JP2006218635A - Output device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an output device which prevents an output result from being left unattended in a paper discharge tray of the output device for a long time, by using a paper with a radio ID tag chip embedded therein in the output device shared from a plurality of host apparatuses while the output device is prevented from being constructed in a special constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The output device which has: a controller with the radio communication function; and a paper feeding opening that includes the paper with the radio ID tag chip embedded therein, is equipped with: a means which judges while analyzing a received job whether user information is present; a means which acquires ID information of the paper depending on whether or not the paper of the paper feeding opening which performs outputting is a paper corresponding to the radio ID tag chip when the user information is present; a means which stores information including the user information and ID information of the paper; a means which acquires information that the job is outputted; a means which starts measurement of an unattended time in that case; a means which judges whether the unattended time reaches a threshold value, a means which detects a user from the paper ID information by the result; and a means which notifies the user of the fact of removing the output result (printed matter). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an output device such as a printer, and more particularly to an output device that is connected to a plurality of host devices via a LAN or the like and is shared by the plurality of host devices.

Conventionally, the output device on the LAN is shared by a plurality of host devices on the LAN, and when the output is completed for a job for which an output instruction has been received from each host device, the output device notifies the host device of the completion of output. However, there is a technique that allows the user to easily know the completion of output. Further, in Patent Document 1, a special sensor that can detect the presence or absence of a plurality of output results (printed matter) is provided on the output tray of the output device, so that the output result is left on the output tray of the output device for a long time. Technology to prevent this is shown.
JP 2002-67457 A

  However, the above-described technique has a problem that since a special device (sensor) is provided in the output device, extra cost is required and the output devices that can be realized are extremely limited. In addition, if the output result is left for a certain period of time, issuing a warning periodically until the sender is removed will place an extra load on the output device that issues the warning, in addition to the original output processing, Since the receiving side receives the warning many times, there is a problem that the receiving side is bothered.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and in recent years, by using a standard wireless communication function mounted on a device such as a host device or an output device, and a paper embedded with a wireless ID tag chip, By not using a special mechanism, there is no cost, and the output device is an output device that can prevent the output result from being left for a long time without causing extra load or inconvenience to the user. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a received job is analyzed in an output device including a controller having a wireless communication function and a paper feed port including a paper in which a wireless ID tag chip is embedded. ID information of a sheet is acquired based on a means for determining whether user information or host information exists therein, and, if present, whether or not a sheet at a sheet feeding port for output is a sheet corresponding to a wireless ID tag chip. Means for storing information including user information and ID information of the paper, means for acquiring information on which a job has been output, means for starting measurement of the leaving time, and a threshold for which the leaving time is present Means for determining whether or not the user or host has been reached, means for determining the user or host from the paper ID information based on the result, and removal of the output result (printed material) to the user (host) And means for notifying that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the first aspect, when determining a paper feed port for performing output, there are a plurality of paper feed ports for performing output, and a paper feed port for paper corresponding to a RFID tag chip When it is determined that the sheet is included, a unit for selecting a sheet feeding port is provided so that the RFID tag chip compatible sheet is preferentially used in a minimum number.

  In the invention described in claim 3, in the output device described in claim 2, when it is determined that the user information or the host information does not exist when the received job is analyzed, the administrator information of the output device is registered. If it is determined that the output result has been determined, a means for notifying the administrator that the output result has been neglected is provided.

  In the invention according to claim 4, in the output device according to claim 3, after the output job is left to exceed a certain threshold and the user is notified that the output result is to be removed, the output result still remains. A means for judging whether or not the paper is left at the paper discharge port, and a means for outputting a message to remove the output result when the user's job is received and processed next time based on the result.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an output result is left for a certain period of time in an output device shared by a plurality of host devices connected to the LAN, the user or the administrator of the output device It is possible to prevent the output result from being left for a long time on the paper discharge tray of the output device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the host device 1 on the transmission side in this embodiment includes a CPU 101 that controls the operation of the entire host device 1, and various programs and data for controlling the operation of the CPU 101. ROM 102 to be stored, RAM 103 including main memory and work area of CPU 101, mouse 106, mouse controller 105 for controlling instruction input from mouse 106, keyboard 108, keyboard 108 and pointing device (not shown) ), A CRT display 110, a CRT controller 109 that controls display on the CRT display 110, and various programs and data (a boot program, various applications, a network management program, etc.). A hard disk drive 112 and a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 113 for storing, a disk controller 111 for controlling access to the hard disk drive 112 and the floppy disk drive 113, and a LAN 2 for both the host device 1 and other host devices 1. And a network interface card 114 for exchanging data, and these components are connected via a system bus 104 so that they can communicate with each other.

  Next, the configuration of the output device 5 that receives and processes data from the host device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU 201 that controls operation of the entire device, a ROM 202 that stores various programs and data for operation control by the CPU 201, and a RAM 203 that includes a main memory and a work area of the CPU 201, and the like. An engine 204 for a device function (printer function, copy function, etc.), an engine controller 205 for controlling the driving of the engine 204, a panel 206 for receiving various operation instructions from a user and displaying various information, and a panel 206 A panel controller 207 for controlling input / output of the computer and managing the panel 206, a hard disk drive 208 for storing various programs and data (such as a boot program and a network management program), and a device for controlling access to the hard disk drive 208. A disk controller 209, and a nonvolatile RAM 210, a network interface card 211 for exchanging data to the host device 1 and the two-way through the LAN 6. As an alternative storage device for the hard disk device 208, a RAM, an EEPROM, or the like may be used. These components are connected to each other via a system bus 217 so that they can communicate with each other.

  Next, Example 1 is demonstrated about operation | movement of the output device 5 comprised as mentioned above. The data processing procedure of the output device 5 in the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 1, a panel status check is performed to monitor the engine status status of the output device 5 such as no paper, paper jam, door open, and the like, and the switch pressed status of the operation panel 206. Next, in step 2, it is determined whether or not there is data to be received. If yes, reception processing is performed in step 3. Next, in step 4, the received data is analyzed. Details will be described with reference to FIG. Next, expansion processing is performed in which the result analyzed in step 5 is expanded into a bitmap pattern and stored in a predetermined memory 203. Subsequently, in step 6, output processing is performed in which the data stored in the predetermined memory 203 in step 5 is output as a video signal to the printing unit (engine unit) 204. Next, post output processing is performed in step 7 (details will be described with reference to FIG. 6). In step 8, if there is data to be received, if yes, return to step 3 and No. In this case, this process is terminated.

  Next, the analysis process of step 4 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 1, data analysis is started, and whether or not there is information specifying the user or host such as a user name, a user email address, a host name, or a host ID (step 2). Advances to step 7, and if yes, the priority of the paper feed port containing the paper corresponding to the RFID tag chip is increased to determine the paper feed port (step 3), and then in step 4, the paper feed port It is determined whether or not the paper feed slot contains paper corresponding to the RFID tag chip. If No, the process proceeds to Step 7. If Yes, the ID information of the paper at the paper feed slot is acquired in Step 5, and in Step 6, user information, information about the job (job name, job attribute, etc.), Paper ID information and the like are stored in a memory (NVRAM) 210. An example of the information table stored in the memory 210 is shown in FIG. If the process proceeds to step 7, depending on whether or not there is data to be analyzed, if yes, the process returns to step 1; if no, the process ends.
Next, the post output process of step 7 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 1, depending on whether or not information indicating completion of job output has been acquired, the process proceeds to step 3 if No, and time measurement is started in step 2 if Yes. In step 3, the information (paper ID) of the job (output result) left at the paper discharge port of the output device 5 is acquired, and the information table (FIG. 5) stored in step 6 in FIG. 4 is referred to. To do. (Step 4) Then, it is determined whether or not only information on jobs not recorded in the information table has been acquired (step 5). In the case of Yes, this processing is ended, and in the case of No, information other than the job currently left at the paper discharge port is deleted from the information table. However, nothing is done for unrecorded jobs. (Step 6) Next, in Step 7, if there is a job in which the time left in the paper discharge outlet has reached the threshold (previously stored in the memory 210), if the result is No, this processing is terminated. If Yes, it is determined in step 8 whether user information can be acquired from the information table. In the case of No, this process is terminated, and in the case of Yes, user information is acquired from the information table in Step 9. Next, in step 10, the user or host is notified that the output result is to be removed, and in step 11, the job information notified to the user or host in step 10 is deleted from the information table, and this processing is terminated. Note that the notification to the user or host in step 10 can also be realized by email transmission using wireless communication.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, in the analysis process of step 4 in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, when there are a plurality of determined paper feed ports and a paper feed port of a paper for a RFID tag chip is included, the RFID tag chip is supported. At the same time as selecting paper, the paper feed port is selected so that a minimum number of sheets are used.

  The data processing procedure of the output device 5 is the same as the flowchart of FIG. Further, the post-output process in step 7 in FIG. 3 is also the same as that in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the analysis process of step 4 in FIG. 3 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 1, data analysis is started, and whether or not there is information specifying the user or host such as a user name, a user email address, a host name, or a host ID (step 2). The process proceeds to step 12, and if yes, it is determined in step 3 whether or not a plurality of paper feed ports can feed paper with respect to the paper feed port. In Step 3, if No, the process proceeds to Step 5, and it is determined whether or not the paper feed slot contains paper corresponding to the RFID tag chip. If No, the process proceeds to Step 12, and if Yes, the process proceeds to Step 10. . If YES in step 3, it is determined in step 4 whether paper can be fed from the paper feed port of the RFID tag chip compatible paper. In the case of Yes, the paper feed port for the RFID tag chip compatible paper is selected in Step 6, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to Step 12. After step 6, the process proceeds to step 7, where it is determined whether or not there is a paper feed port having the same paper size as that corresponding to the RFID tag chip. In the case of Yes, the paper feed port is selected in step 8 to determine other paper feed ports, and the process proceeds to step 10. In the case of No, another paper feed port is determined in step 9 and the process proceeds to step 10. In step 10, the paper ID of the paper feed slot of the RFID chip chip compatible paper is acquired. In step 11, user information, information about the job (job name, job attribute, etc.), paper ID information, etc. are stored in the memory (NVRAM) 210. Store in the information table (FIG. 5). In step 12, depending on whether there is data to be analyzed, in the case of Yes, the process returns to step 1; in the case of No, this process is terminated.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, in the post output process of step 7 in FIG. 3 of the first and second embodiments, when the user cannot be specified when the job is analyzed, the administrator information of the output device 5 is changed. If it is determined that it is registered, the administrator is notified that the output result is left unattended.

  The data processing procedure of the output device 5 is the same as the flowchart of FIG. Also, the analysis process in step 4 in FIG. 3 is the same as that in the first or second embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the post output processing in step 7 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, in step 1, depending on whether or not information indicating completion of job output has been acquired, the process proceeds to step 3 if No, and time measurement is started in step 2 if Yes. In step 3, information (paper ID) of a job (output result) left at the paper discharge port of the output device 5 is acquired, and the information table (FIG. 5) is referred to. (Step 4) Then, it is determined whether or not only information on jobs not recorded in the information table has been acquired. (Step 5) If Yes, this process is terminated, and if No, information other than the job currently left at the paper discharge port is deleted from the information table. However, nothing is done for unrecorded jobs. (Step 6) Next, in Step 7, if there is a job in which the time left in the paper discharge outlet has reached the threshold (previously stored in the memory 210), if the result is No, this processing is terminated. If yes, it is determined in step 8 whether user information can be acquired from the information table. In the case of Yes, user information is acquired from the information table in Step 9, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to Step 10. In step 10, it is determined whether or not the administrator information of the output device 5 is registered in the information table. If yes, the information indicating that the output result is left for the administrator in step 11 is displayed. It notifies with the information regarding the output result in a table, and progresses to step 13, and in No, this process is complete | finished. After step 9, the process proceeds to step 12 to notify the user or host that the output result is to be removed, and the job information notified to the user or host in step 13 is deleted from the information table, and this process is terminated. . Note that the notification to the administrator in step 11 can be made by not only every time but also a plurality of jobs (output results) at a certain time interval.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, in the post-output process in step 7 in FIG. 3 of the third embodiment, the output job is left beyond a certain threshold value and the output result is removed to the user. After the notification, it is determined whether or not the output result is still left at the paper discharge port. Based on the result, when the user's job is received and processed next time, the left output result is removed. A warning message to that effect is output.

  The data processing procedure of the output device 5 is the same as the flowchart of FIG. Here, the analysis process of step 4 in FIG. 3 and the post output process of step 7 will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively.

  Referring to FIG. 9, first, in step 1, data analysis is started, depending on whether or not there is information specifying a user or host such as a user name, a user email address, a host name or a host ID ( In the case of No in step 2), the process proceeds to step 14; in the case of Yes, in step 3, it is determined whether or not it is possible to feed paper from a plurality of paper feed ports. In Step 3, if No, the process proceeds to Step 5, and it is determined whether or not the paper feed slot contains paper corresponding to the RFID tag chip. If No, the process proceeds to Step 12, and if Yes, the process proceeds to Step 10. . If YES in step 3, it is determined in step 4 whether paper can be fed from the paper feed port of the RFID tag chip compatible paper. In the case of Yes, the paper feed port for the RFID tag chip compatible paper is selected in Step 6, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to Step 12. After step 6, the process proceeds to step 7, where it is determined whether or not there is a paper feed port having the same paper size as that corresponding to the RFID tag chip. In the case of Yes, the paper feed port is selected in step 8 to determine other paper feed ports, and the process proceeds to step 10. In the case of No, another paper feed port is determined in step 9 and the process proceeds to step 10. In step 10, the paper ID of the paper feed slot of the RFID chip chip compatible paper is acquired. In step 11, user information, information about the job (job name, job attribute, etc.), paper ID information, etc. are stored in the memory (NVRAM) 210. Store in the information table (FIG. 5). Next, in step 12, referring to the information table (FIG. 5), if the setting for outputting the warning message of the user is On or Off (whether or not to output), the process proceeds directly to step 15 if No. In the case of Yes, after adding warning message data in step 13, in step 14, the information of the job whose warning message is set to On is deleted from the information table, and the process proceeds to step 15. . In step 15, depending on whether or not there is data to be analyzed, if yes, the process returns to step 1, and if no, this process is terminated.

  Next, referring to FIG. 10, first, in step 1, the process proceeds to step 3 in the case of No depending on whether or not the job output completion information is acquired, and in the case of Yes, the time measurement is performed in step 2. Start. In step 3, information (paper ID) of a job (output result) left at the paper discharge port of the output device 5 is acquired, and the information table (FIG. 5) is referred to. (Step 4) Then, it is determined whether or not only information on jobs not recorded in the information table has been acquired. (Step 5) If Yes, this process is terminated, and if No, information other than the job currently left at the paper discharge port is deleted from the information table. However, nothing is done for unrecorded jobs. (Step 6) Next, in Step 7, if there is a job in which the time left in the paper discharge outlet has reached the threshold (previously stored in the memory 210), if the result is No, this processing is terminated. If yes, it is determined in step 8 whether there is a notified job in the information table. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to Step 13 where the output setting of the warning message of the notified job is set to On and this process is terminated. In the case of No, the user information can be acquired from the information table in Step 9. Determine whether or not. In the case of Yes, user information is acquired from the information table in Step 10, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to Step 11. In step 11, it is determined whether or not the administrator information of the output device 5 is registered in the information table. If yes, the information indicating that the output result is left for the administrator in step 12. It notifies with the information regarding the output result in a table, and progresses to step 15, and in No, this process is complete | finished. After step 10, the process proceeds to step 14 to notify the user or the host that the output result is to be removed. In step 15, in the information table, the job whose left time has reached the threshold is set as notified. Then, this process ends.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a high-order apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of the printing apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the data processing of an output device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an analysis process in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the information table in the Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating post output processing according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing analysis processing in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating post output processing according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing analysis processing in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating post output processing according to the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host device 2 LAN
5 Output device 6 LAN
101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 System Bus 105 Mouse Controller 106 Mouse 107 Keyboard Controller 108 Keyboard 109 CRT Controller 110 CRT
111 Disk Controller 112 Hard Disk Drive 113 Floppy Disk Drive 114 Network Interface Card 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 Engine 205 Engine controller 206 Panel 207 Panel controller 208 Hard disk drive 209 Disk controller 210 NVRAM
211 Network interface card 217 System bus

Claims (4)

  Means for determining whether user information or host information exists during analysis of a received job in an output device including a controller having a wireless communication function and a paper feed port including paper embedded with a wireless ID tag chip; In this case, a means for acquiring paper ID information, a means for storing information including user information and the paper ID information, depending on whether or not the paper of the paper feed slot to be output is a paper corresponding to a wireless ID tag chip, Means for acquiring information on which the job has been output, means for starting the measurement of the leaving time at that time, means for determining whether or not the leaving time has reached a certain threshold value, and the user based on the result from the paper ID information Alternatively, an output device comprising: means for determining a host; and means for notifying the host, which is the user, that the printed matter as an output result is to be removed.   In the output device according to claim 1, when determining a paper feed port for output, if it is determined that there are a plurality of paper feed ports for output and a paper feed port for RFID tag-compatible paper is included, An output device comprising means for selecting a paper feed port so as to preferentially use a minimum number of sheets corresponding to a wireless tag chip.   In the output device according to claim 2, when it is determined that the user information or the host information does not exist when analyzing the received job, when it is determined that the administrator information of the output device is registered, An output device comprising means for notifying the manager that the output result is left unattended.   4. The output device according to claim 3, wherein after the output job is left to exceed a certain threshold and the user is notified that the output result is to be removed, the output result is still left at the paper discharge port. An output device comprising: means for determining whether or not the user's job is received and processed next time, and a message for removing the output result is output based on the result.

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