JP2006159460A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify existence of jobs not yet processed when the ID number of an ID card carried or the like by a user is detected in order to urge processing of jobs stored on a hard disc incorporated in an MFP without being processed. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises a job data storage means for storing job data processing of which is suspended, a user information storage means for storing user information having a right to resume processing of job data stored in the job data storage means, a notification means for notifying suspension of job data to a user, a user information detection means for detecting information for identifying the user, and a coincidence detection means for detecting coincidence of user information detected by the user information detection means with user information stored by the user information storage means wherein suspension of job data is notified to the user by the notification means when coincidence is detected by the coincidence detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of any one of a printer, a FAX, a copy, a scanner, and the like, and having a memory capable of holding image data and the like.

An image forming apparatus having any function such as a printer, FAX, and copy has a large-capacity memory that can hold a large amount of image data and the like, and then temporarily stores the data in the large-capacity memory. Processing such as printing and transfer can be performed later. For example, there is an example called secure printing that uses a large-capacity memory in a printer. Save the print job in a large-capacity memory and hold printing. Thereafter, when the user starts printing by entering a password at the operation unit of the apparatus, it is possible to prevent others from seeing his / her printed matter.
JP 2000-276314 A

  However, in the functions as described above, since the job generation and the processing of the held job are performed at different times and places, it is easy for the user to forget the presence of the held job. There is a problem that large-capacity memory is consumed by job data that is forgotten and not processed. Further, in the secure print function described above, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of security that a held job stays in the apparatus for a long time.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a means for effectively transmitting the existence of a job to a user of a held job. That is, in an environment such as an office where the user carries an ID card, an ID card reader is provided, and when a user ID of a held job is detected, screen display, voice, light, etc. This is to notify. For example, in an example in which an ID card is provided with a non-contact type wireless tag, an image forming apparatus is provided with a wireless tag reader, and the presence of a held job is notified by voice, the user processes the image forming apparatus on the spot. It can provide a trigger and is very effective.

  The present invention can solve the above problems by providing the following configuration.

  (1) Job data storage means for storing job data whose processing has been suspended, user information storage means for storing user information that has the right to resume processing of job data stored in the job data storage means, and a user Notification means for notifying that job data is being held, user information detection means for detecting information for identifying a user, and user information detected by the user information detection means is the user information storage means And a coincidence detection unit capable of detecting that the user information stored by the user is stored. When the match detection unit detects a match, the notification unit notifies the user that job data is being held. An image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, even when the user forgets the job while on hold, the user can be notified when the presence of the user is detected, and the processing can be surely promoted.

  According to the present invention, the user is the owner of the data by comparing the ID number of the data stored in the hard disk drive 6 with the ID number held in the card or the like carried by the user. If it is determined, it is possible to effectively promote the processing.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to the image data from the reader unit 1 and 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 includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a LIPS formatter unit 8, a postscript formatter 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 and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line. A hard disk drive unit 6 is connected to the file unit 5, and the file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores it in the hard disk drive unit together with a keyword for searching for the image data. The file unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the hard disk based on the keyword transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the compressed image data that has been searched, and decompresses the decompressed image data. Transfer to the core unit 10. The network interface unit 7 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 11 and the core unit 10. A network server 12 is the center of network control. The formatter units 8 and 9 develop the PDL data transferred from the PC / WS 11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. The core unit 10 controls the data flow among the reader unit 1, the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the network interface unit 7, and the formatter units 8 and 9, which will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The document feeder 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds the documents one by one on the platen glass 102 sequentially from the last page, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 102 after the document reading operation is completed. When the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, and the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started to expose and scan the original. 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 printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 after being subjected to predetermined processing. The

  The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser emission unit 201, and causes the laser emission unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 1. The laser beam is irradiated onto 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 the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by the developing unit 203. Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the recording paper is fed from either the cassette 204 or the cassette 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. To do. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed to the image 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 pin and sorts the recording paper.

  Note that the sorter 220 stores recording paper in the uppermost bin when sorting is not set. If double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is transported to the discharge roller 208, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path by the flapper 209. When multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the refeed conveyance path by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the refeed conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the reader unit 1. Image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 110 and shading correction. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is transferred to the printer unit 2 through the image processing unit 111 and also transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 through the interface unit 113. . The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 according to the setting content set by the operation unit 115.

  For example, when a copy mode for performing copying by performing trimming processing at the operation unit 115 is set, the trimming processing is performed by the image processing unit 111 and transferred to the printer unit 2. When the facsimile transmission mode is set in the operation unit 115, the control data corresponding to the image data and the set mode is transferred from the interface 113 to the core unit 10. Such a control program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area for the CPU 114. The operation unit 115 has a voice guide function, and can reproduce voice data stored in the memory in advance.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the core unit 10. Image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and a control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 corresponds to the control command transferred from the reader unit 1. Then, the data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7 through the interface 120. The code data representing the image input via the network interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 to determine whether the PDL is LIPS or Postscript, and the appropriate formatter unit 8 to 9 and developed into image data. This image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2. Image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7.

  The image data from the file unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, and network interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 is also used as a work area for the CPU 123. In the network interface unit 7, a database called MIB (Management Information Base) is constructed, which communicates with a computer on the network via the SNMP protocol and can manage the printer. The number of prints that can be set for each department ID and other various settings can be set and managed from the operation unit of the apparatus or a computer on the network.

  As described above, processing that combines functions such as reading of an original image, printing of an image, transmission / reception of an image, storage of an image, and input / output of data from a computer can be performed with the core unit 10 as a center. .

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5a and 5b.

  In this embodiment, the operation unit 115 has a wireless tag reader, and if there is a job stored in the hard disk 6 according to the ID number read from the wireless tag carried by the user, the voice guide function of the operation unit 115 An example of notifying the user by voice and screen display will be described.

  Here, the wireless tag is a very small electronic tag using a semiconductor chip capable of wirelessly exchanging information. The wireless tag includes an IC chip and an antenna, and data in the IC chip can be read without contact. When the wireless tag is brought close to the reading device, an electromotive force is generated on the wireless tag side due to radio waves from the wireless tag reader, the circuit works by this power, exchanges control data with the wireless tag reader side, and stores the stored information. It is structured to send to. Information in the wireless tag can be rewritten. Communication between a wireless tag and a wireless tag reader is possible at a distance of several meters.

  FIG. 5 a shows a flow from when the user submits a secure print job to the image input / output control unit 3 from the PC / WS 11 and when the job is stored in the hard disk drive 6. In step S <b> 501, the image input / output control unit 3 receives a print job from the PC / WS 11. The print job data is temporarily stored in the memory 124 of the core unit 10 via the computer interface unit 7.

  The core unit 10 examines the contents of the job data, and determines in S502 whether the job is a LIPS print job or a PS print job. If the print job is a LIPS print job, the job data is transferred to the LIPS formatter unit 8 in S503 and developed into a bitmap image. If it is a PS print job, it is transferred to the PS formatter unit 9 in S504 and developed into a bitmap image. After the development is completed, the core unit 10 determines whether or not the job is a secure print in S505.

  If the print is not secure printing, the core unit 10 transfers the bitmap image data to the printer unit 2 in step S506, and the printer unit 2 prints the bitmap image data. If it is secure print, the core unit 10 transfers the ID number, password, and bitmap image data of the user who submitted the job to the hard disk drive 6 connected to the file unit 5 in S507. The image data stored in the hard disk drive 6 can be printed later when the user inputs an ID number and a password from the operation unit 115. After printing, the ID number, password, and bitmap image data are erased from the hard disk drive 6.

  Therefore, until the user performs a printing procedure, the bitmap image data is saved in the hard disk drive 6, so that the memory capacity is consumed, and further, confidential information such as a password is saved. This is an unfavorable security situation.

  FIG. 5 b shows a flow when a wireless tag is detected by the operation unit 115. While job data is stored in the hard disk drive 6, this process is repeated periodically. The CPU 123 of the core unit 10 controls the flow of this process. In step S <b> 508, the CPU 123 checks whether the wireless tag reader included in the operation unit 115 has detected a wireless tag. If detected, in step S509, the detected ID number of the wireless tag is compared with the ID number stored in the hard disk drive 6. If they match, in S510, the voice guide function provided in the operation unit 115 notifies that the job is stored, and the information is displayed on the screen.

  Thus, by notifying the user at a distance of several meters from the wireless tag reader provided in the operation unit 115, the user can easily perform desired processing immediately in the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 6 is an example of character information and buttons displayed on the display screen of the operation unit 115. Reference numeral 601 denotes a display screen of the operation unit 115. The display screen 601 is a touch panel with characters and figures displayed on the liquid crystal and can be used as a button. Reference numeral 602 denotes a button for starting print processing, and the user can start a print job by pressing this button. Reference numeral 603 denotes a button for deleting job data without printing, and the job data is deleted from the hard disk drive 6 when the user presses this button.

  In this way, not only information indicating that jobs are accumulated on the display screen but also a button for starting the operation is provided so that the user can easily operate. This is convenient not only when the user has forgotten the existence of the job, but also when the user approaches the device for processing.

  In the first embodiment, an example using a non-contact type wireless tag has been described. However, a contact type card may be used. For example, the door of the room can be unlocked by a contact type card, and the ID number is stored on the card. The wireless tag reader, voice guide, and screen display function may be separate from the image forming apparatus. When the passage and the image forming apparatus are separated from each other, a separate body is more effective.

  In addition, if the user has a table of ID numbers and e-mail addresses, the e-mail can be sent to the user. In addition to the secure print function, the present invention can also be applied to a case where scanned data and FAX transmission / reception data are stored in the hard disk drive 6 together with an ID number. Further, the ID number of a card carried by the user and the ID number stored in the hard disk drive 6 may not be the same. In that case, it is necessary to take a relationship by referring to a table for converting the ID number.

1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of a reader part and a printer part. It is a block diagram of a reader part. It is a block diagram of a core part. It is a flowchart of this invention Example. It is a flowchart of this invention Example. It is the figure which showed the screen display of the operation part in this invention Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 File part 7 Network interface part 8 Formatter part 9 Image memory part 10 Core part 114 CPU of printer part
115 Operation Unit 123 Core Unit CPU

Claims (5)

  Job data storage means for storing job data whose processing has been suspended, user information storage means for storing user information that has the right to resume processing of job data stored in the job data storage means, and Notification means for notifying that job data is held, user information detection means for detecting information for identifying a user, and user information detected by the user information detection means are stored by the user information storage means. A match detection unit that can detect that the user information matches, and when the match detection unit detects a match, the notification unit notifies the user that job data is being held. An image forming apparatus.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is a notification by sound.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is a screen display.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is an e-mail transmission.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user information detecting means is a non-contact type wireless tag reader.