JP2014215951A - Image forming system, job interruption program, and portable device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system, a job interruption program, and a portable device facilitating interruption of a print job of a portable device user before a job retained in an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A portable device 40 of an image forming system includes the steps of: acquiring information of a job retained in an MFP20 (S135); displaying on a display part a composite image formed by composing a photographic image imaged by an imaging part, and the information of the job retained in the MFP20 acquired in S135 at a position of the MFP20 on the photographic image, with their associated with each other (S136); executing a communication with an owner of the retained job according to an instruction to the composite image (S137); and requesting to perform a print job from the portable device 40 itself before the retained job (S139).

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, a job interruption program, and a portable device for realizing an AR (Augmented Reality) technique for displaying a composite image obtained by combining additional information with a captured image by an imaging device on a display device.

  Conventionally, as a portable device that realizes an AR technology that displays on a display device a composite image obtained by synthesizing additional information with a captured image by an imaging device, a stay that is a print job that has been retained in an image forming apparatus on an image captured by the imaging device A display device is known that displays a composite image obtained by combining information on a stay job such as the number of jobs and the owner of the stay job in association with the position of the image forming apparatus on the photographed image (patent). Reference 1).

JP 2012-90077 A

  For example, when a user of a portable device is about to attend a meeting, and the user wants the user to immediately print the material that the user plans to bring to the meeting by the image forming apparatus. When a user of a portable device wants to interrupt his print job before a stay job of the image forming apparatus, whether or not a stay job exists in the image forming apparatus in the conventional portable device In addition, it is possible to make the user of the portable device recognize who the owner of the stay job of the image forming apparatus is.

  Here, if the user of the portable device wishes to interrupt his print job before the stay job of the image forming apparatus, as a manner, permission to interrupt his print job before the stay job Must be obtained from the owner of the accumulated job.

  However, the user of the portable device described in Patent Document 1 has the owner of the staying job in order to obtain permission from the owner of the staying job to interrupt his print job before the staying job. It is necessary to find out where. Therefore, the portable device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to interrupt the user's print job before the stay job of the image forming apparatus. In particular, the portable device described in Patent Document 1 is where the user is the owner of the staying job of the image forming apparatus, such as when the user wants the image forming apparatus to immediately print his / her print job. If the user does not have enough time to search for the print job, it is very difficult to interrupt the user's print job before the stay job of the image forming apparatus.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system, a job interruption program, and a portable device that can easily interrupt a print job of a user of a portable device before a stay job of an image forming apparatus. .

  The image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus, and a portable device that includes an imaging device and a display device and transmits a print job to the image forming device. A stay job information acquisition unit that acquires information of a stay job that is a print job staying in the forming apparatus, and the stay of the image forming apparatus acquired by the stay job information acquisition unit in a captured image by the imaging device Display control means for displaying on the display device a combined image obtained by combining job information in association with the position of the image forming apparatus on the photographed image, and a print job from the portable device itself before the staying job. Interrupt request means for requesting interruption, and the image forming system communicates with the owner of the staying job. The characterized in that it comprises a communication means for performing in accordance with an instruction for the combined image.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention executes communication with the owner of the staying job of the image forming apparatus in response to an instruction for the composite image displayed on the display device of the portable device. Can be easily executed, and as a result, it becomes easier to obtain permission from the owner of the staying job to interrupt the print job of the user of the mobile device before the staying job. Can do. Therefore, the image forming system of the present invention can easily interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device before the stay job of the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the contact unit is requested by the interrupt request unit to interrupt the print job from the portable device before the stay job according to an instruction for the composite image. And the image forming system sends the print job to the staying job when the contact means receives permission to interrupt the print job from the portable device before the staying job. An automatic interrupt requesting unit that automatically requests the image forming apparatus to interrupt before a job may be provided.

  With this configuration, the image forming system according to the present invention allows the print job of the user of the portable device to receive the print job when the permission to interrupt the print job of the image forming apparatus is received before the stay job of the image forming apparatus. Since it is automatically interrupted before, the print job of the user of the portable device can be easily interrupted before the stay job of the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the automatic interrupt requesting unit may permit a print job from the portable device to be interrupted before the stay job for the plurality of stay jobs of the image forming apparatus. If the contact means has received a permission to interrupt this print job before any of the stay jobs among the plurality of stay jobs, If present, out of all the staying jobs of the image forming apparatus, this print job is interrupted after the last staying job for which the permission to interrupt this print job has not been received by the contact means. You may request that.

  With this configuration, in the image forming system of the present invention, the permission to interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device before the stay job of the image forming apparatus is received for the plurality of stay jobs of the image forming apparatus. In this case, when there is a staying job that has not received permission to interrupt this print job before any one of the plurality of staying jobs, all of the staying jobs of the image forming apparatus Among them, this print job is interrupted after the last stay job for which the permission to interrupt this print job has not been received before, so that the print job of the user of the mobile device is assigned to a plurality of stay jobs of the image forming apparatus. Can be easily interrupted at an appropriate position.

  The job interruption program according to the present invention is a job interruption program executed by a portable device that includes an imaging device and a display device and transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus, and is a print that stays in the image forming apparatus A staying job information acquisition unit that acquires information of a staying job that is a job, and the information on the staying job of the image forming apparatus acquired by the staying job information acquisition unit is added to the captured image by the imaging device. Display control means for displaying on the display device a composite image synthesized in association with the position of the image forming apparatus, and an interrupt request means for requesting that a print job from the portable device itself be interrupted before the stay job And contact the owner of the staying job in response to an instruction for the composite image Characterized in that to function the mobile device as a communication means for the row.

  With this configuration, the job interruption program according to the present invention contacts the owner of the staying job of the image forming apparatus in response to an instruction for the composite image displayed on the display device. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the operation of obtaining permission from the owner of the staying job to interrupt the user's print job before the staying job. Therefore, the job interruption program of the present invention can easily interrupt the user's print job before the stay job of the image forming apparatus.

  A portable device of the present invention is a portable device that transmits a print job to an image forming apparatus, and acquires information on an imaging device, a display device, and a stay job that is a print job staying in the image forming apparatus. Corresponding to the position of the image forming apparatus on the photographed image, the information on the staying job of the image forming apparatus acquired by the staying job information acquiring means is displayed on the image captured by the image capturing device. Display control means for displaying on the display device a composite image that has been added, an interrupt request means for requesting that a print job from the portable device itself be interrupted before the stay job, and an owner of the stay job Contact means for executing contact in response to an instruction to the composite image.

  With this configuration, the portable device of the present invention executes contact with the owner of the staying job of the image forming apparatus in response to an instruction for the composite image displayed on the display device. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the operation of obtaining permission from the owner of the staying job to interrupt the user's print job before the staying job. Therefore, the portable device of the present invention can easily interrupt the user's print job before the stay job of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming system, job interrupt program, and portable device of the present invention can easily interrupt a print job of a user of a portable device before a stay job of the image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram of the management server shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user list shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the apparatus list | wrist shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the portable apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 when an MFP receives a print job. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 when there is a stay job in the MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image displayed on the display part shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite image displayed on the display unit illustrated in FIG. 7 and an example different from the example illustrated in FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite image displayed on the display unit illustrated in FIG. 7 and different from the examples illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. It is a block diagram of the image forming system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the management server shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the portable apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 13 when there is a stay job in the MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the synthesized image displayed on the display part shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 includes a plurality of MFPs including an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 as an image forming apparatus, and a management server 30 such as a PC (Personal Computer) that manages the plurality of MFPs. And a portable device 40 such as a smartphone that transmits a print job to the MFP. The MFP of the image forming system 10, the management server 30, and the portable device 40 are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  Note that a large number of infrared transmitters (not shown) that transmit a signal indicating the position in the real space by infrared rays are installed inside the building where the MFP of the image forming system 10 is installed.

  The configuration of each of the plurality of MFPs in the image forming system 10 is the same as the configuration of the MFP 20. Therefore, in the following, the MFP 20 will be described on behalf of a plurality of MFPs of the image forming system 10.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 is a display device such as an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by the user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 22, a scanner 23 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, a printer 24 that is a printing device that executes printing on a recording medium such as paper, an external facsimile apparatus (not shown), a public telephone line, and the like A fax communication unit 25 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a communication line, a network communication unit 26 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and a real space of the MFP 20. Installed in the building to detect the current position at Position detecting unit 27 that is a position detecting device such as an infrared receiver that receives a signal transmitted from an infrared transmitter, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), HDD that stores various data A storage unit 28 that is a non-volatile storage device such as (Hard Disk Drive) and a control unit 29 that controls the entire MFP 20 are provided.

  The operation unit 21 may include an input device that forms a touch panel together with the display unit 22.

  The storage unit 28 stores a job list 28a for registering print jobs in order.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job list 28a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the job list 28a indicates the IP address of an electronic device such as a PC that has transmitted a print job to the MFP in accordance with an instruction from the user of the image forming system 10, and the name of the print job. The job name is registered in association with each other.

  The control unit 29 shown in FIG. 2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ). The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 28.

  The control unit 29 receives a specific operation from the operation unit 21, requests from the management server 30 (see FIG. 1) via the network communication unit 26, or periodically, the position detection unit 27. Thus, the current position is detected and transmitted to the management server 30 via the network communication unit 26.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the management server 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the management server 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard for inputting various operations, and a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information. A network communication unit 33 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and a storage that is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD that stores programs and various data. And a control unit 35 that controls the entire management server 30.

  The storage unit 34 can store a user list 34a in which users of the image forming system 10 are registered.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user list 34a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the user list 34a includes a user name indicating the name of the user of the image forming system 10, an IP address of an electronic device such as a PC used by the user, and the usage. SNS (Social Networking Service) accounts are registered in association with each other.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the storage unit 34 can store a device list 34 b in which MFPs of the image forming system 10 are registered.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device list 34b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the device list 34b, the device name indicating the name of the MFP of the image forming system 10 and the position of the MFP in the real space are associated with each other and registered. As described above, the position information in the device list 34b is information transmitted from the MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 34 can store the same job list 34c as the job list 28a (see FIG. 2) for each MFP. The job list 34c is distinguished by the MFP device name.

  The control unit 35 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 34.

  The control unit 35 receives the position information transmitted from the MFP via the network communication unit 33 and stores it in the device list 34b.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the mobile device 40.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the portable device 40 includes an operation unit 41 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, a display unit 42 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, Receives signals transmitted by infrared from an imaging unit 43 that is an imaging device that captures a picture or video and an infrared transmitter installed in the building to detect the current position of the mobile device 40 in real space A position detection unit 44 that is a position detection device such as an infrared receiver, a direction detection unit 45 that is a direction detection device such as an acceleration sensor that detects the current direction of the mobile device 40 in the real space, and the network 11 (FIG. 1)), storing a network communication unit 46, which is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via That a storage unit 47 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a HDD, and a control unit 48 which controls the portable device 40 overall.

  The operation unit 41 may include an input device that forms a touch panel together with the display unit 42.

  The storage unit 47 stores a job interruption program 47 a executed by the control unit 48.

  The control unit 48 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 47.

  The control unit 48 functions as a stay job information acquisition unit 48 a that acquires information on a stay job that is a print job staying in the MFP by executing the job interrupt program 47 a stored in the storage unit 47. .

  The control unit 48 executes the job interruption program 47a stored in the storage unit 47, thereby adding the information on the staying job of the MFP acquired by the staying job information acquiring unit 48a to the captured image by the imaging unit 43. A composite image synthesized in association with the position of the MFP on the photographed image corresponding to the relationship between the position of the MFP in the real space and the position of the mobile device 40 in the real space is displayed on the display unit 42. It functions as the display control means 48b.

  The control unit 48 executes the job interruption program 47a stored in the storage unit 47 to request that the print job from the portable device 40 itself be interrupted before the stay job in response to an instruction for the composite image. It functions as an interrupt request means 48c that performs the above and a contact means 48d that executes contact with the owner of the staying job in response to an instruction for the composite image.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the image forming system 10 when the MFP 20 receives a print job will be described.

  An electronic device such as a PC used by the user of the image forming system 10 transmits a print job and the IP address of the electronic device in association with each other to the MFP 20 in accordance with the user's instruction.

  When the control unit 29 of the MFP 20 receives the print job and the IP address transmitted from the electronic device via the network communication unit 26, the control unit 29 performs the operation illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 10 when the MFP 20 receives a print job.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 29 of the MFP 20 associates the job name of the print job received via the network communication unit 26 and the IP address received together with the print job with each other in the job list on the storage unit 28. It is registered in 28a (S101). If there is no interrupt designation for this print job, the control unit 29 registers the job name of this print job at the end of the job list 28a together with the IP address received together with this print job.

  After the processing in S101, the control unit 29 manages the update of the job list 34c by associating the job name and IP address of the print job registered in S101 with each other and transmitting them to the management server 30 via the network communication unit 26. The server 30 is requested (S102).

  Accordingly, the control unit 35 of the management server 30 registers the job name and IP address of the print job received from the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 33 in the job list 34c on the storage unit 34 in association with each other, thereby registering the job list. 34c is updated (S103). Here, the control unit 35 registers the print job received from the MFP 20 in the job list 34c so that the job list 34c matches the job list 28a.

  The control unit 29 of the MFP 20 executes print jobs registered in the storage unit 28 in order from the top of the job list 28a, and deletes the executed print jobs from the job list 28a. Then, the control unit 29 transmits the execution status of the print job to the management server 30 via the network communication unit 26. The control unit 35 of the management server 30 deletes the print job from the job list 34 c based on the execution status of the print job received from the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 33. That is, the control unit 35 matches the job list 34c with the job list 28a by changing the job list 34c in accordance with the change of the job list 28a of the MFP 20.

  Next, an operation of the image forming system 10 when a print job from the portable device 40 is interrupted before a stay job of the MFP 20 will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 10 when there is a stay job in the MFP 20.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the user of the mobile device 40 captures the MFP 20 with the imaging unit 43, the control unit 48 of the mobile device 40 detects the current real space of the mobile device 40 detected by the position detection unit 44. The position and the current direction in the real space of the mobile device 40 detected by the direction detection unit 45 are transmitted to the management server 30 via the network communication unit 46 (S131).

  When the control unit 35 of the management server 30 receives the information transmitted in S131, the MFP included in the angle range of shooting by the imaging unit 43 and the range of a predetermined distance from the portable device 40. Is identified based on the device list 34b, and the identified device name is returned (S132).

  The display control means 48b of the portable device 40 uses the MFP apparatus name acquired in S132 as the image taken by the imaging unit 43, and the relationship between the position of the MFP in the real space and the position of the portable device 40 in the real space. A synthesized image 50 as shown in FIG. 10 synthesized in association with the position of this MFP on the photographed image corresponding to is generated, and this synthesized image 50 is displayed on the display unit 42 (S133). That is, the display control unit 48b displays the device name of the MFP on the display unit 42 by the AR technique.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the composite image 50 displayed on the display unit 42 in S133.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the composite image 50 is an image obtained by adding additional information 52 to the captured image 51. The additional information 52 includes a device name 52a of the MFP and a button 52b for acquiring information on the staying job of the corresponding MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the user of the mobile device 40 presses the button 52b via the operation unit 41, the stay job information acquisition unit 48a of the mobile device 40 assigns the device name corresponding to the pressed button 52b to the network. By transmitting to the management server 30 via the communication unit 46, the information on the staying job of the MFP corresponding to the device name is requested (S134).

  When the control unit 35 of the management server 30 receives the device name transmitted in S134, based on the job list 34c corresponding to this device name, the job name of the retained job of the MFP corresponding to this device name, and this The order of the staying job in the job list 34c is specified. The control unit 35 also uses the user name and SNS account of the owner of the staying job based on the IP address associated with each staying job in the job list 34c corresponding to the device name and the user list 34a. Is identified. The control unit 35 then identifies the identified information, that is, the job name of the staying job, the order in the job list 34c of the staying job, the user name of the owner of the staying job, and the SNS account of the owner Is returned (S135).

  The display control means 48b of the portable device 40 uses the information on the staying job of the MFP acquired in S135 as the image taken by the imaging unit 43 in the real space position of the MFP and the real space position of the portable device 40. A synthesized image 60 as shown in FIG. 11 synthesized in association with the position of this MFP on the photographed image corresponding to the relationship is generated, and this synthesized image 60 is displayed on the display unit 42 (S136). That is, the display control unit 48b causes the display unit 42 to display information on the staying job of the MFP by the AR technique.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the composite image 60 displayed on the display unit 42 in S136.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, the composite image 60 is an image obtained by adding additional information 62 to the captured image 61. The additional information 62 includes an icon 62a indicating a stay job and an icon 62b indicating a position where a new print job is to be arranged in the additional information 62. In FIG. 11, “JOB from A” indicates that the job is a retained job owned by a user whose user name is “A”. When the display control unit 48b changes the size of the icon 62a in proportion to the length of time expected from the start of printing of the staying job to the end of printing, the start of printing of the staying job is started. This is preferable because the user of the portable device 40 can intuitively recognize the length of time that is expected to be required from printing to the end of printing.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the contact unit 48 d of the mobile device 40 causes the display unit 42 to display the image 70 illustrated in FIG. 12 when the user presses the icon 62 a via the operation unit 41. When the button 71 on the image 70 is pressed by the user via the operation unit 41, the communication unit 48d determines in S135 of the owner of the staying job corresponding to the icon 62a pressed to display the image 70. Contact is made to the acquired SNS account via the network communication unit 46 (S137).

  The owner of the staying job receives the communication in S137 via the communication device, and responds whether or not to permit the print job from the portable device 40 to be interrupted before the staying job (S138).

  Then, the user of the portable device 40 negotiates with the owner of the staying job by the communication in S137, and when it is permitted by the response in S138 from the owner to interrupt printing before this staying job. 12 can be pressed via the operation unit 41 in the image 70 shown in FIG.

  The interrupt request unit 48c of the mobile device 40 is configured to display the mobile device before the stay job corresponding to the icon 62a pressed to display the image 70 when the user presses the button 72 via the operation unit 41. The management server 30 is requested via the network communication unit 46 to interrupt the print job from the printer 40 itself (S139).

  The control unit 35 of the management server 30 requests the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 33 for the interrupt requested in S139 (S140). Therefore, the control unit 29 of the MFP 20 changes the job list 28 a so as to realize the interruption as requested from the management server 30. Then, the control unit 35 of the management server 30 changes the job list 34c so as to match the job list 28a.

  As described above, the image forming system 10 performs contact with the owner of the staying job of the MFP in response to an instruction for the composite image displayed on the display unit 42 of the portable device 40 (S137). The operation of obtaining the permission to interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device 40 from the owner of the staying job can be easily executed as a result of contacting the owner of the staying job. Can be facilitated. Therefore, the image forming system 10 can easily interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device 40 before the stay job of the MFP.

  The image forming system 10 determines the target MFP based on the position of the MFP in the real space and the position of the mobile device 40 in the real space. You may come to judge. For example, the image forming system 10 can also determine the target MFP by analyzing a captured image and extracting feature points of the MFP.

(Second Embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image forming system 210 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Note that, in the configuration of the image forming system 210, the same configuration as the configuration of the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention is the same as the configuration of the image forming system 10. Reference numerals are assigned and detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an image forming system 210 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the configuration of the image forming system 210 is such that the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) replaces the management server 30 (see FIG. 1) and the portable device 40 (see FIG. 1). The configuration is the same as that having 230 and the portable device 240.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the management server 230.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the configuration of the management server 230 is that the storage unit 34 stores the server program 234a, and that the control unit 35 functions as the communication unit 235a and the interrupt automatic request unit 235b. Except for this, the configuration is the same as that of the management server 30 (see FIG. 4).

  The control unit 35 executes the server program 234 a stored in the storage unit 34, thereby performing communication with the owner of the staying job 235 a according to the instruction for the composite image, and the portable device 240. Automatic request to automatically request the MFP to interrupt this print job before this stay job when permission to interrupt the print job from the stay job is received by the communication means 235a It functions as the means 235b.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the portable device 240.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the configuration of the portable device 240 is the same as the configuration in which the portable device 40 (see FIG. 7) does not include the communication means 48d (see FIG. 7).

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 210 will be described.

  Since the operation of the image forming system 210 when the MFP 20 receives a print job is the same as the operation of the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  An operation of the image forming system 210 when a print job from the portable device 240 is interrupted before a stay job of the MFP 20 will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 210 when there is a staying job in the MFP 20.

  The operation of the image forming system 210 shown in FIG. 16 is the same as the operation shown in FIG. 9 until the operation of S134.

  The operation of the image forming system 210 shown in FIG. 16 executes the following process of S331 instead of the process of S135 of the operation shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the device name transmitted in S134, the control unit 35 of the management server 230, based on the job list 34c corresponding to this device name, the job name of the retained job of the MFP corresponding to this device name, and this The order of the staying job in the job list 34c is specified. Then, the control unit 35 returns the identified information, that is, the job name of the staying job and the order in the job list 34c of the staying job (S331).

  In the operation of the image forming system 210 illustrated in FIG. 16, the processing of S136 is executed after the processing of S331 in the same manner as the operation illustrated in FIG. 9.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the composite image 260 displayed on the display unit 42 in S136.

  As illustrated in FIG. 17, the composite image 260 is an image obtained by adding additional information 262 to the captured image 261. The additional information 262 includes icons 262a, 262b, and 262c indicating staying jobs, and an icon 262d indicating a position where a new print job is to be arranged in the additional information 262. The staying jobs indicated by the icons 262a, 262b, and 262c are print jobs scheduled to be executed in this order. The display control unit 48b changes the size of the icons 262a, 262b, and 262c in proportion to the length of time expected from the start of printing of the staying job to the end of printing. This is preferable because the user of the portable device 240 can intuitively recognize the length of time expected to be required from the start of printing to the end of printing.

  As illustrated in FIG. 16, the interrupt request unit 48 c of the mobile device 240 stays corresponding to the pressed icon when the user presses any of the icons 262 a, 262 b, and 262 c via the operation unit 41. The management server 230 is requested via the network communication unit 46 to interrupt the print job from the portable device 240 itself before the job (S332). At this time, the interrupt request unit 48 c transmits the job name of the staying job corresponding to the pressed icon to the management server 230.

  Upon receiving the request in S332, the contact unit 235a of the management server 230 receives the job of the staying job transmitted from the portable device 240 in S332 in the job list 34c corresponding to the device name transmitted from the portable device 240 in S134. After identifying the IP address corresponding to the name and the IP address of the staying job in the later order of the staying job, each of these staying jobs is determined based on these IP addresses and the user list 34a. Identify the owner's SNS account. Then, the contact unit 235a performs contact via the network communication unit 33 to the identified SNS account (S333).

  For example, when the composite image 260 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the display unit 42 and the icon 262a is pressed via the operation unit 41, the contact unit 235a displays the stay job “JOB” specified in S332. The communication in S333 is executed to the SNS accounts of the owners of “from A” and the staying job “JOB from B” and the staying job “JOB from C” after the staying job. Further, when the icon 262b is pressed via the operation unit 41, the communication unit 235a displays the staying job “JOB from B” designated in S332 and the staying job “JOB from C” after the staying job. The communication in S333 is executed to the SNS account of each owner. In addition, when the icon 262c is pressed via the operation unit 41, the communication unit 235a executes the communication in S333 only to the SNS account of the owner of the stay job “JOB from C” designated in S332.

  Note that the communication executed by the communication unit 235a is a question as to whether or not to permit the print job from the portable device 240 to be interrupted before the stay job.

  The owner of the staying job receives the communication in S333 via the communication device used by each, and responds whether or not to allow the print job from the portable device 240 to be interrupted before the staying job. (S334).

  The automatic interrupt request means 235b of the management server 230 receives the print job from the portable device 240 before the stay job when permission to interrupt the print job from the portable device 240 is received by the contact means 235a. Is automatically requested to the MFP 20 to interrupt (S335). Therefore, the control unit 29 of the MFP 20 changes the job list 28 a so as to realize the interrupt as requested from the management server 230. Then, the control unit 35 of the management server 230 changes the job list 34c so as to match the job list 28a.

  Note that the automatic interrupt request unit 235b receives a plurality of print jobs from the portable device 240 when the contact unit 235a receives a permission to interrupt the print job from the portable device 240 before the stay job. If there is a staying job for which no permission to interrupt this print job has been received before any staying job among the staying jobs in this MFP, this print job is placed in front of all the staying jobs of the MFP 20. Request that this print job be interrupted after the last staying job for which no permission to interrupt has been received by the contact means 235a. For example, the automatic interrupt request unit 235b is allowed to interrupt the print job from the portable device 240 before the stay job to the stay job “JOB from A” and the stay job “JOB from C”. Of all the staying jobs of the MFP 20 after the last staying job “JOB from B” for which the permission to interrupt this print job has not been received by the contact means 235a. Requests that the job be interrupted.

  As described above, the image forming system 210 executes contact with the owner of the staying job of the MFP in accordance with an instruction for the composite image displayed on the display unit 42 of the portable device 240 (S333). The operation of obtaining the permission to interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device 240 before the stay job can be easily performed from the owner of the stay job. Can be facilitated. Therefore, the image forming system 210 can easily interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device 240 before the stay job of the MFP.

  The image forming system 210 automatically interrupts the print job before the stay job when a permission for interrupting the print job of the user of the portable device 240 is received before the stay job of the MFP. Since (S335), the print job of the user of the portable device 240 can be easily interrupted before the stay job of the MFP.

  The image forming system 210 receives the permission to interrupt the print job of the user of the portable device 240 before the stay job of the MFP for the plurality of stay jobs of the MFP. When there is a staying job that has not received permission to interrupt this print job before any of the staying jobs, this print job is interrupted before all of the staying jobs of the MFP. Since this print job is interrupted after the last stay job for which no permission has been received, the print job of the user of the portable device 240 can be easily interrupted at an appropriate position in the plurality of stay jobs of the MFP. .

  Although the image forming system includes the management server in each of the above-described embodiments, the MFP itself may function as the management server.

  The image forming system includes an MFP as the image forming apparatus of the present invention in each of the above-described embodiments. However, an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, or a FAX dedicated machine, is disclosed in the present invention. The image forming apparatus may be provided.

  In addition, the image forming system uses SNS as a means for communicating with the owner of the staying job. However, any communication means that can be expected to obtain a relatively early response from the owner of the staying job. Communication means other than SNS may be used. For example, in the image forming system, an electronic mail, an Internet telephone, or the like can be adopted as a communication unit with the owner of the stay job.

10 image forming system 20 MFP (image forming apparatus)
40 Mobile Device 42 Display Unit (Display Device)
43 Imaging unit (imaging device)
47a Job interrupt program 48a Retained job information acquisition means 48b Display control means 48c Interrupt request means 48d Contact means 60 Composite image 61 Captured image 62a Icon (retention job information)
210 Image forming system 235a Contact means 235b Automatic interrupt request means 240 Portable device 260 Composite image 261 Captured image 262a, 262b, 262c Icon (information on staying job)

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus;
An image forming system comprising: an imaging device and a display device; and a portable device that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus,
The portable device is
A staying job information acquisition unit that acquires information of a staying job that is a print job staying in the image forming apparatus;
A composite image obtained by combining the image of the image forming apparatus acquired by the staying job information acquisition unit with the captured image of the imaging device in association with the position of the image forming apparatus on the captured image. Display control means for displaying on the display device;
Interrupt request means for requesting that a print job from the mobile device itself be interrupted before the stay job;
The image forming system includes a contact unit that executes contact with the owner of the staying job in accordance with an instruction to the composite image. The contact means executes the contact when the interrupt request means requests the print job from the portable device to interrupt the staying job in response to an instruction for the composite image,
The image forming system is configured to cause the print job to be interrupted before the stay job when a permission to interrupt the print job from the portable device is received before the stay job. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising an interrupt automatic request unit that automatically requests the image forming apparatus.   The automatic interrupt requesting unit is configured to receive a permission to interrupt a print job from the portable device before the staying job by the contact unit for the plurality of staying jobs of the image forming apparatus. When there is a staying job for which the permission to interrupt this print job before is received by the contact means after any staying job among the plurality of staying jobs, all of the image forming apparatuses Requesting that the print job be interrupted after the last stay job for which the permission to interrupt the print job before is not received by the contact means. Item 3. The image forming system according to Item 2. A job interruption program executed by a portable device that includes an imaging device and a display device and transmits a print job to an image forming apparatus,
A staying job information acquisition unit that acquires information of a staying job that is a print job staying in the image forming apparatus;
A composite image obtained by combining the image of the image forming apparatus acquired by the staying job information acquisition unit with the captured image of the imaging device in association with the position of the image forming apparatus on the captured image. Display control means for displaying on the display device;
Interrupt request means for requesting that a print job from the portable device itself be interrupted before the stay job; and
A job interruption program that causes the portable device to function as contact means for executing contact with the owner of the staying job in response to an instruction to the composite image. A portable device that transmits a print job to an image forming apparatus,
An imaging device;
A display device;
A staying job information acquisition unit that acquires information of a staying job that is a print job staying in the image forming apparatus;
A composite image obtained by combining the image of the image forming apparatus acquired by the staying job information acquisition unit with the captured image of the imaging device in association with the position of the image forming apparatus on the captured image. Display control means for displaying on the display device;
Interrupt request means for requesting that a print job from the mobile device itself be interrupted before the stay job;
A portable device comprising: a communication unit configured to perform communication with the owner of the staying job according to an instruction for the composite image.

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