JP2016007724A - Job processor and controlling method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To guide a setting change of job attributes suitable to user's preferences.SOLUTION: When a printing job is selected on a print indicating screen 600 to turn a setting change button 610 depressed, a similarity calculation part 503 calculates a similarity of the set condition of a changing object job out of job hysteresis 1100 to extract, out of job hysteresis of highest similarity, those of different set conditions from change object jobs of set items excluding job owners 1802, as a difference setting 1809. If there is one difference setting 1809, the set condition is change candidate. If there are a plurality of difference settings 1809, a priority determination part 504 decides orders of priority so that set conditions with a larger number of presence in job hysteresis where job owners 1802 are the same as the change object job may have higher orders to display the set condition of each set item as a recommend button so that set candidates with higher priorities may have higher ranks.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for changing job attribute information.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, some image forming processing apparatuses as job processing apparatuses execute print jobs that are generated by being read by a scanner or input from an information processing apparatus such as a PC (personal computer). There is also known an image forming processing apparatus that can designate print settings or change print settings at an arbitrary timing before processing a job. When the user wants to change the settings of a print job retained in the image forming processing apparatus, it is necessary to search for the desired settings one by one on the setting change screen or the like and change them.

  In Patent Document 1, when specifying the print settings of a job submitted from a scanner, a job history that matches the user's set print settings is found from the job history (from the history of the new date and time), and a similar job is found. A technique for making history is disclosed. In this technique, setting items that have not yet been designated by the user are presented (recommended) as recommended settings to the user from similar job histories.

JP 2012-247586 A

  For example, when a user mistakenly inputs a print job setting in the information processing apparatus, the image forming processing apparatus having a job setting change function may search for and change desired settings one by one. In this case, since there are many types of setting items, there may be setting items to be set or changed that are not noticed by the user. In addition, even if there is a setting frequently used by the user, the user may forget it. Furthermore, it may be difficult to understand the change operation of the setting state of the setting item, which may require a turn.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, since a setting change is recommended to the user from one similar job history, the types and number of settings recommended to the user are considerably small, and the setting is not always a desirable setting for the user. . In particular, Patent Document 1 does not consider the priority between setting items recommended to the user, and the setting recommended from the new history does not necessarily match the user's preference.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to guide a change in setting of a job attribute that suits the user's preference.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage means for storing attribute information including a plurality of setting items including information indicating a user in a processed job as a job history, attribute information of a job to be changed, The setting state of each setting item is compared with the job history stored in the storage unit, and the job history having the highest setting state similarity to the attribute information of the job to be changed is specified among the job histories. Of the setting items excluding information indicating the user in the job history having the highest degree of similarity specified by the specifying unit and the specifying unit, the setting state is different from the setting information except for the attribute information of the job to be changed An extraction means for extracting an item and its setting state, and a user for the job to be changed from the job history stored in the storage means And selecting the job history having the same information, and regarding the same setting item as the setting item extracted by the extraction unit, the most frequently set setting state in the selected job history is the change candidate of the extracted setting item. And a presenting means for presenting the setting state determined by the determining means to the user as a candidate for change.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the setting change of the job attribute according to a user preference can be guided.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system including a job processing apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram (a figure (a) and (b)) of a module of a program in connection with print control and control of a reservation print job. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the area division in an auxiliary storage device. It is a figure which shows a job attribute. It is a conceptual diagram (a figure (a)-(c)) showing a setting state of a setting item. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of forced reservation. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a printing instruction | indication screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the setting change screen displayed on a printing instruction | indication screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a single side / double side setting change screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a color mode setting change screen. It is a conceptual diagram (a figure (a) and (b)) showing each job attribute of a job for change, and a processed job. It is a figure which shows the mode of the comparison (similarity calculation) of the job attribute of a job to be changed, and a job history. It is a figure which shows the specific result which specified the job history in order with high similarity. It is a figure which shows an example of a user's preference data now. It is a figure which shows the state by which the recommendation setting was displayed on the setting change screen. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print job change process for a print job. It is a flowchart which shows a recommendation button display process.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system including a job processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This printing system includes an information processing apparatus 101 and an image forming processing apparatus 102 connected via a network. The LAN 210 is exemplified as the network, but is not limited thereto. Further, both devices may be connected by a parallel cable, a serial cable, a USB cable, or the like. The image forming processing apparatus 102 is a job processing apparatus that processes a print job generated by itself or received from the information processing apparatus 101.

  First, in the information processing apparatus 101, a RAM 202, an auxiliary storage device 203, a user command input device 205, an image display device 204, and a network interface card (NIC) 206 are connected to a CPU 201 via a main bus 209. The CPU 201 performs information processing and governs overall control of the information processing apparatus 101. The RAM 202 provides a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary storage device 203 includes a hard disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM, and the like, and stores and provides a control program executed by the CPU 201. The image display device 204 is configured by a display such as a liquid crystal and is used when notifying a user of a message. The user command input device 205 includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and accepts user command input. The NIC 206 exchanges data with other network devices via the LAN 210.

  In the image forming processing apparatus 102, a RAM 302, an auxiliary storage device 303, an image display device 304, a user command input device 305, a NIC 306, a printing unit 307, and a reading unit 308 are connected to a CPU 301 through a main bus 309. The CPU 301 performs information processing and controls the entire image forming processing apparatus 102. A RAM 302 provides a work area for the CPU 301 and temporarily stores data. The auxiliary storage device 303 is a storage means constituted by a hard disk, a CD-ROM or the like, and is used in place of the RAM 302 in addition to temporary storage of data. The image display device 304 is configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and is used when displaying the state of the image forming processing device 102, an error message, or the like.

  The user command input device 305 includes a touch panel and receives user operations such as designation of a desired print job. The NIC 306 exchanges data bidirectionally with other network devices via the LAN 210. A printing unit 307 is a print engine for printing scanned image data or the like on paper, and can identify the status of a paper feed option (paper feed cassette or the like) or a paper discharge option (finisher device or the like) related to the printing process. . The reading unit 308 is a scanner that reads a paper document placed on a document table (not shown) and generates black and white binary or color multivalue image data. The image data read by the reading unit 308 can be printed by the printing unit 307, and can also be stored in the auxiliary storage device 303 and printed at an arbitrary timing.

  FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram of program modules related to print control stored in the auxiliary storage device 203 of the information processing apparatus 101. The CPU 201 reads the control modules (401, 402) into the RAM 202 and executes them. The printer driver 401 generates a print job according to an instruction from an arbitrary application such as a text editor, and inputs the print job to the image forming processing apparatus 102. The data communication unit 402 inputs the print job generated by the printer driver 401 to the image forming processing apparatus 102 and receives the processing result of the input print job from the image forming processing apparatus 102. As the hardware of the data communication unit 402, the NIC 206 is adopted, but an interface such as a USB may be used.

  FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram of a program module related to the control of the reserved print job stored in the auxiliary storage device 303 of the image forming processing apparatus 102. The CPU 301 reads the control modules (501 to 504) into the RAM 302 and executes them.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing area divisions in the auxiliary storage device 303. The area in the auxiliary storage device 303 includes a reserved printing area 1901, a job history storage area 1902, and other areas 1903. A reserved printing area 1901 is an area for storing a print job. A job history storage area 1902 is an area for storing a job history. The other area 1903 is an area for temporarily storing a copy job and a scanner job from the reading unit 308.

  The control processing by the control modules (501 to 504) shown in FIG. 2B will be described in detail later, but will be outlined here. First, the print job storage unit 501 stores the print job input from the information processing apparatus 101 in the reserved printing area 1901 (FIG. 3). The print job storage unit 501 also stores jobs such as a copy job and a scanner job generated from the reading unit 308 of the image forming processing apparatus 102 in another area 1903 (FIG. 3).

  The job control unit 502 reads out the attribute information (hereinafter referred to as job attribute 1800 (FIG. 4)) of the job held in the auxiliary storage device 303 or displays it on the image display device 304. Also, the job control unit 502 controls the print processing of the reserved job.

  The similarity calculation unit 503 includes a job attribute 1800 of a job to be changed among the jobs retained in the reserved printing area 1901 and a job history 1100 (described later) stored in the job history storage area 1902 (FIG. 3). FIG. 11B is read and compared. The similarity calculation unit 503 calculates the similarity 1808 from the comparison result. Further, the similarity calculation unit 503 controls the process of extracting the difference setting 1809 from the job history 1100 to be compared. When there are a plurality of difference settings 1809, the priority determination unit 504 determines priorities among the setting information (setting values) of the difference settings 1809 that are set simultaneously with the user (owner) settings. Details of this control will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing job attributes 1800 of a job.

  The job attribute 1800 is generated from the printer driver 401 of the information processing apparatus 101 or the user command input apparatus 305 of the image forming processing apparatus 102. Further, the generated job attribute 1800 is stored in the reserved printing area 1901 or other area 1903 of the auxiliary storage device 303 of the image forming processing apparatus 102.

  The job attribute 1800 includes a document name 1801 indicating a job name (file name), a job owner 1802 indicating a user name of the job, a date when the job is input 1803, a print setting 1804, a similarity 1808, and a difference setting 1809. The print setting 1804 includes a simplex / duplex setting 1805, a color mode setting 1806, a page layout setting 1807, and the like. Here, the difference setting 1809 may be considered as a list in which a plurality of print settings 1804 can be stored. Page layout refers to laying out images for a plurality of pages on one sheet of paper.

  In this embodiment, the document name 1801, job owner 1802, single-side / double-side setting 1805, color mode setting 1806, and page layout setting 1807 in the job attribute 1800 are set items (see also FIG. 11A).

  FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, and 5 </ b> C are conceptual diagrams illustrating setting states (also referred to as setting values) of setting items. The setting state of the color mode setting 1806 shown in FIG. The setting state of the single side / double side setting 1805 shown in FIG. 5B includes single side and double side. The page layout setting 1807 shown in FIG. 5C includes Nin1 (1in1, 2in1, 4in1, 6in1, 8in1, 9in1, 16in1). The setting status of each setting item is an example, and the setting status can be added, edited, and deleted. For example, in an image forming processing apparatus that can handle “two colors”, “two colors” may be added to the setting state of the color mode setting 1806 in addition to color and black and white.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a forcible reservation setting screen in the image forming processing apparatus 102. This setting screen 2000 is a screen for the user to specify an operation mode for determining whether to apply the forced retention mode, and is displayed on the image display device 304. The forcible reservation mode is a mode in which the input print job is forcibly stored in the reservation printing area 1901. When the user selects the ON button 2001 and presses the OK button 2020, the forced retention mode is turned on. Further, when the user selects the OFF button 2002, the forced retention mode is turned off. When the cancel button 2010 is pressed, the setting screen 2000 is closed. The job control unit 502 can refer to the forced reservation mode set here at an arbitrary timing. In the following description, it is assumed that the forcible reservation mode is ON.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the print instruction screen 600 displayed on the image display device 304. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the setting change screen 700 displayed in the print instruction screen 600. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the single-side / double-side setting change screen 800 displayed in the setting change screen 700. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of the color mode setting change screen 900 displayed in the setting change screen 700.

  A print instruction screen 600 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a screen for performing a print instruction or setting item change of a print job retained in the reserved print area 1901 of the auxiliary storage device 303. When the forced reservation mode is ON, the print job input from the information processing apparatus 101 is stored in the reservation printing area 1901. The CPU 301 reads out the job attribute 1800 of the reserved print job to the RAM 302. The job control unit 502 displays the document name 1801, date 1803, and print setting 1804 in the job attribute 1800 on the image display device 304. The print instruction screen 600 illustrated in FIG. 7 displays two print jobs 601 and 602 that are reserved. The number of displayed jobs may be three or more.

  The user can select one of the print jobs 601 and 602 on the print instruction screen 600 and can check the print setting 1804 of each print job. The job selected here becomes a “job to be changed” to be described later. When the user presses the setting change button 610 while the print job 601 or the print job 602 is selected, a setting change screen 700 (FIG. 8) is displayed.

  When the user presses the print start button 620 on the print instruction screen 600, the print unit 307 performs print processing of a print job under the control of the job control unit 502. When the printing process is completed, the job control unit 502 stores the job attribute 1800 of the processed print job as “job history 1100” in the job history storage area 1902. The job attribute 1800 of the print job processed in the past is accumulated as a job history 1100 (see FIG. 11B). The job history 1100 is a set of job attributes 1800 of one or more jobs.

  On the setting change screen 700 shown in FIG. 8, the job control unit 502 displays the current setting of the job attribute 1800 in the RAM 302. That is, one selected job among the plurality of print jobs 601 and 602 displayed on the print instruction screen 600 becomes a “job to be changed” that allows the setting item in the job attribute 1800 to be changed. The user can change the single-sided / double-sided setting with the button 701, the color mode setting with the button 702, and the page layout (Nin1) setting with the button 703 with respect to the print setting 1804 of the selected job to be changed.

  When the user presses the print start button 720 on the setting change screen 700, the contents of the setting change at that time become valid. In this case, the CPU 301 actually changes the print setting 1804 (any one of the settings 1805, 1806, and 1807) in the RAM 302 in accordance with the contents of the setting change, and then prints a print job by the print unit 307 by the job control unit 502. Processing is executed. When the printing process is completed, the job control unit 502 stores the job attribute 1800 of the output (processed) job as a job history in the job history storage area 1902. On the other hand, when the user presses the cancel button 710, the setting change screen 700 is closed without reflecting the contents of the setting change at that time, and the display returns to the state shown in FIG.

  When the user presses the button 701 for single-side / double-side setting on the setting change screen 700 shown in FIG. 8, a single-side / double-side setting change screen 800 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. On this single-side / double-side setting change screen 800, the user can change the single-side / double-side setting of a job by pressing the single-side button 802 or the double-side button 801. When the user presses the OK button 820, the contents of the setting change at that time become effective, and the CPU 301 changes the setting value of the single-side / double-side setting 1805 stored in the RAM 302 according to the content. When the user presses the cancel 810 button, the setting change screen 800 is closed without reflecting the contents of the setting change, and the display returns to the state shown in FIG.

  When the user presses a button 702 on the setting change screen 700 shown in FIG. 8, a color mode setting change screen 900 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. On the color mode setting change screen 900, the user can change the color mode setting by pressing the color button 901, the monochrome button 902, or the two-color button 903. When the user presses the OK button 920, the contents of the setting change at that time become valid, and the CPU 301 changes the setting value of the color mode setting 1806 stored in the RAM 302 according to the contents. When the user presses the 910 button, the color mode setting change screen 900 is closed without reflecting the contents of the setting change, and the display returns to the state shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11A is a conceptual diagram showing job attributes 1800 of a job to be changed. The contents of the job attribute 1800 indicate the current setting state of the setting item read to the RAM 302, and these setting states are referred to as the current setting 1000 here.

  For each setting item, first, the setting state of the job owner 1802 is the user name “A” of the current user. The setting state of the document name 1801 is “new product.doc”. The setting state of the single side / double side setting 1805 is “single side”, the setting state of the color mode setting 1806 is “color”, and the setting state of the page layout setting 1807 is “1 in 1”.

  FIG. 11B is a conceptual diagram illustrating the job attribute 1800 (job history 1100) of a processed job. The CPU 301 reads the job attribute 1800 of the job stored in the job history storage area 1902 to the RAM 302. A job history 1100 shown in FIG. 11B is obtained by reading the job attribute 1800 of the job history read into the RAM 302 by the similarity calculation unit 503. In this example, the job history 1100 includes three job histories 1101, 1102, and 1103. Regarding the setting state of the job owner 1802, only the job history 1103 is different, and the user name is “B”.

  12A, 12 </ b> B, and 12 </ b> C show how the similarity calculation unit 503 compares the job attribute 1800 (current setting 1000) of the job to be changed with the job history 1100 (similarity calculation). FIG. In this similarity calculation, the setting status of each setting item is compared between the job attribute 1800 of the job to be changed and the processed job history 1100, and the setting status similarity for the job to be changed in the job history 1100 is compared. This process identifies the job history with the highest degree. In the present embodiment, the similarity calculation unit 503 further orders the job history according to a predetermined rule when specifying the highest job history. The similarity calculation unit 503 corresponds to the “specifying unit” in the present invention. The calculated similarity is reflected as a similarity 1808 in the job attribute 1800 (FIG. 4) of each job history.

  First, FIG. 12A shows a comparison result between the current setting 1000 and the job history 1101 in the job history 1100. In both setting states, as indicated by a dotted line, the job owner 1802, the document name 1801, and the single-side / double-side setting 1805 match with “A”, “new product.doc”, and “single side”, respectively. Therefore, the similarity, which is the number of setting items with the same setting state, is 3. In this embodiment, the job owner 1802 is also included in the comparison target as an important item in order to recommend (recommend) a setting state that matches the user's preference as much as possible.

  FIG. 12B shows a comparison result between the current setting 1000 and the job history 1102 in the job history 1100. In both setting states, “A”, “new product.doc”, and “single side” match the job owner 1802, the document name 1801, and the single side / double side setting 1805, respectively. Therefore, the similarity is 3.

  FIG. 12C shows a comparison result between the current setting 1000 and the job history 1103 in the job history 1100. In both setting states, the document name 1801 and the color mode setting 1806 are the same in “new product.doc” and “color”, respectively. Therefore, the similarity is 2.

  Further, the similarity calculation unit 503 extracts the difference setting 1809 from each job history in the job history 1100. The difference setting 1809 is a setting item (1801, 1805 to 1807) excluding information indicating the user (job owner 1802) that has a different setting state with respect to the job to be changed, and information indicating the setting state. It is. Here, since the job owner 1802 is a setting item that cannot be changed on the screen, it is excluded from the difference setting 1809. The similarity calculation unit 503 corresponds to “extraction means” in the present invention.

  Regarding the job history 1101 (FIG. 12A), the setting states of the color mode setting 1806 and the page layout setting 1807 are different from the current setting 1000, and are “monochrome” and “2 in 1”. Therefore, “monochrome” of the color mode setting 1806 and “2 in 1” of the page layout setting 1807 are extracted as the difference setting 1809.

  Similarly, for the job history 1102 (FIG. 12B), “monochrome” in the color mode setting 1806 and “4 in 1” in the page layout setting 1807 are extracted as the difference setting 1809. For the job history 1103 (FIG. 12C), “double-sided” in the single-sided / double-sided setting 1805 and “2 in 1” in the page layout setting 1807 are extracted, and the job owner 1802 is not extracted. The extracted difference setting 1809 is reflected in the job attribute 1800 (FIG. 4) of each job history.

  The similarity calculation unit 503 selects the job history having the largest number of setting items whose setting states match the setting items in the job to be changed among the job histories in the job history 1100, and determines the job with the highest similarity. Specify as history. That is, the similarity calculation unit 503 specifies a job attribute having the largest similarity 1808 value. In the examples of FIGS. 11A and 11B, the job histories 1101 and 1102 are similarities 1808 = 3, and are the job history candidates with the highest similarity. When there are a plurality of job histories having the same similarity, the similarity calculation unit 503 assigns an order to each job history in the job history 1100 according to a predetermined rule.

  This predetermined rule is not limited. For example, for each job history difference setting 1809 having the same degree of similarity, the number of setting states existing as the same state in the job history difference setting 1809 in the job history 1100 is counted. Then, the total count is calculated for each job history. The job history having a larger total value is set higher.

  According to this rule, first, the job histories 1101 and 1102 having the user name “A” shown in FIG. 11B have the same similarity of 3 and are therefore the highest job history candidates. Next, regarding the job history 1101, there are two “black and white” color mode settings 1806 and two “2 in 1” page layout settings 1807 in the job history 1100 including itself. Therefore, the sum of the count values is 2 + 2 = 4. On the other hand, regarding the job history 1102, there are two “black and white” of the color mode setting 1806 including the self in the job history 1100, but only “4 in 1” of the page layout setting 1807 exists in the job history 1100. do not do. Therefore, the sum of the count values is 2 + 1 = 3. Therefore, as a result of the job history 1101 being higher than the job history 1102, the job history 1101 is the first job history having the highest similarity. The job history 1102 is a second job history.

  In addition, as a predetermined rule, when there is a peer job history, the setting items may be weighted differently, or the number of setting states existing in the same state as the predetermined setting item is large May be higher. Alternatively, a job history that is new in time may be set as the upper rank. Or you may combine these.

  FIG. 13A shows a specific result obtained by ordering the job histories in the job history 1100 and sorting them in descending order as described above. In this identification result 1500, the similarity 1808 and the difference setting 1809 are shown for each job history. The user is preferentially recommended from the difference setting 1809 in the first (first) job history.

  In the specific result 1500 shown in FIG. 13A, the first job history 1101 has two difference settings 1809 (color mode setting 1806 “monochrome”, page layout setting 1807 “2 in 1”). Therefore, it is necessary to determine which should be preferentially presented to the user. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the priority determination unit 504 analyzes the current user's preference from the current user's job history (job history that shares the job owner 1802 with respect to the current setting 1000), and sets the priority order based thereon. decide.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of preference data 1600 that is a result of analyzing the current user preference. With reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, determination of a setting state as a change candidate by the priority determination unit 504 will be described. The preference data 1600 is created by the priority determination unit 504.

  First, the priority determination unit 504 selects a job history that has the same job owner 1802 as the job to be changed from the job history 1100. Then, the priority determination unit 504 relates to the same setting item as the setting item in the difference setting 1809 extracted for the first job history 1101, and sets the largest setting state in the selected job history as the first setting item. It is determined as a setting state to be one change candidate. When there are a plurality of extracted setting items, the priority determination unit 504 gives priority as a change candidate between the setting states so that the higher the number of setting states existing in the selected job history, the higher the order. Decide the ranking. The priority determination unit 504 corresponds to the “determination unit” of the present invention.

  In the example of FIG. 13A, two job histories 1101 and 1102 are selected as job histories that share the job owner 1802 for the job to be changed. Of the difference settings 1809 extracted for the first job history 1101, the setting state of the color mode setting 1806 is “black and white”. Regarding the color mode setting 1806, the number of setting states “black and white” in the selected job history 1101 and 1102 is 2 (see FIG. 14). The setting state of the page layout setting 1807 is “2 in 1”. Regarding the page layout setting 1807, the number in which the setting state in the selected job history 1101 and 1102 is “2 in 1” is 1 (see FIG. 14). Accordingly, in the setting state, “monochrome” in the color mode setting 1806 is the first change candidate, and “2 in 1” in the page layout setting 1807 is the next second change candidate. This is because it is estimated that the current user uses monochrome (color mode setting 1806) more frequently than 2 in 1 (page layout setting 1807).

  Thereafter, the same processing is applied to the job history of the lower rank. Here, with regard to the difference setting 1809 extracted for the second job history 1101, the priority order as a change candidate is determined between the setting states so that the higher the number of existing setting states, the higher the order. However, for the setting items extracted from the second and subsequent job histories, the setting states that have already been recommended are excluded, and the setting states that are candidates for change are determined from the setting states that have not yet been presented.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, “black and white” of the color mode setting 1806 in the second job history 1102 is already a candidate in the first job history 1101 and is therefore excluded from the candidate targets. Since the remaining setting item is only the page layout setting 1807, “4 in 1” of the page layout setting 1807 becomes the next third change candidate.

  Regarding the single-sided / double-sided setting 1805, the numbers of “double-sided” and “single-sided” in the selected job history 1101 and 1102 are 0 and 2, respectively (see FIG. 14).

  Thereafter, in the third job history 1103, “2in1” in the page layout setting 1807 is excluded, and “double-sided” in the single-sided / double-sided setting 1805 becomes the fourth change candidate.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which recommended settings are displayed in the setting change screen 700. In the recommended setting, a setting state that is a change candidate for each of the plurality of extracted setting items is presented by display so that a setting state with a higher priority ranks higher. As a display mode, recommendation buttons 1701, 1702, 1703, and 1704 are displayed in order from the top as the first to fourth candidates exemplified above. For example, a recommendation button 1701 that recommends changing the setting state of the color mode setting 1806 to “monochrome” is displayed as the first change candidate. Since one displayed on the same screen is excluded as recommended, two or more of the same are never displayed.

  The job control unit 502 receives a change to the setting state displayed as the change candidate through the operation of the recommendation buttons 1701 to 1704 in FIG. When one of the recommendation buttons 1701 to 1704 is pressed, the job control unit 502 updates the setting state of the corresponding setting item of the print setting 1804 stored in the RAM 302. Accordingly, the current setting 1000 is updated. As a result, the job after the job attribute 1800 is updated becomes a new job to be changed in place of the job to be changed before the update, and is again compared with the job history 1100.

  Subsequently, the job control unit 502 reads the print setting 1804 in the RAM 302 and updates the setting change screen 700 (see FIG. 7). If the recommendation buttons 1701 to 1704 are pressed once, the setting can be changed, so the number of setting changes is reduced.

  By the way, the setting state of the setting item in the job history of another person who does not share the job owner 1802 with respect to the job to be changed (for example, “double-sided” in the single-sided / double-sided setting 1805) can be a candidate for change. That is, since the setting state of the setting item in the job of another user B (the setting state of the job owner 1802 is B) can also be recommended, the current user can receive a proposal for a change of the setting that he / she does not notice. it can.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a print job change process for a print job. This processing is executed by the CPU 301 of the image forming processing apparatus 102 reading out the control modules (501 to 504) from the auxiliary storage device 303 to the RAM 302.

  First, in step S <b> 101, the CPU 301 reads out the job attribute 1800 of the print job stored in the reserved printing area 1901 to the RAM 302. The job control unit 502 displays the job attribute 1800 as a print instruction screen 600 on the image display device 304 of the image forming processing device 102 (see FIG. 7). Further, the CPU 301 waits until it is detected that one print job is selected by the user on the displayed print instruction screen 600 and the setting change button 610 is pressed, and the pressing of the setting change button 610 is detected. Then, the process proceeds to step S102. The job selected at this time becomes the job to be changed.

  In step S102, the CPU 301 displays a setting change screen 700 (FIG. 8) for the job to be changed. Next, in step S103, the CPU 301 executes a recommendation button display process (FIG. 17). This recommendation button display process corresponds to the process from the similarity calculation by the similarity calculation unit 503 described above to the display of the recommendation button.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the recommendation button display process.

  First, in step S <b> 201, the similarity calculation unit 503 reads the job attribute 1800 of the processed job stored in the job history storage area 1902 into the RAM 302. At the same time, the similarity calculation unit 503 compares the job attribute 1800 (current setting 1000) of the currently selected job to be changed with the read job history 1100. Further, the similarity calculation unit 503 specifies a job history having the highest setting state similarity for the job to be changed from the job history 1100. At that time, the similarity calculation unit 503 orders the job histories according to the predetermined rule described above and sorts them in descending order of similarity (see FIG. 13A).

  Next, in step S203, the similarity calculation unit 503 extracts the difference setting 1809 from the first job history having the highest similarity in the identification result 1500 (FIG. 13A). In other words, the similarity calculation unit 503 selects the setting items (1801, 1805 to 1807) excluding the job owner 1802 from the first job history that have different setting states with respect to the currently selected change target job. Extracted as the difference setting 1809.

  Next, in step S204, the CPU 301 determines whether or not there are a plurality of extracted difference settings 1809 in the job history (the first job history in the process of the first step S204). As a result of the determination, when there is only one difference setting 1809, the priority determination unit 504 determines the setting state in the one difference setting 1809 as a setting state to be a change candidate. Then, the process proceeds to step S205. In this case, in step S205, the job control unit 502 causes the setting change screen 700 to display the setting state as a change candidate as a recommendation button (FIG. 15). The change candidate is displayed at the top in the process of the first step S205, and is displayed below the already displayed change candidates in the process of the second and subsequent steps S205.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S204 is that there are a plurality of difference settings 1809, in step S207, the priority determination unit 504 creates preference data 1600 (FIG. 14) and refers to the preference data 1600 to make a difference. The priority of the setting 1809 is determined. In other words, the priority determination unit 504 sets a change candidate as a change candidate between setting states so that the higher the number of setting states that exist in the job history of the same job owner 1802 for the job to be changed, the higher the rank. Determine priorities. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S205. In this case, in step S205, the job control unit 502 uses the setting state of each setting item as a recommendation button so that a change candidate with a higher priority among the setting states that have not yet been presented has a recommendation button. It is displayed on the setting change screen 700 (FIG. 15). Thereby, the higher the setting state that is likely to match the user, the higher the recommendation. The job control unit 502 and the image display device 304 correspond to “presentation means” in the present invention.

  In step S206, the job control unit 502 determines whether the number of recommended buttons displayed on the setting change screen 700 has reached a predetermined number (for example, 4). As a result of the determination, if the number of recommended buttons displayed has not reached the predetermined number, the job control unit 502 proceeds with the process to step S208, while if the number of recommended buttons reaches the predetermined number, the process of FIG. Terminate.

  In step S208, the similarity calculation unit 503 performs the same processing as in step S203 on the job history having the next highest similarity in the identification result 1500 (FIG. 13A), and extracts the difference setting 1809. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S204. Accordingly, by repeating steps S204 to S208, the difference setting 1809 extracted in the second and subsequent job histories is also recommended sequentially.

  Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S104 in FIG. In step S104, the CPU 301 determines whether or not a user operation request has been detected on the setting change screen 700 (FIG. 15) on which the recommendation button is displayed by the processing of FIG. The operation request here is an operation for instructing a setting change on the setting change screen 700, and first includes an operation on a screen such as the one-side / double-side setting change screen 800 (FIG. 9) following the operation of the buttons 701 to 703. It is. Furthermore, operations of recommendation buttons 1701 to 1704 are included.

  When the buttons 701 and 702 are operated, in step S105, the job control unit 502 prints according to the operation on the single-side / double-side setting change screen 800 (FIG. 9) or the color mode setting change screen 900 (FIG. 10). The setting 1804 is updated. When the button 703 is operated, the job control unit 502 updates the print setting 1804 according to the operation on the page layout setting change screen (not shown). On the other hand, when the recommendation buttons 1701 to 1704 are operated, in step S105, the job control unit 502 updates the print setting 1804 according to the operated button. As a result, the job to be changed is updated. As a result, when the process returns from step S105 to step S102, a setting change screen 700 (FIG. 8) for the updated change target job is displayed.

  According to the present embodiment, the difference setting 1809 is extracted in descending order of the setting state similarity for the job to be changed in the processed job history 1100. In this case, when there are a plurality of difference settings 1809, the priority order is determined so that the higher the number of setting states that exist in the job history of the same job owner 1802 for the job to be changed, the higher the order. . And the setting state which becomes each change candidate of a setting item is shown so that a setting state with high priority may become a higher rank. Thereby, it is possible to guide the setting change of the job attribute that matches the user's preference. Further, according to the priority order, the setting state change candidates can be presented for the second and subsequent setting items.

  In addition, recommended buttons 1701 to 1704 are displayed as the presentation of the setting state, and the user can easily update the setting state by pressing these buttons, so the number of setting changes can be reduced.

  Further, in the similarity calculation, the job history 1100 to be compared with the job to be changed includes a job history of another person (the job owner 1802 is not the same). Thereby, a setting state can be guided also about the setting item which the user has forgotten or is not aware of.

  In addition, after the setting is changed by operating the recommendation button, the changed job becomes a new job to be changed and becomes a comparison target with the job history 1100 that has been processed again. Presentation is made. Therefore, the user can repeat the change operation until a desired setting state is obtained.

  In addition, the display of the recommendation buttons 1701-1704 which are display buttons which can be operated was illustrated as an aspect which is shown with respect to a user as a candidate for a change in the determined setting state. However, the display is not limited to this. For example, the display may be performed only to notify the candidate although the operation is not possible. Or it is good also as a voice display instead of a visual display.

  Note that the job to be changed is not limited to a reserved job.

  The apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to what is called an image forming processing apparatus, and may be any job processing apparatus that can perform job processing.

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

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included.

303 Auxiliary storage device 501 Print job storage unit 502 Job control unit 503 Similarity calculation unit 504 Priority determination unit 1100 Job history 1800 Job attribute 1802 Job owner 1809 Difference setting

Claims (12)

Storage means for storing, as a job history, attribute information including a plurality of setting items including information indicating a user in a processed job;
The setting state of each setting item is compared between the attribute information of the job to be changed and the job history stored in the storage unit, and the setting state similarity to the attribute information of the job to be changed in the job history A specific means to identify the most frequent job history,
Among the setting items excluding information indicating the user in the job history having the highest degree of similarity specified by the specifying unit, setting items having different setting states with respect to the attribute information of the job to be changed and their settings Extraction means for extracting the state;
From the job history stored in the storage means, select a job history that has the same information indicating the user for the job to be changed, and regarding the same setting items as the setting items extracted by the extraction means, Determining means for determining the most frequently set state in the selected job history as a set state that is a candidate for change of the extracted setting item;
And a presenting means for presenting the setting state determined by the determining means to the user as a change candidate. When there are a plurality of the extracted setting items, the determining means, for each of the setting items, sets each setting state such that the higher the number of setting states that exist in the selected job history, the higher the order. Decide the priority as a candidate for change,
2. The job according to claim 1, wherein the presenting unit presents a setting state that is a change candidate for each of the plurality of extracted setting items so that a setting state with a higher priority ranks higher. Processing equipment.   3. An update unit that receives a change to a setting state presented as a change candidate by the presenting unit, and updates the attribute information of the job to be changed by reflecting the received change. The job processing device described in 1.   The job processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the accepting unit displays a setting state presented as a change candidate as an operable display button.   The attribute information that has been updated by the updating unit becomes attribute information of the job to be changed instead of the attribute information before the update, and is to be compared with the job history by the specifying unit. The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job processing apparatus is characterized in that:   The specifying unit specifies a job history having the largest number of setting items whose setting states match the setting items in the attribute information of the job to be changed among the job histories as the job history having the highest similarity. The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job processing apparatus is a job processing apparatus. If there are a plurality of job histories having the largest number of setting items having the same setting state, the specifying unit orders the job histories according to a predetermined rule,
In order from the first job history, the extraction means and the determination means are subject to processing,
7. The setting unit determines a setting state as a change candidate for setting items extracted from the second and subsequent job histories from among setting states not presented by the presenting unit. The job processing device described in 1.   The job history stored in the storage means, which is compared with the attribute information of the job to be changed by the specifying means, has a job history in which information indicating the user is different from that of the attribute information of the job to be changed. The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job processing apparatus can be included.   The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job to be changed is a reserved job.   The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of setting items include at least one of color mode setting, single-sided / double-sided setting, and page layout setting. A method for controlling a job processing apparatus including storage means for storing attribute information including a plurality of setting items including information indicating a user in a processed job as a job history,
The setting state of each setting item is compared between the attribute information of the job to be changed and the job history stored in the storage unit, and the setting state similarity to the attribute information of the job to be changed in the job history Specific steps to identify the most frequent job history,
Among the setting items excluding information indicating the user in the job history having the highest degree of similarity specified by the specifying step, the setting items having different setting states with respect to the attribute information of the job to be changed and their settings An extraction step for extracting the state;
From the job history stored in the storage means, selecting a job history that has the same information indicating the user for the job to be changed, and regarding the same setting items as the setting items extracted by the extraction step, A determination step of determining the most frequently set state in the selected job history as a set state that is a candidate for change of the extracted setting item;
And a presenting step of presenting to the user the setting state determined in the determining step as a change candidate. A program for causing a computer to execute the method for controlling the job processing apparatus according to claim 11.

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