JP2011189591A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a notification to a user which is not intended from being generated on overlapping of image forming jobs. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a setting means (an operation panel 4, a user I/F12, and a CPU 5) for a user to set an overlapping detecting condition for detecting the overlapping of the image forming jobs; a storing means (a memory 6) in which the overlapping detecting condition set by the setting means is reserved; a detecting means (the CPU 5) for detecting overlapping of a new image forming job and a past image forming job based on the overlapping detecting condition when a command for executing the new image forming job is dispatched; and an informing means (the operation panel 4, the user I/F12, and the CPU 5) for informing the overlapping to the user when the overlapping of a plurality of the image forming jobs is detected by the detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a printing machine that executes image formation based on an execution command for an image forming job.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of image forming apparatus, an apparatus that executes an image forming operation based on a print job (image forming job) execution command from a user terminal device such as a computer device that is an external device is known. For example, when printing a Web page or a document using such an image forming apparatus, a print job execution command is transmitted from the user terminal apparatus to the image forming apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus executes a print job as soon as it receives a print job execution command. However, for a heavy print job that takes time to process, such as a process for developing the bitmap data before the print job, immediately. May not be able to print. Then, if the print job cannot be executed immediately like this, the user misunderstands that it is a “print job transmission error” and the same print job execution command is sent again to execute an extra print job. As a result, the paper may be wasted.

  To solve the problem of sending the same print job execution command again, compare the newly received print job with the already stored print job, and at least part of the contents or attributes of the print job. Is equal, it is determined that the execution instruction for the same print job has been received, and an image forming apparatus is known that confirms whether the user should execute the same print job (see Patent Document 1). In this image forming apparatus, as a result of comparing a newly received print job with an already stored print job, if at least some of the attributes are equal, either one of the print jobs is deleted or one of the print jobs You are notified to ask the user if you want to delete.

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, there is a possibility that an inquiry unintended by the user may occur. For example, when the user sets the number of copies to be output with a small number of copies and sends a print job execution command, and subsequently sends the same print job execution command as a shortage of copies, the contents of the print job to compare Or, depending on the attribute, there is a possibility that a print job that has already been executed is detected and a notification for inquiring to the user is generated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing an unintended notification from being issued to a user regarding duplication of image forming jobs.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming job based on an execution instruction of the image forming job, and detects duplication of the image forming job. When there is a setting unit for the user to set detection conditions, a storage unit for storing the duplicate detection conditions set by the setting unit, and an execution command for a new image forming job, the duplicate detection conditions are set. A detection unit that detects an overlap between the new image formation job and a past image formation job, and a notification unit that notifies a user when the detection unit detects an overlap between the plurality of image formation jobs; , Provided.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the storage unit stores the duplicate detection condition for each user.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the detecting unit is configured to determine the attribute or the content based on attributes or contents of the new image forming job and the past image forming job. When the contents match, it is determined that the image forming jobs are duplicated.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the attributes to be determined as to whether or not they match are the user name, host name, document name, job of the image forming job. It is at least one of name, paper type, paper size, number of pages, number of copies, and data size.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the attribute or content of the new image forming job and the past image forming job match as the duplication detection condition. It is possible to set whether or not to determine whether or not there is any.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, it is possible to set whether or not to perform duplication detection of the image forming job as the duplication detection condition. Is.
In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the number of the past image forming jobs to be compared with the new image forming job can be set as the duplication detection condition. It is characterized by this.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, an execution command time of the past image forming job to be compared with the new image forming job is used as the duplication detection condition. It is characterized by being configurable.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the notifying unit executes one of the new image forming job and the past image forming job. It is characterized by inquiring the user whether to erase.

  According to the present invention, when a user sets a duplication detection condition for detecting duplication of image forming jobs, the set duplication detection condition is stored in the storage unit. Then, when there is an execution instruction for a new image forming job, detection of duplication between the new image forming job and a past image forming job is executed based on the duplication detection condition, and the duplication is detected. The user will be notified if As described above, since the duplication of the image forming job is detected and notified based on the duplication detection condition set by the user, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unintended notification to the user about the duplication of the image forming job. Play.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a setting menu screen for print job duplication detection conditions. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a list of past print jobs. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a setting menu screen for print job duplication detection conditions. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operations from reception of a new print job to detection of the same print job and notification of an inquiry to a user.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction printer (MFP) as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 1 of this embodiment has functions of a printer and a copying machine.

  In FIG. 1, a printer 1 is a reading device 2 as an image reading unit that captures an image of a document and generates image data, and an image formation processing unit that performs a printer function for forming an image on a sheet based on the image data. The plotter device 3 and an operation panel 4 as an operation means for receiving an operation / instruction from the user. The plotter device 3 is configured by a print engine capable of forming an electrophotographic image, for example.

  The printer 1 has an internal mechanism such as a CPU 5 as a control means, a memory 6 including a nonvolatile RAM as a storage means, a ROM 7, a hard disk drive (HDD) 8, and a network I as an external communication means. / F9, a scanner I / F10 connected to the reading device 2, a plotter I / F11 connected to the plotter device 3, and a user I / F12 connected to the operation panel. These CPU 5, memory 6, ROM 7, hard disk drive (HDD) 8, network I / F 9, scanner I / F 10, plotter I / F 11, and user I / F 12 are connected by a system bus 13.

  Information on a new print job or information on a past print job newly generated in the printer 1 or newly received from an external device (host device) such as the computer device 14 is, for example, the memory 6 or the hard disk drive ( HDD) 8.

  The network I / F 9 is a user who is an external device (host device) via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet using a predetermined communication protocol such as TCP / IP. Processing for communicating with the computer device 14 as a terminal device is performed.

  In the printer 1 having the above-described configuration, for example, when a user sets a document on the reading device 2 and the user performs a copy operation on the operation panel 4, the document is read by the reading device 2 and image data is generated. An execution command for a print job as a forming job is generated. Based on this execution command, the plotter device 3 executes a print job using the image data of the document, and outputs a sheet on which the image of the document is formed. Further, for example, when an execution command for a print job as an image forming job including image data is received from an external device (host device) such as the computer device 14 via the network I / F 9, the plotter device 3 is based on the execution command. Executes a print job using image data received from an external device (host device) and outputs a sheet on which a predetermined image is formed.

  The printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a function of detecting and notifying a user of duplication of print jobs caused by a user's erroneous operation in order to prevent paper waste. Detection of duplication of print jobs is performed by the CPU 5 as a control unit that also functions as a detection unit. Notification to the user is performed on the display unit of the operation panel 4 and the display unit of the computer device 14 of the external device (host device). This notification to the user is performed, for example, so as to inquire the user whether or not to delete one of a new print job and a past print job that are determined to overlap each other. For example, a notification including an inquiry message of “confirmation of same job / continuation of printing” is performed.

  In addition, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the user can arbitrarily set a duplication detection condition for detecting duplication of print jobs so that notifications that the user does not intend about duplication of print jobs are not performed. ing. Here, when the user operates the operation panel 4 to set the duplication detection condition for detecting duplication of print jobs, the duplication detection condition setting means includes the operation panel 4, the user I / F 12, and the CPU 5. It is configured using. When the user sets a duplicate detection condition for detecting a duplicate print job by operating the computer device 14 of the external device (host device), the duplicate detection condition setting means includes a network I / F 9. It is comprised using CPU5. The setting using the computer device 14 is performed, for example, by displaying a predetermined web page screen for setting duplicate detection conditions on the display unit of the computer device 14.

  The duplicate detection condition set by the setting means is stored in a storage means such as the memory 6. The CPU 5, which also functions as a detection unit, detects an overlap between a new print job and a past print job based on the overlap detection condition set by the setting unit when a new print job execution command is issued. .

  The notification means for notifying the user when the detection means detects duplication of print jobs is configured using, for example, the operation panel 4, the user I / F 12, and the CPU 5. In this case, the display unit of the operation panel 4 is notified. The notification means is configured using a network I / F 9 and a CPU 5. In this case, the information is notified to the display unit of the computer device 14 of the external device (host device).

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a setting menu screen for print job duplication detection conditions. This setting menu screen is displayed on, for example, the display unit of the operation panel 4 or the display unit (Web page screen) of the computer device 14 of the external device (host device), and can be freely set by the user. In the illustrated example, a check column is provided for each of a plurality of attributes of the print job. More specifically, a check column is provided for each user name (host name), document name (job name), paper type / size, number of pages, number of copies, and data size. Then, information on the check result in each check column is stored in a storage unit such as the memory 6 as a duplicate detection condition. When there is an execution command for a new print job, for an attribute whose check column in FIG. 2 is ON, a new print job and a past print job already stored as illustrated in FIG. In between, the contents of the attributes are compared to determine whether both print jobs are the same. Thereby, the same print job can be detected as intended by the user.

  Here, for example, when receiving a print job execution command from the computer device 14 of the external device (host device), if it is desired to speed up the timing for detecting duplication of print jobs, the attributes shown in FIG. Turn OFF the data size check column. Thereby, before the network I / F 9 has completely received the print job data, it is possible to detect a past print job identical to the new print job.

  For example, in the case of a user who often sends the same image data again when the number of copies is insufficient in the first print job, if the setting is made to detect the number of copies, the same image data is sent again after the second time. Since it is determined that the print jobs are different print jobs that do not overlap, it is possible to improve the business efficiency of the user without inquiring “confirmation of same job / continuation of printing”.

  It should be noted that as a print job duplication detection condition, it is determined whether or not the contents of the print job (for example, the contents of the image data) match in place of or in addition to the attributes of the print job. It may be.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a setting menu screen for print job duplication detection conditions. In this setting menu screen example, “duplicate job detection”, “maximum comparison job number”, and “valid detection time” can be set. Here, in the “Duplicate job detection” column, it is possible to set the validity / invalidity of duplicate detection when a print job execution instruction is newly received (received). If the user does not particularly need to detect duplication, the print job can be executed promptly by turning off this check box. In the “maximum comparison job number” field, the maximum number of old print jobs in the past to be compared with a new print job when duplicates are detected can be set. In the “effective detection time” column, when comparing a new print job with a past old print job, a time width for limiting a past old job that is valid as a comparison target can be set. . When the difference in reception time between a new print job and a stored past print job is large, by adjusting this time width, only a recently executed past print job can be used as a comparison target.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation from reception of a new print job to detection of the same print job and notification of an inquiry to the user. In FIG. 5, first, the printer 1 receives an execution command for a new print job transmitted from the computer device 14 as a user terminal device via the network I / F 9 (S1). When the reception of this new print job is detected, the CPU 5 of the printer 1 confirms “duplicate job detection” in the print job duplication detection setting shown in FIG. 4 (S2). If “duplicate job detection” is OFF, the received print job is executed without detecting duplicate print jobs.

  On the other hand, if “duplicate job detection” is ON in step S2, the CPU 5 checks the “maximum comparison job number” in the print job duplication detection setting shown in FIG. The history of past print jobs by the number N set in “number of jobs” is acquired from the HDD 8 (S3). Next, after acquiring the history of the past print job, it is compared whether or not the contents of the print job match the new print job in order from the print job with the newest history. First, the CPU 5 checks the “valid detection time” in the print job duplication detection setting shown in FIG. 4 (S4). If the difference between the reception times of the past print job to be compared and the new print job exceeds the “valid detection time”, the duplication detection of the print job is stopped and the received print job is executed.

  On the other hand, if the “valid detection time” has not been exceeded in step S4, the CPU 5 selects the attribute selected by the user as the duplication detection condition among the print job attributes as shown in FIG. (S5). As a result of the comparison, if all the contents of the attributes that are the conditions for detecting duplication match, an inquiry is made to the user as to whether or not to delete the print job as a duplicate print job (S6). , S8). On the other hand, if all the old print jobs that are subject to detection are compared, and there are no new print jobs that completely match the attribute contents, it is determined that there are no duplicates in the past print jobs. Then, the received new print job is executed (S6, S7).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user sets a duplication detection condition for detecting duplication of print jobs, the set duplication detection condition is stored in a storage unit such as the memory 6. When a new print job execution command is issued, detection of a duplication of a new print job and a past print job is executed based on the stored duplication detection condition, and the duplication is detected. The user is notified. Since duplication of print jobs is detected and notified based on the duplication detection condition set by the user in this way, it is possible to prevent an unintended notification to the user about duplication of print jobs.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, by storing the duplicate detection condition for each user, when a plurality of users use the same printer, an unintended notification to the user is prevented for each of the plurality of users. can do.
Further, according to the present embodiment, based on the attributes or contents of a new print job and a past print job, when the attributes or contents match, it is determined that the print jobs are duplicated. Thus, it is possible to make a more accurate determination regarding duplication of print jobs.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, duplication between a new print job and a past print job is performed using the print job user name, host name, document name, job name, paper type, paper size, page number, number of copies, and data. The determination may be made based on whether at least one of the sizes matches each other. In this case, it is possible to more accurately determine the duplication of print jobs.
According to the present embodiment, as the duplicate detection condition, a user name, a host name, a document name, a job name, a paper type, a paper size of the print job between a new print job and a past print job are used. The attributes such as the number of pages, the number of copies, and the data size can be set to determine whether or not the contents match. In this case, it is possible to determine the overlap between a new print job and a past print job by setting more appropriate items according to the type of print job and the manner in which a print job execution instruction is generated. For example, if you want to make the timing for detecting duplication of print jobs received from the outside as fast as possible, remove the data size from the object of matching judgment, and then complete the new print job data before receiving it completely. It is possible to detect a past print job that is the same as the previous print job.
Further, according to the present embodiment, it may be possible to set whether or not to detect duplication of print jobs as the duplication detection condition. In this case, it is possible to promptly execute a print job without detecting duplication of the print job itself as desired by the user.
Further, according to the present embodiment, as the duplication detection condition, it is possible to set the number of past print jobs to be compared with a new print job, or the execution command time of a past print job to be compared with a new print job. May be settable. In this case, only past print jobs that have been executed recently can be used as comparison targets, and duplication of print jobs can be efficiently detected.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, by notifying the user whether or not to delete one of the new print job and the past print job, the user is informed about duplication of print jobs. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of inquiries.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Reading apparatus 3 Plotter apparatus 4 Operation panel 5 CPU
6 Memory 7 ROM
8 HDD
9 Network I / F
10 Scanner I / F
11 Plotter I / F
12 User I / F
13 System bus 14 Computer device

JP 2007-098847 A

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus that executes an image forming job based on an image forming job execution command,
A setting unit for a user to set a duplicate detection condition for detecting duplication of the image forming job;
Storage means for storing the duplicate detection condition set by the setting means;
A detection unit that detects an overlap between the new image formation job and a past image formation job based on the overlap detection condition when an execution instruction for the new image formation job is received;
A notification means for notifying a user when the detection means detects duplication of the plurality of image forming jobs;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the duplicate detection condition for each user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The detection unit determines that the image forming jobs are duplicated when the attributes or contents match based on the attributes or contents of the new image forming job and the past image forming job. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
The attribute that is a target for determining whether or not they match is at least one of the user name, host name, document name, job name, paper type, paper size, number of pages, number of copies, and data size of the image forming job. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
As the duplication detection condition, it is possible to set whether or not to determine whether or not the attributes or contents match between the new image forming job and the past image forming job. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein whether or not to perform duplication detection of the image forming job can be set as the duplication detection condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the number of past image forming jobs to be compared with the new image forming job can be set as the duplication detection condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that, as the duplicate detection condition, an execution command time of the past image forming job to be compared with the new image forming job can be set. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit inquires of a user whether or not to delete one of the new image forming job and the past image forming job.

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