JP2001345967A - Image forming device, outputting method for charging information of image formation network system, and computer-readable recording medium with recorded program for making computer implement the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output user charging information to a master device together at a batch. SOLUTION: When a digital copying machine 901 requests a digital copying machine (e.g. 902) connected to a network like 910 to output charging information, the digital copying machine 902 outputs the stored charging information to the digital copying machine 901. The digital copying machine 901 inputs the charging information outputted from the digital copying machine 902 to display the inputted charging information on a liquid crystal display unit of an operation part and print it out on transfer paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming network system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses share and process a plurality of print jobs. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method of outputting billing information in an image forming network system, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique has been disclosed in which an image forming network system is constructed by connecting a plurality of digital copying machines to a network line to improve the usability of the digital copying machine (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-98038). reference).
When a digital copying machine is networked, for example, when copying 100 copies of one original, two digital copying machines copy the same original 50 copies at a time (linking operation), thereby shortening the copying time. You can do it with a simple operation.

[0003]

However, when a digital copying machine is networked, there is a problem that collection of user billing information becomes troublesome. It is generally desirable that the digital copiers that can be connected to each other be arranged at installation locations close to each other, such as on the same floor, from the viewpoint of user operability and the operation of reading meter information of user billing information. However, there is a possibility that the digital copiers are arranged at installation locations separated from each other due to the installation space or the like. In this case, the meter reading operation of the user billing information once a month needs to be performed at each digital copying machine, so that the operation becomes very complicated.
In addition, counting user billing information is very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the complexity of collecting user billing information of such a conventional networked digital copying machine. An image forming apparatus, a method for outputting billing information in an image forming network system, and a computer readable recording program for causing a computer to execute the method, so that the user billing information can be collectively output by mutual digital copying machines. The purpose is to provide a recording medium.

[0005] Further, an image forming apparatus and an image forming network system capable of displaying user billing information on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus or printing the same on transfer paper, thereby efficiently reading the user billing information. And a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method is recorded.

Further, the main power of the digital copying machine is turned off.
If the user billing information cannot be obtained for such a reason, an image forming apparatus that can output a display to that effect and prompt the user to acquire the user billing information by another method, An object of the present invention is to provide a method for outputting billing information in an image forming network system and a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method is recorded.

[0007]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises: a charging information output requesting unit for requesting another image forming apparatus connected to a network line to output charging information; An image forming apparatus comprising: charging information input means for inputting charging information output from an image forming apparatus; and output means for visualizing and outputting the input charging information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the billing information output requesting unit requests the other image forming apparatus connected to the network line to output the billing information, and the billing information input unit transmits the other image forming apparatus. The billing information output from the forming device is input. Then, the output means visualizes and outputs the input billing information.

Therefore, billing information can be easily obtained from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, and the efficiency of meter reading of billing information can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: input means for inputting a billing information output request from another image forming apparatus connected to a network line;
An accounting information output unit that outputs stored accounting information to the other image forming apparatus in response to the accounting information output request.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the input means inputs a billing information output request from another image forming apparatus connected to the network line, and the billing information output means outputs the billing information. The accounting information stored in response to the request is output to another image forming apparatus.

Therefore, the stored billing information can be output to the image forming apparatus which has requested the billing information output, and the efficiency of the meter reading operation of the billing information can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the charging information output requesting means, the charging information inputting means, the output means, the inputting means, and the charging information outputting means according to the second aspect. An image forming apparatus comprising:

According to the third aspect of the invention, the billing information output requesting unit requests the other image forming apparatus connected to the network line to output the billing information, and the billing information inputting unit requests the other image forming apparatus. The billing information output from the forming device is input. Then, the output means visualizes and outputs the input billing information. The input unit inputs a request for outputting billing information from another image forming apparatus connected to the network line, and the billing information output unit transmits the billing information stored in response to the billing information output request to another image forming apparatus. Output.

Therefore, billing information can be easily obtained from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, and the billing information stored in the image forming apparatus which has requested the billing information output is stored. Information can be output, and the efficiency of meter reading of billing information can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the network line includes a public communication line network. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, charging information is input from another image forming apparatus by using a public communication network, or the image forming apparatus having issued a request for outputting the charging information is issued to the public by the public. Or charge information can be output using the communication line network, so that the charge information can be obtained even from an image forming apparatus installed at a very remote place.
Billing information can be sent to an image forming apparatus installed at a very remote place.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first, third, or fourth aspect, the output means displays the billing information on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. Or printing on transfer paper.

According to the present invention, the acquired billing information can be displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the billing information can be easily confirmed on the operation unit (for example, a liquid crystal display). Can be. Further, the acquired billing information can be printed on transfer paper, and the efficiency of the meter reading operation of billing information can be improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, third, or fourth aspect, the output unit is an image forming apparatus connected to the network line. When there is an image forming apparatus that cannot communicate, the charge information for the image forming apparatus is output to indicate that display is not possible.

According to the invention described in claim 6, when the charging information cannot be obtained because the main power supply is turned off or the cable is disconnected, etc.
Since this is displayed, the user can be prompted to acquire the billing information by another method.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, the output from the output means that charging information cannot be displayed is output from the image forming apparatus. It is performed by displaying on an operation unit or by printing on transfer paper.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the billing information cannot be acquired, the fact can be displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the fact that the billing information cannot be acquired can be displayed on the operating unit ( (For example, a liquid crystal display). Further, the fact that the billing information cannot be acquired can be printed on the transfer paper, and the user can be prompted to acquire the billing information by another method.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for outputting billing information in an image forming network system, comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses each including a reading unit for reading a document and a printing unit for printing the read document; A method of outputting billing information in an image forming network system connected to a line and capable of printing a document read by an arbitrary image forming apparatus on another image forming apparatus, wherein the billing information for a plurality of users is stored in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. It is characterized by including a charging information input step of inputting from the apparatus and a charging information output step of outputting the input charging information to any one image forming apparatus.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in the charging information input step, charging information for a plurality of users is input from the plurality of image forming apparatuses. In the charging information output step, the input charging information is output to any one image forming apparatus.

Therefore, the billing information for each user can be easily obtained from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, and the efficiency of the meter reading operation of the billing information can be improved.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system according to the eighth aspect, wherein the network line is used for public communication. It is characterized by including a network.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, charging information is input from another image forming apparatus using a public communication network, or the image forming apparatus which has requested the output of the charging information is issued to the public. Or charge information can be output using the communication network of the present invention, so that the charge information can be obtained from an image forming apparatus installed at a very remote place. Charging information can be sent to the image forming apparatus.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system.
10. The method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system according to claim 8, wherein in the billing information output step, the billing information is displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus or printed on transfer paper. It is characterized by.

According to the tenth aspect, the acquired billing information can be displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the billing information can be easily confirmed on the operation unit (for example, a liquid crystal display). Can be. Further, the acquired billing information can be printed on transfer paper, and the efficiency of the meter reading operation of billing information can be improved.

[0031] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system.
10. The charging information output method in the image forming network system according to claim 8, wherein the charging information output step includes an uncommunicable image forming apparatus among image forming apparatuses connected to the network line. In this case, the method includes a step of outputting that charging information for the image forming apparatus cannot be displayed.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the charging information cannot be acquired because the main power supply is turned off or the cable is disconnected, the fact is displayed. , It is possible to prompt the user to acquire the billing information.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for outputting billing information in an image forming network system.
12. The method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system according to claim 11, wherein the step of outputting that the billing information is not displayable is performed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. , Or by printing on transfer paper.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, when the billing information cannot be acquired, the fact can be displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the fact that the billing information cannot be acquired is displayed on the operating unit ( (For example, a liquid crystal display). Further, the fact that the billing information cannot be acquired can be printed on the transfer paper, and the user can be prompted to acquire the billing information by another method.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the eighth to twelfth aspects is recorded.

[0036] Therefore, the computer may be configured as follows.
12, the computer can easily acquire the accounting information for each user from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, and can execute the accounting method. It is possible to improve the efficiency of information meter reading work.

[0037]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the accompanying drawings, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a method for outputting billing information in an image forming network system, and a computer readable recording program for causing a computer to execute the method. A preferred embodiment of the recording medium will be described in detail. Note that this description will be made of (1) the mechanical configuration of the image forming apparatus, (2) the configuration of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and (3)
Configuration of control system of image forming apparatus, (4) Configuration of image processing unit of image forming apparatus, (5) Configuration of image forming network system, (6) Configuration block of image forming network system, (7) Explanation of terms Definition, (8) Processing of request and acquisition of user billing information is performed in this order.

(1) Mechanical Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a structural view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
A document bundle (not shown) is placed on a document table 102 of an ADF (automatic document feeder) 101 with a document image surface facing up. When a print start key 202 of an operation unit 201 (to be described later) shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the originals are fed onto a contact glass 105 by a paper feed roller 103 and a feed belt 104 in order from the lowermost original of the original bundle. To the original reading position. The original image conveyed onto the contact glass 105 is read by the reading unit 106, and the original image is read by the reading unit 106.
07. The above reading operation is performed until the document set detection sensor 108 does not detect that the next document exists on the document table 102. In addition,
The paper feed roller 103, the feed belt 104, and the discharge roller 107 are driven by a transport motor (not shown).

The transfer sheets stored in the first tray 109, the second tray 110, and the third tray 111 are transferred to the first sheet feeder 112, the second sheet feeder 113, and the third sheet feeder 1 respectively.
The transfer paper fed by the feeder 14 is transported by the vertical transport unit 115 to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 116. The document image read by reading unit 106 is written as a latent image on photoconductor 116 by a laser (not shown) from writing unit 117. This latent image is supplied to the photosensitive member 1 by the developing unit 118.
16 is visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the transfer paper is transported by the transport belt 119 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 116, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor 116 is transferred thereon. The toner image transferred onto the transfer paper is fixed as an image by the fixing unit 120. The transfer paper on which the image has been fixed is discharged by the paper discharge unit 121 to the finisher 122 of the post-processing device.

The finisher 122 transfers the transfer paper transported by the paper discharge unit 121 of the apparatus main body to the switching plate 12.
4 can be guided to the discharge tray 126 or the staple table 128, respectively.
For example, when the switching plate 124 is switched to the upper side, the transfer sheet can be discharged to the normal discharge tray 126 via the discharge roller 123 and the transport roller unit 132. When the switching plate 124 is switched to the lower side, the transfer paper can be discharged to the staple table 128 via the transport rollers 125 and the transport rollers 127.

The paper discharge tray 126 is a paper discharge tray that can be moved back and forth. The paper discharge tray 126 moves back and forth for each original or for each copy of a part sorted by the image memory, and sorts out the transfer paper that is simply discharged. The transfer paper placed on the staple table 128 has its end faces aligned by a paper alignment jogger 129 every time one sheet is discharged, and is stapled by the stapler 130 when copying of a part is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 130 slides down from the staple table 128 by its own weight, and is stored in the staple completed paper discharge tray 131.

When forming images on both sides of the transfer paper,
Set the branch claw 133 for path switching on the upper side,
The transfer paper fed from the first tray 109, the second tray 110, and the third tray 111 and imaged is temporarily stored in the duplex paper supply unit 134 without being guided to the paper discharge tray 126 side. Then, the transfer paper stocked in the duplex paper feed unit 134 is fed again from the duplex paper feed unit 134 toward the photoconductor 116, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor 116 is formed on the fed transfer paper. After the transfer, the branch pawl 133 is set on the lower side, and the transfer sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 126. Thus, the duplex sheet feeding unit 1
Reference numeral 34 is used when forming an image on both sides of the transfer paper.

The photoreceptor 116, the conveyor belt 119, the fixing unit 120, the paper discharging unit 121, and the developing unit 118 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and the first paper feeding unit 112, the second paper feeding unit 113, The third paper supply unit 114 drives the main motor, and each of the first paper supply clutch (not shown) and the second paper supply clutch (not shown).
And a third paper feed clutch (not shown). The vertical transport unit 115 is driven by transmitting the drive of the main motor by an intermediate clutch (not shown).

Next, an operation of reading an image in the reading unit 106 and an operation of writing an image in the writing unit 117, that is, an operation until an image is formed as a latent image on a recording surface will be described. here,
A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoreceptor surface.

First, the reading unit 106 includes a contact glass 105 on which a document is placed, and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 135, a first mirror 136, a lens 137, and a CCD image sensor 13.
8, a second mirror 139, a third mirror 140, and the like. Exposure lamp 135 and first mirror 13
6 is fixed on a first carriage (not shown),
The mirror 139 and the third mirror 140 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown).

The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 138.
Is read, converted into an electric signal and processed. The magnification of the image is changed by moving the lens 137 and the CCD image sensor 138 in the horizontal direction in FIG. That is, the positions of the lens 137 and the CCD image sensor 138 in the left-right direction are set corresponding to the designated magnification.

The writing unit 117 includes a laser output unit 141, an imaging lens 142, and a mirror 143. Inside the laser output unit 141, a laser diode (not shown) as a laser light source and a motor (not shown) are provided. ), A rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at high speed and constant speed. The laser light emitted by the laser output unit 141 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through the imaging lens 142, is turned back by the mirror 143, and forms a focused image on the surface of the photoconductor 116.

The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 116 rotates, and records the image signal output from a selector of an image processing unit described later in units of lines. Do. By repeating the main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 116, an image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 116.

As described above, the laser beam output from the writing unit 117 is applied to the photoconductor 116. A beam sensor (not shown) that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is arranged at a position near one end of the photoconductor 116 where the laser beam is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting and outputting an image signal described later are performed.

(2) Configuration of Operation Unit of Image Forming Apparatus Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the configuration of the operation unit 201 for performing various displays for the user and input control of function setting from the user will be described. I do. Operation unit 2
01 is a print start key 202, a clear / stop key 203, which is a start key, as shown in FIG.
A numeric keypad 204, a liquid crystal touch panel 205, an initial setting key 207, and a mode clear key 208 are provided.
The liquid crystal touch panel 205 is used for displaying various messages indicating the number of copies and the state of the image forming apparatus, displaying billing information for each user and each digital copying machine described later, and inputting various function settings.

In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal touch panel 20
Since a dot display is used as 5, the optimal display at that time can be graphically performed. In addition,
In the present embodiment, a dot display is used as the liquid crystal touch panel 205, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show the operation unit 20.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen of one liquid crystal touch panel 205. When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 205, the key indicating the selected function is inverted to black. If you need to specify the details of the function (for example, if you want to change the magnification, call the user billing information confirmation screen, etc.), touch the displayed key to set the detailed function The screen is displayed.

When a function as a digital copying machine is used, a message area for displaying a message such as "You can copy" or "Please wait" is provided at the upper left as shown in FIG. On the right side, a copy number display area for displaying the number of sheets set, an automatic density key for automatically adjusting the image density thereunder, an automatic paper selection key for automatically selecting transfer paper, and one copy for each copy A sort key that specifies the process of arranging the pages, a stack key that specifies the process of sorting copies by page, a staple key that specifies a process of binding the sorted copies one by one, and a 1: 1 key that sets the magnification to the same size Key to set the enlargement / reduction ratio, double-sided key to set double-sided mode, erase / move key to set binding margin mode, etc., printing of stamps and pages Print key the constant to is provided.

When the function of displaying the user charging information is used, the user charging information confirmation screen is called by operating a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 205. As shown in FIG. 3B, the user billing information confirmation screen is provided with an area for displaying the user billing information in the center of the liquid crystal touch panel 205, and on the left side thereof,
A list print key for specifying a list of user billing information,
An individual clear key for individually clearing the user billing information and an all clear key for clearing all the user billing information are provided. In the upper right, the user billing information of the own device is displayed or the user of another device is displayed. A selection key for selecting whether to display the billing information is provided, and on the right side thereof, editing keys such as an all selection key, an execution key, a front / rear selection key, and a close key are provided.

Therefore, a request to output the user charging information to the own apparatus or to the other apparatus is made by a key operation on the user charging information confirmation screen. The display and printing of the user billing information obtained from the own device or another device are also performed by key operations on the user billing information confirmation screen.

On the user billing information confirmation screen, when user billing information cannot be collected from another device,
As shown in FIG. 3C, almost the entire surface of the liquid crystal touch panel 205 is changed to a display screen.
No display because F or cable is disconnected. "
To the effect.

(3) Configuration of Control System of Image Forming Apparatus Next, referring to FIG. 4 (first configuration example) and FIG. 5 (second configuration example), the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus will be described. Will be described in detail.

(First Configuration Example) FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a control system of the above-mentioned image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, respective components are arranged around a system controller 401 for controlling the entire image forming apparatus. . An image reading unit 402, an image writing unit 403, a memory unit 404, a CSS 407, and a clock 408 are connected to the system controller 401 via a system bus. 405, the human body detection sensor 406, and the operation unit 201 are connected. The image reading unit 402, the image writing unit 403, and the memory unit 404 are connected to each other by an image data bus.

The memory unit 404 includes a compression block, a DRAM block, and a DMA block. A DRAM block in the memory unit 404 is for storing an image signal read from the image reading unit 402, and transfers image data stored in the image writing unit 403 in response to a request from the system controller 401. can do. The compression block is MH
A compression function such as an MR / MMR method is provided, and an image once read can be compressed to improve the use efficiency of a memory (DRAM). The image writing unit 403
The rotation of the image is realized by changing the address read from the address and the direction. Note that this memory unit 404 is not necessary if only the realization of a normal copying machine is considered.

The clock 408 is necessary only when the machine is to be booted or a weekly timer function for shutting down the machine at a specific time is reached. Further, the human body detection sensor 406 is necessary only when a function of automatically canceling the preheating mode when a user approaches the machine in the preheating mode is realized.

The CSS 407 collects remote diagnosis and billing information, that is, automatically notifies a service center when a machine error occurs, collects user billing information in response to a user request, and collects machine billing information. It has a function to monitor the execution status / use status from a remote location.
Therefore, the CSS 407 includes a billing information output request unit,
It functions as charging information input means, output means, input means, and charging information output means.

It should be noted that the CSS 407 may be provided with only functions as charging information output requesting means, charging information input means, and output means, or may be provided with only functions as input means and charging information output means. good. In this case, the image forming apparatus having the former function can be used as a master device for collecting, displaying, and printing user billing information. Further, the image forming apparatus having the latter function can be used as a slave unit that only outputs user billing information to the master unit. An image forming apparatus having all the functions of the former and the latter can be used both as a master unit and as a slave unit.

(Second Configuration Example) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the control system of the image forming apparatus. In the first configuration example described above, the CPU of the system controller 401 includes the image reading unit 402, the image writing unit 403, and the memory unit 40.
4, and a central control method for controlling the CSS 407, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
03, each of the memory units 404 includes a CPU,
A distributed control method may be used in which commands from the system controller 401 to each controller are transmitted through control signal lines. Note that the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus is not limited to the above configuration examples 1 and 2, but may be another configuration.

(4) Configuration of Image Processing Unit of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image processing unit (image reading unit 402 and image writing unit 403) of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Note that this image processing unit functions as an output unit. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image processing unit will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the irradiation light from the exposure lamp 135 is
The document surface is irradiated, and an image is formed on a CCD image sensor 138 of the reading unit 106 by an imaging lens (not shown). CCD image sensor 138 of reading unit 106
Generates image data (analog signal) by photoelectrically converting the received document image, and this image data is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 603. After the shading correction is performed by the shading correction circuit 604, the MTF · γ correction circuit 605 calculates the MTF ·
Gamma correction processing and the like are performed.

The selector 602 is provided with the MTF / γ correction circuit 6
The image data inputted from the first print synthesizing unit 605 via the first print synthesizing unit 606 is converted into a scaling circuit 608
To the memory controller 610. The image data that has passed through the scaling circuit 608 is scaled according to the scaling factor, and
7

On the other hand, between the memory controller 610 and the selector 602, image data can be bidirectionally input and output. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 6, the image processing unit (IPU) includes an I / O port 614 and an SCS in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 106.
Input of a plurality of data so that image data supplied from the outside via the I driver 615, for example, image data input from a data processing device such as a personal computer, and user billing information from another image forming device can be processed. It has the function of selecting output.

The image processing unit stores a CPU 611 for setting various information (commands) to the memory controller 610 and the like and for controlling the reading unit 106 and the writing unit 117, and stores programs and data of the CPU 611. A ROM 612 and a RAM 613 are provided. The CPU 611 further includes a memory controller 610
Can write or read data in the image memory 601 via the.

Next, referring to FIG.
1 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a timing chart of image data for one page. A frame gate signal (hereinafter abbreviated as / FGATE) indicates an effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. Main scanning synchronization signal (hereinafter, / LSYNC)
Is a line-by-line basis, and image data becomes valid at a predetermined clock after / LSYNC rises.

A signal indicating that image data in the main scanning direction is valid is a line gate signal (hereinafter abbreviated as / LGATE). These / FGATE, / LSYN
C and / LGATE are image synchronization signals (hereinafter / VCL)
K), and data of one pixel is sent for one clock of VCLK.

Although the detailed description is omitted, the image processing unit separates the image input and the image output from each other.
FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE and VCL
It has a mechanism for generating K, and by performing phase adjustment or the like in the case of directly outputting a read document image (image data), various combinations of image input / output can be realized.

Next, the memory controller 610 and the image memory 601 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the memory controller 610 and the image memory 601. The memory controller 610 includes an input data selector 801,
An image synthesizing unit 802, a primary compression / expansion unit 803, an output data selector 804, and a secondary compression / expansion unit 805 are provided. The setting of the control data in each section is performed by the CPU 611. The addresses and data shown in FIG. 6 indicate the addresses and data of the image data.
Data and addresses of control data connected to the PU 611 are omitted.

The image memory 601 has a primary storage device 806
And a secondary storage device 807. The primary storage device 806 is, for example, a DRAM or the like so that writing to the image memory 601 or reading from the image memory 601 at the time of image output can be performed at a high speed substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of the input image data. Use one that allows high-speed access. The primary storage device 806 has a configuration (not shown, but an interface unit with the memory controller 610) capable of simultaneously executing input and output of image data by dividing into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed. ).

Two sets of address data lines for reading and writing are connected to the interface with the memory controller 610 so that input and output of image data can be executed in parallel in each divided area. Accordingly, an operation of outputting (reading) an image by area 2 while inputting (writing) an image to area 1 is enabled.

The secondary storage device 807 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. If both the primary storage device 806 and the secondary storage device 807 can be accessed at high speed, data processing can be performed without distinction between the primary storage device 806 and the secondary storage device 807, and the control of the memory controller 610 can be performed. However, since elements such as DRAMs are expensive, access to the primary storage device 806 is performed at high speed to process input / output data. Note that, similarly to the primary storage device 806, the secondary storage device 8
It is a matter of course that a high-speed element such as a DRAM may also be used for 07.

As described above, by forming the image memory 601 with the primary storage device 806 and the secondary storage device 807, an image forming apparatus capable of processing a large amount of image data such as input / output, storage, processing, etc. It can be realized at a low cost and with a relatively simple configuration. Note that the aggregated image in the aggregated copy function is stored in the primary storage device 806 in a format in which a plurality of original images are written on one transfer sheet.

Next, an outline of the operation of the memory controller 610 will be described. First, image input (image memory 601)
Will be described). Input data selector 80
1 selects image data to be written into the image memory (primary storage device 806) from a plurality of data.
The image data selected by the input data selector 801 is supplied to the image synthesizing unit 802,
Is combined with the data already stored in the image memory 601. The image data processed by the image synthesis unit 802 is subjected to data compression by a primary compression / decompression unit 803, and the compressed data is written to a primary storage device 806. The data written in the primary storage device 806 is further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression unit 805 as necessary, and then stored in the secondary storage device 807.

Next, image output (reading of image data from the image memory 601) will be described. First, at the time of image output, image data stored in the primary storage device 806 is read. Even when an image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 806, the primary compression / decompression unit 803 decompresses the image data in the primary storage device 806 and outputs the decompressed data or the decompressed data. The output data selector 804 selects and outputs the data after the image synthesis of the input data and the input data.

The image synthesizing unit 802 includes a primary storage device 806
(Has a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), selects the output destination of the synthesized data (image output, write-back to the primary storage device 806, simultaneous output to both output destinations) Is possible).

The image to be output is the primary storage device 806
Is not stored in the secondary compression / expansion unit 8
After decompression at 05 and writing the decompressed data to the primary storage device 806, the above-described image output operation is performed.

(5) Configuration of Image Forming Network System FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an image forming network system for implementing the present invention. In this figure, eight digital copying machines 901 to 908 are connected to a network line 910.
To form an image forming network system. In this image forming network system, a document read by an arbitrary digital copying machine can be printed by another image forming apparatus (connection operation). The present invention
The present invention is not limited to this image forming network system. That is, an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile is used instead of the digital copying machine.
A system connected to the digital copying machine 10 may be used, or an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile may be mixed in place of one digital copying machine. Also, the network line 910
The number of connected digital copiers and image forming apparatuses may be two or more, and the number of connected apparatuses is not particularly limited.

(6) Configuration Block of Image Forming Network System FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of two digital copying machines connected via a network line 910 in an image forming network system for carrying out the present invention. It is a block diagram. As shown, the digital copier 90
1, 902 are the system controller 100
1, image reading unit 1003, image writing unit 1005, memory unit 1007, CSS 1009, clock unit 1011,
A user restriction device 1013 and a human body detection sensor 1015 are provided. Except for the memory unit 1007 of the digital copiers 901 and 902,
902, system controller 1001, image reading unit 1
003, image writing unit 1005, CSS 1009, clock unit 1011, user restriction device 1013, human body detection sensor 1
015 performs exactly the same operation as the same part of the image forming apparatus (digital copying machine) shown in FIG. 4, and therefore detailed description of these parts is omitted.

Next, a memory unit 1007 of the digital copying machine, which has not been described, will be described. The memory unit 1007 includes a DRAM block 1020, a compression block 1022, a DMA block 1024, an SCS
An I controller 1026 is provided. The DRAM block 1020 stores image data in a DRAM (Dynamic).
Random Access Memory). The compression block 1022 includes a DMA (Dir)
ct Memory Access) block 1024
In order to improve the use efficiency of the image, the input image data is encoded by MH method, MR method or MMR method,
While the image data is compressed based on the compounding method, the image data compressed by any of these methods is expanded.

The DMA block 1024 transfers the input image data irrespective of the control of the system controller 1001. The SCSI controller 1026 controls data transfer with peripheral devices connected in a daisy chain system. In particular, in the present embodiment, S
CSI (Small Computer System)
The interface 1030 is used as a network interface for connecting a plurality of digital copying machines.

As shown in FIG. 10, the digital copying machine 90
The configuration of the image forming apparatus 1902 is almost the same as that of the image forming apparatus (digital copying machine) shown in FIG. Memory unit 100
Reference numeral 7 denotes S for transferring the read image to an external network line or storing image data from the network line in the DMA block 1024.
A CSI 1030 and a SCSI controller 1026 are used. As a means for communicating with the network line, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) is used as a physical means, and OSI (Open S) is used as digital communication.
system interface) TCP of reference model
Various means such as using / IP communication are conceivable. By using such a configuration, as described above, it is possible to transfer not only the image data but also the in-device state notification of each device existing on the network line and the user billing information described later.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of network software of the image forming apparatus (digital copying machine) shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the network software of the digital copying machines 901 and 902 includes a device control layer 1101 and a system control layer 110.
2 and an application layer 1103. The device control layer 1101 is a layer (device driver) that performs logical / physical conversion of data between the digital copying machine 901 and the digital copying machine 902 in input / output control.

The SCSI controller 1026 manages the ID number of the partner SCSI controller 1026 set individually with the peripheral device connected in the daisy chain system, and controls the data transfer by designating the ID number. Has become. SCSI controller 1026 is widely used as an interface for small computer systems. The SCSI controller 1026 communicates control commands and image data via the memory unit 1007.

Here, the SCSI controller 1
026, but in the present invention, SC
A LAN controller can be used instead of the SI controller 1026. The LAN controller has TC
P / IP software and the like.

The system control layer 1102 includes a system controller 1001 for controlling each part of the system of the digital copiers 901 and 902 and an operation unit controller 1.
110, a peripheral device controller 1111, an image forming device controller 1112, an image reading device controller 1113, and a memory unit 1007.

The system controller 1001 controls the paper transport process and the electrophotographic process process for forming an image in the image writing unit 1005 in the copy mode, and also controls the paper feed cassette status including the detection of an abnormal condition and the presence or absence of recording paper. ,
Perform in-flight monitoring such as collecting user billing information. Further, the system controller 1001 includes an image reading unit 1003
Operation and light source ON / O for reading image by
Controls FFs and the like.

The operation unit controller 1110 controls the LCD display, LED on / off, and key input scanning.
This is a layer that performs MI at a logical level. The peripheral device controller 1111 is a layer that executes, at a logical level, control of peripheral devices mounted on a copying machine such as an automatic duplex unit, a sorter, and an ADF. The image forming apparatus controller 1112 converts the image data into an electrophotograph,
This is a layer that controls so as to form an image such as thermal recording and ink jet recording paper. The image reading device controller 1113 is a layer that controls quantization, shading correction, MTF correction, scaling processing, and the like. The memory unit 1007 is a layer that controls compression processing, DMA transfer setting processing, and the like.

The application layer 1103 is composed of a copy application 1120 and a daemon process 1130. The copy application 1120 is an application that executes a copy operation based on a copy sequence. When a print request is requested from another digital copying machine via a network line, the daemon process 1130 reads out the image data stored in the memory unit 1007, and reads the image data from its own image writing unit 1005.
Is an application that transfers image data to the application. As a matter of course, before the daemon process 1130 reads an image from the memory unit 1007 and performs a print operation, image transfer from another machine connected to the network line must be completed.

The input / output control unit 1140 is a layer that performs logical / physical conversion of data. Here, the operation unit 20
1. The peripheral device, the image forming apparatus, the image reading device, and the memory unit 1007 are handled as resources (resources) possessed by each copying machine.

The operation of transferring the image read by the digital copying machine 901 to the image writing unit 1005 of the digital copying machine 902 (remote operation) is performed as follows. When the digital copying machine 901 executes a copying operation using its own resources (when the print start key 202 is pressed), the digital copying machine 901 sends an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, or a peripheral as necessary to the system controller 1001. Machine,
Each resource such as the memory unit 1007 is requested to the system controller 1001 constituting the system control unit. The system controller 1001 arbitrates for the right to use resources in response to a request from the copy application 1120, and notifies the copy application 1120 of the result of the arbitration (usability).

When the digital copying machine 901 is used in a stand-alone manner (when not connected to a network line), the copy application 1120 can occupy all the resources held by the system, so that the copying operation can be performed immediately. Be executed. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, a system controller of a remote digital copying machine that executes a print operation using resources of another device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote digital copying machine) existing on a network line is not provided. Request resource usage rights.

The system controller of the remote digital copying machine arbitrates resources according to the request, and notifies the result to the application of the requesting apparatus. When the right to use is granted, the application executes image reading, and when storage of the image in its own memory unit is completed, the remote output destination via the external interface (SCSI in the present embodiment). Image transfer to the memory unit of the device. When the image transfer is completed, a print start command is transmitted after transmitting various conditions (a paper feed port, a paper discharge port, the number of prints, etc.) for executing printing to the daemon process of the remote output destination machine.

When the remote output destination daemon process receives the print start command, it requests the system controller of itself (the machine that executes remote output) to start printing, and the remote output is executed by the system controller. When the digital copying machine 901 uses the memory unit 1007 of the digital copying machine 902, the memory unit 1007 of the digital copying machine 902 cannot use the application of the digital copying machine 902. Further, even when a plurality of digital copying machines are connected on a network line as shown in FIG. 9, applications of the digital copying machines 902 to 908 other than the digital copying machine 901 cannot be used.

(7) Explanation and Definition of Terms Next, terms used in this specification will be described. ｛Image reading device (image reading unit) 「As an“ image reading device ”used in a digital copying machine, a light source is irradiated on a document, and the reflected light is converted into an electric signal by a“ solid-state imaging device = CCD ”. An apparatus having a function of performing "necessary image processing" is used. Here, "necessary image processing" means
Quantization (converts analog data converted to electrical signals by CCD into binary or multi-valued data), shading correction (corrects irradiation unevenness of light source for illuminating originals and sensitivity variation of CCD), MTF correction (Correction of blur caused by the optical system.) Magnification processing (indicating processing of changing the image reading density and performing data interpolation using the read image data).

{Image Forming Apparatus (Image Writing Unit)} The "image forming apparatus" is based on image data sent by an electric signal, such as plain paper, thermal paper, etc., by means of electrophotography, heat-sensitive, thermal transfer, ink-jet or the like. This is an apparatus for forming an image on a paper. Specifically, it is a digital copying machine, various printers for forming images using the above-described means, and facsimile machines.

{Video signal}, {Image data} Electric signal of an image converted by the above-mentioned "image reading device",
An electric signal of an image input to the “image forming unit”, and
Signals for synchronizing with the electric signal of the image are collectively expressed as "video signal" or "image data".

{Control Signal}, {Command} In order to exchange the “video signal” between the “image reading device”, the “image forming device”, and the “application”, it is necessary to transmit information between the devices. . This means is expressed as "control signal" or "command".

{Extended Function}, {Application (abbreviated as application)}, {Memory Function}, {Memory Unit} One of the major features of a digital copying machine is that an image is converted into an electric signal and read, and the electric signal is converted into an image forming apparatus. Can be restored. By providing means for changing and transmitting the electric signal read at this time, it can be applied to fields other than the conventional analog copying machine. FAX, page printer, scanner, file system, and other functions can be realized. Recently, even when a copier function is executed, read image data is temporarily stored in a storage device such as a DRAM, and image data is stored as needed. By reading the data, a function of executing a plurality of prints by one scan at the time of a plurality of copies or printing a plurality of originals on one transfer sheet (= memory function) is also realized. Functions that can be realized by these digital copier systems are referred to as “extended functions” or “apps”. In the present invention, the memory unit is also used as a buffer for transferring image data between machines on a network line.

{System Controller}, {System} In executing the copy mode, in order to form an image in the image writing unit, a paper transport process, an electrophotographic process process, an abnormal state and a paper cassette state (paper presence / absence state). In-flight monitoring,
In addition, a controller that controls a scanner operation and ON / OFF of a light source in order to read an image by the image reading unit is generically referred to as a “system controller”. Furthermore, recent digital copiers have been equipped not only with one extended function but also with a plurality of applications simultaneously. Thus, digital PPC sharing one resource
May be expressed as a “system”, and a controller that controls this system may be expressed as a “system controller”.

{Resource}, {Resource} Functional units shared by a plurality of applications are expressed as "resource" and "resource". The above-mentioned “system controller” controls the system in resource units. The resources managed by the digital copying machine of the present embodiment are “image reading device”, “image forming unit”, “operation unit”, “memory”, and “peripheral device (= ADF, sorter, automatic duplex unit, etc.) "and so on.

{User Restriction} In particular, a copying machine using an electrophotographic process is frequently used, so that there are cases where it is not desirable to permit unlimited use. At this time, "user"
"Coin rack" to identify, limit, and manage
Use a "user restricted device" such as a "key counter", "key card", "prepaid card", or a "password".

{User Settings} When the system becomes complicated, it is necessary to individually deal with each user. Since it is impossible to satisfy all of these responses at the time of factory shipment, response in the market is indispensable. Therefore, normally, a nonvolatile RAM is provided to enable system setting according to a user's request, but this function is expressed as "user setting".

{Idle State} A state in which no operation is performed by the user for a certain period is referred to as an “idle state”, and the other states are referred to as a “busy state”.
The time until the transition from the “busy state” to the “idle state” can be set by the user. For example, during a copying operation, as well as after the copying operation is completed, a transition to the “idle state” will not be made unless a non-operation state by the user is continued for a certain period of time.

{Weekly Timer} This is a function to turn on / off the power supply in accordance with the ON / OFF time set for each day of the week. For this function, an operation for adjusting the time of the clock module and an operation for setting the ON / OFF time for each day of the week are required.

(Preheating) The fixing temperature is set to a fixed temperature (for example, 1
0 ° C.) to reduce power consumption by lowering the control and turning off the display on the operation unit. The settings for this mode are
Depending on the key input on the operation unit or the machine setting, it is automatically set after a certain period of time after the operation and the operation are lost. This mode is released when a human body detection sensor detects that a person stands in front of the machine by key input on the operation unit or machine setting.

{Reload} A state in which the fixing temperature reaches the fixing-possible temperature and copying is possible is called reloading.

{Interrupt Mode} This is a mode in which copying is performed by interrupting the copying operation temporarily during the execution and operation of the copying operation. By setting this mode, the previous copy mode and, if the copying is in progress, the progress information is stored in the nonvolatile RAM, the mode is shifted to the interrupt mode, and the mode is initialized. When the interrupt mode is released after the execution of the copy operation, the mode and information stored in the nonvolatile RAM are returned to the state before the interrupt mode was set, and the mode before the interrupt can be continued by restarting. The setting / cancellation of this mode can be performed with an interrupt key of the operation unit 201.

{Operation Reservation} The operation reservation described in the present embodiment means that the copying operation cannot be started while the fixing device is being heated in the copying machine, but the mode setting and the setting of the document are performed and reserved. After the heating of the fixing unit, the copying operation is automatically started when the copying operation becomes possible. In the present embodiment, the operation reservation can be made during the heating of the fixing device. However, other objects that become operable with the passage of time are also subjected to the operation reservation. For example, the LCT tray rise time, the polygon motor rotation stabilization time, the toner supply operation, and the like can be considered.

{Linking Operation} For example, if one original is 100
When copying sheets, this function allows two image forming apparatuses to share and copy in half the time of one sheet (to print 50 sheets per sheet).

{Billing Information} The billing information described in the present embodiment is information for clarifying who has made which digital copying machine and how many copies. This information is displayed on the display unit of the digital copying machine or printed by the digital copying machine.

Next, in the image forming apparatus and the image forming network system configured as described above, how the other image forming apparatuses are requested to output the user billing information, How to acquire the billing information will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

(8) Processing for Requesting and Acquiring User Billing Information Processing for requesting and acquiring user billing information will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process of the digital copier serving as a master, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of the digital copier serving as a slave. It is assumed that all digital copiers connected to the network line 910 are operable for connection.

First, when acquiring the user billing information, the user may, for example, use the digital copier 9 as a master machine.
The user charging information confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed on the operation unit 01 (S1201). When the user charge information confirmation screen is displayed, the digital copier 90
1 (own device) is displayed on the user billing information confirmation screen (S120).
2).

Next, when the selection key "other device" for collecting user billing information from another device is depressed (S1203: Yes), the display of the other device is inverted to black as shown in FIG. CSS4 of digital copying machine 901
07 (see FIG. 4), by depressing the selection key, requests the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 (other devices) connected to the network line 910 to serve as child devices to output the user billing information (see FIG. 4). S1204). If the selection key "other device" is not depressed (S1
203: No) The user billing information (see FIG. 3B) currently held by the digital copying machine 901 (own apparatus) is continuously displayed on the user billing information confirmation screen (S120).
2).

When the digital copying machine 901 requests the output of the user billing information, the user billing information is output from the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 serving as the slaves for a fixed time (time T1 in FIG. 15). Wait for. The digital copying machine 901 is different from other digital copying machines 902 to 908.
If the user billing information is output within a predetermined time from (S1205: Yes), as shown in FIG. 14, the user billing information acquired from the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 (digital copying in the display of FIG. 14) Machine 902 only)
Is displayed on the user billing information confirmation screen (S120
6).

Even after a certain period of time, another digital copier 90
If the user charging information is not output from 2 to 908 (S1205: No), it is regarded that the user charging information cannot be transmitted from the slave unit side (communication impossible) due to the power OFF or the cable is disconnected. , FIG. 3 (c)
As shown in (1), a message is displayed on the user billing information confirmation screen indicating that the user billing information cannot be displayed ("The other device cannot be displayed because the power is currently turned off or the cable is disconnected") (S1207). ).

On the other hand, the digital copying machines 902 to 908
If there is a request to output user billing information from the digital copier 901 that is the parent machine (S1301: Yes), the user billing information currently held by the own apparatus is copied to the digital copying machine 9.
01 (S1302). If there is no request to output user billing information from the digital copier 901 as the parent machine (S1301: No), the process waits until there is a request to output user billing information.

The above processing merely displays the user billing information on the user billing information confirmation screen. Next, the processing for printing the acquired user billing information on transfer paper will be described. Note that this process is basically performed in the same procedure as the process of displaying the user billing information on the user billing information confirmation screen, so a flowchart for explaining the procedure is not particularly shown, and FIG. However, only the contents of the processing will be described.

When the user presses down “print list” displayed on the user charge information confirmation screen (see FIG. 3B) of the digital copier 901 serving as the parent machine, the digital copier 901 First, the user charging information (count value) of the own device is developed on the image memory of the own device. Then, the digital copying machine 901 requests the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 (other devices) connected to the network line 910 to be the slaves, to output the user billing information.

When the digital copying machine 901 requests the output of the user billing information, the user billing information is output from the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 serving as the slaves for a predetermined time (time T1 in FIG. 16). Wait for. If user billing information is output from other digital copying machines 902 to 908 within a predetermined time, digital copying machine 901
Is the acquired user billing information (count value) of the other device
Is expanded on the image memory. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the user billing information obtained from the digital copying machine 901 (own apparatus) and the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 (other apparatuses) is printed on transfer paper in a list format.

On the other hand, if the user charging information is not output from the other digital copying machines 902 to 908 after a certain period of time, the user charging information may be sent from the slave unit because the power is turned off or the cable is disconnected. As shown in FIG. 18, the user billing information of the own device is printed in a list format on the left half of the transfer paper, and the user billing information of the other device cannot be printed on the right side. Print ("Cannot print because the power to the slave unit is off").

Although FIG. 14 shows a display example in which the user charging information is output only from one digital copier serving as a child device, the user charging information is output from a plurality of digital copiers. Even in this case, the basic display form does not change, and the user billing information of each digital copying machine can be displayed by switching the display screen so as to turn the page.

FIG. 16 shows a print example in which the user billing information is output from only one digital copier serving as a child machine, but the user billing information is output from a plurality of digital copiers. In this case, the user billing information of all digital copying machines is printed on a plurality of transfer sheets.

In the embodiment described above, a relatively small-scale LAN is assumed as the network line. However, the network line may include a public communication line network (public line network). . As described above, when a public line network is also included, each digital copying machine may be connected to the public line network via a communication control device. Next, a case where the image forming apparatus of the present invention is connected to a public line network will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram of another image forming network system including a public line network. A management apparatus 1900 installed at a service base and digital copiers 901 to 905 installed at a user's use place
Means the public line network 1910 and the communication control device 19
20. A communication control device 1920 for controlling communication with the management device 1900 is installed on the user side, and the digital copying machines 901 to 905 installed at the user's use place are connected to the communication control device 1920.

A telephone 1930 and a facsimile 1940 can be connected to the communication control device 1920, and can be installed by being inserted into a user's existing network line. Communication control device 19
Although a plurality of digital copiers can be connected to 20, a single digital copier may of course be used. These digital copying machines need not be of the same type, but may be different types. Further, devices other than the digital copying machine may be used. Here, for convenience of explanation, one communication control device 192
It is assumed that five digital copying machines 901 to 905 can be connected to 0.

The communication control device 1920 and the plurality of digital copying machines 901 to 905 are connected in a multi-drop manner according to the RS-485 standard. Communication control between the communication control device 1920 and each of the digital copying machines 901 to 905 is performed by a basic data transmission control procedure. By establishing a data link by a polling / selecting method of centralized control using the communication control device 1920 as a control station, communication with any of the digital copying machines 901 to 905 is possible. Each of the digital copying machines 901 to 905 can set a unique value by an address setting switch, thereby determining a bowling address and a selecting address of each of the digital copying machines 901 to 905. With such a configuration, for example, the user billing information of the digital copying machine installed at the branch office in Osaka can be easily obtained from the digital copying machine installed at the head office in Tokyo.

Note that the method of outputting billing information in the image forming network system described in the present embodiment is realized by causing a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation to execute a prepared program. This program includes hard disk, floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-R
The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as OM, MO, and DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. Further, this program can be distributed via the recording medium and via a network line such as the Internet as a transmission medium.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, it is not necessary to go to each image forming apparatus and individually confirm the user billing information when confirming the user billing information. User billing information of all image forming apparatuses can be confirmed from any one image forming apparatus, and more efficient user billing meter reading operation can be performed. If the user charging information cannot be obtained because the main power supply is turned off or the like, a message indicating that the user charging information cannot be displayed is displayed on the operation panel, whereby the user can be instructed to confirm by other means.

Further, in the digital copying machine, the user billing information can be printed on the transfer paper in a list at a time, so that the user billing information meter reading operation can be facilitated. If the charging counter information cannot be obtained because the main power supply is turned off or the like, the user is instructed to print out on the transfer paper that the user charging information cannot be printed, thereby confirming the user by other means. Can be.

[0135]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the other image forming apparatuses connected to the network line are requested to output the billing information. Since the charging information output from the image forming apparatus is input and the input charging information is visualized and output,
This makes it possible to easily acquire billing information from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, thereby achieving an effect of increasing the efficiency of meter reading of billing information.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an output request of billing information from another image forming apparatus connected to the network line is input, and
Since the charging information stored in response to the charging information output request is output to another image forming apparatus, the stored charging information can be output to the image forming apparatus that has requested the charging information output. There is an effect that the efficiency of the meter reading operation of the billing information can be improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the other image forming apparatuses connected to the network line are requested to output the billing information, and the billing information output from the other image forming apparatuses is requested. Information is input, the input charging information is visualized and output, a charging information output request from another image forming apparatus connected to the network line is input, and charging stored by the charging information output request is performed. Since the information is output to another image forming apparatus, the billing information can be easily obtained from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line. As a result, the stored billing information can be output, and the meter reading of billing information can be performed more efficiently.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus inputs billing information from another image forming apparatus by using a public communication network or requests the output of billing information. Can output billing information using a public communication network, so that the billing information can be obtained even from an image forming apparatus installed at a very remote place, and There is an effect that the billing information can be sent to the image forming apparatus installed in the place.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the acquired charging information can be displayed on the operation section of the image forming apparatus, and the charging information can be easily displayed on the operation section (for example, a liquid crystal display). Can be confirmed. In addition, the acquired billing information can be printed on the transfer paper, and the meter reading operation of the billing information can be more efficiently performed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the billing information cannot be obtained, a message to that effect is displayed, so that the user is prompted to acquire the billing information by another method. This has the effect that it can be performed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the billing information cannot be obtained, the fact can be displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the billing information cannot be obtained. Can be easily confirmed on the operation unit (for example, a liquid crystal display). Also, the fact that the billing information cannot be obtained can be printed on the transfer paper,
There is an effect that the user can be encouraged to acquire the billing information by another method.

According to the charging information output method in the image forming network system according to the present invention, charging information for a plurality of users is input from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the input charging information is arbitrarily set. Output to one of the image forming apparatuses, it is possible to easily acquire the charging information for each user from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, and to improve the efficiency of the meter reading operation of the charging information. This has the effect that it can be performed.

According to the method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, billing information is input from another image forming apparatus using a public communication network, Since billing information can be output to the image forming apparatus that has requested output using a public communication network, billing information can be obtained from an image forming apparatus installed at a very remote place, Further, there is an effect that billing information can be sent to an image forming apparatus installed at a very remote place.

According to the billing information output method in the image forming network system according to the tenth aspect, the acquired billing information can be displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the billing information can be displayed on the operation unit ( (For example, a liquid crystal display). Further, the acquired billing information can be printed on the transfer paper, so that the meter reading operation of the billing information can be more efficiently performed.

According to the billing information output method in the image forming network system according to the eleventh aspect, when the billing information cannot be obtained, a message to that effect is displayed. This has the effect of facilitating the acquisition of billing information.

According to the billing information output method in the image forming network system according to the twelfth aspect, when the user billing information cannot be obtained, the fact is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to easily confirm on the operation unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) that the billing information cannot be obtained. Also, the fact that the billing information cannot be obtained can be printed on the transfer paper,
There is an effect that the user can be encouraged to acquire the billing information by another method.

The computer-readable recording medium according to the invention of claim 13 records a program for causing a computer to execute the method described in claims 8 to 12, so that the computer can execute the method described in claims 8 to 12. 12, the computer can easily acquire the accounting information for each user from all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, and can execute the accounting method. There is an effect that the efficiency of the information meter reading operation can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of one page of image data sent to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a memory controller and an image memory shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming network system for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of two digital copying machines connected via a network line in an image forming network system for carrying out the present invention.

11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of network software of the image forming apparatus (digital copying machine) illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a digital copier serving as a parent machine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a digital copier serving as a child machine.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of a user billing information confirmation screen when “other device” is selected.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the exchange of information between the parent device and the child device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing exchange of information between a master unit and a slave unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a print form of user billing information printed on transfer paper.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a print form of user billing information printed on transfer paper.

FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming network system connected via a public communication network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 ADF 102 Document table 103 Feed roller 104 Feed belt 105 Contact glass 106 Reading unit 107 Discharge roller 108 Document set detection sensor 109 First tray 110 Second tray 111 Third tray 112 First feed unit 113 Second feed Paper unit 114 Third paper feed unit 115 Vertical transport unit 116 Photoconductor 117 Writing unit 118 Developing unit 119 Transport belt 120 Fixing unit 121 Discharge unit 122 Finisher 123 Discharge roller 124 Switching plate 125 Transport roller 126 Discharge tray 127 Transport Roller 128 Staple table 129 Jogger 131 Staple completed discharge tray 132 Transport roller unit 133 Branch claw 134 Double-sided paper feed unit 135 Exposure lamp 136 First mirror 137 Lens 138 CCD image sensor 139 second mirror 140 third mirror 141 laser output unit 142 imaging lens 143 mirror 201 operation unit 202 print start key 203 clear / stop key 204 numeric keypad 205 liquid crystal touch panel 207 initial setting key 208 mode clear key 401 system controller 402 Image reading unit 403 Image writing unit 404 Memory unit 405 User restriction device 406 Human body detection sensor 407 CSS 408 Clock 601 Image memory 602 Selector 603 A / D converter 604 Shading correction circuit 605 MTF / γ correction circuit 606 First print synthesis unit 607 second print synthesizing unit 608 scaling circuit 610 memory controller 611 CPU 612 ROM 613 RAM 614 I / O port 15 SCSI driver 801 Input data selector 802 Image synthesizing unit 803 Primary compression / expansion unit 804 Output data selector 805 Secondary compression / expansion unit 806 Primary storage 807 Secondary storage 901-908 Digital copier 910 Network line 1001 System Controller 1003 Image reading unit 1005 Image writing unit 1007 Memory unit 1009 CSS 1011 Clock unit 1013 User restriction device 1015 Human body detection sensor 1020 DRAM block 1022 Compression block 1024 DMA block 1026 SCSI controller 1030 SCSI 1101 Device control layer 1102 System control layer 1103 Application layer 1110 Operation unit controller 1111 Peripheral device controller 1112 Image forming device Controller 1113 image reader controller 1120 copy application 1130 daemon process 1140 input-output control unit 1900 managing device 1910 public network 1920 CCU 1930 phone 1940 Facsimile

Claims (13)

[Claims] A charging information output requesting unit for requesting another image forming apparatus connected to a network line to output charging information; and a charging information input for inputting charging information output from the other image forming apparatus. And an output unit for visualizing and outputting the input billing information. 2. An input unit for inputting a billing information output request from another image forming apparatus connected to a network line. An image forming apparatus comprising: charging information output means for outputting to a forming apparatus. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising: a charging information output request unit, a charging information input unit, and an output unit according to claim 1; and an input unit and a charging information output unit according to claim 2. apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network line includes a public communication line network. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit displays the billing information on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus or prints the billing information on transfer paper. apparatus. 6. When there is an image forming apparatus that cannot communicate among the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line, the output unit cannot display billing information for the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is output. 7. An output that said billing information is not displayable by said output means is displayed by displaying it on an operation unit of said image forming apparatus or by printing it on transfer paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A plurality of image forming apparatuses each including a reading unit for reading a document and a printing unit for printing the read document are connected to a network line, and a document read by an arbitrary image forming device is used for another image forming. A charging information output method for inputting charging information for a plurality of users from said plurality of image forming apparatuses, wherein the charging information is input to any one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. And a charging information output step of causing the image forming apparatus to output the charging information. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the network line includes a public communication line network. In the charging information output step, the charging information is displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus, or
10. The method for outputting billing information in the image forming network system according to claim 8, wherein printing is performed on transfer paper. 11. The charging information output step includes a step of, if any of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network line cannot communicate with each other, cannot display the charging information for the image forming apparatus. The method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising the step of outputting the following. 12. The step of outputting that the charging information is not displayable is performed by displaying that the charging information is not displayable on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus, or on a transfer sheet. The method according to claim 11, wherein the charging is performed by printing. 13. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 8 is recorded.