JP2017069893A - Image formation apparatus, image formation method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus, an image formation method and program capable of suppress a situation in which a job of another user, belonging to the same group as a user who executes an interruption job, cannot be executed, because of the execution of the interruption job.SOLUTION: When a job is accepted, the job is stored into a RAM. Each job stored in the RAM is executed successively from a job stored earlier. When an interruption job is accepted interruption job processing is executed. In the interruption job processing, it is determine whether or not the interruption job of concern is an image formation job. If the interruption job is an image formation job, it is determined whether or not another user job which belongs to the same group as user information related to the interruption job, is stored in a RAM 23. When the other user job is stored in the RAM 23, the execution of the interruption job is suspended.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method executed by the image forming apparatus, and a program installed in a computer of the image forming apparatus.

  There is known an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) capable of executing a plurality of types of jobs such as an image forming job and an image reading job.

  In an image forming apparatus such as an MFP, when a job is input, the input job is executed. When a new job is input during job execution, the newly input job is stored in the queue. Jobs stored in the queue (queue job) are executed in order from the previously stored job. Further, in a model having an interrupt job execution function, even if a queue job exists, when the interrupt job is input, the interrupt job is executed with priority over the queue job.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, for each group to which a plurality of users belong, an upper limit is set for the amount of consumables such as sheets on which images are to be formed. Some have a function of restricting the use of consumables by users of the group. For example, when a new job is received by a user input, if the amount of consumables used by the new job exceeds the amount of consumables used by the group to which the user belongs, execution of the new job is restricted. The

  The usable amount of consumables (hereinafter simply referred to as “usable amount”) is the sum of the amount of consumables used by jobs already executed and the amount of consumables used by unexecuted queue jobs. Calculated by subtracting from the upper limit. Conventionally, if the new job is an urgent interrupt job, the usable amount is calculated by subtracting only the consumable usage amount from the already executed job from the upper limit of the usage amount, and the interrupt job is executed. Prioritizing has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-46239 A

  However, when an interrupt job is executed by the method according to the conventional proposal, the usable amount decreases because the interrupt job is executed, and a queue job of another user belonging to the same group as the user who executed the interrupt job is queued. May be unable to execute another user's queue job.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program that can prevent a job of another user belonging to the same group as the user who executed the interrupt job from being disabled because the interrupt job has been executed. It is to be.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives a job including user information, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a storage unit, and a control unit. The job type includes an image forming job in which image formation is performed using the image forming unit with the use of consumables, and the control unit stores the job received by the receiving unit in the storage unit. Job storage processing to be stored, job execution processing to execute jobs stored in the storage unit in order from the previously stored job, and group information to which a plurality of user information belongs, images related to each of a plurality of user information A cumulative usage storage process is performed in which the usage amount of consumables associated with the execution of the forming job is summed, and the cumulative usage amount that is the cumulative total of the combined usage amount is stored in the storage unit. When the image forming job is executed, the sum of the usage amount of the consumables by the execution of the image forming job and the cumulative usage amount of the group information to which the user information related to the image forming job belongs is set for the group information. If the upper limit usage amount is exceeded, execution of the image forming job is suspended, and an interrupt instruction for executing the predetermined image forming job and the predetermined image forming job before the job to be executed by the job execution process is received If an image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the received predetermined image forming job is stored in the storage unit, the received When execution of a predetermined image forming job is suspended and an image forming job related to different user information is not stored in the storage unit Controls the image forming unit so as to execute than a job to be the predetermined image forming job accepted and executed in the job execution process first.

  According to this configuration, when a job is received by the receiving unit, the job is stored in the storage unit. The jobs stored in the storage unit are executed in order from the previously stored job. When the job is an image forming job, when the image forming job is executed, the consumption amount of consumables accompanying the execution of the image forming job is calculated. The consumption amount of consumables is managed for each group information. That is, the consumption amount of consumables associated with the execution of the image forming job associated with each of the plurality of user information included in the same group information is added up, and the accumulated usage amount is stored in the storage unit as the accumulated usage amount. Is done.

  When the image forming job is executed, the sum of the consumption amount of the consumable used by the execution of the image forming job and the accumulated usage amount of the group information to which the user information related to the image forming job belongs is calculated. If the total exceeds the upper limit usage set for the group information, the execution of the image forming job is suspended. Thereby, when the usage amount of the consumables in the entire group related to the group information reaches the upper limit usage amount, new usage of the consumables by the users belonging to the group can be restricted.

  When the reception unit receives a predetermined image forming job and an interrupt instruction for executing the predetermined image forming job before a job stored in the storage unit, the predetermined image forming job according to the interrupt instruction, That is, it is determined whether or not an image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the interrupt job is stored in the storage unit.

  When an image forming job related to another user information is stored in the storage unit, execution of the predetermined image forming job related to the interrupt instruction is suspended. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an image forming job (queue job) of another user belonging to the same group as the user related to the different user information, that is, the user who has received the interrupt instruction from being accepted, from being executed.

  On the other hand, when an image forming job related to different user information is not stored in the storage unit, a predetermined image forming job related to the interrupt instruction is executed before the image forming job stored in the storage unit. Thereby, execution of a predetermined image forming job can be secured.

  The present invention can be realized not only in the form of an image forming apparatus but also in the form of an image forming method executed by the image forming apparatus and a program installed in the computer of the image forming apparatus, for example. it can.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a job of another user belonging to the same group as the user who executed the interrupt job from being executed because the interrupt job has been executed.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a job reception process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a job execution process. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a flow of interrupt job processing. 12 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a flow of interrupt job processing.

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

<Electric configuration of MFP>
An MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 1 is a multifunction machine having a printer function and a scanner function. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes an image forming unit 11, an image reading unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, and a control unit 16.

  The image forming unit 11 forms an image (color image or monochrome image) related to the image data on a sheet. The image forming method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

  The image reading unit 12 includes an image sensor, an AFE (Analog Front End), and the like. In the image reading unit 12, an image of a document is read by the image sensor, an analog image signal is output from the image sensor, and the analog image signal is converted into digital image data by AFE.

  The operation unit 13 includes operation buttons (for example, a start key, a numeric keypad, and a cursor key). Various instructions can be input to the operation unit 13 by operating the operation buttons.

  The display part 14 consists of a liquid crystal display, for example. Various information is displayed on the display unit 14.

  The communication unit 15 includes a circuit for network communication via the LAN 2 and the like. The LAN 2 may be configured by a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, or may be configured by both a wired LAN and a wireless LAN. An external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) 3 is connected to the LAN 2. Two-way communication via the LAN 2 is possible between the MFP 1 and the PC 3. The communication unit 15 may include a modem with a built-in NCU (Network Control Unit) for facsimile communication via a telephone line network.

  The control unit 16 includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23 (an example of a storage unit), and the like.

  The ASIC 21 includes a CPU 24 (an example of a control unit). The ASIC 21 receives image data acquired by the image reading unit 12, an operation signal indicating the operation content of the operation unit 13, and the like. The CPU 24 controls the image forming unit 11, the image reading unit 12, and the display unit 14 by executing a program stored in the ROM 22 based on a signal input to the ASIC 21 and the like, and communicates the communication unit 15 with the communication unit 15. To control for. When the control (program) is executed by the CPU 24, the RAM 23 is used as a work area. The RAM 23 may include a nonvolatile memory such as NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM).

<Job reception process>
Jobs that can be executed by the MFP 1 include, for example, a print job that uses a print function, a scan job that uses a scanner function, and a copy job that uses a scanner function and a printer function.

  When executing a print job, the user operates the PC 3 to select a file to be imaged. Thereafter, when the user operates the PC 3 to instruct execution of the print job, a print job related to image formation of the previously selected file (image data) is transmitted from the PC 3 to the MFP 1. When the communication unit 15 of the MFP 1 receives the print job, the print job is received by the communication unit 15 and the print job is executed. By executing the print job, an image related to the file is formed on the sheet. In this case, the communication unit 15 is an example of a reception unit.

  When executing the scan job, the user sets a sheet (original) as a target of the scan job at a predetermined setting position of the MFP 1. Thereafter, when the user operates the operation unit 13 to instruct execution of the scan job, the operation unit 13 receives the scan job and executes the scan job. In this case, the operation unit 13 is an example of a reception unit. Also, the scan job execution instruction may be input from the PC 3 to the communication unit 15 by the user operating the PC 3. In this case, a scan job is received by the communication unit 15, and the communication unit 15 is an example of a reception unit. By executing the scan job, the image of the sheet set at the set position is read by the image reading unit 12, and image data generated by the reading is transmitted from the MFP 1 to the PC 3.

  When executing the copy job, the user sets, for example, a copy source sheet (original) as a target of the copy job at a predetermined set position of the MFP 1. Thereafter, when the user operates the operation unit 13 to instruct execution of a copy job, the copy job is received by the operation unit 13 and the copy job is executed. In this case, the operation unit 13 is an example of a reception unit. By executing the copy job, the image of the sheet set at the set position is read by the image reading unit 12, and an image related to the image data generated by the reading, that is, the same image as the read image is formed on the sheet. The

  The job (print job and scan job) received by the communication unit 15 includes user information related to the user who transmitted the job. The user information is a user ID assigned to the user who uses the MFP 1. When a job (scan job and copy job) is received by the operation unit 13, for example, when the user operates the operation unit 13, user information of the user is input to the operation unit 13. The operation for inputting the user information to the operation unit 13 may be, for example, an operation of an operation button provided in the operation unit 13, or an NFC (Near Field Communication) provided in the operation unit 13 by the user. ) Part may be an operation of holding an ID card or the like in which a user ID is stored (an operation for performing short-range wireless communication between the NFC part and the ID card).

  In the MFP 1, when a new job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 during execution of the job, the new job is stored in the RAM 23. In principle, the jobs (queue jobs) stored in the RAM 23 are executed sequentially from the jobs stored in the RAM 23 first. The MFP 1 also has an interrupt job execution function. When an interrupt job is input, the interrupt job has priority over the job stored in the RAM 23 even if an unexecuted job is stored in the RAM 23. Executed. The interrupt job is a job accepted by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 with an interrupt instruction. The interrupt instruction is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 when the user operates the operation unit 13 or the PC 3 when a job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15, respectively.

  In the MFP 1, the CPU 24 executes the job reception process shown in FIG.

  In the job reception process, the CPU 24 determines whether a job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 (S1).

  When the job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 (S1: YES), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the job is an interrupt job (S2).

  When the job received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 is an interrupt job (S2: YES), the CPU 24 executes an interrupt job process (S3) and ends the job reception process. The interrupt job process will be described later.

  When the job received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 is not an interrupt job (S2: NO), the CPU 24 stores the received job in the RAM 23 in association with the user information (S4), and receives the job. The process ends.

<Job execution processing>
When the job is not executed, the CPU 24 executes the job execution process shown in FIG.

  In the job execution process, the CPU 24 checks whether or not a non-hold job is stored in the RAM 23 (S11).

  In the MFP 1, an upper limit of the amount of used sheets (number of sheets used) on which an image is formed is set for each group to which a plurality of users belong. When the usage amount of the entire group reaches the upper limit, the MFP 1 can restrict the use of the sheet by deferring the execution of the job using the sheet by the user of the group, that is, the print job and the copy job. . The RAM 23 stores, for each group (group information that is group identification information), user information of all users belonging to the group, an upper limit usage amount that is an upper limit of the usage amount of the seat, and existing seats by all users belonging to the group. A cumulative usage amount that is a cumulative usage amount is stored.

  If no non-hold job is stored in the RAM 23 (S11: NO), the CPU 24 ends the job execution process. Thereafter, the CPU 24 executes the job execution process again after a certain time has elapsed.

  When a non-holding job is stored in the RAM 23 (S11: YES), the CPU 24 selects a job stored first in the RAM 23 as a selection job among the non-holding jobs stored in the RAM 23 ( S12).

  Next, the CPU 24 specifies a group to which user information related to the selected job belongs (S13). The group to which the user information related to the selected job belongs is specified by specifying to which group the user information of the selected job belongs.

  Then, the CPU 24 totals the sheet usage amount (sheet usage amount by the selection job) when the selection job is executed and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the selection job belongs, and the total is the group usage amount. It is determined whether or not the upper limit usage is exceeded (S14).

  When the total exceeds the upper limit usage amount of the group (S14: YES), the CPU 24 suspends execution of the selected job (S15). In this case, the CPU 24 determines again whether or not a non-hold job is stored in the RAM 23 (S11).

  When the sum of the sheet usage amount and the group cumulative usage amount is less than or equal to the upper limit usage amount of the group (S14: NO), the CPU 24 executes the selection job (S16).

  Thereafter, the CPU 24 waits for the end of the selected job (S17).

  When the selected job ends, the CPU 24 deletes the selected job from the RAM 23 (S18).

  Further, the CPU 24 adds the sheet usage amount of the selected job to the cumulative usage amount of the group before the execution of the selected job, and updates the cumulative usage amount of the group to the total value (S19). Thereafter, the CPU 24 determines again whether or not a non-hold job is stored in the RAM 23 (S11).

<Interrupt job processing>
The flow of interrupt job processing executed in step S3 of FIG. 2 is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

  In the interrupt job process, the CPU 24 first stores the interrupt job received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 in the RAM 23 in association with the user information (S301).

  Next, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the selected job is being executed (S302).

  When the selected job is being executed (S302: YES), the CPU 24 waits for processing until the selected job is completed.

  If the selected job is not being executed (S302: NO), the CPU 24 determines whether or not the interrupt job is an image forming job involving use of a sheet, that is, a print job or a copy job (S303).

  When the interrupt job is an image forming job (S303: YES), the CPU 24 identifies the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs (S304).

  Then, the CPU 24 checks whether or not another user job that is a job related to another user information of the identified group is stored in the RAM 23 (S305).

  When another user job is stored in the RAM 23 (S305: YES), the CPU 24 uses the amount of sheet used when the interrupt job is executed (the amount of sheet used by the interrupt job) and when another user job is executed. The sheet usage (sheet usage by another user job) and the cumulative usage of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs are summed, and it is determined whether the total exceeds the upper limit usage of the group. (S306).

  When the total exceeds the upper limit usage amount of the group (S306: YES), the CPU 24 adds up the usage amount of the sheet by another user job and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs, and the total It is determined whether or not exceeds the upper limit usage amount of the group (S307).

  When the total exceeds the upper limit usage amount of the group (S307: YES), the CPU 24 prohibits execution of the interrupt job (S308) and ends the interrupt job process.

  When the sum of the sheet usage amount by another user job and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job does not exceed the upper limit usage amount of the group (S307: NO), the CPU 24 determines from the upper limit usage amount of the group. Whether or not to execute the interrupt job for the usable amount by subtracting the total of the usage amount of the sheet by another user job and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs, and using the subtracted value as the usable amount A screen display for inquiring the user is displayed on the display unit 14 (S309).

  In response to this screen display, when an instruction to execute the usable amount of interrupt jobs is input to the operation unit 13 (S310: YES), the CPU 24 executes the usable amount of interrupt jobs (S311). ). For example, when the number of sheets used by the interrupt job is 10 sheets and the usable amount is 7 sheets, the interrupt job is executed up to the use of 7 sheets.

  On the other hand, when an instruction not to execute the usable amount of interrupt jobs is input to the operation unit 13 in response to the screen display (S310: NO), the CPU 24 prohibits the execution of the interrupt jobs (S308). ), Interrupt job processing is terminated.

  In addition, the configuration may be such that the interrupt job for the usable amount is automatically executed without inquiring of the user whether or not the interrupt job for the usable amount is to be executed.

  When the CPU 24 executes the interrupt job for the usable amount, it waits for the end of the interrupt job (S312).

  When the interrupt job ends (S312: YES), the CPU 24 adds the sheet usage amount of the interrupt job to the cumulative usage amount of the group before the execution of the interrupt job, and updates the cumulative usage amount of the group to the total value. (S313), the interrupt job process is terminated.

  In this case, the interrupt job may be erased from the RAM 23, or the interrupt job is terminated midway, so the data of the already executed part in the interrupt job is erased from the RAM 23, and the data of the unexecuted part in the interrupt job is stored in the RAM 23. May be left behind.

  On the other hand, when the interrupt job is not an image forming job (S303: NO), the interrupt job is an image forming job, but another user job is not stored in the RAM 23 (S305: NO), or a sheet by the interrupt job If the total of the usage amount of the sheet, the usage amount of the sheet by another user job, and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs does not exceed the upper limit usage amount of the group (S306: NO), the CPU 24 The job is executed (S314).

  Then, the CPU 24 waits for the end of the interrupt job (S312), and when the interrupt job ends (S312: YES), the CPU 24 adds the sheet usage amount by the interrupt job to the accumulated usage amount of the group before the execution of the interrupt job. Then, the accumulated usage amount of the group is updated to the total value (S313), and the interrupt job processing is terminated.

<Effect>
As described above, when a job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15, the job is stored in the RAM 23. The jobs stored in the RAM 23 are executed in order from the previously stored job. When the job is an image forming job, when the image forming job is executed, the consumption amount of consumables accompanying the execution of the image forming job is calculated. The amount of consumables used is managed for each group. In other words, the consumption amounts of consumables associated with the execution of image forming jobs relating to each of a plurality of pieces of user information included in the same group are added together, and the accumulated usage amount is stored in the RAM 23 as the accumulated usage amount of the group. Is done.

  When executing the image forming job, the sum of the consumption amount of the consumables due to the execution of the image forming job and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the image forming job belongs is calculated. If the total exceeds the upper limit usage set for the group, the execution of the image forming job is suspended. Thereby, when the usage amount of the consumables in the entire group related to the group reaches the upper limit usage amount, the new usage of the consumables by the users belonging to the group can be restricted.

  If the interrupt job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 and the interrupt job is an image forming job, is another user job belonging to the same group as the user information related to the interrupt job stored in the RAM 23? It is determined whether or not.

  When another user job is stored in the RAM 23, execution of the interrupt job is suspended. As a result, it is possible to prevent another user job (queue job) from being executed.

  On the other hand, when another user job is not stored in the RAM 23, the interrupt job is executed prior to the image forming job stored in the RAM 23. Thereby, execution of the interrupt job can be secured.

  If the interrupt job is not an image forming job, for example, if the interrupt job is a scan job, there is no use of consumables associated with the execution of the interrupt job, so the interrupt job takes precedence over the job stored in the RAM 23. Executed. Thereby, execution of the interrupt job can be secured.

  Even if the interrupt job is an image forming job, the sum of the sheet usage by the interrupt job, the sheet usage by another user job, and the cumulative usage of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs is the sum of the group. If the upper limit usage amount is not exceeded, the interrupt job is executed with priority over the job stored in the RAM 23. Thereby, the execution of the interrupt job can be secured, and the execution of another user job after the execution of the interrupt job can be secured.

  When the interrupt job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15, the total of the usage amount of the sheet by another user job and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interruption job belongs is the upper limit usage amount of the group. If it exceeds the limit, execution of the interrupt job is prohibited. Thereby, execution of another user job can be secured.

  On the other hand, if the total of the usage amount of the sheet by another user job and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job does not exceed the upper limit usage amount of the group, The sum of the usage amount and the cumulative usage amount of the group to which the user information related to the interrupt job belongs is subtracted, and the interrupt job for the usable amount is executed using the subtracted value as the usable amount. Thereby, while ensuring execution of another user job, an interrupt job can be executed with priority over another user job as much as possible.

<Modification>
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sheet is taken up as an example of the consumable item in which the upper limit of the usage amount is set for each group. The consumable item for which the upper limit of the usage amount is set for each group may be other than the sheet, for example, a colorant such as ink or toner used for forming an image on the sheet by the image forming unit 11. Also good.

  When the MFP 1 is a model capable of forming a color image on a sheet, the colorant includes colorants of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The MFP 1 can form a color image on a sheet using colorants of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and can form a monochrome image on a sheet using only a black colorant. If the consumable for which the upper limit is set is a colorant, the upper limit usage is set for the total cumulative usage of the colorants of yellow, magenta, and cyan. An upper limit usage amount for the cumulative usage amount of the agent may be set.

  When executing a job related to color image formation (color image formation job), the usage amount of each colorant of yellow, magenta and cyan by execution of the color image formation job and user information related to the color image formation job are When the sum of the cumulative usage of the colorants for each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan of the group to which the group belongs is calculated, and the total exceeds the upper limit usage set for the colorants of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan The execution of the color image forming job is preferably suspended. On the other hand, when a job related to monochrome image formation (monochrome image formation job) is executed, the amount of black colorant used by the execution of the monochrome image formation job and the black coloration of the group to which the user information related to the monochrome image formation job belongs. When the total of the cumulative usage amount of the agent is calculated and the total exceeds the upper limit usage amount set for the monochrome colorant, the execution of the monochrome image forming job may be suspended. As a result, even if one of the color image forming job and the monochrome image forming job is suspended, it is possible to guarantee the other one.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation unit 13 is cited as an example of a reception unit. However, if the operation unit 13 interprets that execution commands for various jobs are received from the user, the ASIC 21 is used as a reception unit. As an example. That is, image data related to a copy job or scan job is received from the image reading unit 12 to the ASIC 21, and an execution instruction and user information related to the copy job or scan job are received from the operation unit 13 to the ASIC 21.

  In the above-described embodiment, a configuration is described in which, when an interrupt job is received by the operation unit 13 or the communication unit 15 during execution of the selected job, the execution of the interrupt job is waited until the selected job ends. An interrupt job may be executed by temporarily interrupting the selected job being executed. In this case, the portion where the selected job that has been temporarily suspended is not executed is re-registered in the RAM 23.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the CPU 24 executes each process has been described. However, the ASIC 21 may include a plurality of CPUs, and the plurality of CPUs may cooperate to execute each process.

  In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1 MFP
11 Image forming unit 13 Operation unit 15 Communication unit 23 RAM
24 CPU

Claims (9)

A reception unit for receiving a job including user information;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A storage unit;
A control unit,
The job type includes an image forming job in which image formation is performed using the image forming unit with use of consumables,
The controller is
Job storage processing for storing the job received by the reception unit in the storage unit;
Job execution processing for executing the job stored in the storage unit in order from the job stored in advance;
For the group information to which a plurality of user information belongs, the usage amount of the consumables accompanying the execution of the image forming job related to each of the plurality of user information is added up, and the cumulative usage amount that is the cumulative usage amount is added up. A cumulative usage storage process to be stored in the storage unit;
When the image forming job is executed in the job execution process, the sum of the consumption amount used by the execution of the image forming job and the cumulative usage amount of the group information to which the user information related to the image forming job belongs is calculated. If the upper limit usage set for the group information is exceeded, execution of the image forming job is suspended,
When the reception unit receives an interrupt instruction for executing the predetermined image forming job and the predetermined image forming job prior to the job to be executed by the job execution process, the received predetermined image forming job If the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the image forming job is stored in the storage unit, the received predetermined image forming job is executed. If the image forming job related to the other user information is not stored in the storage unit, the received predetermined image forming job is placed before the job to be executed by the job execution process. An image forming apparatus that controls the image forming unit to be executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The controller is
An interrupt instruction that causes the job and the job to be executed prior to the job to be executed by the job execution process is accepted by the accepting unit, and is accepted when the accepted job is not the image forming job. An image forming apparatus that controls the image forming unit to execute the job before the job to be executed by the job execution process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The controller is
The image forming job and the interrupt instruction are received by the receiving unit, and the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the received image forming job is stored in the storage unit. And stored in the group information, the usage amount of the consumable by execution of the image forming job related to the other user information, the usage amount of the consumable by execution of the accepted image forming job, and the group information. On the other hand, when the sum of the accumulated usage amount stored in the storage unit is less than the upper limit usage amount set for the group information, the received image forming job is executed as the job execution process. An image forming apparatus that controls the image forming unit to be executed prior to the target job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The controller is
The image forming job and the interrupt instruction are received by the receiving unit, and the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the received image forming job is stored in the storage unit. The sum of the consumption amount used by the execution of the image forming job related to the other user information and the cumulative usage amount stored in the storage unit with respect to the group information is An image forming apparatus that prohibits execution of the accepted image forming job when an upper limit usage amount set for group information is exceeded. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
The controller is
The image forming job and the interrupt instruction are received by the receiving unit, and the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the received image forming job is stored in the storage unit. The sum of the consumption amount used by the execution of the image forming job related to the other user information and the cumulative usage amount stored in the storage unit with respect to the group information is If it is less than the upper limit usage amount set for the group information, the accepted image forming job is transferred to the job execution process until the consumable of the difference between the total and the upper limit usage amount is used. An image forming apparatus that controls the image forming unit to be executed before the job to be executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
A display unit;
The controller is
The image forming job and the interrupt instruction are received by the receiving unit, and the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the received image forming job is stored in the storage unit. The sum of the consumption amount used by the execution of the image forming job related to the other user information and the cumulative usage amount stored in the storage unit with respect to the group information is If the consumption amount is less than the upper limit usage amount set for the group information, the received image forming job is executed until the consumable of the difference between the total and the upper limit usage amount is used. An image forming apparatus for causing a display for inquiring whether to execute the job before the target job to be displayed on the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The image forming job includes a first image forming job executed by the image forming unit with use of the first consumable item, and a second consumable item of a type different from the first consumable item by the image forming unit. And a second image forming job executed with use,
The controller is
In the cumulative usage amount storage process, the first consumable item and the second consumable item are separated, and the cumulative usage amount is stored in the storage unit. A reception unit for receiving a job including user information;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A storage unit;
An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus including a control unit,
The job type includes an image forming job in which image formation is performed using the image forming unit with use of consumables,
The control unit is
Job storage processing for storing the job received by the reception unit in the storage unit;
Job execution processing for executing the job stored in the storage unit in order from the job stored in advance;
For the group information to which a plurality of user information belongs, the usage amount of the consumables accompanying the execution of the image forming job related to each of the plurality of user information is added up, and the cumulative usage amount that is the cumulative usage amount is added up. A cumulative usage storage process to be stored in the storage unit;
When the image forming job is executed in the job execution process, the sum of the consumption amount used by the execution of the image forming job and the cumulative usage amount of the group information to which the user information related to the image forming job belongs is calculated. If the upper limit usage set for the group information is exceeded, execution of the image forming job is suspended,
When the reception unit receives an interrupt instruction for executing the predetermined image forming job and the predetermined image forming job prior to the job to be executed by the job execution process, the received predetermined image forming job If the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the image forming job is stored in the storage unit, the received predetermined image forming job is executed. If the image forming job related to the other user information is not stored in the storage unit, the received predetermined image forming job is placed before the job to be executed by the job execution process. An image forming method for controlling the image forming unit to be executed. A reception unit for receiving a job including user information;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A program installed in a computer of an image forming apparatus including a storage unit,
The job type includes an image forming job in which image formation is performed using the image forming unit with use of consumables,
In the computer,
Job storage processing for storing the job received by the reception unit in the storage unit;
Job execution processing for executing the job stored in the storage unit in order from the job stored in advance;
For the group information to which a plurality of user information belongs, the usage amount of the consumables accompanying the execution of the image forming job related to each of the plurality of user information is added up, and the cumulative usage amount that is the cumulative usage amount is added up. A cumulative usage storage process to be stored in the storage unit;
When the image forming job is executed in the job execution process, the sum of the consumption amount used by the execution of the image forming job and the cumulative usage amount of the group information to which the user information related to the image forming job belongs is calculated. If the upper limit usage set for the group information is exceeded, execution of the image forming job is suspended,
When the reception unit receives an interrupt instruction for executing the predetermined image forming job and the predetermined image forming job prior to the job to be executed by the job execution process, the received predetermined image forming job If the image forming job related to another user information belonging to the same group information as the user information related to the image forming job is stored in the storage unit, the received predetermined image forming job is executed. When the image forming job related to the other user information is not stored in the storage unit, the received predetermined image forming job is preceded by the job to be executed by the job execution process. A program causing the image forming unit to be controlled to be executed.

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