JP2003110783A - File managing apparatus, image forming device, method for deleting file, storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file managing apparatus which displays a file in a box to be deleted when the empty capacity of a hard disk becomes small, and eliminates the necessity of destroying of the image data stored on the hard disk until the disk reaches the maximum storage capacity by deleting the file or re-inputting of the image data and to provide an image forming device, to provide a method for deleting a file, a storage medium and a program. SOLUTION: The file managing apparatus comprises a scanner 207 for reading original image, a printer 2095 for printing image data stored on an HDD 2024, a network connector 2010 and a modem 2050 for inputting the image via a communication network, an operating unit 2012 for displaying a deletable image data file list stored in the HDD 2024, and a CPU 2021 for deleting the image data file selected from the image data file list from the HDD 2024 when the further storage of the image data in the HDD 2024 is disabled during job operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file management device, an image forming device, a file deletion method, a storage medium, and a program, and particularly to a scanner unit, a printer unit, a network interface unit, an image processing unit, and a large capacity hard disk. The present invention relates to a file management apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a file deletion method, a storage medium, and a program suitable for managing an image data file in a provided multifunction peripheral or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the digitalization of copying machines in recent years, a scanner unit and a printer unit of a copying machine are used to perform facsimile transmission / reception, and P is transmitted from a computer device or the like.
Multi-function machines having a plurality of functions, such as developing DL (Page Description Language) data and printing it out, have been put into practical use. Such a multifunction device
Not only a single function such as a copying machine function, a facsimile function, and a PDL print function, but also a plurality of functions such as transmitting a PDL expanded image by facsimile can be operated. Further, such a multifunction machine is configured such that the multifunction machine can use the functions of the multifunction machine by connecting the multifunction machine to an individual device such as a computer device via a LAN (Local Area Network). .

Further, in such a multifunction machine, the control program of the printer portion is shared for the copier function, the PDL print function, the facsimile print function, etc., and the copier function, the facsimile reading function, the scanner function, etc. By making the control program of the reader part common, the capacity of the control program for realizing various functions can be reduced, and desired functions can be realized economically and easily.

Further, such a multifunction machine is equipped with a large-capacity hard disk for accumulating image data, and an image read from a scanner, a PDL development image, a facsimile received document, etc. is input to the hard disk and accumulated in the hard disk. The created image / document can be managed as a file.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. That is, in the multi-function peripheral equipped with a large-capacity hard disk for accumulating image data of the above-mentioned conventional example, the storage of image data in the hard disk progresses, the free space of the memory decreases, and finally the storage of further image data If it becomes impossible, cancel all jobs that are running at this point, discard the image data stored on the hard disk until the maximum storage capacity is reached, create an empty area on the hard disk, and then , Had to start with the input of image data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned point, and when the free space of the hard disk becomes small, the file in the box that can be deleted is displayed and the corresponding file is deleted, so that the maximum storage capacity is increased. An object of the present invention is to provide a file management device, an image forming device, a file deletion method, a storage medium, and a program that eliminates the need for discarding image data stored in a hard disk and re-inputting image data by the time it reaches the end.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a file management device for managing an image data file in a storage means for storing image data, which is stored in the storage means during the operation of a job. The detection means for detecting that it is impossible to store further image data, and the selected image data when the detection means detects that it is impossible to store further image data in the storage means. And a control unit for deleting the file from the storage unit.

Further, the present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with a storage means for storing image data, and detects that it becomes impossible to store further image data in the storage means during the operation of a job. And a control unit that deletes the selected image data file from the storage unit when the storage unit detects that the storage unit cannot store further image data. Characterize.

Further, the present invention is a file deletion method executed by an image forming apparatus provided with a storage means for storing image data, wherein further storage of image data in the storage means is impossible during a job operation. When it is detected in the detecting step that it becomes impossible to store further image data in the storage means, the selected image data file is deleted from the storage means. And a control step.

Further, the present invention is a storage medium storing a program supplied to an image forming apparatus provided with a storage means for storing image data, wherein further image data of the image data is stored in the storage means during operation of a job. If it is detected in the detecting step that storage is disabled, and further storage of further image data in the storage means is detected in the detecting step, the selected image data file is stored in the storage means. And storing a program having a control step to be deleted from.

Further, the present invention is a program supplied to an image forming apparatus provided with a storage means for storing image data, wherein further storage of image data in the storage means becomes impossible during the operation of a job. And a control step of deleting the selected image data file from the storage means when it is detected in the storage step that further image data cannot be stored in the storage means. And having.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 200, 220,
230 and a personal computer (PC) 240. In the figure, 260 is a public line, and 2011 is LA.
N.

The image forming apparatus 200 is a scanner unit 20 which is an image input device for reading and inputting an image from a document.
70, a printer unit 2095 that is an image output device that forms an image on a sheet based on image data stored in the HDD (see FIG. 2), a controller unit 2000 that is a control unit, and an operation unit 2012 that is a user interface.
Is equipped with. Scanner unit 2070, printer unit 209
5. The operation unit 2012 is connected to the controller unit 2000. Controller unit 20
00 is connected to a network transmission means such as LAN 2011 and a public line 260. Image forming apparatus 2
00 includes color image transmission via the public line 260
It is possible to send by G3 and G4 fax.

Further, the LAN 2011 has another image forming apparatus 22 having the same device configuration as the image forming apparatus 200.
0 and 230 are connected. A PC 240 is connected to the LAN 2011. PC240 is FT
P (File Transfer Protocol), SMB (Server Messa
You can send and receive files and send and receive e-mail using the ge Block) protocol. Image forming apparatus 2
Reference numerals 20 and 230 denote scanner units 2270 and 237, respectively.
0, printer units 2295 and 2395, operation unit 2212,
2312, which are connected to the controller units 2200, 2300. Although the case of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described below, the image forming apparatus 2
The same applies to 20, 230.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the controller unit 2000 of the image forming apparatus 200.
The controller unit 2000 is connected to a scanner unit 2070 which is an image input device and a printer unit 2095 which is an image output device, and is also connected to a LAN 2011 and a public line (WAN: Wide Area Network) 2051 to provide image information and devices. It is a controller that inputs and outputs information.

The CPU 2001 is a central processing unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus (system), and is a ROM 200.
The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 (processing after occurrence of hard disk full) is executed based on the image data file management program of the present invention stored in FIG. RAM200
Reference numeral 2 denotes a system work memory for the CPU 2002 to operate, and also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, and stores a boot program of the image forming apparatus (system) and an image data file management program of the present invention. The HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive and stores system software and image data in the hard disk.

Operation unit I / F (interface) 2006
Is an interface unit that controls an interface with an operation unit (UI: User Interface) 2012, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012. Further, the operation unit I / F 2006 is the operation unit 2
The information input by the user of the image forming apparatus from 012 is stored in the CPU.
It plays a role of telling 2001. Network connection 20
Reference numeral 10 connects to the LAN 2011 to input / output information. The modem 2050 is connected to the public line 2051 and inputs / outputs image information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 2007.

The image bus interface 2005 is
A bus bridge that connects the system bus 2007 and an image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure. The image bus 2008 is for transferring image data at high speed, and is a PCI (Peripheral C
omponent Interconnect) bus, or IEEE139
4 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engine
ers1394: serial interface standard) bus. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 2008.

Raster image processor (RIP: Rast)
er Image Processor) 2060 develops the PDL code into a bitmap image. Device I / F unit 202
Reference numeral 0 connects the scanner unit 2070 or printer unit 2095, which is an image input / output device, to the controller unit 2000, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.
The scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. In addition, the scanner image processing unit 2
Reference numeral 080 has a function of determining whether the input image is a read image of a color original document or a read image of a monochrome original document from the saturation signal of the image and holding the result. Printer image processing unit 20
Reference numeral 90 corrects, processes, and edits output image data.

The image rotation unit 2030 cooperates with the scanner image processing unit 2080 to rotate the image simultaneously with reading the image from the scanner unit 2070 and store it in the memory.
The image in the memory is rotated and stored in the memory, or the image in the memory is printed by the printer image processing unit 209.
Printing can be performed while rotating in cooperation with 0.
The resolution conversion unit 2031 performs resolution conversion processing on the image on the memory and stores the image on the memory. Color space conversion unit 203
2 is a matrix calculation, for example, Y on the memory
The UV image is converted into a Lab image and stored in the memory.
The gradation conversion unit 2033 is, for example, 8bi on the memory.
An image of t and 256 gradations is converted into 1 bit and 2 gradations by a method such as error diffusion processing and stored in the memory. The image compressing unit 2040 uses JPEG (Joint
Photographic Experts Group)
Binary image Image data is JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image)
Experts Group), MMR (Modified Modified REA)
D), MR (Modified READ), MH (Modified Huffma
Perform the compression / decompression process of n).

The image rotation unit 2030 and the resolution conversion unit 203
1. The color space conversion unit 2032, the gradation conversion unit 2033, and the image compression unit 2040 can operate in a linked manner. For example, when performing image rotation and resolution conversion on an image on a memory, the image rotation and resolution can be changed. Both conversion processes can be performed without using a memory.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the scanner image processing unit 2080 of the image forming apparatus 200. The scanner image processing unit 2080 includes a masking unit 2501,
Magnification changing section 2502, filter 2503, gamma correction section 25
04, a color space conversion unit 2505, a comparator 2506, and a counter 2507.

The 8-bit RGB luminance signals input from the scanner unit 2070 to the scanner image processing unit 2080 are converted by the masking unit 2501 into standard RGB color signals that do not depend on the filter colors of the CCD of the scanner unit 2070. The scaling unit 2502 performs scaling when it is necessary to scale the RGB color signals. Filter 250
In 3, the process of blurring the image or adding sharpness is performed. The gamma correction unit 2504 performs processing so as to make the density of the entire image darker or lighter. In order to determine whether the original is color or black and white, the image signal before scaling is converted into a known Lab by the color space conversion unit 2505. Of these, a and b represent color signal components, and the comparator 250
If it is equal to or higher than a predetermined level within 6, it is determined as a chromatic color, and if not, it is determined as an achromatic color and a 1-bit determination signal is output from the comparator 250.
Output from 5. The counter 2507 has a comparator 2506.
Measure the output from.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the image input / output device of the image forming apparatus 200. The scanner unit 2070, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on a sheet of paper serving as a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert it into an electrical signal as raster image data.
The user of the image forming apparatus inserts the original sheet into the original feeder 2072.
Set on the tray 2073 of the operation unit 2012
The CPU 2001 of the controller unit 2000 causes the scanner unit 2070
Give instructions to. 1 sheet of original paper is fed by the feeder 2072.
Sheets are fed one by one, and the scanner unit 2070 reads the original image.

A printer unit 209 which is an image output device
Reference numeral 5 is a portion for converting the raster image data into an image on a sheet. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and an image is directly discharged on the sheet by ejecting ink from a minute nozzle array. There is an inkjet method for printing, but any method may be used. Printer unit 209
The print operation of No. 5 is started by the controller unit 20.
00 is started by an instruction from the CPU 2001. The printer unit 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected.
Corresponding paper cassettes 2101, 2102, 21
03 and 2104 are provided. Also, the output tray 2
Reference numeral 111 is for receiving the printed paper.

FIG. 5 shows an operation unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 200.
It is a top view which shows the structure of 2. The operation unit 2012 is an LC
D display portion 2013, start key 2014, stop key 2015, ID key 2016, reset key 201
7, LED2018 is provided.

In the LCD display unit 2013, the LCD
A touch panel sheet 2019 is attached on the top of the screen, which displays an operation screen of the system and soft keys, and when the displayed key is pressed, the position information thereof is transmitted to the CPU 2001 of the controller unit 2000. The start key 2014 is used when starting the reading operation of the document image. A two-color LED 2018 of green and red is arranged in the center of the start key 2014, and the color indicates whether the start key 2014 is ready for use. The stop key 2015 functions to stop the operation in progress. The ID key 2016 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. The reset key 2017 is
It is used when initializing the settings from the operation unit 2012.

FIG. 6 shows an operation unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 200.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the controller 2 and the controller unit 2000. FIG. As described above, the operation unit 2012 includes the LCD display unit 2013, the start key to the reset key (hard key) 2014 to 2017, and the LED 201.
8 and a touch panel 2019. The operation unit I / F 2006 of the controller unit 2000 includes an input port 20061 and an output port 20062. In the figure, reference numerals 2001 to 2004 denote a CPU, a RAM, a ROM of the controller unit 2000 described above, respectively.
HDD.

In the image forming apparatus 200, the CPU 20
01 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 2007 based on a control program stored in the program ROM 2003,
The input information is read from the scanner unit 2070 connected via the image input unit interface 2071 (FIG. 2),
The image signal as output information is output to the printer unit 2095 connected via the printing unit interface 2096 (FIG. 2). The RAM 2002 is a RAM that functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 2001.

The CPU 2001 is a touch panel 201.
9. Receive user input from the hard keys 2014 to 2017, and input port 20061 of the operation unit I / F 2006.
Get the operation content via. Furthermore, the CPU 2001
On the LCD display unit 2013, which is a screen output device such as an LCD or a CRT, through the output port 20062 that generates display screen data based on the acquired operation content and the control program described above, and controls the screen output device. Output the display screen.

Next, the operation unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 200
Various screens displayed on the second LCD display unit 2013 will be described.

FIG. 7 shows an operation unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 200.
It is a figure which shows the initial screen displayed on the 2nd LCD display part 2013. The initial screen is also a standard screen that returns after setting each image forming function. Reference numeral 3101 is a key for switching screens for making copy settings. 3102
Is a key for switching screens for making settings for sending an image scanned by the scanner unit 2070 by fax or electronic mail. A key 3103 is a key for switching screens for making settings for printing or transmitting an image stored in the HDD 2004 built in the image forming apparatus. When images are stored in the built-in HDD 2004 and considered as a file system, the file system is referred to as a box in this embodiment.

Reference numeral 3104 is a window for displaying the settings at the time of image reading set by pressing the reading setting key 3105. A read setting key 3105 is used to set the resolution, density, and the like when reading an image. 31
Reference numeral 06 is a transmission setting key for performing timer settings at the time of timer transmission, settings related to HD, settings for printing by the printer unit 2095, and the like. Reference numeral 3107 is a window for displaying the transmission destination designated by the destination table key 3108. A detailed information key 3109 is used to display detailed information of one destination displayed in the window 3107. 3110 is the one displayed in window 3107
This is an erase key for erasing a destination.

The destination of the file is the HDD of the image forming apparatus
If the box is in 2004, L of the operation unit 2012
The file stored in the box can be confirmed on the box screen of FIG. 9 displayed on the CD display unit 2013. A box number 4201 indicates a folder in which stored documents can be managed for each user. 4202 is a unique name of a box, and 4203 is a memory usage amount of each box. FIG. 10 shows an example of the inside of the box. When the box number 4201 in FIG. 9 is pressed, a screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. In the box shown in FIG. 10, two documents are stored as indicated by reference numeral 4301. By pressing the screen and selecting a document, it is possible to edit 4302, print 4303, send 4304, delete 4305.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 200. The software of the image forming apparatus 200 includes a UI control unit 4010, a network application unit 4120, and a copy application unit 4
020, transmission application unit 4021, common interface 4030, job manager 4040, FAX
Manager 4041, scan manager 4050, file read manager 4060, PDL manager 4
070, sync manager 4080, print manager 4090, file store manager 4100, and image manager 4110.

The UI control unit 4010 controls the operation unit 2012. The copy application unit 4020 and the transmission application unit 4021 are respectively the UI control unit 40.
In response to the instruction from 10, copy job to the device control part,
It is for executing a transmission job. The common interface 4030 is for absorbing the device-dependent part of the device control part. Job manager 4040
Is for organizing the job information received from the common interface 4030 and transmitting it to the document processing unit in the lower layer.

The document processing unit may be a scan manager 4050 and a print manager 4090 for a local copy, a remote copy transmission job or a scan manager 4050 and a file store manager 4100 for a transmission job, and a remote copy reception job. For example, the file read manager 4060, print manager 4090, LIPS (LBP Image Proc
essing System: Canon's LBP dedicated control command system) and PostScript (page description language developed by Adobe Inc. in the US)
PDL manager 4070 and print manager 409
It is 0. Requests for synchronization and image processing between the respective document managers are made via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 performs image processing at the time of scanning and printing and storage of image files.

First, a software process of local copy for locally connecting an image forming apparatus to a PC for copying will be described. According to the user's instruction, the UI control unit 4010 transmits the copy instruction and the copy setting to the copy application unit 4020. Copy application section 4
020 transmits information from the UI control unit 4010 to the job manager 4040 that controls the device via the common interface 4030. Job manager 4040
Transmits job information to the scan manager 4050 and print manager 4090.

The scan manager 4050 sends a scan request to the scanner unit 2070 via the device I / F 2020 shown in FIG. Also, the scan manager 4050
Simultaneously issues an image processing request to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 sets the scanner image processing unit 2080 according to the instruction of the scan manager 4050. When the setting is completed, the scan manager 4050 notifies the scan preparation completion via the sync manager 4080. After that, the scan manager 4050
The scanner unit 2070 is instructed to scan.

Completion of the scan image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receipt of the scan completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080
Notifies the scan manager 4050 and print manager 4090 of the completion of scanning. At the same time, the sync manager 4080 instructs the image manager 4110 to convert the image stored in the RAM 2002 into a file in the HDD 2004. Image manager 4110
If black is specified in the UI using the image compression unit 2040 according to the instruction, the TIFF (Tag Image
File Format) -A JBIG or TIFF-MMR file is stored in the HDD 2004, and when a color is specified in the UI, a JPEG file is stored in the HDD 200.
Store in 4.

Upon completion of storing the file in the HDD 2004 and receiving the scan completion from the scanner unit 2070, the image manager 4110 notifies the scan manager 4050 via the sync manager 4080 of the completion of filing. The scan manager 4050
The end notification is returned to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 uses the common interface 403.
The end notification is returned to the copy application unit 4020 via 0.

The print manager 4090 receives the image from the memory via the device I / F 2020.
A print request is issued to the printer unit 2095, and a print image processing request is issued to the sync manager 4080. Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 sets the image processing setting to the image manager 41.
Ask 10. The image manager 4110 sets the printer image processing unit 2090 and notifies the print manager 4090 of the print preparation completion via the sync manager 4080. Print manager 4090
Issues a print instruction to the printer unit 2095.

Completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receipt of print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080
Informs the print manager 4090 of the completion of printing. The print manager 4090 is a printer unit 209.
In response to the completion of paper ejection from No. 5, an end notification is returned to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040
The end notification is returned to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit 4010 of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

In the case of a remote copy scan job or transmission job, the file store manager 4100 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the print manager 4090. Scan the image on HDD2
When the data is stored in 004, the sync manager 40
Upon receipt of the storage completion notification from 80, the copy application unit 4020 is notified of the remote copy via the common interface 4030, and the transmission application unit 4021 is notified of the transmission job. Copy application section 4020, transmission application section 4021
After this notification, the network application unit 4
Request 120 to send the file stored in HDD 2004.

The network application unit 4120 which has received the request transmits the file. The network application unit 4120 receives the setting information regarding the copy from the copy application unit 4020 at the start of the job, and also notifies the remote side thereof. In the case of remote copy, the network application unit 4120 performs transmission using a device-specific communication protocol. Also,
The network application unit 4120 uses a standard file transfer protocol such as FTP or SMB for a transmission job.

For fax transmission, after the file is stored, the transmission application section 4021 instructs the FAX manager 4041 to transmit via the common interface 4030 and the job manager 4040. Also,
When the destination is a printer, the transmission application unit 4021 issues a print instruction as a print job via the common interface 4030. The operation at that time is the same as that of the remote copy print job described below. When the transmission destination is the box destination in the image forming apparatus, the transmission destination is stored in the file system in the image forming apparatus.

In the case of a remote copy print job, the network application unit 4120 saves the image from the transmission side in the HDD 2004 and issues the job to the copy application unit 4020. The copy application unit 4020 submits a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Unlike the local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives the request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. The sync manager 4080 sends a request for expanding the received image from the HDD 2004 to the memory.
To the image manager 4110 via.

The image manager 4110 uses the image compression unit 2040 of FIG. 2 to perform decompression by TIFF-JBIG, TIFF-MMR, or JPEG, and expand the image in the memory. Image manager 41
10 indicates that when the expansion is completed, the completion of the expansion is passed to the file read manager 4 via the sync manager 4080.
060 and print manager 4090. The print manager 4090 checks the printer unit 2095 via the device I / F 2020 when an image is stored in the memory.
The paper feed tray specified by the job manager 4040,
Alternatively, a stage having that paper size is selected and a print request is issued. In the case of automatic paper, the print manager 4090 determines the paper feed stage based on the image size and issues a print request. Also, the print manager 4090 makes a print image processing request to the sync manager 4080.

When the sync manager 4080 receives a request from the print manager 4090, it requests the image manager 4110 for image processing settings (at this time, for example, if there is no optimum size paper and rotation is required,
Request a rotation instruction separately. If there is a rotation instruction,
The image manager 4110 rotates the image using the image rotation 2030). The image manager 4110
The printer image processing unit 2090 is set, and print preparation completion is notified to the print manager 4090 via the sync manager 4080. Print manager 409
0 issues a print instruction to the printer unit 2095.

Completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receipt of print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080
Print completion 4060
To the print manager 4090. The file read manager 4060 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. The print manager 4090 receives the paper discharge completion from the printer unit 2095, and returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. The job manager 4040 returns an end notification to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. Upon completion of scanning and printing, the copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit 4010 of job completion.

FIG. 11 shows a case where the storage area cannot be secured when the image data is recorded in the box during the operation of the job in the image forming apparatus 200 (HDD 2004).
Is a flowchart showing an operation in a disk full state), that is, a process after the disk full occurs. This flowchart shows the CPU 200 of the controller unit 2000.
1 executes based on the image data file management program of the present invention. Incidentally, step S1101 to step S1107 in the figure represent each step. Hereinafter, the processing after the disk full has occurred will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1101, when the disk is full, the job in operation is interrupted. After the job is interrupted, a screen prompting whether to delete the file stored in the box is displayed on the operation unit 201 in step S1102.
It is displayed on the LCD display unit 2013 of 2 (UI), and it is determined whether or not the user has instructed to delete the file. If the user instructs not to delete the file in the box from the operation unit 2012, the HDD 2004 remains disk full, so the process proceeds to step S1107, the job interrupted in step S1101 is discarded, and the The process ends. When the user instructs to delete the file in the box, the process proceeds to step S1103, and the files in the box that can be deleted (image data file list)
Is displayed on the operation unit 2012.

The user operates the LCD display unit 2 of the operation unit 2012.
A file that may be deleted is selected from the files in the box (image data file list) that can be deleted displayed in 013, and the operation unit 2012 instructs to delete the file. As a result, the corresponding file is deleted from the box. Next, in step S1104, if there is a file in the box to be further deleted, the above step S11 is performed.
Return to 03 and delete. If there is no file in the box to be deleted, the process proceeds to step S1105, and the job suspended in step S1101 is restarted. When the job is completed in step S1106, this process is completed.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus, when it is detected that the HDD 2024 cannot store further image data during the operation of the job, the operating job is temporarily interrupted and the job is deleted. Possible box files (image data file list) in LCD of operation unit 2012
After the file displayed on the display unit 2013 and selected by the user from the image data file list is deleted, the control is resumed so that the suspended job is restarted. There is an effect that it is not necessary to discard the image data stored in the HDD 2024 or input the image data again until the maximum storage capacity is reached.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, the image data box storage using the transmission function and the box function in the image forming apparatus is taken as an example, but the image data box storage after the PDL expansion is also performed. The same control as above is possible.

In the above embodiment, the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 is taken as an example, but the number of image forming apparatuses and personal computers to be installed can be arbitrary.

In the above embodiment, the case where the image data file management is applied to the image forming apparatus (multi-function peripheral) having a plurality of functions has been described as an example. However, a function other than the multi-function peripheral is provided for managing the image data file. It is also possible to apply it to other devices.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A medium such as a storage medium that stores a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the medium in the medium such as the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the executed program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the medium such as the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the medium such as the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. It will be. As a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card,
ROM or download via a network can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where a part or all of the processing of (1) is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from a medium such as a storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, an instruction of the program code is given. Based on the above, a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is not included in the present invention. Needless to say.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When it is detected that the storage unit cannot store further image data during the operation of the job in the image forming apparatus, the image data file selected based on the displayed image data file list is deleted from the storage unit. Since the control is performed, it is not necessary to cancel all the running jobs and discard the image data stored in the storage unit or input the image data again until the maximum storage capacity is reached, unlike the conventional case. Play.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scanner image processing unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an image input / output device of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an operation unit and a controller unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an initial screen on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a box screen in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the inside of a box on a box screen in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing after a hard disk full occurs in the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

200, 220, 230 image forming apparatus 240 personal computer 2000 controller unit 2001 CPU (detection means, control means) 2004 HDD (storage means) 2010 Network connection unit (communication means) 2011 LAN (communication network) 2012 operation unit (display means) 2050 modem (communication means) 2051 WAN (communication network) 2070 Scanner unit (image input means) 2095 Printer unit (image output means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C087 AA03 AB01 BB10 BC04 BC07                       BC14 CB16                 5B050 AA08 FA02 FA12 FA13 GA06                       GA08                 5B065 BA01 CC05 ZA15                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB11 AB23 AB42                       AC22 AC23 AC58 AE01 AF00                       AF15                 5C073 AA06 AB15 BC04

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A file management device for managing an image data file in a storage means for storing image data, wherein a file management device detects that it is impossible to store further image data in the storage means during operation of a job. And a control unit that deletes the selected image data file from the storage unit when the storage unit detects that the storage unit cannot store further image data. Characteristic file management device. 2. A display means for displaying a list of deletable image data files stored in said storage means, said control means being unable to store further image data in said storage means by said detection means. When it is detected that
Characterized in that the running job is interrupted, the image data file selected based on the list of deletable image data files displayed on the display means is deleted from the storage means, and the interrupted job is restarted. The file management device according to claim 1. 3. An image forming apparatus having a storage unit for storing image data, the detection unit detecting that it is impossible to store further image data in the storage unit during the operation of a job. An image comprising: a control unit that deletes the selected image data file from the storage unit when it is detected by the detection unit that further image data cannot be stored in the storage unit. Forming equipment. 4. A display means for displaying a list of erasable image data files stored in said storage means, said control means being unable to store further image data in said storage means by said detection means. When it is detected that
Characterized in that the running job is interrupted, the image data file selected based on the list of deletable image data files displayed on the display means is deleted from the storage means, and the interrupted job is restarted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. 5. Further, image input means for reading and inputting an image from an original, image output means for forming an image on a sheet based on the image data stored in the storage means, and inputting an image through a communication network. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a communication unit. 6. A file deletion method executed by an image forming apparatus having a storage means for storing image data, wherein further storage of image data in the storage means is disabled during a job operation. And a control step of deleting the selected image data file from the storage means when it is detected in the storage step that further image data cannot be stored in the storage means. A method for deleting a file, which comprises: 7. A display step of displaying a list of deletable image data files stored in said storage means, wherein in the control step, further image data cannot be stored in said storage means in said detection step. When it is detected, the running job is interrupted, the image data file selected based on the list of deletable image data files displayed in the display step is deleted from the storage means, and the interruption is performed. 7. The file deleting method according to claim 6, wherein the job that has been performed is restarted. 8. A storage medium storing a program to be supplied to an image forming apparatus having storage means for storing image data, wherein further storage of image data in the storage means is disabled during the operation of a job. And a control for deleting the selected image data file from the storage means when it is detected in the storage step that further image data cannot be stored in the storage means. A storage medium storing a program having steps. 9. The program has a display step of performing control to display a list of deletable image data files stored in the storage means, and in the control step, the storage means is updated in the detection step. When it is detected that the image data cannot be stored, the job in operation is interrupted, and the image data file selected based on the deletable image data file list displayed in the display step is stored. 9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is deleted from the means and the suspended job is restarted. 10. A program supplied to an image forming apparatus provided with a storage unit for storing image data, wherein it is detected that further storage of image data in the storage unit becomes impossible during the operation of a job. And a control step of deleting the selected image data file from the storage unit when it is detected in the storage unit that further image data cannot be stored in the storage unit. A program characterized by. 11. A display step for performing control for displaying a list of deletable image data files stored in said storage means, wherein said control step comprises the step of detecting further image data in said storage means. When it is detected that the memory has become unavailable, the running job is interrupted,
11. The program according to claim 10, wherein the image data file selected based on the list of deletable image data files displayed in the display step is deleted from the storage unit, and the interrupted job is restarted. .