JP2003283715A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an operation of a connection mode in a job reservation mechanism without losing the connection effect by managing the reservation of a distributed job in a slave unit according to the management of a reservation job of a master unit. <P>SOLUTION: The master unit informs the slave unit connected to the master unit about the occurrence of a reservation job in the connection mode and a predicted processing start time of the reservation connection job registered by the master unit to allow the slave unit to manage the distributed reservation connection job. When the slave unit receives the reservation connection job and registers the job as the reservation connection job of the slave unit, the master unit registers the reservation in the order at a time closest to the start when the master unit starts the reservation connection job (S207 to 210). Further, it is possible to modify the registration of the reservation connection job corresponding to the setting modification of the copy condition (S205). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention has a reservation function,
An image forming apparatus (such as a copier,
For printers, multi-function peripherals, etc.), when distributed to a master (master) machine and a slave (slave) machine by a concatenation operation and processed as a reserved job, the concatenation processing of the slave machines is timed to the master machine The present invention relates to the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, a system in which a plurality of copy servers such as copiers and printers are connected to a network and resources for performing printing (image formation) of image information can be shared is widely used. In such a system,
To improve the throughput of the system, manage the processing time of each print server, select an empty server or a server that minimizes the print waiting time, or move jobs so that the print waiting time is minimized. Alternatively, the method used by dividing the job is adopted (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-3326).
42, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-39977). Further, from the viewpoint of a system that shares an image forming apparatus, a system is realized in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as a digital copying machine are connected via a communication network such as a LAN and mutually used.
As one of the systems, a part of the job is transferred from the master unit that receives the copy request job to the slave unit, and the so-called "connected mode" is performed, in which the job is distributed and processed by the master unit and the slave unit. Digital copier systems are known. In a system that operates in the linked mode, it is important that the same processing result be obtained by the master and slave that execute the distributed job. For this reason, in the connected mode, it is possible to prevent setting mistakes that may occur when the user sets the copy conditions from the master unit to the slave unit, and to improve the operability for facilitating the user's troublesome setting operation. It has been proposed to improve the convenience and improve the convenience by automatically executing the operation in the connection mode (see JP 2000-287012A).

In the system that operates in the above-described connection mode, particularly for a job having a large print volume, the jobs can be distributed and the print processing can be executed in parallel by a plurality of printers. The greatest merit is that the time can be shortened. By the way, in the digital copying machine, the multifunctionalization has progressed along with the digitization, and the capacity of the memory for accumulating the image to be subjected to the image forming processing has become large, and the processing of a plurality of jobs is accepted using this capacity. The reservation function is realized. Along with the multi-functionalization that enables effective use of the device in various applications, there are increasing cases where a job is requested using a reservation function. Therefore, even when the apparatus is operating by the reservation function, there may be a case where a reservation job for a large number of print volumes for which quick finishing is desired is requested. At this time, it is normal for the linked mode operation that is suitable for early processing to be set, and it is possible for the master machine (mainly the operation of the linked job to perform mode setting, document reading, job startup, etc.). Either side of the slave machine (which processes the distribution job received and transferred by the master machine) may be set as a reserved job.

[0004]

However, when the concatenation mode is set and a reserved job is requested, it is not possible to immediately measure whether or not the merit of the concatenation can be achieved this time. That is, the master machine cannot know the reservation status of the slave machine (how many jobs are registered and how many jobs are registered). At this time, the number of slave machines is not limited to one. In addition, if you make a simple setting (for example, by using the settings normally used) when making a reservation for concatenated distribution to a slave machine, when there are a large number of jobs that have been accepted by the slave machine, In some cases, the master machine does not finish the distributed printing of the slave machine, and the situation is unplanned. In this case, there is no expectation for the time to finish the connection mode, which results in being neglected. There has been no proposal for a means for solving the problem that occurs in such a linked distribution reservation job, including the above-mentioned conventional example, and it remains unsolved. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technology, and an object thereof is an image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a printer, a multi-function peripheral, etc.) having a reservation function and capable of a connecting operation. ), The execution of the linked mode without impairing the linking effect can be realized in the job reservation mechanism by managing the reservation of the distributed job in the slave unit according to the management of the reserved job of the master unit. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reservation management unit for registering and managing a job received by its own device and a job received and transferred by another device as a reservation job, and a reservation management unit. An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for executing processing of a reserved job according to an instruction, wherein the reservation management unit is a distribution of a job accepted by the transfer source device by the transfer job. In the case where the predicted processing start time of the distributed job portion in is notified, the predicted processing start time and the predicted processing start time of the distributed job portion at the time of receiving the transfer job are changed in the processing order. Assuming comparisons, the transferred distribution jobs will be registered for reservation in the order in which the predicted processing start time of the distribution job in the transfer source device is closest. As an image forming apparatus is characterized in that the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a job accepted by its own device and a job accepted and transferred by another device are registered and managed as a reservation job, and a reservation job is processed according to an instruction from the reservation management unit. An image forming apparatus having an image forming section for executing the above, wherein the reservation management section distributes a job accepted by the transfer source apparatus by the transfer job, and predicts a distributed job portion in the transfer source apparatus. When the processing start time is notified, the predicted processing start time is compared with the predicted processing start time of the distributed job part in the own device at the time of receiving the transfer job, assuming that the processing order is changed. The reservation of the transferred distribution job is performed in the order of the predicted processing start time of the distribution job portion of the transfer source device and the closest time. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the the.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the reservation management unit determines a predicted processing start time of a distribution job portion of a transfer source device and a distribution job portion of the own device. If a setting change occurs for a reserved job that affects the estimated processing start time of
The feature is that the reservation order of the transferred distribution jobs is re-registered.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a reservation management unit for registering and managing a job received by its own device and a job received by another device and transferred as a reservation job, and reservation registration by an instruction of the reservation management unit. An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that executes processing of reserved jobs in order, wherein the reservation management unit is a job to which a job accepted by the transfer source apparatus is distributed, and the job processing is When the distributed job is transferred during execution, registration is performed in the following order of the running job, and when the processing of the job processed before the distributed job is completed, the distributed job is processed by the transfer source device. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the registration order of the distribution jobs is changed by one when the reservation job is not started and another reservation job is registered.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a reservation management unit for registering and managing the received job as a reservation job, a job transfer unit for transferring a part of the received job as a distribution job, and a reservation for the reservation management unit. An image forming apparatus having a notification unit for notifying management information of the distributed job to a transfer destination apparatus of the distributed job and an image forming unit for executing processing of the reserved job according to an instruction of the reservation management unit is a parent device, An image forming system characterized in that the image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4 is configured as a child device.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described based on the following embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiment shown here is an example in which image forming apparatuses are connected to each other and implemented as a digital copying (composite) machine capable of operating in a connection mode. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the device configuration, functions, and operations of this machine will be described below in accordance with the flow of a document copy operation of reading a document, processing read image data, and writing an image with the processed data. To do. Automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 1
The document stack placed on the document table 2 provided on the upper side of the document is started by pressing the start key 34 of the operation unit 30 (see FIG. 2) by the user, and the document from the bottommost document is started. It is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4. At this time, the number of read originals is obtained as management information by a counting function that counts up the number of originals each time one original is completely fed. Image data of the fed original on the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit 50, and the read original is fed by the feeding belt 4 and the discharge roller 5.
Discharged by. Further, when the document set detector 7 detects the presence of the next document on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 like the previous document. The feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 5 are driven by a conveyance motor (not shown).

In the writing unit 57, the laser emission of the laser output unit 58 is controlled by the image forming data generated based on the image data read by the reading unit 50, and the latent image is formed on the photosensitive member 15 by the laser writing. create. The photoconductor 15 that bears the latent image passes through the developing unit 27 to adhere toner to the latent image, and a toner image is formed. The toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred onto the transfer paper while the transfer paper is carried by the carrying belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15 holding the toner image. First
The transfer sheets stacked on the tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are respectively fed to the first sheet feeding device 11, the second sheet feeding device 12,
The sheet is fed by the third sheet feeding device 13, and the vertical transport unit 1
It is conveyed to a position where it abuts on the photoconductor 15 by 4.
The transfer paper bearing the transferred toner image is then fixed by the fixing unit 17 and discharged by the paper discharge unit 18 to the finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus.

The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge unit 18 of the main body toward the paper discharge tray 104 and the staple table 108. By switching the switching plate 101 downward, the discharge tray 1 is passed through the transport rollers 102 and 103.
It can be discharged to the 04 side. In addition, the switching plate 101
By switching to the upper position, the sheet can be conveyed to the staple table 108 via the conveying rollers 105 and 107. The transfer sheets stacked on the stapling table 108 have their end faces aligned by the jogger 109 for aligning the sheets each time one sheet is ejected, and are bound by the stapler 106 when part of the copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stapled due to its own weight, and the stapling-completed discharge tray 110
Is stored in. On the other hand, the paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that is movable left and right with respect to the transfer paper conveyance direction. The paper discharge tray 104 moves to the left and right with respect to the transfer paper conveyance direction for each original or for each sorted copy section.
It simply sorts out the ejected copy paper.

When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the double-sided paper feed conveyance path 113 is provided without guiding the image-formed transfer papers fed from the respective paper feed trays 8 to 10 to the paper discharge tray 104 side.
The path is switched to and the stock is temporarily stocked in the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 via the reversing unit 112. After that, the transfer paper stocked in the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is re-fed from the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and after fixing, this time the paper ejection tray 104. Be led to. The double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is used when images are formed on both surfaces of the transfer paper in this manner. Further, at the time of reverse ejection, the ejection tray 1 is passed through the reversal ejection conveyance path 1141 via the reversal unit 112.
It is led to 04. The photoconductor 15, the conveyor belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and each of the sheet feeding devices 11 to 13 applies the driving force of the main motor to the sheet feeding clutch. It is transmitted and driven by (not shown). The vertical transport unit 14 is driven by transmitting the driving force of the main motor through an intermediate clutch (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows an operation unit 30 provided in the apparatus of FIG. 1 for a user to input a command. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a start key 34, and a preheat key 3.
5, a reset key 36, an interrupt key 37, an initial setting key 38, a new reservation key 39, a job list key 40, a copy key 43, a copy server key 44, there are various function keys 41 (see FIG. 3) on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. ), The number of copies, and a message indicating the apparatus status such as the operation status of the image forming apparatus. When the interrupt key 37 is pressed, the interrupt mode is entered. The interrupt mode is a mode in which copying is temporarily interrupted during copying during execution and operation of copying. By setting this mode, the copy mode before interruption and the progress information if copying is in progress are stored in the nonvolatile RAM.
Then, the mode is initialized by transitioning to the interrupt mode. When the interrupt mode is released after executing the copy operation,
By returning the mode and information stored in the non-volatile RAM to the state before setting the interrupt mode, and restarting,
The operation before the interruption can be continued. By pressing the initial setting key 38, the initial state of the machine can be customized as desired. The size of the paper stored in the machine can be set, or the state set when the mode clear key of the copy function is pressed can be set arbitrarily. Also, select applications that are given priority when there is no operation for a certain period of time, set the transition time to low power according to the International Energy Star plan, and set the transition time to auto off / sleep mode. It is possible to set. When the preheat key 35 is pressed, the machine shifts from the standby state to the power reduction state, lowers the fixing temperature, and turns off the display of the operation unit. The preheat state means the low power state, which is called in the International Energy Star Program. To release the preheat state, the off state / sleep state, and shift to the standby state, press this preheat key again.
When the copy key 43 is pressed, the copy of the original image, that is, the printing process starting from the reading of the original becomes possible. The copy server key 44 is used to execute a copy server function of printing the image data stored in the image storage device. The details of the copy server operation will be described later. The new reservation key 39 is used when making a reservation copy. When the job list key 40 is pressed, a list of copy jobs in operation and reserved is displayed. Details of the new reservation and the job list will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 (FIG. 2). 3 shows the copy key 4
This is a screen displayed when 3 is pressed. When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is highlighted in black. Further, when the details of the function must be designated (for example, in the case of scaling, a scaling value or the like), a detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching a key. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses the dot display, it is possible to graphically perform the optimum display at that time. The display screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 3 when the copy server key 44 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed.
It is an example of the screen displayed in 1. As shown in the figure, the display area already has an image storage unit (image memory or HDD).
User ID (user identification code), document name, number of pages, storage time, print order, size (data amount) as image management information for specifying image data stored in
Is displayed. Since the user ID is added to the printer driver of the personal computer connected to this copying machine, it is displayed only when the image is stored by the printer function. The document name is added every time an image is stored. The number of pages is the number of stored original images. The storage time is the time when the image data is stored, and the printing order is the printing order attached when printing the plurality of stored image data. The displayed image management information is held in the nonvolatile memory (NV-RAM), and the image management information is kept held even when the power is turned off. The connection copy key 42 is a key effective when electrically connected to one or more copying machines (image forming apparatuses). When this key is pressed, the pressed machine becomes the master machine, and the connected image forming device becomes the slave machine to distribute and execute jobs. If the selected function is copy, start the operation section of the master machine. By the instruction, the slave device can also perform copy output based on the original image read by the master device.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the control system of the copying machine of this embodiment, centering on the main controller. The main controller 20 controls the entire copying machine.
The main controller 20 includes an operation unit 3 for displaying information to the operator and controlling the function setting input from the operator.
0, an image processing unit (IPU) 49 for controlling a scanner, a control for writing a document image in an image memory, a control for forming an image from the image memory, an automatic document feeder (AD)
F) 1 and other distributed control devices are connected. Further, the main controller 20 is connected with a connection I / F 48 for connecting to a plurality of copying machines and transmitting / receiving information on the configuration and function of each apparatus and information on operation control. The main controller 20 acquires the information of the copying machine connected via the connection I / F 48 and controls the connection operation by setting the operation, or acquires the request from another connected copying machine and outputs the information. It controls the operation of the machine. In the linking operation, the status of both machines (supply end, jam, etc.) is always maintained so that the jobs of both machines finish at the same time as much as possible.
Is monitored, the distribution ratio of both machines is reviewed, and even when it is registered as a reservation job (details will be described later), operations necessary for processing such as changing the order of reservations are performed. Regarding distribution, it is possible to adopt a method such as distribution of originals or distribution of the number of print copies, and when setting the sort mode, distribution is performed in units of copies. Each decentralized control device and the main controller 20 exchange the machine status and operation command as necessary. Further, the main motor 25 and various clutches 21 to 24 necessary for paper conveyance and the like are also connected.

Returning to FIG. 1, the operation of the digital copying machine of the present embodiment from reading the original to writing the image will be described in more detail. This operation is mainly performed by the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57. The reading unit 50 is composed of a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and a scanning optical system, and the scanning optical system is composed of an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54 and the like. . The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, a moving mechanism is used such that the first carriage and the second carriage travel at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This moving mechanism is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electric signal, and processed.

The writing unit 57 comprises a laser output unit 58, an image forming lens 59 and a mirror 60,
Inside the laser output unit 58, a laser diode which is a laser light source and a polygon mirror (polygon mirror) which rotates at a high speed at a constant speed by a motor are provided.
The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, and the imaging lens 59
After passing through, it is folded back by the mirror 60, and a focused image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 15. The deflected laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor rotates, and the line unit of the image signal output from the selector 64 of the control unit (FIG. 5) of this machine, which will be described later, is displayed in line units. Make a record. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and recording density of the photoconductor. The laser light output from the writing unit 57 irradiates the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system with main scanning, and at the same time, irradiates a beam sensor (not shown) provided at a light receiving position near one end of the photoconductor 15. As a result, a main scanning synchronization signal is generated. Based on this main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal described later are performed.

Next, the control unit of the present example, which controls the image processing from the image reading to the generation of image data used for image formation and the like, will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an image processing control unit related to the copying machine of this embodiment. In the reading unit 50, the CCD image sensor 54 photoelectrically converts the reflected light from the document illuminated by the exposure lamp 51. After the original image signal output from the image sensor is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61, the shading correction unit 62 and MT are converted.
Each correction is performed by the F correction and γ correction unit 63. Variable magnification section 7
The image signal passing through 2 is scaled according to the scaling factor,
It flows to the selector 64. In the selector 64, the destination of the image signal is switched to the writing γ correction unit 71 or the image memory controller 65. The writing γ of the image signal that has passed through the writing γ correction unit 71 is corrected according to the image forming condition, and the writing unit 5
Sent to 7. An image signal can be input / output bidirectionally between the image memory controller 65 and the selector 64. Further, the CPU 68 for setting the image memory controller 65 and the like, controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57, the ROM 69 for storing the programs and data thereof, the RAM 70, and the NV-RAM 74 for storing management information such as job-related information. Is equipped with. Further, the CPU 68 can write and read data in the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65. The connection I / F 48 is connected to the data bus of the memory memory controller 65 for transmitting and receiving image information, and has a configuration capable of inputting and outputting data. The image information is transferred via the image memory 66 according to the data transfer speed between the copying machines. That is, at the time of image output, after the image data is stored in the image memory 66 from the memory controller 65, the data is sequentially read from the image memory 66 according to the data transfer speed between the copying machines, and the data is transferred to the connection I / F 48. When inputting an image, the image data transferred from the connection I / F 48 is stored in the image memory 66, and then the image memory 6
Image data processing is performed inside the apparatus from 6 through the memory controller 65. With the above-described configuration, the connecting operation can be realized without being restricted by the function of the copying machine.
In addition to the image data input from the reading unit 50, the control unit also generates image data supplied from an external host machine via a network, for example, processed and generated by an image processing device such as a PC. Accept image data,
Image processing can be performed using the printer function of this machine. For this purpose, a network I / F (not shown) is provided under the control of the CPU 68 so that an external host machine can communicate a job processing request command and information regarding the command.

An image memory controller 65 for the original image
The image sent to the image memory 66 is sent to the image memory 66 after the image data is compressed by the image compression device in the image memory controller. The reason for image compression here is that it is possible to write data of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum image size into the image memory 66 as it is, but a large amount of image memory capacity is used for one original image. By performing image compression, the limited image memory 66 can be effectively used.
Further, since many original image data can be stored at one time, the stored original image data can be output in page order as a sorting function. When outputting images using the sorting function, the data in the image memory 66 is output while being sequentially expanded by the expansion device in the memory controller 65. Such a function is generally called "electronic sort". Further, by utilizing the function of the image memory, it is possible to sequentially read a plurality of original images into areas obtained by dividing an area of one transfer sheet of the image memory. For example, by sequentially writing four original images in the area of the image memory, which is divided into four equal parts for one transfer sheet, the four originals are combined into one transfer sheet image to obtain an integrated copy output. It becomes possible. Such a function is generally called "aggregate copy". The image in the image memory 66 can be accessed from the CPU 68.
Therefore, the contents of the image memory can be processed, and for example, image thinning processing and image cutting processing can be performed. For processing, the image memory can be processed by writing data in the register of the memory controller 65. The processed image is held in the image memory 66 again. The image memory 66 is divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed and is capable of simultaneously executing input / output of image data. Two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing are connected to the interface with the memory controller 65 so that image data can be input and output in parallel in each divided area. As a result, the image is output (read) from area 2 while the image is input (write) to area 1.
The action of doing is possible. Further, the CPU 68 can read the contents of the image memory 66 and transfer the image data 73 to the operation unit 30 via the I / O port 67. Generally, since the screen display resolution of the operation unit 30 is low, the original images in the image memory 66 are thinned out and sent to the operation unit 30. Image memory 66
In some cases, a hard disk is used to store a large amount of image data. By using a hard disk, there is also a feature that an external power supply is unnecessary and images can be retained permanently, and this is a necessary element for realizing the copy server function in this machine. This hard disk is generally used to read and hold a plurality of standard documents (format documents) with a scanner.

The image signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the relationship of timing signals related to image data for one page. Frame gate signal (/ FGAT
E) represents the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. Main scanning synchronization signal (/ LSYNC) is 1
This is a main-scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image data becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. The signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is the line gate signal (/ LGATE). These / F
Each of the GATE, / LSYNC, and / LGATE signals is synchronized with the pixel synchronization signal (pixel clock: VCLK), and one pixel, for example, 8-bit (256 gradations) data is sent for one cycle of VCLK. Come on. As an example, the writing density on the transfer paper is 400 dpi, and the maximum number of pixels is
Values such as main scanning 4800 pixels and sub scanning 6800 pixels can be adopted.

A method of printing out the stored image, that is, a copy server function will be described. The copy server function is a function of accumulating jobs received by this machine in a large-capacity storage device (for example, HDD), reading them out as needed, and using them for printout and the like. When using this function, if the copy server function is selected with the key 44 of the operation panel 30 of FIG. 2, the copy server document list screen is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Referring to FIG. 7, which shows an example of the document list screen of the copy server, as shown in FIG. 7, a document list by the document name is displayed, and one document to be output is touched. The touched document display is reversed and the selected state of the document is known, and “1” is displayed in the print order column of the selected document. By pressing the start key 34 in this state, printing can be started in the print mode registered in advance. On the other hand, when confirming the print mode or making settings such as change or addition, when the print condition key 301 of FIG. 7 is touched, the print condition screen of FIG. 11 is displayed. It is possible to start output with the start key 34 after selecting a desired print mode on this print condition screen. The registered / saved data may be updated by associating the print mode set here with the document as a print mode of the document when the start key 34 is pressed or a print condition save button (not shown). ) May be provided separately.

Next, the embodiment relating to the copy job reservation function in the copying machine will be described in more detail. Figure 8
Is a copy operation condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, and operation conditions can be set here. When the start key 34 is pressed while the keys are selected as shown in the figure, the screens are switched and the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. The display screen shown in FIG. 9 is called a copy operation screen, and is a screen showing the setting state of the copy currently in operation. The reservation of the copy to be performed next (hereinafter referred to as the reserved copy) has not been registered (see FIG. 14 for the screen where the reserved copy is registered), automatic paper selection,
The set operation modes such as automatic density, normal size, tray 1 (during paper feeding operation) are displayed. FIG. 10 is a screen called a reserved copy operation screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Here, the reserved copy is registered. New reservation key 3
9 is displayed by pressing (FIG. 2), after setting the copy operation condition on this screen (basically the same as the setting of the normal copy operation condition of FIG. 8), the reservation is registered by pressing the start key 34. The document reading operation is started. See also FIG.
The reserved copy can be released by pressing the release key 401 shown in 0, and the screen can be returned to the screen displaying the setting state of the copy currently in operation in FIG. 8, 9 and 10
In the display screen of, the job number is displayed in the message area at the upper center of the screen. The job number is a number for identifying a job and is incremented by 1 each time it is reserved. In the reserved copy mode, the operation unit 30 is opened during execution of the copy operation to allow operation input of the next job. Therefore, if the original reading operation of the job being copied is completed, the scanner (including the ADF 1) is opened, and the original reading operation of the next job is enabled.

In the job request for the copy server accumulated image, the operating condition can be set on the copy server print operating condition setting screen shown in FIG. 11, which is switched when the printing condition key 301 in FIG. 7 is touched. There is. After setting the copy operation conditions on this screen, pressing the start key 34 switches to the same display screen as in FIG. The copy server operation also has a copy server printing operation screen (see FIG. 9) similar to the normal copy, and represents the setting status of the copy server printing currently in operation. Therefore,
Again, the reservation for the next copy server print to be made (hereinafter referred to as "reserved copy server print") is not registered, and automatic paper selection, tray 1 (paper feeding operation), and other set operation modes are set. Is displayed. Further, the operation of the copy server also has a reserved copy server print operation screen (see FIG. 10) similar to normal copy, and the reserved copy server print registration is performed on this screen. The registration procedure is displayed by pressing the new reservation key 39 (FIG. 2) while the copy server screen (FIG. 7) is being displayed. After setting the copy operation condition on the screen of FIG. 10, the start key 34 is pressed. When the button is pressed, the reservation is registered and the print standby state is entered. Further, by pressing the release key 401 shown in FIG. 10, the reserved copy server printing can be released, and the screen can be returned to the screen displaying the setting state of the copy server printing currently in operation, similar to FIG. On the copy server print screen as well as on the copy screen, the job number is displayed in the message area at the upper center of the screen. The job number is a number for identifying a job and is incremented by 1 each time it is reserved. The job can be uniquely specified by the job number because copying and addition are made through the copy server. In the reserved copy server mode, the operation unit 30 is opened during the printing operation of copying or copy server printing, and the operation input of the next job can be performed. In the case of the copy server, since the original is not read, the reserved start-up can be performed and immediately after the job is accepted, the operation setting and start-up of the next job can be performed.

Job requests for normal copy and reserved copy are made as described above. When it is desired to know the processing status of these jobs or the contents of the jobs, or to delete the requested job, the job list shown in FIG. Use the screen. As shown in FIG. 12, the job list screen displays a list of the states of the copy currently being printed, the copy server print, the reserved copy, and the reserved copy server print. The job list screen is displayed by the job list key 40 on the operation unit 30.
It is displayed by pressing (Fig. 2). As shown in FIG. 12, the job list screen displays “operation status”, “job number”, “number of originals”, “number of set sheets”, and “required time” for each job. The operation statuses are arranged in the order of reservation, with job numbers attached, starting with the job being printed. The job required time is displayed by calculating the time from the start to the completion of the copy operation based on the number of originals, the number of set sheets, and the transfer paper size. In the case of a linked job (details will be described later), the time required for each of the master machine and the slave machine according to the "number of sets" currently shared by the machine is displayed. Since the data displayed on the job list screen is determined when the number of images is determined, the job is registered on the job list screen at that time. Therefore, after the job is started in the copy server printing, the job is started in the copy and the reading of all the originals is completed. In FIG. 12, four reserved jobs are registered in addition to the job being printed. Each job being displayed is a key, and when it is pressed, it is selected and is highlighted. When the button is pressed again in the inverted state, the inversion is canceled and the state returns to the non-selected state. In FIG. 12, three reserved jobs are registered in addition to the job being printed, and “reserved 2” is selected. The following setting conditions can be changed for the selected job.

When changing the reservation order of the selected job, the reservation order is moved up by one by pressing the front key 202 on the display. However, it does not go before the job being printed. Also, pressing the key 203 backward moves down one reservation order. As an example of the operation in this case, when the front key 202 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 12, the “reservation 2” being displayed is advanced, and the state shown in FIG.
That is, it is changed to "Reservation 1" being displayed. If the reservation order cannot be changed, when the job key is selected, the front key and the rear key are changed to a display in which the key cannot be pressed, and the key input is not accepted. If either the previous order of the reservation order or the later order of the reservation order is prohibited, only the prohibited keys are changed to a non-pressable display and no key input is accepted. When changing the setting contents of the print condition of the selected job, the contents display key 204 being displayed is displayed.
By pressing, the print condition selection screen for the selected job is displayed, and the copy mode can be changed. In FIG. 12, when the content display key 204 is pressed, the screen transitions to the screen in FIG. 14, so the setting content can be changed by reselecting on that screen. In FIG. 14, the return to the list key 501 can be pressed to return to the job list display screen (FIG. 12). When deleting the selected job, it is possible to delete the selected reserved job by pressing the delete key 205 being displayed. An example of the operation in this case is shown in FIG.
Pressing 5 deletes the displayed "Reservation 2",
The state in 5, that is, there are two reserved jobs. Also,
When the return key 201 is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 12, the screen returns to the screen of the job before shifting to the job list display. If there is no job before migration due to job termination or deletion, the screen of the job being printed is returned to.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a system constructed to realize the reserved copy function. In this example, it is assumed that a plurality of copy applications 1 to n are activated and each operates independently. Shared resources, such as operation unit, peripherals,
The image forming apparatus, the image reading apparatus, and the memory are arbitrated by the system controller. Multiple copy apps 1
n can write each operation screen information in the virtual screen provided by the operation unit. The operation unit 30 develops the screen information of the virtual screen of the operation unit owner application instructed by the system controller on the real screen.

Next, in the above copying machine, an embodiment relating to job processing in the case where the link mode is set for the copy job requested by the reservation function will be described in more detail. As the present embodiment, "Embodiment 1" to "Embodiment 4" will be shown below. However, in each embodiment, execution of the connection mode that does not impair the connection effect is realized in the job reservation mechanism. To provide a solution to.

[Embodiment 1] In this embodiment, the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job registered in the child machine is compared with the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job registered in the parent machine, and the child processing is performed. The connection effect is not impaired by managing the reserved connection job in which the jobs of the machine are accepted in the order closest to the time until the job of the master machine is started. The following example shows an example in which a copy request is made to an image stored in advance in a fixed storage device such as a hard disk such as printing of a document box, that is, a case where the copy request to the copy server in the present embodiment is applied. . First, a description will be given of a process related to the management of a reserved concatenated job which is performed when a reserved job in the concatenated mode is accepted on the master side. This process is performed by selecting a document on the copy server setting screen (FIG. 7 or 11) of the parent machine, setting print conditions, and then connecting the copy key 302.
After touching and instructing linked copy, this process is executed when a copy request is made using the reservation function or when the setting mode of the registered reservation job is changed.
This is a process for registering a reserved job in the slave unit in the linked mode. The contents of the process include the occurrence of the reserved linked job (including the change of the reserved linked job due to the fluctuation of the reserved job) and the master side. This includes notifying the connected slave unit of the predicted processing start time of the registered reserved connection job.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a process relating to the management of a reserved job which is executed by the parent machine when a process request for the connection mode is accepted. This processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed when a new reservation job is generated in the linked mode and when the setting mode of the registered reservation job is changed after that.
Check that in the previous step. First, it is checked whether the concatenation mode has been set (S101). If the concatenation mode has not been set, the concatenation key is pressed (that is, a new reserved concatenation job has occurred), or if the concatenation mode has already been set. Even if (S101-YES), if the setting mode of the registered reserved job is changed (S104-YES), the next processing step is performed. If the connection mode has already been set (S1
01-YES), when the linked copy key 302 is touched (S103-YES), the linked mode is released and the linked copy key 302 is set to the non-inverted state (S109). When the required processing can be confirmed (S102-YES, S104-YES), in the next processing step, the image size, the number of images, and the printing condition of the document selected as the reserved job are read out (S105), As the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job, the sum of the required times of the printing job of its own machine (parent machine) and the printing standby job in the previous order is calculated (S1).
06). If the number of copies, the paper size, etc. are changed in the printing conditions, the required time of the job changes. Next, the slave unit is notified of the reservation linked job registration, and the reservation job ID at this time and the previously-estimated predicted processing start time of the reservation linked job are notified (S107). After that, the setting of the connection mode is accepted, the connection copy key 302 is reversed, and the job is executed in the connection mode. By executing this processing flow, the parent machine notifies the connected child machine of the occurrence of the reserved job in the linked mode and the predicted processing start time of this reserved linked job registered on the parent machine side, and the child machine It enables management of the reserved linked job distributed to the side (described later).

Next, the processing relating to the management of the reserved concatenated job, which is performed when the reserved job in the concatenated mode is accepted on the slave side, will be described. This process is a process of accepting a reserved concatenated job from the parent machine and registering it as a reserved concatenated job of the slave machine, which is performed when a processing request for a transferred job from the parent machine is received through the concatenation I / F 48. is there.
In the present embodiment, the slave unit manages the reserved concatenated job in which the received concatenated job is registered and registered in the order closest to the time when the parent device starts the reserved concatenated job. By doing so, execution of the linking mode without impairing the linking effect can be realized in the job reservation mechanism. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a process related to management of a reserved concatenated job which is performed by the slave when the concatenated job is accepted. This processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. When the reservation / consolidated job registration notice is received from the parent machine (S201-YES), the processing is performed each time. Therefore, the change notification is notified to the already notified job, that is, the reserved job ID may be registered in the job list or not registered (new registration).
The process branches depending on the presence or absence of registration (S202). If the reserved job ID is not registered (S202-N
O), a reserved linked job is added to the end of the job list, and the notified reserved job ID is registered in the job list (S205). On the other hand, if the reserved job ID is registered (S202-YES), it is checked whether or not the reserved job ID is waiting for execution of processing (S203). If the reserved job ID is in the execution waiting state, it is added to the end of the job list. The reserved linked job is moved (S204). If it is being executed, this processing flow is exited.

After the notified reserved job ID is registered in the job list, the following reserved concatenated job acceptance order determination process, that is, the reservation order in the order closest to the time of starting the reserved concatenated job of the parent machine Process to determine
Confirm the job list. First, it is checked whether there is a job waiting before the reserved linked job (S20).
6) If there is any (that is, if the previous job in the job list is waiting to be executed), “predicted processing start time (A) of reserved linked job of slave unit” and “one of reserved linked job of slave unit” The predicted processing start time (B) ”of the previous job is calculated (S207, S208). This calculation is performed in the same manner as the calculation of the predicted processing start time of the reserved job performed by the parent machine.
Next, "(A) is the difference between the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job of the parent machine" and "(B) is the difference between the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job of the parent machine" (S209). If the result of the comparison is “the difference between (A) and the reserved linked job start time of the parent machine” <“the difference between (B) and the reserved linked job start time of the parent machine”, the order is not changed and the reservation is made. A linked job is accepted. If the above conditions are not met, the printing order of the reserved linked jobs is increased by one (S210), the reserved linked job acceptance order determination processing is repeated again, and the order of the list is finally determined by this loop processing, and the processing flow is changed. Get out.

[Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job registered in the child machine is compared with the predicted processing start time of the reserved linked job registered in the parent machine, and the child processing is performed. The connection effect is not impaired by managing the reserved connection job in which the job of the machine is accepted in the order of the time that is later than the time until the job of the master machine is started and the time is the closest. The difference from the above "first embodiment" is that the processing start time of the reserved linked job in the slave unit is set to be the order that is later and closer to the master unit, and the linked job is completed by the time the parent unit executes the job. This is intended to reduce the possibility that the job will end up and to avoid the problem that the end of the linked job is difficult for the user to understand.

In the present embodiment, the process relating to the management of the reserved concatenated job performed when the master unit accepts the reserved job in the concatenated mode, that is, the occurrence of the reserved job in the concatenated mode and the reserved concatenation registered in the master unit side. A process for notifying the slave device that is connected with the job prediction process start time (see FIG. 1).
7) is the same as the above-mentioned "Embodiment 1". Therefore, the description of FIG. 17 will be referred to, and the description thereof will be omitted here. Next, a process related to management of a reserved concatenated job which is performed when a reserved job in the concatenated mode is accepted on the slave side will be described. This process is a process of accepting a reserved concatenated job from the parent machine and registering it as a reserved concatenated job of the child machine, and is a process performed when a processing request for a transferred job from the parent machine is received through the concatenation I / F 48. is there. In this embodiment, the slave unit manages the reserved linked job in which the received linked jobs are registered in the order that is later than the time until the job of the parent device starts and becomes the closest time. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a process related to management of a reserved concatenated job which is performed by the slave when the concatenated job is accepted. This processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. When the reservation linked job registration notification is received from the parent machine (S301-YES), the processing is performed each time. Therefore, the notified job is changed, that is, the reserved job ID is registered or not registered (new registration) in the job list, and the process is branched depending on whether the reserved job ID is registered (S302). . When the reserved job ID is not registered (S302-NO), the reserved linked job is added to the end of the job list, and the notified reserved job I is notified.
D is registered in the job list (S305). On the other hand, if the reserved job ID is registered (S202-YE
S), move the reserved linked job to the end of the job list (S303), check whether the reserved job ID is waiting for execution of processing (S304), and if it is in the execution waiting state, move to the next step. To do. If it is being executed, this processing flow is exited.

After the notified reservation job ID is registered in the job list, the following reservation linked job acceptance order determination processing is performed, that is, the order in which the time is later than and closest to the time until the job of the parent machine starts. The process of deciding the reservation order is performed with and the job list is confirmed. First, it is checked whether there is a job waiting before the reserved linked job (S306), and if there is (that is, 1 in the job list).
"When the previous job is waiting to be executed", "Estimated processing start time (A) of reserved concatenated job of child machine" and "Estimated processing start time (B) of job immediately before reserved concatenated job of child machine" Are calculated respectively (S207, S208). This calculation is
The same process is performed as in the calculation of the predicted processing start time of the reserved job performed by the parent machine. Next, it is checked whether or not the condition of (B) ≧ “predicted processing start time of reserved linked job of parent machine” is satisfied (S309), and if satisfied, the printing order of the reserved linked job is advanced by one (S310). ), Exit this processing flow. If (B) ≧ “predicted processing start time of reserved linked job of parent machine” is not satisfied, then (A)
It is checked whether or not a condition of ≧ “predicted processing start time of reserved linked job of parent machine” is satisfied (S311). If this condition is satisfied, the reserved linked job is registered without changing the order, and this processing flow is exited. If this condition is not satisfied (S311-NO), the processing will start before the parent machine as it is, so the existence of the subsequent reserved job is confirmed (S312), and if it exists, the reserved linked job is present. The print order of (1) is decreased by one (S313), the reserved linked job acceptance order determination processing is repeated until the processing is started after the parent machine, and the order of the list is finally determined by this loop processing. Exit the processing flow. If there is no subsequent reserved job (S312)
-NO), register the reserved linked job without changing the order,
This processing flow is exited.

[Third Embodiment] In the present embodiment, if a slave unit is executing a job at the time of notification of registration of a linked job from the master unit, the slave job is accepted in the order following the job being executed, and when the job of the slave unit ends If the slave machine has not started executing the linked job and another job is reserved in the slave machine, the number of jobs reserved in the master machine can be changed by changing the order of the linked mode one step later. , In a system in which conditions such as mode are changed and the start time of the reserved concatenated job is changed, the desired concatenated mode may not be executed without distributed printing of the slaves, It is intended to make it possible to perform reservation registration of a job in a child machine so as to minimize the difference between job start times and prevent the connection effect from being impaired. The processing flow of this example relating to the management of the reserved concatenated job performed by the slave unit includes a process of managing the registration order when the reserved concatenated job is received, and a process of monitoring the received reserved job and changing the registration order.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of the processing relating to the management of reserved concatenated jobs which is executed by the slave when the concatenated job is accepted. This processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. This process is a process of accepting a reserved concatenated job from the parent machine and registering it as a reserved concatenated job of the child machine, and is performed when the processing request for the transfer job from the parent machine is received through the concatenated I / F 48. Wait for notification of the registration of the reserved linked job from the parent machine, and at the time of acceptance (S
401-YES), the following processing is performed. First, it is checked whether the notified reserved job ID is registered in the job list (S402), and if it is registered (S40).
2-YES), because it is not the target of this process, the process is exited. On the other hand, if the notified reserved job ID is not registered in the job list (S402-NO), it is checked whether there is a job waiting to be executed in the reserved job list (S403).
If there is a job waiting to be executed, the reserved linked job received from the parent machine is inserted at the head of the job list waiting to be executed, and the subsequent jobs are moved down one by one (S40
4), exit the process. If there are no jobs waiting to be executed (S4)
03-NO), the reserved linked job is added to the head of the job list waiting to be executed (S405), and the process is exited.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart of the processing for monitoring the received reserved job in the child machine. This processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. This process confirms that the copy process of the job being executed is completed (S5
01-YES) and when it is confirmed that there is a reserved job at that time (S502-YES), the following processing is performed.
First, it is checked whether the first job in the waiting job list is a reserved linked job (S503), and whether the first reserved job in the waiting job list is waiting for execution on the master side. (S504), if either is denied (S503-NO / S504-NO), the copy process of the first job of the waiting job list is executed (S5).
07). On the other hand, if the above conditions are not met, that is, if the reserved linked job at the head of the waiting job list is waiting to be executed on the parent machine side (S504-YES), then there is a job waiting to be executed after the reserved linked job. Is checked (S5
05) If there is a job waiting to be executed, the order of the reserved linked job and the jobs waiting to be executed thereafter are exchanged (S506), and then the copy process of the first job in the job waiting list is executed (S507). If there are no jobs waiting to be executed after the reserved linked job (S505-NO),
The reserved job monitoring process flow of this child machine is exited, and the monitoring process is repeated again.

[0039]

Advantageous Effects of Invention (1) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 1 The linked jobs received from the slave unit in the order closest to the time to start the reserved linked job registered on the master unit side (from the master unit) By managing the reserved linked job of registering the transferred distributed job), the linked mode can be executed without impairing the linking effect within the job reservation mechanism. (2) The effect corresponding to the invention of claim 2 By managing the reserved linked job, the job of the child device is accepted in the order of the time that is later than the time until the job of the parent device starts and the time becomes the closest. , It is possible to avoid the situation where the linked job is completed before the job is executed on the parent machine, eliminate the problem that the end of the linked job is difficult for the user to understand, and realize the linking effect in the job reservation mechanism. Enables the execution of linked mode without loss. (3) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 3 In addition to the effects of (1) and (2) above, the setting contents of the processing conditions of the registered reserved job are changed, and the required printing time of the job is changed. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the linking effect cannot be obtained in the order in which the reserved linked job is first registered by re-adding the job reception order of the child machines. (4) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 4 When a slave unit is executing a job at the time of notification of registration of a linked job from the master unit, the slave unit accepts jobs in the order following the job being executed, and when the slave unit finishes the job, the master unit Does not start executing the linked job and another job is reserved in the slave machine, the processing condition of the reserved linked job is changed in the master machine by changing the order of the linked mode one step later. Even in a system where the start time of a reserved linked job changes and the desired linked mode may not be executed because the distributed printing of slave units is not performed, the job start time difference between the master unit and slave units is minimized. It is possible to register a job reservation to a slave device without damaging the connection effect. (5) Effect corresponding to the invention of claim 5 An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used as a child machine, and a parent machine which notifies the child machine of a linked job together with its reservation registration management information. By configuring the connection system with the above, it is possible to provide a system that realizes the above (1) to (4).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an operation unit of the digital copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a setting operation screen displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel provided in the operation unit of FIG.

4 shows a schematic configuration of a control system centered on a main controller of the digital copying machine of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing an image processing control unit in the digital copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the relationship between image data for one page and timing signals related thereto.

FIG. 7 shows a copy server document selection operation screen displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a copy condition setting operation screen displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a copy operation screen which is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel and which shows a copy setting status during operation.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a reservation copy condition setting operation screen displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a print condition setting operation screen of the copy server displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a job list screen that displays a list of copies being printed and reserved copies.

FIG. 13 shows a screen after the reservation order change operation, which is a transition from the job list screen of FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a screen showing the setting state of a job selected from the job list screen of FIG.

FIG. 15 shows a screen after the reserved job deletion operation, which is a transition from the job list screen of FIG.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a system constructed to realize a reserved copy function.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a process related to management of a reserved job performed by the parent machine when a connection mode process request is received.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a process related to management of a reserved linked job that is performed by a slave when a linked job is received (first embodiment).

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of a process related to management of a reserved linked job performed by a slave when a linked job is received (second embodiment).

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a process related to management of a reserved concatenated job performed by a child device when the concatenated job is accepted (third embodiment).

FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of a reserved job monitoring process which is performed by a child device after receiving a linked job (third embodiment).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), 2 ... Document Plate,
6 ... Contact glass, 15 ... Photoconductor, 1
7 ... Fixing unit, 27 ... Developing unit, 30 ... Operation section, 31 ... Liquid crystal touch panel, 34 ... Start key,
39 ... New reservation key, 42 ... Link copy key,
43 ... copy key, 44 ... copy server key,
48 ... Connection I / F, 50 ... Reading unit, 57 ... Writing unit, 58 ... Laser output unit, 67 ... I / O port, 68
... CPU, 65 ... Image memory controller, 66 ... Image memory.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AP07 HJ08 HK23                       HN04 HN15 HQ17 HR01 HR04                 2H027 EE08 EE10 EJ08 EJ09 EJ13                       EJ15 ZA07                 5B021 AA01 CC04 EE03                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB17 AB20 AB25                       AB38 AB41 AB42 AC43 AF06

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A job accepted by its own device and a job accepted by another device and transferred are registered as reserved jobs.
An image forming apparatus having a reservation management unit that manages and an image forming unit that executes processing of a reservation job according to an instruction from the reservation management unit, wherein the reservation management unit is a job accepted by the transfer source device for the transfer job. When the predicted processing start time of the distributed job portion of the transfer source device is notified, the predicted processing start time and the predicted processing of the distributed job portion of the own device at the time when the transfer job is received. The start times are compared assuming that the processing order is changed, and the transferred distribution jobs are registered for reservation in the order that is closest to the predicted processing start time of the distribution job part of the transfer source device. The image forming apparatus is characterized by performing the following. 2. A job accepted by its own device and a job accepted by another device and transferred are registered as reserved jobs.
An image forming apparatus having a reservation management unit that manages and an image forming unit that executes processing of a reservation job according to an instruction from the reservation management unit, wherein the reservation management unit is a job accepted by the transfer source device for the transfer job. When the predicted processing start time of the distributed job portion of the transfer source device is notified, the predicted processing start time and the predicted processing of the distributed job portion of the own device at the time when the transfer job is received. The start times are compared assuming that the order of processing is changed, and the transferred distribution jobs are transferred in the order of the predicted processing start time of the distribution job portion of the transfer source device and the closest time. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a reservation is registered. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservation management unit has a predictive processing start time of a distributed job portion in a transfer source apparatus and a predictive processing start time of a distributed job portion in the own apparatus. An image forming apparatus characterized in that when a setting change is made to a reserved job that affects the job, the reservation order of the transferred distribution job is re-registered. 4. A job accepted by its own device and a job accepted by another device and transferred are registered as reserved jobs.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a reservation management unit to manage; and an image forming unit that executes processing of reservation jobs in the order of reservation registration according to an instruction from the reservation management unit, wherein the reservation management unit is a transfer source Is a job to which a job received by the device is distributed, and when the distributed job is transferred while the job processing is being executed, the jobs are registered in the next order of the running job and processed before the distributed job. When the processing of the distributed job is not started in the transfer source device at the end of the processing of the registered job and another reserved job is registered, the registration order of the distributed job is changed to one after. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 5. A reservation management unit that registers and manages a received job as a reservation job, a job transfer unit that transfers a part of the received job as a distribution job, and management of the distribution job reserved by the reservation management unit. 5. An image forming apparatus having a notification unit for notifying information to a transfer destination device of the distributed job and an image forming unit for executing processing of the reserved job according to an instruction from the reservation management unit is a parent device, An image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus described in any one of the above is used as a child device to configure the system.