JP2008207538A - Print processor and print processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to efficiently use a print processor by automatically releasing the suspension of print processing, even if another user intentionally suspends the print processing and leaves it standing. <P>SOLUTION: When the user pushes down a print stop/restart key 51 in an operating section 18 (S101), the print processor is shifted to the suspension status of the print processing so as to allow an equipment information management section 11 to start timing (S102). When the print suspension/restart key is not pushed down again (S103), or namely when the suspension status of the print processing is left standing, the equipment information management section 11 refers to a setting time stored in a storage device 16 (S104), and performs determination by comparing the measured elapsed time in the suspension status of the print processing with the setting time (S105). When it is determined that the elapsed time exceeds the setting time (S105: YES), the equipment information management section 11 transmits a restarting notification to a print control section 12 to restart the suspended print processing (S106). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print processing apparatus and a print processing method that automatically cancels a print processing stop state after a predetermined time has elapsed when a user intentionally stops the print processing. .

In recent years, a network configuration in which a print processing apparatus such as one printer is shared by a plurality of host apparatuses such as PCs (personal computers) has become widespread.
When a plurality of print jobs are transmitted from a plurality of host devices to the printer in such a network configuration, the printer executes the plurality of transmitted print jobs in the order of arrival.

  In this configuration, an error occurs when the paper corresponding to the print job being executed runs out, or when a paper of a size different from the paper corresponding to the print job is loaded in the paper cassette specified by the user, If the error is not resolved, the print job remains stopped.

  Therefore, when the above-mentioned error occurs and the error is not resolved within a predetermined time, printing is performed so that the next printable print job that is automatically and forcibly waited can be executed with priority. A system described in Patent Document 1 is known as a system.

  However, Patent Document 1 does not mention an instruction for resuming the printing process after the error has been eliminated, and therefore no consideration is given thereto. Therefore, there is no instruction to resume the printing process after the error has been eliminated. Otherwise, all subsequent print jobs, including print jobs that have been suspended, will remain in a waiting state, causing a problem.

As a countermeasure in such a case, when there is no instruction to resume the printing process for a predetermined time after the error is resolved, the image data stored in the image memory is cleared, that is, the print job that is stopped due to the error is canceled. Thus, there has also been proposed an image forming apparatus that can execute a subsequent print job (see Patent Document 2).
In this way, it can be said that even in the conventional printer system, a countermeasure for processing the print job after the error is eliminated is taken.

However, when the print processing is intentionally stopped, the above countermeasure cannot be applied. That is, for example, when the user wants to print only one page, when the user accidentally sets print all pages and sends the print job, the user may cancel the print job halfway. In this way, when the print processing of the printer is intentionally stopped, in order to cancel the print job, for example, a stop instruction for print processing is transmitted from the host device to stop, and then a command for canceling the print job is issued. Send. In this case, once the print process is intentionally stopped, it is necessary to send a stop release command again to release the print process stop thereafter, and the print process is stopped unless the user sends the command. Will remain. Therefore, a print job in a waiting state is not executed, and the same problem as when an error has occurred is left as it is.
JP 2000-066222 A JP 2002-262003 A

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem. The purpose of the present invention is to automatically perform a print process after a predetermined time even when the user intentionally stops the print process and leaves it. By releasing the suspension, the printer can be used efficiently by other users. Another object is to allow the user to freely set the predetermined time so that the printing process is not resumed at a timing unexpected by the user.

The invention of claim 1 is a print processing apparatus that can be connected to a host apparatus, has an input means, and performs a print process based on information transmitted from the host apparatus, the host apparatus or the input means A means for stopping the printing process based on the operation of the above, a time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from the stop of the printing process, and when the time measured by the time measuring means exceeds a preset set time, the printing And a means for canceling the suspension of the processing.
The invention of claim 2 is a print processing apparatus that can be connected to a host apparatus, has an input means, and performs a printing process based on information transmitted from the host apparatus, the host apparatus or the input means Means for stopping the printing process based on the operation of the above, a time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from the stop of the printing process, and when the time counted by the time measuring means exceeds a preset set time, the host And a notification means for notifying the apparatus that the printing process is in a stopped state.
A third aspect of the present invention is the print processing apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising setting means for setting a notification destination for notifying the host device that the print processing is in a stopped state. The destination is the host device of the administrator of the print processing apparatus and / or the sender of the print job whose printing is stopped.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the print processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the means for interrupting and resuming the timekeeping of the timekeeping means, the means for resetting the timekeeping, or the means for extending the timekeeping It has at least one.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the print processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a means for inputting an arbitrary time as the predetermined time of the time measuring means, and the input arbitrary time as a time measuring time. And setting means for setting.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the print processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the print processing apparatus further comprises means for terminating the time measurement of the time measuring means and restarting the print processing.
The invention according to claim 7 is a print processing method for executing a print job received from a host device and performing a print process, the step of stopping the print process based on an instruction of a user, and from the stop of the print process And a step of counting the elapsed time and a step of automatically canceling the stop of the printing process when the measured time exceeds a predetermined time set in advance.
The invention according to claim 8 is a print processing method for executing a print job received from a host device and performing a print process, the step of stopping the print process based on a user instruction, and from the stop of the print process A step of measuring an elapsed time, and a step of notifying the host device that the printing process is in a stopped state when the measured time exceeds a predetermined time set in advance. And
A ninth aspect of the present invention is the print processing method according to the eighth aspect, further comprising a setting step of setting a notification destination for notifying the host device that the print processing is in a stopped state. The destination is the host device of the administrator of the print processing apparatus and / or the sender of the print job whose printing is stopped.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the print processing method according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the step of interrupting or restarting the timekeeping of the timekeeping means, the resetting step of resetting the timekeeping, or the extension of extending the timekeeping. It has at least 1 process of the process, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
An eleventh aspect of the invention is the printing processing method according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, wherein an input step of inputting an arbitrary time as the predetermined time of the time measuring means, and the input arbitrary time is a time measuring time. And a setting step for setting as.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the print processing method according to any one of the seventh to eleventh aspects, the method includes the step of ending the time measurement of the time measuring means and restarting the print processing.

  According to the present invention, even if the print process is intentionally stopped and left by the user, the print process stop state is canceled after a predetermined time has elapsed, and therefore the print delay due to the stop of the print process. And the printer can be used efficiently by other users. Further, since the predetermined time can be freely set by the user, not only does the printing process in the stopped state not start when unexpected, but also the printing process can be released from the stopped state in an optimum time. .

Hereinafter, a printing processing apparatus and a printing processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a print processing apparatus and a host computer according to the present embodiment.
The print processing apparatus 1 includes a communication control unit 10, a device information management unit 11, a print control unit 12, an image formation control unit 13, a user interface (I / F) control unit 14, a network interface (I / F) 15, and a storage device. 16, a print drawing unit 17, and an operation unit 18.
The device information management unit 11 includes a controller (control unit) that transmits a command (command) to each control unit, such as transmitting a print processing stop command to the print control unit 12.

The communication control unit 10 is a notification unit that receives a command from the device information management unit 11 and notifies the host device of a message according to the command. The message notification is SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or SMTP (Simple
Use a protocol such as Mail Transfer Protocol.
The print control unit 12 controls to print in the order of arrival of the print jobs, and controls the print drawing unit 17 in response to a print processing stop command and a stop release command from the device information management unit 11.
The user I / F control unit 14 is a setting unit that controls the information input to the operation unit 18 to be stored in the storage device 16, and the information is input to the operation unit 18 according to a command from the device information management unit 11. Control the display.

The network I / F 15 connects the print processing apparatus 1 to the network so that data can be transmitted to and received from the host apparatus 60.
The operation unit 18 is an input unit for a user to input settings and the like, and includes a display unit (display panel) for displaying messages and information for the user.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the operation unit 18.
The operation unit 18 includes a plurality of keys, that is, a print stop / resume key 51, a menu key 52, a job reset key 53, a return key 54, a scroll key 55, an OK key 56, and a display panel 57.
The print stop / restart key 51 is a key for inputting stop and restart of the printing process. When pressed when the printing process is movable, the printing process is stopped. When the printing process is stopped, the printing process is stopped (a general term for performing a key operation). Here, it is called “pressing” or “pressing” (including the case where a key is operated by touching), and the stop of the printing process is released (moved). An LED (light emitting diode) is provided inside the key, and the LED is lit in yellow or the like when the printing process is stopped.

The menu key 52 is a key for displaying a menu screen. When the menu key 52 is pressed, the menu screen is displayed, and various setting screens are displayed from the menu screen.
The job reset key 53 is a key for resetting a print job. When the print process is in a stopped state, the job reset key 53 can be pressed to reset the stopped print job.
The return key 54 and the OK key 56 are keys for canceling and determining an item selected on the menu screen. For example, the menu key has a hierarchical structure displayed by the menu key 52 and is displayed on the menu screen. The user presses the OK key 56 to determine one of the plurality of selection items, and presses the return key 54 to cancel the selected selection item.
The scroll key 55 is a key for scrolling the screen on the screen when selecting a plurality of selection items on the menu screen or the like.
The display panel 57 is a display means for displaying that the printing process is movable and stopped, and a menu screen.

  The print processing apparatus 1 having the above configuration automatically cancels the stop and receives a print job when the stop state continues for a predetermined time even when the print processing is intentionally stopped. Can resume the printing process.

Next, a configuration for stopping and canceling a print process in the print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 shows a display example of the display panel 57 of the operation unit 18. With reference to FIG. 3, stop and release of the print processing of the print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be schematically described.
FIG. 3A shows a state where the print processing in the print processing apparatus is in a movable (stop release) state and there is no print job.
The display panel 57 displays that “printing is possible” indicating that the printing process is in a movable (cancel stop) state. When a print job is transmitted to the print processing apparatus in this state, the printing process is started.

FIG. 3B shows the print processing device 1 when the print processing device 1 is in a state where the print processing is possible (stop release state), and when the print job is input, that is, when the display “printing is possible” in FIG. Shows a state where a print job has been submitted.
The display panel 57 of the operation unit 18 displays “printing in progress” indicating that the print processing apparatus is printing, and the document name of the print job being printed (meeting minutes.txt in the figure) and The printing paper size (A4 (plain paper) in the figure) is displayed. When the execution of this print job is completed, the display returns to the display on the display panel 57 in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C shows a display on the panel 57 when the printing process is stopped and there is no print job. That is, it shows a state in which the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed when the print processing apparatus is in the state of “printing is possible” shown in FIG. 3A.
In this case, “printing is stopped” is displayed on the display panel 57 and the printing process is in a stopped state. When the printing stop / resume key 51 is pressed again in this state, the display on the display panel 57 in FIG. 3A is displayed. Return to "Can print".

FIG. 3D shows the display panel 57 when a print job is input to the print processing apparatus in which the print processing is stopped. That is, the print processing apparatus displays on the display panel 57 in FIG. 3C: a state in which a print job is input when “printing is stopped”, or the print processing apparatus displays “printing in progress” on the display panel 57 in FIG. 3B. In this state, the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed.
In this case, the display panel 57 displays that “printing is stopped” and that the printing process is stopped, and the document name of the print job whose printing is stopped (meeting minutes. (A4 (plain paper) in the figure) is displayed.
When the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed, the display returns to the display “printing in progress” on the display panel 57 in FIG. 3B and the printing process is resumed. When the job reset key 53 is pressed to reset the print job, FIG. Return to the panel display “Printing stopped”.
In the above description, the print stop / restart is switched by pressing the print stop / restart key 51. However, for example, it may be performed from one item of the menu screen or from a host device connected via a network. You can do this with

The print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can automatically cancel the stop when the stop state continues for a predetermined time, and can restart the print processing when a print job is received. That is, the time (elapsed time) that has elapsed since the printing process stopped is compared with the time (set time) set in advance by default, and when the elapsed time exceeds the set time, the stop automatically occurs. To release.
The set time can be changed by the user using the operation unit 18 or the like as will be described later, and the changed set time is stored in the storage device 16.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing automatic stop cancellation processing of the print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this flowchart, the printing process starts from a state in which a print job is received in a movable (cancel stop) state.
First, in order to intentionally stop the execution of a print job, the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed from the operation unit 18 (S101), and the printing process is switched from the movable (stop cancel) state to the stop state. At the same time, the device information management unit 11 starts timing (S102) and determines again whether the print stop / resume key 51 has been pressed (S103).
When the print stop / restart key 51 is pressed again in step S103 (S103, YES), the stop is released and the printing process is restarted (S106). However, when there is no waiting print job, the printing process is not resumed, but only the suspension is canceled.

If the print stop / restart key 51 is not pressed again (S103, NO), the device information management unit 11 refers to the set time stored in the storage device 16 (S104). The set time referred to is compared with the elapsed time being measured, and when it is determined that the elapsed time has exceeded the set time (YES in S105), the device information management unit 11 sends a print restart notification to the print control unit 12. The stop is released and the print control unit 12 resumes the printing process (S106).
When it is determined that the elapsed time does not exceed the set time (S105, NO), the process returns to step S103, and the processes of steps S103 to S105 are repeated.

With the above processing flow, even when the printing process is left in the stopped state, the suspension is automatically canceled, and when the print job is transmitted to the print processing apparatus, the printing process can be resumed. Printing delay due to stoppage can be minimized.
Note that the device information management unit 11 executes all the determination processes in the flowchart.

When the print processing stop state continues for a predetermined time, the print processing device notifies the user (host device) that it is in the stop state instead of automatically canceling the stop and restarting the print processing. You can also.
In addition, the user can select whether to notify the administrator of a predetermined print processing apparatus or to notify the owner of the print job (print job transmission source). As a notification, notification by E-mail (e-mail) or notification using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) can be selected.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a notification method selection menu displayed on the display panel 57.
As shown in the figure, the notification method selection menu has a tree structure. First, when “Stop state notification setting” of the menu is selected on the menu screen, “Notification destination selection” and “Notification method selection” are set. Can do.
The “notification destination selection” item includes “notify the administrator” for notifying the administrator of the print processing apparatus and “notify the job owner” for notifying the owner of the print job in the waiting state.
In addition, in the “notify job owner” item, as a subordinate item, the first print job in the waiting print job, that is, the owner of the print job to be executed next when the print stop is released is displayed. There is a “first job” to be notified, and “all jobs” to be notified to the owners of all the print jobs in the waiting state.
The user can select one or both of “notify manager” and “notify job owner”.

On the other hand, in the “notification method selection” item, “E-mail transmission” for notifying by e-mail using an e-mail address owned by each user that the printing process is stopped is connected to the network. Using the IP (Internet Protocol) address of each host device, it is possible to select “notification to host device” to be notified using SNMP.
When the user selects each item described above, the selected content is stored in the RAM of the storage device 16. The notification is performed by the communication control unit 10.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a notification operation process of the print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this flowchart, the printing process starts from a movable (stop release) state.
Since the processing of step S201 to step S206 is the same as the processing of step S101 to step S106 shown in FIG. 4, the description thereof will be omitted and the processing from step S207 will be described.
In the processing of step S205, the set time referred to is compared with the elapsed time being measured, and when the elapsed time exceeds the set time (S205, YES), the device information management unit 11 stores it in the RAM of the storage device 16. With reference to the saved content selected in the selection menu shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the notification destination is “notify administrator” (S207), and the notification destination is “notify administrator”. Is determined (S207, YES), the administrator information (e-mail address or IP address) of the administrator stored in advance in the RAM is acquired and set as the notification destination (S208).

Next, it is determined whether or not the notification method is “e-mail transmission”, and when “e-mail transmission” is selected (S209, YES), e-mail transmission is performed using the e-mail address that is the administrator information. To notify the message (S210).
When the notification method is not “e-mail transmission”, that is, when “notification to host device” is selected (S209, NO), the print processing can be performed on the host device via the network using the IP address. A notification indicating that the state is (cancel stop) is sent (S211).

On the other hand, in the process of step S207, when the notification destination is not an administrator, that is, “notify to job owner” is selected (S207, NO), the subordinate notification destination is “first job”. It is determined whether or not (S212).
When the notification destination is set to “first job” (S212, YES), an attempt is made to acquire owner information (e-mail address or IP address) of the sender of the first job (S213). Here, the acquisition of the owner information is read from the transmission source information included in the print job.
When the owner information of the first job cannot be acquired (S213, NO), the administrator information stored in the RAM in advance is acquired and set as the notification destination (S208), and notification is performed using the processing flow already described. (S209 to S211).
When the owner information of the sender of the first job can be acquired (S213, YES), the acquired owner information is set as a notification destination and notified (S214).

In the process of step S212, when the notification destination is not the “first job”, that is, when the notification destination is “all jobs” (S212, NO), first, the print processing apparatus 1 enters a waiting state. The current print job is referred to (S215), and the owner information of the referred print job is acquired.
When the owner information of the referred print job cannot be acquired (S216, NO), the administrator information stored in the RAM in advance is acquired and set as the notification destination (S219), and the owner information of the referenced print job is acquired. Is acquired (S216, YES), the owner information of the referred print job is set as the notification destination (S217).
After the notification destination is set, it is determined whether or not the search has been completed for all of the waiting print jobs (S218). If the search has not been completed (S218, NO), the process returns to step S215 to wait. This is performed for all the remaining print jobs until the processing of step S215 to step S219 is completed. When the search of all print jobs is completed (S218, YES), notification is performed in the processing flow already described to the set notification destination (S209 to S211).

By the processing described above, when a predetermined time elapses, that is, when the elapsed time exceeds a set time, the user is notified that the print processing is in a stopped state. it can.
Accordingly, for example, the user can know that the printing process is in a stopped state, and can avoid leaving the stopped state.

  In addition, the print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment changes the print processing stop state to an error state similar to, for example, a paper jam or no toner when the stop state has elapsed for a predetermined time, so that the print job It is also possible to notify the host device that has transmitted as an error using SNMP.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an error notification operation process of the print processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
Since the processing of step S301 to step S306 is the same as the processing of step S101 to step S106 shown in FIG. 4, a part of the description is omitted, and the processing from step S305 will be described.
In the process of step S305, the elapsed time of the stop state of the printing process timed by the time measuring means is compared with the set time stored in the storage device 16, and when the elapsed time exceeds the set time (S305, YES) The device information management unit 11 changes the status of the print processing apparatus to an error (S307). When the status is changed to the error status, the communication control unit 10 notifies the host device that has transmitted the print job as an error status of the print processing stop status (S308).
However, when the print job is not in a waiting state, an error state is displayed on the display panel 57 of the operation unit 18.

  With the above processing, it is possible to easily notify that the print processing is in a stopped state without using the notification destination setting by the notification operation similar to the notification of an error such as a paper jam or no toner.

Next, another embodiment of stopping and canceling print processing in the print processing apparatus 1 will be described.
FIG. 8 shows a display example of the display panel 57 of the operation unit 18 according to another embodiment. The stop and release of the print processing of the print processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8A to 8D are the same as FIGS. 4A to 4D already described.
That is, FIG. 8A shows a state where the print processing in the print processing apparatus is in a movable (stop release) state and there is no print job. The display panel 57 displays that “printing is possible” indicating that the printing process is in a movable (cancel stop) state. When a print job is transmitted to the print processing apparatus in this state, the printing process is started.

FIG. 8B shows the print processing device 1 when the print processing device 1 is ready for print processing (stop release state), when the print job is input, that is, when the display of FIG. Shows a state where a print job has been submitted.
The display panel 57 of the operation unit 18 displays “printing in progress” indicating that the print processing apparatus is printing, and the document name of the print job being printed (meeting minutes.txt in the figure) and The printing paper size (A4 (plain paper) in the figure) is displayed. When the execution of this print job is completed, the display returns to the operation unit 18 in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C shows the display on the panel 57 when the printing process is stopped and there is no print job. That is, it shows a state where the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed when the print processing apparatus is in the display “printing is possible” state shown in FIG. 8A.
In this case, “printing is stopped” is displayed on the display panel 57 and the printing process is stopped. When the printing stop / resume key 51 is pressed again in this state, the display on the operation unit 18 in FIG. 8A is displayed. Return to "Can print".

FIG. 8D shows the display panel 57 when a print job is input to the print processing apparatus in which the print processing is stopped. That is, when the print processing device is displayed on the display panel 57 in FIG. 8C: “printing is stopped”, a print job has been input, or the print processing device is displayed on the display panel 57 in FIG. In some cases, the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed.
In this case, the display panel 57 displays that “printing is stopped” and that the printing process is stopped, and the document name of the print job whose printing is stopped (meeting minutes. (A4 (plain paper) in the figure) is displayed.
If the print stop / resume key 51 is pressed, the display returns to the “printing in progress” display on the panel 57 in FIG. 8B and the printing process is resumed. If the job reset key 53 is pressed to reset the print job, the print job shown in FIG. The panel display returns to “Printing stopped”.

Further, FIG. 8E shows the display on the display panel 57 when the cover is opened when the display of the display panel 57 in FIG. 8C is “printing is stopped”. As described above, the state is shifted to the timing stop state, so that “time stop” is displayed in addition to “print stop”. Here, when the cover is closed, the operation unit 18 returns to the display of FIG. 2C.
FIG. 8F shows a display on the display panel 57 when the cover is opened in a state in which “printing is stopped” and that the printing process is stopped are displayed on the display panel 57 in FIG. 8D. In addition to “printing stopped” and “display of the document name and print paper size of the print job being stopped”, “time measurement is stopped” is displayed.

When the display on the display panel 57 of the operation unit 18 is in the state of FIG. 8F, the state of FIG. 8D is displayed when the cover is closed, and the state of FIG.
If a job is submitted while the display on the display panel 57 is in the display state of FIG. 8E, the operation unit 18 is in the display state of FIG. 8F.

  In the above description, the print stop / restart is switched by pressing the print stop / restart key 51. However, for example, it may be performed from one item of the menu screen, or a host device connected via the network. You may also use the command from Here, the switching of the timing stop / restart is performed by opening and closing the cover. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the switching means may be the opening and closing of the tray, or a person who detects a person in front of the apparatus. It may be a sensor.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram for stopping and canceling the printing process in the embodiment described above.
The device information management unit 11 of the print processing apparatus 1 includes a controller stop unit 100, a print stop / restart button 101, a time reset button 102, a time extension button 103, a time setting button 104, and various types connected to the controller control unit 100. Key 105, timekeeping initial value 106, timekeeping addition value 107, timekeeping unit 108, subtraction counter (remaining time) 106, timekeeping reset / restart flag 110, printing suspension flag 111, and front cover sensor 112 are provided. Yes.

When the controller control unit 100 detects that the print stop / resume button 101 is pressed while the display of the operation unit 18 is in the state shown in FIG. 8A or 8B, the controller control unit 100 sets the print stop flag 111 and thereafter executes the engine (print drawing The control unit 17) is controlled so as not to issue a print request, and after confirming that all requests issued to the engine are completed, the state transits to a print stop state (FIG. 8C or FIG. 8D).
At the time of transition to the print stop state, a predetermined time (timekeeping initial value 106, for example, 15 minutes) is set to the subtraction counter (remaining time) 109, the timekeeping unit 108 is started, and the subtraction counter 109 is set to zero. When the normal subtraction counter 109 becomes zero, an event occurs, and the controller control unit 100 detects this.

When the controller control unit 100 detects that the subtraction counter 109 has become zero, the controller control unit 100 drops the printing stop flag 111 and shifts to a printable state (movable state). Thereafter, the engine (print drawing) is performed as necessary. Part 17).
When the controller control unit 100 receives an event from a predetermined sensor while printing is stopped, for example, when the front cover sensor detects the opening of the front cover, the controller control unit 100 stops the operation of the time measuring unit 108. When the time counting unit 108 stops, the subtraction counter 109 does not change during that period, and therefore the count value does not become zero, so that the printable state (movable state) is not changed.

  When the controller control unit 100 receives an event from the cover sensor again in the above state and detects that the front cover is closed, for example, the controller control unit 100 restarts the time measuring unit 108. At that time, it is possible to simply restart the time measurement from the continuation of the stop, but it is also possible to set a predetermined time (time measurement initial value 106) in the subtraction counter 109 again and start counting again from the beginning. The switching may be performed using a clock reset / restart flag, or another well-known means may be used.

  It is also possible to change the value of the subtraction counter 109 at any point in the print stop state (regardless of the operation / stop state of the timing unit 108). For example, when the time reset button 102 is pressed, the subtraction counter 109 can be returned to the initial time value 106, and every time the time extension button 103 is pressed, the predetermined time addition value 107 (for example, 5 minutes) is incremented. It can be added to the subtraction counter 109. Alternatively, the remaining time of the subtraction counter 109 can be set freely by pressing the time setting button and using various keys.

If the front cover is closed when the front cover is open, the controller control unit 100 receives an event from the front cover sensor again, restarts the operation of the time measuring unit 108, and starts from the set value of the subtraction counter. Resume timing.
Although an example in which the subtraction counter 109 is used for the time measuring unit 108 is shown here, even when the addition counter is used, a similar function can be realized simply by changing the value counting method.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the timing process of the timing unit 108 while printing is stopped as described above.
In the print processing apparatus 1, when the print stop / resume button 101 is pressed during the print process and the time measurement process starts, the controller control unit 100 first sets the initial value 106 in the subtraction counter 109 (S401), Here, the subtraction counter value is decremented by a certain number at regular time intervals, and the time counting process is terminated (or resumed) when the subtraction counter value becomes zero (S402). Here, when the print restart button is pressed (S403, YES), the timing process is ended (that is, the print process is restarted). If the print restart button is not pressed (S403, NO) and the counter is zero (S404, YES), the process ends (that is, if there is a print job, the print process starts (FIG. 8B), otherwise). A print standby state is entered (FIG. 8A).

If the counter is not zero (S404, NO) and the time reset button is pressed at that time (S405, YES), an initial value is set in the subtraction counter (S406), and the process returns to step S403.
If the time reset button has not been pressed (S405, NO) and the time extension button has been pressed (S407, YES), a predetermined value is added to the subtraction counter, that is, the time is extended (S408), step Return to S403.

In step S407, if the time extension button has not been pressed (S407, NO), it is next determined whether or not the time setting button has been pressed (S409). If the time setting button has been pressed (S409, YES) For example, a desired time is input using various keys to set a time (predetermined time) designated in the subtraction counter (S410), and the process returns to step S403.
If the time setting button is not pressed (S409, NO) and the cover is opened, that is, if there is an opening operation of the cover (S411, YES), the time measurement is stopped (S412), and the process returns to step S403.
If the cover cannot be opened, that is, if the cover is not opened (S411, NO), the process proceeds to step S413, and if the cover is not closed in step S413, that is, if the cover is not closed (S413, NO), step Return to S403. If the cover is closed in step S413, that is, if there is a cover closing operation (S413, YES), according to the state of the reset flag, that is, referring to the value of the flag, if it is restarted (S414, restart), Timekeeping is resumed from the value of the subtraction counter at the time of timekeeping stop, and the process returns to step S402. If reset (S414, reset), the process returns to step S401, that is, the start. .
According to this embodiment, when the printing process is stopped at the user's will as described above, the predetermined time until the stop is released can be freely set in various ways. Not only is there no risk of resuming, but an optimum time can be set for the convenience of the user, so that the usability of the print processing apparatus is improved.

It is a block diagram of the element of a printing processing apparatus. It is a surface view of a display panel. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display panel when the print processing apparatus stops or restarts printing. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic stop cancellation process of the print processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection menu of the notification method displayed on a display panel. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating notification operation processing of the print processing apparatus. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an error notification operation process of the print processing apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another display example of the display panel when the print processing apparatus stops or restarts printing. It is a functional block diagram for performing stop and cancellation of print processing It is a flowchart which shows the process regarding the time measurement in the time of printing stop of a printing process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Print processing apparatus, 10 ... Communication control part, 11 ... Equipment information management part, 12 ... Print control part 12 ... Image formation control part, 14 ... User I / F control 15, Network I / F, 16, Storage device 16, Print drawing unit, 18, Operation unit, 51, Print stop / resume key, 52, Menu key, 53 ... Job reset key, 54 ... Return key, 55 ... Cursor key, 56 ... OK key, 57 ... Display panel, 60 ... Host device.

Claims (12)

A print processing apparatus that can be connected to a host apparatus, has an input means, and performs a printing process based on information transmitted from the host apparatus,
A means for stopping the printing process based on an operation of the host device or the input means; a time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time since the stop of the printing process; and a preset time set by the time measured by the time measuring means And a means for canceling the stop of the print processing when the print processing is exceeded. A print processing apparatus that can be connected to a host apparatus, has an input means, and performs a printing process based on information transmitted from the host apparatus,
A means for stopping the printing process based on an operation of the host device or the input means; a time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time since the stop of the printing process; and a preset time set by the time measured by the time measuring means And a notifying means for notifying the host device that the printing process is in a stopped state when the value exceeds the limit. The print processing apparatus according to claim 2,
A setting unit configured to set a notification destination for notifying the host device that print processing is in a stopped state, and the notification destination is an administrator of the print processing device and / or transmission of a print job in which printing is stopped Print processing apparatus, characterized in that the print processing apparatus is a user's host device. The print processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A printing processing apparatus comprising: at least one of means for interrupting and resuming the timekeeping of the timekeeping means, means for resetting the timekeeping, and means for extending the timekeeping. The print processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A print processing apparatus comprising: means for inputting an arbitrary time as the predetermined time of the time measuring means; and setting means for setting the input arbitrary time as a time measuring time. The print processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A print processing apparatus, comprising: means for terminating the time measurement of the time measuring means and restarting the print processing. A print processing method for performing print processing by executing a print job received from a host device,
A step of stopping the printing process based on a user's instruction, a step of counting an elapsed time from the stop of the printing process, and automatically when the measured time exceeds a predetermined time And a step of canceling the stop of the printing process. A print processing method for performing print processing by executing a print job received from a host device,
A step of stopping the printing process based on a user instruction, a step of counting an elapsed time from the stop of the printing process, and a time when the counted time exceeds a predetermined time, to the host device And a step of notifying that the printing process is in a stopped state. The print processing method according to claim 8, wherein:
A setting step for setting a notification destination for notifying the host device that print processing is in a stopped state, and the notification destination is an administrator of the print processing device and / or transmission of a print job in which printing is stopped Print processing method, characterized in that the print processing method is a user's host device. The print processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A printing processing method comprising: at least one of a step of interrupting or resuming timing of the timing unit, a resetting step of resetting the timing, or an extending step of extending the timing. The print processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A printing processing method comprising: an input step of inputting an arbitrary time as the predetermined time of the time measuring means; and a setting step of setting the input arbitrary time as a time measuring time. The print processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 11,
A printing processing method comprising: a step of ending the timing of the timing means and restarting the printing process.

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