JP2016210021A - Image forming apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus allowing a user to timely change a printing condition when the user tries to change the printing condition when receiving printing data.SOLUTION: A MFP includes a display section. A change reception screen before reception is displayed on the display section and the change reception screen before reception is operated when the reception of printing data is not completed. When the screen is displayed on the display section after an input, a printing condition and each printing condition displayed on the screen after the input are merged, a printing condition after the change is formed as the printing condition after the change. The printing condition after the change is reflected on received printing data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus connected to an external device, for example, a host PC is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 includes a storage device and an operation display unit, stores print data received from the host PC in the storage device, and print data stored in the storage device when the user operates the operation display unit. It has a reserve printing function for printing. The print data stored in the storage device is generally composed of a header part printing condition, PDL data, and a footer part printing condition. When the image forming apparatus receives print data from the host PC, the image forming apparatus sequentially receives the header part printing conditions, the PDL data, and the footer part printing conditions.

  The header part printing conditions include, for example, a printing number condition regarding the number of printing copies, a color mode condition regarding whether or not to perform color printing, and a size condition regarding the size of the recording paper. Furthermore, the header part printing conditions include a double-sided printing condition regarding whether or not to execute double-sided printing, and an N-up condition regarding N-up printing for printing a plurality of pages on one recording sheet. The footer section printing conditions include, for example, a sheet feeding destination condition regarding a recording sheet feeding destination, a recording sheet type condition regarding a recording sheet type, and sort printing regarding whether or not a plurality of copies of print data are printed. Conditions are included.

  Incidentally, the user may desire to change each printing condition included in the header part printing condition and the footer part printing condition when receiving the print data. In this case, each printing condition is changed when the image forming apparatus executes a printing condition changing process (FIG. 13).

  In FIG. 13, first, reception of print data is started (step S1301), header part print conditions and footer part print conditions are acquired (step S1302), and it is determined whether or not reception of print data is completed (step S1302). S1303). If the result of determination in step S1303 is that reception of print data has not been completed, processing returns to step S1303. On the other hand, when the reception of the print data is completed, each print condition included in the header part print condition and the footer part print condition is determined as the print condition (step S1304).

  Next, the determined printing condition (FIG. 14A) is displayed on the operation display unit (step S1305). Thereafter, when the printing condition displayed on the operation display unit is changed by the user, the changed printing condition (FIG. 14B) is displayed on the operation display unit. Next, the image forming apparatus accepts the changed printing conditions (step S1306). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the change of the printing condition is completed (step S1307). As a result of the determination in step S1307, when the change of the printing condition is not completed, the process returns to step S1306. When the change of the printing condition is completed, the changed printing condition is reflected in the print data (step S1308). Exit.

JP 2002-113906 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus, for example, since the capacity of the print data is large, it may take a long time from the start of reception of the print data from the host PC until the reception of the print data is completed. Since each print condition can be changed after reception of print data is completed, in this case, a user who desires to change each print condition must wait for reception of print data to be completed.

  Further, when the maximum number of print data stored in the storage device is specified in advance and the image forming apparatus cannot receive new print data because the predetermined maximum number of print data is already stored in the storage device There is. In this case, a user desiring to change each printing condition must wait for the at least one print data stored in the storage device to be deleted, and then completing the reception of the printing data desired to change each printing condition. I must.

  That is, in the conventional image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 15, the printing condition cannot be changed even if the user tries to change the printing condition from the start of receiving the print data to the completion of the reception, that is, when the print data is received. There was a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of changing a printing condition in a timely manner when a user attempts to change the printing condition when receiving print data, a control method for the apparatus, and a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives print data having a printing condition, and a change receiving unit that receives a change in the printing condition before the reception of the printing data is completed. And reflecting means for reflecting the change in the accepted print condition in the print condition of the print data after the print data is received.

  According to the present invention, when the user tries to change the print condition when receiving the print data, the print condition can be changed in a timely manner.

1 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an image forming system including an MFP as an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram used to explain the configuration of print data received by the MFP in FIG. 1 from a host PC and the timing for receiving a change in print conditions for the print data. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the MFP in FIG. 1. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the operation display part in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a host PC in FIG. 1. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of pre-reception printing condition change processing executed by the CPU of the MFP in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining a method of changing printing conditions on the display unit in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an MFP as an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram used for explaining a timing for receiving a change in printing condition in each of a plurality of indwelling print data received by a plurality of printing condition change management units in FIG. 8. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the multiple printing condition change process performed by CPU in FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing condition change process for printing condition change uninstructed print data executed in step S1005 of FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of merge processing executed in step S1105 of FIG. 11. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing condition change process for changing a printing condition of print data received by a conventional image forming apparatus. It is a figure used in order to explain the determined printing condition displayed on the operation display unit in steps S1305 and S1306 in FIG. 13 and the changed printing condition. FIG. 10 is a diagram used for explaining timing for changing print conditions of print data in a conventional image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an image forming system 100 including an MFP 101 as an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  An image forming system 100 in FIG. 1 includes an MFP 101 and a host PC 102, and the MFP 101 and the host PC 102 are connected to each other via a network 103. In the present embodiment, the MFP 101 receives the print data 200 (FIG. 2A) from the host PC 102 and stores the received print data 200 in, for example, an external memory 303 described later. The print data 200 includes a header part printing condition 201, PDL data 202, and a footer part printing condition 203. The MFP 101 sequentially receives the header part printing condition 201, the PDL data 202, and the footer part printing condition 203.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the MFP 101 in FIG.

  3 includes a control unit 301, an operation display unit 302, an external memory 303, a printer device 304, and a scanner device 305.

  The control unit 301 includes an input / output unit 306, a buffer 307, an operation display unit I / F 308, a memory I / F 309, a CPU 310, a program ROM 311, a RAM 312, and an NVRAM 313. The NVRAM 313 stores user information 332. The control unit 301 includes a bitmap image transfer unit 314, an engine I / F 315, a bitmap image reception unit 316, and a scanner I / F 317. Each component of the control unit 301 is connected to each other via a system bus 333. The printer device 304 has an engine control unit 318, and the scanner device 305 has a scanner control unit 319.

  The program ROM 311 includes a printing condition interpretation unit 320, a PDL data interpretation unit 321, an image information generation unit 322, a bitmap image expansion unit 323, an image compression / decompression unit 324, and an image data printing unit 325. The program ROM 311 includes an image data transmission unit 326, an image data reading unit 327, an indwelling data management unit 328, a printing condition change management unit 329a, a post-reception printing condition change management unit 329b, a user management unit 330, and a user authentication unit 331. Have.

  The operation display unit I / F 308 connects the control unit 301 and the operation display unit 302, and the memory I / F 309 connects the control unit 301 and the external memory 303. The engine I / F 315 connects the printer device 304 and the bitmap image transfer unit 314, and the scanner I / F 317 connects the scanner device 305 and the bitmap image reception unit 316.

  The operation display unit 302 includes a display unit 401, a start button 402, a reset button 403, a power button 404, a ten key 405, a direction key 406, a switching button 407, a transmission button 408, and a login button 409 (FIG. 4). A display unit 401 displays a list of print data stored in the external memory 303, status information of the MFP 101, a print status, and the like. The display unit 401 may have a touch panel function. In this case, the user operates the soft keys displayed on the display unit 401 to input various instructions, and the MFP 101 receives various instructions from the user. A start button 402 is pressed when the user gives an instruction to start copying or scanning a document. The reset button 403 is pressed, for example, when resetting the number of copies once input by the user.

  A power button 404 is pressed when the MFP 101 is turned on / off. The numeric keypad 405 is operated, for example, when the user inputs the number of copies of a document. The direction key 406 includes a selection key 406a and an enter key 406b. The selection key 406a is operated, for example, when selecting predetermined print data from a list of print data displayed on the display unit 401, and the decision key 406b is pressed when printing the selected predetermined print data. . The switch button 407 is pressed when the user switches between the copy function, the print function, the scanner function, and the like of the MFP 101, for example.

  The transmission button 408 is pressed when, for example, image data or the like is transmitted from the MFP 101 to the host PC 102. A login button 409 is pressed when the user uses the MFP 101. When the login button 409 is pressed, for example, input of an ID (hereinafter referred to as “MFP ID”) and a password is requested, and when the user inputs the MFP ID and password and presses the enter key 406b, the MFP 101 Start the authentication process. Specifically, when the MFP ID and password input by the user match the user information 332 stored in the NVRAM 313 in advance, the authentication process is executed, and the user can use the MFP 101.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the external memory 303 stores print data received from the host PC 102 (hereinafter referred to as “in-place print data”) and various setting information of the MFP 101. The printer device 304 prints image data on a recording sheet. The scanner device 305 reads an original and generates bitmap data as image data corresponding to the read original. The input / output unit 306 is connected to the network 103 via the communication line 334 and receives various data from the host PC 102 or transmits various data to the host PC 102. The buffer 307 temporarily stores data used for communication with the host PC 102.

  The CPU 310 controls the MFP 101 based on various programs stored in the program ROM 311. A RAM 312 is a work memory of the CPU 310 and stores calculation data and various programs of the CPU 310. The NVRAM 313 is a non-volatile storage medium. The bitmap image transfer unit 314 transfers the bitmap data to the printer device 304 in order to print the bitmap data stored in the external memory 303. The bitmap image reception unit 316 receives the bitmap data generated by the scanner device 305 and transfers the bitmap data to the buffer 307 for transmission to the host PC 102, for example.

  The engine control unit 318 controls the printer device 304. The printer device 304 controlled by the engine control unit 318 supplies recording paper into the printer device 304, prints image data on the recording paper, and discharges the recording paper from the printer device 304. A scanner control unit 319 controls the scanner device 305. The scanner device 305 controlled by the scanner control unit 319 reads an original and generates image data corresponding to the original.

  The print condition interpretation unit 320 acquires the header part print condition 201 and the footer part print condition 203 from the print data 200 and interprets them. The PDL data interpretation unit 321 acquires the PDL data 202 from the print data 200 and interprets it. The image information generation unit 322 generates an image object as intermediate image data based on the PDL data. The bitmap image development unit 323 generates bitmap data based on the image object generated by the image information generation unit 322. The image compression / decompression unit 324 compresses / decompresses bitmap data.

  The image data printing unit 325 handles bitmap data to be printed by the printer device 304. For example, the image data printing unit 325 divides a plurality of pieces of image data into a plurality of bands, and transmits the image data for each band to the printer device 304. For example, the image data transmission unit 326 controls transmission processing for transmitting the bitmap data generated by the scanner device 305 to the host PC 102. An image data reading unit 327 controls reading processing in which the scanner device 305 reads a document. Specifically, when the scanner device 305 reads a document for one page for each of a plurality of bands, the image data reading unit 327 adds up the image data corresponding to each of the read plurality of bands to add one page. Image data corresponding to the original is generated.

  The indwelling data management unit 328 manages indwelling print data stored in the external memory 303, for example, as a list. The printing condition change management unit 329a accepts a user instruction regarding a change in printing conditions of indwelling print data before reception of indwelling print data is completed. The post-reception print condition change management unit 329b accepts a user instruction regarding a change in the print condition of the indwelling print data after reception of the indwelling print data is completed. For example, the user management unit 330 manages the change of individual user information included in the user information 332 and the addition of new user information to the user information 332. The user authentication unit 331 executes user authentication based on the MFP ID and password input from the user and the user information 332.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the host PC 102 in FIG.

  The host PC 102 in FIG. 5 includes a PC control unit 501, a keyboard 502, a display 503, and an external memory 504. The PC control unit 501 includes a CPU 505, a RAM 506, a program ROM 507, a keyboard controller 508, a display controller 509, a memory controller 510, and an input / output unit 511. Each component of the PC control unit 501 is connected to each other via a system bus 512. The RAM 506 stores an application program 513 and a printer driver 517 including a PDL print data generation unit 514, a print condition generation unit 515, and an indwelling setting unit 516.

  The keyboard 502, the display 503, and the external memory 504 are connected to the keyboard controller 508, the display controller 509, and the memory controller 510, respectively. The input / output unit 511 is connected to the network 103 via the communication line 518 and receives data from the MFP 101 or transmits data to the MFP 101.

  The keyboard 502 is controlled by the keyboard controller 508 and receives various instructions from the user. The display 503 is controlled by the display controller 509 and displays, for example, bitmap data. The external memory 504 is controlled by the memory controller 510 and stores, for example, image data, various setting information of the host PC 102, and the like. The CPU 505 controls the host PC 102 based on various programs stored in the program ROM 507. A RAM 506 is a work memory of the CPU 505, and stores calculation data and various programs of the CPU 505.

  The application program 513 is a print application, for example, and is activated when image data is transmitted to the MFP 101. A printer driver 517 is a control program for the printer device 304. A PDL print data generation unit 514 generates PDL data corresponding to image data to be printed. A printing condition generation unit 515 generates PJL data corresponding to various printing conditions when printing image data. The header part printing condition 201 and the footer part printing condition 203 include the generated PJL data. For example, the PJL data corresponds to a printing condition 700 described later. The indwelling setting unit 516 sets whether to set the print data as indwelling print data.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of pre-reception printing condition change processing executed by the CPU 310 of the MFP 101 in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, first, reception of print data is started (step S601). The received print data includes a print condition 700 (FIG. 7A), and each print condition of the print condition 700 is included in the header part print condition 201 and the footer part print condition 202. The printing condition 700 includes a printing copy number condition 701, a color mode condition 702, a size condition 703, a duplex printing condition 704, an N-up condition 705, a paper feed tray condition 706, a recording paper type condition 707, and a sort printing condition 708. Specifically, “1 copy” is set in the print number condition 701, “color” is set in the color mode condition 702, “A4” is set in the size condition 703, and “2” is set in the double-sided print condition 704. “No” is set, and the N-up condition 705 is set to “4 up”. In addition, “tray” is set as the paper feed destination condition 706, “plain paper” is set as the recording paper type condition 707, and “no” is set as the sort print condition 708.

  Returning to FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the reception of the print data is completed (step S602). If the reception of the print data is not completed as a result of the determination in step S602, the print condition 700 cannot be displayed on the display unit 401. Therefore, the pre-reception change acceptance screen 710 (FIG. 7B) is displayed on the display unit 401. (Step S603).

  The pre-reception change acceptance screen 710 includes a printing number condition 711, a color mode condition 712, a size condition 713, a duplex printing condition 714, an N-up condition 715, a paper feed tray condition 716, a recording paper type condition 717, and a sort printing condition 718. Indicates conditions. “Not set” is set for each condition. The user inputs new conditions by changing the conditions on the pre-reception change acceptance screen 710. For example, the user inputs “2 copies” as the print copy condition 711, inputs “Yes” as the duplex printing condition 714, and inputs “Yes” as the sort print condition 718. “Not set” set in the color mode condition 712, the size condition 713, the N-up condition 715, the paper feed tray condition 716, the recording paper type condition 717, and the sort printing condition 718 is not changed.

  When the input of each condition is completed, a post-input screen 720 (FIG. 7C) showing each changed condition is displayed on the display unit 401. The post-input screen 720 displays the conditions of the number of copies condition 721, the color mode condition 722, the size condition 723, the duplex printing condition 724, the N-up condition 725, the paper feed tray condition 726, the recording paper type condition 727, and the sort printing condition 728. Show. At this time, “2 copies” is set in the print copy number condition 721, “Yes” is set in the duplex print condition 724, and “Yes” is set in the sort print condition 728. “Not set” is set in the color mode condition 722, the size condition 723, the N-up condition 725, the paper feed tray condition 726, and the recording paper type condition 727. After confirming the screen 720 after input, the user presses the enter key 406b.

  Returning to FIG. 6, when it is detected that the enter key 406b is pressed (step S604), it is determined whether or not the reception of the print data is completed (step S605). If it is determined in step S605 that reception of print data has not been completed, the process returns to step S605. On the other hand, when reception of the print data is completed, the print condition 700 and the print conditions displayed on the post-input screen 720 are merged to generate a post-change print condition 730 as the post-change print condition (step S606). .

  Specifically, the print condition corresponding to each print condition for which “not set” is set in the post-input screen 720 is not changed, and each print condition for which “other than set” is set in the post-input screen 720 is set. Corresponding printing conditions are changed. The print conditions constituting the print condition 700 are used as print conditions corresponding to the print conditions for which “not set” is set in the post-input screen 720. For example, when the printing conditions 700 and the printing conditions displayed on the post-input screen 720 are merged, the printing number condition 721, the duplex printing condition 724, and the sorting printing condition are included in the printing number condition, the duplex printing condition, and the sorting printing condition. 728 is used as the changed printing condition. For color mode conditions, size conditions, N-up conditions, paper feed tray conditions, and recording paper type conditions, color mode conditions 702 of printing conditions 700, size conditions 703, N-up conditions 705, paper feed tray conditions 706, and recording paper The type condition 707 is used as the changed printing condition.

  If “not set” is set in all the printing conditions on the post-input screen 720, all the printing conditions in the printing condition 700 are not changed. That is, when the user does not change the print condition of the print data received by the MFP 101, the user may set “not set” for all the print conditions on the post-input screen 720.

  Subsequent to step S606, the printing conditions included in the header part printing condition 201 and the footer part printing condition 202 constituting the print data received in step S605 are rewritten based on the printing conditions of the changed printing condition 730 (step S607). Thereafter, this process is terminated.

  If the reception of the print data is completed as a result of the determination in step S602, the printing condition 700 is displayed on the display unit 401 (step S608), and the user changes the printing condition 700 and inputs a new condition (step S608). S609). When a new condition is input, the changed printing condition 730 is displayed on the display unit 401. The user confirms the changed printing condition 730 and presses the enter key 406b. When the CPU 310 detects that the enter key 406b is pressed (step S610), the process proceeds to step S607.

  According to the process of FIG. 6, when the reception of the print data is not completed (NO in step S602), the pre-reception change acceptance screen 710 is displayed on the display unit 401 (step S603). Each condition on the pre-reception change acceptance screen 710 is changed, and the print condition 700 and each print condition displayed on the post-input screen 720 indicating each changed condition are merged to obtain a post-change print condition 730 as a print condition after change. Is generated (step S606). Thereafter, the changed printing condition 730 is reflected in the received print data (step S607). That is, even before the reception of the print data is completed, the change of the print condition from the user is accepted (FIG. 2B). This eliminates the need to wait for the completion of reception of print data in order to change the printing conditions. As a result, when the user tries to change the printing conditions, the printing conditions can be changed in a timely manner.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The configuration and operation of the second embodiment of the present invention are basically the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and there are a plurality of indwelling print data received by the MFP 101 and a plurality of indwelling print data. Is different from the first embodiment in that each is associated with each user. Hereinafter, the description of the same configuration and operation as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and a description of the different configuration and operation will be given.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the MFP 101 as an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The components 301 to 328 and 329b to 331 of the MFP 101 in FIG. 8 are the same as the components 301 to 328 and 329b to 331 of the MFP 101 in FIG. 8 includes a plurality of print condition change management units 801 in place of the print condition change management unit 329a in FIG. 3, and in addition to the components of the MFP 101 in FIG. A management unit 803 is provided.

  When the MFP 101 receives a plurality of indwelling print data, the plurality of print condition change management unit 801 accepts a user instruction regarding a change in print conditions corresponding to each of the plurality of indwelling print data before the reception is completed. The user-specific print condition change management unit 802 receives the user instruction received by the multiple print condition change management unit 801, that is, the print condition after changing the indwelling print data desired by the user (hereinafter referred to as “desired print condition”). Manage for each user.

  Specifically, the MFP 101 requests user authentication for the user, and the user logs into the MFP 101 by inputting the MFP ID and password. The MFP 101 executes user authentication based on the MFP ID and password and the user information. The user who has been authenticated (hereinafter referred to as “login user”) instructs the MFP 101 to change the printing conditions, and the multiple printing condition change management unit 801 accepts the change of the printing conditions. At this time, the user-specific print condition change management unit 802 manages the desired print condition for each user by associating the desired print condition with the MFP ID.

  The merge management unit 803 merges the print conditions (hereinafter referred to as “initial print conditions”) of the indwelling print data and the desired print conditions to generate a changed print condition, and sets the changed print condition in the print data. reflect.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram used for explaining the timing for accepting the change of the printing condition in each of the plurality of indwelling print data received by the plurality of printing condition change management unit 801 in FIG. In FIG. 9, it is assumed that three indwelling print data 901 to 903 are received sequentially.

  First, the MFP 101 starts receiving the indwelling print data 901 and completes the reception of the indwelling print data 901 when a predetermined time has elapsed. The multiple printing condition change management unit 801 accepts desired printing conditions for the indwelling print data 901 until reception of the indwelling print data 901 is completed. The merge management unit 803 merges the initial print condition of the indwelling print data 901 and the desired print condition of the indwelling print data 901 to generate a changed print condition, and reflects the changed print condition in the indwelling print data 901 ( FIG. 9 (A)).

  When the MFP 101 completes the reception of the indwelling print data 901, the MFP 101 starts receiving the indwelling print data 902 and completes the reception of the indwelling print data 902 when a predetermined time has elapsed. The multiple printing condition change management unit 801 accepts the desired printing condition of the indwelling print data 902 after receiving the desired printing condition of the indwelling printing data 901 until reception of the indwelling printing data 902 is completed. The merge management unit 803 merges the initial print condition of the indwelling print data 902 and the desired print condition of the indwelling print data 902 to generate a changed print condition, and reflects the changed print condition in the indwelling print data 902 ( FIG. 9B).

  When the MFP 101 completes the reception of the indwelling print data 902, the MFP 101 starts receiving the indwelling print data 903, and completes the reception of the indwelling print data 903 when a predetermined time has elapsed. The multiple print condition change management unit 801 accepts the desired print condition of the indwelling print data 903 after receiving the desired print condition of the indwelling print data 902 until reception of the indwelling print data 903 is completed. The merge management unit 803 merges the initial print condition of the indwelling print data 903 and the desired print condition of the indwelling print data 903 to generate a changed print condition, and reflects the changed print condition in the indwelling print data 903 ( FIG. 9C).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the multiple printing condition changing process executed by the CPU 310 in FIG. In the process of FIG. 10, it is assumed that the MFP 101 receives a plurality of print data transmitted from the host PC 102 based on an instruction from one user.

  In FIG. 10, first, user authentication is executed (step S1001). Next, the multiple printing condition change management unit 801 accepts at least one desired printing condition, and the user-specific printing condition change management unit 802 associates the accepted printing condition with the login user (step S1002).

  The CPU 310 acquires the number of desired printing conditions associated with the login user (step S1003), and the number of desired printing conditions associated with the login user, the number of print data being received, and the number of print data that have been received. It is determined whether or not the total number matches. That is, it is determined whether or not there is indwelling print data (hereinafter referred to as “print condition change non-instructed print data”) in which the desired print condition is not received in the indwelling print data that is being received or has been received (step S <b> 5). S1004). For example, when the total number of print data being received and the number of print data that have been received is greater than the number of desired print conditions associated with the login user, print condition change non-instruction print data may exist. Recognize.

  As a result of the determination in step S1004, when there is no print condition change uninstructed print data, each desired print condition associated with the login user is reflected in each received print data in the same manner as the process in FIG. Exit. On the other hand, when print condition change non-instruction print data exists, a print condition change non-instruction print data print condition change process (FIG. 11) described later is executed to accept a desired print condition of print condition change non-instruction print data ( Step S1005), the process returns to Step S1002.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print condition change process for the print condition change uninstructed print data executed in step S1005 of FIG. For example, when there are a plurality of print condition change non-instruction print data, the process of FIG. 11 is executed for each print condition change non-instruction print data.

  In FIG. 11, first, it is determined whether or not the reception of the print condition change uninstructed print data is completed (step S1101). If it is determined in step S1101 that the print condition change non-instruction print data has not been received, the initial print condition of the print condition change non-instruction print data cannot be displayed on the display unit 401. The information is displayed on the display unit 401 (step S1102). When the user changes each print condition displayed on the pre-reception change acceptance screen 710 and inputs a desired print condition, a post-input screen 720 is displayed on the display unit 401. The user confirms the screen 720 after input and presses the enter key 406b. When the CPU 310 detects that the enter key 406b is pressed (step S1103), it accepts the desired print condition of the print condition change non-instructed print data displayed on the post-input screen 720 (step S1104). Thereafter, the desired print condition of the print condition change non-instructed print data generated by executing the merge process of FIG. 12 to be described later is reflected in the received print condition change non-instructed print data (step S1105), and this process ends. To do.

  As a result of the determination in step S1101, when the reception of the print condition change non-instruction print data is completed, the print condition 700 is displayed on the display unit 401 as the initial print condition of the print condition change non-instruction print data (step S1106). The user changes the print condition 700 of the print condition change uninstructed print data displayed on the display unit 401 to a new condition (step S1107). When the print condition 700 is changed to a new condition, the display unit 401 displays the post-change print condition 730 of the print condition change non-instruction print data. The user confirms the changed printing condition 730 and presses the enter key 406b. When the CPU 310 detects that the enter key 406b is pressed (step S1108), the changed printing condition 730 is reflected in the printing condition change non-instruction print data (step S1109), and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the merge process executed in step S1105 of FIG.

  In FIG. 12, first, it is determined whether or not the reception of the print condition change uninstructed print data is completed (step S1201). As a result of the determination in step S1201, when the reception of the print condition change uninstructed print data is not completed, the process returns to step S1201. On the other hand, when the reception of the print condition change non-instruction print data is completed, the initial print condition of the print condition change non-instruction print data and the desired print condition of the print condition change non-instruction print data are set in step S606 (FIG. 6) described above. Merge as well. When the respective conditions are merged, the post-change print condition 730 of the print condition change uninstructed print data is generated (step S1202). Thereafter, the post-change print condition 730 of the print condition change non-instruction print data is reflected in the received print condition change non-instruction print data (step S1203), and this process ends.

  According to the processing in FIGS. 10 to 12, the same effect as the processing in FIG. 6 can be achieved for each print data.

  Further, according to the processing of FIG. 10, since user authentication is executed (step S1001), the desired print conditions accepted by the MFP 101 can be associated with the login user. As a result, a user other than the logged-in user is not associated with the desired printing conditions received by the multiple printing condition change management unit 801, so that it is possible to prevent the desired printing conditions unintended by the logged-in user from being reflected in the print data. .

  In the process of FIG. 10, the MFP 101 receives a plurality of print data transmitted from the host PC 102 based on an instruction of one user. However, the MFP 101 receives a plurality of print data transmitted from the host PC 102 based on instructions of a plurality of users. Print data may be received. In this case, the user-specific print condition change management unit 802 receives the received print condition so that the desired print condition managed for each user is reflected in the print data transmitted from the host PC 102 in accordance with the user instruction associated with the desired print condition. The print data needs to be managed for each user. Correspondingly, for example, the host PC 102 requests the user to log in, and the user logs in by inputting an ID (hereinafter referred to as “PC ID”) and a password, and transmits the print data to the MFP 101. Instruct. The host PC 102 adds the PC ID to the transmitted print data. When the MFP 101 accepts a change in printing conditions, the MFP 101 requests the login user to input an ID. If the ID input by the login user matches the PC ID added to the print data, the received print data is It is managed in association with the login user. As a result, even when there are a plurality of users instructing to change the printing conditions, the instructions for changing the printing conditions of each user can be reliably reflected in the print data that each user desires to print.

  The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read the program. It can also be realized by processing executed in the above. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

101 MFP
310 CPU
320 Print condition interpretation unit 328 Indwelling data management unit 329a Print condition change management unit 401 Display unit

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving print data having printing conditions;
Change accepting means for accepting a change in the printing conditions before the reception of the print data is completed;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a reflecting unit that reflects the change in the accepted print condition in the print condition of the print data after the print data is received.   When a plurality of the print data is received, the change of each print condition corresponding to each print data is accepted before each print data is received, and the change is accepted after each print data is received The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change in each printing condition is reflected in each printing condition included in each print data.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the image forming apparatus is used, a user authentication by login is requested to the user. A receiving step for receiving print data having printing conditions;
A change acceptance step for accepting a change in the printing conditions before the reception of the print data is completed;
And a reflecting step of reflecting the change in the accepted print condition in the print condition of the print data after the print data is received. A receiving step for receiving print data having printing conditions;
A change acceptance step for accepting a change in the printing conditions before the reception of the print data is completed;
A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image forming apparatus, comprising: reflecting a change in the accepted print condition in a print condition included in the print data after the print data is received .

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