JP2006248028A - Image forming apparatus and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can reduce an influence on a user even when an event which may change the scheduled ending time of a job occurs and a control method for the same. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus specifies a job, the scheduled ending time or remaining time of which is confirmed by a job confirmation screen including the display of the scheduled ending time of the job or remaining time required until the end of the job, performs the rearrangement process of rearranging the waiting sequence of jobs to be performed when a predetermined event occurs and prioritizes the waiting sequence of the specified jobs in rearranging the jobs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that displays a scheduled end time of a job or a remaining time required until the end of a job and a control method thereof.

  Some image forming apparatuses such as printers and multifunction peripherals can accept a plurality of jobs. In such an image forming apparatus, even if a user submits a job, the submitted job is not always executed immediately because the previously submitted job is being executed or is waiting to be executed. For this reason, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which the user can check the scheduled end time of the input job (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, some recent image forming apparatuses change the order in which jobs are executed in accordance with the priority order set for the job, or allow execution of jobs by interruption. In such an image forming apparatus, even if the scheduled end time of the job is calculated as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the scheduled end time may be different thereafter.

For this reason, when the scheduled end time is different from the original time, a technique for notifying the fact (see, for example, Patent Document 2), or execution of a modified job when a job waiting for processing is changed. There is also a technique for performing processing such as changing the order last, not accepting corrections that increase processing time, or lowering only the processing order of the added content (for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-7-76155 JP-A-11-99729 JP 11-112757 A

  However, even if the job end scheduled time is recalculated by the technique described in Patent Document 2, it does not make sense unless the user confirms the recalculation result, and the recalculation result is notified to the user. Even so, since there are many conditions for performing recalculation, recalculation results are frequently notified. For example, conditions for performing recalculation include CPU operation, user intervention such as pause / restart, error, and the like, in addition to the above-described job operation such as interruption and the start of a new job.

  Specific examples of new jobs include those with high processing priority, such as copying and automatic job history reports. Since copying is instructed by the user in front of the image forming apparatus, priority is high so that processing can be started immediately. In addition, the automatic job history report automatically starts on the condition that the number of completed job histories reaches a predetermined number and prints a list of the predetermined number of job histories. Therefore, the priority is high so that it can be printed as fast as possible. When a job with a high priority such as these occurs, processing with a lower priority than these will cause recalculation.

  Furthermore, since recent image forming apparatuses have increased processing capability, they can accept hundreds of jobs and be in a waiting state. Therefore, the number of recalculation targets increases, and notification of recalculation results becomes more frequent.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 3 causes inconveniences such as a possibility that restrictions may be imposed on the input of urgent jobs.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the influence on a user even when an event that may change the scheduled end time of a job occurs, and a control method thereof. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus comprising a confirmation screen providing means for providing a job confirmation screen including a display of a scheduled end time of a job or a remaining time required until the end of the job. , Job specifying means for specifying a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time is displayed on the job confirmation screen, and an arrangement for rearranging the waiting order of jobs waiting to be executed when a predetermined event occurs And a job rearrangement unit that performs a rearrangement process and prioritizes the waiting order of jobs specified by the job identification unit during the rearrangement process.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the processing according to claim 1, wherein the job rearranging unit executes after the priority set for the job specified by the job specifying unit is increased within an allowable range. The waiting order of waiting jobs is rearranged.

  The invention according to claim 3 relates to the invention according to claim 1, wherein the scheduled end time or the remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen when the job specifying unit specifies a job is associated with the specified job. When the job specified by the job specifying means and the job specified by the job specifying means are rearranged by the job rearranging means, the confirmation job management means manages the estimated end time or remaining time of the job. And a notification means for notifying the issuer of the job when the scheduled end time or the remaining time is exceeded.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the job specifying unit includes an authentication unit that authenticates a user who instructs the display of the job confirmation screen, and displays the job displayed on the job confirmation screen. Among them, the job issued by the user authenticated by the authentication unit is specified as a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time is confirmed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus provided with a confirmation screen providing means for providing a job confirmation screen including a display of a job end scheduled time or a remaining time required until the job ends. In the control method, the job specifying unit specifies a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen is confirmed, and when the job rearranging unit generates a predetermined event A rearrangement process for rearranging the waiting order of jobs waiting to be executed is performed, and the job waiting order specified by the job specifying unit is prioritized in the rearrangement process.

  Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the processing according to claim 5, wherein the job rearranging unit executes after the priority set for the job specified by the job specifying unit is increased within an allowable range. The waiting order of waiting jobs is rearranged.

  Further, the invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the confirmation job management means determines the scheduled end time or remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen when the job identification means identifies the job. The job is managed in association with the identified job, and when the job identified by the job identifying unit is rearranged by the job rearranging unit, the notification unit is configured to execute the estimated end time or remaining time of the job. When the scheduled end time or remaining time managed by the management means is exceeded, the job issuer is notified.

  Further, the invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the job specifying means includes, among jobs displayed on the job confirmation screen, a job issued by a user authenticated by the authentication means and a scheduled end time or remaining time. The job is identified as a job whose time has been confirmed.

  According to the present invention, even when the scheduled end time of another job is delayed due to a job interrupt or the like, the job whose scheduled end time is confirmed is processed with priority, so that it is convenient for the user. Will be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a usage form of a multifunction machine to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the multifunction device 1 is connected to the authentication device 2 and to the network 3. A plurality of information processing apparatuses 4 (4-1 to 4-n) and a service providing server 5 are connected to the network 3.

  The multifunction machine 1 is an application of the present invention, and executes various jobs such as copying, faxing, printing, and scanning. The authentication device 2 is used to authenticate the user when the user tries to operate the multifunction device 1. For example, an IC card reader is used as the authentication device 2. The network 3 may include an intranet, the Internet, or both. The information processing apparatus 4 performs processing such as issuance of a print job to the multifunction device 1 and is configured by, for example, a personal computer. The service providing server 5 is a server that provides content that can be printed from the multifunction device 1. The service providing server 5 is not necessarily a required device, and other devices may be connected to the network 3.

  Next, the configuration of the multifunction machine 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 10, a UI (user interface) 30, a reading unit 40, and a forming unit 50.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM) 14, an HDD (Hard Disk). Drive) 15, image processing unit 16, UI IF 17, communication IF 18, and device IF 19 are connected via a bus 20.

  The CPU 11 operates based on the program and performs main control of the functions of the multifunction device 1. Each processing unit performs processing based on an instruction from the CPU 11, and notifies the specified processing unit of the processing result.

  The ROM 12 stores various programs for controlling the multifunction device 1, user authentication, and image processing, and unique information inherent to the multifunction device 1. The unique information is information that does not need to be rewritten or cannot be rewritten such as a serial number, a serial number, a manufacturing date, and a manufacturing factory name that physically identifies the multifunction device 1.

  The RAM 13 temporarily stores system variables such as environment variables for operating the program stored in the ROM 12 and data for performing image processing.

  The NVRAM 14 holds various parameters for operating the program stored in the ROM 12, and also holds history information and the like.

  The HDD 15 stores image data and the like, and the image processing unit 16 performs processing such as correction on the image data, and includes, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  The UI IF 17 is an interface for connecting the UI 30. The communication IF 18 is an interface that performs communication with a network or other devices, such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 21, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 22, a Serial 23, It corresponds to each FAX modem 24. The device IF 19 is an interface to which devices such as the reading unit 40 and the forming unit 50 are connected. The bus 20 is used when data is exchanged between the units.

  The UI 30 includes a display unit 31 that displays information and the like to the user, and an operation unit 32 that receives an operation input from the user, and is connected to the control unit 10 via the UI IF 17.

  The reading unit 40 reads an original with an image sensor to obtain image data, and the forming unit 50 forms an image on a sheet, and is connected to the control unit 10 via a device IF 19. .

  The authentication device 2 is connected to the control unit 10 via the Serial 22.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a hardware (HW) 100, an OS 110, middleware 120, a functional module 130, and a job 150. HW100 is a general term for each part shown in FIG.

  The OS 110 is a real-time OS (Operating System) for incorporation into the apparatus, and may be a general-purpose OS or a dedicated OS.

  The middleware 120 is a layer that mediates between the OS 110 and the functional module 130. The middleware is located above the OS 110, suppresses the influence inherent to the HW 100, and provides a common API (Application Program Interface) for the upper modules such as the functional module 130. The system management unit (system manager) 121 and the device driver / library group 122 are included. The system management unit 121 manages the core of the multifunction peripheral such as status / resource management, job management, file management, buffer management, timer management, and various log management. The device driver library group 122 provides the function module 130 with the functions of the external system and the HW 100. The Remaining Time Library 123 for calculating the remaining time of processing for each job in a predetermined unit, the number of printed sheets, That is, it includes a DV Library 124 that provides a counter control function, an Accessory Driver 125 that is a driver of the authentication device 2, and the like. The device driver / library group 122 includes device drivers and libraries that perform fax communication modem control, LAN control, HDD15 access control, IF control with the output unit 50 / reading unit 40 / UI30, etc. (Not shown) and the like are also included.

  The function module 130 is a module group for performing request processing, communication processing with the UI 30, image processing, and the like, and includes request management 131, output control 132, reading control 133, accumulation control 134, decomposer 135, report creation 136, A fax control 137, a network control 138, an authentication management 139, an HTTP control 140, an SNMP control 141, and the like are included.

  The request management 131 performs request processing and communication processing with the UI 30, the output control 132 controls the output unit 50, and the reading control 133 controls the reading unit 40. The accumulation control 134 controls accumulation of image data, and the decomposer 135 performs processing such as development of print data. The report creation 136 performs report creation processing, the fax control 137 performs fax communication control, and the network control 138 performs network control. The authentication management 139 performs authentication management, the HTTP control 140 performs notification processing such as various states to a remote device by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), and the SNMP control 141 performs remote processing by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). Perform notification processing for various statuses on the device.

  The job 150 is for providing functions to the user, and includes a copy 151, a print 152, a fax 153, an I-fax 154, a scan 155, a report 156, and the like.

  Next, basic operations of the multifunction machine 1 will be described. Here, print job reception processing and job confirmation processing will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of print job reception processing, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of job confirmation processing.

  In the print job reception process, first, when the user 6 operates the information processing apparatus 4 (step 201) and sends a print instruction to the multi-function device 1 together with the print data (step 202), the network control 138 receives the print instruction. Requests the request management 131 to start printing (step 203). Upon receiving the print start request, the request management 131 executes request processing for generating parameters necessary for starting the print 152 of the job 150 (step 204), and then sends a print start confirmation message via the network control 138. The information processing apparatus 4 is notified (step 205, step 206), and the user 6 is notified of the print start confirmation (step 207).

  Further, the request management 131 passes the parameters generated by the request processing to the system management unit 121 and requests job activation (step 208). Upon receiving the job start request, the system management unit 121 schedules the request as a job (step 209), and ends the print job reception process. The print job reception process is the same as the conventional process.

  In the job confirmation process, first, the user 6 performs an authentication operation on the authentication device 2 (step 211), and the authentication device 2 issues an authentication request to the multifunction device 1 (step 212). This authentication request is passed to the system management unit 121 via the Accessory Driver 125 (step 213). Upon receiving the authentication request, the system management unit 121 makes an authentication request to the authentication management 139 (step 214), and receives the result as an authentication result notification (step 215). Then, the system management unit 121 notifies the authentication device 2 of an authentication result notification via the Accessory Driver 125 (steps 216 and 217), and causes the user 6 to confirm the authentication result (step 218).

  As a result of the authentication, when it is confirmed that the user 6 is a user who has the authority to use the multifunction device 1, the user 6 performs an operation of confirming the job list on the UI 30 (step 221). . Upon receiving the operation, the UI 30 requests the request management 131 to read the waiting queue (step 222). The request management 131 that received the waiting queue read request performs the queue read processing (step 223), notifies the result to the UI 30 (step 224), and information indicating that the job in the queue has been confirmed. Add (step 225). Upon receiving the queue read result, the UI 30 displays a list of jobs based on the result (step 226), and ends the job confirmation process. In the job confirmation process, the process other than adding information indicating that the job has been confirmed in step 225 is the same as the conventional process.

  In the above description, when a user confirms a job, the fact is managed as information. However, the multifunction device 1 performs job reordering based on this information. Process.

  Here, an outline of job rearrangement processing in the multifunction machine 1 will be described. Prior to the description, job queue control will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a queue.

  As shown in the figure, in queue control of the multi-function device 1, the Idle queue 301, the Int queue 302, the Ready queue 303, the Wait queue 304, the Pending queue 305, and the Run queue 306 are used. Among these queues, the Idle queue 301 is in an unused state, the Int queue 302, the Ready queue 303, the Wait queue 304, and the Pending queue 305 manage jobs that are waiting to be executed, and the Run queue 306 is Manage running jobs. Note that the Int queue 302, the Ready queue 303, the Wait queue 304, and the Pending queue 305 manage jobs in a state of waiting for interruption, execution waiting, time waiting by time designation, and parameter determination waiting, respectively. The number of these queues is determined depending on the status of the HW and SW (software) of the multifunction machine. For example, if the mounting capacity of the RAM 13 is large, a large number of waiting jobs can be queued, and if the number of lines of the FAX modem 24 and the processing capability of the image processing unit 16 are high, the multiplicity of processing of the decomposer increases, so that parallel operation is possible. The number increases, and the number of Run queues 306 increases.

  In the ready queue 303, when queued, the rearrangement processing is performed so that jobs with higher (faster) priority can be executed earlier according to the priority of each job. To the Run queue 306.

  Next, an outline of job rearrangement processing in the multifunction machine 1 will be described. 7 to 11 show a job confirmation screen (each figure (a)) displayed on the display unit 31 of the UI 30, and states of the Run queue 306 and the Ready queue 303 when the job confirmation screen is displayed (each It is the figure which showed figure (b)). However, the job confirmation screen shown as (a) in each figure does not show the state actually displayed on the display unit 31, but is displayed when it is assumed that there is a job confirmation request at that time. It is a screen.

  Here, it is assumed that the multifunction device 1 is initially executing a copy job and three print jobs are waiting to be executed, as shown in FIG. Also, it is assumed that the user “A Taro” has issued any print jobs waiting to be executed.

  When the user “B Taro” issues a print job from the state shown in FIG. 7, the job is added as a job to be executed last in the Ready queue 303 as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, when the user “B Taro” displays the job confirmation screen on the display unit 31 of the UI 30, the screen is as shown in FIG. At this time, the multifunction device 1 adds and manages information on which the job has been confirmed by the processing in step 225 described with reference to FIG. At this time, since the user “B Taro” has been authenticated, the MFP 1 can determine that the user “B Taro” has confirmed the job. As shown, information corresponding to the job 310 issued by the user “B Taro” is managed as information indicating that the job has been confirmed and the scheduled end time of the job at that time as the confirmation time.

  Thereafter, when the copy job being executed ends, the number of completed job histories reaches a predetermined number, and a report job 311 which is an automatic job history report having a high priority is generated. , The job having the highest priority among the jobs managed in the Ready queue 303 is executed, so that the rearrangement process in the Ready queue 303 is performed, and the order of jobs waiting to be executed is changed as shown in FIG. The As the order is changed, the scheduled end time of each job is lowered, so the scheduled end time is recalculated.

  As a result of recalculating the scheduled end time, the scheduled end time of the job 310 whose user “B Taro” has confirmed the scheduled end time is later than the scheduled end time when the user “B Taro” has confirmed. It becomes. For this reason, the MFP 1 changes the order of jobs waiting to be executed so that the job 310 ends at the scheduled end time when the user “B Taro” confirms. The result is as shown in FIG. 11, and the user “B Taro” can receive the print output result at the time confirmed in advance. However, even if the order of jobs waiting to be executed is changed, if the job 310 cannot be completed by the scheduled end time when the user “B Taro” has confirmed, the user “ B Taro ”.

  Scheduling processing including rearrangement of jobs waiting for execution is performed by the system management unit 121. Here, details of the scheduling process by the system management unit 121 will be described. 12 to 14 are flowcharts showing the flow of the scheduling process.

  The scheduling process by the system management unit 121 is realized by controlling the ready queue 303 triggered by the system management unit 121 receiving an inter-task message (YES in step 401, step 402). These trigger messages are based on user operations, such as job interruption / suspension, suspension, resumption, priority designation, job confirmation, etc. Besides, job start request, parameter change, job status notification Phase end or job end, device status notification waiting for rise in fuser temperature, periodic polling (for starting Passive, checking time designation, etc.), and the like.

  In the Ready queue control, first, rearrangement processing of the Ready queue 303 is performed (step 411). The rearrangement process is rearranged according to the type of Active / Passive and priority of the job so that a job having a high priority in the active position can be quickly executed. The type of Active / Passive and the priority order are determined in advance, but in principle, a job set to Active is a job (for example, copy) in which the user instructs the execution of the job from the operation unit 32 of the UI 30. 4 is a type such as a document that scans a document, an output of a security print, and an automatic report job that forcibly discharges. The Passive job is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer as shown in FIG. This is a type that is activated in the background, such as a print instruction from a user, FAX / IFAX transmission / reception and printing, transfer of stored documents, and printing of automatic reports.

  Also, the priority of description is given in a predetermined processing unit of each job between 0 and 50 (larger as the number increases) depending on the type of Active or Passive and the contents of the job. For example, an active job such as security print output is 20-29, a passive job such as FAX / IFAX transmission / reception or transfer of stored documents is 30-39, and a print job for FAX / IFAX or automatic report. 40-50, automatic reports forcibly discharging such as the above-mentioned automatic job history report are treated as active jobs, and 10-19 and 0-9 are special types that are started when the MFP software is started up. Give priority to jobs.

  However, in the case of copying, when the print is directly processed from the scan, it is treated as Active as described above. However, in the case of the accumulation type copy in which the scanned original is temporarily stored in the HDD 15 and then printed, the scan process is performed. By setting Active and print processing to be Passive, it is possible to realize a function of continuously performing the next scan during printing (FIGS. 7B, 8B, and 9B). An example is a print of a copy job with the number 0001 shown).

  Subsequently, the system management unit 121 calculates the remaining time until each job is completed based on the result of the rearrangement process (step 412).

  In the rearrangement process, first, the head job of the Ready queue 303 is extracted (step 421), and the remaining time of the extracted job is recalculated (step 422). If the extracted job has not been confirmed for the scheduled end time (YES in step 423), the next job in the ready queue 303, that is, the ready job 303 is stored. If there is a job in the next order of the job currently being processed (YES in step 424), the next target job is extracted (step 425), and the remaining time of the extracted job is recalculated (step 422).

  If the scheduled end time of the job for which the remaining time has been recalculated has been confirmed by the user (NO in step 423), the scheduled end time will not be lowered by the recalculation result (YES in step 426). If there is a next target job in the ready queue 303 (YES in step 424), the next target job is extracted (step 425), and the remaining time of the extracted job is recalculated (step 422).

  In addition, when the user has confirmed the scheduled end time of the job whose remaining time has been recalculated (NO in step 423), and the recalculation has calculated the result that the scheduled end time of the job is lowered (NO in step 426) If the job type is Active (YES in step 427), if there is a next target job in the ready queue 303 (YES in step 424), the next target job is extracted (step 425) The remaining time of the extracted job is recalculated (step 422).

  Further, when the result of the scheduled end time of the job being lowered is calculated by recalculation (NO in step 426), if the job type is Passive (NO in step 427), the priority of the job is changed. The priority is changed to a higher value (step 428), and the changed priority is within an allowable range, for example, within the priority range permitted for a print job if the job is a print job (a job started in the background exceeds an active job) If the priority is in the range of 30-50 (YES in step 429), the ready queue 303 is rearranged (step 430), and the next target job is extracted. (Step 425), the remaining time of the extracted job is recalculated (Step 422).

  On the other hand, if the priority of the job falls outside the allowable range when the priority is changed (NO in step 429), the user who has issued the job until the scheduled end time at the time of confirmation. That the job cannot be terminated (step 431), and if there is a next target job in the ready queue 303 (YES in step 424), the next target job is taken out (step 425). The remaining time of the extracted job is recalculated (step 422).

  When such processing is repeated and processing for all jobs stored in the Ready queue 303 is completed, that is, when there is no next target job (NO in step 424), remaining time calculation processing in step 412 Ends.

  When the remaining time calculation process ends, the system management unit 121 extracts the first job in the Ready queue 303 (step 413).

  If the type of the extracted job is Active (YES in step 414) and the message received in step 401 is a message that the job is waiting for (YES in step 415), the job is stored in the Run queue 306. (Step 416), and the Ready queue control process is terminated.

  Even if the extracted job is Passive (NO in Step 414), if a resource for executing the job can be secured (YES in Step 417), the job is shifted to the Run queue 306 (Step 416). The Ready queue control process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the type of the extracted job is Active (YES in Step 414) and the message received in Step 401 is not the message that the job is waiting for (NO in Step 415), the extracted job is Passive ( If the resource for executing the job could not be secured (NO in step 417), if there is a next target job in the ready queue 303 (YES in step 418), the next target Is taken out (step 419).

  And if the extracted job is a job that can be overtaken, for example, even if the previous job cannot be executed due to running out of paper, it can be executed because the job is a job that uses another paper (YES in step 420), the process returns to step 414 and the same processing is performed.

  If the next target job that has been taken out cannot be overtaken (NO in step 420), or if the next target job does not exist (NO in step 418), the ready queue control process is performed. finish.

  By such processing, the multi-function device 1 improves the usability of the user without delaying the scheduled end time of the job whose scheduled end time is confirmed as much as possible.

  By the way, when the information processing apparatus 4 used by the user is statically determined, the authentication information managed by the authentication management 139 is the address for identifying the user and the information processing apparatus 4 as shown in FIG. Are managed in pairs, the authentication process when the user confirms the job from the information processing apparatus 4 can be omitted.

  In the case of dynamic, the user ID and password are received from the information processing apparatus 4 through HTTP and authenticated, and the information of the job read from the queue is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 4 to the user. You may make it notify.

  By the way, the case where processing with high priority called automatic job history report occurred has been explained so far, but it is handled in the same way when processing request such as copy with higher priority than confirmed waiting job occurs. it can. The same applies to the start of a new job by an interrupt operation.

  Furthermore, a user operation, for example, in a general image forming apparatus, it is possible to select a waiting job and increase the priority order or instruct to perform printing immediately. Even if the order of waiting jobs changes, it can be dealt with by increasing the priority of the confirmed jobs.

  In addition, even when the execution order is changed by overtaking as in step 420 in FIG. 13, the rearrangement occurs so that the scheduled end time of the job is maintained during scheduling by the next trigger. The user convenience can be improved without delaying the time as much as possible.

  In addition, when there is a time designation process such as a time designation print, the start time and the required time of the waiting job in the wait queue 304 may be calculated in consideration of the rearrangement process and the remaining time calculation process. This processing is, for example, processing such as (1) and (2) described later.

  (1) In the image forming apparatus of the scheduling control method in which the priority of the time designation process is set high, the time designation print job is controlled to be started near the designated time. Job does not exist. Therefore, the rearrangement and remaining time calculation are processed assuming that such a job exists virtually. For example, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the job 310 for which the time is specified exists in the wait queue 304 and does not exist in the ready queue 303, as shown in FIG. In this process, the virtual job 320 exists in the ready queue 303.

  (2) In the case of an image forming apparatus that performs scheduling control with the same priority order as that of other jobs (priority order of time designation print and normal PC print), the time designation processing is performed for rearrangement and remaining time calculation. In the process, if there is a waiting job after the time at which the time designation process must be started and completed, control is performed so that the time designation job is queued before the queue position. In this case, it is sufficient to increase the priority as in the case of the waiting job for checking the end time described above. However, in a situation where there are many waiting jobs with the same priority, it is necessary to strictly observe the specified time. Therefore, it is necessary to control to increase the allowable range of priority to the level of the Active job (20). For example, if the designated time is 10:12 and the required time is 2 minutes, the job 311 shown in FIG. 17A is a waiting job after the designated time when queued in the ready queue 303. Queue-in is performed at a position before the job 312, and the result is as shown in FIG.

  In the above, examples of new job generation and user operation have been explained. In addition, errors and user interventions are rearranged with remaining time calculation processing triggered by inter-task messages for periodic polling and error cancellation. This can be dealt with by increasing the priority of the confirmed job. On the other hand, if an error or user intervention is not canceled for a long time, the user can be notified of the situation by the “impossible notification process” in step 431.

  Of course, if the MFP is in error or during user intervention during the “impossibility notification process” in step 431, it is also possible to cancel the situation of being left for a long time by notifying the situation together.

  In addition, the allowable range of the priority order described above is the same as the time designation of the waiting job whose end time has been confirmed and the job for which immediate printing is instructed, as described in (2) of the description of the time designation described above. Alternatively, the level may be the Active job (20) level.

  The priorities described above are concepts that depend on the OS, middleware architecture, product specifications, and the like, but the present invention can be applied as long as waiting jobs are arranged in a predetermined order. In the simplest case, even if the control case has no concept of priority and the transition is made to the RUN queue 306 only in the order of queuing, if it cannot be finished at the confirmed end time, it is sequentially replaced with the immediately preceding queue. However, it can be applied by repeating the recalculation of the remaining time until the condition “end time” is reached.

  By the way, in the first embodiment, when the user refers to the job confirmation screen from the UI 30, authentication processing using the authentication device 2 is performed. This is merely diverting the authentication process to identify the job confirmed by the user. If the job confirmed by the user can be identified by another method, the authentication process is not necessary. However, if it is necessary to perform an authentication process for the purpose of security, billing, etc., the authentication process is naturally necessary.

  In the second embodiment, a method for specifying a job confirmed by the user when the authentication process is not performed will be described.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job confirmation screen according to the second embodiment. In the configuration of the second embodiment, when the user operates the operation unit 32 of the UI 30 to instruct job confirmation, the multifunction device 1 displays the job confirmation on the display unit 31 of the UI 30 as illustrated in FIG. A screen 500 is displayed.

  The job confirmation screen 500 displays a list of jobs being executed and jobs waiting to be executed, but does not display detailed information such as scheduled end time. For this reason, when the user intends to confirm the scheduled end time of the job, for example, the user presses the detail button 502 after selecting the job display 501.

  When the user presses the detail button 502, the multifunction device 1 displays detailed information regarding the job corresponding to the selected job display 501 on the detail display screen 510 shown in FIG. At this time, the multifunction device 1 adds information indicating that the user of the job has been confirmed to the job corresponding to the selected job display 501.

  By such processing, the multi-function device 1 can specify the user who confirmed the scheduled end time without performing authentication processing.

  In addition, you may make it identify the job by which the scheduled completion time was confirmed by the user by this other method.

  Incidentally, in the first and second embodiments, the configuration in which the job end scheduled time is displayed on the job confirmation screen or the like has been described. However, instead of the job end scheduled time, the job end time is scheduled. The remaining time may be displayed.

  In addition to the cases described in the first and second embodiments, as factors that cannot achieve the predicted end time, resource busy such as an external device connected via the CPU 11, HDD 15, and communication IF 18 and the clock of the multifunction device are changed. It can be considered.

  Even if no error or user intervention occurs at the completion of the job being executed, if the calculated required time and the actual processing time exceed the predetermined standard deviation value, it is considered as resource busy, This can be dealt with by calculating the remaining time in consideration of the correction by the deviation value.

As a specific example, when the display unit is 1 minute unit, the deviation of this unit time or more is considered as the time that needs to be corrected, and the reference deviation value is 1 minute.
If the standard deviation value is 1 minute> actual processing time-calculation required time, it is determined that the device is busy. in this case,
(Actual processing time-calculated required time) / calculated required time and a correction factor of one calculated required time unit are calculated, and the remaining time is calculated by taking that amount into account (for example, calculated as a required time of 540 seconds When the job is completed in 600 seconds, the correction rate is 0.111... And the waiting job calculated as the required time of 300 seconds is corrected to the required time of 333 seconds).

  Further, when the clock of the multifunction device is changed, the difference can be corrected by adding the difference between the time before and after the change to the waiting job received before the clock change operation.

  Further, since there is a possibility of a significant time change, when there is a waiting job, the clock change by the user operation is prohibited and only the time correction by SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) is allowed. Furthermore, even when the time is corrected by SNTP, it is of course possible to perform control such that a change exceeding the predetermined time such as the display time unit described above is not performed while a waiting job is present.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, all the queues in the Ready queue 303 are controlled. However, in recent years, multifunction devices have improved processing functions, increased RAM mounting capacity, and increased HDD capacity. Along with the increase, the number of waiting jobs has increased to several hundred levels. For this reason, performing the remaining time calculation process and the rearrangement process for all the waiting jobs places a heavy load on the multi-function peripheral even when performance is improved.

  Therefore, it is also effective to restrict the processing as follows during scheduling.

1) Scheduling trigger limitation Time polling and rearrangement processing are not performed during periodic polling (performed when it is determined that time is specified). In addition to this, an event that does not delay the end time, such as a status notification of a job being executed, and an event that does not change the order of waiting jobs can be reduced by not executing the scheduling process itself.

2) Limiting the waiting jobs for performing the remaining time calculation process and the rearrangement process-The remaining time calculation process and the rearrangement process are not performed for a predetermined period of time, for example, a job exceeding the display limit. When the specification does not display a waiting time of 2 hours or longer, the remaining time calculation process and the rearrangement process are not performed for waiting jobs scheduled to be completed thereafter.
-If the number of waiting jobs exceeds the predetermined number, the time calculation process and the rearrangement process are not executed. Alternatively, the remaining time calculation process and the rearrangement process target are set up to the latest time confirmation job.

  The load can be reduced by applying restrictions in any one or combination of 1) and 2). Of course, when the user has not confirmed the job list, the remaining time calculation processing is not performed.

  In this case, it is necessary to perform the remaining time calculation process at a time when the job list is operated. However, in the case of the MFP processing, UI IF 17F, and external device, the response to the user is delayed due to the load on the communication IF 18. Therefore, when notifying the job list to the UI 30 or an external information processing apparatus, it is also effective to perform the time calculation process and the rearrangement process for each predetermined unit (one page of display) and notify it.

It is the figure which showed the example of the utilization form of the multifunctional device to which this invention is applied. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the multifunction machine 1; FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flow of print job reception processing. It is a figure showing the flow of job check processing. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the queue. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a job confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the UI 30 and states of the Run queue 306 and the Ready queue 303 when the job confirmation screen is displayed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a job confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the UI 30 and states of the Run queue 306 and the Ready queue 303 when the job confirmation screen is displayed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a job confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the UI 30 and states of the Run queue 306 and the Ready queue 303 when the job confirmation screen is displayed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a job confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the UI 30 and states of the Run queue 306 and the Ready queue 303 when the job confirmation screen is displayed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a job confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the UI 30 and states of the Run queue 306 and the Ready queue 303 when the job confirmation screen is displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a scheduling process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a scheduling process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a scheduling process. It is the figure which showed the example of the authentication information which the authentication management 139 manages. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a scheduling process in case there exists a job of time specification. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a scheduling process in case there exists a job of time specification. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job confirmation screen according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction machine 2 Authentication apparatus 3 Network 4, 4-1 to 4-n information processing apparatus 5 Service provision server 10 Control part 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 NVRAM
15 HDD
16 Image processing unit 17 UI IF
18 Communication IF
19 Device IF
20 bus 21 LAN
22 USB
23 Serial
24 modem 30 UI
31 Display unit 32 Operation unit 40 Reading unit 50 Forming unit 100 HW
110 OS
120 Middleware 121 System Management Unit 122 Device Driver Library Group 123 Remaining Time Library
124 DV Library
125 Accessory Driver
130 Function Module 131 Request Management 132 Output Control 133 Reading Control 134 Storage Control 135 Decomposer 136 Report Generation 137 Fax Control 138 Network Control 139 Authentication Management 140 HTTP Control 141 SNMP Control 150 Job 151 Copy 152 Print 153 Fax 154 I-Fax 155 Scan 156 Report 301 Idle queue 302 Int queue 303 Ready queue 304 Wait queue 305 Pending queue 306 Run queue 500 Job confirmation screen 501 Job display 502 Detail button 510 Detail display screen

Claims (8)

In an image forming apparatus provided with a confirmation screen providing means for providing a job confirmation screen including a display of a job end scheduled time or a remaining time required until the job ends,
Job specifying means for specifying a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen is confirmed;
Job rearrangement that rearranges the waiting order of jobs waiting to be executed when a predetermined event occurs, and prioritizes the job waiting order specified by the job specifying means during the rearrangement processing And an image forming apparatus.   The job rearranging unit rearranges the waiting order of jobs waiting to be executed after increasing the priority set for the job specified by the job specifying unit within an allowable range. The image forming apparatus according to 1. Confirmation job management means for managing the estimated end time or remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen when the job identification means identifies a job in association with the identified job;
When the job specified by the job specifying unit is rearranged by the job rearranging unit, the scheduled end time or remaining time of the job exceeds the scheduled end time or remaining time managed by the confirmation job managing unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify the issuer of the job. The job specifying means includes
Comprising authentication means for authenticating a user who has instructed display of the job confirmation screen;
2. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein, among jobs displayed on the job confirmation screen, a job issued by a user authenticated by the authentication unit is specified as a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time is confirmed. apparatus. A control method for an image forming apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus provided with a confirmation screen providing means for providing a job confirmation screen including a display of a job end scheduled time or a remaining time required until the end of the job,
Job specifying means specifies a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen is confirmed,
The job rearranging means performs a rearrangement process for rearranging the waiting order of jobs waiting to be executed when a predetermined event occurs, and the job waiting order specified by the job specifying means during the rearrangement process A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, wherein priority is given to.   The job rearranging unit rearranges the waiting order of jobs waiting to be executed after increasing the priority set for the job specified by the job specifying unit within an allowable range. 6. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to 5. The confirmation job management means manages the estimated end time or remaining time displayed on the job confirmation screen when the job identification means identifies the job in association with the identified job,
When the job specified by the job specifying unit is rearranged by the job rearranging unit, the notification unit is configured to perform the scheduled end time or remaining time managed by the confirmation job management unit. 6. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the time is exceeded, the job issuer is notified.   The job specifying means specifies a job issued by a user authenticated by an authentication means among jobs displayed on the job confirmation screen as a job whose scheduled end time or remaining time has been confirmed. 6. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to 5.

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