JP2014232441A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus, a method, and a program applicable to re-producing of photo-book-specific creation flow dealing with a plurality of types of components each of which is a dedicated component for an order, and capable of lessening operator's operation while achieving high productivity.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus controlling a plurality of jobs corresponding to a plurality of steps for producing a deliverable constituted by a plurality of components, comprises: receiving means receiving information on a job that is not normally executed among the plurality of jobs from one or a plurality of processing apparatuses processing the plurality of jobs; identifying means identifying a component necessary to reproduce among the plurality of components constituting the deliverable on the basis of the information received by the receiving means; and transmitting means transmitting only the job associated with the identified component by the identifying means to the one or plurality of processing apparatuses.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

  In recent years, there is a so-called photobook printing service in which a user arranges photographs taken on a plurality of pages on a terminal screen and requests manufacture of a booklet booklet (photobook) via a network. Many photo books are composed of a plurality of parts such as a main body, a cover, a jacket, and a belt. In the process of creating a photo book, printing and post-processing after printing differ depending on the type of parts, etc., so printing and post-processing of each part is executed by a separate printing device or post-processing device and is complicated. It goes through a process. Also, the contents of ordering are configured by contents (parts) unique to the user, unique layout, or order, unlike large-scale printing of publications such as books and magazines and other industrial product production lines. Therefore, there are many manual operations based on the judgment and confirmation work of the operator in charge of each process.

  For example, when an error or malfunction occurs in the work process, the operator needs to perform reprint processing and post-processing (so-called recovery work) on each part of the photobook. As a method of recovery work, there is a method in which the work process of another subsequent job is temporarily stopped when an error occurs, and the work is resumed after the recovery process of the target part is completed. As another method, there is a method in which recovery work for an error-occurring part is postponed, another subsequent job is completed first, and recovery work is finally performed.

  In Patent Document 1, when any trouble occurs in a work process, it is first determined whether or not the work process described in the job ticket (print setting information or post-processing setting information) is changed for each process. judge. With respect to the process determined to require change, the printing apparatus and post-processing apparatus are notified of a change in the job order and a change in the job order of other parts that make up the same booklet (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-238211 A

  However, there is a problem with any of the above methods. For example, in the method of resuming the work after the subsequent job is temporarily stopped and the recovery process is completed, the entire process may be delayed. In addition, in the method of postponing recovery work for error-occurring parts, the order for each order received in the process where the error occurred is changed, so that the order for the parts in the different processes for each order is not mistaken. Judgment and manual work are required. In Patent Document 1, in order to determine and specify a part that needs to be remanufactured after a failure occurs, an operator first needs to grasp all the states of complicated manufacturing processes. In addition, it is determined that only necessary parts are to be remanufactured according to the process in which the problem has occurred, and only the necessary job ticket is sent again.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an information processing apparatus that controls a plurality of jobs corresponding to a plurality of processes for manufacturing a product composed of a plurality of parts, and from one or a plurality of processing apparatuses that process the plurality of jobs, Receiving means for receiving information on a job that is not normally executed among the plurality of jobs, and remanufacturing of a plurality of parts constituting the deliverable is required based on the information received by the receiving means. Specific means for specifying a part and transmission means for transmitting only the job related to the part specified by the specification means among the plurality of jobs to the one or more processing devices.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the productivity of a product that includes a plurality of types of parts and each part is a unique dedicated part for each order, and to reduce the operator's work.

The block diagram which shows the structural example of the whole system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the system of FIG. The block diagram which shows an example of an internal structure of information processing apparatus. The figure showing an example of the process of a photobook structure and photobook creation. The figure showing an example of the composition of the deliverable job in photobook creation. The figure which shows the example of description of component job data. 3 is a flowchart showing processing steps according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing a photobook manufacturing process according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a cover manufacturing process according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a text manufacturing process according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a band manufacturing process according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a jacket manufacturing process according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of process order information. The figure which shows an example of the part job list of each process. The figure which shows an example of the status of the part job of a photobook manufacturing process. The figure which shows an example of a status management list. The figure which shows an example of the status of the deliverable job of a photobook manufacturing process. 10 is a flowchart showing processing steps according to the third embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a status management list. The figure which shows an example of UI of the application for photobook creation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto.

<Embodiment 1>
[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system for creating a product (photo book) according to the present invention.

  The system includes an information processing apparatus 101 and a plurality of printing apparatuses 102. The system further includes a nearline case binding machine 106, a nearline cutting machine 107, a nearline scoring machine 108, and an offline laminator 109 as post-processing devices (finishers). The system further includes post-processing control devices (finisher control devices) 103 to 105 for controlling the near-line case binding machine 106, the near-line cutting machine 107, and the near-line scoring machine 108, respectively. The system also includes bar code readers 110 to 112 that operate on the nearline case binding machine 106, the nearline cutting machine 107, and the nearline scoring machine 108, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the post-processing devices 106 to 108 and the post-processing control devices 103 to 105 have different configurations, but are not limited thereto. The post-processing devices 106 to 108 may include the post-processing control devices 103 to 105, respectively. In addition, although a printing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus are used as a part creation apparatus that creates parts constituting a photo book, other apparatuses may be used. Each component of this system is connected by a network 120.

  The information processing apparatus 101 includes a deliverable job receiving unit 113, an analyzing unit 114, a deliverable job display unit 115, a process order information DB (database) 116, a component job transmitting unit 117, and a device error receiving unit 118.

  The client 100 includes an application that provides a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) 2001 as shown in FIG. 20 that accepts a photobook creation request from a user. The application UI 2001 includes an area for displaying cover layout data 2002, body layout data 2003 to 2006, jacket layout data 2007, and band layout data 2008. The user can lay out the image data at an arbitrary position. A button 2009 is an instruction button for creating a photo book. When pressed, the button 2009 accepts an instruction to generate a photo book with the contents of the layout displayed on the UI 2001. Based on this instruction, photobook order information (delivered job) is transmitted from the client 100 to the information processing apparatus 101.

  Here, a photo book is created via the application UI 2001 provided in the client 100. However, another client connected to the client 100 via a network may instruct the creation of a photo book, and may be transmitted to the information processing apparatus 101 as photo book order information.

  The deliverable job receiving unit 113 of the information processing apparatus 101 has a function of receiving a deliverable job from the client 100. The deliverable job receiving unit 113 assigns an identifier for uniquely identifying the deliverable job to the received deliverable job. For example, the job ID “001-Photobook” is used as the identifier of the deliverable job. The analysis unit 114 generates a unique part job ID of each process for the deliverable job “001-Photobook” based on the process order information 1301 as illustrated in FIG. 13. Then, the analysis unit 114 creates a part job list 1401 as shown in FIG. 14 using the generated part job ID, and stores it in the process order information DB 116.

  The process order information 1301 in FIG. 13 indicates the order of processes that pass when each part constituting the photo book is generated. For example, the cover part is processed in the order of a printing process, a laminating process, a case binding process, a cutting process, and an assembling process. In addition, a process in which a certain target part merges with other parts is also shown. For example, the cover part joins with the body part in the case binding process, and the belt part joins with the jacket part in the assembly process.

  A component job list 1401 in FIG. 14 is a list of component job IDs transmitted to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108. For example, “001-Case-CoverBook” is assigned as the job ID 1402 to the case binding job for the cover and body. The analysis unit 114 creates a status management list 1601 for each process as shown in FIG. 16 based on the component job status 1501 as shown in FIG. 15 received from the device error reception unit 118, and sends it to the process order information DB 116. save.

  The part job status 1501 of the photo book manufacturing process of FIG. 15 is the status of the part job for each part executed in the photo book manufacturing process of the deliverable job “001-Photobook”. In the case of the example in FIG. 15, a failure has occurred in the lamination process (“001-Lami-Cover”) for manufacturing the cover part, and the status is “NG”. Production of parts other than the cover has been completed normally, and the status of each part is “OK”.

  The status management list 1601 in FIG. 16 is created by the analysis unit 114 based on the part job status 1501 in FIG. In the case of the example of FIG. 16, a problem has occurred in the lamination process for the cover part, and the status is “NG”. Since all parts other than the cover have been manufactured normally, the status of each part is “OK”. Since a defect has occurred in the lamination process in the production of the cover part, the status for this part job is set to “NG”, and the part job status for the subsequent processes is set to “unprocessed”.

  Further, the analysis unit 114 has a function of analyzing the status management list 1601 to identify a product job having a defect and storing it in the process order information DB 116.

  The deliverable job display unit 115 has a function of displaying the status 1701 of the deliverable job in the photobook manufacturing process as shown in FIG. 17 based on the information stored in the process order information DB 116. The status 1701 in FIG. 17 is an example in which the status of the product job in the photobook manufacturing process is displayed.

  The component job transmission unit 117 sends the component job data 600 generated by the analysis unit 114 based on the component job list 1401 of each process stored in the process order information DB 116 to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108. A function to transmit is provided.

  The device error receiving unit 118 has a function of acquiring processing result information for a component job from the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108. The information acquired here includes, for example, a notification that an error has occurred during processing, an inspection result input by an operator, and the like.

[Process flow]
FIG. 2 shows in detail the processing flow of the information processing apparatus 101, printing apparatus 102, post-processing control apparatus 103, barcode reader 110, and nearline case binding machine 106 in FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 101 controls a plurality of jobs executed by the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108 in order to create a booklet such as a photo book composed of a plurality of parts. Here, the flow of processing including the post-processing control device 103 and the barcode reader 110 will be described by taking the nearline case binding machine 106 as an example. The overall processing flow is the same for other post-processing devices and post-processing control devices connected thereto.

  In FIG. 2, first, the information processing apparatus 101 transmits a printing process component job and a post-processing process component job (case binding, cutting, assembly, etc.) to the printing apparatus 102, and content data for each of them. A print instruction is issued (S201). Next, the information processing apparatus 101 transmits a case binding part job for operating the near-line case binding machine 106 to the post-processing control apparatus 103 (S202). The case binding component job is transmitted as a job ID 1402 (“001-Case-CoverBook”) in FIG. 14 and accumulated in the post-processing control apparatus 103.

  On the other hand, in the printing apparatus 102, each component is printed. For example, a cover is printed, and the job ID transmitted to the post-processing devices 106 to 108 is printed as a barcode (S203). The barcode is printed outside the printing area on the same sheet on which the cover is printed by a general method using a job definition format for printing (hereinafter referred to as JDF (Job Definition Format)). The bar code may be printed on another paper.

  The analysis unit 114 of the information processing apparatus 101 assigns a job ID so that each component (a cover, a text, a band, a jacket, and the like) constituting the same product is associated. For example, the part job list 1401 for each process is an example of a job ID associated with each part. Here, each job is linked using the character string “001”.

  The worker who generates the case binding product carries the printed matter (parts) output in S203 to the nearline case binding machine 106 and causes the barcode reader 110 to read the printed barcode (indicating the job ID) (S204). ).

  The job ID read from the barcode reader is collated with the job ID sent to the post-processing control apparatus 103 in S202, and the post-processing setting information included in the case binding part job sent in S202 is the near-line case binding machine 106. (S205). Then, the near-line case binding machine 106 performs post-processing according to post-processing setting information.

  The job ID reading process by the bar code reader is not only used for loading the post-processing setting, but also for the purpose of confirming the consistency between a plurality of parts. For example, the nearline case binding machine 106 simultaneously processes two types of parts, the cover and the text. If the job IDs differ between the cover and the text, these composites cannot be used as products. Therefore, the printing process and the post-process must be executed again. In order to prevent such a situation, it is an important task to check the consistency between parts using a barcode.

  In order to ensure consistency among a plurality of parts constituting the same deliverable, a mode is also considered in which an operator performs a job ID reading process by a bar code reader even in an assembly process in which the post-processing devices 106 to 108 are not used. It is done. In this case, a control device (not shown) for the assembly process and a barcode reader (not shown) connected to the control device are added to the system configuration of FIG. The control device for the assembly process is connected to the information processing apparatus 101 through the network 120, and can transmit and receive various types of information regarding the job to and from the information processing apparatus 101.

  And an operator inputs the result of the inspection process of each process into the post-processing control apparatus 103 (S206).

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 101. The CPU 301 executes a program stored in a program area inside the ROM 306 or a program such as an OS or a general-purpose application loaded from the hard disk 303 to the RAM 302. The RAM 302 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 301. The hard disk 303 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, electronic document files, and the like. All the product jobs received by the information processing apparatus 101 are sent to the hard disk 303.

  The display controller 304 controls display on the display. The network controller 305 executes communication control processing with other devices connected to the network. A keyboard controller 309 controls key input from a keyboard or pointing device. The CPU 301 is connected to each block by an internal bus 300. The external storage drive 307 reads various information stored in a medium such as a CD.

[Example of photobook structure and processing steps]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the photobook and the processing steps up to the creation of the photobook. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a photo book. In this embodiment, a photo book is created by combining four types of parts, a cover 401, a body 402, a band 403, and a jacket 404. Is done. The cover 401 and the text 402 are bound by case binding processing, and a jacket 404 is covered from above and a band 403 is further covered from above.

  FIG. 4B shows an example of processing steps for each part up to photobook creation. Each part of the same type is printed by the printing apparatus 102, and each output bundle of the same type of parts is manually inspected and then transferred to the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 109, and post-processing is performed for each part bundle. Done. As a result of inspection, what is determined to be defective is input to the information processing apparatus 101 by the operator.

  In the post-processing of the cover sheet 401, the surface is laminated by the off-line laminator 109, and after manual inspection, it is transported to the case binding machine 106. The cover 401 and the text 402 are case-bound by the case binding machine 106 to produce one booklet. When case binding is performed, the printed matter of the cover 401 and the body 402 is manually conveyed to the case binding machine 106, and sheets are set at different locations. In addition, post-processing setting information that has been transmitted to the post-processing devices 106 to 108 in advance reflects the setting information of the job by reading a barcode printed on the cover 401 or the body 402. After the case binding, the product is manually inspected, and then the booklet is cut by the near-line cutting machine 107, and then the manual inspection is further performed.

  On the other hand, the band 403 is subjected to creasing and cutting processing on a sheet by the creasing machine 108. The jacket 404 is manually inspected after the surface is laminated by the off-line laminator 109, and then the line is placed and cut by the creasing machine 108, and further inspected manually. .

  Finally, after assembling each part, inspection is performed manually to complete one photo book.

  As described above, the process of each component is the same in that the printing process is first performed in the printing apparatus 102, but the number and processes of post-processing machines used are different in the subsequent post-processing process. Note that devices commonly used in processing steps for different parts such as the printing apparatus 102 may be physically the same device or different devices. Further, a plurality of processes may be processed by the same device as long as the order of the processes for each component is observed. For example, for the jacket 404, the laminating process by the offline laminator 109 and the creasing process by the scoring machine 108 are performed by different devices, but one device that can process the laminating process and the scoring process in sequence is used. You may do it. In the following description, the laminating process by the offline laminator 109, in which the information processing apparatus 101 does not perform any electronic control, is not particularly described.

Job configuration
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job configuration of a deliverable job in photobook creation. In the present embodiment, when the information processing apparatus 101 receives an order (delivered job) from a user, the information processing apparatus 101 generates content data and a job ticket (part job) corresponding to the order. In this embodiment, the part jobs generated by ordering one photobook are the print jobs 501 to 504 for each part, the cover / jacket laminating jobs 505 and 506, the case binding job 507, the cutting job 508, and the band / jacket It is composed of eleven part jobs including a line placement job 509 and 510 and a cover / text / band / jacket assembling job 511. Among these, the print jobs 501 to 504 are component jobs related to the printing process, and therefore include content data and print setting information of each component. On the other hand, since the component job other than the print job is a component job related to a post-processing process, only post-processing setting information is included.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the cover print job 501 includes content data “001-cover.pdf” to “00N-cover.pdf” and print setting information “001-Print-cover.xml” to “001”. 00N-Print-cover.xml ”. On the other hand, the band scoring job 509 includes “001-Crease-belt.xml” to “00N-Crease-belt.xml” which are setting information of the scoring process.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the description content of a component job (xml data that is print / post-processing setting information). Specifically, this is an example of the description content of a component job in which the cover print setting is defined. is there. The description shown in FIG. 6 is a description example using JDF.

  For example, the description 601 indicates that the job ID of the corresponding job is “001-Print-Cover”. In the description 602, the setting of the paper to be used for printing is defined. In this example, the paper of the paper size “612 × 792 mm” stacked on the paper feed tray “Tray 1” may be used. It is specified. In the description 603, the number of copies is set. In this example, “3 copies” is printed.

  The information processing apparatus 101 transmits printing / post-processing setting information as a component job to an apparatus capable of executing printing / post-processing. After the component job is transmitted, the printing apparatus 102 performs printing. In the case of the post-processing devices 106 to 108, the worker conveys the printed material to the post-processing devices 106 to 108, thereby calling the transmitted post-processing setting information and performing post-processing of the printed material.

  The printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108 sequentially process a plurality of component jobs (xml data) based on a predetermined rule. In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108 read component jobs (xml data) in the order of input from the information processing apparatus 101, and execute printing and post-processing based on each setting information.

[Processing flow]
Next, an example of a job control process performed by the information processing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This processing is controlled by the CPU 301 in accordance with a program developed in the RAM 302 from the storage unit such as the ROM 306 and the hard disk 303.

  In step S <b> 701, the product job receiving unit 113 receives a product job from the client 100. In step S <b> 702, the analysis unit 114 generates a part job according to the deliverable job and process order information 1301 received in step S <b> 701. The component job transmission unit 117 transmits the component job to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing control apparatuses 103 to 105.

  In step S <b> 703, the information processing apparatus 101 manufactures a photo book according to the part job transmitted to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing control apparatuses 103 to 105. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 704, the deliverable job display unit 115 displays a deliverable job status 1701 in photobook manufacturing as illustrated in FIG. 17. In step S <b> 705, the analysis unit 114 determines whether or not the currently produced photobook deliverable job is the final deliverable job. If it is determined that the job is the final product job (YES in S705), the process proceeds to S706. If it is determined that the job is not the final product job (NO in step S705), the process returns to step S702, and the analysis unit 114 generates a part job for the remaining product job.

  In step S <b> 706, the analysis unit 114 analyzes whether there is “NG” in the status 1701 of the deliverable job in the photobook manufacturing. If “NG” is present (YES in S706), the process proceeds to S707. When there is no “NG” (S706), it is determined that all the products have been normally manufactured, and this processing flow ends.

  In step S <b> 707, based on the status management list 1601, the analysis unit 114 prints only the part jobs of all the processes related to the parts in which the status of any process is “NG” to the printing apparatus 102 or the post-processing control apparatus 103. To -105. In the example of FIG. 16, the status of the cover lamination process is “NG”. For this reason, the analysis unit 114 uses all the process part jobs (001-Print-Cover, 001-Lami-Cover, 001-Case-CoverBook, 001-Cut-CoverBook, 001-Crease) for the cover parts based on the process order information 1301. -CoverBook, 001-Combine-Photobook) is transmitted to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing control apparatuses 103 to 105. Here, an example of the cover part is given, but if the status of any process of other parts (text, band, jacket) is “NG”, the part job of all the processes of the corresponding part is similarly performed. Is transmitted to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing control apparatuses 103 to 105.

  In step S <b> 708, the information processing apparatus 101 manufactures a photo book according to the component job transmitted to the printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing control apparatuses 103 to 105. The process here is the same as S703, and details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 709, the deliverable job display unit 115 displays a deliverable job status 1701 in photobook manufacturing. In step S <b> 710, the analysis unit 114 confirms whether the currently produced photobook product job is a final product job to be manufactured again. If it is determined that the job is the final product job (YES in S710), the process returns to S706. If it is determined that it is not final (NO in S710), the process returns to S707, and the analysis unit 114 generates a part job for the remaining product job.

(Photobook manufacturing process)
FIG. 8 is an example of the flow of the information processing apparatus 101 in photobook manufacturing. This corresponds to the processing of S704 and S707 in FIG.

  When the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a component job for the cover part in S702 of FIG. 7 (S801), the process proceeds to S805, and the information processing apparatus 101 performs a process related to cover sheet manufacture. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. When the component job transmission unit 117 transmits the component job of the text component in S <b> 702 (S <b> 802), the process proceeds to S <b> 806 and the information processing apparatus 101 performs processing related to text manufacturing. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. When the component job transmission unit 117 transmits the component job of the band component in S702 (S803), the process proceeds to S807, and the information processing apparatus 101 performs processing related to the band manufacturing. Details of the processing here will be described later with reference to FIG. If the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a component job for a jacket component in S702 (S804), the process proceeds to S808, and the information processing apparatus 101 performs processing related to jacket manufacture. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S809, the analysis unit 114 refers to the part job status 1501 held in the process order information DB 116, and determines whether there is a process that is “NG” in the cover manufacturing (S805) and the body manufacturing (S806). Determine. Specifically, it is determined whether the status such as “001-Print-Cover” or “001-Print-Book” is “NG”. If there is no “NG” (NO in S809), the process proceeds to S810. If “NG” is present (YES in S809), the process flow ends.

  In step S810, the part job transmission unit 117 transmits a case binding part job for the cover / text part. Thereafter, in S811, the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the case binding machine or a notification indicating that the inspection has failed in the case binding result in S806 (YES in S811). The process advances to S813. If no error is received by the case binding machine and a notification that the inspection of the case binding result is normal (NO in S811), the process proceeds to S812.

  In step S812, the analysis unit 114 sets “OK” as the status of the case binding process for the cover / text part in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S814. In S813, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the case binding process for the cover / text part in the status management list 1601 to “NG”, and proceeds to S827.

  In step S814, the part job transmission unit 117 transmits a cover part / text part cutting part job. Thereafter, in S815, the device error receiving unit 118 advances the process to S817 if “NG” is received in the error generated by the cutting machine or the inspection of the result of the cutting process (YES in S815). If an error at the cutting machine is not received and the inspection as a result of the cutting process also receives “OK” (NO in S815), the process proceeds to S816.

  In S816, the analysis unit 114 sets “OK” as the status of the cutting process of the cover / text part in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S818.

  In S817, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the cover / text part cutting process in the status management list 1601 to “NG”, and proceeds to S827.

  In step S818, the part job transmission unit 117 transmits a cover part / text part scoring part job. After that, in S819, if the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the scoring machine or a notification that the inspection process is defective as a result of the scoring process (YES in S819), the process proceeds to S821. Proceed to If an error at the scoring machine is not received and a notification that the inspection as a result of the scoring process is normal is received (NO in S819), the process proceeds to S820.

  In step S820, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the cover / text part placement process in the status management list 1601 to “OK”, and proceeds to step S822. In S821, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the cover / text part placement process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S827.

  In step S822, the analysis unit 114 refers to the part job status 1501 of the photobook manufacturing, and determines whether there is a process having a status of “NG” in the cover manufacturing, body manufacturing, belt manufacturing, and jacket manufacturing. . Specifically, it is determined whether the statuses such as “001-Print-Cover”, “001-Print-Book”, “001-Print-Belt”, “001-Print-Jackt” are “NG”. If “NG” is not present (NO in S822), the process proceeds to S823. If “NG” is present (YES in S822), the process flow ends.

  In step S823, the part job transmission unit 117 transmits an assembly part job for manufacturing the final photo book by combining the cover / text part, the band part, and the jacket part. Thereafter, in step S824, the device error receiving unit 118 determines whether or not a notification indicating that there is an inspection defect in the inspection of the result of the assembly process (product) is received. If a notification indicating that the product is defective in the inspection is received (YES in S824), the process proceeds to S826. If a notification that the inspection is normal is received (NO in S824), the process proceeds to S825.

  In step S825, the analysis unit 114 sets “OK” as the status of the assembly process of the cover, text, band, and jacket part in the status management list 1601, and ends the present processing flow.

  In S826, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the assembly process of the cover, body, band, and jacket part to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S827. In S827, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of a process for which “OK” or “NG” is not set in the status management list 1601 to “not yet”. Further, the analysis unit 114 stores the status of the corresponding deliverable job as “NG” in the process order information DB 116. Then, this processing flow ends.

(Processing for cover production)
FIG. 9 shows an example of processing of the information processing apparatus 101 in cover manufacturing. This process corresponds to S805 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 901, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a cover print component job to the printing apparatus 102. Thereafter, in S902, when the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 or a notification that there is an inspection defect in the inspection as a result of the printing process (YES in S902), the process is performed. Proceed to S904. If an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 has not been received and a notification has been received indicating that the inspection of the result of the printing process is normal (NO in S902), the process proceeds to S903.

  In step S903, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the cover printing process to “OK” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S905. In step S904, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the cover printing process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S909.

  In step S905, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a cover laminate component job. In this embodiment, since the laminator is offline, it is assumed that the part job here is transmitted to the printing apparatus 102. Alternatively, the part job transmission itself may be omitted. On the other hand, if the laminator is included in another device, or if the laminator is online, a part job is transmitted to these devices. Thereafter, in S906, when the device error receiving unit 118 receives a notification indicating that an error has occurred in the laminator or an inspection failure has occurred in the inspection as a result of the laminating process (YES in S906), the process proceeds to S908. Proceed. If an error that has occurred in the laminator is not received and a notification that the inspection of the result of the laminating process is normal is received (NO in S906), the process proceeds to S907.

  In step S907, the analysis unit 114 sets “OK” as the status of the cover lamination process in the status management list 1601, and ends the present processing flow. In S908, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the cover lamination process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S909. In step S909, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of a process for which “OK” or “NG” is not set in the status management list 1601 to “not yet”. Further, the analysis unit 114 stores the status of the corresponding deliverable job as “NG” in the process order information DB 116. Then, this processing flow ends.

(Processing related to text production)
FIG. 10 shows an example of processing of the information processing apparatus 101 in text production. This process corresponds to S806 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1001, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits the text print component job to the printing apparatus 102. After that, in S1002, the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 or a notification that the inspection is a defective product as a result of the printing process (YES in S1002). The process proceeds to S1004. If an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 has not been received and a notification indicating that the inspection of the result of the printing process is normal has been received (NO in S1002), the process proceeds to S1003.

  In step S <b> 1003, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the text printing process to “OK” in the status management list 1601, and ends this processing flow. In step S1004, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the text printing process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S1005. In step S <b> 1005, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of a process for which “OK” or “NG” is not set in the status management list 1601 to “not yet”. Further, the analysis unit 114 stores the status of the corresponding deliverable job as “NG” in the process order information DB 116. Then, this processing flow ends.

(Processing related to band production)
FIG. 11 shows an example of processing of the information processing apparatus 101 in band production. This process corresponds to S807 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1101, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a band print component job to the printing apparatus 102. Thereafter, in S1102, if the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 or a notification that there is an inspection defect in the inspection as a result of the printing process (YES in S1102), the process is performed. The process proceeds to S1104. If an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 has not been received and a notification indicating that the inspection of the result of the printing process has been normal is received (NO in S1102), the process proceeds to S1103.

  In step S1103, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the band printing process to “OK” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S1105. In step S1104, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the band printing process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S1109.

  In step S <b> 1105, the part job transmission unit 117 transmits a band scoring part job to the post-processing control apparatus 105. Thereafter, in S1106, the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the scoring machine 108 or a notification that the inspection is a defective product as a result of the scoring process (YES in S1106). The process proceeds to S1108. If an error that has occurred in the scoring machine 108 is not received and a notification that the inspection of the result of the scoring process is normal is received (NO in S1106), the process proceeds to S1107.

  In step S <b> 1107, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the band scoring process in the status management list 1601 to “OK”, and ends this processing flow. In S1108, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the band scoring process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S1109. In step S <b> 1109, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of a process for which “OK” or “NG” is not set in the status management list 1601 to “not yet”. Further, the analysis unit 114 stores the status of the corresponding deliverable job as “NG” in the process order information DB 116. Then, this processing flow ends.

(Processing related to jacket production)
FIG. 12 shows an example of processing of the information processing apparatus 101 in jacket manufacture. This process corresponds to S808 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1201, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a jacket print component job to the printing apparatus 102. After that, in S1202, the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 or a notification indicating that there is an inspection defect in the inspection as a result of the printing process (YES in S1202). The process proceeds to S1204. If an error that has occurred in the printing apparatus 102 has not been received and a notification indicating that the inspection of the result of the printing process is normal is received (NO in S1202), the process proceeds to S1203.

  In step S1203, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the jacket printing process to “OK” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S1205. In step S1204, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the jacket printing process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to step S1213.

  In step S <b> 1205, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a jacket laminate component job. Similar to display manufacturing, the part job here is assumed to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 102. After that, in S1206, if the device error receiving unit 118 receives a notification indicating that an error has occurred in the laminator or an inspection failure in the inspection as a result of the laminating process (YES in S1206), the process proceeds to S1208. Proceed. If an error that has occurred in the laminator is not received and a notification that the inspection of the result of the laminating process is normal is received (NO in S1206), the process proceeds to S1207.

  In step S1207, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the jacket laminating process to “OK” in the status management list 1601, and ends the present processing flow. In S1208, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the jacket laminating process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S1213.

  In step S <b> 1209, the component job transmission unit 117 transmits a band scoring component job to the post-processing control apparatus 105. Thereafter, in S1210, the device error receiving unit 118 receives an error that has occurred in the scoring machine 108 or a notification that there is an inspection defect in the inspection as a result of the scoring process (YES in S1210). The process proceeds to S1212. If an error that has occurred in the scoring machine 108 is not received and a notification that the inspection of the result of the scoring process is normal is received (NO in S1210), the process proceeds to S1211.

  In step S1211, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the band scoring process in the status management list 1601 to “OK”, and ends this processing flow. In S1212, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of the band scoring process to “NG” in the status management list 1601, and proceeds to S1213. In step S <b> 1213, the analysis unit 114 sets the status of a process for which “OK” and “NG” are not set in the status management list 1601 to “not yet”. Further, the analysis unit 114 stores the status of the corresponding deliverable job as “NG” in the process order information DB 116. Then, this processing flow ends.

  This embodiment can be applied to the remanufacturing of a creation flow unique to a photo book in which a plurality of types of parts are included and each part is a dedicated part for an order. And when an error occurs during manufacturing, when the operator gives instructions for remanufacturing, it is not necessary to grasp all the states of the complicated parts manufacturing process, and the deliverable job that is the order information of the photo book It is possible to give instructions for remanufacturing only the necessary parts. Therefore, the operator's work can be reduced while realizing high productivity.

  In addition, although the example which receives a user's order from a photobook was shown, it is not necessarily limited to a photobook. For example, it is necessary to print a set of cards each consisting of a unique shape, a calendar consisting of 12 sets, and a plurality of design parts on media of different shapes and obtain the deliverables in a fixed order The present invention has the same effect even if it is a simple set.

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, as shown in the component job list 1401 in FIG. 14, an example is shown in which IDs are assigned to component jobs. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the information processing apparatus 101 assigns an ID only to a deliverable job. Furthermore, in each process, an ID corresponding to the status is defined and used. Even in this case, it is possible to manage the part jobs of all the processes as in the first embodiment. In particular, in FIG. 2, the present embodiment is effective, for example, in an example in which a barcode is printed outside the same paper surface on which a cover is printed. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the location which overlaps with Embodiment 1. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, one product job ID assigned to one product job is assigned to each component job constituting the product job from the component job transmission unit 117 of the information processing apparatus 101 and transmitted. Is done. The printing apparatus 102 and the post-processing apparatuses 106 to 108 manufacture each part for the photo book as described in the first embodiment in accordance with the part job. Then, the post-processing control devices 103 to 105 that manage the printing device 102 and the post-processing devices 106 to 108 give identifiers (character strings) corresponding to predetermined processes and execution results to the product job ID. . Accordingly, the device error receiving unit 118 of the information processing apparatus 101 can receive the part job status 1501 equivalent to that in FIG. 15 described in the first embodiment.

  For example, when a case binding process is completed in manufacturing a photo book with a product job ID “00001”, the user causes the barcode reader 110 to read the output barcode. In this case, if the case binding process is completed without any problem, the user inputs information indicating that the inspection result is normal on the screen of the post-processing control device 103 connected to the nearline case binding machine 106. . In this case, the post-processing control apparatus 103 gives a character string (for example, “031”) indicating that the inspection result of the case binding process is “OK” to the product job ID “00001” read from the barcode. To do. A character string “00001001” obtained by adding a character string “031” indicating that the inspection result in the case binding process is normal to the product job ID “00001” is transmitted to the device error receiving unit 118.

  If the inspection result in the case binding process is incorrect, the user inputs information indicating that the inspection result is incorrect on the screen of the post-processing control device 103. In this case, the post-processing control apparatus 103 gives a character string (for example, “032”) indicating that the result of the case binding process is invalid to the ID “00001” of the product job read from the barcode. To do. Then, a character string “00001002” obtained by adding a character string “032” indicating that the inspection result in the case binding process is invalid to the product job ID “00001” is transmitted to the device error receiving unit 118.

  Further, when an error occurs in the case binding machine itself in the case binding process, the post-processing control device 103 detects the occurrence of the error without the user inputting the fact on the screen of the post-processing control device 103. . Due to this, the post-processing control apparatus 103 transmits “000010032” in which the character string “032” is added to the product job ID “00001” to the device error receiving unit 118.

  Similarly, by adding a predetermined process ID to the deliverable job ID for the other processes, the information processing apparatus 101 can collectively receive and manage the error status of the component job.

  According to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to efficiently instruct remanufacturing only necessary parts using a deliverable job, regardless of an error in any process.

<Embodiment 3>
In the present embodiment, a configuration for simplifying and clarifying the processing in the information processing apparatus 101 when an operator gives instructions for remanufacturing when the manufacture of each component has failed will be described. Specifically, the processing is simplified by resetting the status of the part job for the part that needs to be remanufactured in the status management list 1601 of FIG. Details according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the location which overlaps with Embodiment 1. FIG.

  Since S1801 to S1807 in FIG. 18 are the same processes as S701 to S707 in FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  In step S1808, the information processing apparatus 101 resets all the part job statuses of parts that need to be remanufactured (that is, parts in which the status of any process is “NG”) as shown in FIG. . Thereafter, based on the status management list 1901 after reset, remanufacturing is performed in the photobook manufacturing process in S1809.

  Since S1809 to S1811 are the same processes as S708 to S710 in FIG. 7, description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the process in the information processing apparatus 101 can be simplified and clarified when remanufacturing is performed.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (11)

An information processing apparatus that controls a plurality of jobs corresponding to a plurality of processes for manufacturing a product composed of a plurality of parts,
Receiving means for receiving, from one or more processing devices that process the plurality of jobs, information on jobs that are not normally executed among the plurality of jobs;
Based on the information received by the receiving means, a specifying means for specifying a part that needs to be remanufactured among a plurality of parts constituting the deliverable;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits, to the one or more processing devices, only the job related to the component specified by the specifying unit among the plurality of jobs.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of parts constituting the product are parts unique to the product.   The information processing according to claim 1, further comprising management means for managing the order of the plurality of jobs and the status of the plurality of jobs in association with a plurality of parts constituting the deliverable. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the management unit resets a job status relating to a part that needs to be remanufactured when the notification unit performs notification.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the management unit manages the plurality of jobs by using identifiers assigned to the plurality of jobs.   The management unit manages the statuses of the plurality of jobs by combining an identifier assigned to the deliverable and an identifier assigned for each execution result of the plurality of steps. Or the information processing apparatus of 4.   The receiving unit receives, as the information, a notification when an error occurs when a job is executed in the processing apparatus or when a defect occurs in the inspection of a part manufactured by executing the job. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies all parts related to a job that is not normally executed as parts that need to be remanufactured. .   9. The processing apparatus for producing the product is at least one of a printing apparatus, a laminator, a case binding machine, a cutting machine, and a creasing machine. 9. Information processing device. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for controlling a plurality of jobs corresponding to a plurality of processes for manufacturing a product composed of a plurality of parts,
A receiving step of receiving information on a job that is not normally executed from the one or more processing devices that process the plurality of jobs;
Based on the information received in the receiving step, a specifying step for specifying a part that needs to be remanufactured among a plurality of parts constituting the deliverable,
An information processing method comprising: a transmitting step of transmitting only the job related to the component specified in the specifying step among the plurality of jobs to the one or more processing devices. Computer
From one or more processing devices that process a plurality of jobs corresponding to a plurality of processes for manufacturing a product composed of a plurality of parts, information on jobs that are not normally executed among the plurality of jobs is obtained. Receiving means for receiving,
Identification means for identifying a part that needs to be remanufactured among a plurality of parts constituting the deliverable based on the information received by the reception means;
The program for functioning as a transmission means which transmits only the job with which the components specified by the specification means relate among the plurality of jobs to the one or a plurality of processing devices.

Images