JP2009098980A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an alternative apparatus intended by a user to automatically continue a processing when an error interrupting a job happens, and to automatically execute a plurality of processings. <P>SOLUTION: When the error happens, apparatus setting information relating to the interrupted job is obtained in accordance with GetSettings command of a user application, and the apparatus setting information and a scanned image data file are sent to other designated image forming apparatus in accordance with Migrate command of the user application. The image data file as well can be sent to the other image forming apparatus via a file server after image data are obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image input / output function and an image forming system in which a plurality of such apparatuses are connected via a network, and in particular, an image forming apparatus having an interpreter for interpreting and executing a simple user application described in text And an image forming system.

  In image forming apparatuses, particularly multifunction peripherals, multi-functionalization is progressing in order to meet the demands of various users.

  However, since the number of menu items increases due to the increase in functionality, the menu structure becomes complicated and the operability deteriorates. That is, the number of functions that are not used by the user increases, and the number of buttons that must be pressed on the operation panel in order to execute the functions that are desired to be used increases, resulting in poor operability. In particular, this problem becomes significant when a plurality of functions are continuously executed.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 below discloses that an instruction word combining a plurality of operations is described in an XML language and the processing is executed.

On the other hand, in the following Patent Document 2, when an error such as a jam occurs and printing is interrupted, a printable alternative candidate is automatically detected from other image forming apparatuses connected to the LAN, and the alternative candidate is detected. A configuration is disclosed in which a user selects one of them, print data is automatically transmitted thereto, and printing is continued.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-080019 JP 2007-226291 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the process is executed regardless of the operation panel, it is not convenient for a user who is not familiar with the program.

  In Patent Document 2, a printable alternative candidate must be detected from all other image forming apparatuses, and the user must select one of a plurality of alternative candidates. As the configuration becomes complicated and the user leaves the operation panel, it is impossible to cope with urgent printing. Even if one of a plurality of alternative candidates is automatically selected, there is a possibility that an alternative device not intended by the user is selected.

  In view of such problems, the object of the present invention is to allow an alternative device intended by the user to automatically continue the process and automatically execute a plurality of processes when an error that interrupts the job occurs. And providing an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

In the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a processor, a storage unit storing a program, an operation panel, and a communication interface, the program includes normal time processing and error time processing. A user application and an interpreter, the interpreter for the processor
(A) The normal processing is executed,
(B) When an error occurs during the normal process, the apparatus setting information related to the interrupted job is acquired based on the error process, and then the apparatus setting information and job data to be continued are The image data is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus designated by the time processing via the communication interface.

In a second aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the first aspect, the normal processing includes an icon display instruction including an icon attribute, an image input instruction, and an image output instruction in this order.
The interpreter sends the processor in process (a):
(A1) An icon corresponding to the attribute is displayed on the operation panel or a remote console via the communication interface,
(A2) The on state of the icon is detected, and the image input command and the image output command are executed in response to the detection of the on state.

According to a third aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus including a processor, a storage unit storing a program, an operation panel, and a communication interface, the program is processed at normal time and error processing. And an interpreter, the interpreter for the processor
(A) Based on the normal processing, image data is acquired, then the image data is transmitted to a file server, and then the image data is output.
(B) When an error occurs during the output of the image data and the job is interrupted, the apparatus setting information related to the job is acquired based on the error process, and then the apparatus setting information is processed into the error process. Is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus designated by the above-mentioned communication interface.

When a job is interrupted due to an error, the user generally knows empirically which image forming apparatus should be used as an alternative apparatus. In addition, the probability that two image forming apparatuses simultaneously cause an error is generally minimal. Therefore, it is preferable to leave the selection of the alternative device to the user's judgment.
If this selection is made manually, it is time consuming, and if the user leaves the image forming apparatus, it may not be possible to cope with urgent image output. Furthermore, there are cases where it is desired that the image forming apparatus automatically execute a plurality of processes for input image data.
According to the configuration of the first aspect, when an error occurs during the normal time process of the user application including the normal time process and the error time process, the job is interrupted based on the error time process. When the apparatus setting information is acquired and the apparatus setting information and job data to be continued are transmitted to the other image forming apparatus specified in the error process, when an error occurs with a simple configuration It is possible to automatically continue the process for the alternative device intended by the user and to allow the image forming apparatus to automatically execute a plurality of processes.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, the normal process includes an icon display command including an icon attribute, an image input command, and an image output command in this order, and an icon corresponding to the attribute is displayed on the operation panel. Alternatively, the image input command and the image output command are displayed on a remote console via a communication interface, and the image input command and the image output command are executed in response to the ON detection of the icon. As a result, it is possible to achieve the effect that it is possible to realize the above and contribute to improvement in operability for each user.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, since the image data is transmitted to the file server after obtaining the image data, the image data can be used for purposes other than the job continuation by the alternative device after the job is interrupted, There is an effect that reusability and security of image data can be improved.

  Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  In this image forming apparatus 10, the MPU 11 is connected to the PROM 13, DRAM 14, operation panel 15, printer 16, scanner 17, NIC 18, FAX modem 19, USB port 20, toner remaining amount detector 21, IC card reader 22 via the interface 12. The electronic tag reader 23 and the timer TM are coupled. In FIG. 11, a plurality of interfaces are shown as one block for the sake of simplicity.

  The PROM 13 is, for example, a flash memory, and stores an operating system (OS), various programs that operate on the upper layer of the OS, and various setting values. The various programs are for causing the image forming apparatus 10 to function as a multifunction peripheral. The functions include copying, scanning, printing, facsimile transmission / reception, electronic mail transmission / reception, and HTTP communication. The DRAM 14 is for a work area.

  The operation panel 15 includes a display unit and a key input unit, and is used for inputting setting information or instructions to display a selection screen, a setting screen, or the like. The printer 16 includes a print engine, a fixing device, a paper feed unit, a conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit, and forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum of the print engine based on bitmap data supplied as print data. Then, this is developed with toner, transferred onto paper, fixed, and discharged. The scanner 17 is for image input in copying and facsimile transmission. The NIC 18 is coupled to a host computer and a server on the network and used for ordering print jobs and consumables. The FAX modem 19 is for facsimile transmission / reception.

  The toner remaining amount detector 21 detects the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge for the printer 16 and outputs a signal thereof. The IC card reader 22 transmits and receives signals to and from the IC card existing within a predetermined range, reads the user ID and password information, and outputs these as authentication information for the image forming apparatus 10. The electronic tag reader 23 reads out and outputs the ID from the electronic tag fixed to the toner cartridge. This ID includes the type and serial number of the toner cartridge.

  Outputs from the toner remaining amount detector 21 and the electronic tag reader 23 are read by the MPU 11 periodically and when the toner cartridge is mounted in accordance with a program, and stored in the DRAM 14 as Toner.Level and Toner.RFID, respectively, as shown in FIG. .

  The USB memory 24A connected to the port 20 includes, for example, a flash memory chip.

  The host computer 25 has its NIC coupled to the NIC 18 via a hub and to the Internet 26 via a router (not shown). A Web server machine 27 is coupled to the Internet 26 via a router (not shown). On the other hand, the FAX modem 19 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the FAX modem of the Web server machine 27 are coupled via a public line network 28.

  The timer TM is for detecting the current time and for interrupting the timer to the MPU 11.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a software hierarchical structure of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The OS 30 includes a device driver 31 corresponding to each of various types of hardware in its kernel, for example, Linux.

  A basic service program 33 as middleware is provided in the upper layer of the OS 30 via an API 32 for using various functions in the OS 30. The basic service program 33 includes an operation panel control module 330, a scan module 331 as an image input module, a data processing module for processing input data, and a print module 332 as an image output module for outputting processed image data. And an input / output module.

  The operation panel control module 330 is for displaying an operation button on the operation panel 15 and detecting pressing thereof. The input / output modules include a FAX transmission / reception module 333, an electronic mail transmission / reception module 334, and an HTTP processing module 339. The data processing module includes an IC card control module 335, an RFID control module 336, a format conversion module 337 for converting the format of image data, an unillustrated aggregation processing module, a pagination module, and the like. The basic service program 33 further includes an address book module 338 used as a utility module for specifying facsimile and electronic mail destinations.

  An application 35 is provided in the upper layer of the basic service program 33 via an external API 34. The application 35 is a program created using the module of the basic service program 33 via the external API 34. The application 35 includes a copy module 350, a print module 351, a FAX module 352, an e-mail module 353, a job management module 354, and an operation panel module 355. For example, the copy module 350 is configured by combining a scan module 331 and a print module 332. The FAX module 352 is configured by combining a FAX transmission / reception module 333 and an address book module 338.

  The software of the image forming apparatus 10 further includes an interpreter 38 for the simple user application 37. The interpreter 38 interprets a command statement of the user application 37 and uses a function included in the basic service program 33, the application 35, or the OS 30 via the external API 34, the external API 36, or the API 32, respectively, so that the user application 37 Is to execute.

  The user application 37 is created, for example, by the host computer 25, subjected to grammar check, copied into the USB memory 24A, and read into the DRAM 14 via the port 20. The user application 37 assigns a line number to each line by preprocessing. 5A to 5C and FIGS. 6A to 6C show specific examples of the user application 37. FIG.

  Here, a main menu screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the operation panel 15, and when the “USER APPLICATION” button on this screen is touched (pressed), the “of FIG. 3B” is displayed. A display other than “USER APPLICATION” and processing related thereto are performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart showing processing of the interpreter 38 for the user application 37.

  This process is started, for example, every 20 msec by a timer interrupt. Hereinafter, the numbers in parentheses are step identification numbers in the figure.

  (S0) A counter LC indicating the next processing target row number of the user application 37 is initialized to 0.

  (S1) The line indicated by the counter LC is read from the user application 37, the value of LC is assigned to the current counter CLC, and the line number of the statement next to the statement indicated by the current counter CLC is assigned to the next line counter LC. . The statement delimiter is a semicolon ";" or a closing parenthesis "}" as in the C language. In the case of FIG. 5A, LC = 1 follows LC = 0, and then LC = 7 if the conditional statement is not satisfied, and LC = 2 in step S10 described later if the conditional statement is not satisfied.

  (S2) If there is no line to be read in step S1, the process is terminated, and if it exists, the process proceeds to step S3.

  (S3) If the statement is a ResetEnd statement, go to step S4, otherwise go to step S7.

  (S4) If the end flag EF indicating the end of consumable management is “0”, the process returns to step S1, and if it is “1”, the process proceeds to step S5.

  (S5) The success or failure of the conditional expression (REC) described in parentheses of the ResetEnd statement is determined. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S6, and if not, the process of FIG.

  (S6) The end flag EF is reset, an after-order display described later on the operation panel 15 is cleared, and the process returns to step S1.

  (S7) If the CLC line is a conditional phrase, the process proceeds to step S8; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In the case of FIG. 5A, LC = 1 row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” and LC = 2 row “Button (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner. Level.ToPages & sheets) {"is a conditional phrase.

  The latter is an abbreviation of the condition phrase (button phrase) “If Button (120, 80, 60, 30, Cartridge Order & CrLf & Remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & Sheets) is pushed {”. With this abbreviated description, the nested structure of conditional statements is apparently concealed, so that the user application 37 can be easily viewed and the user application 37 can be easily created.

  (S8) If the line of the current number CLC is a button phrase, button display data is created based on the argument, and displayed on the operation panel 15 as, for example, the button 40 in FIG.

  In the case of the button phrase of LC = 2, among the arguments (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets), (120, 80) are buttons on the operation panel 15 The XY coordinates of the upper left vertex of the button, (60, 30) are the width and height of the button, and “cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets” is the text on the button. Here, & is a character concatenation operator, CrLf indicates a carriage return control code, and Toner.Level.ToPages indicates the above-described toner remaining amount detection value converted into an average number of printed sheets. Button display data creation processing and display processing are performed using functions included in the operation panel control module 330 and the operation panel module 355.

  After this display process, an internal flag F is set, and if this flag F is set in step S8 from the next time, this button display data creation process is omitted.

  (S9) The success or failure of the conditional expression in the conditional phrase is determined, and if satisfied, the process proceeds to step S10, and if not, the process returns to step S1.

  (S10) The content of the next line counter LC is changed to the line number when the condition is satisfied. That is, LC = CLC + 1. Next, the process returns to step S1.

  (S11) If the line of the current number CLC is an End statement, the process proceeds to step S13, and if not, the process proceeds to step S12.

  (S12) Process the contents of the line with the current number CLC, and return to step S1.

  (S13) The end sentence End is executed, and the process of FIG. That is, the button on the operation panel 15 displayed in step S8 is cleared, the internal flag F is reset, and the end flag EF is set.

  Next, a specific example of the processing in FIG. 1 will be described in the case where the user application 37 is as shown in FIG. The end flag EF is initially set to “1”.

  (1) Due to the timer interrupt, LC = 0 is first set at step S0. In step S1, a line ResetEnd (Toner.Level> Level.High) with LC = 0 is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 1. The conditional expression “Toner.Level> Level.High” of the ResetEnd statement is determined in step S5 through steps S2, S3, and S4. Immediately after cartridge replacement, this conditional expression “Toner.Level> Level.High” is satisfied, and EF = 0 in step S6. Here, the threshold Level.High is stored in advance in the PROM 13 as shown in FIG. 2 together with thresholds Level.Low1, Level.Low2,.

  Returning to step S1, the row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” of LC = 1 is read, and CLC = 1 and LC = 7. The conditional expression “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is determined to be negative in step S9 through steps S2, S3, S7, and S8, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, a line with LC = 7 is read out, and since this is Null, an affirmative determination is made in step S2 and the process ends.

  (2) At the next timer interrupt, first, LC = 0 in step S0. In step S1, a line “ResetEnd (Toner.Level> Level.High)” with LC = 0 is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 1. An affirmative determination is made in step S4 through steps S2 and S3, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, the row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” of LC = 1 is read, and CLC = 1 and LC = 7. The conditional expression “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is determined to be negative in step S9 through steps S2, S3, S7, and S8, and the process returns to step S1. Since the LC = 7 row is read and this is Null, an affirmative determination is made in step S2 and the processing ends.

  Thereafter, if a negative determination is made in step S9, such processing (2) is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the toner remaining amount Toner.Level decreases with time and becomes less than a preset threshold Level.Low1, the condition “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is satisfied.

(3) Due to the timer interrupt, LC = 0 is first set at step S0. In step S1, a line “ResetEnd (Toner.Level> Level.High)” with LC = 0 is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 1. An affirmative determination is made in step S4 through steps S2 and S3, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, the row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” of LC = 1 is read, and CLC = 1 and LC = 7. The conditional expression “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is affirmed in step S9 through steps S2, S3, S7, and S8, and the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, LC = 2, and the process returns to step S1.
In step S1, LC = 2 row "Button (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets) {"
Is obtained, CLC = 2, LC = 7 (next line in case of sentence delimiter), and the display data of the button 40 is created as described above in step S8 through steps S2, S3 and S7. This is displayed on the operation panel 15 and the internal flag F is set. Since the display range (120, 80, 60, 30) of the button 40 has not yet been touched (pressed), a negative determination is made in step S9, and the process returns to step S1.

  In step S1, a row Null with LC = 7 is extracted, and the process ends through step S2.

  Thereafter, if the button 40 is not pressed, such processing (3) is performed.

  (4) When the button 40 is pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S9, LC = 3 in step S10, and the process returns to step S1.

In step S1, a line “Order (Toner.RFID To DefaultDealer)” with LC = 3 is extracted, and CLC = 3 and LC = 4. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 3 is processed in step S12. That is, an HTTP request message including the toner cartridge type included in Toner.RFID and the hidden user ID in Order is generated, and the destination DefaultDealer (for example, http: shown in FIG. 2) is transmitted via the NIC 18 and the Internet 26. //km.com:80) to the Web server machine 27. The request line for this message is, for example:
GET /cgi-bin/order.cgi?UserID=21035&Type=KM102 HTTP / 1.0
It is. Here, UserID = 21035 is stored in advance in the PROM 13 as shown in FIG. Type = KM102 is a toner cartridge type that is a part of the contents of Toner.RFID. Transmission / reception of HTTP messages is performed using the HTTP processing module 339 and the OS 30.

  In response to the HTTP request message, the Web server machine 27 starts the CGI program of the path name / cgi-bin / order.cgi included in the message with the query string UserID = 21035 & Type = KM102 included in the HTTP request message as an argument. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the received date and time is set as the order date and time, and the toner cartridge type, customer ID, and scheduled shipping date are entered in the table TBL1. The customer ID is the same as the above UserID. The scheduled shipping date is determined based on the inventory status obtained as a result of searching the inventory database 29 using the model as a key. The completion flag in the table TBL1 is reset at the time of ordering and is set at the time of shipment.

  This table TBL1 is linked to a customer information table TBL2 including fields such as customer ID, company name, address, person in charge, department name, department number, telephone number, facsimile number, etc., and a relational database is configured.

  The Web server machine 27 uses the order date and time as the order date and time, generates an HTTP response message including the type of toner cartridge and the scheduled shipping date based on the template file, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 10.

  In response to this, the image forming apparatus 10 displays the content of the received message on the operation panel 15 as shown in FIG.

  When the processing of such a line of CLC = 3 is completed, the process returns to step S1, the line End of LC = 4 is extracted, and CLC = 4 and LC = 7. Through steps S2, S3, S7, and S11, the line End of CLC = 4 is processed in step S13. That is, the display of the button 40 on the operation panel 15 is cleared, the internal flag F is reset, and the end flag EF is set.

  Thus, even if the processing of FIG. 1 is started by the timer interruption until the toner cartridge is replaced, a negative determination is made in both steps S4 and S5, and as shown in FIG. It is not displayed on the operation panel 15 and the display of the ordered order is maintained.

  After such a process (4), when the toner cartridge is replaced as shown in FIG. 4, the condition of the ResetEnd statement is satisfied, the above process (1) is performed, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S6, and EF = 0, and the displayed order on the operation panel 15 is cleared.

  When it is not necessary to place an order for a toner cartridge because the toner cartridge is in stock, the output of the electronic tag reader 23 is read by the MPU 11 according to a program different from that shown in FIG. Is stored in the DRAM 14 as Toner.RFID shown in FIG. At this time, the same process as step S13 in FIG. 1 is performed by the program. Thus, the toner cartridge ordering button 40 is not displayed on the operation panel 15 until Toner.Level <Level.Low1 is satisfied.

  According to the first embodiment, a conditional reset end command ResetEnd and a user application in which a combination of the attribute of the button 40 and the Order command is described, and according to the interpreter 38, whether the conditional reset end command ResetEnd is successful or not is determined. In response to detecting the ON of the button 40 and executing the Order command in response to the detection of the ON, the structure of the user application that changes the user interface according to the condition even if the conditional statement is substantially nested There is an effect that it becomes easy.

  Further, even if the conditional statement is further nested by the If statement, there is an effect that the structure of the user application that changes the user interface according to the condition becomes simple.

  Also, the attribute of the button 40 as an icon (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets) and consumable ordering order Order (Toner.RFID To DefaultDealer) The button 40 is displayed on the operation panel 15 based on the attribute of the simple user application described as follows, and in response to the detection of the ON, the consumable item ordering information is sent to the destination via the NIC 18 based on the consumable item ordering command. Therefore, it is possible to easily order the consumables by the description of the simple user application, and to cope with this even if the consumable consumption rate suddenly increases or decreases unexpectedly.

  The attribute of the button 40 includes a description of the consumption state “Remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets”, and the detected consumption state is displayed on the operation panel 15 based on this description. The effect is that consumables can be ordered at the right time.

  Furthermore, since the consumption state is displayed in the display area (120, 80, 60, 30) of the button 40, the user operability is improved.

  Further, since step S4 is arranged before step S5, once the end flag EF is reset, the conditional expression of the reset end command ResetEnd is not determined, and the toner remaining amount detection value fluctuates due to mechanical vibration. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to continuously detect the ON state of the button 40 without complicating the user application.

  In addition, since the fact that consumables have been ordered is displayed on the operation panel 15 after the consumables ordering information is transmitted, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent multiple consumables from being ordered by a plurality of users.

  Furthermore, since the display of the button 40 on the operation panel 15 is deleted after the consumables ordering information is transmitted, the operability is improved, and it is possible to prevent erroneous operations and repeated ordering of consumables by a plurality of users. .

  In addition, since the deletion is performed based on the end command End included in the user application, it is possible to select whether or not to perform the deletion with a simple description.

  In addition, the toner cartridge type is automatically read from the electronic tag and used as ordering information.

  5B and 5C show user applications that differ from FIG. 5A only in the ordering form.

In the case of FIG. 5B, as the cartridge ordering process,
"Fax cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to address book (dealer1, fax)" is executed using the FAX module 352 in step S12 of FIG. This statement sends the contents of the file cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to the destination. This destination is a return value of the address book (dealer1, fax) which is a function. In the address book, a facsimile number and an e-mail address are entered for each destination, and the argument fax indicates that the facsimile number of the record indicated by the argument dealer1 is the return value of this function.

  In the case of FIG. 5C, “Email cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to address book (dealer1, email)” is executed using the electronic mail module 353 in step S12 of FIG. This statement sends the contents of the file cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to the destination. This destination is a return value of the address book (dealer1, email) which is a function. The argument email indicates that the email address of the record indicated by the argument dealer1 is the return value of this function.

  The process of FIG. 1 can also be applied to a user application unrelated to consumables ordering, and specific examples are shown in FIGS.

  Next, the processing of FIG. 1 for the user application shown in FIG.

  (5) Due to the timer interrupt, LC = 0 is first set at step S0. In step S1, LC = 0 row “Button (20, 30, 60, 30, slip transmission) {” is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 5. Through steps S2, S3, and S7, a button 41 as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed in step S8, and an internal flag F is set. Since the display range (20, 30, 60, 30) of the button 41 has not been pressed yet, a negative determination is made in step S9, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, a row Null with LC = 5 is extracted, and the process ends through step S2.

  Thereafter, if the button 41 is not pressed, such processing (5) is performed.

  (6) When the user places a document on the document table of the image forming apparatus 10 and presses the button 41, an affirmative determination is made in step S9, LC = 1 in step S10, and the process returns to step S1.

  In step S1, a line “file.pdf = Scan” with LC = 1 is extracted, and CLC = 1 and LC = 2. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 1 is processed in step S12. That is, the scanner 17 operates to read a document image, and the data is converted into a pdf format and converted to file.pdf.

  Returning to step S1, the line “Fax file.pdf to address book (head office accounting department, fax)” with LC = 2 is read, and CLC = 2 and LC = 3. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 2 is processed in step S12. That is, the contents of the file file.pdf are transmitted to the destination that is the return value of the address book (head office accounting department, fax).

  Returning to step S1, the line “Email file.pdf to address book (Taro Sasaki, email)” with LC = 3 is read, and CLC = 3 and LC = 5. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 3 is processed in step S12. That is, the file file.pdf is e-mailed to the destination which is the return value of the address book (Taro Sasaki, email). For example, a copy of the facsimile transmission content is transmitted to the user.

  Returning to step S1, a null row with LC = 5 is read, and the process of FIG. 1 is terminated through step S2. The button 41 remains displayed on the operation panel 15.

  In the case of FIG. 6B, the same processing as described above is performed, and after sending the e-mail, the End statement is further processed, the display of the button 41 on the operation panel 15 is cleared in step S13, and the internal flag F is reset. At the same time, the end flag EF is set.

  In the case of FIG. 6C, the line “ResetEnd (ICcardID = KM01)” with CLC = 1 is processed in step S12 before the process of FIG. 6B. That is, the encrypted user ID and password stored in the user's IC card 24B are read by the IC card reader 22 via radio waves. Then, the user ID registered in the PROM 13 and the password encrypted twice, for example, are read, the latter is decrypted once, and both are verified. If both of them match and the user ID matches KM01 of “ICcardID = KM01”, that is, if the user authentication with the ID of KM01 succeeds, the condition of the ResetEnd statement is satisfied, and step S5 Is affirmative, and EF = 0 in step S6. Thereafter, the same processing as in FIG. 6B is performed.

  If the user authentication has failed, a negative determination is made in step S5, the processing of FIG. 1 ends, and the button 41 is not displayed on the operation panel 15.

  Therefore, the button 41 is displayed on the operation panel 15 each time only for a specific user, the above-described sequence processing is performed, and the button 41 disappears from the operation panel 15 when the processing is completed. In other words, the user interface can be configured for each user with a simple user application.

  Next, when printing is interrupted due to an error such as a jam or no paper during printing, processing for causing another image forming apparatus to continue printing will be described as a second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 7A is a schematic block diagram illustrating an image forming system according to the second embodiment.

  In this system, m image forming apparatuses 101 to 10m and (n−1) host computers 252 to 25n are coupled to an in-house LAN 26L. The m image forming apparatuses 101 to 10m are connected by peer-to-peer.

  For example, consider a case where a document is scanned and printed by the image forming apparatus 101. When printing is interrupted due to an error such as a jam during printing, the scanned image data and setting information of the image forming apparatus 101 relating to this printing are transmitted to another image forming apparatus to execute a subsequent job. .

  In this case, the user knows empirically which image forming apparatus should be printed as an alternative apparatus. In addition, the probability that two image forming apparatuses simultaneously cause an error is generally minimal. Therefore, it is preferable to leave the selection of the alternative device to the user's judgment.

  However, if this selection is made manually, it is troublesome, and if the user leaves the image forming apparatus, it may not be possible to cope with urgent printing. Further, there is a case where it is desired to automatically execute processing such as e-mail transmission on the scanned image data as in the above example.

  Therefore, such processing is executed by the interpreter 38 using a user application as shown in FIG.

  Here, in the case of document scanning, even if an error occurs during scanning, it cannot be automatically continued by another image forming apparatus. That is, automatic continuation is limited to processing for errors during image output.

  The user application in FIG. 7B is different from that in FIG. 6A in that a Try-CatchError statement is present and a FAX transmission command is replaced with a print command. For this Try-CatchError statement, the processing in the Try clause is normal processing, and the processing in the CatchError clause is processing when an error occurs. The print command “Print file.pdf” is for causing the printer 16 to print the file file.pdf acquired by the scan command “file.pdf = Scan”, for example.

  The processing of the interpreter 38 for the user application of FIG. 7B is basically the same as that of FIG. However, step S0 in FIG. 1 is replaced with the process in FIG. 8A, and step S12 in FIG. 1 is replaced with the process in FIG. 8B. The execution of the interpreter 38 is started by the timer interrupt as described above, at the normal time and when an error event occurs.

  (S01) If an error event has occurred, an error flag is set. If this error flag is set, the process proceeds to step S03, and if not, the process proceeds to step S02. This error flag is reset when it is determined in step S2 in FIG.

  (S02) 0 is substituted into the row counter LC, 0 is substituted into a variable EN indicating what number Try-CatchError statement is, and the process proceeds to step S1.

  (S03) In the user application, the first processing line in the CatchError phrase in the EN-th Try-CatchError statement is found, the line number is assigned to the line counter LC, and the process proceeds to step S1.

  The meaning of these processes will become clear from the following description.

  (S121) If the Try phrase is, for example, the LC = 2 line in FIG. 7B, the process proceeds to step S122; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S123.

  (S122) The variable EN is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S1.

  If an error occurs during execution of a print statement with LC = 3 due to EN = 1, the CatchError phrase in the first Try-CatchError statement in the user application in step S03 of FIG. Line number 6 of the first statement in is assigned to LC.

  (S123) If the LC line is a CatchError phrase, the process proceeds to step S124; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S125.

  (S124) The value of LC is updated to the number of the next line in the CatchError phrase. For example, if it is determined that LC = 5 in FIG. 7B and the CatchError phrase is included, 9 is assigned to LC. Next, the process proceeds to step S1.

  (S125) The LC row is processed, and the process returns to step S1.

  Next, the outline of the above processing will be described for the user application in FIG.

  If an error event such as a jam occurs during execution of a print command with LC = 3 and printing is interrupted, LC = 6 is set in step S03 as described above, and an image relating to printing, which is the interrupted function in step S125. Setting information in the forming apparatus 101 is acquired, and the setting information is substituted into a predetermined structure variable S. Next, when returning to step S1 and proceeding again to step S125, the instruction “Migrate (file.pdf, S, MFP2)” of LC = 7 is executed, and this setting information S and LC = 1 are scanned. The content of the obtained file file.pdf is transmitted to the designated MPF2. MPF2 is the ID of the image forming apparatus. By referring to a table (not shown) using this as a key, the IP address of the image forming apparatus corresponding to this ID is determined as the transmission destination address. The setting information S includes the value of the interrupted page, and the received alternative device starts printing the contents of the file file.pdf from this page.

  Since the Email command with LC = 9 exists outside the Try-CatchError statement, it is executed regardless of whether or not an error has occurred. That is, after the LC = 3 printing process is interrupted with an error or completed without an error, the line with LC = 9 is executed in step S125. This processing when an error occurs may be performed in a different thread from the error processing or may be performed after the error processing is completed.

  According to the second embodiment, when an error occurs, the device setting information related to the interrupted job is acquired based on the GetSettings command in the user application, and the device setting information and the scanned image data file are: Based on the Migrate command in the user application, it is sent to the specified other image forming apparatus, so if an error occurs with a simple user application, the process can be automatically continued for an alternative device intended by the user. There is an effect that can be done.

  FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram showing an image forming system of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In this image forming system, a file server 251 is added to that of FIG.

  A file file.pdf of image data obtained by scanning with any of the image forming apparatuses 101 to 10m is transmitted to the file server 251 and recorded by executing the command “Send (file.pdf, FileServer)”. The recorded file can be reused from any one of the image forming apparatuses 101 to 10m and the host computers 252 to 25n that are permitted. Also, with this disclosed function, the scanned image files are mutually monitored to ensure security.

  Upon receiving this file, the file server 251 assigns a unique new file name (file ID), for example, “file1234.pdf”, and notifies this to the image forming apparatus that is the transmission source.

  When printing is interrupted due to an error as described above, the setting information S of the image forming apparatus 101 is acquired by executing the GetSettings command, and by executing the Migrate command in which the file ID and the alternative device are specified, The data is transmitted to this alternative device. For example, when the image forming apparatus 102 receives this, the image forming apparatus 102 requests the file server 251 by designating the file ID. In response to this, the file server 251 reads this file from the storage device and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 102. The image forming apparatus 102 prints this file according to the setting information S as in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 9B shows a user application in the image forming apparatus 101 for performing such processing.

  The difference from Fig. 7B is that the file is sent to the file server 251 by the Send command at LC = 2, and the command "Migrate (file1234.pdf, S, MFP2)" at LC = 8 is specified. The file name "file1234.pdf" itself is sent.

  According to the third embodiment, since the image data is transmitted to the file server 251 after the image data is acquired, the image data can be used for purposes other than the job continuation by the alternative device after the job is interrupted. There is an effect that data reusability and security can be improved.

  The present invention includes various modifications in addition to the above.

  For example, by describing a plurality of user applications or by describing a plurality of combinations of conditional phrases and processing statements in one user application, three or more buttons are displayed on the display screen of FIG. Thus, daily operations may be processed using only this menu.

  Further, the user application only needs to be stored in the image forming apparatus via the input interface, and may be configured via an input interface of another removable memory such as a flash memory card or a communication unit.

  Furthermore, the shape of the icon displayed on the operation panel 15 is not limited to the button, and icons having various shapes may be used.

  In the execution of the Migrate instruction of the second embodiment or the Send instruction of the third embodiment, the scanned image data and setting information may be converted into print job data by a print driver and transmitted. In this case, the image forming apparatus that has received this can be executed as a normal print process.

  Alternatively, a document may be set on the image forming apparatus 101 and one of the host computers 252 to 25n may be used as a remote console instead of the operation panel 15. In this case, the icon is turned on (selected) by clicking the mouse, for example.

  Furthermore, in the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the content of the file having the designated file name may be transmitted by executing the Migrate command.

  Alternatively, one or more image forming apparatuses may be coupled to the network 26L via a print server. In this case, the communication interface of each image forming apparatus may be a local communication interface such as a USB.

4 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of an interpreter for a user application stored in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a partial explanatory diagram of data stored in a PROM and a DRAM of the image forming apparatus. FIG. (A) is a diagram showing a main menu screen on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and (B) is a diagram showing a menu screen displayed when the “USER APPLICATION” button in (A) is selected. (C) is a figure which shows the screen after selecting the button 40 of (B). FIG. 2 is a process explanatory diagram of FIG. 1 showing a graph of the remaining amount of toner over time. (A) to (C) are diagrams showing specific examples of user applications relating to toner cartridge ordering. (A)-(C) is a figure which shows the specific example of the user application regarding the scan of a slip, facsimile transmission, and electronic mail transmission. FIG. 7A is a schematic block diagram of an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a user application including processing for executing a job in an alternative apparatus when an error is interrupted. (A) is a partial flowchart which shows the process used instead of step S0 of FIG. 1, (B) is a partial flowchart which shows the process used instead of step S12 of FIG. FIG. 7A is a schematic block diagram of an image forming system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a user application including processing for executing a job in an alternative apparatus when an error is interrupted. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a software hierarchical structure of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10, 101 to 10 m Image forming apparatus 11 MPU
12 Interface 13 PROM
14 DRAM
15 Operation panel 16 Printer 17 Scanner 18 NIC
19 FAX modem 20 Port 21 Remaining toner detector 22 IC card reader 23 Electronic tag reader 24A USB memory 24B IC card 25, 252 to 25n Host computer 251 File server 26 Internet 26L LAN
27 Web server machine 28 Public network 30 OS
31 Device driver 32 API
33 Basic service program 330 Operation panel control module 331 Scan module 332 Print module 333 FAX transmission / reception module 334 E-mail transmission / reception module 335 IC card control module 336 RFID control module 337 Format conversion module 338 Address book module 339 HTTP processing module 34, 36 External API
35 Application 350 Copy module 351 Print module 352 FAX module 353 E-mail module 354 Job management module 355 Operation panel module 37 User application 38 Interpreter 40, 41 Button TBL1, TBL2 table

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus comprising a processor, a storage means storing a program, an operation panel, and a communication interface,
The program includes a user application including normal time processing and error time processing, and an interpreter.
The interpreter gives the processor
(A) The normal processing is executed,
(B) When an error occurs during the normal process, the apparatus setting information related to the interrupted job is acquired based on the error process, and then the apparatus setting information and job data to be continued are Transmitting to another image forming apparatus designated by the time processing via the communication interface;
An image forming apparatus. The normal processing includes an icon display command including an icon attribute, an image input command, and an image output command in this order.
The interpreter sends the processor in process (a):
(A1) An icon corresponding to the attribute is displayed on the operation panel or a remote console via the communication interface,
(A2) detecting that the icon is on, and executing the image input command and the image output command in response to the detection of the on.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The error processing is processing when an error occurs during execution of the image output instruction,
The interpreter uses the part or all of the data acquired in the image input process as the job data to be continued in the process (b).
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   4. An image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses according to claim 1 connected to a network on a peer-to-peer basis. In an image forming apparatus comprising a processor, a storage means storing a program, an operation panel, and a communication interface,
The program includes a user application including normal time processing and error time processing, and an interpreter.
The interpreter gives the processor
(A) Based on the normal processing, image data is acquired, then the image data is transmitted to a file server, and then the image data is output.
(B) When an error occurs during the output of the image data and the job is interrupted, the apparatus setting information related to the job is acquired based on the error process, and then the apparatus setting information is processed into the error process. Via the communication interface to another image forming apparatus designated by
An image forming apparatus. The normal processing further includes an icon display command including an icon attribute before the image data acquisition command,
The interpreter sends the processor in process (a):
(A1) An icon corresponding to the attribute is displayed on the operation panel or a remote console via the communication interface,
(A2) detecting that the icon is turned on, and proceeding to processing (b) in response to the detection of the on,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. An image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses according to claim 5 or 6 are coupled to a network on a peer-to-peer basis, and a file server is further coupled to the network.
The designated other image forming apparatus, after receiving the apparatus setting information, makes a transmission request for image data corresponding to the apparatus setting information to the file server,
The file server
Storing image data received from any one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses in the storage means;
In response to the image data transmission request, the request target image data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the requesting image forming apparatus.
An image forming system.

Images