JP2005102043A - Composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set priorities of printing jobs for each output request source of printing jobs to enable printing on the basis of the priorities in a composite machine. <P>SOLUTION: The composite machine has a print waiting list (12-1) for storing an output order based on the priorities assigned to the printing jobs in order to perform printing according to this print waiting list, and is provided with at least a facsimile function or a network printer function. The composite machine has an output request source priority storing section (12-2) for storing the priority for each output request source; and a priority assigning means (12-4) for searching the output request source priority storing section on the basis of an output request source corresponding to the inputted printing job, and registering the printing jobs into the print waiting list in an order of input per priority obtained from a result of searching. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-function peripheral that assigns priorities to print job output requests for each print job and determines the print order based on the priorities, and in particular, prioritizes each print job output request source. The present invention relates to a multi-function peripheral that preferentially outputs a print job requested by the stored output request source.

Conventionally, in a multifunction peripheral (multifunction peripheral) having functions such as a facsimile, a printer, and a copy, a printing order is determined for each job to be printed by these functions, and a printing process is sequentially performed.
At this time, normally, what is requested first is printed first, but there is a case where a specific print job is desired to be printed preferentially in a multifunction machine shared by a plurality of users.

As a technique for performing such priority printing, for example, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a printing priority is set according to the distance between the computer terminal and the printer device, and a print request from a computer terminal close to the printer device is given priority. Thus, a processing method is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 manages a multifunction device usage allocation unit time and a job usage time for each identification code indicating a user, and has a job having an identification code whose job usage time does not exceed the usage allocation unit time. Has been disclosed.
Further, in Patent Document 3, the priority of the print request processing for each user is stored in the printing apparatus, so that even when a plurality of users share the document creation apparatus, it is appropriate for the print request. A printing network system that prioritizes and enables smooth printing processing is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3260696 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-79820 JP-A-6-274291

However, such prior art cannot flexibly set priority for each output request source in a multi-function peripheral, for example, for a print job received by the facsimile function or a print job received by the network printer function. It was.
For example, in the invention described in Patent Document 3, the priority of a print job can be set using a user identifier input to the printing apparatus at the time of user authentication. In order to set the priority, There has been a problem that a user identifier must be input to the printing apparatus.
However, priority printing is intended to achieve priority printing of urgent print jobs, and it is possible to flexibly perform priority printing for each output request source without inputting such a user identifier. Is desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a multi-function peripheral, an output request source of a print job is specified by a telephone number or an IP address, and a print job from a predetermined output request source is always prioritized. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-function peripheral that can output to a multi-function peripheral and set a predetermined output request source and a priority thereof to a user of the multi-function peripheral.

  In order to achieve the above object, the multifunction peripheral of the present invention has a print waiting list for storing an output order based on the priority assigned to a print job, and performs printing according to the print waiting list. A multifunction device having a function or a network printer function, based on an output request source priority storage unit that stores a priority for each output request source of a print job, and an output request source corresponding to the input print job The output request source priority storage unit is searched, and priority allocation means for registering print jobs in the print waiting list in the order of input for each priority obtained as a result of the search is provided.

If the MFP has such a configuration, the priority of the print job can be set for each output request source of the print job, and printing can be performed based on this priority.
For this reason, if you want to preferentially output only print jobs from a given user, you can easily realize this, and you can also implement interrupt printing without using an interrupt key. Become.

In the MFP of the present invention, the output request source priority storage unit stores at least one of a telephone number and an IP address as the output request source.
If the multi-function peripheral has such a configuration, the output request source can be specified by each of the above-described elements, so that the priority of the input print job can be set very easily.

For example, for a print job from a facsimile, it is possible to easily determine the priority of the print job by searching whether the telephone number of the output request source is registered in the output request source priority storage unit. You can register to the waiting list.
For a print job from a network printer, the priority of the print job can be easily determined in the same manner by searching whether the IP address of the output request source is registered in the output request source priority storage unit. It can be registered in the print waiting list.

  In addition, in the MFP according to the present invention, when the priority allocating unit can acquire the priority corresponding to the input print job in the search of the output request source priority storage unit, it is determined as a print job having this priority. If the priority corresponding to the input print job cannot be acquired, the print job is registered in the print waiting list in the input order for each priority as a print job having a normal priority.

If the MFP is configured in this way, the output request source registered in the output request source priority storage unit is output from the unregistered output request source as a print job having the registered priority. These print jobs can be registered in the print waiting list as normal output jobs.
For this reason, it is not necessary to register all output request sources for inputting a print job in the output request source priority storage unit, and register only the output request source that is particularly desired to be prioritized in the output request source priority storage unit. Thus, it is possible to realize the priority printing of the output request source.

In the MFP of the present invention, the output request source priority storage unit stores one of two or more priority output priorities for each output request source, and the priority allocation unit stores the input print job. In this configuration, a print job having one of two or more priority outputs is registered in the print waiting list.
If the multi-function peripheral is configured as described above, two or more levels can be used as the priority of the priority output.
Therefore, not only the print job of a predetermined output request source is printed with priority, but also different priority output priorities are set for a plurality of output request sources, and the print order at a more detailed level. Can be set flexibly.

  In the MFP of the present invention, the priority allocating unit puts the input print job in the print waiting list as a print job having a priority higher than the priority of any print job registered in the print waiting list. In the case of registration, if a print job with a priority lower than the priority of the input print job is being output, the printer engine in the multifunction peripheral temporarily stops outputting the print job being output, In this configuration, a print job having a higher priority is output.

If the MFP has such a configuration, when a print job having a higher priority than the print job is registered in the print waiting list by the priority allocating unit while the print job is being output, A print job with higher priority can be printed first by interrupting the print job.
Therefore, it is possible to print a print job of a specific output request source more quickly.

The MFP of the present invention is configured to include an output request source priority setting unit that allows the user of the MFP to set the output request source and the priority for each output request source.
If the MFP is configured as described above, the user can register the output request source to be prioritized and the priority of the output request source in the MFP.
Therefore, it is possible to flexibly change the output request source to be prioritized and its priority.

In the MFP of the present invention, the output request source priority setting unit stores only one output request source in the output request source priority storage unit as the output request source corresponding to the highest priority. .
With such a configuration of the multi-function peripheral, a print job from an output request source that has only one set as the highest priority can always be printed immediately.
Further, when a print job from such an output request source is requested, it is preferable to print the highest priority print job by interrupting the lower priority print job being output. .
In this way, printing from a predetermined output request source can be performed first, as in the case where printing is always performed by pressing the interrupt key.

According to the present invention, a priority can be set for each output request source of a print job in the multifunction peripheral, and it is possible to determine the output order of the print job based on this and execute printing.
Further, by using a telephone number or an IP address as a discrimination key for the output request source, the output request source is identified without requiring any special input from the user, and the priority of the print job is determined. Can be determined.
Furthermore, since the user of the multifunction device can easily set such an output request source and the priority thereof, the output request source and the priority can be flexibly changed according to the use state of the multifunction device. It becomes possible.
In addition, by making it possible to set only one output request source with the highest priority, conventional interrupt printing can be realized without using an interrupt key.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
First, the structure of 1st embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the job management unit in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an output request source priority setting screen in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, solid arrows indicate the flow of images, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control signals. FIG. 2 shows a partial configuration of the job management unit in the control unit of the multifunction machine.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 of the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus having both a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function, and includes a control unit 10, a user operation unit 20, and an engine unit (printer engine) 30. , A printer controller 40, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 50, a scanner unit 60, a FAX unit 70, and an NCU (Network Control Unit) 80. In addition, information processing apparatuses 3 to 5 are connected to the multi-function device 1 directly or via the network 2.

The control unit 10 is a device that performs overall control of the functions of the multifunction device, and includes a CPU and a memory, and includes an image processing unit 11, a job management unit 12, and an interface unit with each device in the multifunction device.
The image processing unit 11 inputs image information from the printer controller 40 or the scanner unit 60 and inputs / outputs image information to / from the HDD 50 or the FAX unit 70. Then, the image information input from each of these devices is stored in the HDD 50 and output to the engine unit 30 for printing, or output to the FAX unit 70 to execute FAX transmission.

  The job management unit 12 manages a print job for printing image information input from the printer controller 40, the scanner unit 60, and the FAX unit 70. The job management unit 12 includes a print waiting list storage unit (print waiting list) 12-1, an output request source priority storage unit 12-2, an output request source priority setting unit 12-3, and a priority allocation unit 12-4. Have.

The print waiting list storage unit 12-1 is a list for managing the printing order of jobs waiting for printing, and holds the names of print jobs for a plurality of output levels having different priorities. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which three types of priority “high” and “medium” indicating priority output and priority “low” indicating normal output are used as output levels.
The output request source priority storage unit 12-2 stores the priority for each output request source. As the output request source, for example, “department management number”, “telephone number”, and “IP address” can be used.

The output request source priority setting unit 12-3 registers information to be stored in the output request source priority storage unit 12-2. The output request source priority storage unit 12-2 displays an output request source priority setting screen as shown in FIG. 3 on the user operation unit 20 in the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 4 shows an example of the user operation unit 20 displaying this output request source priority setting screen. The user registers the output request source and its priority using this output request source priority setting screen.
Further, based on requests from the information processing devices 3 to 5, the output request source priority setting unit 12-3 transmits information on the output request source priority setting screen as shown in FIG. It is also preferable to display this on -5 and receive the priority and output request source input using the screen and register them in the output request source priority storage unit 12-2.

The priority allocation unit 12-4 assigns a priority to each print job when registering the print job in the print waiting list.
At this time, the output request source priority storage unit 12-2 is searched based on the output request source of the print job, and the priority corresponding to the output request source is registered in the output request source priority storage unit 12-2. If it is, the input print job is registered in the print waiting list as a print job of that priority.

For example, when automatically setting the priority of a print job requested from a facsimile, it is preferable to use a “telephone number” as the output request source. That is, by searching the output request source priority storage unit 12-2 using the telephone number of the facsimile transmission source, the priority of the print job can be acquired and registered in the print waiting list.
Further, when automatically setting the priority of a print job requested from a network printer or the like, it is preferable to use an “IP address” as an output request source. That is, by searching the output request source priority storage unit 12-2 using the IP address of the transmission source of the network printer, the priority of the print job can be acquired and registered in the print waiting list.

When the “department management number” is used as an output request source, for example, in the case of a print job by facsimile, information identifying the “transmission source” registered in the facsimile and transmitted to the multifunction device is used. Can do. Of course, when performing copying or printing, it is possible to execute user authentication and input the department management number at this time and use it.
This department management number can be a number set in a predetermined organizational unit such as each department or floor.

  Further, it is preferable that the job management unit 12 or the like has a correspondence table of “department management number” and “telephone number” or “department management number” and “IP address”. In this way, for example, the output request source of the input print job is acquired by “telephone number”, and the above correspondence table is searched using this “telephone number” as a key to acquire “department management number”. By searching the output request source priority storage unit 12-2 using the “department management number”, the priority of the print job can be determined. In this way, even when the “department management number” is used as the output request source that can be set by the user using the output request source priority setting screen, the priority of the print job from the output request source is It can be determined using “telephone number” or “IP address”.

The user operation unit 20 includes a key input unit 21, a liquid crystal display unit 22, and an LED display unit 23. The user operation unit 20 inputs various instruction information from the user and displays various messages to the user. FIG. 4 shows an example of the user operation unit 20 in which the output request source priority setting screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22.
The engine unit 30 is a device that inputs image information from the control unit 10 and performs printing on paper, and includes an LSU (laser scanning unit) 31.
The LSU 31 irradiates a charged photosensitive drum with laser light based on input image information, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
The engine unit 30 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image, and executes a printing process by transferring and fixing the toner image on a sheet.

The printer controller 40 receives image information and the like from the information processing apparatuses 3 to 5 and outputs them to the control unit 10.
The HDD 50 is a storage device in the multifunction machine 1 and receives image information and the like from the control unit 10 and stores them. In this embodiment, a hard disk drive is used as a storage device for image information and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices such as a memory and a DVD may be used as long as they are storage devices.

The scanner unit 60 is a device that scans an image, creates image information as electronic information, and outputs the image information to the control unit 10, and includes a scanner 61, a DF (Document Feeder) 62, an image reading CCD (Charge Coupled Device). 63).
The scanner 61 is an apparatus that optically scans an image, measures the intensity of the reflected light and transmitted light, and converts the intensity into analog-digital conversion. The DF 62 is a device that arranges a sheet on the scanner unit 60 in order to read image information. The image reading CCD 63 is a device that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal by using a semiconductor element whose storage capacity changes according to light input.

  The FAX unit 70 is a device for transmitting and receiving facsimiles, and transmits and receives image information to and from other multifunction peripherals, facsimiles, and information processing devices via the NCU 80 and the public line 90 using a modem 71.

Next, a printing process procedure in the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print waiting list in the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.
First, when a print job is input (step 10), the priority assignment unit 12-4 of the multi-function peripheral 1 acquires the output request source of the print job, and uses this as a key for the output request source priority storage unit 12. -2 is searched to determine whether the input print job is a priority output target. In this embodiment, when the priority corresponding to the output request source is the priority “high” or the priority “medium”, the priority output target, the priority “low”, and If the output request source is not registered in the output request source priority storage unit 12-2, it is determined that the output request source is a target of normal output (step 11).

If the print job is determined to be a priority output target, the print job is registered in the print waiting list as a priority output job with the priority set in the output request source priority storage unit 12-2. (Step 12).
If it is determined that the print job is a target of normal output, the print job is registered in the print waiting list as a normal output job having normal output priority (step 13).
Then, the engine unit 30 in the multi-function peripheral executes print processing according to the print waiting list registered in this way.

Here, if the priority output job registered in the print wait list has a higher priority than other print jobs already registered in the print wait list (No in step 14), the print job being output If there is no (No in step 15), the engine unit 30 outputs the print job (step 16).
If there is a print job being output (Yes in Step 15), the engine unit 30 temporarily interrupts the print job being output, and the output of the priority output job with a higher priority is executed (Step 17). ).

FIG. 6 shows an example of a print waiting list in the printing state up to step 17. In the print waiting list 1 in FIG. 9A, “A”, “B”, “C”, and “E” are print jobs with priority “low” as “medium” print jobs. “D” is registered. Print jobs are registered in alphabetical order. In this case, printing is executed in the order of “A” → “B” → “C” → “E” → “D”.
Next, in the print waiting list 2 in FIG. 6B, the print job “F” is requested, and the priority is determined based on the output request source. As a result, the print job “F” has priority. It shows that the job is registered as a priority output job of degree “high”.

In this case, even if the print job “A” is being output, the output is interrupted and the output of the print job “F” is executed. In this case, printing is executed in the order of “F” → “A” → “B” → “C” → “E” → “D”.
In addition, by limiting the number of output request sources that can register a print job to the print waiting list with such a high priority, the print job from the output request source can always be printed immediately. Thus, interrupt printing can be realized without using an interrupt key.
This is realized by limiting the output request source corresponding to the highest priority that can be stored in the output request source priority storage unit 12-2 to only one by the output request source priority setting unit 12-3. can do.

  Furthermore, even when the number of output request sources is not one, when the number of output request sources set in the output request source priority storage unit is small, or when the number of output print jobs from the output request source is small, etc. Can realize a function substantially equivalent to interrupt printing.

If a print job having a higher priority or the same priority as the input priority output job is already registered in the print wait list (Yes in step 14), the engine unit 30 prints The print job is output in accordance with the print order of the waiting list (step 18).
In step 15, if there is a print job being output, it is of course possible to print the priority output job after the output is completed.

In addition, each process such as setting the output request source priority and registering the input print job in the print waiting list in each of the above embodiments is executed by the image forming program.
This image forming program is expanded on a memory in the multifunction peripheral and is executed by a job management unit or the like in cooperation with the CPU.
In other words, the above-described processes in the present embodiment are realized by the cooperation of the image forming program and the multifunction peripheral.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above embodiment, It cannot be overemphasized that a various change implementation is possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, the MFP 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a copy function, a network printer function, and a facsimile function, but is not limited to this, and has only a copy function and a network printer function. The design can be changed as appropriate, such as having only a copy function and a facsimile function, having only a network printer function and a facsimile function, or having more functions.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a multifunction machine having a net printer function and a facsimile function that is shared by a plurality of users.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a job management unit in the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the output request source priority setting screen in the multifunctional device of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the operation part in the multifunctional device of embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing processing procedure in the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a print waiting list in the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 2 Network 3, 4, 5 Information processing equipment (PC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 11 Image processing part 12 Job management part 12-1 Print waiting list memory | storage part (print waiting list)
12-2 Output request source priority storage unit 12-3 Output request source priority setting unit 12-4 Priority allocation unit 20 User operation unit 21 Key input unit 22 Liquid crystal display unit 23 LED display unit 30 Engine unit (printer engine)
31 LSU
40 Printer controller 50 HDD
60 Scanner 61 Scanner 62 DF
63 Image reading CCD
70 FAX section 71 Modem 80 NCU
90 Public line

Claims (7)

A multifunction machine having at least a facsimile function or a network printer function, having a print waiting list for storing an output order based on a priority assigned to a print job, and performing printing according to the print wait list;
An output request source priority storage unit that stores the priority for each output request source of the print job;
The output request source priority storage unit is searched based on the output request source corresponding to the input print job, and the print jobs are registered in the print waiting list in the input order for each priority obtained as a result of the search. And a priority assignment means.   The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the output request source priority storage unit stores at least one of a telephone number and an IP address as the output request source. The priority allocation means is
In the search of the output request source priority storage unit, when the priority corresponding to the input print job can be acquired, the priority corresponding to the input print job is acquired as the print job having this priority. 3. The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein if it is not possible, the print job is registered in the print waiting list in the input order for each priority as a print job having a normal priority. 4. The output request source priority storage unit stores any of two or more priority output priorities for each output request source,
The priority allocation unit registers the input print job in the print waiting list as a print job having any one of the priority levels of the two or more priority outputs. The multifunction device according to any one of 1 to 3. The priority allocation unit registers the input print job in the print wait list as a print job having a priority higher than the priority of any print job registered in the print wait list. If a print job with a priority lower than the priority of the input print job is being output,
The composite engine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a printer engine in the multi-function peripheral temporarily stops output of the print job being output and outputs the print job having the higher priority. Machine. The multifunction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A multifunction device comprising: an output request source priority setting unit that allows a user of the multifunction device to set the output request source and a priority for each output request source. The output request source priority setting unit stores only one output request source in the output request source priority storage unit as an output request source corresponding to the highest priority. A multifunction device according to any one of the above.

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