JP2006270399A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus for sequentially executing a plurality of jobs without causing an operator to considerably feel unsatisfied. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus includes: a storage means for storing jobs; an execution means for executing the jobs; and an instruction means for instructing the execution means to execute the stored jobs. When receiving the instruction of execution of the stored jobs, the execution means executes the stored jobs independently of the executing state of the jobs. Further, the image processing apparatus includes: a reception means for receiving jobs; an execution means for executing the received jobs; and a particularizing means for particularizing a function provided when the execution executes a job and executes another job when the reception means receives the other job during execution of the one job by the execution means, and when the importance of the function of the other particularized job is higher than the function of the one job during execution, the execution means interrupts the execution of the job during execution and executes the other job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions such as copying, printing, scanner, and facsimile.

  In recent years, with the development of network technology, image processing apparatuses that perform jobs such as printing, facsimile, and copying only by instructing printing, facsimile, copying, and the like from a terminal connected to the network have begun to spread.

  In an image processing apparatus that can instruct execution of a job from a terminal connected via a network, there are cases where an instruction for execution of another job is issued during execution of a certain job because there are a large number of instruction generation sources. . If execution of another job is instructed during job execution in this way, the other job is executed after the current job is terminated, or another job is interrupted and another job is executed. The job is processed by one of the methods of executing the job that was interrupted after the job was first executed.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-237999, in order to avoid waiting for an operator who has instructed execution of a job, when execution of another job is instructed during execution of a job, a job in which the operator intervenes is displayed. A technique for preferential execution is disclosed.
JP 2001-237999 A

  However, even for a job involving an operator, when the operator sits at the seat and instructs the execution of the job from his / her terminal, the operator moves to the front of the image processing apparatus and moves the operation unit of the image processing apparatus. The amount of dissatisfaction that the operator feels about waiting for the completion of the job differs from the case where the operation is instructed to execute the job. Naturally, when the operator moves in front of the image processing apparatus and issues a job, the dissatisfaction that is felt is great.

  In addition, when document data received by facsimile is temporarily stored in a memory or the like and printed together at the time desired by the operator, if the document data is not printed at the time desired by the operator, the frustration felt by the operator is large.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus that sequentially executes a plurality of jobs without causing an operator to feel great dissatisfaction.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes storage means for storing a job, execution means for executing a job, and instruction means for instructing execution of the stored job. The execution means executes the stored job when the execution of the stored job is instructed, regardless of the execution state of the job.

  Therefore, the instruction means indicates the job stored at the time desired by the operator, so that the stored job can be performed at the time desired by the operator.

  Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention receives a job, a receiving unit that receives a job, an executing unit that executes the received job, and the receiving unit receives another job when the executing unit is executing a job. In this case, the execution means includes a job being executed and a specifying means for specifying a function provided by executing another job. If the function of the specified other job is higher in importance than the function of the job being executed, the execution means interrupts the execution of the job being executed and executes the other job.

  Therefore, a job having a high function importance is preferentially executed. The job to be executed here is determined by the function because there is a case where the operator is restrained until the job is completed by the function, and a case where the job is not performed. For example, in the case of copying, the operator must move the document to a certain position of the scanner and wait in front of the printer until the copy is discharged. However, in the case of facsimile transmission, facsimile transmission can be executed simply by sending a facsimile command from its own terminal. Since the dissatisfaction felt by the operator increases as the restraint time becomes longer, the order of jobs to be executed is changed according to the function in this way, so that the operator rarely feels dissatisfaction.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that sequentially executes a plurality of jobs without causing the operator to feel great dissatisfaction.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 is connected to terminals 121, 122,... The image processing apparatus 100 accepts various jobs from the user via these terminals 121, 122... And the operation panel 101 provided in the image processing apparatus 100. Jobs that can be processed by the image processing apparatus 100 are printing, copying, facsimile transmission / reception, and the like.

  A method for inputting an instruction for each job to the image processing apparatus 100 will be described.

  In the case of an instruction for printing or facsimile transmission, it can be input from the terminals 121, 122. When inputting from the terminals 121, 122,..., The user displays the image data to be printed or transmitted by facsimile on the monitor 131 of the terminals 121, 122, as shown in FIG. An image processing apparatus icon 132 displayed in 131 is pressed. When this icon 132 is pressed, the monitor 131 is switched to the screen shown in FIG. When the screen is switched, the user clicks the print radio button 141 to print, or the facsimile radio button 142 to send a facsimile. In the case of facsimile transmission, the destination number is entered in the input field 143.

  Next, the user inputs the date and time when printing or facsimile transmission is executed in the input field 151 at the bottom of the screen shown in FIG. 2B and presses the OK key 152. If the user wants to execute printing or facsimile immediately, the user presses the OK key 152 without inputting anything in the input field 151.

  When the OK key 152 is pressed, the terminal 121, 122... Displays the image data displayed on the monitor 131, the type of function corresponding to the clicked radio button (printing, facsimile transmission), and the input field 151. When the date is input, the date is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 100. When the facsimile transmission destination number is input, the number is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 100. The transmitted image data, function type, date, and number are accepted as a job by the accepting unit 102 of the image processing apparatus 100.

  The accepting unit 102 inputs the received job to the execution unit 104 when the received job does not include the date and time, and inputs the job to the storage unit 105 when the received job includes the date and time. .

  When inputting a copy instruction to the image processing apparatus 100, the user places a document to be copied on the document table of the scanner unit of the image processing apparatus 100 and performs the operation shown in FIG. A start key 310 displayed on the initial screen of the panel 101 is pressed.

  When the start key 310 is pressed, the reception unit 102 receives a copy job, and the reception unit 102 inputs the copy job to the execution unit 104.

  Reception of the facsimile is automatically performed by the communication means 103 when image data is transmitted from the communication partner by facsimile. When the communication unit 103 receives image data transmitted by facsimile, the communication unit 103 inputs the received image data to the reception unit 102. The accepting unit 102 inputs the image data input from the communication unit 103 to the execution unit 104 or the storage unit 105 according to the following user setting.

  The user setting to input to the execution means 104 or the storage means 105 is performed using the operation panel 101. When performing this user setting, first, the facsimile reception key 302 shown in FIG. When the key 302 is pressed, the accepting unit 102 switches the operation panel 101 to the screen shown in FIG. When the screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 3B, the user clicks the radio button 321 for execution immediately if the user wants to print the image data immediately after receiving the facsimile, and specifies that the user wants to print the image at a predetermined date and time. Click the execute radio button 322 on the day and time. When the radio button 322 is clicked, the date and time to be printed are entered in the input field 323. When the user clicks the radio button 321 or clicks the radio button 322 to input the date and time in the input field 323, the user presses the OK key 324. When the OK key 324 is pressed, the accepting unit 102 stores the clicked radio button and the input date and time, and returns the operation panel 101 to the initial screen.

  When the reception unit 102 stores that the radio button 321 is clicked when the image data is input from the communication unit 103, the reception unit 102 inputs the image data and the print command to the execution unit 104. On the other hand, when the reception unit 102 stores that the radio button 322 is clicked when the image data is input from the communication unit 103, the reception unit 102 stores the image data, the date and time input in the input field 323, and the printing An instruction is input to the storage means 105.

  As described above, when a job is input from the accepting unit 102, the executing unit 104 immediately executes the job. If the input job is printing, the image data included in the input job is printed and the printed matter is output. If the input job is facsimile transmission, the image data included in the input job is transmitted by facsimile to the number included in the input job. If the input job is a copy job, the scanner unit reads the original and outputs a copy of the read original.

  The date and time included in the job input to the storage unit 105 is constantly monitored by the instruction unit 106. When the date and time included in the job is reached, the instruction unit 106 issues an interrupt instruction to the execution unit 104 as an instruction to execute the job.

  If the execution unit 104 is executing a job when an interrupt instruction is issued, the execution unit 104 interrupts the job being executed. When the job is not executed after the instruction is given, the execution unit 104 acquires the job instructed from the storage unit 105 and executes the stored job. If the execution unit 104 interrupts a job being executed when an interrupt instruction is issued, the execution unit 104 resumes the interrupted job when the accumulated job is completed. When a job is input from the accepting unit 102 during execution of the accumulated job, the execution unit 104 may execute the input job after executing all the accumulated jobs. The input job may be interrupted and the input job may be executed first.

  As described above, even if the execution unit 104 is executing a job, if there is an interrupt instruction, the job that is the target of the interrupt instruction is executed. Therefore, by inputting the desired date and time when the job is executed in the input fields shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, the job is always executed at that date and time.

When the user or the like presses the stored job execution key 301 shown in FIG. 3, the instruction unit 106 instructs the execution unit 104 to execute all jobs stored in the storage unit 105. When this instruction is given, the execution unit 104 interrupts the job being executed when the job is being executed. When the job is not executed after the above instruction is issued, the execution unit 104 acquires all jobs from the storage unit 105 and executes all acquired jobs. The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can execute a stored job by simply pressing a single key as described above. Therefore, when the user wants to execute the stored job, the user can execute the stored job only by pressing the stored job execution key 301.
(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus 400 is connected to a plurality of terminals 421, 422,. The image processing apparatus 400 accepts various jobs from the user via these terminals 421, 422, and the operation panel 401 provided in the image processing apparatus 400. Jobs that can be processed by the image processing apparatus 400 are printing, copying, facsimile transmission / reception, and the like.

  A method for inputting an instruction for each job to the image processing apparatus 400 will be described.

  In the case of an instruction for printing or facsimile transmission, it can be input from the terminals 421, 422,. When inputting from the terminals 421, 422, etc., as shown in FIG. 5A, the user displays the image data to be printed or transmitted on the monitor 431 of the terminals 421, 422, etc. The image processing apparatus icon 432 displayed at 431 is pressed. When this icon 432 is pressed, the monitor 431 is switched to the screen shown in FIG. When the screen is switched, the user clicks the print radio button 441 to perform printing, and the facsimile radio button 442 to transmit a facsimile. In the case of facsimile transmission, the destination number is entered in the input field 443. Furthermore, even if the image processing apparatus 400 is executing another job, the other job being executed is interrupted and printing or facsimile transmission is to be preferentially performed as shown in FIG. Click the interrupt radio button 445. When the radio buttons 441 and 445 are clicked and a number is entered in the input field 443, the user presses an OK key 452.

  When the OK key 452 is pressed, the image data displayed on the monitor 431 from the terminals 421, 422, the type of function corresponding to the clicked radio button (printing, facsimile transmission), and the interrupt radio button Whether or not 445 is pressed and a facsimile transmission destination number is input, the number is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 400. The transmitted image data, the type of function, whether or not the interrupt radio button 445 is pressed, and the number are accepted as a job by the accepting unit 402 of the image processing apparatus 400.

  When inputting a copy instruction to the image processing apparatus 400, as in the first embodiment, the user places an original to be copied on the original platen of the scanner unit of the image processing apparatus 400, and The start key 310 displayed on the initial screen of the operation panel 401 shown in FIG.

  When the start key 310 is pressed, the accepting unit 402 accepts a copy job.

  Reception of the facsimile is automatically performed by the communication means 403 when image data is transmitted from the communication partner by facsimile. When receiving the image data transmitted by facsimile, the communication unit 403 inputs the received image data and facsimile reception to the receiving unit 402 as a job in order to print the received image data. Even if the image processing apparatus 400 is executing another job for printing the image data received by the facsimile, the other job being executed can be interrupted to be preferentially performed. The user can set whether or not the priority is given.

  This setting is performed using the operation panel 401. When performing this setting, first, the facsimile reception key 302 shown in FIG. When the key 302 is pressed, the accepting unit 102 switches the operation panel 101 to the screen shown in FIG. When the screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 6, even when the image processing apparatus 400 executes another job, the user interrupts the other job being executed and preferentially performs the job. When the button 621 is clicked and another job is being executed by the image processing apparatus 400, when the other job is to be executed, the radio button 622 without interruption is clicked. When the user clicks the radio buttons 621 and 622, the user presses the OK key 624. When the OK key 624 is pressed, the accepting unit 402 stores the clicked radio button and returns the operation panel 401 to the initial screen.

  As described above, when the receiving unit 402 receives a job, the receiving unit 402 inputs the received job to the specifying unit 407.

  When a job is input, the specifying unit 407 gives importance to the input job and the job executed by the execution unit 404. The importance assigned in this embodiment is the highest for a copy job, the second highest for printing or facsimile transmission associated with whether the interrupt radio button 445 is pressed, and the interrupt radio button is selected. Facsimile reception job accepted at the time of storage is the third highest, and printing or facsimile transmission not associated with whether or not the interrupt radio button 445 has been pressed and the interrupt radio button are stored. The order of facsimile reception jobs received at the time of receiving is the fourth highest. When the execution means 404 is not executing a job, the importance of the job being executed by the execution means 404 is set to the lowest importance.

  If importance is given to the input job and the job being executed, the specifying unit 407 stores the input job when the importance of the job being executed is equal to or higher than the importance of the input job.

  On the other hand, when the importance of the job being executed is lower than the importance of the input job, the specifying unit 407 inputs the job input to the execution unit 404. When the job is input from the specifying unit 407, the execution unit 404 interrupts the execution of the job, inputs the interrupted job to the specifying unit 407, and executes the job input from the specifying unit 407. The specifying unit 407 stores the job input from the execution unit 404.

  When the execution unit 404 completes the execution of one job while storing the job, the specifying unit 407 inputs the job having the highest importance among the stored jobs to the execution unit 404.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment executes a plurality of jobs in order without causing the operator to feel great dissatisfaction because the copy job with high importance is preferentially executed. Can do.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. An example of a terminal monitor display. An example of an operation panel display. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. An example of a terminal monitor display. An example of an operation panel display.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 400 Image processing apparatus 101 401 Operation panel 102 402 Acceptance means 103 403 Communication means 104 404 Execution means 105 Accumulation means 106 Instruction means 407 Identification means

Claims (2)

Storage means for storing jobs;
An execution means for executing the job;
An instruction means for instructing execution of the accumulated job,
An image processing apparatus, wherein when the execution of the stored job is instructed, the execution unit executes the stored job regardless of the execution state of the job. In an image processing apparatus including a receiving unit that receives a job and an executing unit that executes the received job,
When the execution unit is executing a job and another job is received by the reception unit, the job being executed and a specifying unit for specifying a function provided by executing the other job are provided. Prepared,
The execution means is characterized in that when the function of the specified other job is higher in importance than the function of the job being executed, the execution of the job being executed is interrupted and the other job is executed. Image processing device.

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