JP2015155174A - Image formation device, control method of the same and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present a processing order which can shorten processing time by being adapted to the print setting of each job to allow the processing order to be efficiently changed at the time of performing print processing of reserved jobs.

SOLUTION: An image formation device provided with storage means for storing jobs received from an information processing apparatus as reserved jobs, displays a list of reserved jobs stored by a user on display means after user authentication, determines whether or not processing time is shortened by changing the execution order of the reserved jobs when it is determined that a factor of delay in print processing occurs due to switching of the print setting of the reserved jobs in accordance with the order stored in the storage means in a case in which there are multiple reserved jobs selected from the list by the user, receives the change in the execution order of the reserved jobs when it is determined that the processing time is shortened, and executes the reserved jobs in the received order.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program.

  In recent years, with the spread of network environments, it has become common for a plurality of users to share and use a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for “retained printing” in which printing is executed after user authentication is executed by the image forming apparatus so that other users cannot see the printed matter with high confidentiality. For example, a technique has been proposed in which print data is stored in a storage area in the image forming apparatus, a user's print job list is displayed when user authentication is performed, and the user designates the print data to execute printing ( Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is an increasing demand for “remote printing” in which printing is performed from a desired image forming apparatus instead of performing printing by uniquely designating an image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus. For example, there is a technique in which print data is temporarily stored on a server, and when a user is authenticated on a desired image forming apparatus, a print job list of the user is displayed, and the user designates the print data and executes printing. It has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-251279 A Japanese Patent No. 4033857

Here, when printing of a plurality of print data is performed, depending on the contents of the print data, process switching (color mode, paper feed / discharge, finishing designation, etc.) of the image forming apparatus may occur between the print data.
During normal printing, there are operations in the information processing apparatus, print data generation time, movement time to the image forming apparatus, and the like, and the user is less aware of the time required for process switching.

    However, at the time of reservation printing / remote printing, the accumulated generated print data is printed by an operation on the image forming apparatus. Therefore, in addition to the processing time for each print data, the user feels the process switching time as the time required for the printing process, and there is a possibility that the user may feel dissatisfied with the processing time.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to perform a processing sequence that can reduce the processing time in accordance with the print setting of each job when performing the print processing of the reserved job. To provide a mechanism for efficiently changing the processing order.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
Storage means for storing a job received from the information processing apparatus as a detention job, authentication means for authenticating a user who requests a detention job stored in the storage means, and a user authenticated by the authentication means in the storage means List display means for displaying a list of stored reservation jobs on the display means, and switching of print settings for reservation jobs according to the order stored in the storage means when there are a plurality of reservation jobs selected by the user from the list In the first determination unit for determining whether or not a factor causing delay in the printing process occurs, and when the determination unit determines that a factor causing delay occurs, the processing time can be reduced by changing the execution order of the deferred job. A second judging means for judging whether the processing time is shortened and the second judging means judges that the processing time is shortened; If an accepting means for accepting a change in the execution order of the Tomeoki job, characterized in that it comprises a control means for executing said Tomeoki jobs in the order received by the receiving unit.

According to the present invention, when performing the print processing of a reserved job, the processing order that can reduce the processing time in accordance with the print setting of each job is presented, and the processing order can be changed efficiently.
Further, by starting the print data processing in advance while presenting the change of the processing order to the user, the entire print processing time can be shortened by taking into account the time until the change instruction from the user. .

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of print data generation processing. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of UI screen displayed on an operation part. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of selected print jobs. It is a figure explaining the change state of the processing order of the job which should be performed. It is a figure which shows an example of UI screen displayed on an operation part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the processing order change simulation of a deferred job. It is a figure which shows an example of UI screen displayed on an operation part.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]

In this embodiment, an MFP (Multi Function Printer) is taken as an example of the image forming apparatus 100. Of course, it goes without saying that a single function printer (SFP), a laser beam printer (LBP), or other printers may be used.
<Overview of printing system>

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing system to which the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied. The plurality of image forming apparatuses and the host computer 191 are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) 190 such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a reader device 200, a printer device 300, an operation unit 150, a storage device 160, and a control device 110 that controls these components. The control device 110 includes a CPU 112, ROM 114, RAM 116, image processing hardware (image processing HW) 118, and the like. The CPU 112 performs overall control of the entire image forming apparatus 100 based on a program stored in the ROM 114, the image processing HW 118, or another storage medium. The RAM 116 is used as a work area for the CPU 112. The reader device 200 reads image data in accordance with instructions from the control device 110. The printer device 300 outputs image data using a printer engine in accordance with an instruction from the control device 110. The operation unit 150 includes an operation key for a user to perform an operation and a liquid crystal panel for displaying / setting image data and various functions, and notifies the control device 110 of information such as a user operation. In addition to being used as a work area for the CPU 112, the storage device 160 can store / save data such as print data. The storage device 160 has an area for storing a job received from the information processing device as a deferred job. Here, the reservation job refers to a job in which a job received from the information processing apparatus is registered in association with user information, and after a user who requests the reservation job is authenticated, print processing is started. In addition, after the authentication, the user gives an instruction to print the reservation job selected from the list of the reservation job list, and upon receiving this instruction, the CPU 112 controls the processing of the reservation job in accordance with the procedure of the flowchart described later.
The authentication unit 170 receives user authentication information such as an ID card and notifies the control device 110 of the user authentication information.

The host computer 191 includes an operation unit 195, a storage device 196, a display unit 197, and a control device 199 that controls these components. The control device 199 includes a CPU 192, a ROM 193, a RAM 194, and the like. The CPU 192 performs overall control of the entire host computer 191 based on an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program stored in the ROM 193 or another storage medium. The RAM 194 is used as a work area for the CPU 192. The operation unit 195 includes a keyboard and a mouse for the user to perform operations, and notifies the control device 199 of information such as user operations. In addition to being used as a work area for the CPU 192, the storage device 196 can store / save data. The display unit 197 includes a liquid crystal display and displays the execution result of the CPU 192 program.
A specific embodiment will be described below by taking the printing system configured as described above as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of print data generation processing of the host computer 191 shown in FIG. Each step is realized by the CPU 192 executing the printer driver stored in the storage device 196.

  In S210, when the user gives a print instruction from the application, the CPU 192 of the host computer 191 activates the printer driver. At that time, initial values of various settings such as print settings and image processing settings are read. The printer driver displays a UI screen (printer driver UI to be described later) necessary for print settings on the display unit 197 and accepts an instruction from the user.

  In S220, whether the user changes various settings such as print settings and image processing settings via the operation unit 195 while referring to the printer driver UI of the display unit 197, or performs printing without changing the settings. Select. If the printer driver determines that the setting is to be changed, the process proceeds to S225. If the printer driver determines not to perform the setting change, the process proceeds to S230.

  In S225, the user changes various settings such as print settings and image processing settings via the operation unit 195. At that time, initial values of various settings read in S210 are displayed on the display unit 197 in a state set by the printer driver UI.

In S230, the CPU 192 of the host computer 191 receives a print command notified from the application via the OS, and generates print data according to various settings. Here, it is assumed that user information for identifying the user by the authentication process is embedded in the generated print data.
In step S240, the printer driver of the host computer 191 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 100 via the LAN 190, and the process ends.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example of print data storage processing. Here, the description will be made assuming that print data is stored in the image forming apparatus 100. However, there is no problem even if a print data storage server is prepared separately and the print data is stored there. Each step is realized by executing a control program stored in the CPU 112 shown in FIG.
In step S <b> 310, the CPU 112 stores the received print data in the storage device 160. In S320, the CPU 112 confirms the user information embedded in S240 from the print data stored in S310. In S330, the CPU 112 confirms information for identifying print data such as a print data name and various print settings from the print data stored in S310.

  In step S340, the CPU 112 generates a user print job list and registers a job based on the user information confirmed in step S320, and ends the process. The print job list includes information such as the print data name and various print settings confirmed in S330, the location information of the print data stored in S310 in the storage device 160, and the like. In S350, if there is already a print job list of the user, the information is additionally registered at the end of the list. For this reason, the print processing order in the initial state is the order in which print jobs are registered.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a print processing example of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Each step is realized by executing a control program stored in the CPU 112 shown in FIG.

  When the user inputs user authentication information to the authentication unit 170 in S410, the user authentication information input to the control device 110 is transmitted. The CPU 112 collates the user authentication information with previously registered user information, and determines whether or not to permit the operation of the printing apparatus. It is assumed that user information registered in advance is stored in the RAM 116 or the storage device 160 in the image forming apparatus 100. Note that user information registered in advance in the external information processing apparatus may be stored, and the determination process may be performed in the external information processing apparatus. If the authentication is OK and the CPU 112 determines, the process proceeds to S420. If the CPU 112 determines that the authentication is NG, the process proceeds to S415.

  In step S415, the CPU 112 displays an error on the display of the operation unit 150 indicating that user authentication has failed. If the user authenticates again, the process returns to S410. If not, the process ends.

In step S <b> 420, the CPU 112 displays a print job list for the authenticated user on the display of the operation unit 150.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job list displayed on the display of the operation unit 150 illustrated in FIG. This example corresponds to a list display screen of reserved jobs.
In FIG. 5, a user name 505 of an authenticated user is displayed in the print job list 510. The job display areas 521, 522, 523, and 524 are areas for displaying information for the user to identify the print job such as a print job file name, and also include a role of a selection button for selecting the print job. Yes. In addition, an all selection button 530, a selection cancellation button 535, and a print start button 540 are displayed.

In S430, the user selects at least one print job from the print job list via the operation unit 150. The user selects each print job in the job display areas 521, 522, 523, or 524, or selects all print jobs displayed in the print job list with the all selection button 530. Here, the user can cancel the selection of all the print jobs that have been selected by selecting the selection cancel button 535.
The CPU 112 updates the display content of the display of the operation unit 150 so that the user can confirm the selection, for example, by adding a check to the check box 510 of the selected print job.

In step S435, the user selects the print start button 540 via the operation unit 150, and instructs the start of print processing of the selected print job.
In S440, the CPU 112 checks whether the number of selected print jobs is a plurality of two or more jobs. If the CPU 112 determines that the number of print jobs is plural, the process proceeds to S450. If the CPU 112 determines that the number of print jobs is not plural, the process proceeds to S490.

In step S <b> 450, the CPU 112 compares setting information that can cause a delay in print processing when the setting is switched. In the present embodiment, the following description will be given by taking color and monochrome setting switching as an example of setting information that may cause a delay.
In the engine provided in the image forming apparatus shown in the present embodiment, a delay time of 5 seconds occurs when switching from color to monochrome, and 2.5 seconds occurs when switching from monochrome to color.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of print jobs selected on the UI screen shown in FIG. In FIG. 6A, there are a color print job and a monochrome print job, and setting switching has occurred. FIG. 6B shows only a color print job, and no setting switching has occurred.
Here, the same applies even when the print settings such as the paper size, paper type, single-sided / double-sided, etc. are switched as the setting information that may cause the printing process to be delayed.
As an example of the paper size, if there is a print job in which A4 paper is designated and a print job in which A3 paper is designated, setting switching has occurred. As an example of the paper type, if there is a plain paper print job and a thick paper print job, setting switching has occurred.
As an example of single-sided / double-sided, if there is a print job with a single-sided printing surface designation and a printing job with a double-sided printing surface designation, setting switching has occurred. When there are a plurality of settings that can be a cause of delaying the printing process in this way, all the settings are compared.
In S455, the CPU 112 determines whether a setting switch has occurred based on the comparison result in S450. If the CPU 112 determines that setting switching has occurred, the process proceeds to S460. If the CPU 112 determines otherwise, the process proceeds to S490.

In S <b> 460, the CPU 112 simulates how much the number of setting switching times is reduced and how much the processing time can be reduced when the processing order of the print job is changed, and holds it as a processing order change candidate.
In the present embodiment, switching from monochrome to color has a shorter delay time than switching from color to monochrome. Therefore, processing time can be reduced most by processing monochrome print jobs with priority.
The setting information includes monochrome / color color settings, duplex settings, paper size settings, paper type settings (thick paper, etc.), paper feed cassette settings, paper discharge tray settings, and resolution settings.
In addition, the processing time is stored in advance in order to estimate the processing time in the monochrome / color color setting, duplex setting, paper size setting, paper type setting, paper feed cassette setting, paper discharge tray setting, and resolution setting.
Then, the CPU 112 determines setting information to be prioritized in the setting information, and controls the change of the print order of the reservation job.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a change state of the job processing order to be executed by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. This example compares setting switching before the processing order change and after the simulated processing order change.
Before the change in FIG. 7A, the setting switching for the color / monochrome occurred three times. However, after the change in FIG. 7B, the setting is reduced to one setting for the color / monochrome. It can be seen that a processing time reduction effect of 10 seconds (12.5 seconds-2.5 seconds) is obtained.
In S465, the CPU 112 determines whether or not the effect that the processing time reduction effect obtained in S460 exceeds a predetermined threshold value can be obtained. Here, the threshold value may use not only the processing time to be reduced but also the ratio of the entire print processing simulated to the time based on the number of pages of the entire print job. If the CPU 112 can determine that there is an effect, the process proceeds to S470. If the CPU 112 determines that there is not, the process proceeds to S490.

In step S <b> 470, the CPU 112 displays a print job order change screen on the operation unit 150 and prompts the user to change the print job.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen displayed on the operation unit 150 illustrated in FIG. This example is an example of the display of the print job order change screen, and the print job order change screen 550 is pop-up displayed on the print job list 510.
In FIG. 8, a change permission button 560 and a change rejection button 565 are displayed on the print job order change screen 500 together with the message to the user and the processing order of the print job before and after the change.

In S475, the user designates whether or not the print order can be changed via the operation unit 150. When the user selects the change permission button 560 and the CPU 112 determines that the change of the print job order is permitted, the process proceeds to S480. When the user selects the change rejection button 565 and the CPU 112 determines that the change of the print job order is rejected, the process proceeds to S490.
Here, if the user does not perform an operation within a certain period of time, or if the user logs out of authentication via the operation unit 150, the CPU 112 determines that the change has been rejected, and proceeds to S490. .
In step S480, the CPU 112 changes the processing order of the print job according to the processing order change candidate held in step S460.

  In step S <b> 490, the CPU 112 interprets the print data for each job according to the designated order, generates an image, and passes the generated image to the printer apparatus 300. The printer apparatus 300 prints the received image on a print medium such as paper. This process is repeated until the print process for all the print jobs selected in S430 is completed, and this process ends.

In the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the user-specified content is received and determined in S475, but the change permission / inhibition may be specified in advance.
Further, when a print job is selected using the all selection button 530 in S430, it is interpreted that the print processing order does not matter, and the processing may be performed assuming that the change is permitted in S475.
According to the present embodiment, according to the present invention, when performing the print processing of a reserved job, the processing order that can shorten the processing time in accordance with the print setting of each job is presented, and the processing order can be changed efficiently. Yes.

[Second Embodiment]
The print data generation process and the print data storage process will be described below assuming that they are the same as in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example of the printing process of the image forming apparatus 100. Each step is realized by executing a control program stored in the CPU 112 shown in FIG. In addition, the processes from S410 to S435 in this example are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In S837, the CPU 112 starts print processing for the first print job in parallel with the subsequent processing. In step S840, the CPU 112 determines whether the number of selected print jobs excluding the print job processed in step S837 is two or more. If the CPU 112 determines that the number of print jobs is a plurality of two or more, the process proceeds to S850, and if not, the process proceeds to S890.

In step S850, the CPU 112 compares setting information that can cause a delay in print processing when the setting is switched. Also in this embodiment, switching between color and monochrome is taken as an example, and the following description will be given on the assumption that a delay time of 5 seconds occurs when switching from color to monochrome and 2.5 seconds occurs when switching from monochrome to color. .
In step S855, the CPU 112 determines whether setting switching has occurred based on the comparison result in step S850. If the CPU 112 determines that setting switching has occurred, the process proceeds to S860; otherwise, the process proceeds to S890.

In step S860, the CPU 112 simulates how much the number of setting switching times is reduced and how much the processing time can be reduced when the processing order of the print job is changed, and holds the result as a processing order change candidate.
In this embodiment, the processing of the first print job has started in S837, and since the print job is color, processing time can be reduced most by preferentially processing color print jobs.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a comparison result of setting switching before changing the processing order of the hold job and after changing the simulated processing order.
Before the change in FIG. 10 (a), the setting switching occurred three times. However, after the change in FIG. 10 (b), it can be reduced to one setting switching, and 7.5 seconds (12.5) It can be seen that the processing time reduction effect of -5.0) is obtained.

  In S865, the CPU 112 determines whether or not the processing time reduction effect obtained in S860 is more than a certain threshold value. If the CPU 112 can determine that there is an effect, the process proceeds to S870; otherwise, the process proceeds to S890.

In step S870, the CPU 112 displays the print job order change screen shown in FIG. 11 on the operation unit 150 and prompts the user to change the print job.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen displayed on the operation unit 150 illustrated in FIG. This example is an example of the display of the print job order change screen, and a print job order change screen 551 is pop-up displayed on the print job list 510.
In FIG. 11, a change permission button 560 and a change rejection button 565 are displayed on the print job order change screen 500 together with the message to the user and the processing order of the print job before and after the change.

In S875, the user designates whether or not the print order can be changed via the operation unit 150. When the user selects the change permission button 560 and the CPU 112 determines that the change of the print job order is permitted, the process proceeds to S880.
On the other hand, if the user selects the change rejection button 565 and the CPU 112 determines that the change of the print job order is rejected, the process proceeds to S890. Here, in S837, when the processing of the preceding print job is completed, the CPU 112 determines that the change has been rejected, and proceeds to S890.
In step S880, the CPU 112 changes the processing order of the print job according to the processing order change candidate held in step S860.

  In step S890, the CPU 112 interprets the print data for each job according to the specified order, generates an image, and passes the generated image to the printer apparatus 300. The printer apparatus 300 prints the received image on a print medium such as paper. This process is repeated until the print process for all the print jobs selected in S430 is completed, and this process ends.

Here, the print processing is performed in advance for only the first print job. However, in the print job processing order of the processing order change candidate held in S860, the print processing is performed in advance until the print job in which the processing order is not changed. You may go.
According to the present embodiment, the entire print processing that takes into consideration the time until the change instruction from the user is also obtained by starting the print data processing in advance while presenting the change of the processing order to the user. Time can be shortened.
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the print processing is shortened by changing the execution order of the remaining reservation jobs based on the job state in which the user selects the reservation job or the reservation job that was executed first.
However, the same effect can be obtained by controlling the job to be transferred from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus so as to store the reservation job so as to shorten the printing process by changing the execution order.
In this case, information that determines whether or not to execute the process is added to the job that the information processing apparatus transfers to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus determines the addition state of the information and controls the storage process. What is necessary is just to employ | adopt a structure.

  Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

100, 101 Printing device 110 Control device 112 CPU
114 ROM
116 RAM

Claims (8)

Storage means for storing a job received from the information processing apparatus as a deferred job;
Authentication means for authenticating a user requesting a detention job stored in the storage means;
A list display means for displaying a list of deferred jobs stored in the storage means by the user authenticated by the authentication means on the display means;
When there are a plurality of deferred jobs selected by the user from the list, it is first determined whether or not a factor causing a delay in print processing occurs due to switching of print settings of deferred jobs according to the order stored in the storage unit. Means of judging,
A second determination unit that determines whether the processing time is shortened by changing the execution order of the deferred job when the determination unit determines that a factor causing delay occurs;
An accepting means for accepting a change in the execution order of the deferred job when the second judging means judges that the processing time is shortened;
Control means for executing the reservation job in the order received by the receiving means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Storage means for storing a job received from the information processing apparatus as a deferred job;
Authentication means for authenticating a user requesting a detention job stored in the storage means;
A list display means for displaying a list of deferred jobs stored in the storage means by the user authenticated by the authentication means on the display means;
When there are a plurality of deferred jobs selected by the user from the list, the print processing is performed by switching the print setting of the deferred job according to the order stored in the storage unit after starting the deferred job with the stored time earlier First determining means for determining whether or not a factor causing delay occurs;
A second determination unit that determines whether the processing time is shortened by changing the execution order of the deferred job when the determination unit determines that a factor causing delay occurs;
An accepting means for accepting a change in the execution order of the deferred job when the second judging means judges that the processing time is shortened;
Control means for executing the reservation job in the order received by the receiving means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: When the second determination means determines that the processing time is shortened, a third determination is performed to determine whether the processing time shortened by changing the execution order of the deferred job exceeds a predetermined threshold value. With means,
The receiving unit receives a change in the execution order of the deferred job when the third determining unit determines that the processing time to be shortened exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Or the image forming apparatus according to 2;   3. The setting information includes monochrome / color color setting, duplex setting, paper size setting, paper type setting, paper feed cassette setting, paper discharge tray setting, and resolution setting. Image forming apparatus.   The monochrome / color color setting, duplex setting, paper size setting, paper type setting, paper feed cassette setting, paper discharge tray setting, and resolution setting are pre-stored in order to estimate the processing time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a storage unit that stores a job received from an information processing apparatus as a deferred job,
An authentication step of authenticating a user requesting a detention job stored in the storage means;
A list display step for displaying on the display means a list of deferred jobs stored in the storage means by the user authenticated by the authentication step;
When there are a plurality of deferred jobs selected by the user from the list, it is first determined whether or not a factor causing a delay in print processing occurs due to switching of print settings of deferred jobs according to the order stored in the storage unit. Judgment process of
A second determination step of determining whether or not the processing time is shortened by changing the execution order of the deferred job when it is determined that a factor causing a delay in the first determination step occurs;
An accepting step for accepting a change in the execution order of the deferred job when the second determining step determines that the processing time is shortened;
A control step for executing the reservation job in the order received by the reception step;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising: A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a storage unit that stores a job received from an information processing apparatus as a deferred job,
An authentication step of authenticating a user requesting a detention job stored in the storage means;
A list display step for displaying on the display means a list of deferred jobs stored in the storage means by the user authenticated by the authentication step;
When there are a plurality of deferred jobs selected by the user from the list, the print processing is performed by switching the print setting of the deferred job according to the order stored in the storage unit after starting the deferred job with the stored time earlier A first determination step of determining whether or not a factor causing delay occurs;
A second determination step of determining whether or not the processing time is shortened by changing the execution order of the deferred job when it is determined that a factor causing a delay in the first determination step occurs;
An accepting step for accepting a change in the execution order of the deferred job when the second determining step determines that the processing time is shortened;
A control step for executing the reservation job in the order received by the reception step;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7.

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