JP2010046906A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which preferentially executes a job having a smaller amount of image forming processing even if a job having a comparatively larger amount of image forming processing is being executed, without waiting for the completion of the job. <P>SOLUTION: When interrupt authorization information included in a job input by an operation displaying part 24 and a communication part 26 shows an interrupt authorization (Step ST4), the image forming apparatus 20 preferentially executes the other job input after the job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process requested from, for example, a host apparatus communicably connected via a network.

  In an environment where a plurality of users make a print request to one printing apparatus connected to the network, the jobs are normally printed in the order in which the print requests are received. For this reason, if a job with a large number of pages is received first, even if the subsequent job is a job that has only one printed sheet and is light in processing, the subsequent job will wait until the previous job is completed. There was a problem that it would be.

  As a conventional method for solving such problems, each user is given points to raise the job priority, and when raising the job priority, the necessary points are subtracted from each user's points. There is a method of controlling the order (see Patent Document 1).

  However, with this method, it is troublesome to give points to each user, for example, when an unspecified number of users such as a network printer are used. In addition, there is a problem that it takes much time for the administrator who sets the points, such as when to add the points for the user who has lost the points.

JP 2000-353057 A

  In order to solve the problems in the invention described in Patent Document 1 described above, a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-223509) filed earlier by the present applicant has a job execution order based on the number of printed jobs. There is described an image forming apparatus that can be preferentially executed by increasing the execution order of jobs with a small number of prints by setting and printing jobs in the set order.

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in the patent application filed earlier by the applicant of the present application, when a plurality of persons access the same image processing apparatus at the same time, despite the job having a small processing amount related to the image forming process, When a job having a large processing amount related to the image forming process is being executed, there is a problem in that it is necessary to continue waiting until the job currently being executed is completed.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and even if a job having a relatively large processing amount related to image formation processing is being executed, image formation can be performed without waiting until the execution is completed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preferentially executing a job with a small processing amount related to processing.

  As means for solving the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming processing unit that executes an image forming process, a job input unit that receives a job for executing the image forming process, A control unit that causes the image formation processing unit to execute image formation processing according to jobs sequentially input by the job input unit, and other jobs input after this job are included in the job input by the job input unit Interrupt permission information indicating whether or not to allow an interrupt for image formation processing is included in the job, and the control section allows the interrupt permission information included in the job input by the job input section to permit the interrupt. The image forming processing unit is controlled so as to preferentially execute another job input to the job input unit after this job.

  According to the present invention, when the interrupt permission information included in the job input by the job input unit indicates that the interrupt is permitted, another job input to the job input unit after this job. Since a job including interrupt permission information set appropriately by the user is input to the job input unit, even if a job having a relatively large processing amount related to image formation processing is being executed, Without waiting until this execution is completed, a job with a small amount of processing related to the image forming process can be executed in the priority order intended by the user.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is applied to an image forming system 1 in which a plurality of host apparatuses 10 to which a user instructs printing and an image forming apparatus 20 are connected via a network line 1a such as a LAN. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the image forming system 1 having such a configuration, the host device 10 includes a so-called personal computer including, for example, an application program 10A, an operating system 10B, and a printer driver 10C. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the host device 10 includes a control unit 11 composed of a CPU for controlling the entire device and various arithmetic processes, a ROM 12 for storing control programs and data, a temporary program as a work area, RAM 13 for storing data, hard disk 14 as an external storage device for storing various programs and data, display unit 15 such as a display, input unit 16 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various instructions, A communication unit 17 including a network interface such as a LAN card for connecting to the network line 1a is connected to each other via a bus 18.

  The image forming apparatus 20 that is communicably connected to the host apparatus 10 is a so-called multi-function machine having, for example, copy, print, scan, facsimile transmission, and facsimile reception functions. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21 centered on a CPU that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The control unit 21 includes a printing unit 22, an image reading unit 23, an operation display unit 24, an image storage unit 25, and the above. A communication unit 26 or the like including a network interface such as a LAN card for connecting to the network line 1a is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 includes a ROM 211 that stores a control program for the image forming apparatus 20, a RAM 212 that stores data fetched from the image reading unit 23 and the communication unit 26, various setting data that can be updated, and the like. An EEPROM 213 to be stored and a microcomputer 214 that reads and executes control programs and the like from the ROM 211 are configured. Further, the control unit 21 controls the entire apparatus according to the job input from the operation display unit 24 and the like and the job from the host device 10 received by the communication unit 26.

  For example, when a job for executing print processing is input from the communication unit 26, the control unit 21 temporarily stores image data included in the job in the image storage unit 25, and then stores the stored image data. The data is supplied to the printing unit 22 and printing processing is executed. In addition, when a job for executing print processing is input from the operation display unit 24, the control unit 21 reads out image data associated with the job from the image storage unit 25 and supplies the image data to the printing unit 22. Execute print processing.

  The control unit 21 holds the job input by the operation display unit 24 and the communication unit 26 in the RAM 212 and executes image forming processing according to each job in the input order, but is included in the job. If the interrupt permission information is valid, the execution order of each job is changed with reference to the interrupt permission information.

  In other words, the job input by the operation display unit 24 and the communication unit 26 includes interrupt permission information indicating whether or not to permit the image forming process to be interrupted to other jobs input after this job. Yes. Specifically, as will be described later, the control unit 21 refers to the interrupt permission information included in the job and controls the execution order of each job.

  The printing unit 22 performs output processing for converting the image data stored in the image storage unit 25 into image data for printing and printing it on output paper, and includes a printer controller, a laser scanning unit, and a fixing unit (not shown). It consists of rollers.

  The image reading unit 23 reads a document to be printed in accordance with a control command from the control unit 21 and generates image data corresponding to the document. Specifically, the document reading unit 23 includes a CCD sensor that generates image data from an optically acquired document image, a scanner including an exposure lamp, a contact glass, and the like, and is placed on the contact glass. The image data captured by scanning the document is supplied to and stored in the image storage unit 25.

  The operation display unit 24 is an operation input unit through which a request for image formation processing is input by a user operation. In other words, the operation display unit 24 performs a predetermined instruction input in response to a user operation. The operation display unit 24 is used to input a start key (not shown) for inputting a print execution instruction, the number of print copies, and the like. A numeric keypad and a liquid crystal display unit on which various operation buttons and the like for displaying operation guide information for inputting settings of various copying operations and the like are displayed.

  The image storage unit 25 is a mass storage device such as a hard disk drive, and stores the image data read by the image reading unit 23 and the image data from the host device 10 received by the communication unit 26. The image data stored in the image storage unit 25 is read in accordance with a control command from the control unit 21 and supplied to the printing unit 22, for example.

  The communication unit 26 transmits / receives a job including image data to / from a plurality of host devices 10 via the network line 1a.

  In the image forming system 1 configured as described above, even if a job having a relatively large processing amount related to the image forming process is executed, the processing amount related to the image forming process is not waited until the execution is completed. In order to preferentially execute a job with a small amount of image, for example, image forming processing such as printing processing is performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

  The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are specific execution examples in which two print jobs A and B are executed.

  In step ST1, the control unit 21 receives a print job A for executing print processing from the operation display unit 24 or the communication unit 26, and then proceeds to step ST2.

  In step ST2, the control unit 21 executes a printing process corresponding to the print job A, and proceeds to step ST3.

  In step ST3, the control unit 21 inputs the print job B while the print job A is being printed, and proceeds to step ST4.

  In step ST4, the control unit 21 refers to the interrupt permission information included in the print job A and determines whether or not this interrupt permission information is valid, that is, indicates that the interrupt is permitted. To do. Here, when the interrupt permission information included in the print job A indicates that the interrupt is permitted, the control unit 21 proceeds to step ST5, and the interrupt permission information included in the print job A is interrupted. When it is indicated that the recording is not permitted, the process proceeds to step ST15.

  In step ST5, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the number of prints printed by the print job A is larger than the number of prints printed by the print job B input after the print job A. Here, the control unit 21 proceeds to step ST6 when the number of prints printed by the print job A is larger than the number of prints printed by the print job B, and the number of prints printed by the print job A is If it is not greater than the number of prints printed by B, the process proceeds to step ST15.

  In step ST6, the control unit 21 notifies the input source that has input the print job B that it can be interrupted. Here, when the print job B is input from the operation display unit 24, the control unit 21 notifies the user that interruption is possible using the operation display unit 24. When the print job B is input by the host device 10 via the network line 1a, the control unit 21 can interrupt the user of the host device 10 that has input the print job B using the communication unit 26. Notify that. Then, it progresses to step ST7.

  In step ST7, the control unit 21 determines whether or not to execute an interrupt process for the print job A indicating that the interrupt permission information permits the interrupt from the input source notified in step ST6. Is waited for a predetermined time until it is input by the operation display unit 24 or the communication unit 26. Here, when the interrupt execution information indicating that the interrupt process is to be executed is input from the input source of the print job B by the operation display unit 24 or the communication unit 26, the control unit 21 proceeds to step ST8. In addition, the control unit 21 receives the interrupt execution information indicating that the interrupt process is not executed from the input source of the print job B by the operation display unit 24 or the communication unit 26, or the interrupt execution information is displayed. When it is not input from the input source of the print job B, the process proceeds to step ST15.

  In step ST8, the control unit 21 temporarily stops the printing process corresponding to the print job A being executed, and proceeds to step ST9.

  In step ST9, the control unit 21 starts a printing process corresponding to the print job B, and proceeds to step ST10.

  In step ST10, when the printing process corresponding to the print job B is completed, the control unit 21 proceeds to step ST11.

  In step ST11, the control unit 21 stops the operation of the image forming apparatus 20, and transits from the operation mode to the pause mode. Then, the process proceeds to step ST12.

  In step ST12, the control unit 21 receives a restart request from the input source of the print job B that has executed the interrupt process by the operation display unit 24 or the communication unit 26, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, proceeds to step ST13. move on.

  In step ST13, the control unit 21 resumes the printing process corresponding to the print job A for which the process is temporarily stopped, and proceeds to step ST14.

  In step ST14, when the printing process of the print job A is completed, the control unit 21 ends this processing process.

  In step ST15, the control unit 21 continues the printing process corresponding to the print job A being executed without pausing and proceeds to step ST16.

  In step ST16, after completing the printing process corresponding to the print job A, the control unit 21 proceeds to step ST17.

  In step ST17, the control unit 21 starts print processing corresponding to the print job B input after the print job A, and proceeds to step ST18.

  In step ST18, when the printing process corresponding to the print job B is completed, the control unit 21 ends the present processing process.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 20, when the interrupt permission information included in the job input by the operation display unit 24 and the communication unit 26 indicates that the interrupt is permitted (step ST4). Other jobs input after this job are preferentially executed. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 20, when a job including interrupt permission information appropriately set by the user is input, even if a job having a relatively large processing amount related to the image forming process is executed, the execution is completed. A job with a small amount of processing related to the image forming process can be executed in the priority order intended by the user without waiting until the image is processed.

  In particular, in the image forming apparatus 20, when the interrupt permission information indicates that the interrupt is permitted (step ST4), the number of prints printed by this job is determined by another job input after this job. Only when the number of printed sheets is larger than the number of printed sheets (step ST5), other jobs are executed with priority. Therefore, even if a print job with a relatively small number of printed sheets permits interrupt processing, this interrupt permission is permitted. Without enabling the print job, it is possible to preferentially execute a print job with a relatively small number of printed sheets. In this way, in the image forming apparatus 20, not only the interrupt permission information appropriately set by the user but also the number of prints of the job for which the interrupt is permitted and the job for executing the interrupt process are considered relatively. Even if a job having a large processing amount related to the forming process is executed, a job having a small processing amount related to the image forming process can be preferentially executed without waiting until the execution is completed.

  In step ST6, the image forming apparatus 20 notifies the input source that has input the print job B that the interrupt is possible, and the interrupt execution information indicates that the interrupt process is executed. Since the job input by the input source is executed with priority, an operating environment is provided to select whether to execute the interrupt process as appropriate for the user who wants to execute the interrupt process with the interrupt enabled. It is possible to prevent unnecessary interrupt processing that is not intended by the user from being executed.

1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the said host apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process executed by the image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process executed by the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  1 image forming system, 1a network line, 10 host device, 10A application program, 10B operating system, 10C printer driver, 11 control unit, 12 ROM, 13 RAM, 14 hard disk, 15 display unit, 16 input unit, 17 communication unit, 18 bus, 20 image forming apparatus, 21 control unit, 22 printing unit, 23 document reading unit, 24 operation display unit, 25 image storage unit, 26 communication unit, 211 ROM, 212 RAM, 213 EEPROM, 214 CPU

Claims (3)

An image formation processing unit for executing image formation processing;
A job input unit to which a job for executing the image forming process is input;
A control unit that causes the image forming processing unit to execute image forming processing in accordance with jobs sequentially input by the job input unit;
The job input by the job input unit includes interrupt permission information indicating whether or not to permit an interrupt for image forming processing to other jobs input after this job.
The control unit, when the interrupt permission information included in the job input by the job input unit indicates that the interrupt is permitted, another job input to the job input unit after this job An image forming apparatus that controls the image forming processing unit so that the image forming process is executed with priority. The image forming process executed by the image forming processing unit is a printing process for printing image data included in a job input to the job input unit,
When the interrupt permission information included in the job input by the job input unit indicates that the interrupt is permitted, the control unit displays the number of prints printed by the job after the job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming processing unit is controlled so that another job is executed with priority only when the number of prints printed by the other job input to the job input unit is larger. A notification unit that notifies the input source that has input the job to the job input unit that interruption is possible;
Interrupt execution information indicating whether or not to execute interrupt processing is input from the input source notified by the notification unit to the job indicating that the interrupt permission information permits the interrupt. An interrupt execution information input unit,
When the interrupt permission information included in the job input by the job input unit indicates that the interrupt is permitted, the control unit displays the number of prints printed by the job after the job. Only when the number of pages printed by other jobs entered in the job input section is greater than the number printed, the notification section notifies the input source that entered the other job into the job input section that the interrupt is possible. Then, the image formation is performed such that the interrupt execution information input to the interrupt execution information input unit is preferentially executed for a job input by an input source indicating that the interrupt processing is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus controls the processing unit.

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