JP2000047530A - Image forming device information processing system, image forming method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device having a plurality of functions which avoids, even in the course of the printer function or facsimile function, inconvenience in use, such as awaiting a turn in front of the device in order to use, for example, the copying function. SOLUTION: From a group consisting of the copying function, facsimile function, printer function, and electronic filing function, a plurality of functions to be used are reserved through a computer. From the reserved job transmitted from the computer, information on an owner who has transmitted the job is obtained, (step S31), and he is informed that the reserved job is executable, (step S32).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a composite function such as a copy function, a facsimile function and a printer function, or a printer function for printing print data from a plurality of host devices connected via a network. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image forming method, an information processing system including the image forming apparatus, and a storage medium for executing the image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In addition to the original function of a copier for copying and printing an original, a multifunction copier apparatus has a facsimile function using a copier as a facsimile terminal, a printer function using a copier as a printer terminal, or electronic filing of an original. A device having a filing function has been proposed.

A print manager in which a plurality of users share a single printer and monitors a plurality of print jobs in which print data is spooled is generally known as a computer application.

[0004]

However, in the conventional multifunction copier, the copy function cannot be operated while the printer function or the facsimile function is operating. Therefore, for example, a user who tries to use the copy function without knowing that the printer function or the fax function is operating cannot use the copy immediately,
There was a usage problem such as having to wait for the currently running function to finish.

[0005] Further, in some conventional print managers, the authority to change the order of print jobs is given only to privileged users, or anyone can freely change the order. If only the privileged person is authorized to change the order of the print jobs, the order cannot be changed even if a general user attempts to change the order. As a case where the general user attempts to change the order, for example, there is a case where priority is given to subsequent printing displayed by the print manager because the printing time of the user is long. In addition, when anyone can freely change the order of the print jobs, there is a problem that the printing order is delayed because another person changes the order without permission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention realizes an image forming apparatus and an image forming method having an easy-to-use composite function, an information processing system including the image forming apparatus, and the image forming method. It is intended to provide a storage medium. Further, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of changing the order of a print job according to a mode of a user, an information processing system including the image forming apparatus, and a storage medium for implementing the image forming method are provided. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function. In the above image forming apparatus, a reserving unit for reserving a job to be processed using the function is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that the execution order of the reserved job reserved by the reservation unit has come. It is characterized by.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect,
A job replacement unit that changes an order of the reserved jobs reserved by the reservation unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the job replacing means changes the order of the reserved jobs by a replacement command according to a user's mode. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the aspect of the user is a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, and a change job owner. And the third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users, and when changing the order of the reserved jobs, a replacement command corresponding to the first user is used. In such a case, all the changes are permitted, only the descending order is permitted when the replacement command is issued for the second user, and all the changes are not permitted when the replacement command is issued for the third user. It is characterized by comprising control means for controlling.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, if the job reserved by the reservation unit has not been executed for a predetermined time, the release unit releases the reserved job. It is characterized by having.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the reservation unit weights each job to be reserved, and assigns a weight to each job in accordance with the weighted value. The execution order is sorted.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having image printing means for printing print data from a plurality of host devices connected via a network. Management means for managing the received print data; and a job replacement means for changing the order of the print jobs managed by the management means by a replacement command according to the mode of the user.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, the aspect of the user is a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, and a change job owner. And a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users, and when the order of the print jobs is changed, when the order of the print jobs is changed, a replacement command corresponding to the first user is issued. In such a case, all the changes are permitted, only the descending order is permitted when the replacement command is issued for the second user, and all the changes are not permitted when the replacement command is issued for the third user. It is characterized by comprising control means for controlling.

In the information processing system according to the invention, an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function is provided, and the image forming apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. In the information processing system including a plurality of host devices connected to each other, the image forming apparatus includes a reservation unit that reserves a job to be processed using the function based on an instruction from the host device. It is characterized by the following.

In the information processing system according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus notifies that the execution order of the reserved job reserved by the reservation means has arrived. It is characterized by having a notifying means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the image forming apparatus changes the order of the reserved job reserved by the reservation unit. It is characterized by comprising a replacement means.

In the information processing system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the twelfth aspect, the job replacement means receives a replacement command according to a user's mode from the host device, and Is changed.

[0020] In the information processing system according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the thirteenth aspect, the aspect of the user is a first privileged person having a special right.
User, a second user who is the owner of the change job, and a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users, and when changing the order of the reserved jobs, the first All changes are permitted when the replacement command is issued by the user, and only the descending order is allowed when the replacement command is issued by the second user.
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming apparatus is provided with control means for controlling not to permit any change when a replacement command corresponding to the third user is issued.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the tenth aspect, when the job reserved by the reserving unit has not been executed for a predetermined time, the image forming apparatus performs the reservation. A release means for releasing a job is provided.

In an information processing system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the reservation means weights the job to be reserved and executes each job in accordance with the weighted value. The order is sorted.

An information processing system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system comprising: a plurality of host devices connected via a network; and an image forming apparatus having image printing means for printing print data sent from the host device. In the information processing system, the image forming apparatus includes: a management unit that manages the print data transmitted from the host device; and an order of the print job managed by the management unit according to a user mode. Job changing means for changing the job according to the changing command.

[0024] In the information processing system according to the eighteenth aspect, in the invention according to the seventeenth aspect, the aspect of the user is a first person who is a privileged person having a special right.
User, a second user who is the owner of the change job, and a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users, and when changing the order of the print job, the first user All changes are permitted when the replacement command is issued by the user, and only the descending order is allowed when the replacement command is issued by the second user.
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming apparatus is provided with control means for controlling not to permit any change when a replacement command corresponding to the third user is issued.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function. Instructions from a plurality of host devices via the host device, and reserves a job to be processed using the function based on the instructions from the host device.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the image forming method according to the nineteenth aspect is characterized in that the fact that the execution order of the reserved job has arrived is notified.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method according to the nineteenth or twentieth aspect, wherein a job change process for changing the order of reserved jobs is performed.

In the image forming method according to the twenty-second aspect, in the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the job replacement process is performed by receiving a replacement command according to a user's mode from the host device. The job order is changed.

In an image forming method according to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the aspect of the user is a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, and a change job owner. And a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users, and when changing the order of the reserved jobs, a replacement instruction corresponding to the first user. , All changes are permitted, and according to the replacement command corresponding to the second user, only descending permutation is permitted,
When a replacement command corresponding to the third user is issued, control is performed so that all changes are not permitted.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the nineteenth aspect, the reserved job is released when the reserved job has not been executed for a predetermined time.

In the image forming method according to the twenty-fifth aspect, in the nineteenth aspect, weighting is performed for each job to be reserved, and the execution order of each job is sorted according to the weighted value. It is characterized by the following.

In the image forming method according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the print data is managed by an image forming apparatus having an image printing means for printing print data sent from a host device via a network. The order of the managed print jobs is changed by a replacement command according to the mode of the user.

[0033] In the image forming method according to the twenty-seventh aspect, in the invention according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the mode of the user is a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, and a change job owner. When the second user is a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users, and the order of the print job is changed,
When a replacement command corresponding to the first user is used, all changes are permitted, and when a replacement command corresponding to the second user is used, only descending replacement is permitted, and a replacement command corresponding to the third user is permitted. In this case, control is performed such that all changes are not permitted.

The storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is a computer readable computer which executes an image forming method of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function. A computer-readable storage medium storing the image forming method, wherein the image forming method includes a step of receiving an instruction from a plurality of host devices via a network; and a process using the function based on the instruction from the host device. Making a job reservation.

A storage medium according to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention is the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect, further comprising a step of notifying that the execution order of the reserved job has arrived.

A storage medium according to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention is the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth aspect, further comprising a job changing step for changing the order of the reserved jobs.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirty-seventh aspect, the job replacement step comprises receiving a replacement command according to a user's mode from the host device, and Is a step of changing the order of.

[0038] In the storage medium according to claim 32, in the invention according to claim 31, the aspect of the user is a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, and a change job owner. When a certain second user and a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users are used and the order of the reserved jobs is changed,
When a replacement command corresponding to the first user is used, all changes are permitted, and when a replacement command corresponding to the second user is used, only descending replacement is permitted, and a replacement command corresponding to the third user is permitted. And a step of controlling not to permit all changes.

A storage medium according to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention is the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect, further comprising a step of releasing the reserved job if the reserved job has not been executed for a predetermined time. I do.

According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect, the step of weighting each job to be reserved and sorting the execution order of each job according to the weighted value. It is characterized by having.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, there is provided a computer which executes an image forming method of an image forming apparatus having image printing means for printing print data sent from a host device via a network. A storage medium storing a readable program, wherein the image forming method manages the print data,
Changing the order of the managed print jobs by a replacement command according to the mode of the user.

In a storage medium according to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned thirty-fifth aspect, the aspect of the user is a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, and a change job owner. When a second user and a third user who does not correspond to any of the first and second users are used and the order of the print jobs is changed, a change instruction corresponding to the first user is issued. Controls not to permit all the changes, to permit only the permutation in the descending order when the permutation instruction corresponding to the second user is used, and not to permit all the permutations when the permutation instruction corresponding to the third user is used. The step of performing

[0043]

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

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

The reader unit 1 reads a document image and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 includes the reader unit 1
Further, an image corresponding to the image data from the image input / output control unit 3 is recorded on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network I / F unit 7, a formatter unit 8, an image memory unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10, This is a circuit for transmitting the compressed image data via a telephone line. Facsimile part 4
Is connected to a hard disk 12 and can temporarily store the received compressed image data.

The file section 5 is connected to a magneto-optical disc drive 6. The file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores the compressed image data together with a keyword for searching the image data in the magneto-optical disc drive set in the magneto-optical disc drive 6.
Further, the file unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred through the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses the decompressed image data, and decompresses the decompressed image data. The image data is transferred to the core unit 10.

The network I / F unit 7 is an interface circuit for connecting the image input / output control unit 3 to a network such as Ethernet, and a plurality of computers 11, 12, and 13 are connected to this network. The formatter unit 8 is a circuit that develops code data representing an image transferred from a computer connected to the network unit 7 into image data that can be printed by the printer unit 2.

The image memory section 9 is a circuit for temporarily storing image data. The core unit 10 includes the reader unit 1,
Facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, network unit 7,
This circuit controls the flow of data between the formatter unit 8 and the image memory unit 9, and will be described later in detail.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 shown in FIG.

The document feeder 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds a document one by one sequentially from the last page onto the platen glass 102, and after the reading operation of the document is completed, the platen glass 1
02 is to be ejected.

When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, and the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is reflected by mirrors 105, 106, and 10.
The light is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as CCD) 109 by the lens 7 and the lens 108.

As described above, the image of the scanned original is CC
The image data read by the D 109 and output from the CCD 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.
The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser light emitting unit 201 and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 1. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.

In the portion of the latent image on the photosensitive drum 202,
The developer is attached by the developing device 203. Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the cassette 2
The recording paper is fed from one of 04 and 205 and is conveyed to the transfer unit 206 to transfer the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207.

The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by discharge rollers 208, and the sorter 220 sorts the recording paper by storing the discharged recording paper in each bin. The sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set. When double-sided recording is set, the recording sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feed conveyance path by the flapper 209.

When the multiplex recording is set, the flapper 20 is set so that the recording paper is not conveyed to the discharge roller 208.
9 guides the sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1. As shown in FIG.

The image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 110 and is subjected to shading correction. A /
The image data processed by the D / SH unit 110 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111 and to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface unit 113.

The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 according to the settings set by the operation unit 115. For example, when the copy mode in which the trimming process is performed and the copy is performed by the operation unit 115 is set, the image processing unit 111 performs the trimming process and transfers the image data to the printer unit 2.

When the facsimile transmission mode is set on the operation unit 115, the interface 113
The control command corresponding to the image data and the set mode is transferred to the core unit 10.

The control program for the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. Also, memory 1
Reference numeral 16 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10. As shown in FIG.

The image data from the league unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and the control command from the league unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. Data processing unit 1
Reference numeral 21 denotes an image processing unit that performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 responds to a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. Facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, and network unit 7 via interface 120
Transferred to

The computer interface unit 7
Is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the formatter unit 8 to be expanded into image data. Then, the image data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2 after being transferred to the data processing unit 121.

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the network unit 7. The image data from the file unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the network unit 7.

The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123.

As described above, processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting / receiving the image, storing the image, and inputting / outputting data from / to the computer is performed mainly on the core unit 10. Is possible.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an application program operating on the computers 11, 12, and 13 connected to the network I / F unit 7, and the state of the image forming apparatus is changed by this operation. Can be managed.

Reference numerals 300, 301, 302, and 303 denote pull-down type toolbars, which are user I / Fs for controlling various settings of the program and the multifunction copier. The toolbar 300 includes items related to the printer. In addition to deleting and moving a print job, the toolbar 300 can set the printer online / offline and temporarily stop the printer. The toolbar 301 can stop or pause printing of the document, and the toolbar 302 can select whether to display the status bar 320 or not. The toolbar 303 can refer to help items explaining how to use the application program.

Reference numeral 304 denotes a button for iconifying the program window, reference numeral 305 denotes a button for maximizing the program window,
A button 306 is used to end the program.

Reference numeral 310 denotes a window displaying the state of the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, there are three print jobs. The job 311 is a computer 1
A computer user named “Tanaka” was sent from “1, 12:00” or “10:00” to “Patent Proposal. DOC”
It can be seen that the printing of the file has been completed, and that two of ten sheets have been printed and the third sheet is being printed.

The job 312 is a job for printing the text received by the facsimile unit 4, and currently waiting for printing, there are a total of three images and “10:01”
It can be seen that the print job has started. Also, the job 31
3 is “Sato” from the computer 11, 12 or 13.
h ”tries to print a file“ Schedule.DOC ”at“ 10:02 ”
Currently spooling data being transferred from a computer via a network.
It can be seen that the data transfer of "0 Kbytes" has been completed.

FIG. 6 shows the buttons 307, 3 of the program of this embodiment operating on the computers 11, 12, 13.
It is a figure explaining operation of 08,309.

A button 307 is a button for reserving use of the multifunction copier as a copy, a button 308 is a button for reserving facsimile transmission from the multifunction copier, and a button 309 is used for reserving the multifunction copier. This button is used to reserve use as an electronic filing device.

In the figure, a print job 311 is
It has disappeared because printing has already been completed.

Print job 3 from facsimile unit 4
Reference numeral 12 indicates that printing has started, the second sheet has now been completed, and the third sheet is being printed. Also, the print job 31
In the case of No. 3, it is understood that the spooling has been completed and the total number of sheets is eight and waiting for printing.

Further, the job 314 is stored in the computer 1
A job indicating that the user “suzuki” has pressed the button 307 from 1, 12 or 13 and has reserved the use of the image forming apparatus to use the copy function after the other print job has been completed. 03 ".

The job 315 corresponds to the user “Yamada”
Is a fax reservation job for which the button 308 is pressed at “10:04”, and the job 316 is a user “Watanab”
"e" pressed 309 at "10:05"
This is a reserved job.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation (reserved job processing) of the multifunction copier when the order of each reserved job of jobs 314, 315, 316 has arrived. The program according to this flowchart is, for example, the core unit 1
0 is stored in the memory 124.

When the reserved job processing routine is started (step S30), the computer 11, 12 or 1
The information of the owner who sent the job is acquired from the reserved job sent from No. 3 (step S31). Then, the owner is notified that the reserved job can be executed (step S32), and the owner name and the reserved job name are displayed on the operation unit 115 to be notified (step S33). The method of notifying the owner is not only a method of displaying using the software described with reference to FIGS.
A method using a network communication protocol such as “item” or the telephone function of the facsimile unit 4 may be used.

Thereafter, a 30-second timer is run (step S34), and it is checked whether the corresponding reserved job has been started (step S35) and whether the timer has expired. Three
The numerical value of 30 seconds of the 0-second timer can be set from the operation unit 115 or the software shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the user can set an optimal numerical value for each individual.

When the reserved processing is executed, an instruction is sent to the software shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 running on the computer 11, 12, or 13 so that the state of the reservation processing is being executed (step S36). ), And ends the reserved job processing.

When the timer has expired (step S
37), a message is sent to the owner indicating that the reservation job processing has expired and has been canceled (step S38), and the processing ends. If the timer has not expired, the process returns to step S35 and repeats until the corresponding process starts or the timer ends. As a result, even if the reservation person forgets to make a reservation, it is possible to prevent the subsequent processing from being stopped.

In the above description, when the time-out occurs, the reservation job processing is immediately canceled. However, when the copy processing of the job 314 shown in FIG. F
The method may be executed after the ILE reservation processing, and when the timeout is repeated a plurality of times, the reservation processing of the job 314 may be deleted.

FIG. 8 shows the computer 11, 12 or 1
3 is a diagram showing a processing sequence in the case where an instruction to delete or change the order of each of the jobs 311 to 316 is given from FIG.
0 is stored in the memory 124.

Each job 311 to 316 is assigned to the computer 1
When the user makes a selection using the mouse 1, 12, or 13 and moves or cuts and pastes the job, this command is transmitted to the multifunction copier via the network.

When the user instructs to delete or change the order, a routine for checking the right of the user is started (step S40). First, it is determined whether the user who issued the command is a privileged user having a special right (step S41). If the user is a privileged user, the deletion authority and all the replacement processes are enabled (step S4).
2) End the routine and execute the instruction.

If the user is not a privileged user, it is determined whether or not the user is the owner (step S43). If the user is the owner, only deletion and descending order are possible (step S44), and the process ends. Execute only when
If the owner is not the owner, it is determined that deletion and replacement are not possible (step S45), and this routine ends.

With this processing, the privileged person can delete and replace the information, and the owner can only delete and descend, so that a problem such as delaying the job of another user does not occur. If deletion or replacement is not possible, an error message is transmitted to the operated computer 11, 12, or 13 to call attention.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an application program running on a computer of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The status of the device can be managed. Elements common to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 310 denotes a window displaying the state of the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, there are three print jobs. The job 321 corresponds to the user “Nak
"amura" is a printer job with one sheet and weighting of 7, in which a file "Seat chart. DOC" is to be printed from the computer 11, 12, or 13 at "10:03".

A job 322 is a print job called a LAN-FAX. The FAX data received by the computer I / F unit 7 is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 via the core unit 10, and after the image is developed, the printer unit Print with 2. In this print job, the destination is not known by normal fax reception, but the information of the fax reception destination is stored in the communication protocol on the network.
The owner can be determined from the recipient information. Further, the job 322 is a data in which the recipient (owner) is “itoh”, the weight is “5”, and the total number of sheets is five. The job 322 is started at “10:02” and is currently waiting. The start time of this job 322 is late because the weight is “5”, but the weight is 7
The job 321 is performing printing first.

The job 323 corresponds to the user “Yamamoto”
"o" is a printer job with 11 sheets and a weight of 4, in which a file "cost management. DOC" is to be printed from the computer 11, 12, or 13 at "10:01". The job 323 includes jobs 321 and 32
Among 2,323, printing is started first, but since the weight is 4, the order of printing is the latest.

FIG. 10 shows computers 11, 12, and 13.
Button 307 of the program of the present embodiment that operates on
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operations of 308 and 309. Elements common to FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
You.

In the figure, a print job 321 is
It has disappeared because printing has already been completed. In the job 322, four out of five sheets have been printed and the last one is being printed.

The job 324 is executed by the computers 11, 1
A job indicating that the user “suzuki” has pressed the button 307 from 2 and 13 and has reserved the use of the image forming apparatus to use the copy function after the other print job has been completed, and “10:04”. Issued with a weight of 1
0 and the highest setting.

The setting of the weighting can be changed by the user, but is different from the case where a reserved job is issued, which is different from the case of waiting for printing like a print job as another printer. Is set to the highest weight by default, since work cannot be started unless the user removes and walks to the place where the multifunction copier is placed.

The job 324 is weighted higher than the job 322, but the job 32
Since the printing of No. 2 has started, the order is not changed.
In order to avoid double-sided printing, stapling, and the problem that documents are mixed and sorting is difficult, the order of jobs that have already been processed is not changed.

The job 325 is for the user “Yamada”
Is a fax reservation job whose button 308 was pressed at “10:04”, and the weight is the default “10”. Although the time is the same as that of the job 324, the job 324 follows the job 324 because it is slightly earlier.

The job 326 is executed by the user “Watanab”.
"e" pressed 309 at "10:05"
This is a reserved job, and the weight is the default “10”. Further, the jobs 324, 325, and 326 are processed by executing the reservation job processing (step S30) in FIG.

In this embodiment, FIGS. 5, 6, 9
Although the application program of FIG. 10 has been described as operating on the computers 11, 12, and 13 on the network, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by operating on the CPU 114 that moves the operation unit 115. Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained by executing the reserved job processing of FIG. 7 several times before, instead of executing it when the order has arrived.

The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is also supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the system or apparatus is also stored in a computer (or CPU or MPU). It goes without saying that the code is completed by reading and executing the code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As the storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used.

The functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by the computer executing the readout program codes, but also the OS running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program codes. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the next program code is written based on an instruction. This also includes the case where a CPU or the like provided with an extension board or a function in an extension unit performs the extended function for the actual processing to perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say,

[0105]

As described in detail above, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the information processing system according to the tenth aspect, the image forming method according to the nineteenth aspect, and the claim According to the storage medium of the invention described in Item 28, it is possible to reserve a job that uses a function. Therefore, even if one of a plurality of functions is continuously operated, use of another function is prohibited. By making a reservation, all jobs of a plurality of functions can be managed in an integrated manner, thereby making it possible to change the order of all the jobs managed in an integrated manner.

An image forming apparatus according to the second aspect,
According to the information processing system according to the eleventh aspect, the image forming method according to the twentieth aspect, and the storage medium according to the twenty-ninth aspect, the execution order of the reserved job arrived. Is notified, it is possible to avoid a problem in use such as waiting in front of the apparatus to use the copy function while the printer function or the fax function is operating, thereby improving usability.

The image forming apparatus according to the third to fifth aspects, the information processing system according to the twelfth to fourteenth aspects, and the image forming method according to the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects. , And claims 30 to 3
According to the storage medium of the second aspect, it is possible to appropriately change the job execution order according to the user's mode. This makes it possible, for example, to give priority to the succeeding job, and further avoids the disadvantage that the order of execution of one's own job is delayed due to a change in the order of others.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
According to the information processing system of the invention described in claim 15, the image forming method of the invention described in claim 24, and the storage medium of the invention described in claim 33, when the reserved job has not been executed for a predetermined time, Since the reserved job is canceled, even if the user has reserved a function such as an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, or an electronic filing function and has forgotten to use the function, the other waiting jobs can be performed. It is possible to prevent the job operation from being interrupted.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
According to the information processing system of the invention, the image forming method of the invention, and the storage medium of the invention, weighting is performed for each job to be reserved, and the weighting is performed. Since the execution order of each job is sorted according to the set values, processing according to the priority can be performed.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 8,
According to the information processing system according to the seventeenth aspect, the image forming method according to the twenty-sixth aspect, and the storage medium according to the thirty-fifth aspect, the print data transmitted from the host device is managed. In addition, the order of the managed print jobs is changed by a replacement command according to the user's mode, so that all the print jobs can be managed in an integrated manner. It is possible to change the order of all the print jobs performed.

An image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect,
According to the information processing system according to the eighteenth aspect, the image forming method according to the twenty-seventh aspect, and the storage medium according to the thirty-sixth aspect, execution of a job is appropriately performed according to a mode of a user. The order can be changed. As a result, for example, the print time of one's own job becomes longer, so that it is possible to prioritize the subsequent print job displayed in the print manager, and further, the execution order of one's own print job is delayed due to a change in the order of others. Such a problem can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a reader unit 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit 10;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the multifunction copier when the order of a reserved job has arrived.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing sequence when a command to delete or change the order of each job is issued from a computer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation screen of the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation screen of the information processing system according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 File part 7 Network I / F part 8 Formatter part 9 Image memory part 10 Core part

Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function, wherein a reservation means for reserving a job to be processed using the function is provided. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies that an execution order of the reserved job reserved by said reservation unit has come. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a job switching unit that changes an order of the reserved jobs reserved by the reservation unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the job switching unit changes the order of the reserved jobs according to a switching command according to a mode of a user. 5. The mode of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the reserved jobs is changed, all the changes are permitted when the order of the reserved jobs is changed by the replacement command corresponding to the first user, and the change is performed by the replacement command corresponding to the second user. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising control means for permitting only replacement in descending order, and not permitting all changes when a replacement command corresponding to the third user is issued. . 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a release unit configured to release the reserved job when the job reserved by the reservation unit has not been executed for a predetermined time. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservation unit weights each job to be reserved, and sorts the execution order of each job according to the weighted value. 8. An image forming apparatus comprising image printing means for printing print data from a plurality of host devices connected via a network, wherein the management means manages print data sent from the host device. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a job switching unit that changes the order of print jobs managed by the management unit by a switching command according to a user's mode. 9. The mode of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person who has a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the print job is changed, a change instruction corresponding to the first user is permitted, and all changes are permitted, and a change instruction corresponding to the second user is performed. 9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising control means for permitting only a change in descending order, and not permitting any change when a change command corresponding to said third user is issued. . 10. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function, and a plurality of host devices connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a reservation unit that reserves a job to be processed using the function based on an instruction from the host device. 11. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein said image forming apparatus includes a notifying unit for notifying that the execution order of the job reserved by said reservation unit has arrived. 12. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a job switching unit that changes an order of the job reserved by the reservation unit. 13. The information processing system according to claim 12, wherein said job replacement unit changes the order of said reserved jobs by receiving a replacement command according to a user's mode from said host device. 14. The aspect of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the reserved jobs is changed, all the changes are permitted when the order of the reserved jobs is changed by the replacement command corresponding to the first user, and the change is performed by the replacement command corresponding to the second user. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls only a descending order when the change is performed, and does not permit all the changes when a change instruction corresponding to the third user is issued. The information processing system as described. 15. The information according to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a release unit that releases the reserved job when the job reserved by the reservation unit has not been executed for a predetermined time. Processing system. 16. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein said reservation unit weights the job to be reserved and sorts the execution order of each job according to the weighted value. 17. An information processing system comprising: a plurality of host devices connected via a network; and an image forming apparatus having an image printing unit that prints print data sent from the host device. The apparatus includes: a management unit that manages the print data transmitted from the host device; and a job replacement unit that changes the order of the print jobs managed by the management unit by a replacement command according to a user's mode. An information processing system comprising: 18. The aspect of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person who owns a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any one of the first and second users. When the order of the print job is changed, a change instruction corresponding to the first user is permitted, and all changes are permitted, and a change instruction corresponding to the second user is performed. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided with a control unit that permits only a change in descending order when the change is performed and does not permit any change when a change command is issued according to the third user. The information processing system as described. 19. An image forming method for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function, comprising: receiving instructions from a plurality of host apparatuses via a network; An image forming method, wherein a job to be processed using the function is reserved based on an instruction from the host device. 20. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein a notification is made that the execution order of the reserved job has arrived. 21. The method according to claim 1, wherein a job change process for changing the order of the reserved jobs is executed.
The image forming method according to claim 9 or 20. 22. The image forming method according to claim 21, wherein in the job replacement process, a replacement command according to a user's mode is received from the host device, and the order of the reserved jobs is changed. 23. The aspect of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the reserved job is changed, the change instruction corresponding to the first user is permitted, and all the changes are permitted, and the change instruction corresponding to the second user is performed. 23. The image forming method according to claim 22, wherein control is performed such that only the descending order is permitted when the change is performed, and all changes are not permitted when the change instruction is performed according to the third user. 24. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein the reserved job is canceled when the reserved job has not been executed for a predetermined time. 25. Weighting is performed for each job to be reserved,
20. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein the execution order of each job is sorted according to the weighted value. 26. An image forming apparatus comprising an image printing means for printing print data sent from a host device via a network, wherein the print data is managed and the order of the managed print jobs is determined. An image forming method, wherein the image forming method is changed by a replacement command according to a mode of a user. 27. The aspect of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the print job is changed, a change instruction corresponding to the first user is permitted, and all changes are permitted, and a change instruction corresponding to the second user is performed. 27. The image forming method according to claim 26, wherein only the descending order is permitted, and all the changes are not permitted when the switching instruction corresponding to the third user is issued. 28. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for executing an image forming method of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic filing function. The image forming method includes a step of receiving an instruction from a plurality of host devices via a network; and a step of reserving a job to be processed using the function based on the instruction from the host device. A storage medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 29. The storage medium according to claim 28, further comprising a step of notifying that the execution order of the reserved job has arrived. 30. The storage medium according to claim 28, further comprising a job changing step of changing a reserved job order. 31. The storage according to claim 30, wherein the job replacement step is a step of receiving a replacement command according to a mode of a user from the host device and changing the order of the reserved jobs. Medium. 32. The aspect of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the reserved job is changed, the change instruction corresponding to the first user is permitted, and all the changes are permitted, and the change instruction corresponding to the second user is performed. 32. The storage medium according to claim 31, further comprising a step of performing control such that only a change in descending order is permitted when the change is performed, and all changes are not permitted when the change is performed by a change instruction corresponding to the third user. 33. The storage medium according to claim 28, further comprising a step of canceling the reserved job when the reserved job has not been executed for a predetermined time. 34. Weighting is performed for each job to be reserved,
29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of sorting the execution order of each job according to the weighted value.
The storage medium according to the above. 35. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for executing an image forming method of an image forming apparatus provided with an image printing means for printing print data sent from a host device via a network. The image forming method includes a step of managing the print data, and a step of changing the order of the managed print jobs by a replacement command according to a user's mode. Medium. 36. The aspect of the user includes a first user who is a privileged person having a special right, a second user who is an owner of a change job, and any of the first and second users. When the order of the print job is changed, a change instruction corresponding to the first user is permitted, and all changes are permitted, and a change instruction corresponding to the second user is performed. 36. The storage medium according to claim 35, further comprising a step of controlling such that only a change in descending order is permitted, and not all changes are permitted when a change command is issued according to the third user.