JP2011118474A - Job management system, job management program, prohibition determination program, computer, electric equipment, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user who operates a computer to recognize functions whose combination is impossible in the case of creating a job when the user creates a job to be executed by an image forming apparatus by an external server or the like, and makes the image forming apparatus execute the job through a Web service or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In this job management system, a PC 31 is provided with: a job acceptance part 212 for accepting the setting of a job from a user; and a job transmission part 2131 for transmitting the job to a multifunction peripheral 1. The multifunction peripheral 1 is provided with: a job reception part 1021 for receiving a job from a PC 31; a prohibition determination part 101 for determining whether or not the combination of a plurality of functions configuring the job becomes the object of prohibition processing; a control part 103 for executing the job; and a prohibition information transmission part 1022 for, when the combination of the plurality of functions configuring the job becomes the object of prohibition processing, transmitting prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions is the object of prohibition processing to the PC 31. The PC 31 is provided with: a prohibition information reception part 2132 for receiving prohibition information from the multifunction peripheral 1; and a prohibition information storage part 241 for storing prohibition information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a job management system, a job management program, a prohibition determination program, a computer, an electrical device, and an image forming apparatus, and in particular, a job including a combination of a plurality of functions from a computer to an electrical device connected to the computer. It is related with the technique at the time of performing.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, in an image forming apparatus capable of executing a job in which a plurality of functions are combined, a user creates a combination of a plurality of functions by operating an operation panel. Set the job with. In such an image forming apparatus, for a combination of a plurality of functions constituting a job, setting of prohibition processing indicating a relationship of functions that cannot be combined (for example, in the copying operation, the document mixed function and the page aggregation function cannot be combined) Etc.), and when the user operates the operation panel of the image forming apparatus to set a job by combining a plurality of functions, the operation panel indicates which combination of functions is impossible. The technology of displaying on the display unit and allowing the user to recognize is adopted.

JP 2008-302546 A

  However, the above-described conventional image forming apparatus merely displays functions that cannot be combined at the time of job setting to the user when the user performs job setting by operating the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, in the technique according to the conventional image forming apparatus, a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus by a computer such as an external server is created, and the job is transmitted from the computer to the image forming apparatus via a Web service or the like. It cannot be handled when the job is executed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and creates a job to be executed by an electrical device such as an image forming apparatus using a computer such as an external server, and the image forming apparatus from the computer via a Web service or the like. It is an object of the present invention to enable a user who operates the computer to grasp functions that cannot be combined at the time of job creation even when the job is executed by an electrical device such as the above.

Invention of Claim 1 of this invention is a job management system provided with the computer and the electric equipment connected to the said computer,
The computer includes a job reception unit that receives a job setting including a combination of a plurality of functions from a user, and a job transmission unit that transmits the job whose setting is received by the job reception unit to the electrical device,
The electrical device includes a job receiving unit that receives a job transmitted from the computer, and a combination of the plurality of functions that make up the job received by the job receiving unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance. When it is determined that a combination of a prohibition determination unit that determines whether or not the job, a job execution unit that executes the received job, and a plurality of functions that form the received job is the target of the prohibition process, the job A prohibition information transmitting unit that transmits prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions that constitutes the target of the prohibition processing to the computer,
The computer further includes a prohibition information receiving unit that receives the prohibition information from the electrical device, and a prohibition information storage unit that stores the prohibition information received by the prohibition information receiving unit.

  According to the present invention, in the computer, when a job setting including a combination of a plurality of functions is received from the user by the job receiving unit, the job transmitting unit transmits the received job to the electrical device. In an electrical device, the prohibition determination unit determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of the prohibition process, and determines that the job is a target of the prohibition process. In such a case, the prohibition information transmission unit transmits prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job is a target of prohibition processing to the computer. In the computer, the prohibition information storage unit stores the prohibition information received by the prohibition information reception unit.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a job to be executed by an electrical device such as an image forming apparatus is created by a computer such as an external server, and the job is sent from the computer to the electrical equipment such as an image forming apparatus via a web service or the like. In the case of execution, the computer can use the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit to allow a user operating the computer to grasp functions that cannot be combined at the time of job setting. .

The invention according to claim 2 is the job management system according to claim 1, wherein the computer further includes a display unit for guiding an operation to a user.
The job receiving unit of the computer comprises a display control unit that displays on the display unit guidance that prompts the user to input a combination of a plurality of functions, and a job from the user by an operation based on the guidance displayed on the display unit An instruction receiving unit that receives a combination of multiple functions
The display control unit displays the function indicated by the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit on the display unit with a display form different from other functions.

  According to this invention, the display control unit of the computer displays the function indicated by the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit, that is, the combination of the functions to be subjected to the prohibition process, with different display forms. Therefore, it is possible for the user operating the computer to easily grasp functions that cannot be combined at the time of job setting.

The invention described in claim 3 is the job management system according to claim 2, wherein the prohibition information transmission unit of the electric device transmits model information of the electric device together with the prohibition information to the computer. And
The prohibition information receiving unit of the electrical equipment receives the prohibition information and model information from the electrical equipment,
The display control unit performs processing for differentiating the display form of the function indicated by the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit for each model of the electrical device based on the model information. .

  In the present invention, the prohibition information transmission unit of the electric device transmits the model information of the electric device together with the prohibition information to the computer, so that the model information of the electric device is stored together with the prohibition information in the prohibition information storage unit of the computer. . Therefore, according to the present invention, the computer can make the user who operates the computer know the functions that cannot be combined at the time of job creation for each model of the electrical device. For example, a high-performance machine generally has more jobs that can be executed than a low-performance machine, and there are few functions that are subject to prohibition processing for the functions that constitute each job. For this reason, in a computer connected to a plurality of types of electrical devices, it is possible for the user to grasp functions that cannot be combined when creating a job according to the types of electrical devices, which is beneficial.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the job management system according to the third aspect, the job reception unit of the computer has a prohibition frequency in which the function received by the instruction reception unit is indicated by the prohibition information. A forbidden frequency calculation unit for calculating
The display control unit is configured to display on the display unit with a display form of a function having a prohibited frequency calculated by the prohibited frequency calculating unit reaching a predetermined frequency.

  According to the present invention, the function in which the prohibition frequency calculated by the prohibition frequency calculation unit reaches a predetermined frequency is displayed on the display unit with a different display form. The user can perform job setting operations after recognizing functions that are frequently subject to prohibition processing, and jobs that are subject to prohibition processing are sent to the electrical device, and user-desired operations It is possible to prevent a situation in which an operation different from the above is performed on the electric device.

The invention according to claim 5 provides a computer,
A job accepting unit that accepts a job setting consisting of a combination of functions from a user;
A job transmission unit that transmits a job whose setting is received by the job reception unit to an electrical device connected to the computer;
A prohibition information receiving unit that receives prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job is a target of prohibition processing;
A job management program that functions as a prohibition information storage unit that stores prohibition information received by the prohibition information receiving unit.

The invention according to claim 7 is a job reception unit that receives a job setting including a combination of a plurality of functions from a user;
A job transmission unit that transmits a job whose setting is received by the job reception unit to the electrical device;
A prohibition information receiving unit that receives prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job is a target of prohibition processing;
And a prohibition information storage unit for storing prohibition information received by the prohibition information receiving unit.

  According to these inventions, in the computer, when a job setting including a combination of a plurality of functions is received from the user by the job receiving unit, the job transmitting unit transmits the received job to the electrical device, The prohibition information storage unit stores the prohibition information indicating that the combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job, which is received from the electrical device by the information reception unit, is the target of the prohibition process.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a job to be executed by an electrical device such as an image forming apparatus is created by a computer such as an external server, and the job is sent from the computer to the electrical equipment such as an image forming apparatus via a web service or the like. In the case of execution, the computer can use the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit to allow a user operating the computer to grasp functions that cannot be combined at the time of job setting.

The invention according to claim 6 provides electrical equipment,
A job receiver that receives a job transmitted from a computer connected to the electrical device;
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance;
A job execution unit for executing the received job;
When the received job is a target of the prohibition process, the combination of the functions constituting the job functions as a prohibition information transmission unit that transmits prohibition information indicating that the job is a target of the prohibition process to the computer This is a prohibition judgment program.

The invention according to claim 8 is a job receiving unit that receives a job transmitted from a computer connected to the electric device;
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance;
A job execution unit for executing the received job;
A prohibition information transmission unit for transmitting, to the computer, prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions forming the job is a target of the prohibition process when the received job is the target of the prohibition process; It is an electrical device provided.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job receiving unit that receives a job transmitted from a computer connected to the image forming apparatus;
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance;
A job execution unit for executing the received job;
A prohibition information transmission unit for transmitting, to the computer, prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions forming the job is a target of the prohibition process when the received job is the target of the prohibition process; An image forming apparatus provided.

  According to these inventions, in the electrical device, the prohibition determination unit determines whether or not a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received from the computer by the job reception unit is subject to prohibition processing, and the job Is determined to be subject to prohibition processing, the prohibition information transmitting unit transmits prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job is subject to prohibition processing.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a job to be executed by an electrical device such as an image forming apparatus is created by a computer such as an external server, and the job is sent from the computer to the electrical equipment such as an image forming apparatus via a web service or the like. In the case of execution, the computer can use the prohibition information transmitted from the electrical device to allow a user operating the computer to grasp functions that cannot be combined at the time of job setting.

  According to the present invention, when a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus is created by a computer such as an external server and the job is executed from the computer via a Web service or the like, the computer is stored in the prohibition information storage unit. Since the stored prohibition information can be used, it is possible for the user operating the computer to grasp functions that cannot be combined at the time of job setting.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an image forming apparatus, a server, and a computer that form a first embodiment of a job management system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of an internal structure of PC. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a flowchart which shows the job management process by a job management system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating job input reception processing in a PC or the like of the job management system according to the first embodiment. (A) (b) is a figure which shows the example of a driver initial screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a job execution destination selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a job reception screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a double-sided / page aggregation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a document designation | designated screen. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the internal structure of PC in the job management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the job management process by the job management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows other embodiment of the job management process by the job management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the job input reception process in PC etc. of the job management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows further another embodiment of the job management process by the job management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the internal structure of PC in the job management system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the multifunctional device of the job management system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the job management process by a job management system. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting order guidance screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen.

  Hereinafter, a job management system, a job management program, a prohibition determination program, a computer, an electrical device, and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an image forming apparatus (an example of an electrical device), a server, and a computer that form a first embodiment of a job management system according to the present invention.

  The job management system 10 includes a server (an example of a computer), a client computer (an example of a computer), and an image forming apparatus that are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). In this embodiment, the job management system 10 includes one server, four client computers, and three multifunction devices as computers according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, the number of computers and image forming apparatuses provided in the job management system according to the present invention is not limited to this.

  The multifunction device 1 according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus has functions such as a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and a scanner function. The multi-function device 1 is a server SV2 connected to the multi-function device 1 via an internal storage device of the multi-function device 1 or an intranet or the like, and each client computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC). The data is stored in the storage unit 31 to 34. The multifunction device 1 prints out data stored in the internal storage device of the multifunction device 1, prints out data sent from the server SV2 or the PCs 31 to 34, and the like. The multi-function device 1, the server SV2, and the PCs 31 to 34 are capable of data communication with each other. The multifunction device 1 has a function of receiving a job transmitted from the server SV2 and each of the PCs 31 to 34 and executing the job.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the PC 31. Since the configuration necessary for the present invention is the same for the server SV2 and the PCs 31 to 34, the following will be described by taking the PC 31 as an example. The PC 31 includes a control unit 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 233, an HDD 24, a display 25, a communication I / F 26, and an input unit 27. These units can transmit / receive data or signals to / from each other via a CPU bus.

  The control unit 21 is composed of a CPU and the like, and controls operation of the entire PC 31. The ROM 222 stores an operation program for each operation of the PC 31. The RAM 23 is used as an operation area for the control unit 211.

  The HDD 24 functions as a prohibition information storage unit 241 in which a part of the storage area stores prohibition information (details will be described later) transmitted from the multi-function device 1, and another part is a print target. It functions as a data storage unit 242 that stores various data such as document data or image data. The HDD 24 stores a job management program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 21 functions as a job reception unit 212 and a data transmission / reception unit 213 described later by functioning according to the job management program, and further as a control unit 211 for performing processing necessary for job management processing by these units. Function. However, the configurations of the control unit 211, the job reception unit 212, and the data transmission / reception unit 213 of the control unit 21 are not limited to this, and the control unit 211, the job reception unit 212, and the data transmission / reception unit 213 are each configured by a hardware circuit. May be. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The display (notification unit, display unit) 25 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various data contents, operation guidance for the user who operates the PC 31, and the like. The communication I / F 26 functions as an interface for performing data communication with the multifunction machine 1 and the server SV2. The input unit 27 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and a job for the multifunction device 1 is input from the user. For example, the input unit 27 specifies, as a print job, data to be printed from data stored in the data storage unit 242 of the HDD 24, designation of recording paper, designation of a processing method for an image to be printed, print Combinations of functions such as operation execution instructions are input from the user, and combinations of functions such as document size, document setting, document reading resolution, file format, color / monochrome printing, and copy operation execution instructions are input from the user. The However, it is not intended to limit the types of jobs that the input unit 27 receives from the user.

  The control unit 21 includes a control unit 211, a job reception unit 212, and a data transmission / reception unit 213.

  The control unit 211 controls operation of the entire PC 31. The job receiving unit 212 receives each job input by the input unit 27 from the user. The job is a combination of a plurality of functions as shown in the example above. The job reception unit 212 includes a display control unit 2122 and an instruction reception unit 2121. The display control unit 2122 controls display of the display 25 and causes the display 25 to display guidance for prompting the user to input a combination of a plurality of functions when creating a job. The instruction receiving unit 2121 receives a combination of a plurality of functions as elements constituting a job from the user by operating the input unit 27 based on the guidance displayed on the display 25.

  The data transmission / reception unit 213 transmits / receives various data such as print target data, job execution instructions, and the like between the server SV2 and the multifunction peripheral 1. The data transmission / reception unit 213 includes a job transmission unit 2131 and a prohibition information reception unit 2132. The job transmission unit 2131 transmits the job whose setting has been received by the job reception unit 212 to the multifunction device 1. The prohibition information receiving unit 2132 is in charge of processing for receiving prohibition information from the multifunction machine 1. The prohibition information is a combination of a plurality of functions forming a job, and is information indicating a combination of a plurality of functions to be subjected to prohibition processing stored in advance in the multifunction machine 1.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 1. Each multifunction device 1 provided in the job management system 10 has the same configuration. The multifunction device 1 temporarily stores a control unit 100 that controls the operation of each unit of the apparatus, an image reading unit 110 having a scanner or the like that reads a document image, and document data read by the image reading unit 110. The image memory 120, which is an area for temporarily storing data to be printed by the printing unit 130, the data of the original read by the image reading unit 110, the data transmitted from the server computer SV2, and the like. And a printing unit 130.

  The multifunction device 1 executes various functions necessary for facsimile communication, and receives a facsimile communication unit 140 that receives image data from an external facsimile apparatus through a public line, a print or transmission start key, a numeric keypad, and a shortened number key. From the operation unit 20 that receives input of various operation instructions (input of print settings, print instruction of print setting paper, etc.) from the operator, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays operation guidance to the operator, etc. And a display unit 150. The display unit 150 may be provided with a touch panel function to accept various operation instructions from the operator.

  Further, the multifunction machine 1 has an HDD (hard disk) 170 having a large-capacity storage area for storing document image data read by the image reading unit 110. The HDD 170 stores document image data read by the image reading unit 110 and data transmitted from the server computer SV2 or the PCs 31 to 34.

  The control unit 100 is composed of a CPU and the like, and governs the overall operation of the multifunction machine 1. The control unit 100 includes a prohibition determination unit 101, a communication unit 102, and a control unit 103.

  The prohibition determination unit 101 determines whether or not a combination of a plurality of functions forming a job received from the PC 31 or the like by the job receiving unit 1021 of the communication unit 102 is a target of prohibition processing based on a prohibition setting stored in advance. Determine. This prohibition setting refers to predetermined information indicating the relationship of functions that cannot be combined for a combination of a plurality of functions constituting a job (for example, the combined document function and the page aggregation function cannot be combined during a copy job operation) Etc.). However, the prohibition setting and the prohibition processing are not limited to the example. The prohibition setting is determined for each model of the multifunction device 1, and each multifunction device 1 stores the prohibition setting corresponding to the model in the prohibition determination unit 101.

  The communication unit 102 performs processing necessary for data transmission / reception between the server computer SV2 and the PCs 31 to 34. The communication unit 102 includes a job reception unit 1021 and a prohibition information transmission unit 1022. The job receiving unit 1021 receives a job transmitted from the PC 31 or the like via the network I / F unit 160. The prohibition information transmission unit 1022 determines that a job received from the PC 31 or the like by the job reception unit 1021 is a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job when the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that the job is subject to the prohibition process. Prohibition information indicating that it is a target is transmitted to the PC 31 or the like that has transmitted the job.

  The control unit (job execution unit) 103 manages operation control of the entire multifunction device 1. In the present embodiment, the control unit 103 controls the operation of each operation mechanism of the multifunction device 1 according to the job received from the PC 31 or the like by the job reception unit 1021, and performs the print operation, the copy operation, or the like indicated by the job. Let each of the operating mechanisms.

  Further, the multi function device 1 includes an image processing unit 190 that performs image image data editing / processing (code / decoding processing, enlargement / reduction processing, compression / decompression processing) processing read by the image reading unit 110, a server computer SV2, A network I / F 160 used for exchanging various data with the PCs 31 to 34 is provided.

  The HDD 170 stores a prohibition determination program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 100 functions as the prohibition determination unit 101 and the communication unit 102 (the job reception unit 1021 and the prohibition information transmission unit 1022) by functioning according to the prohibition determination program, and is further necessary for job management processing by these units. It functions as a control unit 103 for performing processing. However, the configuration of the prohibition determination unit 101, the communication unit 102, and the control unit 103 of the control unit 100 is not limited to this, and the prohibition determination unit 101, the communication unit 102, and the control unit 103 are each configured by a hardware circuit. Also good. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  Next, job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing job management processing by the job management system 10.

  In the job management system 10, when a user inputs a job of the multifunction device 1 in the server SV2 or the PCs 31 to 34, the server SV2 or the multifunction device 1 designated by the user as the execution destination of the input job is sent to the job management system 10. The multifunction peripheral 1 that has received the job from the PCs 31 to 34 and has received the job executes the received job. Hereinafter, the job management process will be described with reference to an example in which a job is transmitted from the PC 31 to the multifunction device 1.

  When the user operates the PC 31 to input a job of the multifunction machine 1 and this job is received by the PC 31 (S1: Details of job reception processing will be described later), the job transmission unit 2131 of the PC 31 executes the execution destination of the job. The job is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 designated by the user (S2).

  In the multi function device 1, when the job receiving unit 1021 of the communication unit 102 receives the job (F1), the prohibition determining unit 101 determines that the combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job is prohibited based on the prohibition setting stored in advance. It is determined whether or not it is a processing target (F2). As described above, the prohibition setting is information indicating a relationship of a combination of functions that cannot be executed in the multifunction device 1 with respect to a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job.

  When the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that the combination of the plurality of functions is not a target of prohibition processing stored in advance (NO in F2), the control unit 103 determines that the job is a function of each function that constitutes the job. Execute according to the combination (F5). That is, the control unit 103 causes each operation mechanism of the multi-function peripheral 1 to perform a plurality of functions constituting the job according to the received job.

  On the other hand, when the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that the combination of the plurality of functions is a target of the prohibition process stored in advance (YES in F2), the control unit 103 determines the prohibition for each function constituting the job. After the function to be processed is deleted or replaced with a function that does not violate the prohibition setting, the modified job is executed (F3). However, instead of the process of F3, when the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that the combination of the plurality of functions is a target of the prohibition process stored in advance (YES in F2), in F3, the control unit 103 The job may not be executed.

  Further, the prohibition information transmission unit 1022 includes prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions forming the job received by the job reception unit 1021 is a target of the prohibition process, and model information of the multifunction device 1 itself. The job is transmitted to the PC 31 that has transmitted the job (F4).

  In the PC 31, when the prohibition information receiving unit 2132 receives the prohibition information and the model information transmitted from the multifunction machine 1 (S3), the prohibition information receiving unit 2132 stores the prohibition information storage unit 241 in the received prohibition information. And model information is stored (S4).

  According to this embodiment, since the PC 31 can use the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit 241, the user who operates the PC 31 is notified of functions that cannot be combined when creating a job, etc. And so on.

  In the above description, the prohibition information transmitting unit 1022 of the multifunction device 1 transmits the prohibition information and the model information to the PC 31 (F4). For example, one multifunction device 1 provided in the job management system 10 is provided. In such a case, the prohibition information transmission unit 1022 of the multifunction machine 1 may transmit prohibition information to the PC 31 without transmitting model information.

  Next, job input acceptance processing in the PC 31 and the like of the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing job input reception processing in the PC 31 or the like of the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  In the PC 31, when an instruction to start the driver of the multifunction device 1 is input by the user operating the input unit 27, the display control unit 2122 displays the driver initial screen on the display 25 (SS1). This driver initial screen is, for example, as shown in FIG. In the driver initial screen 2501, an “Output” column 2502 is displayed in order to accept from the user a selection as to whether to perform a copy, printer, scan, or fax operation. Each of the selectable operations (copy, printer, scan, and fax) is displayed in a horizontally long bar in this field 2502. When the “▼” mark displayed at the end of the horizontally long bar is pressed by a mouse pointer operation or the like, all selectable operations are displayed in a pull-down manner as shown in FIG. In this way, when the user selects a display portion of a desired operation by operating the mouse pointer or the like in a state where all selectable operations are displayed, a job creation instruction for the selected operation is displayed on the display control unit 2122. (YES in SS2), the display control unit 2122 displays a job execution destination selection screen 2503 of the MFP 1 as the job execution destination as shown in FIG. 7, for example (SS3).

  In the example of FIG. 7, the job execution destination selection screen 2503 displays each multifunction device 1 provided in the job management system 10 and registered as an output device in the PC 13. In the job execution destination selection screen 2503, when one of the radio button display portions of each multifunction device 1 is selected by the mouse pointer operation or the like on the job execution destination selection screen 2503, selection of the multifunction device 1 as the job execution destination is sent to the instruction receiving unit 2121. Accepted.

  In this job execution destination selection screen 2503, when the instruction accepting unit 2121 accepts selection of the MFP 1 as the job execution destination by a mouse pointer operation or the like by the user (YES in SS4), the display control unit 2122 displays prohibition information. The prohibition information stored for the designated multifunction machine 1 is read from the storage unit 241 (SS5). Then, the display control unit 2122 displays a job reception screen on the display 25 (SS6).

  In SS6, the display control unit 2122 is the target of the prohibition process when the function indicated by the read prohibition information, that is, when a job created in the past by the PC 31 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 that is the job execution destination. Each function (for example, when the MFP 1 stores the original mixed function and the so-called 2 in 1 setting of the page aggregation function in the prohibition setting as the target of the prohibition processing, these original mixed function and page aggregation function. The so-called 2 in 1 setting) is displayed in a display form different from other functions by gray-out display or the like.

  A case where a copy creation job creation instruction is input by the user will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 8, a job reception screen 2504 for accepting a copy operation job has basic settings for copy operation, document specification, A tab image for accepting each of the original image quality and application settings from the user is displayed. In the job reception screen 2504, when the user presses the basic setting tab image 2504a by operating the mouse pointer or the like, a screen for setting density, paper, magnification, duplex printing / page aggregation is displayed. When the user presses, for example, an image 2504e indicating double-sided / page aggregation by operating a mouse pointer or the like, the display control unit 2122 receives a detailed setting for double-sided / page aggregation as shown in FIG. A page aggregation screen 2505 is displayed. For example, when the original reception function is already received by the instruction receiving unit 2121 when the double-sided / page aggregation screen 2505 is displayed, the display control unit 2122 displays the page aggregation function on the double-sided / page aggregation screen 2505. The images “2 in 1” 2505a and “4 in 1/8 in 1” 2505b for receiving the image are different from the image displaying other functions, for example, gray-out display.

  On the duplex / page aggregation screen 2505, any of the buttons for the duplex printing function (such as “one side of original document and one side of recording paper” button 2505 c) or each button of the page aggregation function is selected by the user operating the mouse pointer or the like. When a “no” button 2505d or the like is designated, the instruction accepting unit 2121 of the job accepting unit 212 accepts a function corresponding to the button designated by the user.

  Further, when the user designates the “original designation” tab 2504b on the job reception screen 2504 or the duplex / page aggregation screen 2505 by operating the mouse pointer or the like, the display control unit 2122 displays the original designation as shown in FIG. A screen 2506 is displayed. On this original designation screen 2506, for example, an “original mixed” button for accepting the settings of the functions of “original mixed”, “folded original”, “original size”, “original binding margin”, “original setting direction”, and “index original” The display control unit 2122 displays 2506a, “folded original” button 2506b, “original size” 2507c, “original binding margin” button 2506d, “original setting direction” button 2506e, and “index original” 2506f. For example, if the setting of “2 in 1” is already accepted by the instruction accepting unit 2121 when the document designation screen 2506 is displayed, the display control unit 2122 displays the document designation screen 2506. Then, the “mixed document” button 2506a for accepting the mixed document function is set to a display different from an image displaying other functions, for example, a gray display.

  As described above, when the user selects a desired function on each screen by a mouse pointer operation or the like (YES in SS7), the selected function is sent to the instruction receiving unit 2121 as a function constituting a job component. Accepted (SS8). In this way, after the user designates a desired function, each function selection is completed in the job transmission unit 2131 based on, for example, pressing of the “copy” button 2500 by the mouse pointer operation on any of the above screens. Is received (YES in SS9), the job transmission unit 2131 transmits a job having each function selected at this time to the multifunction device 1 designated in SS4 as the job execution destination (SS10).

  In SS6, the display control unit 2122 displays each function that is the target of the prohibition process in the multifunction device 1 in a display form different from other functions (functions that are not the target of the prohibition process). The display control unit 2122 uses the frequency indicated by the prohibition process in the past for each function that can be a component of the job based on the content indicated by the prohibition information received from the multifunction device 1 (predetermined frequency). The number of times that the prohibition process is targeted within a certain period (for example, one week)) is determined in advance (for example, the number of times that the prohibition process is targeted within the predetermined period is, for example, 10 times) The display form of the function reaching the frequency may be displayed on the display 25 different from other functions.

[Second Embodiment]
In the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, the server, and the computer is the same as that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described for the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the PC 31 in the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the configuration required in the present invention is the same for the server SV2 and the PCs 31 to 34. Therefore, the following description will be made with the PC 31 as an example. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the PC 31 of the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the PC 31 of the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  In the PC 31, the data transmission / reception unit 213 of the control unit 21 inquires whether or not the job received from the user by the job reception unit 212 is subject to prohibition processing in the multifunction device 1 (whether or not the prohibition setting is violated). An inquiry transmission unit 2133 that transmits a request to the multifunction device 1 is provided.

  The prohibition information receiving unit 2132 receives prohibition information from the multifunction device 1 (information indicating whether a combination of a plurality of functions constituting a job that is a target of an inquiry request is a target of prohibition processing in the multifunction device 1). Receive.

  In addition, the job transmission unit 2131 according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured such that the prohibition information received from the multifunction device 1 by the prohibition information reception unit 2132 is a combination of a plurality of functions forming a job for which an inquiry request is made. When it is determined that it does not become, the job accepted by the job accepting unit 212 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1.

  The HDD 24 stores a job management program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 21 functions as a job reception unit 212 and a data transmission / reception unit 213 described later by functioning according to the job management program, and further as a control unit 211 for performing processing necessary for job management processing by these units. Function. However, the configurations of the control unit 211, the job reception unit 212, and the data transmission / reception unit 213 of the control unit 21 are not limited to this, and the control unit 211, the job reception unit 212, and the data transmission / reception unit 213 are each configured by a hardware circuit. May be. However, in the second embodiment, the data transmission / reception unit 213 also functions as the inquiry transmission unit 2133 by the job management program. The inquiry transmission unit 2133 may be configured by a hardware circuit.

  The MFP 1 of the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the MFP 1 of the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment. For this reason, description by illustration is abbreviate | omitted. However, the prohibition information transmission unit 1022 does not transmit only the information indicating that the determination result by the prohibition determination unit 101 is a target of the prohibition process (information that violates the prohibition setting) to the PC 31, but by the prohibition determination unit 101. Regardless of whether the determination result is subject to prohibition processing or not, the determination result is transmitted to the PC 31 as prohibition information.

  Next, job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment.

  In the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment, when the user receives the multifunction machine 1 as a job execution destination and the job to be executed by the user in the server SV2 or the PCs 31 to 34 (S11), The inquiry transmission unit 2133 receives, as the job execution destination, an inquiry request as to whether the job received by the job reception unit 212 violates the prohibition setting in the multifunction device 1 designated as the execution destination of the job. The data is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 (S12).

  In the MFP 1 designated as the job execution destination in S12, when the job receiving unit 1021 receives the inquiry from the PC 31 (F11), the prohibition determining unit 101 includes a combination of a plurality of functions forming a job that is the target of the inquiry. Is determined to be subject to prohibition processing (F12). The prohibition information transmission unit 1022 determines whether the determination result by the prohibition determination unit 101, that is, whether a combination of a plurality of functions forming a job created by the PC 31 is a target of prohibition processing (whether or not the prohibition setting is violated). The prohibition information shown is transmitted to the PC 31 that has transmitted the inquiry request (F13).

  In the PC 31, when the prohibition information receiving unit 2132 receives the prohibition information from the multifunction device 1 (S13), the job transmission unit 2131 analyzes the content of the received prohibition information, and the prohibition information is used as the inquiry request. It is determined whether or not a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job to be subjected to the prohibition process is a target (S14). If the job transmission unit 2131 determines that the received prohibition information indicates that a combination of a plurality of functions forming the job to be inquired is not subject to prohibition processing (YES in S14), the job transmission in S11 The job is transmitted to the multifunction machine 1 designated as the execution destination (S15).

  In the multifunction device 1, when the job receiving unit 1021 receives the job transmitted from the PC 31 (YES in F14), the control unit 103 converts the received job according to the combination of the functions constituting the job. Execute (F15). That is, in the multifunction device 1, when the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that a combination of a plurality of functions forming the job that is the target of the inquiry is a target of the prohibition process, the control unit 103 Do not execute. In addition, when the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that the combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job that is the subject of the inquiry is not subject to prohibition processing, the control unit 103 receives the job received from the PC 31. Execute.

  On the other hand, when the job transmission unit 2131 determines that the received prohibition information indicates that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the inquiry target job is a target of prohibition processing (NO in S14), a display is performed. The control unit 2122 displays on the display 25 that the job accepted by the job accepting unit 212 in S11 cannot be executed by the MFP 1 designated as the execution destination in S11 (S16).

  According to the above processing, a job having a combination of functions that cannot be executed is transmitted from the PC 31 to the multifunction device 1, so that the operation different from the job set by the user on the PC 31 in the multifunction device 1. Can be prevented in advance.

  Next, another embodiment of job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment. Note that description of processing similar to the job management processing illustrated in FIG. 12 is omitted. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cover screen.

  In this embodiment, when the job receiving unit 1021 receives the inquiry from the PC 31 (F21), the prohibition determination unit 101 determines that the multifunction peripheral 1 designated as the job execution destination in S21 receives the job that is the subject of the inquiry. It is determined whether or not a combination of a plurality of functions that are subject to prohibition processing. If it is determined to be subject to prohibition processing, functions up to the prohibition processing are detected (F22). For example, in the MFP 1, if the original mixed function and the page aggregation function setting 2 in 1 are stored in the prohibition setting as a target of the prohibition processing, the combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job is included. Therefore, the original mixed function and the page aggregation function setting 2 in 1 that are the target of the prohibition process are detected as the functions that are the target of the prohibition process. The prohibition determination unit 101 includes the function that is the target of the prohibition processing thus detected (in this example, the mixed document function and the page aggregation function setting 2 in 1) in the prohibition information.

  Then, the prohibition information transmission unit 1022 transmits the determination result by the prohibition determination unit 101 and the prohibition information to the PC 31 that has transmitted the inquiry request (F23).

  In the PC 31, when the prohibition information receiving unit 2132 receives the prohibition information from the multi-function device 1 (S23), the job transmission unit 2131 indicates that the prohibition information is a combination of a plurality of functions forming the job to be inquired. If the received prohibition information determines that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job to be inquired is an object of prohibition processing (S24). NO), the display control unit 2122 displays the functions of the prohibition process indicated by the prohibition information, in the above example, the document mixture loading function and the aggregation function setting 2 in 1, as shown in FIG. For example, blinking is displayed (S26). In S <b> 26, the display control unit 2122 may display a function that is not the target of the prohibition process indicated by the prohibition information, in addition to the function that is the target of the prohibition process indicated by the prohibition information.

  As a result, when a job created on the PC 31 cannot be executed on the multifunction device 1, the user can grasp which function constituting the job is a target of the prohibition process. When the job is not executed by the multifunction device 1, it is possible to know how to correct the job to create a job having a plurality of functions that matches the prohibition setting in the multifunction device 1.

  Next, job input acceptance processing in the PC 31 or the like of the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing job input acceptance processing in the PC 31 or the like of the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment.

  In the PC 31, when the selection of the MFP 1 as the job execution destination is received by the instruction receiving unit 2121 by the mouse pointer operation or the like by the user on the job execution destination selection screen 2503 (YES in SS14), the display control unit 2122 A job reception screen 2501 is displayed on the display 25 (SS15).

  When the user selects a desired function by a mouse pointer operation or the like on the job reception screen (for example, job reception screen 2504 (in the case of a copy operation)) (YES in SS16), each selected function is a job. It is received by the instruction receiving unit 2121 as a function constituting a component (SS17). When the job transmission unit 2131 accepts that the selection of each function has been completed by a mouse pointer operation or the like by the user on the job reception screen (YES in SS18), the job input reception process ends.

  Thereafter, the job transmission unit 2131 transmits an inquiry request as to whether or not the job received by the job reception unit 212 violates the prohibition setting to the multi-function device 1 designated by SS13 as the job execution destination (SS19).

  Next, still another embodiment of job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing still another embodiment of job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the second embodiment. Note that description of processing similar to the job management processing shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is omitted.

  In this embodiment, when a job is received from the user in the PC 31 (S31), the job transmission unit 2131 receives the job received by the job reception unit 212 for all the multifunction devices 1 provided in the job management system 10. The inquiry transmission unit 2133 transmits an inquiry request as to whether or not the setting is against the prohibition setting (S32). However, in the job reception process in S31, designation of the multifunction device 1 as the execution destination of the job is not accepted.

  When all job reception units 1021 receive the above inquiry from the PC 31 (F31), all prohibition determination units 101 form jobs that are the targets of the inquiry. It is determined whether or not a combination of a plurality of functions is subject to prohibition processing (F32). The prohibition information transmission unit 1022 of each multifunction device 1 transmits the prohibition information indicating the determination result by the prohibition determination unit 101 and the model information of its own multifunction device 1 to the PC 31 that has transmitted the inquiry request. (F33).

  In the PC 31, when the prohibition information receiving unit 2132 receives the prohibition information and the seed information from all the multifunction devices 1 (S33), the job transmission unit 2131 receives the prohibition from each of the multifunction devices 1 based on the model information. It is determined whether or not the information indicates that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the inquiry target job matches the prohibition setting (S34).

  When the job transmission unit 2131 determines that the prohibition information from all the received multifunction devices 1 indicates that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the inquiry target job is a target of prohibition processing ( The display control unit 2122 displays on the display 25 that the job received by the job receiving unit 212 in S31 cannot be executed by all the multifunction devices 1 provided in the job management system 10 (NO in S34) (S34: NO). S38).

  On the other hand, when the job transmission unit 2131 determines that any of the received prohibition information indicates that a combination of a plurality of functions constituting the job to be inquired is not subject to prohibition processing (YES in S34). In other words, when there is a multifunction device 1 in the job management system 10 that can execute a combination of a plurality of functions forming the job accepted by the job accepting unit 212 in S31, for example, as shown in FIG. A display screen 2509 indicating the name (or model number) of the multifunction device 1 that can be executed is displayed on the display 25 (S35).

  When the instruction receiving unit 2121 receives an instruction from the user to select the multifunction machine 1 to be the job execution destination input to the job receiving unit 212 in S31 based on the display in S35 (YES in S36). The job transmission unit 2131 transmits the job input to the job reception unit 212 in S31 to the MFP 1 selected by the user (S37). Note that if the instruction accepting unit 2121 does not accept an instruction to select the MFP 1 as the job execution destination input to the job accepting unit 212 in S31 (NO in S36), the job transmitting unit 2131 The process is terminated without transmitting the job input to the job reception unit 212 in S31 to any multifunction device 1 (NO in S36).

  Among the multifunction devices 1 provided in the job management system 10, the multifunction device 1 that has received the job from the PC 31 by the job reception unit 1021 (YES in F34), the control unit 103 executes the received job (F35). . Note that the multifunction device 1 provided in the job management system 10 that has not received the job from the PC 31 (NO in F34) terminates the processing without executing the received job.

[Third Embodiment]
In the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, the server, and the computer is the same as that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described for the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the PC 31 in the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, in the third embodiment, the configuration required in the present invention is the same for the server SV2 and the PCs 31 to 34. Therefore, the following will be described by taking the PC 31 as an example. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the PC 31 of the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the PC 31 of the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  In the control unit 21 of the PC 31, the data transmission / reception unit 213 further includes a setting order inquiry unit 2134 and a setting order reception unit 2135.

  The setting order inquiry unit 2134 requests the multifunction device 1 to transmit setting order information indicating the order in which the combination setting of a plurality of functions constituting the job is performed. The setting order indicates a predetermined function setting order in which a plurality of functions can be combined without creating a job as a target of prohibition processing.

  The setting order receiving unit 2135 receives the setting order from the multifunction device 1.

  The HDD 24 stores a job management program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 21 functions as a job reception unit 212 and a data transmission / reception unit 213 described later by functioning according to the job management program, and further as a control unit 211 for performing processing necessary for job management processing by these units. Function. However, the configurations of the control unit 211, the job reception unit 212, and the data transmission / reception unit 213 of the control unit 21 are not limited to this, and the control unit 211, the job reception unit 212, and the data transmission / reception unit 213 are each configured by a hardware circuit. May be. However, in the third embodiment, the data transmission / reception unit 213 also functions as the setting order inquiry unit 2134 and the setting order reception unit 2135 by the job management program. The setting order inquiry unit 2134 and the setting order receiving unit 2135 may be configured by a hardware circuit.

  FIG. 18 shows the configuration of the multifunction machine 1 of the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment. Unless otherwise indicated, the configuration of the MFP 1 of the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the MFP 1 of the job management system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The MFP 1 of the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment does not include the prohibition determination unit 101 in the control unit 100, and the communication unit 102 replaces the prohibition information transmission unit 1022 of the first embodiment. The setting order transmission unit 1025 is provided. Further, the HDD 170 includes a setting order storage unit 171.

  For each job that can be executed by the multi-function device 1, the setting order storage unit 171 is prohibited when creating a predetermined setting order when combining a plurality of functions to configure each job, that is, when creating a job. A predetermined function setting order that allows a computer to combine a plurality of functions without being processed is stored. As the predetermined setting order, for example, in the case of a job for performing a copy operation, each function constituting the job includes document size, document setting, document reading resolution, file format, color / monochrome printing, etc. In some cases, the setting order is (1) Document size, (2) Document settings, (3) Document scanning resolution, (4) File format, (5) Color / monochrome printing, (6) Other settings The operation order is stored. However, this is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the predetermined setting order.

  The setting order transmission unit 1025 reads the setting order of the job from the setting order storage unit 171 for the job indicated by the setting order transmission request received by the job receiving unit 1021, and transmits the read setting order to the PC 31.

  The HDD 170 stores a job management program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 100 functions as the communication unit 102 by functioning according to the prohibition determination program, and further functions as the control unit 103 for performing processing necessary for job management processing by these units. However, the configurations of the communication unit 102 and the control unit 103 of the control unit 100 are not limited to this, and the communication unit 102 and the control unit 103 may be configured by hardware circuits, respectively. However, in the third embodiment, the communication unit 102 functions as the job reception unit 1021 and the setting order transmission unit 1025 according to the job management program. Also, the job receiving unit 1021 and the setting order transmitting unit 1025 may be configured by a hardware circuit.

  Next, job input reception processing and job management processing by the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing job management processing by the job management system 10.

  In the job management system 10 according to the third embodiment, when an instruction to start the driver of the multifunction device 1 is input by the user operating the input unit 27 on the PC 31, the display control unit 2122 displays the driver initial screen (for example, The driver initial screen 250A) shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is displayed on the display 25 (SS41). When the user selects a display portion of a desired operation on the driver initial screen 250A and a job creation instruction for the selected operation is received by the display control unit 2122 (YES in SS42), the display control unit 2122 An execution destination selection screen 2503 (for example, FIG. 7) is displayed on the display 25 (SS43).

  In this job execution destination selection screen 2503, when the instruction accepting unit 2121 accepts the selection of the MFP 1 as the job execution destination by a mouse pointer operation or the like by the user (YES in SS44), the setting order inquiry unit 2134 The MFP 1 is requested to transmit the setting order information (SS45). That is, the setting order inquiry unit 2134 inquires the multifunction device 1 about the setting order.

  When the MFP 1 that is the job execution destination receives the request for the setting order information from the PC 31 by the job receiving unit 1021 (F41), the setting order transmitting unit 1025 is received by the job receiving unit 1021. For the job indicated by the setting order transmission request, the setting order of the job is read from the setting order storage unit 171 (F42), and the read setting order is transmitted to the PC 31 that has requested the setting order information (F43).

  When the PC 31 that has requested the setting order information receives the setting order from the multifunction machine 1 (SS46), the display control unit 2122 displays the setting order on the display 25 (SS47). For example, as shown in a setting order guidance screen 2508 shown in FIG. 20, when performing a copy operation, the display control unit 2122 performs functions for making a job for performing the copy operation, for example, document size, document setting, document reading resolution. , File format, color / monochrome printing, etc., the order of settings that are not determined to be prohibited by the multi-function device 1 in accordance with the contents shown in the setting order, for example, in order of increasing order: (1) document size, ( 2) Document settings, (3) Document scanning resolution, (4) File format, (5) Color / monochrome printing, (6) Other settings, etc. Numbers are added to the user, and the setting operation order is displayed to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.

  In the setting order guidance screen 2508, the display control unit 2122 displays the designated setting screen based on the fact that each of the “display setting screen” buttons 2508a to 2508e is designated by a mouse pointer operation or the like. When a job reception screen corresponding to any one of 2508a to 2508e is displayed and the user selects each desired function by operating the mouse pointer on each job reception screen (YES in SS48), each selected function is displayed. It is received by the instruction receiving unit 2121 as a function constituting the job component (SS49). As described above, when the user designates a desired function and presses the “copy” button 2500 (see FIG. 8 or the like) on each job reception screen by operating the mouse pointer or the like, the job transmission unit 2131 selects each function. Is received (SS50: YES), the job transmission unit 2131 transmits to the multifunction device 1 designated in SS44 as the job execution destination a job having each function selected by the user at this time ( SS51).

  Accordingly, when creating a job in the PC 31, the user can grasp in what order the user can specify each function so that the job can be created accurately, that is, whether the MFP 1 is not subject to prohibition processing. Therefore, the operability during job creation is improved. In addition, it is possible to prevent the multifunction device 1 from executing an operation different from the job created by the user on the PC 31.

  However, in the process of SS51, the job transmission unit 2131 determines whether or not each function is received from the user according to the setting order from the user, and when each function is received according to the setting order. As long as the job is accepted by the job accepting unit 212, the job may be transmitted to the multifunction device 1.

  In this case, it is possible to prevent the operation created by the user from the PC 31 from being executed by the multifunction device 1 more reliably.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the configuration and processing according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 21 are merely examples of the configuration and processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the job management system, job management program, The configurations and processes of the prohibition determination program, the computer, the electric device, and the image forming apparatus are not limited to the contents described above.

  In each of the above embodiments, the electrical apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus such as the multifunction machine 1 as an example. However, the electrical apparatus according to the present invention is not limited thereto, and is connected to a computer and connected to the computer. As long as it is an electric device whose operation is controlled in accordance with a job transmitted from the image forming apparatus, it may be an image forming apparatus (copy machine, facsimile apparatus, printer, etc.) other than a multifunction peripheral, or a personal computer, a mobile phone. It can also be applied to any electrical equipment such as a microwave oven and a washing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Job management system 31-34 Personal computer SV2 Server 21 Control unit 211 Control part 212 Job reception part 2121 Instruction reception part 2122 Instruction reception part 213 Data transmission / reception part 2131 Job transmission part 2132 Prohibition information reception part 2133 Inquiry transmission part 2134 Inquiry of setting order Part 2135 setting order receiving part 24 HDD
241 prohibition information storage unit 242 data storage unit 25 display 27 input unit 1 multifunction device 100 control unit 101 prohibition determination unit 102 communication unit 1021 job reception unit 1022 prohibition information transmission unit 1025 setting order transmission unit 103 control unit 170 HDD
171 Setting order storage unit

Claims (9)

A job management system comprising a computer and an electrical device connected to the computer,
The computer includes a job reception unit that receives a job setting including a combination of a plurality of functions from a user, and a job transmission unit that transmits the job whose setting is received by the job reception unit to the electrical device,
The electrical device includes a job receiving unit that receives a job transmitted from the computer, and a combination of the plurality of functions that make up the job received by the job receiving unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance. When it is determined that a combination of a prohibition determination unit that determines whether or not the job, a job execution unit that executes the received job, and a plurality of functions that form the received job is the target of the prohibition process, the job A prohibition information transmitting unit that transmits prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions that constitutes the target of the prohibition processing to the computer,
The computer further includes a prohibition information receiving unit that receives the prohibition information from the electrical device, and a prohibition information storage unit that stores the prohibition information received by the prohibition information receiving unit. The computer further includes a display unit for guiding operations to a user,
The job receiving unit of the computer comprises a display control unit that displays on the display unit guidance that prompts the user to input a combination of a plurality of functions, and a job from the user by an operation based on the guidance displayed on the display unit An instruction receiving unit that receives a combination of multiple functions
The job management according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a function indicated by the prohibition information stored in the prohibition information storage unit on the display unit in a display form different from other functions. system. The prohibition information transmission unit of the electrical device transmits model information of the electrical device to the computer together with the prohibition information,
The prohibition information receiving unit of the electrical equipment receives the prohibition information and model information from the electrical equipment,
The said display control part performs the process which changes the display form of the function shown by the said prohibition information memorize | stored in the said prohibition information storage part for every model of the said electric equipment based on the said model information. The job management system described in 1. The job reception unit of the computer further includes a prohibition frequency calculation unit that calculates a prohibition frequency indicated by the prohibition information for the function received by the instruction reception unit,
4. The job management system according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit displays the function in which the prohibition frequency calculated by the prohibition frequency calculation unit reaches a predetermined frequency in a different display form on the display unit. 5. . Computer
A job accepting unit that accepts a job setting consisting of a combination of functions from a user;
A job transmission unit that transmits a job whose setting is received by the job reception unit to an electrical device connected to the computer;
A prohibition information receiving unit that receives prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job is a target of prohibition processing;
A job management program that functions as a prohibition information storage unit that stores prohibition information received by the prohibition information receiving unit. Electrical equipment,
A job receiver that receives a job transmitted from a computer connected to the electrical device;
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance;
A job execution unit for executing the received job;
When the received job is a target of the prohibition process, the combination of the functions constituting the job functions as a prohibition information transmission unit that transmits prohibition information indicating that the job is a target of the prohibition process to the computer Prohibition judgment program to let you. A job accepting unit that accepts a job setting consisting of a combination of functions from a user;
A job transmission unit that transmits a job whose setting is received by the job reception unit to the electrical device;
A prohibition information receiving unit that receives prohibition information indicating that a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job is a target of prohibition processing;
A computer comprising: a prohibition information storage unit for storing prohibition information received by the prohibition information receiving unit. A job receiver that receives a job transmitted from a computer connected to the electrical device;
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance;
A job execution unit for executing the received job;
A prohibition information transmission unit for transmitting, to the computer, prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions forming the job is a target of the prohibition process when the received job is the target of the prohibition process; Electrical equipment provided. A job receiver that receives a job transmitted from a computer connected to the image forming apparatus;
A prohibition determination unit that determines whether a combination of a plurality of functions indicated by the job received by the job reception unit is a target of prohibition processing stored in advance;
A job execution unit for executing the received job;
A prohibition information transmission unit for transmitting, to the computer, prohibition information indicating that the combination of the plurality of functions forming the job is a target of the prohibition process when the received job is the target of the prohibition process; An image forming apparatus.

Images