JP2004248317A - Job management apparatus and management method, and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a job operational state notification system and a job operational state notification method which enable the side of a host computer to accurately know the operational state and operation completion of an image input/output device, and also to provide storage medium stored with a program for realizing the method. <P>SOLUTION: When there is a job request from a host computer 11, in a core part 10 of the image input/output device (a copy machine of a compound function or the like), a job ID that is unique to each job related to the job request, is generated. When various kinds of job information are changed in a printer part 2 or the like, the job information is advised to the host computer 11 together with the job ID. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a job operation status notification device, a job operation status notification method, and a storage medium storing a program for realizing the method.

  With the digitalization of copiers in recent years, multifunction machines having a plurality of functions, such as facsimile transmission / reception using scanners and printers of copiers, and PDL (Page Description Language) printers, have been put to practical use. . Such a multifunction machine is configured to be operable not only between a single function such as a copier function, a facsimile function, a PDL print function, and a scanner function, but also between a plurality of functions such as facsimile transmission of a PDL developed image. ing. Further, by connecting the multifunction device via a LAN, the function of the multifunction device can be used in a computer device or the like. In this way, the input image is temporarily stored in a storage medium such as a page memory or a hard disk so that a plurality of functions can be easily extended and high performance can be realized using the scanner and the printer of the copying machine. In addition, a device configured to output an image from a storage medium has been devised.

  However, in the above-described conventional example, when a desired document is printed from a host computer via a network in the PDL print function, first, the host computer transfers PDL data to a printer server on the network. Next, an NIC (Network Interface Card) unit of the printer acquires PDL data to be a print job from the printer server. The NIC unit that has acquired the PDL data transfers the acquired PDL data to a RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit of the PDL. The RIP unit sequentially develops the transferred PDL data into image data, transfers the image to the printer engine unit, forms an image in the printer engine unit, and prints out the image. Conventionally, a print job completion notification to the host computer is notified to the host computer via the printer server when a series of PDL data has been transferred from the NIC portion to the RIP portion.

  For this reason, depending on the page of the document constituting the PDL data transferred to the RIP unit, it may take time to develop the image data, or it may take time for the printer engine unit to perform double-sided processing or multiple copy processing. There has been a problem that even if the user who has received the notice goes to the desired document in front of the printer, the document has not yet been printed out.

  In addition, when image data is spooled in a memory or a hard disk in the printer engine, a print job of another user may be registered in a print queue. However, there is a problem in that even if a user who knows the document goes to get a desired document in front of the printer, the document may not actually be printed out yet.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. For a job issued from a host computer, a job operation status notification that allows the host computer to accurately know the operation status and operation completion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system, a job operation status notification method, and a storage medium storing a program for realizing the method.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the job operation status notification system is set as described in the following (1) to (4), the job operation status notification method is set as the following (5), and the storage medium is set as follows. (6).

  (1) A host computer that requests a job, an image input / output device that responds to the job request of the host computer, and a job ID generation unit that generates a unique job ID for each job of the host computer that requests the job. And a notifying means for notifying the computer of the job information together with the job ID generated by the job ID generating means when various kinds of job information accompanying each running job changes.

  (2) At least one image input unit for inputting image data, an image input / output device having at least one image output unit for outputting image data input from the image input unit, and a host computer requesting a job. A job operation notification system comprising: an image input job control unit configured to control an image input job inputting an image from one of the image input units; and an image output unit configured to output image data input by the image input unit. Combining image output job control means for controlling an image output job to be transferred into one image, and each job controlled by the image input job control means and the image output job control means in response to a request from the host computer Image input / output job control means for controlling image input / output Job operation status notification system comprising a notification means for notifying the various job information to the host computer when changes in various job information associated with each job in row.

  (3) At least one image input unit for inputting image data, an image storage unit for storing image data input from the image input unit, and at least one image output unit for outputting image data stored in the image storage unit A job operation notification system including an image input / output device having an image output unit and a host computer requesting a job, wherein an image input job for transferring an image from one of the image input units to the image storage unit is controlled. Image input job control means, image output job control means for controlling an image output job for transferring an image from the image storage means to one of the image output means, and the image input job in response to a request from the host computer. An image for controlling image input / output by combining control means and each job controlled by the image output job control means A job operation status notification system comprising: an output job control unit; and an image input / output job control unit, which has a notification unit that notifies the host computer of the various job information when the various job information attached to each job being executed changes. .

  (4) A job ID generation unit that generates a unique job ID for each job to be controlled by the image input job control unit and the image output job control unit, and a session to be controlled by the image input / output job control unit. A session ID generating means for generating a unique session ID, and an ID managing means for associating and holding the session ID generated by the session ID generating means and one or more job IDs generated by the job ID generating means And job status notifying means for notifying the host computer by adding the job ID and various job information to the session ID when the job information of the image input job or the image output job managed by the ID managing means changes. The job operation status notification system according to the above (2) or (3).

  (5) A method for notifying a job operation status in a system including a host computer requesting a job and an image input / output device responding to the job request of the host computer. A job operation status including a step of generating a unique ID and a step of notifying the computer of the job information together with the ID generated by the ID generation means when various jobs attached to each running job change. Notification method.

  (6) A storage medium storing a program for implementing the job operation status notification method according to (5).

  According to the present invention, it is possible for the host computer to know the execution status of various issued jobs and the completion of various jobs at an accurate timing.

  Further, even when a plurality of jobs are issued from a plurality of host computers, it is possible to accurately know the execution status of a specific job.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples of a job operation status notification system. The present invention is not limited to the system, but can be implemented in the form of a job operation status notifying method, and in the form of a storage medium such as a CD-ROM in which a program for realizing the method is stored.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the “job operation status notification system” according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to an image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to the image data from the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a storage unit 5, a computer interface unit 7, a RIP unit 8, an operation unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like.

  The facsimile unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 to compress the image data. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line. Image data to be transmitted and received can be temporarily stored in a hard disk 6 connected to the storage unit 5.

  A hard disk 6 is connected to the storage unit 5, and the storage unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores the compressed image data together with an ID number for searching the image data. Further, the storage unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the hard disk 6 based on the code data transferred through the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses the decompressed image data, and decompresses the decompressed data. The image data is transferred to the core unit 10.

  The computer interface unit 7 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 11 and the core unit 10 or between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 11 and the core unit 10 via the printer server 12. The connection may be made with the PC / WS 11 through a one-to-one local interface or through a network.

  The RIP unit 8 develops code data (PDL) representing an image transferred from the PC / WS 11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2.

  The operation unit 9 includes a touch panel display and hard keys, and performs an operation instruction and an operation setting to the image input / output control device 3 through a user interface.

  Although details of the core unit 10 will be described later, the core unit 10 includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a facsimile unit 4, a storage unit 5, a computer interface unit 7, a RIP unit 8, and an operation unit 9. It controls the flow of data.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The document feeding device 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds a document one by one on the platen glass 102 in the order of the head, and discharges the document on the platen glass 102 after the reading operation of the document is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as CCD) 109 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108. Thus, the scanned image of the original is read by the CCD 109. The image data output from the CCD 109 is transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 after performing a predetermined process.

  The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to image data output from the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to a portion of the latent image on the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. I do. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is transported to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper, and staples the sorted recording paper. Note that the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set. When double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feed conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 is supplied to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the core unit 10.

  Image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 122. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. Image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is transferred to the storage unit 5 via the interface 120. Is done.

  Also, code data (PDL) representing an image input via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120 and then transferred to the RIP unit 8 and expanded into image data. The image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the storage unit 5.

  The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the storage unit 5.

  Further, after the image data from the storage unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, it is transferred to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the computer interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the operation unit 9. The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123.

  As described above, processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting and receiving the image, storing the image, inputting and outputting data from the computer, and the like, centering on the core unit 10 and via the storage unit 5. It is possible to do.

  Next, job control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 logically shows a unit of job control. The unit of job control is input and output processing for a set of image data including a plurality of pages. Jobs controlled by this are roughly classified into image input jobs and image output jobs. The image input job includes an image input job 411 for sequentially recording image data read by the reader unit 1 in the storage unit 5, an image input job 412 for sequentially recording image data developed by the RIP unit 8 in the storage unit 5, a facsimile unit. 4 is further classified into an image input job 413 for sequentially recording the image data received in the storage unit 5 and an image input job 414 for sequentially recording the image data input from the computer interface unit 7 in the storage unit 5.

  The image output job includes an image output job 401 for sequentially outputting image data read from the storage unit 5 to the printer unit 2, an image output job 403 for sequentially outputting image data read from the storage unit 5 to the facsimile unit 4, and a storage unit. The image data read from the unit 5 is classified into an image output job 404 that sequentially outputs the image data to the computer interface unit 7.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a unit (hereinafter referred to as a session) obtained by combining a plurality of jobs. A PDL print session 501 controls an image input job 412 and an image output job 401 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 502 denotes a copy session, which controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 401 as a session. A facsimile transmission session 503 controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 403 as a session. A facsimile reception session 504 controls the combination of the image input job 413 and the image output job 401 as a session. A scan session 505 controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 404 as a session.

  A session is a control unit including one or more jobs. For example, the image input job 412 is treated as one session, the image output job 401 is treated as a session, and the image input job 412 and the image output job 401 are And the image output job 403 may be combined and treated as one session.

  FIG. 6 shows, as an example of the operation of the job operation status notification system according to the present embodiment, a PDL print session 501 and an image input job 412 for sequentially recording image data developed by the RIP unit 8 constituting the PDL print session 501 in the storage unit 5. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of an image output job 401 for sequentially printing out image data recorded in a storage unit 5 to a printer unit 2. S601 to S615 indicate each step.

  First, in step 601, a user performs print settings on the PC / WS (host computer) 11. The print setting contents include the number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, one side / two sides, page output order, sort output, and whether or not stapling is performed. After the print setting, the user gives a print instruction on the PC / WS11, and at the same time, the driver software installed on the PC / WS11 converts the document data to be printed into so-called PDL data and sets the set print setting parameters. At the same time, the PDL data is transferred to the computer interface unit 7 connected to the network via the printer server 12 on the network. After PDL data representing an image input via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, the PDL data is transferred to the RIP unit 8. The RIP unit 8 sequentially develops the transferred PDL data into image data. (Rasterize). When the RIP unit 8 starts receiving PDL data, a processing request is issued from the RIP unit 8 to the core unit 10. In the core unit 10, the CPU 123 accepts the issued processing request. Here, the print settings set by the user are also transferred to the CPU 123.

  In step 602, a session is internally generated from the processing request issued from the RIP unit 8 and managed. FIG. 7 shows the session management table 700. In the session generation, a session management table 700 shown in FIG. 7 is created in the memory 124, and various information is held until the session ends. The session ID field 701 generates and holds a unique session ID in the image input / output control device. The generated session ID is notified to the RIP unit 8, and the RIP unit 8 holds the session ID until the session ends, and is used for notifying a job execution state described later.

  The session type field 702 specifies the type of the generated session (PDL print session, copy session, facsimile transmission session, facsimile reception session, scan session, and the like). In the present embodiment, it is a PDL print session. Record it. The session priority field 703 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the session. The session status field 704 holds the execution state of the session (executable state, execution state, suspended state, end state, error state, etc.) according to the execution state. The link job number field 705 holds the number of image input jobs and the number of image output jobs constituting the session. In this embodiment, two job numbers of the image input job 412 and the image output job 401 are set. You. The first job pointer field 706 is a pointer to the job management table 710 of the image input job 412. The second job pointer field 707 is a pointer to the job management table 730 of the image output job 401.

  In step 603, a job management table 710 for the image input job 412 is created on the memory 124, and various information is held until the job is completed. The job ID field 711 generates and holds a unique job ID in the job operation status notification system. The job type field 712 specifies the type of the generated job (the above-described image input job and image output job). In the present embodiment, the image data developed by the RIP unit 8 is sequentially recorded in the storage unit 5. The image input job 412 is recorded. The job priority field 713 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the job. The job status field 714 holds the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status, suspended status, end status, error status, etc.) according to the execution status. The page number field 715 holds the number of pages of the job. The page pointer field 716 is a pointer to a page management table 720 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The page management field 720 is recorded on the hard disk 6.

  The job parameter field 717 holds various setting parameters of the job. In the present embodiment, the number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, single side / double side, page output order, sort output, The presence or absence of stapling is retained.

  In step 604, processing of the generated image input job 412 is started.

  In step 605, one page of the image data developed by the RIP unit 8 is received. That is, image transfer from the RIP unit 8 to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120 is performed.

  In step 606, the image data transferred to the data processing unit 121 is recorded on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5. At this time, various image attribute information (resolution, number of pixels, etc.) is recorded in the page 1 field 721 of the page management field 720.

  In step 607, it is determined whether or not all the pages to be processed developed by the RIP unit 8 have been recorded on the hard disk 6 as image data. If the result of this determination is that there are any pages that have not been processed, the process returns to step 605; if all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step 608.

  In step 608, the job status in the job management table 710 generated in step 603 is set to an end state, and the process proceeds to step 906.

  In step 609, a job management table 730 for the image output job 401 is created on the memory 124, and various information is held until the job ends. The job ID field 731 is for generating and holding a unique job ID in the job operation status notification system. The job type field 732 specifies the type of the generated job (the image input job and the image output job described above). In the present embodiment, the image data recorded in the storage unit 5 is sequentially printed on the printer unit 2. It is recorded that the image output job 401 is out. The job priority field 733 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the job. The job status field 734 holds the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status, suspended status, end status, error status, etc.) according to the execution status. The page number field 735 holds the number of pages of the job. The page pointer field 736 is a pointer to a page management table 740 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The substance of the page management table 740 is the same as the page management table 720 recorded on the hard disk 6 in the image input job 412. A job parameter field 737 holds various setting parameters of the job. In the present embodiment, the number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, one-sided / two-sided, page output order, sort output, staple set in step 601 are set. The presence or absence of the stop is held.

  In step 610, processing of the generated image output job 401 is started.

  In step 611, the image data for each page recorded in the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5 in step 606 is sequentially read, and the image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120.

  In step 612, the image data transferred to the data processing unit 121 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the interface 122, and the printer unit 2 forms an image as described above and prints out. Further, the image forming status in the printer unit 2 is thereafter notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10 according to a change in the operation status of the image output job 401.

  FIG. 8 shows a list of the operation status data 800 of the image output job notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10. The operation status data 800 includes a job execution status notification factor field 801, a job status field 802, a completed page number field 803 in the job, and a completed copy number field 804 in the job. The job execution status notification factor field 801 indicates a factor notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10. In the page unit discharge completion field 811, the value is set to 1 when one page of image data is image-formed on a sheet and the discharge is normally completed outside the apparatus. The copy unit discharge completion field 812 has a value of 1 when the image data of the page unit is formed on a sheet and the discharge is normally completed outside the apparatus in accordance with the set number of print settings. Is set to In the job unit discharge completion field 813, the value is set to 1 when the image data of the page in the job unit is formed on the sheet and the discharge is normally completed outside the apparatus in accordance with the set print setting. Is done. The value of the status change present field 814 is set to 1 when a change occurs in the job execution status other than the job execution statuses 811, 812, and 813.

  The job status field 802 is a field that is set when the value of the status change field 814 is set to 1. The value of the printing field 821 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 starts a printing operation. The value of the suspending field 822 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 suspends printing. The value of the paper out field 823 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 detects that paper is out during printing. The value of the paper jam field 824 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 detects the occurrence of a paper jam (jam). The value in the toner absence field 826 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 detects that the toner is out. The value of the abnormal end field is set to 1 when the printing operation ends abnormally in the printer unit 2.

  When the job execution status notification is received from the printer unit 2, the core unit 10 notifies the RIP unit 8 of the same contents together with the session ID 701.

  In step 613, it is determined whether all the image data for each page recorded on the hard disk 6 has been printed out. If the result of this determination is that there are any pages that have not been processed, the process returns to step 611; if all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step 614. At this point, the value of the job unit discharge completion field 813 is set to 1. The RIP unit 8 having received the notification of the completion of the job unit discharge notifies the printer server 12 on the network of this event via the computer interface unit 7, and the printer server 12 notifies the event to the CP / WS 11 of the job request source. Notify to

  In step 614, the job status 734 in the job management table 730 generated in step 609 is set to an end state, and the process proceeds to step 615.

  In step 615, the job management table generated in steps 603 and 609, the page management table generated in step 606, and the image data for each page are discarded to release the resources. The generated session management table is also discarded, resources are released, and a series of processing ends.

  The method of transferring image information as PDL data from the PC / WS 11 according to the print settings set on the PC / WS 11 and notifying the PC / WS 11 of the print status and the completion of the print job by the job execution status notification system will be described. did.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image input job to the recording unit for recording an image and the image output job from the image recording unit can be divided and controlled, and the image input job and the image The image input / output session is controlled by arbitrarily combining the output jobs, and the job ID of the image input job, the job ID of the image output job, and the session ID of the image input / output session are generated, and the session ID of the image input / output session is generated. The job execution status of the image output job can be notified to the PC / WS (host computer) 11 via the RIP unit 8 at an appropriate timing by associating the job ID of the image input job and the job ID of the image output job. . As a result, the host computer can accurately know the job execution status of the printer and the completion of the job with respect to the issued job.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. Sectional view showing the configuration of the reader unit and the printer unit Block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit Illustration of job control Diagram showing an example session Flow chart showing the operation of the embodiment Diagram showing the structure of the session management, job management, and page management tables Diagram showing the structure of job execution status notification data

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 image input / output control unit 4 facsimile unit 5 storage unit 7 computer interface unit 8 RIP unit 9 operation unit 10 core unit 11 personal computer or workstation (host computer)

Claims (6)

  A host computer that issues a job request, an image input / output device that responds to the job request from the host computer, a job ID generation unit that generates a unique job ID for each job related to the job request from the host computer, And a notifying means for notifying the computer of the job information together with the job ID generated by the job ID generating means when various kinds of job information accompanying each job change.   A job including at least one image input unit for inputting image data, an image input / output device having at least one image output unit for outputting image data input from the image input unit, and a host computer for requesting a job An operation notification system, comprising: an image input job control unit for controlling an image input job for inputting an image from one of the image input units; and image data input by the image input unit to one of the image output units. Image output job control means for controlling an image output job to be transferred; and, in response to a request from the host computer, combining the jobs controlled by the image input job control means and the image output job control means to input an image. An image input / output job control unit for controlling output is provided. Job operation status notification system characterized by having a notifying means for notifying the various job information to the host computer when changes in various job information associated with each job.   At least one image input means for inputting image data, image storage means for storing image data input from the image input means, and at least one image output means for outputting image data stored in the image storage means A job operation notification system comprising: an image input / output device having an image input device; and a host computer requesting a job, the image input job controlling an image input job for transferring an image from one of the image input means to the image storage means. Control means; image output job control means for controlling an image output job for transferring an image from the image storage means to one of the image output means; and, in response to a request from the host computer, the image input job control means. Image input / output for controlling image input / output by combining each job controlled by the image output job control means Job control means, and the image input / output job control means has a notifying means for notifying the host computer of the various job information when the various job information attached to each running job changes. Job operation status notification system.   A job ID generation unit for generating a unique job ID for each job to be controlled by the image input job control unit and the image output job control unit; and a unique job ID for a session to be controlled by the image input / output job control unit. Session ID generating means for generating a unique session ID; ID managing means for associating the session ID generated by the session ID generating means with one or more job IDs generated by the job ID generating means; A job status notifying means for notifying the host computer by adding the job ID and various job information to the session ID when the job information of the image input job or the image output job managed by the ID managing means is changed. 4. The job operation status notification system according to claim 2, wherein .   A method for notifying a job operation status in a system including a host computer requesting a job and an image input / output device responding to the job request of the host computer, wherein each job related to the job request of the host computer is unique. A job generating an ID, and notifying the computer of the job information together with the ID generated by the ID generating means when the various jobs attached to each running job change. Operation status notification method.   A storage medium storing a program for implementing the job operation status notification method according to claim 5.

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