JP2014037107A - Job control device, network system, image formation device, job control method and job control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To process a job reception request which has low radio wave intensity from a host device while improving usability.SOLUTION: In a network system 1, in a case of a job reception request from radio terminals K1-Kn whose communication path includes a radio communication route, the job reception request including information of the radio wave intensity is received. An image formation device Gk detects whether or not the communication path to a host device includes the radio communication route depending on whether or not the job reception request includes the information of the radio wave intensity. If the information of the radio wave intensity is included, the radio wave intensity is acquired, and the job reception request whose communication path includes the radio communication route is set to higher order of priority in reception order than that of the job reception request whose communication path includes wired communication alone. In a plurality of the job reception requests whose communication path include the radio communication route, the job reception request which has lower radio wave intensity is set to higher order of priority in the reception order. Jobs are received according to the set reception order.

Description

  The present invention relates to a job management apparatus, a network system, an image forming apparatus, a job management method, and a job management program, and more specifically, a job that processes a job reception request from a host apparatus with low radio wave intensity while improving usability. The present invention relates to a management apparatus, a network system, an image forming apparatus, a job management method, and a job management program.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and an image processing apparatus such as a printer or a composite apparatus has become an indispensable device for outputting digitized information. An image processing apparatus used in a company office or office is connected to a network such as a local area network (LAN) and is shared by information processing apparatuses such as a plurality of personal computers (PCs) connected to the same network. In general.

  In recent years, image processing apparatuses such as printers and composite apparatuses host not only a plurality of computers but also portable terminals such as smartphones and wireless terminals such as notebook personal computers via wired and wireless communication lines. The device receives a print job composed of print settings and print data, prints the print data of the received print job on paper according to the print settings, receives a stored job, and receives the stored job data. Save it to a large-capacity storage unit.

  In particular, in recent years, with the development of wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth and wifi and the development of mobile terminals, host devices such as mobile terminals and computers and image processing devices can be easily connected not only by wire but also by wireless communication. Image processing environment has been formed and image processing has been started (see Patent Document 1).

  When a conventional image processing apparatus receives a request for receiving a job such as a print job (job reception request), the job reception request is registered in a queue in the order of reception, and the job is received and executed in the order of the queue. ing.

  However, in the above prior art, when there is a job reception request, the image processing apparatus receives the jobs in the order of the job reception request and executes the jobs, so that the image processing apparatus is busy accepting jobs. If the wireless terminal with the weak signal strength is the host device and the job reception request is later, the power consumption of the wireless terminal will become severe until the order of the job reception request comes. There was a problem that the usability deteriorated.

  That is, if the radio field strength is weak between the time when a job reception request is made and the time when the job reception request is granted until the job transmission is completed, the wireless terminal increases the antenna sensitivity, increasing the power consumption and printing. There is a need for improvement in order to improve the usability because the power consumption during job transmission and transmission increases.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to process a job reception request from a host apparatus having a low radio field intensity while improving usability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a job management apparatus according to claim 1 is a job reception request for requesting reception of a job from a host apparatus, and when a wireless communication path exists in the communication path, Communication means for receiving the job reception request including the radio wave intensity information for notifying the radio wave intensity on the wireless communication path, and whether the radio wave intensity information is included in the job reception request received by the communication means. Detecting whether or not a wireless communication path exists in the communication path with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request, and detecting the communication status when the radio field strength information is included And when the communication means receives a predetermined number of the job reception requests, the communication status detection means detects the job reception request detected that the communication path includes a wireless communication path. A higher priority is set in the reception order than a job reception request only for a wired communication path, and among the plurality of job reception requests including the wireless communication path, the job reception request having a lower radio wave intensity has a higher reception order. Receiving priority setting means for setting a higher priority in the receiving, and receiving for causing the communication means to receive the job corresponding to the job receiving request of the receiving order according to the receiving order set by the receiving priority setting means And a control means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to process a job reception request from a host device having a weak radio wave intensity while improving usability.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The block block diagram of a radio | wireless terminal. The figure which shows an example of a job reception request packet. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing job reception request ranking processing. The figure which shows the example of registration of the job reception request to a reception queue. The figure which shows an example of a job reception request ranking function setting screen. The figure which shows an example of a reception request ignoring terminal setting screen.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a job management apparatus, network system, image forming apparatus, job management method, and job management program according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a job management apparatus and network according to the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system 1 to which an embodiment of a system, an image forming apparatus, a job management method, and a job management program are applied.

  1, a network system 1 includes an image forming apparatus Gk and a plurality of host devices connected to a network NW such as the Internet or an intranet. Among the host devices, wireless terminals K1 to K1 such as a portable terminal and a notebook personal computer. Kn is connected to the network NW via the access point devices AP1 to APm. In FIG. 1, only the wireless terminals K1 to Kn are described as the host device, but the host device is not limited to the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, and a computer or the like connected by wire is connected. May be.

  The access point devices AP1 to APm communicate with each wireless terminal K1 to Kn wirelessly and are often connected to the network NW by wire. The access point devices AP1 to APm transmit and receive transfer data wirelessly with the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, and relay wireless communication within the network system 1.

  The wireless terminals K1 to Kn are terminals that perform wireless data communication such as smartphones and laptop personal computers, and are configured as shown in FIG. 2. The wireless terminals K1 to Kn are configured as shown in FIG. F13, communication I / F14, etc. are provided.

  The internal storage unit 12 is an OS (Operating System) that controls the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, various application software, data created and edited by the application software, and the job management method of the present invention. Of the job management program, the portable side job management program, which is a part of the program executed by the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, is stored. The control unit 11 is based on the OS and software in the internal storage unit 12, and the wireless terminals K1 to Kn. And the job management process executed on the wireless terminals K1 to Kn side based on the portable job management program. For example, the control unit 11 performs processing such as inserting the radio wave intensity information Pk (see FIG. 3) into the job reception request packet P (see FIG. 3).

  That is, the wireless terminals K1 to Kn include a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), A job management program for executing the job management method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read. By being installed in the internal storage unit 12 or the like, it is constructed as a host device that executes a job management method for making a job reception request including radio wave intensity information Pk described later. This host-side job management program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like. Can be stored and distributed.

  The user I / F 13 is an operation unit where the users of the wireless terminals K1 to Kn perform various operations on the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, various commands input from the operation unit, and various information notified to the user from the wireless terminals K1 to Kn. And a voice output unit that outputs various information as voices. The operation unit and the display unit may be, for example, a liquid crystal LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on which a touch panel is stacked. . The control unit 11 acquires contents operated by the user I / F 13 from the user I / F 13 and performs various operation controls, and also displays data to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F 13 or output as audio. Output to F13.

  The communication I / F 14 performs wireless communication with the access point devices AP1 to APm under the control of the control unit 11, and finally performs communication with the image forming apparatus Gk to make a job reception request. When the job reception request is permitted, the job is transmitted.

  In the job reception request, the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, for example, send a job reception request packet P as shown in FIG. 3 from the communication I / F 14 to the access point devices AP1 to APm under the control of the control unit 11. And transmitted to the image forming apparatus Gk via the network NW. As shown in FIG. 3, the packet P includes a header Ph, radio wave intensity information Pk, and data Pd. The header Ph and the data Pd have a normal packet configuration. In the radio wave intensity information Pk, for example, the radio wave intensity is numerically classified into a plurality of stages, and a numerical value indicating the radio wave intensity classified in that stage is additionally inserted into the packet P as the radio wave intensity information Pk. The radio field intensity is the radio field intensity between the wireless terminals K1 to Kn and the access point devices AP1 to APm, acquired by the communication I / F 14, and the control unit 11 based on the job management program. It is converted into a numerical value for each stage and inserted into the packet P. The radio wave intensity information Pk may be inserted as part of the header Ph or may be inserted as part of the data Pd.

  That is, each of the wireless terminals K1 to Kn communicates wirelessly with the access point devices AP1 to APm via the communication I / F 14, and communicates with the image forming apparatus Gk via the network NW to which the access point devices AP1 to APm are connected. connect.

  The access point devices AP1 to APm transmit and receive data wirelessly with the communication I / F 14 of each of the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, and between the image forming apparatus Gk and the wireless terminals K1 to Kn via the network NW. Relay of wireless communication.

  The image forming apparatus Gk is an apparatus having a function of forming an image, such as a copying apparatus, a printer apparatus, or a composite apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, a control unit 21, an internal storage unit 22, an image output unit 23, a user I / F 24, a communication I / F 25, an external storage I / F 26, and the like.

  The internal storage unit 22 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, and includes various types of application software and various types of image forming apparatus Gk for executing various functions of the OS that controls the image forming apparatus Gk and the image forming apparatus Gk. The management apparatus side job management program, which is a program executed by the job management apparatus JK of the image forming apparatus Gk, of the job management program for executing the job management method of the present invention, such as settings and logs, is stored. .

  The control unit 21 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus Gk based on a program in the internal storage unit 22 to execute basic processing as the image forming apparatus Gk, and to execute the job management method of the present invention. A job management process executed on the job management apparatus JK side is executed based on a management apparatus side job management program which is a part of the job management program executed on the job management apparatus JK. That is, the control unit 21 performs wireless communication on a communication path with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request depending on whether or not the radio wave intensity information Pk is included in the job reception request received by the communication I / F 25 described later. Detects whether or not a route exists, and if the radio wave intensity information is included, communication status detection processing for acquiring the radio wave intensity, and if a predetermined number of job reception requests are received, communication is performed. A job reception request that includes a wireless communication path is set to a higher priority in the reception order than a job reception request that includes only a wired communication path, and a plurality of job reception requests that include the wireless communication path Among these, the job reception request having a weaker radio wave intensity has a higher reception priority in the reception priority, and the reception priority setting process for setting the reception priority in accordance with the reception priority set. Run the reception control processing for receiving the performed communication I / F25 for the job corresponding to the job reception request, the communication status detection unit, functions as receiving priority setting unit and the reception control means.

  The image forming apparatus Gk is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, SD card, MO, etc. A job management apparatus JK that executes a job management method for performing a job management process for a job reception request including the radio wave intensity information Pk by reading a job management program for executing the job management method and introducing the job management program into the internal storage unit 22 or the like. It is constructed as an image forming apparatus to be mounted. This job management program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  A user I / F (operation unit, neglected radio wave intensity setting unit) 24 is an operation unit that allows the user to directly perform various operations on the image forming apparatus Gk, various commands input from the operation unit, and the image forming apparatus Gk to the user. It has a display unit for displaying various information to be notified and a voice output unit for outputting various types of information as voices. The operation unit and the display unit are, for example, a touch panel on a liquid crystal LCD together with a hard key or without a hard key. A laminate of the above may be used. The control unit 21 acquires the contents operated by the user I / F 24 from the user I / F 24 and performs various operation controls, and also displays data to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F 24 and to be output as audio. Output to F24. In particular, the user I / F 24 is used to set on / off of processing for prioritizing job reception requests by the control unit 21 serving as a reception priority setting means, and responds to job reception requests. This is used to appropriately set the strength of the neglected radio wave intensity as the neglected radio wave intensity. The control unit 21 performs processing for job reception requests according to execution and non-execution of prioritization processing and neglected radio wave intensity according to contents operated by the user I / F 24.

  A communication I / F (communication means) 25 communicates with another image forming apparatus on the network NW and a host apparatus other than the wireless terminals K1 to Kn, such as a computer, under the control of the control unit 21, and Wireless communication is performed with the wireless terminals K1 to Kn via the network NW and the access point devices AP1 to APm. The communication I / F 25 receives a job reception request from the wireless terminals K1 to Kn and other host devices under the control of the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 performs the job reception request by the job management process described later. The reception order that is the processing order is controlled by the priority order based on the radio wave intensity.

  Therefore, the control unit 21 and the communication I / F 25 function as a job management apparatus JK mounted on the image forming apparatus Gk as a whole.

  The image output unit 23 forms an image on a sheet by a predetermined image forming method, for example, an electrophotographic method, an ink ejection method, or the like. For example, in the case of an electrophotographic system, the image forming unit 23 is not shown, but is a component necessary for performing an image forming process (printing process) on a sheet based on image image data (drawing data) in an electrophotographic system, for example, A charging unit, an optical writing unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a cleaning unit, and the like are disposed around the photosensitive member. The optical writing unit is operated by image image data and a control signal to electrostatically act on the photosensitive member. A latent image is formed, and toner is supplied onto the photoreceptor by the developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The image forming unit 23 feeds a sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit, transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member to the sheet, and conveys the sheet onto which the toner image is transferred to the fixing unit. Then, image formation processing (printing processing) is performed by fixing the toner image on the paper by heating and pressurizing in the fixing unit.

  An external storage device 30 such as a hard disk is connected to the external I / F 26, and the external I / F 26 writes data to the external storage device 30, for example, image data, and externally under the control of the control unit 21. Data is read from the storage device 30.

  Note that job management by receiving a job reception request is not limited to the image forming apparatus Gk, and can be applied to general apparatuses that require job management.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the network system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus Gk processes a job reception request from a host apparatus having a low radio wave intensity while improving usability.

  That is, the network system 1 sends a job reception request to the image forming apparatus Gk from a wireless terminal K1 to Kn or a host device such as a computer by wire or wireless, and the image forming apparatus Gk receives the job reception request from the host device. The job is registered in the queue, and job reception processing is performed in the order corresponding to the reception queue.

  In the network system 1, a job can be received at a high speed from a host device connected by wire or a host device connected by radio having a strong radio wave intensity. Since connection is rarely disconnected, there is no need to process job reception requests preferentially. However, when receiving a job from a host device that is connected wirelessly with weak signal strength, it is connected during communication. In order for the host device to be disconnected or the host device to maintain communication, much power consumption is used to increase the antenna sensitivity.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus Gk stores in advance in the internal storage unit 22 whether the host apparatus has made a job reception request wirelessly or wiredly, and depending on the degree of the radio field intensity, A reception request permission priority table for setting the permission order of job reception requests is stored, and this reception request permission priority table gives priority to a wireless job reception request over wired communication, and even if it is a wireless reception request, This table gives priority to job reception requests with weak radio field strength.

  In the network system 1 of the present embodiment, the wireless terminals K1 to Kn that make a job reception request wirelessly insert the radio wave intensity information Pk into the job reception request packet P as shown in FIG. The image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus Gk.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the communication I / F 25 receives a new job reception request in a situation where job reception requests are crowded to a preset level, the image forming apparatus Gk It is checked whether the job reception request is transmitted through wireless communication (step S101). The control unit 21 checks whether or not the job reception request is transmitted through wireless communication by checking whether or not the radio wave intensity information Pk is inserted into the packet P of the job reception request.

  In step S101, the control unit 21 obtains the radio field intensity information Pk inserted in the packet P of the job reception request when the job reception request is wireless communication (YES in step S101). The reception priority of the job reception request is determined according to the radio wave intensity and registered in the reception queue, and the job reception request ranking process is terminated (step S102).

  In step S101, if the job reception request is not wireless communication, that is, if it is a wired job reception request, the control unit 21 finally determines the reception priority of the job reception request, registers it in the reception queue, The reception request ranking process is terminated (step S103).

  When the image forming apparatus Gk performs the job reception request ranking process as described above, the job reception request is registered in the reception queue, for example, as shown in FIG. In the reception queue of FIG. 6, job IDs are assigned in the order of reception of job reception requests, job reception requests with job IDs “1” to “4” are registered, and a job with job ID “1” is registered. The reception request is received in order from the reception request to the job reception request with the job ID “4”. In the reception queue, the job ID having the weakest radio wave strength among the radio wave strengths of the four reception requests having a radio wave strength of “2” with the upper side of FIG. = 2 job reception requests are registered, and secondly, among the four job reception request radio field strengths having a radio field strength of “4”, the job reception request of job ID = 3 having the second weakest radio field strength is registered. Has been. In FIG. 6, two job reception requests, job ID = 1 and job ID = 4, are registered as wired job reception requests. They are registered in order. FIG. 6 shows that the wireless strength is stronger as the numerical value is larger. That is, in FIG. 6, the control unit 21 receives the job reception request with job ID = 2 wirelessly in a state where the job reception request with job ID = 1 is wired and registered in the reception queue. Registered in the reception queue before ID = 1 (position with high priority), and then received the job reception request with job ID = 3 wirelessly, but the job strength is stronger than job ID = 2, so the job Registered at the position of the reception queue between ID = 1 and job ID = 2. Further, the control unit 21 has received the job reception request with job ID = 4, but since it is wired, it is registered at the position of the next reception queue of the previously received wired job ID = 1. Yes.

  Then, the image forming apparatus Gk displays, for example, a job reception request ranking function setting screen G1 as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit of the user I / F 24 to perform the job reception request ranking processing. In other words, it may be possible to set whether or not to implement the job reception request ranking function. In the job reception request ranking function setting screen G1 in FIG. 7, a message “Do you want to protect wireless terminals with weak radio field strength?”, “Protect”, “Do not protect” items, and radio buttons selected for the items, , “OK”, “Cancel” operation buttons are provided.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus Gk, when the user performs a job reception request ranking setting request operation at the user I / F 24, the control unit 21 displays the job reception request ranking function setting screen as shown in FIG. G1 is displayed on the display unit of the user I / F 24. When “Protect” is selected by the user and the “OK” button is operated, execution of the job reception request ranking function is set. ] Is selected and the “OK” button is operated, the non-execution of the job reception request ranking function is set. The control unit 21 executes or does not execute the job reception request ranking function according to the result set in this way.

  In this way, it is possible to improve the usability by setting the validity / invalidity of the job reception request ranking function according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus Gk.

  Further, when performing the job reception request ranking process, the image forming apparatus Gk may be configured to set whether to ignore the job reception requests from the wireless terminals K1 to Kn whose radio field intensity is extremely low.

  For example, the image forming apparatus Gk may display a reception request ignoring terminal setting screen G2 as shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit of the user I / F 24 so that the radio wave intensity that ignores the job reception request itself can be set. Good. In the reception request ignoring terminal setting screen G2 in FIG. 8, the message “Ignore job transmission from terminals weaker than the following radio wave intensity”, “60% or less”, “40% or less”, “20% or less” , An item “receive from all radio field strengths”, a selection radio button for the item, and operation buttons “OK” and “Cancel” are provided.

  That is, the image forming apparatus Gk displays the reception request ignoring terminal setting screen G2 as shown in FIG. 8 when the user performs a reception request ignoring terminal setting request operation at the user I / F 24. When the radio button corresponding to any item is displayed by the user and the “OK” button is operated by the user, the radio terminals K1 to K1 having a radio field intensity equal to or lower than the radio field intensity specified by the selection are displayed. A process of ignoring a job reception request from Kn or accepting a job reception request from all the wireless terminals K1 to Kn is performed.

  In this way, if the radio wave intensity is too weak and it takes time to receive a job, which interferes with the reception of other jobs, the radio wave intensity that ignores the reception request can be set as appropriate. Therefore, the usability can be further improved.

  As described above, in the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the job management apparatus JK of the image forming apparatus Gk is a job reception request for requesting reception of a job from the host apparatus, and the wireless communication path exists in the communication path. When the communication I / F (communication means) 25 receives the job reception request including the radio field strength information Pk for notifying the radio field strength on the wireless communication path, the job reception request received by the communication I / F 25 is received. Whether or not a radio communication path exists in the communication path with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request, and the radio wave intensity information Pk is included. If the communication I / F 25 receives a predetermined number of job reception requests and the control unit (communication status detection means) 21 that acquires the radio field intensity, the wireless communication path is the communication path. The job reception request that is detected to be rare is set to a higher priority in the reception order than the job reception request of only the wired communication path, and among the plurality of job reception requests that include the wireless communication path, The control unit (reception priority setting means) 21 that sets a higher priority in the reception order as the job reception request has a lower radio wave intensity, and the job corresponding to the job reception request of the reception order according to the set reception order And a control unit (reception control means) 21 for causing the communication I / F 25 to receive the data.

  Therefore, when job reception requests are crowded, priority is given to job reception requests from host devices such as the wireless terminals K1 to Kn with weak radio field strength, and the waiting time for data transmission of the host device with low radio field strength is reduced. It is possible to shorten the job reception request from the host apparatus having a weak radio wave intensity, and to process the request while improving the usability.

  In the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the job management apparatus JK of the image forming apparatus Gk transmits a job reception request for requesting reception of a job and a wireless communication path exists in the communication path, A communication processing step for receiving the job reception request from the host device that transmits the job reception request including the radio wave intensity information Pk for notifying the radio field strength in the wireless communication path; and the job reception request received in the communication processing step Whether or not a radio communication path exists in any of the communication paths with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request, depending on whether or not the radio wave intensity information Pk is included in Is included, a communication status detection processing step for acquiring radio field strength and a predetermined number of job reception requests received in the communication processing step. In addition, the job reception request detected that the communication path includes the wireless communication path in the communication status detection processing step is set to have a higher priority in the reception order than the job reception request of only the wired communication path. A reception priority setting processing step for setting a higher priority in the reception order for the job reception request having a lower radio field intensity among a plurality of job reception requests including the wireless communication path; and setting the reception priority In accordance with the reception order set in the processing step, a job control method is included that includes a reception control processing step that causes the communication processing step to receive the job corresponding to the job reception request of the reception order.

  Therefore, when job reception requests are crowded, priority is given to job reception requests from host devices such as the wireless terminals K1 to Kn with weak radio field strength, and the waiting time for data transmission of the host device with low radio field strength is reduced. It is possible to shorten the job reception request from the host apparatus having a weak radio wave intensity, and to process the request while improving the usability.

  Furthermore, in the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the job management apparatus JK of the image forming apparatus Gk transmits a job reception request for requesting reception of a job to the computer, and a wireless communication path exists in the communication path. Includes a communication process for receiving the job reception request from the host device that transmits the job reception request including the radio wave intensity information Pk for notifying the radio field intensity on the wireless communication path, and the job reception received by the communication process. Whether or not a wireless communication path exists in any of the communication paths with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request is detected based on whether or not the request includes the radio field intensity information Pk. If the information is included, the communication status detection process for acquiring the radio field intensity and the communication process when the predetermined number of job reception requests are received by the communication process. The job reception request detected that the communication path includes the wireless communication path in the situation detection process is set to have a higher priority in the reception order than the job reception request of only the wired communication path, and the wireless communication path Among the plurality of job reception requests including the reception priority setting processing for setting a higher priority in the reception order for the job reception request having a weaker radio wave intensity, and the reception priority setting processing, A job management program for executing a reception control process that causes the communication process to receive the job corresponding to the job reception request of the reception order according to the reception order is installed.

  Therefore, when job reception requests are crowded, priority is given to job reception requests from host devices such as the wireless terminals K1 to Kn with weak radio field strength, and the waiting time for data transmission of the host device with low radio field strength is reduced. It is possible to shorten the job reception request from the host apparatus having a weak radio wave intensity, and to process the request while improving the usability.

  Further, in the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the job management apparatus JK of the image forming apparatus Gk has a user I / F (operation unit) 24 for setting on / off of processing for prioritizing the job reception requests. And the control unit (reception control means) sets the reception order of the job reception request when the user I / F 24 sets the priority ordering process to OFF. The reception requests are performed in the order received.

  Therefore, prioritization of job reception requests can be appropriately turned on / off according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus Gk, and the usability can be further improved.

  Further, in the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the job management apparatus JK of the image forming apparatus Gk appropriately sets the user I / F (the intensity of the radio wave intensity ignoring the response to the job reception request as the neglected radio wave intensity ( Ignoring radio wave intensity setting means) 24, and the control unit (reception priority setting means) ignores the job reception request whose radio wave intensity is weaker than the neglected radio wave intensity set by the user I / F 24, The reception order of the job reception request is set.

  Therefore, it is possible to appropriately set the radio wave intensity ignoring the job reception request according to the radio wave intensity of the wireless communication path, the usage status of the image forming apparatus Gk, and the like, improving the overall throughput and further improving the usability. Can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system NW network Gk Image forming apparatus K1-Kn Wireless terminal AP1-APm Access point apparatus 11 Control part 12 Internal storage part 13 User I / F
14 Communication I / F
21 Control Unit 22 Internal Storage Unit 23 Image Output Unit 24 User I / F
25 Communication I / F
26 External storage I / F
30 External storage G1 Job reception request ranking function setting screen G2 Reception request ignore terminal setting screen

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-22908

Claims (7)

A job reception request for requesting reception of a job from the host device, and when there is a wireless communication path in the communication path, the job reception including the radio field intensity information for notifying the radio field intensity in the wireless communication path A communication means for receiving the request;
Whether or not a wireless communication path exists in the communication path with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request, depending on whether or not the radio wave intensity information is included in the job reception request received by the communication means. A communication status detecting means for acquiring the radio field intensity when the radio field intensity information is included,
When the communication means has received a predetermined number of job reception requests, the communication status detection means detects the job reception request detected that the communication path includes a wireless communication path as a wired communication path only. A higher priority in the reception order than the job reception request of the job, and among the plurality of job reception requests including the wireless communication path, the job reception request having a lower radio wave intensity has a higher priority in the reception order. Receiving priority order setting means to set to,
Reception control means for causing the communication means to receive the job corresponding to the job reception request of the reception order according to the reception order set by the reception priority order setting means;
A job management apparatus comprising: The job management device includes:
Operating means for setting on / off of processing for prioritizing the job reception requests by the reception priority setting means;
The reception control means includes
2. The reception order of the job reception request is set in the order in which the communication means has received the job reception request when the prioritization processing is set to off by the operation means. The job management apparatus described. The job management device includes:
Ignoring radio wave intensity setting means for appropriately setting the strength of the radio wave intensity ignoring the response to the job reception request as the ignoring radio wave intensity,
The reception priority setting means includes:
2. The reception order of the job reception requests is set by ignoring the job reception request having the radio field intensity weaker than the neglected radio field intensity set by the neglected radio field intensity setting unit. Alternatively, the job management apparatus according to claim 2. When a job reception request is transmitted from a plurality of host devices to a job management device via a predetermined communication path, and the job management device permits the job reception request, a job corresponding to the job reception request is sent from the host device to the job When the wireless communication path is included in the communication path, the job reception request including the radio wave intensity information for notifying the radio field intensity in the wireless communication path is transmitted to the job management apparatus. A network system,
The network system according to claim 1, wherein the job management apparatus is the job management apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus that manages a job reception request from a host device, executes a print job received according to a reception order set by the job management unit, and forms an image.
An image forming apparatus comprising the job management apparatus according to claim 1 as the job management unit. A job reception request for requesting reception of a job is transmitted, and if there is a wireless communication path in the communication path, the job reception request including the radio field intensity information for notifying the radio field intensity in the wireless communication path is transmitted. A communication processing step of receiving the job reception request from the host device to perform;
A wireless communication path exists in any of the communication paths with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request depending on whether or not the radio wave intensity information is included in the job reception request received in the communication processing step A communication status detection processing step for acquiring the radio field intensity when the radio field intensity information is included,
When a predetermined number of the job reception requests are received in the communication processing step, the job reception requests that are detected in the communication status detection processing step to include a wireless communication path are wired. The priority in the reception order is set higher than the job reception request for only the communication path, and among the plurality of job reception requests including the wireless communication path, the job reception request with the weaker radio wave intensity has the higher priority A reception priority setting processing step for setting a high priority;
A reception control processing step for causing the communication processing step to receive the job corresponding to the job reception request of the reception priority in accordance with the reception priority set in the reception priority setting processing step;
A job management method. On the computer,
A job reception request for requesting reception of a job is transmitted, and if there is a wireless communication path in the communication path, the job reception request including the radio field intensity information for notifying the radio field intensity in the wireless communication path is transmitted. Communication processing for receiving the job reception request from the host device that
A wireless communication path exists in one of the communication paths with the host device that is the transmission source of the job reception request depending on whether or not the radio wave intensity information is included in the job reception request received in the communication processing. A communication status detection process for acquiring the radio field intensity when the radio field intensity information is included,
When a predetermined number of the job reception requests are received by the communication processing, the job reception requests detected by the communication status detection processing that a wireless communication path is included in The priority in the reception order is set higher than the job reception request only, and among the plurality of job reception requests including the wireless communication path, the job reception request with the weaker radio wave intensity has a priority in the reception order. Receive priority setting processing to set a higher value,
A reception control process for causing the communication process to receive the job corresponding to the job reception request of the reception order according to the reception order set in the reception priority order setting process;
A job management program for executing

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