JP2013078938A - Image formation apparatus, method for managing print job, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably execute print output in which a redundant output is prevented just by transmitting a print request again by normal procedure performed by a user when a main power is turned on after interrupting the print job due to main power interruption.SOLUTION: After processing is interrupted by the main power interruption (S101), auxiliary power is supplied (S102), and job information on the print job (S103) being executed and a processing history of the print job are stored in a nonvolatile memory by a printer (S104). After the main power is turned on, the output which has not been printed due to the interruption is managed to be executed in response to an equal print request which is resent.

Description

  The present invention executes processing of a print job (a print processing unit consisting of a series of processing commands indicated in an accepted print request is called a “print job”) based on print data attached to a print request received from an external device More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus having a function of managing an ongoing print job in which processing is interrupted by shutting off a power supply for operating the image forming apparatus, and a print job And a recording medium for causing a computer to manage a print job.

  Conventionally, a received print job is processed in an image forming apparatus such as a printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) that executes a print job based on print data attached to a print request received from an external device. A volatile memory that is relatively cheaper than a non-volatile memory is used as a memory for storing data such as images that are sometimes required, thereby reducing the price of the device. For this reason, when the power supplied to the printer is cut for some reason, the print job data stored in the volatile memory that requires the power supply for operation, that is, the unprocessed portion is stored. All the data of the print job being executed is deleted and invalidated.

In this way, when the data loss of a print job occurs due to the interruption of the power supplied to the printer, the user must re-send the print request from the external machine and re-request the printer for printing. .
When re-sending the print request, if the user re-sends the print request for the instruction content that was originally made, if there is a part that has been printed according to the original print request before the power is turned off, the part is printed redundantly. Become. In order to prevent this overlapping printing, for example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-231591), after the power supply to the printer is cut off, when the power is turned on again, the number of printed sheets and a paper jam are halfway. It has been proposed to notify the user of the print requester by e-mail about the occurrence status of the abnormality that has occurred in the print job. According to this proposal, the user who receives the information regarding the occurrence state of the abnormality can make a print request for the amount that has not been printed, and if the user issues a print request and reissues the print request, duplicate printing can be prevented.

  However, according to the above-described conventional technique for notifying a printer that has been turned on again by e-mail of information regarding the occurrence of an abnormality that has occurred in a print job, it is possible to receive an e-mail that is sent by the user requesting the print request when the power is turned on again. If you are not in the environment, you will not receive this email notification. In addition, the user of the transmission source may miss this e-mail notification. In such a case, a procedure for re-sending a print request with the same instruction as the original, for example, the same page designation, according to the procedure normally performed by the user when printing fails, that is, when the print job process cannot be completed due to an abnormality. As a result, the already output part is output redundantly, and there is a problem that it is not possible to take advantage of the mail notification.

  An object of the present invention is to re-send a print request with the same content as the original, which is normally performed when the user fails to print when the power supply is turned on again after the processing of the print job is interrupted by shutting off the power supply. It is to ensure that the print output can be performed without any duplication with the output portion that has been completed until the processing of the print job based on the initial print request is interrupted only by the procedure.

  The present invention accepts an incoming print request, processes a print job based on the accepted print request, performs print output, and performs processing by shutting down a main power supply that supplies power necessary for processing the print job Is an image forming apparatus that is interrupted, and when the main power source is shut off, an auxiliary power source that enables continuation of power supply, and a process related to a print job in which a process being executed is interrupted by the main power source shutting off Management information storage means for storing management information relating to the print job including a history upon receiving the supply of auxiliary power, and the management information storage means for processing a print job based on a print request received after the main power is turned on again The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that refers to the processing history stored in the print job and controls to perform a print output that does not overlap with an already output in the print job in which the process is interrupted.

  According to the present invention, when the print job processing is interrupted due to the interruption of the power supply, and then the power supply is turned on again, the procedure that the user normally performs when printing fails and retransmits the print request with the same content as the original By simply referring to the processing history of the job to be managed, the device that receives this print request prevented duplication with the output part that was completed until the processing of the print job based on the original print request was interrupted. Printing output can be performed reliably.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print system including a printer and an external apparatus that transmits a print request according to an embodiment of the present invention as system elements. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a data processing system of a printer according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of management information storage processing relating to a print job, which is performed when a main power supply is shut off by a printer controller of a data processing system (FIG. 2) in the printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of print job processing performed when the printer controller of the data processing system (FIG. 2) in the printer is turned on again.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a printer that receives a print request from an external device connected via an interface and forms an image on a recording medium using print data attached to the print request will be described as an example. take.
The printer according to the present embodiment operates a printer engine (printing operation unit) that operates in response to the supply of main power that can be shut off / re-entered based on print data attached to a print request, and executes a print job. However, if the main power supply is interrupted during the execution of the print job, the process of the print job being executed is interrupted, and the print data used for the print job being executed is lost due to the interruption of the process. .

When the above situation occurs due to the interruption of the main power supply, the user who made the print request for the print job whose processing was interrupted makes a reprint request. Then, for example, a procedure for resending a print request with the same page designation is performed. When print output is performed in accordance with this reprint request, print output (hereinafter referred to as “duplicate output”) is performed in duplicate with the print output that has already been completed in the process before the interruption in the print job based on the initial print request. As a result, useless time and operations are multiplied for the overlap.
In order to eliminate such waste, it has been proposed to provide a means for notifying the transmission source user by e-mail of the amount of print output. However, as described in [Background Art] above, this means may involve a user who receives a notification by e-mail, and its effectiveness is not necessarily guaranteed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, after the print job is interrupted due to the interruption of the main power supply, when the main power is turned on again, the user re-sends the print request having the same contents as the original when the user failed to print. In order to ensure that print output that prevents duplicate output can be performed with just a procedure, the print job processing history is managed on the printer side to ensure print output that prevents duplicate output, as described in detail later. The management function to perform is provided.
In this embodiment, a printer is exemplified. However, as long as the image forming apparatus requires the management function, another image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral having a printer function (see the multifunction peripheral 104 in FIG. 1). But you can.

[Print system]
Before describing the printer according to the present embodiment, an outline of the configuration of a print system including the printer and an external device as system elements will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print system including, as system elements, a printer and an external apparatus that transmits a print request according to the present embodiment.
The printing system shown in FIG. 1 is configured by connecting a multifunction machine 104 having a printer function as one of multifunction functions, a printer 105, and host computers 101 to 103, which are network terminal devices, to a network 100, respectively.

The MFP 104 and the printer 105, which are components of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1, are image forming apparatuses each having a printer function, and print requests transmitted from the host computers 101 to 103 via the network 100. The printer engine is operated based on the print data described in the page description language or the like attached to the print request and printing is performed.
Further, each of the multifunction machine 104 and the printer 105 requires a print job management function in which processing is interrupted when the main power supply is cut off, which will be described later. The image forming apparatus (multifunction machine 104, printer 105) having a printer function that constitutes the printer system of FIG. 1 is a color printer, a monochrome printer, a laser beam, or the like as long as the management function of the print job is required. An image forming apparatus equipped with any printer engine such as a printer or an ink jet printer may be used.
Note that the printer engine itself that performs the printing operation is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, and can be implemented by using an existing apparatus mounted on the above-mentioned various printers.

  In addition, the host computers 101 to 103 of this print system are one of external machines that make a print request to the multifunction peripheral 104 and the printer 105, and the external machine is a device that has a function of sending a print request. If there is, it is not limited to a computer such as a PC (personal computer).

[Printer data processing system]
A data processing system of the printer 105 of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data processing system in the printer 105 of this embodiment.
The printer 105 according to the present embodiment receives and receives print data attached to a print request transmitted from the host computers 101 to 103 as external devices or the multifunction device 104 having a function serving as a host device. Based on the print data, the printer controller 300 operates the printer engine to perform data processing such as print output data and control data for printing. Therefore, here, the hardware configuration of the printer controller 300 will be mainly described.
In the case of the multifunction machine 104, elements related to other multifunction functions other than the printer function are added. However, the printer function basically has the same configuration as the printer 105 shown in FIG. The same applies to the multifunction machine 104.

In FIG. 2, a printer controller 300 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 302, a nonvolatile memory 303, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 304, and a LAN (Local Area Network) I / F (interface). 305, an operation unit I / F 306, and an engine I / F 307 are included. By connecting these elements via a data bus 313, data is exchanged between the elements. The main power shutoff detection circuit 311 is directly connected to the CPU 301, detects the shutoff of the main power supply (not shown) that supplies power to the printer engine 309 and the like, and transmits a detection signal to the CPU 301.
The LAN I / F 305 is a network interface circuit that enables connection to the network 100 in accordance with various protocols such as 100Base-T and 10Base-T, and communicates with the host computers 101 to 103 or the multifunction peripheral 104 to perform printing. Receive data etc.

The CPU 301 constitutes a computer together with the ROM 304, the RAM 302, and the nonvolatile memory 303. Here, this computer realizes a function as a controller (printer controller) that controls the entire printer. In addition to the control function of the printer engine 309, the functions realized by this computer include image processing modules including a rendering command analysis module and a renderer for generating image data used for print output based on received print data. Each function is included.
In order for the computer to function as described above, the ROM 304 stores a control program used by the CPU 301, control data, font data, and the like, and the RAM 302 is generated by the control program such as image data generated by the renderer. It is used as a memory for temporarily storing various data or a work memory for storing data necessary for the operation of the program. A non-volatile memory 303 is a device-dependent condition such as a printer environment variable, etc. Data used for various types of management within the device, such as management information related to a print job such as a print job processing interruption flag and the number of discharged pages, that is, the number of pages already output, is stored.

The nonvolatile memory 303 may be an S (Static) RAM backed up by a backup power source such as a primary battery.
The engine I / F 307 is an interface circuit with the printer engine 309, outputs video data for print output to the printer engine 309, and commands and status (operation state) between the printer engine 309 and the printer controller 300. Data necessary for control is exchanged by data communication.
The operation unit panel 308 functions as a user interface, communicates with the printer controller 300 via the operation unit I / F 306, and inputs various instructions and settings related to the operation of the printer 105 when the operator operates an input button or the like. At the same time, the display unit informs the status on the device side and guides the input operation by the operator.

The main power supply cutoff detection circuit 311 of the printer controller 300 is a circuit that detects supply cutoff of an AC power supply (not shown) as a main power supply that supplies power to the printer controller 300, the printer engine 309, and the like. The main power cut-off detection circuit 311 receives a main power cut-off signal notifying that a switch (not shown) for cutting off / turning on the main power supply is in a cut-off state from a detection unit (not shown) provided on the switch. Detects main power supply interruption. Note that power to the printer controller 300 is supplied by converting AC power, which is the main power, into DC power.
The printer controller 300 switches the power supply to the printer controller 300 from the main power supply to the backup power supply 310 as an auxiliary power supply in response to the main power supply interruption detected by the main power supply interruption detection circuit 311.

Further, the backup power source 310 as an auxiliary power source in the present embodiment is assumed to be an inexpensive power source such as a capacitor having a large capacity, and is not assumed to be an expensive power source that has a large amount of power storage and continues power backup for a long time.
In the first place, the reason for providing a power supply for backing up the printer controller 300 when the main power supply is cut off, such as the backup power supply 310, is that the main power supply is cut off during write access to a hard disk (not shown) provided under the control of the printer controller 300. This is to prevent a defective sector from being generated. Therefore, the data that can be backed up for the time required until all the data in the cache of the hard disk is written to the hard disk is used. This method of use is the same in this embodiment. As will be described later, it is sufficient that the capacity for storing the power used for storing the management information of the print job whose processing is interrupted is stored.

[Managing print jobs when the main power is turned off]
A print job management function at the time of main power shut-off included in the printer controller 300 of the printer 105 will be described.
In this embodiment, after processing of a print job is interrupted due to supply interruption of the main power supply, when the main power supply is turned on again, the user re-sends the print request with the same contents as the original, which is normally performed when printing fails. By simply performing the procedure, the printer that receives this print request prevents duplicate output from the print job based on the print request that has already been output in the process before the interruption in the print job based on the original print request. Managing print jobs to ensure that print output can be performed reliably.
In order to manage this print job, the print job whose process has been interrupted is specified, and the process including the processing history indicating the process where the process of the specified print job was interrupted and the output has already been completed is shown. Store job management information on the printer. The management information includes job ID, print request transmission source for the print job, output file name, output file size, and the like as job information for specifying the print job.
The stored management information of the print job is referred to in order to obtain information indicating a part that has already been output in the print job whose processing has been interrupted. That is, after the main power is turned on again, refer to the stored management information that the print request sent again is a print request with the same sender and the same content as the print request for the previously interrupted print job. If it can be confirmed, the part that has already been output can be found from the processing history of the job indicated in the management information, so that only the part that has not been output due to the interruption is executed without overlapping this part. Control.

The procedure for realizing the above management function is broadly divided into a management information storage process including a processing history related to a print job whose processing is interrupted when the main power supply is shut off, and re-sent after the main power supply is turned on again. There are two processing procedures: output processing that prevents duplicate output of print jobs based on print requests.
Hereinafter, the two processing procedures will be described in detail with reference to the processing flow.

<Processing procedure when main power is shut off>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of management information storage processing related to a print job performed by the printer controller 300 of the data processing system (FIG. 2) in the printer 105 when the main power supply is shut off.
The printer controller 300 can receive a print request transmitted by turning on the main power to the printer, and at least when there is a print job to be executed, the printer controller 300 always activates the processing flow of FIG.

When the processing flow of FIG. 3 is started, the printer controller 300 first monitors the main power supply interruption detection result detected by the main power interruption detection circuit 311 (step S101), and the main power supply interruption is detected. (Step S101-YES), the power supply to itself (printer controller 300) is immediately switched to the backup power supply 310, and the power supply from here is started (step S102).
The supply of the backup power 310 allows the management information related to the subsequent print job to be saved by continuing the power supply to the printer controller 300.

Next, the printer controller 300 receives the supply of the backup power supply 310 and performs a management information storage processing procedure related to the print job. First, whether there is a print job being executed in the printer engine 309 or not. Is confirmed (step S103). Here, it is possible to confirm whether there is a job being executed in the printer engine 309 by obtaining status information regarding the print job from the printer engine 309 via the engine I / F 307. The status information is information generated and held by a data processing unit (not shown) of the printer engine 309 as information indicating the processing state of the print job in the printer engine 309. Therefore, the printer controller 300 can check whether there is a print job being executed by acquiring this status information from the printer engine 309 via the engine I / F 307.
The status information related to the print job includes information for indicating the processing state of the printer engine 309 such as a job ID for identifying the print job received by the printer engine 309, the number of received pages, the number of output pages, and the like. Therefore, the printer controller 300 identifies the print job whose processing has been interrupted based on the status information related to the print job generated by the printer engine 309, and how far the processing of the print job has been completed, that is, in units of pages. When processing is managed, it is possible to acquire a print job processing history such as how many pages of the print job have been output.
In step S103, if the printer controller 300 confirms that there is no processing history in the status information acquired from the printer engine 309 and there is no print job being executed in which processing is interrupted in the printer engine 309 (NO in step S103) The processing flow is exited without performing the process for performing the print output that prevents the output, and when the process including this process and the process requiring the backup power source 310 is completed, the main power supply is shut off until the main power supply is turned on again. The state continues.

  On the other hand, in step S103, the printer controller 300 can confirm that there is a processing history in the status information acquired from the printer engine 309 and there is a print job being executed in which processing is interrupted in the printer engine 309 (step S103). -YES) As the next step, as a processing procedure for performing a print output that prevents duplicate output, the job information of the print job being executed and the processing history of the print job are stored in the nonvolatile memory 303. Save (step S104).

The job information includes, for each print job identified by the job ID, the device ID (for example, IP (Internet Protocol) address, etc.) of the host computer 101 to 103 of the print request transmission source related to the print job, the output file name, and the output Save the file size as print job management information. In this embodiment, the processing is interrupted when the main power supply is cut off, and after the main power supply is turned on again, the print job based on the transmitted print request is retransmitted with the same print request as the original interrupted print job. In order to confirm that it is based on what has been done, the stored management information is used. Note that information other than the above may be used as long as it is information attached to a print request that can be used to determine the difference in the request contents related to the print job.
In addition, the processing history of the print job being executed stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 includes the number of output pages of the print job and a print job processing interruption flag.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the management information including the processing history of the print job being executed whose processing is interrupted is stored in the non-volatile memory 303 in the printer 105 has been described. May not be available, or a product with sufficient capacity may not be prepared.
For such a printer, a nonvolatile external storage device is used via an interface. The interface and the external storage device are not particularly limited as long as they are storage devices that can be accessed for writing / reading by the printer 105.

For example, in a printing system configured by connecting the printer 105 to a network, an apparatus (not shown) that functions as a server for storing the management information is connected to the network as an external storage device, and the printer 105 has a server function. The management information can be accessed to the device.
In this way, by connecting a non-volatile external storage device to the printer 105 and storing the management information in the external storage device, it is possible to cope with an image forming apparatus such as a printer that cannot prepare a non-volatile memory inside. become. In addition, by adopting this configuration, for example, the print job management function when the main power supply is shut down can be enabled for the entire system, such as using the management information saved from the MFP 104 to perform print output that prevents duplicate output. Can be used.

  In step S104, when the main power is turned on again, in response to a print request having the same contents, the information of the print job being executed whose processing has been interrupted is used as information necessary for print job management to prevent duplicate output. When the processing for saving the job information and the processing history of the print job is completed, the processing flow is exited. When the processing including this processing and the processing requiring the backup power source 310 is completed, the main power is turned on again. The power-off state continues.

Next, processing related to print job management after the main power is turned on again for the printer 105 in the main power shut-off state after exiting the processing flow of FIG. 3 described above will be described.
<Processing procedure when the main power is turned on again>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of print job processing performed when the printer controller 300 of the data processing system (FIG. 2) in the printer 105 is turned on again.
The printer controller 300 manages a process for a print request that is retransmitted with the same request content as a print job that has been interrupted due to a main power cut-off after a normal initialization process when the main power is turned on again. The processing flow shown in FIG. 4 according to the present embodiment is started.

When the processing flow of FIG. 4 is started when the main power is turned on again, first, the printer controller 300 performs a boot process with a program stored in the ROM 304, and then enables output in the printer engine 309. An initialization process is performed (step S201).
Next, the printer controller 300 determines, from the management information stored in the nonvolatile memory 303, the management information of the print job whose processing is interrupted in the processing flow of FIG. 3, that is, the device ID and output file name of the print request transmission source. Then, the process information including the job information including the output file size, the number of printed pages, the process interruption flag of the print job, and the like is acquired (step S202). In this embodiment, the management information of all print jobs to be processed is stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 for each print job including the print job whose processing is interrupted. The information of the print job to be acquired must be acquired, but the print job information required in this step can be easily retrieved by the processing interruption flag included in the management information.

Thereafter, the printer controller 300 waits for a print request to be transmitted via the LAN I / F 305, and accepts a print job through a print request reception procedure (step S203).
Next, the printer controller 300 compares the job information in the management information of the print job whose processing is interrupted acquired in step S202 and the job information in the management information of the print job accepted in step S203 (step S204). It is determined whether the print job is based on the print request having the same request content, that is, whether the print job is based on the print request retransmitted due to the interruption of processing (step S205).
Whether a print job is based on a print request having the same request content is determined by the job information transmission source device (host computers 101 to 103 in this embodiment) ID, print file name, print in the management information of each print job. When the file sizes are compared and the job information is the same, it is determined that the print job is based on the print request having the same request content.

  When the printer controller 300 determines in step S205 that the print job is based on the print request having the same request content (step S205-YES), the printer controller 300 executes the print output of the print job based on the retransmitted print request. The controller 300 acquires the number of output pages that have already been printed out until the interruption from the processing history in the management information of the print job whose processing was previously interrupted acquired in step S202. That is, for the remaining pages following the interrupted page, the printer engine 309 is requested to execute print output by inputting image data for print output via the engine I / F 307, and the printer engine 309 In response to this request, print output is executed (step S206).

In step S206, the print job management information stored in the non-volatile memory 303 is not necessary as the management information of the print job whose processing has been interrupted after printing the portion that has not been output. And invalidation (step S207). Here, the management information is invalidated by erasing data.
By performing the process of step S207, in addition to the previous print request, a print request with the same request content is further made, thereby responding to the new request to the user who requests the print output from the first page. Can do. That is, unless the data is deleted in step S207 and the management information is invalidated, the user's request to output all pages in a print job based on a new print request having the same request content cannot be satisfied. In order to respond to a new print request with the same request content, it is possible to perform processing corresponding to the request by newly adding information indicating that it is a new request. There is also an advantage that the memory can be used efficiently without increasing the capacity of the non-volatile memory 303 that is more expensive than necessary.
After the processing of step S207 is completed, this processing flow is terminated.

On the other hand, if the printer controller 300 does not determine in step S205 that the print job is based on a print request with the same request content (NO in step S205), printing based on a normal print request rather than a print job whose execution has been interrupted. Since it is a job, the printer controller 300 generates image data for print output from the print data according to the received print job, inputs the generated image data to the printer engine 309, and requests execution of the print output. In response to this request, the printer engine 309 executes print output (step S208).
After executing the print output in step S208, it waits for the next print request to be transmitted, and returns to step S203 for accepting the print job.

By the way, in the above processing flow, the process of invalidating the information stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 as the management information of the print job whose processing has been interrupted is the procedure for deleting the information in step S207, that is, the printing This is a procedure that is performed after a print request related to a print job having the same request content as the job is retransmitted, and the print job is printed out while avoiding duplicate output.
However, the management information stored in the non-volatile memory 303 can be arbitrarily deleted by the user who has made a print request for a print job whose execution has been interrupted without invalidating the processing procedure. You may be able to do it.

This management information can be erased by the user through a user interface. For example, the operation unit panel 308 of the printer 105 functioning as a user interface is input to an input screen prepared for instructing deletion of the management information by a user operation or a printer driver installed in the host computers 101 to 103. Management information can be erased through an input screen prepared for instructing by user operation.
In this way, a print request having the same request content as that of the print job whose execution has been interrupted can be performed by enabling the processing to invalidate the management information stored in the non-volatile memory 303 by an arbitrary user operation. Is performed again, and the user's request to start all the print output by the print job based on the print request can be satisfied.

Further, as a process of invalidating information stored in the nonvolatile memory 303, the following procedure can be adopted.
For example, if the destination printer is in an isolated location and the user is resending a print request with the same request content as the print job for which processing was interrupted, whether the main power can be turned on again immediately It is assumed that the user may not know the situation. In such a case, if printing is in a hurry, a print request having the same request content may be transmitted to another usable printer.

When a print request having the same request content as that of the print job whose processing has been interrupted is transmitted to another available printer, it is very unlikely that the print request is transmitted again to the printer that originally received the print request.
In such a situation, it is meaningless to continue to store the management information of a print job that prevents duplicate output on the assumption that the printer that originally received the print request receives the retransmitted print request.
Therefore, when such a situation is assumed, the management information stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 is invalidated regardless of the procedure shown in the processing flow of FIG.
In this embodiment, the above situation is assumed to be the time limit (referred to as “validity period”) of the management information of the print job stored in the non-volatile memory 303, and the situation is assumed as the determined validity period elapses. I decided to. That is, the management information of the stored print job is invalidated when a predetermined valid period has elapsed since the storage. Note that the predetermined effective period is assigned an experience value for obtaining an appropriate operation in each print system.

The process of invalidating the management information stored in the non-volatile memory 303 with the elapse of a predetermined valid period can be performed by procedures 1 to 4 exemplified below.
Procedure 1: First, when the management information of a print job whose execution has been interrupted is stored in the nonvolatile memory 303, the time at that time is stored in association with the management information.
Step 2: Check the expiration date of the management information of the print job by predetermining a time interval (set to be shorter than the predetermined effective period) in advance and setting the storage period based on the current time and the storage time of the management information at a predetermined time interval cycle. Get the elapsed time.
Procedure 3: The elapsed time of the storage period obtained in Procedure 2 is compared with a predetermined effective period.
Procedure 4: As a comparison result of Procedure 3, if it is within the predetermined effective period, the management information is continuously stored because it is effective. On the other hand, if it is outside the predetermined effective period, the management information is erased and invalidated.
As described above, by enabling the process of invalidating the print job management information stored in the non-volatile memory 303 after a predetermined valid period, the performance of the print job management function when the main power supply is shut down is deteriorated. The nonvolatile memory 303 can be effectively used.

  As described above with reference to the processing flow of FIGS. 3 and 4, according to the processing by the print job management function of the printer controller 300 when the main power supply of the printer 105 is cut off, the output is halfway before the main power supply is cut off. After that, when the main power supply is turned on again and the user sends a print request for all pages from the beginning in the normal procedure again, the printer controller 300 uses the auxiliary (backup) power supply when the main power supply is cut off and is non-volatile. Whether or not the print job is based on the print request having the same request content is checked based on the print job management information (job information and process history) stored in the memory 303 and the process is interrupted. By performing print output of the output portion, it is possible to reliably perform print output that prevents duplicate output. Further, by preventing duplicate output, it is possible to eliminate wasteful use of paper and waste of processing time.

  100, Network, 101-103, Host computer, 104, Multifunction machine, 105, Printer, 300, Printer controller, 301, CPU, 302, RAM, 303, Non-volatile memory, 304 ROM, 305 ..LAN I / F, 306 ..Operation unit I / F, 307 ..Engine I / F, 308 ..Operation panel, 309 ..Printer engine, 310 ..Backup power supply, 311. Blocking detection circuit, 313, data bus.

JP 2006-231591 A

Claims (13)

An image that accepts a print request that is sent, processes a print job based on the accepted print request, prints it out, and interrupts the current process when the main power supply that supplies power necessary for the print job is shut off A forming device,
An auxiliary power source that allows continuation of power supply when the main power source is shut off;
Management information storage means for storing management information related to the print job including a processing history related to a print job in which processing being executed is interrupted by the main power supply being cut off by receiving the auxiliary power supply;
When processing a print job based on a print request received after the main power is turned on again, a print output that refers to a processing history stored in the management information storage unit and does not overlap with an existing output in the print job that has been interrupted An image forming apparatus having control means for performing control. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Whether the print request received after the main power supply is turned on again is a reprint request for requesting the same content as the print job whose processing being executed has been interrupted due to the main power supply being cut off. Reprint request confirmation means for confirming with reference to the management information relating to the print job saved by
The control unit controls the print output that does not overlap with the existing output in the print job in which the processing is interrupted for the print job that is confirmed to be a reprint request by the reprint request confirmation unit. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The processing history related to the print job includes the number of pages already printed out when the print job processing is interrupted, and a print job processing interruption flag. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The management information related to the print job includes an external device that is a transmission source of a print request related to the print job, a print output file name, and a print output file size. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a storage unit used for storing management information relating to the print job is a nonvolatile memory. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a storage unit used for storing management information relating to the print job is an external storage device capable of writing / reading connected via an interface. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
In response to a reprint request made after the main power supply is turned on again, in response to the start of execution of the print output of the part that has not been output due to the interruption, the print job stored by the management information storage means An image forming apparatus having means for invalidating management information. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for invalidating print job management information stored by the management information storage means via a user interface. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from when the processing of the print job is interrupted or when the main power is turned on again;
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for invalidating print job management information stored by the management information storage means when an elapsed time measured by the time measuring means has passed a predetermined time.   A program for causing a computer to function as each of the management information storage unit and the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   A program for causing a computer to function as each of the management information storage unit, the reprint request confirmation unit, and the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program as described in Claim 10 or 11. An image that accepts a print request that is sent, processes a print job based on the accepted print request, prints it out, and interrupts the current process when the main power supply that supplies power necessary for the print job is shut off A method for managing a print job in a forming apparatus,
A power supply process that allows the auxiliary power supply to continue power supply when the main power supply is interrupted during a print job,
A management information storing step for storing management information related to the print job including a processing history related to a print job in which processing being executed is interrupted by shutting down the main power supply by receiving auxiliary power supplied by the power supply step;
When processing a print job based on a print request received after the main power supply is turned on again, a print output that refers to the processing history stored in the management information storage step and does not overlap with the existing output in the print job that has been interrupted And a control process for controlling to perform printing.

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