JP2015139990A - Printer, terminal device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify a user of information about a status at an appropriate timing.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a detection section for detecting a status; a reception section for receiving a first printing instruction about a first printing job from a terminal device; a first determination section for determining whether or not a timing reaches a specified timing before starting of printing of the first printing job; and a notification section for notifying the status of the printer. The notification section notifies the terminal device of a first status when the status is a first status before a timing reaches the specified timing and does not notify the terminal device of a second status when the status is the second status before the timing reaches the specified timing. The notification section notifies the terminal device of the first status when the status is the first status after the timing reaches the specified timing and notifies the terminal device of the second status when the status is the second status after the timing reaches the specified timing.

Description

  The present invention relates to notification of a status of a printing apparatus to a terminal apparatus and display of information related to the status on the terminal apparatus.

  Status information of a device such as a printing apparatus is displayed on a terminal device used by a user of the device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for preferentially displaying status information regarding functions that can be used using a terminal device among the status information of a multifunction peripheral on the terminal device. For example, in a terminal device in which a printer driver is installed and no scanner driver is installed, status information related to the printing function is displayed with priority over status information related to the scanner function.

2010-250660

  However, even if the status information related to the usable functions is preferentially displayed, it may not be useful for the user depending on the display timing, and may be troublesome for the user. As a result, the convenience for the user may be impaired.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of notifying a user of information related to a status of a printing apparatus at an appropriate timing using a terminal device.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following application examples.

[Application Example 1]
A printing device capable of communicating with a terminal device,
A detection unit for detecting a status of the printing apparatus, wherein the detected status of the printing apparatus includes a first status and a second status;
A receiving unit that receives a first print instruction related to a first print job from the terminal device;
A first determination unit for determining whether or not a specific timing before the start of printing of the first print job has been reached;
A notification unit for notifying the status of the printing apparatus;
When the status of the printing apparatus is the first status and before the specific timing is reached, the terminal apparatus is notified of the first status;
When the status of the printing apparatus is the second status and before reaching the specific timing, the second status is not notified to the terminal apparatus,
If the status of the printing device is the first status and after reaching the specific timing, the first status is notified to the terminal device;
Notifying the terminal device of the second status when the status of the printing device is the second status and after reaching the specific timing;
The notification unit;
A printing apparatus comprising:

  According to the above configuration, the first status is notified before or after the specific timing, but the second status is not notified before the specific timing. Notification is given after the timing. Accordingly, the printing apparatus can notify the terminal apparatus of the status at an appropriate timing according to the status type. As a result, the printing apparatus can notify the user of the status of the printing apparatus at an appropriate timing using the terminal device.

[Application Example 2]
A terminal device capable of communicating with a printing device,
A display unit;
A first receiving unit that receives information for specifying a specific timing before the start of printing executed by the printing device based on a printing instruction transmitted from the terminal device;
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the specific timing has been reached based on information for specifying the specific timing;
A second receiving unit for receiving a notification of the status of the printing apparatus, wherein the status of the printing apparatus includes a first status and a second status;
A display control unit for displaying information on the status of the printing apparatus on the display unit;
When the notification of the first status is received and before the specific timing is reached, information on the first status is displayed on the display unit,
When the notification of the second status is received and before the specific timing is reached, the information on the second status is not displayed on the display unit,
When the notification of the first status is received and after the specific timing has been reached, information on the first status is displayed on the display unit,
When the notification of the second status is received and after the specific timing has been reached, information on the second status is displayed on the display unit.
The display control unit;
A terminal device comprising:

  According to the above configuration, the information regarding the first status is displayed before or after the specific timing, but the information regarding the second status is displayed before the specific timing. Instead, it is displayed after a specific timing. Therefore, the terminal device can display information on the status at an appropriate timing according to the status type. As a result, the terminal device can inform the user of the status of the printing device at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms. For example, a printing apparatus control method, a terminal apparatus control method, a computer program for realizing these apparatuses or methods, and a computer program thereof are provided. It can be realized in the form of a recorded recording medium.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system 1000 as one Example of this invention. 3 is a flowchart of processing of the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart of processing of the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the window displayed on an instruction | command transmission origin terminal. 10 is a flowchart of processing of a multifunction machine according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of processing of a multifunction machine according to a second embodiment. It is a flowchart of a process of the terminal device of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart of a process of the terminal device of 2nd Example. 10 is a flowchart of processing of a multifunction machine according to a third embodiment. It is a flowchart of a process of the terminal device of 3rd Example.

A. First embodiment:
A-1: Configuration of System 1000 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system 1000 as an embodiment of the present invention. The system 1000 includes a plurality of multifunction devices 200A and 200B and a plurality of terminal devices 400A to 400C. The plurality of multifunction devices 200A and 200B and the plurality of terminal devices 400A to 400C are communicably connected via a LAN 80 (Local Area Network).

  The MFP 200A includes a CPU 210, a nonvolatile storage device 220 such as a hard disk drive or an EEPROM, a volatile storage device 230 such as a RAM, and a printer that prints an image using a predetermined method (for example, a laser method or an ink jet method). Unit 240, scanner unit 250 that acquires scan data by optically reading an object (for example, a paper document), operation unit 260 such as a touch panel and buttons, and a display such as a liquid crystal panel superimposed on the touch panel Unit 270, a communication unit 280 including an interface for performing data communication with an external device such as terminal device 400A, and infrared sensor 290. The interface of the communication unit 280 includes an interface (for example, an interface conforming to the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard) for connecting to the LAN 80. Infrared sensor 290 includes a light receiving element capable of detecting infrared rays. The infrared sensor 290 is used by the CPU 210 to detect whether or not there is a person around the MFP 200A.

  The nonvolatile storage device 220 stores a computer program PG1. The program PG1 is provided in a form stored in advance in the nonvolatile storage device 220 at the time of shipment of the multifunction device 200. The program PG1 may be provided in a form downloaded from a server connected to the multifunction device 200 via a network, or may be provided in a form stored in a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like. The volatile storage device 230 is provided with a buffer area 231 for temporarily storing various intermediate data generated when the CPU 210 performs processing.

  The CPU 210 executes the program PG1 to control the printer unit 240 and the scanner unit 250 to execute printing and scanning, and processing related to the status of the multifunction device 200A. Specifically, the CPU 210 can monitor and detect the status of the MFP 200A. The detected status of the MFP 200A includes, for example, an error and whether or not there is a person around the MFP 200A. The error includes, for example, the absence of printing material (out of toner or ink), paper jam, absence of printing paper, and the like. The detected status is notified to the terminal devices 400A, 400B, and 400C according to a process that will be described in detail later.

  The terminal device 400A is a computer such as a personal computer, for example. The terminal device 400A includes a CPU 410, a nonvolatile storage device 420 such as a hard disk drive, a volatile storage device 430 such as a RAM, an operation unit 460 such as a mouse and a keyboard, a display unit 470 such as a liquid crystal display, and an external device. And a communication unit 480 including an interface for performing data communication with an external device such as the MFPs 200A and 200B. The interface of the communication unit 480 includes an interface for connecting to the LAN 80.

  The nonvolatile storage device 420 stores a driver program PG2 and a monitor program PG3.

  The CPU 410 functions as the printer driver 60 by executing the driver program PG2. For example, the printer driver 60 transmits a print instruction based on a user instruction. The printer driver 60 can transmit a print instruction to any of the plurality of multifunction peripherals 200A and 200B in accordance with a user instruction.

  The CPU 410 functions as the status monitor 300 by executing the monitor program PG3. The status monitor 300 displays information on the status on the display unit 470 of the terminal device 400A based on the status notifications from the plurality of multifunction devices 200A and 200B. For example, the status monitor 300 stores the IP addresses of the terminal devices 400A and 400B, respectively. When the status monitor 300 receives the status notification, the status monitor 300 can identify the MFP from which the notification is sent based on the IP address of the transmission source of the notification. In a state in which the status monitor 300 is activated, the status monitor 300 normally displays nothing on the display unit 470, but when a status notification is received, which MFP is displayed on the display unit 470. A window (described later) showing the status is displayed in a pop-up.

  The multifunction device 200B has the same configuration as the multifunction device 200A, and the terminal devices 400B and 400C have the same configuration as the terminal device 400A.

A-2: Operation of the system 1000:
The operation of the system 1000 will be described focusing on the processing of the multifunction device 200A, but the multifunction device 200B operates in the same manner as the multifunction device 200A. 2 and 3 are flowcharts of processing of the multifunction peripheral 200A. The processing of the multifunction device 200A is always executed when the multifunction device 200A is ready to accept a print instruction. This flowchart shows a processing flow of the multifunction peripheral 200A by paying attention to one print instruction. The multi-function device 200A can accept a plurality of print instructions by executing a plurality of processing flows in FIGS. 2 and 3 in parallel.

  In step S <b> 10, the CPU 210 of the multifunction peripheral 200 </ b> A monitors whether a print instruction has been received from the terminal devices 400 </ b> A to 400 </ b> B via the LAN 80. If the print instruction has not been received (step S10: NO), the CPU 210 waits until the print instruction is received. When the CPU 210 receives a print instruction (step S10: YES), the CPU 210 generates a print job based on the received print instruction (step S15). The generated print jobs are stored in the non-volatile storage device 220 or the volatile storage device 230 in the order of generation. The print job includes information (for example, an IP address) indicating a terminal device (hereinafter also referred to as an instruction transmission source terminal) of a print instruction among the terminal devices 400A to 400B, image data representing an image to be printed, print Includes information indicating conditions. Information necessary for generating the print job is acquired from the instruction transmission source terminal for each print instruction, for example. The print job generated in this step is also called a print job to be processed.

  In addition to color / monochrome, printing paper size, number of copies, and the like, the printing conditions may include designation of confidential printing in this embodiment. The designation of confidential printing is included in the print instruction based on the instruction of the user of the instruction transmission source terminal. When confidential printing is designated, unless there is a forced start instruction (described later) by the user, printing based on the print instruction is executed in a state where there is no person around the multifunction device 200, and the surroundings of the multifunction device 200 are It is not executed when there are people in the room. The user can prevent others from seeing the printed paper by designating confidential printing and issuing a print instruction.

  In step S20, the CPU 210 determines whether or not the print instruction received in step S10 includes designation of confidential printing. When the designation of confidential printing is not included (step S20: NO), the CPU 210 performs normal printing processing (steps S30 to S60).

  Specifically, in step S30, the CPU 210 determines whether an error of the unnotified MFP 200A has been detected. An unnotified error is an error that is not notified to the instruction transmission source terminal after being detected.

  When an unnotified error is detected (step S30: YES), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S40). When receiving the error notification, CPU 410 (status monitor 300) of the instruction transmission source terminal displays an error information display window on display unit 470. Notification to the instruction transmission source terminal is performed by designating the IP address of the instruction transmission source terminal as a destination IP address and transmitting data indicating the content of the notification. The same applies to all notifications to the instruction transmission source terminal of the present embodiment, not limited to error notification.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a window displayed on the instruction transmission source terminal. FIG. 4A shows an example of an error information display window. The error information display window PW1 is displayed when a paper jam notification is received from the multifunction device 200A. The error information display window PW1 includes a message MS1 indicating an MFP in which an error has occurred and the content of the error that has occurred, and a delete button CB that receives a request to delete the display of the error information display window PW1. It is out. By displaying the error information display window PW1 on the display unit 470, the user can recognize that an error has occurred in the MFP 200A.

  When an unnotified error is not detected (step S30: NO), the CPU 210 skips step S40 and proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, CPU 210 determines whether there is preceding printing. The preceding printing is printing of a print job based on a print instruction received before Step S10 by the multi-function device 200A among uncompleted printing. If there is preceding printing (step S50: YES), the CPU 210 returns to step S30. That is, the CPU 210 waits until the preceding printing is completed while monitoring the occurrence of an error.

  If there is no preceding printing (step S50: NO), the CPU 210 executes printing of the print job to be processed (step S60) and ends the process. As described above, when a plurality of print instructions are received, printing of a print job based on these print instructions is normally executed in the order in which the print instructions are received.

  Returning to step S20, the description will be continued. If the print instruction to be processed includes designation of confidential printing (step S20: YES), the CPU 210 determines whether there is preceding printing (step S70). If there is no preceding printing (step S70: NO), the process proceeds to step S120 in FIG.

  If there is preceding printing (step S70: YES), the CPU 210 calculates the printing start time of the print job to be processed (step S80). Specifically, the CPU 210 calculates the time required for the preceding printing for each preceding printing, and calculates the total time required for the preceding printing. The CPU 210 calculates the time after the total time has elapsed from the current time as the print disclosure time.

  In step S90, the CPU 210 determines whether it is within a predetermined time (1 minute in this embodiment) from the current time to the printing start time. If it is not within the predetermined time until the print start time (step S90: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether an error of the unnotified multifunction peripheral 200A has been detected (step S100). When an unnotified error is detected (step S100: YES), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S110). When receiving the error notification, the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal displays the above-described error information display window (see FIG. 4A) on the display unit 470.

  If an unnotified error is not detected (step S100: NO), and after notifying the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S110), the CPU 210 returns to step S90. That is, the CPU 210 waits until the print start time of printing based on the print instruction to be processed is within a predetermined time while monitoring the occurrence of an error.

  When the print start time is within a predetermined time (step S90: YES), and when there is no preceding print (step S70: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether a person is detected around the multi-function device 200A. Is determined (step S120). That is, the CPU 210 uses the infrared sensor 290 to detect whether or not there is a person around the multifunction device 200A.

  When no person is detected in the surroundings (step S120: NO), the CPU 410 sets the person detection flag to OFF. That is, when the human detection flag is already OFF, the human detection flag is kept OFF, and when the human detection flag is ON, the human detection flag is changed to OFF. Note that the initial value of the human detection flag is OFF. As will be described later, the person detection flag is a flag used for determining whether to notify that there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A.

  In step S130, CPU 210 determines whether there is preceding printing (step S130). If there is preceding printing (step S130: YES), the process proceeds to step S190 described later. If there is no preceding printing (step S130: NO), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the printing start of confidential printing (step S140).

  The status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal displays a print start display window on the display unit 470 when receiving a notification of the start of printing of confidential printing. FIG. 4B shows an example of a print start display window. The print start display window PW2 includes a message MS2 indicating that confidential printing has been started in the multifunction device 200A, and an erase button CB. By displaying the print start display window PW2 on the display unit 470, the user can recognize that the confidential printing has been started in the MFP 200A.

  In step S150, the CPU 210 prints the print job to be processed and ends the process. As a result, when the print instruction corresponding to the print job to be processed includes the designation of confidential printing, printing is executed in a state where there is no person around the multifunction peripheral 200A.

  Returning to step S120, the description will be continued. When a person is detected around (step S120: YES), the CPU 210 determines whether or not a person detection flag is ON (step S160). When the person detection flag is OFF (step S160: NO), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that there is a person around (step S165). When the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal receives a notification that there is a person around, the status monitor 300 displays a person detection display window on the display unit 470. FIG. 4C shows an example of a human detection display window. The person detection display window PW3 includes a message MS3 indicating that there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A, and that confidential printing is not started, and an erase button CB. By displaying the person detection display window PW3 on the display unit 470, the user can recognize that the confidential printing is not started because there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A.

  The human detection display window PW3 further includes a message MS4 indicating that a request for forcibly starting printing (forced start request) is possible, and a button BT1 for the user to input the forced start request. Contains. When the button BT1 is clicked by the user, the status monitor 300 transmits a forced start instruction with the IP address of the transmission source of the notification that there is a person around as the destination IP address. The forced start instruction according to the present exemplary embodiment is an instruction to start printing of a print job in which confidential printing is designated even though there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A. As a result, the forced start instruction is received by the multi-function device 200A that is the transmission source of the notification that there is a person around.

  After notifying that there are people around, the CPU 210 changes the person detection flag from OFF to ON (step S170).

  If the human detection flag is ON in step S160 (step S160: YES), CPU 210 skips steps S165 and S170 and advances the process to step S175. That is, the process proceeds to step S175 without notifying that there are people around. As a result, for example, when a state where there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A continues, it is possible to suppress the notification that there is a person around the multifunction machine 200A from being wasted.

  In step S175, CPU 210 determines whether or not the above-described forced start instruction is received from the instruction transmission source terminal. When the forced start instruction is received (step S160: YES), the CPU 210 advances the process to step S130 described above. As a result, on the condition that there is no preceding printing (step S130: NO), even if a person is detected around the MFP 200A, confidential printing of the print job to be processed is executed (step S150).

  When the forcible start instruction has not been received (step S175: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether there is subsequent normal printing (step S180). That is, whether or not a print job based on another print instruction that is received after the print instruction related to the print job to be processed and that does not include the confidential print designation is stored in the MFP 200A. Judge whether or not.

  If there is no subsequent printing (step S180: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether an error of the unnotified multifunction peripheral 200A has been detected (step S190). When an unnotified error is detected (step S190: YES), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S200). When receiving the error notification, the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal displays the above-described error information display window (see FIG. 4A) on the display unit 470.

  When an unnotified error is not detected (step S190: NO), and after notifying the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S200), the CPU 210 returns to step S120.

  When there is subsequent normal printing (step S190: YES), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that the subsequent normal printing is performed first (step S210). When the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal receives the notification that the subsequent normal printing is performed first, the status monitor 300 displays a window (not shown) that displays that the subsequent normal printing is performed first on the display unit 470. . This window includes a message indicating that the subsequent normal printing is performed first, and allows the user to recognize that.

  In step S220, CPU 210 changes subsequent normal printing to preceding printing. That is, the CPU 210 changes the printing order so that subsequent normal printing is executed before printing of the print job to be processed.

  Following the change of the printing order, the CPU 210 changes the person detection flag from ON to OFF (step S230), and returns to step S70 (FIG. 2). As a result, the print start time of the print job to be processed after the print order is changed is calculated (step S80). Then, when there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A (step S120: YES) at a point in time within the predetermined time until the printing start time (step S90: YES) The instruction transmission source terminal is notified (step S165).

  According to the present embodiment described above, the CPU 210 determines whether or not a specific timing that is a predetermined time before the print start time has been reached when printing of the print job to be processed is confidential printing ( Step S90). If an unreported error is detected before or after reaching the specific timing, the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (steps S110 and S200). . Further, the CPU 210 does not notify the instruction transmission source terminal that there is a person around before reaching the specific timing. After reaching the specific timing, when a person is detected around the multifunction device 200A, the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that there is a person around (step S165).

  In other words, the CPU 210 of the multifunction device 200A (a) when the status of the multifunction device 200A is in a state where an unnotified error has occurred and before the specific timing has been reached, is not notified. (B) when the status of the MFP 200A is in a state where there is a person around and before reaching a specific timing, (C) The status of the multifunction device 200A is in a state where an unnotified error has occurred and after a specific timing has been reached. The notification source terminal is notified that an unnotified error has occurred, and (d) the status of the MFP 200A is in a state where there are people around and reaches a specific timing. Is In case, to notify the instruction transmission source terminal that there are people around.

  To eliminate errors such as out of toner and out of paper, the user needs to deal with the multi-function device 200A (replacement of toner cartridges and replenishment of paper) and cannot be resolved naturally. For this reason, when these errors occur, it is preferable to immediately notify the occurrence of the error. On the other hand, since there is a possibility that the state where there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A may be resolved naturally before the confidential printing is started, there is a person in the vicinity at a timing excessively before the printing start time. The need to inform the user is low. Rather, it is not useful for the user and it is likely that the user is troublesome that the display indicating that there is a person is displayed on the display unit 470 at such timing. However, since confidential printing cannot be started when there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A, it is preferable to notify that there is a person around at an appropriate timing relatively close to the print start time. This is because without this notification, the user cannot recognize that printing is not started. According to the present embodiment, the occurrence of an error is notified regardless of the specific timing, and the presence of a person around is notified only after reaching the specific timing.

  As a result, the MFP 200A can notify the terminal device of the status at an appropriate timing according to the status type to be notified. As a result, the MFP 200A can notify the user of the status of the MFP 200A at an appropriate timing using the instruction transmission source terminal.

  Further, the CPU 210 receives a forced start instruction from the instruction transmission source terminal in response to the detection that there is a person in the vicinity (FIG. 4C). The CPU 210, when the instruction transmission source terminal is notified that there is a person in the vicinity, and the state where there is a person in the vicinity continues and the forced start instruction is not received (step S120: YES, And step S175: NO), the printing of the print job to be processed is not started. CPU 210 is notified when the instruction transmission source terminal is notified of the presence of a person in the surrounding area, and when the state of the presence of a person in the surrounding area is resolved (step S120: NO) and when a forced start instruction is received (step S120) In any case of S175: YES), printing of the print job to be processed is started (step S150). As a result, the multifunction device 200A can start printing at an appropriate timing based on the status change of the multifunction device 200A and the forced start instruction.

  Further, the CPU 210 is in the case where there is a person in the vicinity and the forced start instruction is not received (step S120: YES and step S175: NO), and the subsequent normal printing is performed. If there is any (step S180: YES), the subsequent normal printing is executed before printing the print job to be processed (step S220). As a result, the MFP 200A can perform printing efficiently.

  When the subsequent normal printing is performed before printing of the print job to be processed, the CPU 210 determines again whether or not the specific timing has been reached (step S90), and after reaching the specific timing When it is detected that there is a person around (step S120: YES), the instruction transmission source terminal is notified again that there is a person around (step S165). As a result, the MFP 200A can appropriately notify the instruction transmission source terminal that there is a person around when the subsequent normal printing is executed before the printing of the print job to be processed.

  In addition, when the print instruction of the print job to be processed includes designation of confidential printing (step S20: YES), the CPU 210 notifies that there is a person around (step S165) and designates confidential printing. If not included (step S20: NO), notification that there is a person around is not performed. As a result, the multi-function device 200A can make an appropriate notification depending on whether or not the print instruction includes designation of confidential printing.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the status monitors 300 of the terminal devices 400A to 400C need only display information related to the notifications on the display unit 470 when receiving various notifications, and thus the terminal devices 400A to 400C. Can reduce the processing load.

  As can be understood from the above description, in this embodiment, the occurrence of an unreported error is an example of the first status, and the presence of a person in the vicinity is related to the second status and security. It is an example of a status. The print job to be processed is an example of the first print job and an example of the second print job, and the print job corresponding to the subsequent normal printing is an example of the second print job. The designation of confidential printing is an example of specific information related to security.

B. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the MFP 200A makes an appropriate notification to the instruction transmission source terminal at an appropriate timing, so that there is a person around the MFP 200A. The user can be notified of the status at an appropriate timing. In the second embodiment, each of the terminal devices 400A to 400B displays the information about the notification on the display unit 470 at an appropriate timing in accordance with the notification from the multifunction device 200A, thereby appropriately setting the status of the multifunction device 200A. Inform users at the right time.

B-1. Process of Multifunction Device First, the process of the multifunction device 200A will be described. The multi-function device 200B executes the same processing as the multi-function device 200A. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts of processing of the MFP 200A according to the second embodiment. 5 and 6, the same steps as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same steps as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are suffixed with a letter “B”. ing.

  The processing of the MFP 200A according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the CPU 210 transmits various notifications not only to the instruction transmission source terminal but also to all terminals (terminal devices 400A to 400C in the example of FIG. 1) connected to the multifunction device 200. For example, various notifications are broadcast to the LAN 80. For example, in steps S40B and S110B in FIG. 5 and step S200B in FIG. 6, an unnotified error is notified to all connected terminals. In step S140B of FIG. 6, the start of printing of the print job to be processed is notified to all connected terminals. In step S165B of FIG. 6, all connected terminals are notified that there are people around. In step S <b> 210 </ b> B of FIG. 6, all connected terminals are notified that subsequent printing is performed before printing of the print job to be processed.

  In the process of the MFP 200A of the second embodiment, steps S75B and S85B in FIG. 5 and steps S122B, S124B, and S155B in FIG. 6 are further added.

  In step S75B after it is determined in step S70 that there is no preceding printing, the CPU 210 notifies the current time to all connected terminals as the printing start time of the print job to be processed.

  In step S85B after calculating the print start time, the CPU 210 notifies all the connected terminals of the print start time of the print job to be processed.

  In step S120, when no person is detected in the surrounding area (step S120: NO), CPU 210 determines whether or not the person detection flag is ON (step S122B). When the person detection flag is ON (step S122B: YES), that is, when the previous notification that there is a person around is performed, the CPU 210 determines that there is no person around. Notify all connected terminals (step S124B). Then, after notifying that there are no people around, the CPU 210 changes the person detection flag from ON to OFF (step S125). When the person detection flag is OFF (step S122B: NO), step S124B and step S125 are skipped.

  After the notification that there is a person in the vicinity in step S165 by the processing in steps S120 to S125 in FIG. 6, when there is no person around the multi-function peripheral 200A, there is no person in the vicinity. The terminal devices 400A to 400C are notified appropriately. In addition, when the state where there is no person around the multi-function peripheral 200A continues, it is appropriately suppressed that the notification that there is no person around is not repeated.

  In step S155B after the print job to be processed is printed in step S150, the CPU 210 notifies all connected terminals of the end of printing. Thereby, the terminal devices 400A to 400C can recognize that the confidential printing has been completed.

  Note that the above-described notification regarding the print job to be processed, that is, the notification of the printing start time (steps S75B and S85B), the notification of the printing start (step S140B), the notification of the end of printing (step S155B), and the subsequent printing first. Information (for example, job ID) for identifying the print job to be processed is included in the notification (step S210B) of performing. Accordingly, the terminal devices 400A to 400B that have received these notifications can determine whether or not these notifications are notifications related to a print job based on a print instruction transmitted by the terminal devices 400A to 400B. For example, the job ID may be generated by the CPU 210 of the MFP 200A when the print instruction is received by the MFP 200A and transmitted to the instruction transmission source terminal. In addition, when the terminal device 400A transmits a print instruction to the multi-function device 200A, the job ID may be included in the print instruction.

B-2: Processing of Terminal Device 400A FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts of processing of the terminal device 400A. The processing of the terminal devices 400B and 400C is the same as the processing of the terminal device 400A. This process is executed in the terminal device 400A in a state where both the printer driver 60 and the status monitor 300 (FIG. 1) are activated. This flowchart shows the processing flow of the terminal device 400A focusing on one print request. The terminal device 400A can accept a plurality of print requests from the user by executing a plurality of the processing flows of FIGS. 7 and 8 in parallel.

  In step S310, the printer driver 60 (CPU 410) determines whether a print request has been received from the user. The printer driver 60 can display a print request acceptance screen (not shown) on the display unit 270 and accept the print request via the acceptance screen. It is to be noted that the confidential printing described above is performed by designating an apparatus (in this embodiment, either the MFP 200A or the MFP 200B) to perform printing based on the print request and printing based on the print request via the reception screen. Whether or not to be accepted together with the print request. The print request accepted in this step is also called a print request to be processed.

  If the print request is not received (step S310: NO), the printer driver 60 waits until the print request is received. If the printer driver 60 receives a print request (step S310: YES), the printer driver 60 determines whether or not there is a request to make the received print request confidential printing (step S320).

  When there is a request for confidential printing (step S320: YES), the printer driver 60 turns on the human detection function flag (step S330). The human detection function flag is prepared for each print request, and the initial value of the human detection function flag is OFF. If there is no request for confidential printing (step S320: NO), the printer driver 60 skips step S330. That is, the human detection function flag is kept OFF.

  In step S340, the printer driver 60 transmits a print instruction based on the print request to be processed (also referred to as a print instruction to be processed) to the designated printing apparatus. The designated printing apparatus is an apparatus to perform printing designated by the user among the multifunction peripherals 200A and 200B. The printer driver 60 stores in advance the IP addresses of the MFPs 200A and 200B that can transmit a print instruction. The printer driver 60 designates the IP address of the designated printing apparatus as the destination IP address, and transmits a print instruction. When there is a request for confidential printing, the designation of confidential printing is included in the print instruction.

  The processing after step S350 is executed by the status monitor 300. In step S350, the status monitor 300 (CPU 410) receives a notification of the print start time of printing based on the print instruction to be processed from the designated printing apparatus. The notification of the printing start time is transmitted from the designated printing device by executing the processing of steps S75B and S85B in FIG. 5 by the designated printing device when the designation of confidential printing is included in the printing instruction. In the example of FIG. 5, the notification of the print start time is not transmitted when the designation of the confidential print is not included in the print instruction, so that the status monitor 300 displays the print start time in step S350 of FIG. Notifications are not received. Even when the designation of confidential printing is not included in the print instruction, the notification of the print start time may be transmitted from the designated printing apparatus.

  In step S360, the status monitor 300 determines whether the human detection function flag corresponding to the print instruction to be processed is ON. As can be understood from the above description, the printer driver 60 turns on the human detection function flag when the print instruction to be processed includes the designation of confidential printing, and turns on the person detection function flag when the designation of confidential printing is not included. Set the detection function flag to OFF. Therefore, the determination as to whether or not the human detection function flag by the status monitor 300 is ON can be referred to as determination as to whether or not the print instruction to be processed transmitted by the printer driver 60 includes designation of confidential printing. it can. When the human detection function flag is OFF in the second determination unit (step S360: NO), the status monitor 300 sets the human detection state display flag to OFF (step S380). A person detection state display flag is prepared for each print instruction.

  If the human detection function flag is ON (step S360: YES), the status monitor 300 determines whether the current time and the printing start time are within a predetermined time (1 minute in this embodiment). (Step S370). If it is not within the predetermined time until the printing start time (step S370: NO), the status monitor 300 sets the human detection state display flag to OFF (step S380). If it is within the predetermined time until the printing start time (step S370: YES), the status monitor 300 sets the human detection state display flag to ON (step S390).

  In step S400, the status monitor 300 receives a notification that there is a person in the vicinity (person detection notification) from the designated printing apparatus, and specifies that there is no person in the vicinity after receiving the person detection notification. It is determined whether it has been received from the printing apparatus.

  The person detection notification is not received from the designated printing apparatus, or the person detection notice is received from the designated printing apparatus, but after the person detection notice is received, a notice that there is no person in the vicinity is received from the designated printing apparatus. If it is received (step S400: NO), it can be determined that there is currently no person around the designated printing apparatus. In this case, the status monitor 300 moves the process to step S460. That is, in this case, the human detection display window PW3 of FIG. 4C is not displayed on the display unit 470.

  If the person detection notification is received from the designated printing apparatus, and the notification that there is no person around is not received from the designated printing apparatus after receiving the person detection notice (step S400: YES), It can be determined that there is a person around the designated printing apparatus. In this case, the status monitor 300 determines whether or not the person detection state display flag is ON (step S410). If the person detection state display flag is ON (step S410: YES), the status monitor 300 displays information on the presence of a person on the display unit 470 (step S420). Specifically, the person detection display window PW3 of FIG. 4C is displayed on the display unit 470. The person detection display window PW3 includes information regarding the presence of a person in the surrounding area, that is, the message MS3 in FIG.

  When the person detection state display flag is OFF (step S410: NO), the status monitor 300 moves the process to step S460. That is, also in this case, the person detection display window PW3 is not displayed on the display unit 470.

  In step S430 after the person detection display window PW3 is displayed, the status monitor 300 determines whether a forced start request has been received from the user. As described in the first embodiment, the forced start request is accepted via the button BT1 (FIG. 4C) of the person detection display window PW3.

  When the forced start request is accepted (step S430: YES), the status monitor 300 transmits a forced start instruction to the designated printing apparatus (step S440), and changes the human detection function flag from ON to OFF (step S440). S450). As a result, after the forced start request is received from the user, the person detection display window PW3 is not displayed for the print instruction to be processed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the human detection display window PW3 from being displayed wastefully. When the forced start request is not accepted (step S430: NO), steps S440 and S450 are skipped.

  In step S460 of FIG. 8, the status monitor 300 determines whether an undisplayed error notification is received from the designated printing apparatus. The undisplayed error notification is a notification in which information regarding the error notified by the error notification is not displayed among the received error notifications. An undisplayed error notification may be received from a device other than the designated printing device (for example, the multifunction device 200B when the multifunction device 200A is the designated printing device). Error notifications received from devices other than the designated printing device are ignored. As a result, it is possible to prevent the information regarding the error from being displayed wastefully.

  If an undisplayed error notification has been received (step S460: YES), the status monitor 300 displays information regarding the error on the display unit 470 (step S470). Specifically, the error information display window PW1 of FIG. 4A is displayed on the display unit 470. The error information display window PW1 includes information about the error, that is, the message MS1 of FIG. If an undisplayed error notification has not been received (step S460: NO), the process of step S470 is skipped.

  In step S480, the status monitor 300 determines whether or not a notification indicating that the subsequent normal printing is to be performed first is received from the designated printing apparatus for the print instruction to be processed. When the notification that the subsequent normal printing is performed first is received (step S480: YES), the status monitor 300 receives the notification of the printing start time from the designated printing apparatus (step S490). The notification of the printing start time is obtained by executing the process of step S85B of FIG. 5 after the designated printing apparatus transmits the notification of performing the subsequent normal printing first in step S210B of FIG. Sent from the designated printing device.

  In step S500, the status monitor 300 determines whether a print start notification has been received from the designated printing apparatus for the print instruction to be processed. If the print start notification has not been received (step S500: NO), the status monitor 300 returns to step S360 in FIG. If a print start notification has been received (step S500: YES), the status monitor 300 determines whether a print end notification has been received from the designated printing apparatus for the print instruction to be processed (step S500: YES). Step S510).

  If the print end notification has not been received (step S510: NO), the status monitor 300 determines whether an undisplayed error notification has been received from the designated printing apparatus (step S520). If an unnotified error notification has been received (step S520: YES), the status monitor 300 displays information regarding the error on the display unit 470 (step S530), and returns to step S510. That is, as described above, the error information display window PW1 of FIG. 4A is displayed on the display unit 470. If an undisplayed error notification has not been received (step S520: NO), the status monitor 300 skips the process of step S530 and returns to step S510.

  When the notification of printing end is received (step S510: YES), the status monitor 300 ends the process.

  According to the second embodiment described above, each terminal device 400A to 400C has a person around it even by the processing of the multifunction peripheral (FIGS. 5 and 6) based on the print instruction transmitted from another terminal device. Notifications and error notifications are sent. Therefore, each of the terminal devices 400A to 400C can receive a notification that there is a person or an error notification at any timing. Then, the status monitor 300 of each of the terminal devices 400A to 400C, when printing to be executed by the designated printing device based on the printing instruction to be processed is confidential printing, specifies a specific time before the printing start time. It is determined whether or not the timing has been reached (step S370). Then, the status monitor 300 displays information on the error on the display unit 470 when an undisplayed error notification is received before or after reaching a specific timing (step 470). S470, S530). Further, the status monitor 300 does not display on the display unit 470 that there is a person around the designated printing apparatus before the specific timing is reached. When the status monitor 300 receives a notification that there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A after reaching the specific timing, the status monitor 300 displays that there is a person around the multifunction peripheral 200A on the display unit 470 (step 470). S420).

  In other words, the status monitor 300 displays (a) information on an undisplayed error on the display unit 470 when an undisplayed error notification is received and before reaching a specific timing, b) When the notification that there is a person around is received and before the specific timing is reached, the information about the person around is not displayed on the display unit 470, and (c) not displayed When the error notification is received and the specific timing is reached, information regarding the undisplayed error is displayed on the display unit 470, and (d) a notification that there is a person around is received. In addition, when it is after the specific timing is reached, information on the presence of a person around is displayed on the display unit 470.

  As a result, the information regarding the error is displayed regardless of the specific timing, and the information regarding the presence of a person around is displayed only after reaching the specific timing. Therefore, the terminal device 400A can display the status on the display unit 470 at an appropriate timing according to the type of status to be notified. Accordingly, the MFP 200A can notify the user of the status of the MFP 200A at an appropriate timing using the instruction transmission source terminal.

  Further, when the human detection function flag is ON (step S360: YES), the status monitor 300 turns on the human detection state display flag on condition that the specific timing has been reached (step S390). ). If the human detection function flag is OFF (step S360: NO), the status monitor 300 turns off the human detection state display flag (step S380). Then, only when the person detection state display flag is ON (step S410: YES), the status monitor 300 displays information related to the presence of a person around (step S420). In other words, the status monitor 300 determines whether the print instruction to be processed includes designation of confidential printing based on the person detection function flag (step S360). The status monitor 300 displays information regarding the presence of a person around when the print instruction to be processed includes designation of confidential printing (step S420), and the print instruction to be processed designates confidential print. When not included, information about the presence of people around is not displayed. As a result, the status monitor 300 can appropriately display information regarding the presence of a person around when a print instruction including the designation of confidential printing is transmitted from the printer driver 60.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the multifunction peripherals 200A and 200B may transmit various notifications to all terminals without specifying one transmission destination terminal. The processing load can be reduced.

  As can be understood from the above description, in this embodiment, the undisplayed error notification is an example of the first status notification, and the notification that there is a person around the second status notification and the security It is an example of the notification of the status regarding. The designation of confidential printing is an example of specific information related to security.

C. Third embodiment:
In the third embodiment, the multifunction peripherals 200A and 200B include a plurality of paper discharge trays (not shown) and paper discharge sensors (not shown) installed on each of the plurality of paper discharge trays. The CPU 210 can detect whether or not there is a sheet for each sheet discharge tray by using a sheet discharge sensor. The print instruction includes designation of a paper discharge tray. Then, unless a forced start instruction is received from the instruction transmission source terminal, the printed paper is discharged to the designated paper discharge tray. If the forced start instruction is not received from the instruction transmission source terminal and there is already paper in the designated paper discharge tray, printing is executed until the paper is collected from the designated paper discharge tray. Not. As a result, it is possible to prevent a plurality of printed sheets based on a plurality of print instructions from being mixed in one discharge tray. Details will be described below.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the process of the MFP 200A according to the third embodiment. The multifunction device 200B operates in the same manner as the multifunction device 200A. The flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the processing flow of the multifunction peripheral 200A by paying attention to one print instruction. The MFP 200A can accept a plurality of print instructions by executing a plurality of processing flows in FIG. 9 in parallel.

  In step S610, the CPU 210 of the MFP 200A monitors whether or not a print instruction has been received from the terminal devices 400A to 400B via the LAN 80. When CPU 210 has not received a print instruction (step S610: NO), CPU 210 waits until a print instruction is received. When the CPU 210 receives a print instruction (step S610: YES), the CPU 210 generates a print job based on the received print instruction.

  In step S630, CPU 210 calculates the print start time. In step S640, CPU 210 determines whether there is preceding printing. If there is preceding printing (step S640: YES), the CPU 210 executes the same processing as steps S90 to S110 in FIG. 2 (steps S650 to 670). That is, the CPU 210 waits until the preceding printing is completed while monitoring the occurrence of an error.

  If there is no preceding printing (step S640: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether or not there is a sheet in a paper discharge tray (also referred to as a designated paper discharge tray) designated by the print instruction to be processed (step S640). S680). This determination is executed by detecting whether or not there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray using the paper discharge sensor described above.

  If there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray (step S680: NO), the CPU 210 sets the paper detection flag to OFF (step S685). The initial value of the paper detection flag is OFF. In step S690, CPU 210 determines whether there is preceding printing. If there is no preceding printing (step S690: NO), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of printing start of the processing target print job (step S700), and executes the printing of the processing target print job. (Step S710), the process ends. As a result, the printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray in which there is no paper.

  If there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray (step S680: YES), the CPU 210 determines whether or not the paper detection flag is ON (step S720). If the paper detection flag is OFF in step S720 (step S720: NO), the instruction transmission source terminal is notified that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray and paper in the designated paper discharge tray. It can be judged that there is no In this case, the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray (step S725), and changes the paper detection flag to ON (step S730). When the paper detection flag is ON (step S720: YES), the CPU 210 skips the processes of steps S725 and S730.

  When the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal receives notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray, it displays a paper presence display window (not shown) on the display unit 470. The paper presence display window includes, for example, a message indicating that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray and that printing cannot be started. Similarly to the human detection display window PW3 in FIG. 4C, the paper presence display window further includes a message indicating that a request for forcibly starting printing (forced start request) is possible, And a button for inputting a forced start request. When the user clicks the forced start request button, the status monitor 300 transmits a forced start instruction with the IP address of the transmission source of the notification that there is a sheet in the designated paper discharge tray as the destination IP address. The forced start instruction in this embodiment is an instruction to start printing of a print job to be processed even though there is a sheet in the designated discharge tray.

  In step S740, CPU 210 determines whether or not the above-described forced start instruction is received from the instruction transmission source terminal. If the forced start instruction has been received (step S740: YES), the CPU 210 advances the process to step S690 described above. As a result, on the condition that there is no preceding printing (step S690: NO), even if there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray, printing of the print job to be processed is executed (step S710).

  When the forcible start instruction has not been received (step S740: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether there is a subsequent printable print (step S745). Subsequent printable printing is printing in which the designated paper discharge tray is different from printing of the print job to be processed among all subsequent printing. If there is no subsequent printable printing (step S745: NO), the CPU 210 determines whether an error of the unnotified MFP 200A has been detected (step S750). When an unnotified error is detected (step S750: YES), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S760). When receiving the error notification, the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal displays the above-described error information display window (see FIG. 4A) on the display unit 470.

  If an unnotified error is not detected (step S750: NO), and after notifying the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (step S760), the CPU 210 returns to step S640.

  If there is subsequent printable printing (step S745: YES), the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that the subsequent printable printing is performed first (step S780). When the status monitor 300 of the instruction transmission source terminal receives notification that the subsequent printable printing is performed first, a window (not shown) that displays on the display unit 470 that the subsequent printable printing is performed first. ) Is displayed.

  In step S790, CPU 210 changes the subsequent printing to the preceding printing. Following the change of the printing order, the CPU 210 changes the paper detection flag from ON to OFF (step S795), and returns to step S630.

  According to the third embodiment described above, the CPU 210 determines whether or not a specific timing that is a predetermined time before the print start time has been reached (step S650). If an unreported error is detected before or after reaching the specific timing, the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal of the error (steps S670 and S760). . Further, the CPU 210 does not notify the instruction transmission source terminal that there is a sheet in the designated printing apparatus before the specific timing is reached. If the CPU 210 detects that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray after reaching the specific timing, the CPU 210 notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray (step S725). .

  In other words, the CPU 210 (a) generates an unnotified error when the status of the MFP 200A is in a state where an unnotified error has occurred and before reaching a specific timing. (B) when the status of the multifunction device 200A is in a state where there is paper in the designated discharge tray and before reaching a specific timing, After notifying the instruction transmission source terminal that there is paper in the paper discharge tray, and (c) the status of the MFP 200A is in a state where an unreported error has occurred and a specific timing is reached In this case, the instruction transmission source terminal is notified that an unreported error has occurred, and (d) the status of the MFP 200A is a state in which there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray, and a specific Taimin If it is after reaching notifies the instruction transmission source terminal that there is paper in the specified discharge tray.

  Errors such as running out of toner and running out of paper are not resolved naturally as described above. For this reason, when these errors occur, it is preferable to immediately notify the occurrence of the error. On the other hand, when there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray of the multifunction device 200A, the paper is printed by a user other than the user who has instructed printing of the print job to be processed before printing of the print job to be processed is started. By collecting, there is a possibility that it will be resolved regardless of the user who gives an instruction to print the print job to be processed. Therefore, it is not necessary to notify that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray at a timing that is excessively before the print start time. Rather, the display based on such notification on the display unit 470 is not useful for the user and is likely to be bothersome for the user. However, since there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray, printing of the print job to be processed cannot be started, so that it is notified that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray at an appropriate timing relatively close to the print start time. It is preferable. This is because without this notification, the user cannot recognize that printing is not started. According to this embodiment, the occurrence of an error is notified regardless of the specific timing, and the presence of paper in the designated paper discharge tray is notified only after reaching the specific timing.

  As a result, the MFP 200A can notify the terminal device of the status at an appropriate timing according to the status type to be notified. Specifically, the printing apparatus can perform an appropriate notification when there is paper in the paper discharge tray. As a result, the MFP 200A can notify the user of the status of the MFP 200A at an appropriate timing using the instruction transmission source terminal.

  As can be understood from the above description, in this embodiment, the occurrence of an unnotified error is an example of the first status, and the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray is an example of the second status. It is.

D. Fourth embodiment:
In the third embodiment, the MFP 200A gives an appropriate notification to the instruction transmission source terminal at an appropriate timing, so that the user can be informed of the status such as the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray at an appropriate timing. I can inform you. In the fourth embodiment, each of the terminal devices 400A to 400B displays the information about the notification on the display unit 470 at an appropriate timing in accordance with the notification from the multifunction device 200A, thereby appropriately setting the status of the multifunction device 200A. Inform users at the right time.

D-1. Process of Multifunction Device First, the process of the multifunction device 200A will be described. The multifunction device 200B executes the same processing as the multifunction device 200A. The processing of the MFP 200B of the fourth embodiment is the same as the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

  In the process of the MFP 200A of the fourth embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the CPU 210 sends various notifications not only to the instruction transmission source terminal but also to all terminals connected to the MFP 200 (FIG. 1). In the example, it is transmitted to the terminal devices 400A to 400C). For example, in steps S670 and SS760 of FIG. 9, an unreported error is notified to all connected terminals. In step S700, the start of printing of the print job to be processed is notified to all connected terminals. In step S725, all connected terminals are notified that there is paper in the paper discharge tray. In step S780, all connected terminals are notified that subsequent printable printing is performed prior to printing of the print job to be processed.

  Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, after the print start time is calculated in step S630 in FIG. 9, the CPU 210 notifies all the connected terminals of the print start time of the print job to be processed.

  Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, when there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray in step S680 of FIG. 9 (step S680: NO), the CPU 210 notifies the designated paper discharge tray transmitted last time, On the condition that there is a notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray, it notifies all connected terminals that there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray. Even when there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray (step S680: NO), the CPU 210 is notified that the designated paper discharge tray has no paper in the previous transmission. In this case, notification that there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray is not performed.

  Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, after the print job to be processed is printed in step S710, the CPU 210 notifies all connected terminals of the end of printing.

  The second embodiment includes the above-described notification regarding the print job to be processed, that is, the notification of the print start time, the notification of the start of printing, the notification of the end of printing, and the notification of performing the subsequent printable printing first. Similarly to the above, information (for example, job ID) for identifying the print job to be processed is included.

D-2: Processing of Terminal Device 400A FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing of the terminal device 400A. The processing of the terminal devices 400B and 400C is the same as the processing of the terminal device 400A. The processing following step S920 in FIG. 10 is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 described in the second embodiment. This process is executed in the terminal device 400A in a state where both the printer driver 60 and the status monitor 300 (FIG. 1) are activated. This flowchart shows the processing flow of the terminal device 400A focusing on one print request. The terminal device 400A can accept a plurality of print requests from the user by executing a plurality of the processing flows of FIGS. 10 and 8 in parallel.

  In step S810, the printer driver 60 (CPU 410) determines whether a print request has been received from the user. Along with the print request, designation of a paper discharge tray for discharging printed paper and designation of a printing apparatus for performing printing are accepted.

  If the print request is not received (step S810: NO), the printer driver 60 waits until the print request is received. When the printer driver 60 receives a print request (step S810: YES), the printer driver 60 sends a print instruction (also referred to as a process target print instruction) based on the process target print request received in step S810 to the designated printing device ( In this embodiment, the data is transmitted to either the MFP 200A or the MFP 200B (step S820). The print instruction includes designation of a paper discharge tray on which printed paper is to be discharged.

  The processing after step S830 is executed by the status monitor 300. In step S830, the status monitor 300 (CPU 410) receives a notification of the print start time from the designated printing apparatus.

  In step S840, the status monitor 300 determines whether it is within a predetermined time (1 minute in this embodiment) from the current time to the print start time. If it is not within the predetermined time until the printing start time (step S840: NO), the status monitor 300 sets the tray detection state display flag to OFF (step S850). If it is within the predetermined time until the print start time (step S840: YES), the status monitor 300 sets the tray detection state display flag to ON (step S860).

  In step S870, the status monitor 300 receives a notification from the designated printing apparatus that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray, and then receives a notification from the designated printing apparatus that there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray. Judge whether it is not.

  A notification that there is paper in the designated output tray has not been received from the designated printing device, or a notification that there is paper in the designated output tray has been received from the designated printing device. If a notification that there is no paper in the tray has not been received from the designated printing apparatus (step S870: NO), it can be determined that there is currently no paper in the designated paper discharge tray. In this case, the status monitor 300 proceeds to step S460 in FIG.

  The status monitor 300 receives a notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray from the designated printing apparatus, and then does not receive a notification that there is no paper in the designated paper discharge tray from the designated printing apparatus. (Step S870: YES), it can be determined that there is currently a sheet in the designated paper discharge tray. In this case, the status monitor 300 determines whether or not the tray detection state display flag is ON (step S880). If the tray detection state display flag is ON (step S880: YES), the status monitor 300 displays information on the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray on the display unit 470 (step S890). The information regarding the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray includes, for example, the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray and the fact that printing based on the print instruction to be processed cannot be executed.

  If the tray detection state display flag is OFF (step S880: NO), the status monitor 300 moves the process to step S460 in FIG. That is, in this case, information regarding the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray is not displayed on the display unit 470.

  In step S900 after information regarding the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray is displayed, the status monitor 300 determines whether or not a forced start request has been received from the user.

  When the forced start request is accepted (step S900: YES), the status monitor 300 transmits a forced start instruction to the designated printing apparatus (step S910), and changes the tray detection state display flag from ON to OFF (step S910). Step S920). As a result, after the forced start request is received from the user, information regarding the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray is not displayed on the display unit 470 for the print instruction to be processed. As a result, it is possible to prevent information regarding the presence of paper in the paper discharge tray from being displayed wastefully. When the forced start request is not accepted (step S900: NO), steps S910 and S920 are skipped.

  Description of the processing after step S460 in FIG. 8 is omitted. In step S500 in FIG. 8, if the print start notification is not received (step S500: NO), the status monitor 300 returns to step S840 in FIG.

  According to the fourth embodiment described above, each of the terminal devices 400A to 400C can be notified that there is paper in the paper discharge tray even by processing of the multifunction device based on the print instruction transmitted from another terminal device. An error notification is sent. For this reason, each of the terminal devices 400A to 400C can receive a notification that there is a sheet in the paper discharge tray or an error notification at any timing. Then, the status monitor 300 of each of the terminal devices 400A to 400C determines whether or not a specific timing that is a predetermined time before the print start time has been reached (step S840). Then, the status monitor 300 displays information on the error on the display unit 470 when an undisplayed error notification is received before or after reaching a specific timing (see FIG. 8 steps S470 and S530). Further, the status monitor 300 does not display on the display unit 470 that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray before the specific timing is reached. The status monitor 300 displays on the display unit 470 that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray when a notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray is received after the specific timing is reached. (Step S890).

  In other words, the status monitor 300 displays (a) information on an undisplayed error on the display unit 470 when an undisplayed error notification is received and before reaching a specific timing, b) When a notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray is received and before a specific timing is reached, information regarding the presence of paper in the designated paper discharge tray is not displayed on the display unit 470. (C) When an undisplayed error notification is received and after a specific timing has been reached, information on the undisplayed error is displayed on the display unit 470, and (d) the sheet is placed on the designated discharge tray. When a notification that there is a sheet is received and after the specific timing is reached, information on the presence of a sheet in the designated discharge tray is displayed on the display unit 470.

  As a result, the information regarding the error is displayed regardless of the specific timing, and the information regarding the presence of paper in the designated paper discharge tray is displayed only after reaching the specific timing. Therefore, the terminal device 400A can display the status on the display unit 470 at an appropriate timing according to the type of status to be notified. Accordingly, the MFP 200A can notify the user of the status of the MFP 200A at an appropriate timing using the instruction transmission source terminal.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the multifunction peripherals 200A and 200B may transmit various notifications to all terminals without specifying one transmission destination terminal. The processing load can be reduced.

  As can be understood from the above description, in this embodiment, the undisplayed error notification is an example of the first status notification, and the notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray is the second status notification. It is an example.

E. Variation:
(1) In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, after reaching a specific timing, a state in which there is a person around the multifunction machine to perform confidential printing changes to a state in which there is no person. Further, consider the case where there is a person. In this case, the person detection display window PW3 of FIG. 4C is displayed on the display unit 470 when the first person is present and when the second person is present. . In this case, the multi function device accepts a forced start instruction both when the first person is present and when the second person is present.

  In this case, as in the above embodiment, if the forced start instruction is accepted even once, the forced start instruction may be valid until the printing is completed. In this case, if the forced start instruction is accepted in the state where the first person is present, the multi-function device may be classified even if the forced start instruction is not accepted again in the state where the second person is present. Execute printing. In this case, when the person detection display window PW3 is displayed again on the display unit 470 after the forced start instruction is received, the button BT1 may not be displayed on the person detection display window PW3. good.

  Also, even if a forced start instruction is accepted when the first person is present, there will be no one, and if there is a person, the first forced start will be accepted. The instruction may be canceled. In this case, even if the forced start instruction is accepted when the first person is present, the multi-function device may not accept the forced start instruction again when the second person is present. Does not perform confidential printing as long as there are people around.

(2) In each of the above embodiments, the multifunction device side avoids the same notification regarding an error notification, a notification that there is a person in the vicinity, and a notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray. Corresponding. Instead of this, the multi-function device may repeatedly notify these notifications as long as the status to be notified continues. In this case, the terminal device determines that the same status continues while the same notification is repeatedly received, and restricts the display of the status information on the display unit 470 to one time. Also good. When the same notification is not received for a predetermined time and the same notification is received after that, the terminal device is generated again after the status notified by the notification is once cleared. The information regarding the status may be displayed on the display unit 470 again.

(3) In the first and second embodiments, the infrared sensor 290 is used to detect whether there is a person around. Instead, when the multifunction device has a wireless communication function such as a wireless LAN, infrared communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., the multifunction device is a wireless terminal (mobile phone) that can communicate by the wireless communication. Whether or not there is a person around may be detected depending on whether or not a telephone is present. In this case, if the wireless terminal detected by wireless communication is only the terminal device that is the transmission source of the print instruction to be processed, it may be determined that there is no person around. When the multifunction machine includes a temperature sensor, it may detect whether or not there is a person around by using the temperature sensor. When the multifunction machine includes a camera, it may be detected whether or not there is a person around by using an image captured by the camera. In addition, in conjunction with multifunction devices and devices other than multifunction devices, such as surveillance cameras and floor weight sensors, the multifunction device receives detection results from the surveillance cameras to determine whether or not there are people, or from the floor weight sensors. Based on the weight information, the multifunction device may detect whether there is a person around by determining whether there is a person around.

(4) In the third and fourth embodiments, the multifunction machine includes a sensor capable of detecting the size of the paper in the designated paper discharge tray in addition to whether or not there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray. May be. In this case, if the size of the paper in the designated output tray is different from the size of the paper to be printed in the print job to be processed, the multifunction device Notification is not necessary. Alternatively, when the size of the paper in the designated discharge tray is different from the size of the paper to be printed by the print job to be processed, the terminal device receives a notification that there is paper in the designated discharge tray. Alternatively, it may not be displayed on the display section that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray. In the third embodiment, not only incomplete print instruction transmission source terminals but also already completed print instruction transmission source terminals are added as notification destinations for notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray. It may be done. For example, the CPU of the multi-function peripheral, in addition to the incomplete print instruction transmission source terminal, among the completed prints in which the printed paper has been discharged to the designated discharge tray, the most recently completed print instruction transmission source terminal In addition, it may be notified that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray. This is because there is a high possibility that the user of the completed printing instruction transmission source terminal collects the printed paper to eliminate the state where the paper is in the designated paper discharge tray. Similarly, in the fourth embodiment, among terminal devices that have received notification that there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray, not only an incomplete print instruction transmission source terminal but also an already completed print instruction transmission source The terminal may also display on its display unit that there is paper in the paper discharge tray.

(5) In the third and fourth embodiments, a paper discharge sensor is used to detect whether or not there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray. Instead of this, it may be detected whether or not there is paper in the designated paper discharge tray based on a user input. For example, the CPU of the multi-function peripheral discharges the printed paper on the paper discharge tray, and then receives a message on the operation panel of the multi-function peripheral indicating that there is paper in the paper discharge tray and a button for accepting that the paper has been collected. And may be displayed. In this case, it is determined that there is paper in the paper discharge tray before the button is pressed, and after the button is pressed until paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray by another printing. It may be determined that there is no paper in the paper discharge tray.

(6) In the third and fourth embodiments, the determination and notification of whether or not there is a sheet in the paper discharge tray may be performed only when confidential printing is designated. In that case, the subsequent printable print is a print that does not have the confidential designation among all the subsequent prints, or is a print that has the confidential designation but the designated discharge tray is different from the print of the print job to be processed. Also good.

(7) In the terminal devices of the above embodiments, the driver program PG2 and the monitor program PG3 are different programs, but may be a single program.

(8) In each of the embodiments described above, the specific timing before the start of printing of the print job to be processed is a timing that is a predetermined time (for example, one minute) before the print start time. Alternatively, the specific timing may be when the number of print jobs preceding the print job to be processed is equal to or less than a predetermined number (for example, 1). It may be when the number of prints preceding the print is less than a predetermined number (for example, 10).

(9) In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the infrared sensor 290 may be always operating, or may be operating only after a specific timing. This is because it is not necessary to notify that there is a person around before a specific timing. The same applies to the paper discharge sensors in the first and second embodiments.

(10) A single printer that does not include the scanner unit 250 may be employed in place of the MFPs 200A and 200B of the above embodiments.

(11) In each of the embodiments described above, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced with software. Conversely, part or all of the configuration realized by software is replaced with hardware. You may do it.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example and the modification, Embodiment mentioned above is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and does not limit this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

  200A, 200B ... multifunction device, 210 ... CPU, 220 ... non-volatile storage device, 230 ... volatile storage device, 231 ... buffer area, 240 ... printer unit, 250 ... . Scanner unit 260 ... Operation unit 270 Display unit 280 Communication unit 290 Infrared sensor 300 Person status monitor 300 Status monitor 400A to 400C ... Terminal device, 410 ... CPU, 420 ... Non-volatile storage device, 430 ... volatile storage device, 460 ... operation unit, 470 ... display unit, 480 ... communication unit

Claims (10)

A printing device capable of communicating with a terminal device,
A detection unit for detecting a status of the printing apparatus, wherein the detected status of the printing apparatus includes a first status and a second status;
A receiving unit that receives a first print instruction related to a first print job from the terminal device;
A first determination unit for determining whether or not a specific timing before the start of printing of the first print job has been reached;
A notification unit for notifying the status of the printing apparatus;
When the status of the printing apparatus is the first status and before the specific timing is reached, the terminal apparatus is notified of the first status;
When the status of the printing apparatus is the second status and before reaching the specific timing, the second status is not notified to the terminal apparatus,
If the status of the printing device is the first status and after reaching the specific timing, the first status is notified to the terminal device;
Notifying the terminal device of the second status when the status of the printing device is the second status and after reaching the specific timing;
The notification unit;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A receiving unit that receives from the terminal device a start instruction to start printing the first print job regardless of the status of the printing apparatus in response to the notification of the second status;
A print control unit for controlling execution of printing,
After the second status is notified to the terminal device, the printing of the first print job is not started when the second status is continued and the start instruction is not accepted. ,
When the second status is canceled after the second status is notified to the terminal device, or when the start instruction is accepted, the first print job Start printing,
The print control unit;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The receiving unit is capable of receiving a second print instruction relating to a second print job;
The print control unit is a case in which printing of the first print job is not started because the second status is continued and the start instruction is not received, and the first print job A printing apparatus that executes printing of the second print job before printing of the first print job when the second print instruction is received after receiving the instruction. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,
The first determination unit determines again whether or not the specific timing has been reached when printing of the second print job is executed before printing of the first print job;
The notification unit notifies the terminal device of the second status again when the status of the printing device is the second status after reaching the determined specific timing again. . The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
A second determination unit configured to determine whether the first print instruction includes specific information related to security;
The second status is a status regarding security,
The notification unit performs notification of the second status when the first print instruction includes the specific information, and when the first print instruction does not include the specific information, A printer that does not notify the status of 2. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
Equipped with a sensor that detects whether or not there is paper in the output tray,
The second status is a printing apparatus in which there is a sheet in the paper discharge tray. A terminal device capable of communicating with a printing device,
A display unit;
A first receiving unit that receives information for specifying a specific timing before the start of printing executed by the printing device based on a printing instruction transmitted from the terminal device;
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the specific timing has been reached based on information for specifying the specific timing;
A second receiving unit for receiving a notification of the status of the printing apparatus, wherein the status of the printing apparatus includes a first status and a second status;
A display control unit for displaying information on the status of the printing apparatus on the display unit;
When the notification of the first status is received and before the specific timing is reached, information on the first status is displayed on the display unit,
When the notification of the second status is received and before the specific timing is reached, the information on the second status is not displayed on the display unit,
When the notification of the first status is received and after the specific timing has been reached, information on the first status is displayed on the display unit,
When the notification of the second status is received and after the specific timing has been reached, information on the second status is displayed on the display unit.
The display control unit;
A terminal device comprising: The terminal device according to claim 7, further comprising:
A second determination unit that determines whether the print instruction includes specific information about security;
The notification of the second status is a status notification related to security,
The display control unit displays information about the second status when the print instruction includes the specific information, and displays the information when the first print instruction does not include the specific information. A terminal device that does not display information on the status of 2. The terminal device according to claim 7,
The terminal device in which the second status is a state in which there is paper in a paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus. A computer program for a terminal device capable of communicating with a printing device and comprising a display unit,
A first reception function for receiving information for specifying a specific timing before the start of printing executed by the printing device based on a printing instruction transmitted from the terminal device;
A determination function for determining whether or not the specific timing has been reached based on information for specifying the specific timing;
A second receiving function for receiving a notification of the status of the printing apparatus, wherein the status of the printing apparatus includes a first status and a second status;
A display control function for displaying information on the status of the printing apparatus on the display unit;
When the status of the printing apparatus is the first status and before the specific timing is reached, information on the first status is displayed on the display unit,
When the status of the printing apparatus is the second status and before the specific timing is reached, the information regarding the second status is not displayed on the display unit,
When the status of the printing apparatus is the first status and after the specific timing has been reached, information on the first status is displayed on the display unit,
When the status of the printing apparatus is the second status and after the specific timing has been reached, information on the second status is displayed on the display unit.
The display control function;
A computer program that causes a computer to realize

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