR01 HV13 HV14 HV43 2H027 DC03 DC19 DD02 EK04 5B021 AA01 AA02 CC01 CC04 CC05 KK03 KK06 KK07 NN21 PP04 5C062 AA05 AA13 AB08 AB11 AB20 AB22 AB23 AB33 AB35 AB41 AB43 AB44 AC03 AC05 AC58 AC67 AF10 BA00

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An image output apparatus comprising an image output unit for outputting an image of image output data, comprising: a recognition unit for recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output; An image output apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control, when the recognition unit recognizes that the failure has occurred, to interrupt an image output process of image output data not related to the failure. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to output the predetermined size when the image output device goes offline due to a shortage of recording paper of a predetermined size during one image output of the image output data by the image output unit. First interrupt determining means for determining whether or not an interrupted image can be output on a sheet other than the recording paper, and when the first interrupt determining means determines that the interrupted image can be output, another one of the image output data is output. 2. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: first image output data selection means for selecting one of the two. 3. When the image output device goes offline due to a shortage of a predetermined toner while one image of the image output data is being output by the image output unit, the control unit interrupts the image output device other than the predetermined toner. Second interrupt determining means for determining whether or not image output is possible; and a second interrupt selecting means for selecting another one of the image output data when the second interrupt determining means determines that the interrupt image output is possible. 3. The image output device according to claim 1, further comprising an image output data selection unit. 4. The image output apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising interrupt permission setting means for setting whether to permit the output of the interrupt image. 5. The image output device according to claim 2, wherein the image output device is connected to an information input device via a network. 6. The image output apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said information input apparatus is configured to set whether or not to permit said interrupted image output via said network. 7. The image output apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit configured to store environment information of the image output apparatus including the image output data. 8. When the image output device goes off-line, environment information of the image output device including the one image output data is stored in the storage unit, and the environment information is output after the interruption image output. The image output device according to claim 7, wherein the image output device is configured to be taken out from the storage unit. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper discharging means for discharging the recording paper.
Item. 10. A discharge means for discharging a recording sheet on which one of the image output data has been output, and another discharge means for discharging a recording sheet on which another one of the image output data has been output. The image output device according to claim 9, further comprising: 11. The paper discharge means discharges a partition sheet between a recording sheet to which one of the image output data has been output and a recording sheet to which another one of the image output data has been output. The image output device according to claim 9. 12. The image output device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a message indicating a state of the image output device. 13. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of paper feeding units for feeding the recording paper. 14. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the failure is a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner. 15. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit includes one of a recording head of ink jet, dot impact, and thermal transfer. 16. An image output method including an image output step of outputting an image of image output data, comprising: a recognition step of recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output; A controlling step of, when recognizing that the failure has occurred in the recognizing step, interrupting an image output process of image output data not related to the failure. 17. The image output method according to claim 16, wherein the failure is a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner. 18. A recording medium storing a program including an image output module for outputting an image of image output data, a recognition module for recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output, and an image of the image output data. When the recognition module recognizes that the failure has occurred during output, a control module that controls so as to interrupt an image output process of image output data that is not related to the failure is recorded. Characteristic recording medium. 19. The recording medium according to claim 18, wherein the failure is a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner. 20. A network system comprising: an image output data storage device for storing image output data; and an image output device provided with image output means for outputting an image of the image output data received from the image output data storage device. In the image output data storage device, a device failure recognition means for recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output device, and when the device failure recognition means recognizes that the failure has occurred, Controlling means for interrupting the image output processing of the image output data not involved, wherein the image output device is an image which is not involved in the obstacle interrupted by the image output means from the image output data storage device. A network system comprising control means for controlling output of output data to an image. 21. The network system according to claim 20, wherein the failure is a failure due to a shortage of recording paper or a shortage of toner. 22. An image output data storage device connected to an image output device for outputting an image of image output data and storing the image output data, a device failure recognition for recognizing that a failure has occurred in the image output device. Means, and control means for controlling, when the apparatus failure recognition means recognizes that the failure has occurred, to interrupt an image output process of image output data not related to the failure. Image output data storage device. 23. The image output data storage device according to claim 22, wherein the failure is a failure due to insufficient recording paper or insufficient toner.