JP2018144454A - Image processing device and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify a user that processing in an image processing device is not completed by a processing end time limit more early.SOLUTION: An inquiry period being a prescribed time before a set processing end time limit is provided. In the case that either an input operation of a job from a user or job processing is executed during the inquiry period, a prediction information acquisition part 42 acquires prediction information being information necessary to calculate a prediction processing time in information about the job. A prediction processing time calculation part 44 calculates a prediction processing time to be predicted if needed for processing of the job on the basis of the prediction information acquired by the prediction information acquisition part 42 and inputted processing contents of the job. In the case that a processing completion determination part 46 does not determine that the job is completed by the processing end time limit on the basis of the calculated prediction processing time, the present time, and the processing end time limit, a notification control part 48 performs notification to the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus, a technique for predicting the time required from the start of operation by a user (user) to the end of processing has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 focuses on the fact that each user has a different level of operation skill with respect to the image processing apparatus, and based on the operation result time managed for each user and the set operation end desired time, An image forming apparatus that calculates an operation start time, which is a time at which an operation should be started in order to finish an operation by a desired operation end time, and notifies the user of the operation is disclosed.

JP 2012-146291 A

  By the way, the processing time (machine time) from the start of processing to the end of processing in the image processing apparatus is calculated (predicted) based on the processing capability of the image processing apparatus if the document amount and processing settings related to the processing command (job) are known. )can do. The document amount is, for example, the number of documents or the number of pages of document data, and the processing setting is, for example, processing surface (single / double-sided) setting and post-processing (for example, stapling processing, folding processing, cutting processing, etc.). .

  However, when print processing is performed, the image processing apparatus grasps the number of pages of the original data and the processing settings until the user operates the image processing apparatus and inputs the original data to be printed and the print settings. The prediction processing time cannot be calculated. Also, when performing a scan process, a copy process, or a fax process that scans a document and sends it by fax, even if the processing settings are input, the number of documents cannot be grasped until all the documents are scanned. Until then, the prediction processing time cannot be calculated. As a result, it is possible that the prediction processing time can actually be calculated immediately before the completion of the processing.

  On the other hand, the user may be required to finish the job processing by the set processing end time limit. In such a case, if the predicted processing time can be calculated, the image processing apparatus can determine whether or not the processing can be completed by the processing end time limit based on the current time, the processing end time limit, and the predicted processing time. become. When it is determined that the process cannot be completed by the process end time limit, the user can be notified. However, as described above, the estimated processing time can be calculated after inputting the number of pages of the original data and the print settings in the print process, and then inputting the process settings in the scan process, the copy process, and the fax process. Since it is after the reading process for all the originals is completed, the user cannot be notified in front of them. Therefore, there is a possibility that notification cannot be made until just before the process end deadline, or notification cannot be made even when the process end deadline is reached.

  It is an object of the present invention to input processing settings in scan processing, copy processing, or fax processing before completing the normal number of pages of the original data and print settings in print processing. In this case, the user is notified that the process in the image processing apparatus is not completed by the process end time limit before the reading process for all the originals is completed.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes an input operation receiving unit that receives an input operation of a processing command from a user, an input operation of the processing command, and an input operation of the processing command during an inquiry period that is a fixed period before a set processing end date Prediction that is information related to the processing instruction that is used to calculate the predicted processing time that is predicted to be required for processing of the processing instruction that is input from the user when any of the processing instructions is executed. A prediction information acquisition unit that acquires at least a part of the information, a prediction processing time calculation unit that calculates the prediction processing time based on the prediction information, the prediction processing time, the current time, and the processing end time limit If the process command process is predicted not to be completed by the process end deadline, the process command process is not completed by the process end deadline for the user. A notification unit for notifying that an image processing apparatus comprising: a.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the notification unit notifies the user of notification contents according to a processing stage of the processing command at the start of the inquiry period. An image processing apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the processing of the processing instruction is not started at the start of the inquiry period, the notification unit performs processing of the processing instruction on the user to another image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus notifies that it can be executed by the processing apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the processing of the processing instruction is predicted to be completed by the processing end time limit, the notification unit notifies the user of a time before the predicted processing time from the processing end time limit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein notification is performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the notification unit notifies the user of a warning when processing of the processing command is not started at a time based on the prediction processing time before the processing end time limit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the case where the processing end deadline is set by the reservation period of the processing command reservation reserved by the advance reservation person, and the processing of the processing command is not completed by the processing end deadline. An inquiry unit for inquiring whether to allow the user to use the image processing apparatus by the user in the reservation period of the processing instruction reservation of the advance reservation person when the advance reservation person is predicted. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

  The invention according to claim 7 is based on a difference between a predicted processing time calculated from the prediction information input by the user for the user's past processing command and an actual required time of the past processing command. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an inquiry period setting unit that sets the inquiry period for the user.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input operation receiving unit that receives a processing command input operation from a user, and an input of the processing command during an inquiry period that is a fixed period before a set processing end time limit. Information related to the processing instruction that is used for calculation of the predicted processing time that is predicted to be required for processing of the processing instruction input from the user when either the operation or the processing of the processing instruction is executed A prediction information acquisition unit that acquires at least a part of the prediction information, a prediction processing time calculation unit that calculates the prediction processing time based on the prediction information, the prediction processing time, the current time, and the processing end Based on the time limit, when it is predicted that the processing command processing will not be completed by the processing end time limit, the processing command processing is performed for the user. An image processing program for causing to function as a notification unit that notifies that no complete by.

  According to the first or eighth aspect of the invention, in the printing process, the scan process, the copy process, or the fax process is performed before the input of the number of pages of the original data and the print setting in the normal method is completed. Can notify the user that the processing in the image processing apparatus will not be completed by the processing end time limit before the processing setting is input and the reading processing of all the originals is completed.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the notification according to the condition of the processing command from a user can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to prompt the user to cause another image processing apparatus to execute the processing command.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, the user can grasp | ascertain the time which should start a process.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, in order to complete a process by the process completion time limit, a user can be prompted to start a process.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, when a prior reservation person permits, a user's process can be continued.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when there is a difference between the prediction processing time calculated from the prediction information input by the user in the past and the actual required time, the user specific based on the difference Inquiry period can be set.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the present embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of required time management information. It is a figure which shows the timing of operation in each case of a scanning process, and a process. It is a figure which shows the example of a prediction information input screen. It is a 1st figure which shows the example of the notification with respect to a user. It is a 2nd figure which shows the example of the notification with respect to a user. It is a 3rd figure which shows the example of the notification with respect to a user. It is a 4th figure which shows the example of the notification with respect to a user. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating operation and processing timing in each case of print processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of log | history information.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing system 10 includes an image processing device 12 and a terminal device 14. The image processing device 12 and the terminal device 14 are connected to be communicable with each other via a communication line 16. The communication line 16 is configured by, for example, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), short-range wireless communication, and the like. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, one image processing device 12 and one terminal device 14 are illustrated, but the image processing system 10 may include a plurality of image processing devices 12 and a plurality of terminal devices 14.

  The image processing device 12 is a device having an image processing function. For example, the image processing apparatus 12 is an apparatus having at least one of a scan function, a print function, a copy function, and a fax function.

  The terminal device 14 is a device such as a PC (personal computer), a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a mobile phone. The terminal device 14 has the same function as a general-purpose computer. That is, a control unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcomputer, a hard disk, a storage unit including a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), a display unit including a liquid crystal panel , An input unit including a touch panel, a mouse, or a keyboard, and a communication unit for communicating with other devices.

  In the image processing system 10, a user (user) can make a process reservation (job reservation) in the image processing apparatus 12 by accessing the image processing apparatus 12 using the terminal device 14. Job reservation is performed after specifying a reservation period, that is, a reservation start time and a reservation end time. Further, processing details may be specified at the time of job reservation. The processing contents include processing types (for example, types such as scan processing, copy processing, print processing, and fax processing) and processing settings. When a job is reserved in the image processing apparatus 12, the user who made the job reservation during the reservation period of the job reservation can use the image processing apparatus 12 with priority over other users. The user can also make a job reservation for the image processing apparatus 12 by directly operating the image processing apparatus 12.

  As one usage method, after making a job reservation for the image processing apparatus 12 using the terminal device 14, the user moves to the image processing apparatus 12 when the reservation start time is reached. Performs job input operations as processing instructions. A job includes processing command information and information indicating the above-described processing contents. That is, a processing instruction and processing content (processing type and processing setting) related to the job are input by a job input operation. As a result, the job is executed in the image processing apparatus 12.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 12. Hereinafter, the details of the image processing apparatus 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The communication unit 20 includes a network adapter, for example. The communication unit 20 is a so-called communication interface, and has a function of transmitting data to other devices and a function of receiving data from other devices via the communication line 16. The communication unit 20 may be a communication interface having a wireless communication function or a communication interface having a wired communication function. The communication unit 20 can also be connected to a public line. Therefore, the communication unit 20 is used when the image processing apparatus 12 performs the fax function.

  The display unit 22 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The display unit 22 displays various operation screens of the image processing apparatus 12 or various notification screens for performing various notifications to the user.

  The input unit 24 as an input operation receiving unit is configured by a touch panel or buttons. The input unit 24 receives a job input operation from a user. The job input operation includes an operation for determining job processing contents.

  The timer unit 26 includes, for example, a timer IC, a crystal resonator, or a clock module. The timer unit 26 measures the current time and outputs current time information indicating the current time to the control unit 40 described later.

  The image reading unit 28 includes, for example, a light source or a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor. The image reading unit 28 reads an image on a document such as paper set on a document table (not shown) of the image processing apparatus 12 and acquires it as image data. Therefore, the image reading unit 28 is used when the image processing apparatus 12 performs a scan function, a copy function, or a fax function. In the present embodiment, a plurality of documents are set on a document table, and the image reading unit 28 sequentially performs a scanning process on the plurality of documents.

  The image reading unit 28 performs a scanning process according to the processing content specified in the job input by the user. For example, when a user inputs a scan job (that is, a job for which scan processing is set as the job processing type) and double-sided scanning is set in the scan job, the image reading unit 28 reads the front side of the document. Scan processing is performed on both the back surface and the back surface. In the scanning process for both sides, it is necessary to perform the scanning process for the front side and the back side twice for each page included in the document. Therefore, with regard to the processing for the same number of documents, it can be said that the processing time required for the duplex scanning process is longer than the processing time required for the single-sided scanning process for performing the scanning process on only one side of the document. Of course, the larger the number of documents, the longer the processing time required for the scanning process. The same can be said for the copy process in which the print process is performed after the scan process is performed and the fax process in which the transmission process is performed after the scan process is performed.

  The image forming unit 30 includes a RIP processing unit that performs processing for developing document data designated in a print job that requires a print function into raster data, and rasterized data and an image read by an image reading unit 28 described later. It includes a printing unit that executes a printing process for reproducing data on a printing medium such as paper. In this manner, the image forming unit 30 performs print processing on the document data or the image data. Therefore, the image forming unit 30 is used when the image processing apparatus 12 performs the print function or the copy function.

  The image forming unit 30 performs print processing corresponding to the processing content specified in the job input by the user. For example, when a print job is input by the user and double-sided printing is set in the print job, the image forming unit 30 performs print processing on both the front surface and the back surface of the print medium. In the printing process for both sides, the printing process is performed on the front side of the printing medium, the printing medium is returned to the printing unit, and the printing process is performed on the back side of the printing medium. As a result, in the double-sided printing process, compared to the single-sided printing process in which the printing process is performed only on the front side of each printing medium and the printed printing medium is sequentially discharged, the process for the same document data is performed. In other words, it can be said that the processing time required for the double-sided printing process is longer than the processing time required for the single-sided printing process. Of course, the larger the document data amount (the amount of pages included in the document data) or the number of output copies, the longer the processing time required for the printing process. The same can be said for the copy process.

  The image processing device 12 may be connected to a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the printed result after the print processing is performed, and the post-processing is performed on the printed result. May be. Examples of post-processing include bookbinding processing, stapling processing, folding processing, and cutting processing. Whether to perform post-processing may be specified by the user, and such an instruction may be included in the processing settings. Of course, the processing time in the case of performing the post-processing is longer than that in the case of not performing the post-processing.

  The storage unit 32 includes a hard disk, ROM, RAM, or the like. The storage unit 32 stores an image processing program for operating each unit of the image processing apparatus 12. In addition, the storage unit 32 stores information related to the input job, image data generated by the scanning process, various control data, various programs, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 32 stores reservation information 34, processing time management information 36, and inquiry period information 38. Hereinafter, such information will be described.

  The reservation information 34 is information relating to a job reserved in the image processing apparatus 12 (reserved job). In the reservation information 34, a user ID for identifying a user who has made a job reservation, a reservation start time that is the start time of the reservation period, and a reservation end time that is the end time of the reservation period are stored in association with each other. In addition, when processing details related to the job are input from the user at the time of job reservation, the processing details may be stored in association with each other.

  When the user logs in to the image processing apparatus 12, the control unit 40 described later determines whether the current time is within the reservation period of any reservation job based on the current time information from the time measuring unit 26 and the reservation information 34. Determine. When it is within the reservation period, the user ID input at the time of login is collated with the user ID that has input the reservation job related to the reservation period indicated by the reservation information 34. When both user IDs indicate the same user, the control unit 40 permits use by the user. When both user IDs indicate different users, the control unit 40 prohibits use by the user or causes the display unit 22 to display a warning for the user.

  When the reservation job is executed, information corresponding to the reservation job is deleted from the reservation information 34.

  The processing time management information 36 is information for calculating a predicted processing time that is a processing time (machine time) predicted to be required for each processing in the image processing apparatus 12. The processing time management information 36 may be created in advance by the administrator of the image processing apparatus 12 and stored in the storage unit 32.

  An example of the content of the processing time management information 36 may be information indicating the time required for processing for each processing type. The processing time management information 36 may be information indicating the time required for processing according to the document amount for each processing type. Furthermore, the processing time management information 36 may be information indicating the time required for processing according to the document amount for each processing type and processing setting. The time required for processing indicated by the processing time management information 36 is the time required from the start of the processing by the image processing apparatus 12 to the completion thereof. The time required for each process is determined based on the processing capability (performance) of the image processing device 12, particularly the image reading unit 28 or the image forming unit 30.

  FIG. 3 shows the contents of the processing time management information 36 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the processing time management information 36 indicates the time required for processing according to the document amount for each processing type and processing setting. For example, the processing time management information 36 shown in FIG. 3 is a job in which the input job is a copy job, single-sided copying is set, and post-processing stapling is not performed, and the number of documents is 21 to 50. , The time required for the image processing apparatus 12 to process the copy job is “2 minutes”. Similarly, if the input job is a copy job, a single-sided print is set, and a post-processing stapling process is performed, and the number of originals is 21 to 50, the image processing apparatus 12 performs the copy job. It is shown that the time required to process is “2.5 minutes”. The document amount for the scan job and the fax job may be defined by the number of documents, and the document amount for the copy job and the print job may be defined by the number of pages of document data × the number of output copies.

  Each required time for the scanning process or fax process in the processing time management information 36 is set based on the processing capability of the image reading unit 28. Each required time for the copy process is set based on the processing capabilities of the image reading unit 28 and the image forming unit 30. Further, each required time for the print processing is set based on the processing capability of the image forming unit 30.

  In FIG. 3, there is a column where the required time is omitted (a column indicated as “...”), But actually the required time is also set in such a column. In FIG. 3, only the staple process is shown as the post-process among the process settings. However, when a plurality of post-processes can be set, the process time management information 36 includes The time required for processing according to the document amount may be determined for each combination of processing settings including a plurality of post-processing.

  Further, as described above, each required time indicated in the processing time management information 36 is a time required for processing of the image processing apparatus 12, that is, a machine time. However, the storage unit 32 allows the user to input a job. Preparation time management information for calculating a predicted preparation time predicted to be necessary may be stored. As the processing time management information 36, the preparation time management information may be information indicating the time required for preparation for each processing type. The time required for preparation indicated by the preparation time management information is the time required for the input operation to be completed after the user starts the job input operation. The time required for preparation may be set for all users, but may be set differently for each user. For example, since it is considered that a person skilled in the operation of the image processing apparatus 12 can finish the job input operation in a relatively short time, in the preparation time management information, compared with the unskilled user for the skilled user. Thus, a shorter preparation time may be set.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the inquiry period information 38 is information indicating an inquiry period preset by an administrator or the like in the present embodiment. Before explaining the inquiry period, a description will be given before the processing end date.

  The process end time limit is a time limit required for the user to complete the process in the image processing apparatus 12. The processing end time limit is set according to the job reservation status in the image processing apparatus 12. For example, when a user who has reserved a job and performs processing related to the reservation job, the reservation end time of the reservation job can be the processing end time limit. Further, when another user (preceding reservation person) has reserved a job, the reservation start time of the reservation job of the preceding reservation person may be the processing end time limit. When there are reservation jobs for a plurality of advance reservation persons, the earliest time among the reservation start times of the plurality of reservation jobs can be the process end deadline. The processing end time limit can also be set depending on the operation status of the image processing apparatus 12. For example, the time when the maintenance or automatic update process of the image processing apparatus 12 is started can be the process end date. As described above, the process end time limit can be dynamically changed, and can be different depending on the user.

  The inquiry period is a certain period before the above-described processing end date. As the inquiry period information 38, for example, a time such as “5 minutes”, “10 minutes”, or “15 minutes” is set. When the inquiry period information 38 is set to “10 minutes” and the processing end time limit is “15:00”, the inquiry period is “14:50 to 15:00”. In this way, the inquiry period is determined by the set process end time limit and the inquiry period information 38. In this specification, a period before the inquiry period (period before “14:50” in the above example) is described as “normal period”, and a period after the process end deadline (“15:00” in the above example). Later period) is referred to as “period after period”.

  The control unit 40 is composed of, for example, a CPU or a microcontroller, and controls the operation of each unit of the image processing apparatus 12 in accordance with an image processing program stored in the storage unit 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 40 includes a prediction information acquisition unit 42, a prediction processing time calculation unit 44, a process completion determination unit 46, a notification control unit 48 as a notification unit, and an inquiry control unit 50 as an inquiry unit. Also works. Hereinafter, each functional block of the control unit 40 will be described. In the following description, the outline of each functional block will be described first, and then the details of the processing of each functional block in each processing case will be described.

  The prediction information acquisition unit 42 is required to process a job when a job input operation by the user or a job processing by the image reading unit 28 or the image forming unit 30 is executed during the inquiry period. Prediction information used for calculating a predicted prediction processing time is acquired. In the present embodiment, when either the job input operation or the job processing is executed at the start of the inquiry period, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information at the start of the inquiry period. When the job input operation is started within the inquiry period, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information at the start of the job input operation. The timing at which the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information is not limited to the above, but it is preferable to acquire the prediction information as early as possible.

  Specifically, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 inputs prediction information for prompting the user to input prediction information when either a job input operation or job processing is executed during the inquiry period. A screen is displayed on the display unit 22. And the prediction information acquisition part 42 acquires the prediction information which the user input in the prediction information input screen. Alternatively, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 may output a voice for prompting the user to input prediction information.

  The prediction information is information regarding the job. The prediction information includes the unprocessed document amount and the job processing content of the document amount for the job (number of document data pages for a print job, number of documents for a scan job, copy job, and fax job). Is included. As the prediction information, not all information related to the job but information necessary for calculation of the prediction processing time out of the information related to the job is sufficient. Regarding the processing settings of the job processing contents, there are settings that are unnecessary for the calculation of the predicted processing time, and such settings are not included in the predicted information. Information indicating the processing setting necessary for calculating the predicted processing time may be stored in the storage unit 32 in advance. Such processing settings may be listed for each processing type.

  The prediction information about the scan job and the fax job includes, for example, the processing type, the number of unprocessed documents (the number of remaining processed sheets, that is, the number of documents that have not yet been scanned), and the processing surface setting (double-sided scanning / single-sided scanning setting). ) Etc. are included. Prediction information about a copy job includes, for example, processing type, number of unprocessed documents (remaining number of processed pages), number of output copies, processing surface setting (double-sided scanning / single-sided scanning setting and double-sided printing / single-sided printing setting), or after each Information indicating the presence or absence of processing is included. The prediction information about the print job includes, for example, information indicating a processing type, the number of pages of document data, the number of output copies, processing surface setting (double-sided printing / single-sided printing setting), presence / absence of each post-processing.

  At the timing when the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, a part of the prediction information may already be input by the user. In that case, the prediction information acquisition part 42 acquires the prediction information which has not yet been input among prediction information.

  The predicted processing time calculation unit 44 is predicted to be required for processing the job input to the image processing device 12 based on the predicted information acquired by the predicted information acquisition unit 42 and the processing time management information 36. Is calculated. If a part of the job processing has already been processed at the time when the calculation processing by the predicted processing time calculation unit 44 is performed, the predicted processing time is predicted to be required for processing the unprocessed job. It will be time. For example, the contents shown in FIG. 3 are stored as the processing time management information 36, and the prediction information acquisition unit 42 sets the processing type “scan processing” as the prediction information, “single side scan” as the processing surface setting, and an unprocessed document. When information indicating “21 to 50 sheets” is acquired as the number of sheets, the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 calculates “1.2 minutes” as the prediction processing time with reference to the processing time management information 36.

  Further, in the case where the preparation time management information is stored in addition to the processing time management information 36 in the storage unit 32, the job input operation by the user is not completed when the predicted processing time is calculated (that is, the job processing) In the case where the prediction processing time is not started), the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 may calculate the prediction preparation time in addition to the prediction processing time. The prediction preparation time is calculated based on the prediction information acquired by the prediction information acquisition unit 42 and the processing time management information 36. In the preparation time management information, when the preparation time is set for each user, the estimated preparation time may be calculated based on the preparation time specified based on the user ID input by the user at the time of login. .

  For example, as the preparation time management information, a preparation time of 2 minutes is set for the scan process for the user A, and the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires information indicating the process type “scan process” as the prediction information. In this case, the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 calculates “2 minutes” as the prediction preparation time. Preferably, the predicted processing time calculation unit 44 measures the time that has elapsed since the user started the job input operation, and calculates the time obtained by subtracting the measured time from the time indicated by the preparation time management information. You may make it calculate as prediction preparation time. For example, in the above-described example, at the time when the predicted processing time calculation unit 44 calculates the predicted preparation time, if one minute has already passed since the user started the job input operation, the predicted preparation time is: “1 minute” may be calculated by subtracting 1 minute from 2 minutes.

  The processing completion determination unit 46 performs processing of a job input by the user based on the predicted processing time calculated by the predicted processing time calculation unit 44, the current time measured by the time measuring unit 26, and the set processing end time limit. It is determined whether or not the processing is completed by the processing end time limit. Specifically, when the time obtained by adding the predicted processing time to the current time is before the processing end deadline, it is determined that the time is completed by the processing end deadline, and after the processing end deadline Is determined not to be completed by the processing end time limit. For example, when the processing end deadline is “15:00”, the current time is “14:57”, and the predicted processing time is “4 minutes”, adding the predicted processing time to the current time will result in “15:01”. This is after the process end date. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that the processing of the job is not completed by the processing end time limit.

  When the prediction preparation time is calculated in addition to the prediction processing time by the prediction processing time calculation unit 44, the process completion determination unit 46 calculates the prediction processing time and the prediction preparation time calculated by the prediction processing time calculation unit 44, the time measuring unit 26. Whether or not the processing of the job input by the user is completed by the process end time limit is determined based on the current time counted by the user and the set process end time limit. For example, when the processing end deadline is “15:00”, the current time is “14:57”, the predicted processing time is “2 minutes”, and the predicted preparation time is “2 minutes”, the current time When “4 minutes”, which is the sum of the prediction processing time and the prediction preparation time, is added to “15:01”, this is after the processing end date. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that the processing of the job is not completed by the processing end time limit.

  When the processing completion determination unit 46 determines that the processing of the job input by the user is not completed by the processing end time limit, the notification control unit 48 does not complete the processing of the job to the user by the processing end time limit. Notify that. In the present embodiment, the notification control unit 48 notifies the user by displaying a notification screen on the display unit 22. Alternatively, the notification control unit 48 may notify the user by voice or the like.

  On the other hand, when the processing completion determination unit 46 determines that the processing of the job input by the user is completed by the processing end time limit, the notification control unit 48 may not notify the user at this point. Alternatively, the user may be notified that the processing of the job is expected to be completed by the processing end time limit. Then, the input operation or processing regarding the job is continued.

  The inquiry control unit 50 completes the processing if the processing end time limit is set by the reservation start time of the reservation job of the advance reservation person and the processing of the job input by the user is not completed by the processing end time limit. When the determination unit 46 determines, the advance reservation person is inquired whether to allow the user to use the image processing apparatus 12 during the reservation period of the reservation job of the advance reservation person. Specifically, the inquiry control unit 50 reserves the reservation job (that is, the reservation job with the earliest reservation start time) that causes the setting of the process end time limit from the user ID included in the reservation information 34. The user is identified, and notification information is transmitted to the terminal device 14 used by the user. The terminal device 14 that has received the notification information causes the display unit to display a notification screen based on the notification information. In accordance with the notification screen, the advance reservation person inputs to the terminal device 14 whether or not the user is allowed to use the image processing apparatus 12 during the reservation period of his / her reservation job. The input permission information is transmitted from the terminal device 14 to the image processing device 12.

  If the processing end deadline is set by the reservation start time of the reservation job of the advance reservation person, if the advance reservation person permits the user to use the image processing apparatus 12 during the reservation period of his reservation job, the user Therefore, it is not necessary to finish the process before the initial process end date. Therefore, even if the processing completion determination unit 46 determines that the processing of the job input by the user is not completed by the processing end deadline, if the advance reservation person permits, the job input operation by the user or Processing related to the job can be continued. On the other hand, if the advance reservation person does not allow, the notification control unit 48 notifies the user that the use is not allowed by the advance reservation person.

  The configuration outline of the image processing apparatus 12 is as described above. Hereinafter, processing by each functional block of the control unit 40 in each processing case divided according to the processing type of the job input to the image processing apparatus 12, the start timing of the job input operation, and the start timing of execution of the job processing Details will be described.

FIG. 4 shows three cases where a scan job is input by the user. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the time axis. A process end time limit t _d is shown on the time axis, and a certain period before the process end time limit t _d is an inquiry period. Start time of the inquiry period is indicated by t _s. As described above, the period is usually the period before the time t _s, the period after the processing deadline t _d is the period after period.

FIG. 4 shows three processing cases, case S1 to case S3. Case S1 is a case in which the scan job input operation is completed in the normal period and the processing of the scan job is started. In other words, in case S1 is already processing and running in time t _s is the start time of the inquiry period. Case S2 is a case where the scan job input operation is started in the normal period, but the input operation is completed (that is, the scan job process is started) within the inquiry period. That is, in the case S2 is has become in the input operation of the scan job at time t _s. Case S3 is a case where a job input operation is started during the inquiry period. That is, in case S3 is at the time t _s is the start time of the inquiry period is in the state not yet started the input operation of the scan job.

First, the case S1 will be described. In the present embodiment, in case S1 is predictive information acquisition section 42 acquires predictive information at time t _s. In case S1, already input operation of the scan job at time t _s, the input of the processing contents of words scanning process has been completed. On the other hand, the scan job to be scanned process for all the document has been completed, since the estimated processing time calculation unit 44 can not grasp the number of documents in the time point of time t _s, the remaining number of documents are still unknown state . Therefore, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 only needs to acquire the remaining number of originals that have not yet been scanned as prediction information.

  The prediction information acquisition unit 42 causes the display unit 22 to display a prediction information input screen for prompting the user to input prediction information. FIG. 5 shows an example of the prediction information input screen. The prediction information input screen includes a screen area D1 for allowing the user to input the number of remaining documents to be processed, a screen area D2 for allowing the user to input a processing surface, and a screen for allowing the user to input post processing. The region D3 can be included. As described above, in case S1, it suffices to acquire the number of remaining documents, so that only the screen area D1 is displayed on the prediction information input screen displayed in case S1.

  The screen area D1 includes a number designation button group. The number designation button is, for example, a button for designating 1 to 20 sheets, a button for designating 21 to 50 sheets, a button for designating 51 to 70 sheets, and for designating 71 or more sheets. Button. This number division is merely an example, and another number division may be used. When one of the buttons of the number designation button group is pressed by the user, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the remaining number of originals corresponding to the pressed button as prediction information.

As soon as the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 calculates a prediction processing time predicted to be required for processing the unprocessed portion of the scan job. Then, the processing completion determining unit 46 immediately determines whether or not the processing of the scan job is completed before the processing deadline t _d.

If the processing of the scan job is determined not completed by the processing deadline t _d, notification control unit 48 displays a notification screen for notifying the user on the display unit 22. FIG. 6 shows an example of a notification screen. As shown in FIG. 6, the notification screen (in this case scan job) job input by the user includes a message indicating that processing might not end until the processing deadline t _d. In addition, the prediction processing time calculated by the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 may be displayed on the notification screen. Further, when the image reading unit 28 processing time per unit time in (throughput) is known, the notification control unit 48, the processing capacity of the image reading unit 28, between the current time and to the processing deadline t _d based on the time and, processable by the processing completion deadline t _d number is calculated may be displayed on the notification screen.

Furthermore, the notification screen, the user, also include Continue button and an end button for asking job Crash or continue processing if did not end up processing deadline t _d Good. For example, the processing deadline t _d is the prior subscriber reservation even if it is set by the job, between the user and the preceding reserver, Pre's reservation job reservation period of the user the image processing apparatus 12 of the If it is promised to allow the use, the user may press the continue button to continue the process. If the end button has been pressed, the process of scan job currently running are terminated in the processing deadline t _d.

Further, when the processing end time limit t _d is set by the reservation job of the advance reservation person, as shown in FIG. 7, the processing end time limit t _d is set by the reservation job of the advance reservation person as shown in FIG. A message for notifying the user that the user is present may be included. Further, the notification screen may include the reservation start time of the reservation job of the advance reservation person.

Furthermore, if the processing end time limit t _d is set by the reservation job of the advance reservation person, can the inquiry control unit 50 make an inquiry to the advance reservation person on the notification screen as shown in FIG. A “Yes” button and a “No” button for inputting the user's intention may be included together with a message for confirming whether or not to the user. When the user presses the “Yes” button on the notification screen, the inquiry control unit 50 receives it and performs an inquiry process for the advance reservation person. When the “No” button is pressed, the inquiry control unit 50 does not make an inquiry to the advance reservation person. In this way, the user can select whether or not to make an inquiry to the advance reservation person by the inquiry control unit 50.

On the other hand, if the processing of the scan job is determined to be completed by the processing deadline t _d, the image reading unit 28 continues the scanning process being executed. In this case, the notification control unit 48 may be displayed on the display unit 22 a screen for notifying that scan job entered by the user is expected to be completed by the processing deadline t _d.

Even if the processing of the scan job is determined to be completed by the processing deadline t _d, for example, if the user enters less than the actual remaining number of documents remaining number of document sheets as prediction information or, such as when the remaining number of documents had increased suddenly after entering the remaining number of documents, in fact, it is conceivable that the situation in which the processing of the scan job is not completed until the processing end deadline t _d occurs. Provided in such a situation, the notification control unit 48, the time relative to the processing deadline t _d, is also not the process is terminated becomes a little before the time of the example processing deadline t _d or processing deadline t _d In such a case, a warning may be output to the user. The warning may also be performed by a method of displaying a warning screen on the display unit 22 or outputting a warning sound. The warning screen may also include a button for selecting whether to continue the process or forcibly end the process.

Next, case S2 will be described. In the present embodiment, even in the case S2, predictive information acquisition section 42 acquires predictive information at time t _s. In Case S2, at the point of time t _s although the input operation of the job is started, the input operation is not yet completed. That is, At time t _s, there is a case for some of the settings required for calculating the estimated processing time is also missing. Further, since the processing of the scan job is not started, the predicted processing time calculation unit 44 cannot grasp the number of documents. Therefore, the prediction information acquisition unit 42, as prediction information, and the of the processing contents of the scan job, the non-input at time t _s a required set for calculating the estimated processing time information, the scan Get the number of originals for a job.

Also in case S2, a prediction information input screen as shown in FIG. In case S2 is with the screen area D1, if the setting of the processing surfaces is not inputted at time t _s screen area D2 is displayed. If the setting of the treated surface has already been input at time t _s, the screen area D2 for inputting the treated surface to a user is not displayed. Note that since there is no post-processing in the scanning process, the screen area D3 is not displayed even in the case S2.

  After the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 calculates the prediction processing time, and the determination processing of the processing completion determination unit 46 is performed based on the calculated prediction processing time. The same as S1.

If the processing of the scan job is determined not completed by the processing deadline t _d, notification control unit 48 displays a notification screen for notifying the user on the display unit 22. As the notification screen in case S2, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as in case S1. Also in the case S2, when the processing deadline t _d is set by the reserved job prior reserver, similar case S1, the screen shown in FIG. 7 or 8 is displayed as a notification screen.

In case S2, the scan job processing has not yet started when the notification control unit 48 notifies the user. Accordingly, the user, if the processing up to the processing deadline t _d in the image processing apparatus 12 does not end, it is also possible to make the choice of executing the processing of the scanning job to another image forming apparatus. Also, when the processing deadline t _d is set by the reserved job prior reserver is selected that by setting the reservation period after the Pre's reservation job reservation period the reservation of the scanning job It is also possible. Therefore, in case S2, the notification control unit 48 can transfer the scan job to another image processing apparatus and execute the process of the scan job on the other image processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. A notification screen including a button for causing the user to select a message may be displayed together with a message notifying that the scan job can be reserved in the image processing apparatus 12.

  In the example of FIG. 9, a “Continue with this device” button, a “Transfer to other device” button, a “Job reservation” button, and an “End button” are included. When the “transfer to another device” button is pressed by the user, the image forming apparatus included in the image processing system 10 and several other image forming apparatuses that are transfer destination candidates for the scan job are displayed on the display unit 22. May be displayed. Here, it is preferable to display the reservation status of the other displayed image forming apparatus. The reservation status of the other image forming apparatus is determined by the image processing apparatus 12 to the other image forming apparatus as a trigger when the “transfer to other device” button is pressed by the user. It can be obtained by sending a transfer request for the reservation information stored in. When the user selects one image forming apparatus from the displayed transfer destination candidates, the scan job is transferred to the selected image forming apparatus. Preferably, the input processing contents for the scan job are also transferred.

  When the “job reservation” button is pressed by the user, a reservation screen for reserving the scan job in the image processing apparatus 12 is displayed on the display unit 22. The user can reserve the scan job on the reservation screen. The reservation period of the scan job may be set only after the reservation period of the reservation job of the advance reservation person.

When the “Continue with this device” button is pressed by the user, the processing of the scan job is continued even when the processing end time limit t _d is reached. Also, if the "end" button has been pressed by the user, the processing of the scan job is terminated in the processing deadline t _d.

Thus, notification control unit 48 may notify the notification content corresponding to the processing steps of the job at the time t _s is the start time of the inquiry period to the user. Specifically, as in the case S1, if it is already processing job starts at time t _s, the process until the process expiration t _d notifies the like that does not end. On the other hand, as in the case S2, if not yet been processed in the job starts at time t _s, notifies the like that process until the process expiration t _d does not end, the image forming the job for other It may be notified that transfer to the apparatus is possible or that the image processing apparatus 12 can make a reservation.

On the other hand, if the processing of the scan job is determined to be completed by the processing deadline t _d, the control unit 40, to continue the input operation of the job to the user. In case S2, when the process completion determination unit 46 performs the determination process, the user has not yet performed an input operation, and the scan job process has not started. That is, it is unclear at which point the user actually finishes the input operation and the process is started. In view of this, the notification control unit 48 may notify the user of a process start time limit t _l that is a time before the predicted process time from the process end time limit t _d .

Processing start date t _l, in order to end the processing of the scanning job before the processing deadline t _d, the time at which the user must finish the input operation (time that must start processing). In other words, the notification control unit 48 notifies the user of the process start time limit t _l , so that the user can set the time at which the process must be started in order to finish the process of the scan job by the process end time limit t _d. It can be easily grasped.

Furthermore, the notification control unit 48 uses a time based on the processing start time limit t ₁ (for example, processing) even though the processing completion determination unit 46 determines that the processing of the scan job is completed by the processing end time limit t _d. When the processing of the scan job is not started by the start time limit t _l or a time slightly before the process start time limit t _l , a warning is notified to the user in order to prompt the user to start the process. You may do it.

Next, case S3 will be described. In case S3 is after the time t _s, i.e. from the input operation of the scan job in query period is started, the prediction information acquisition unit 42, acquires the prediction information when the input operation of the scan job is started To do. In case S3, at the time when the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, no setting regarding the scan job has been input yet. Therefore, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires, as prediction information, all information necessary for calculating the prediction processing time in the processing contents of the scan job and the number of documents of the scan job.

  Also in case S3, a prediction information input screen as shown in FIG. In case S3, a screen area D1 and a screen area D2 are displayed. Also in case S3, since there is no post-processing in the scanning process, the screen area D3 is not displayed.

  After the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, the determination process of the process completion determination unit 46 is performed in the same manner as the case S1 and the case S2.

Processing when the processing of the scan job is determined not completed by the process completion deadline t _d is the same as case S2. That is, the notification control unit 48 causes the display unit 22 to display a notification screen for notifying the user. For example, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as the notification screen. Also in case S3, when the processing deadline t _d is set by the reserved job prior reserver, similar case S2, the screen shown in FIG. 7 or 8 is displayed as a notification screen.

  Also in case S3, since the scan job processing has not yet started when the notification control unit 48 notifies the user, the scan job can be transferred to another image processing apparatus. Alternatively, the fact that the scan job can be reserved in the image processing apparatus 12 is notified by a notification screen as shown in FIG. 9, for example.

Processing when the processing of the scan job is determined to be completed by the processing completion deadline t _d is also the same as case S2.

  The processing flow in the three processing cases related to the scan job is as described above. The fax job is different from the scan job only in storing image data after the scan processing or transmitting the image data to another apparatus. Therefore, the control unit 40 can process the fax job in the same flow as the process for the scan job.

A copy job for performing a print process after the scan process is basically processed in the same flow as the process for the scan job described above. However, in the copy job processing, if the scan processing is completed, the predicted processing time calculation unit 44 can grasp the number of documents. Therefore, if it is already scanning process at time t _s has been completed, without having predictive information acquisition section 42 acquires predictive information at time t _s, the estimated processing time calculation unit 44 can be calculated the estimated processing time It becomes.

Further, for the copy job, if the processing of the copy job is determined not to be completed by the processing deadline t _d, the scanning process only is executed by the image processing apparatus 12, only the other subsequent printing process The processing of transferring to the image forming apparatus becomes possible. Therefore, on the notification screen, only the scanning process is executed by the image processing apparatus 12, and the user is notified that only the subsequent printing process can be transferred to another image forming apparatus, and the user is given such a measure. A button to be selected may be displayed.

FIG. 10 shows three cases when a print job is input by the user. Also in FIG. 10, FIG. 4 similarly has the horizontal axis represents a time axis, usually period, inquiry period, expiration after a period, the processing deadline t _d, and the time t _s is the start time of the query time is shown Yes.

  FIG. 10 shows four processing cases, case P1-1 to case P3. Case P1-1 and case P1-2 are cases in which the print job input operation is completed in the normal period and processing of the print job is started. Case P2 is a case where the input operation of the print job is started in the normal period, but the input operation is completed (that is, the processing of the print job is started) within the inquiry period. Case P3 is a case where a print job input operation is started during the inquiry period.

First, cases P1-1 and P1-2 will be described. In a print job, all the settings required to calculate the estimated processing time (number of original data, number of output copies, processing surface settings, presence / absence of post-processing, etc.) have already been entered when the input operation by the user is completed It becomes the state of. Therefore, in the case P1-1 and the case P1-2, estimated processing time calculation section 44, without waiting until time t _s, and calculates the estimated processing time of the print job when the input operation is completed. If it is predicted that the processing of the print job will be completed by the processing end time limit t _d (case P1-1), the control unit 40 starts the print processing, and the processing of the print job is completed by the processing end time limit t _d. If it is predicted that the process will not be completed (case P1-2), the control unit 40 prohibits the start of print processing.

Next, the case P2 will be described. In Case P2, although the input operation of the print job at time t _s is started, the input operation is not yet completed. That is, At time t _s, there is a case for some of the settings required for calculating the estimated processing time is also missing. Therefore, the prediction information acquisition unit 42, as prediction information, among the settings required for calculating the estimated processing time, and acquires the settings not entered yet at time t _s. In the print job, since the number of pages and number of output copies of the original data at the input start time of the print job is input, the prediction information acquisition unit 42, number of pages and number of output copies of the document data at time t _s There is no need to get.

Also in case P2, a prediction information input screen as shown in FIG. As described above, in the case P2, it is not necessary to acquire the number of pages and the number of output copies of the document data, so the screen area D1 is not displayed. In the case treated surface configuration at time t _s has already been input screen area D2 is not displayed, when the setting of the processing surface at time t _s has not been input screen area D2 is displayed. Similarly, the screen area D3 when the presence or absence of the post-processing has already been input at time t _s is not displayed, if the presence or absence of the post-processing has not been input at time t _s screen area D3 is displayed.

  After the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, the determination process of the process completion determination unit 46 is performed.

Processing when the processing of the print job is determined not to be completed by the processing completion deadline t _d is the same as case S2. That is, the notification control unit 48 causes the display unit 22 to display a notification screen for notifying the user. For example, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as the notification screen. Also in case P2, when the processing deadline t _d is set by the reserved job prior reserver, similar to such case S1, the screen shown in FIG. 7 or 8 is displayed as a notification screen .

  Also in case P2, since the print job processing has not yet started when the notification control unit 48 notifies the user, the print job is transferred to another image processing apparatus on the notification screen. For example, the notification screen shown in FIG. 9 notifies that the print job can be reserved in the image processing apparatus 12.

Processing when the processing of the scan job is determined to be completed by the processing completion deadline t _d is also the same as case S2.

Next, the case P3 will be described. In case P3, after the time t _s, i.e. from the input operation of the print job during the inquiry period is started, the prediction information acquisition unit 42, acquires the prediction information when the input operation of the print job is started To do. In case P3, at the time when the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, no settings relating to the print job have been input yet. Therefore, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 includes, as the prediction information, all information necessary for calculating the prediction processing time among the processing contents of the print job, and the number of pages and the number of output copies of document data related to the print job. To get.

  Also in case P3, a prediction information input screen as shown in FIG. In case P3, all of the screen areas D1 to D3 are displayed. In case P3, the screen area D1 may include a button or a column for inputting the number of output copies in addition to a button for inputting the number of document pages.

  After the prediction information acquisition unit 42 acquires the prediction information, the determination process of the process completion determination unit 46 is performed as in the case P2.

Processing when the processing of the print job is determined not to be completed by the processing completion deadline t _d is also the same as the case P2. Incidentally, for the print job, if the processing of the print job is determined not to be completed by the processing deadline t _d, the setting operation related to the print job is executed by the image processing apparatus 12, another execution of a process Can be transferred to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, on the notification screen, only the setting input related to the print job is executed by the image processing apparatus 12, and the user is notified that the process can be transferred to another image forming apparatus, and the user selects such an action. A button to be displayed may be displayed.

The processing when the processing of the print job is determined to be completed by the processing completion deadline t _d is also the same as the case P2.

  The image processing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment has been described above. According to the image processing apparatus 12, for a scan job, a copy job, or a fax job, the user does not finish the job input by the user before the process end deadline before the scan process for all the originals is completed. I can understand that. In addition, regarding a print job, it is possible to grasp that the print job input by the user does not end before the processing end deadline before the normal input operation for the print job ends. As a result, the user can determine an action for a job that does not end before the processing end deadline at an earlier stage. For example, early decision making such as processing only the portion that ends by the processing end time limit, or interrupting processing of the job in the image processing apparatus 12 and processing the job in another image processing apparatus, etc. Can be done.

Hereinafter, the processing flow of the control unit 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Processing of the flow chart shown in FIG. 11, when the user starts input operation for the job, when the processing of the job is started, and is started when it becomes a time t _s is the start time of the inquiry period The

  In step S <b> 10, the control unit 40 determines which period is the normal period, the inquiry period, or the period after the expiration date.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the current period is the normal period, in step S12, the control unit 40 continues the job input operation by the user or the processing of the job.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the period is after the deadline, in step S14, the notification control unit 48 notifies the user that the job input operation and processing (that is, use of the image processing apparatus 12) is not possible. Is displayed on the display unit 22.

  When it is determined in step S10 that it is the inquiry period, in step S16, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the prediction information necessary for the prediction processing time calculation unit 44 to calculate the prediction processing time has been input. judge. If it has already been input, the process proceeds to step S22, bypassing the processes of steps S18 and S20. If not, the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S <b> 18, the prediction information acquisition unit 42 causes the display unit 22 to display a prediction information input screen for allowing the user to input settings necessary for calculation of the prediction processing time among the settings regarding the input job.

  In step S20, the prediction information acquisition part 42 acquires the prediction information input from the user by the prediction information input screen.

  In step S <b> 22, the predicted processing time calculation unit 44 calculates a predicted processing time that is predicted to be required for processing the job, based on the prediction information that has been input by the user.

  In step S24, the process completion determination unit 46 determines whether or not the process of the job is completed by the process end deadline based on the predicted process time, the current time, and the set process end deadline calculated in step S22. Determine whether.

  When it is determined in step S24 that the processing of the job is completed by the processing end time limit, in step S12, the control unit 40 continues the job input operation by the user or the processing of the job.

If it is determined in step S24 that the job processing is not completed by the processing end time limit, in step S26, the notification control unit 48 notifies the user that the job processing is not completed by the processing end time limit. Is displayed on the display unit 22. In step S26, as described above, notification screen for notifying the various contents may be displayed according to the processing steps of the job at the time t _s.

  Hereinafter, modifications of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus 12-2 according to a modification. Compared to the image processing apparatus 12 according to the basic embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 12-2 stores history information 60 in the storage unit 32-2, and the control unit 40-2 performs an inquiry period setting unit. It also differs in that it also has a function as 62. Note that among the constituent elements of the image processing apparatus 12-2, the same constituent elements as those of the image processing apparatus 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  The image processing device 12-2 performs basically the same processing as the image processing device 12. However, in the image processing apparatus 12, the inquiry period is determined in advance by an administrator or the like, and the inquiry period is used for all users, whereas the image processing apparatus 12-2 has different inquiries for each user. A period can be set. Details will be described below.

  The history information 60 is information indicating the usage history of the user's image processing apparatus 12-2. Specifically, the history information includes a user ID for identifying the user, prediction information input regarding the job input by the user to the image processing apparatus 12-2, and actual time required for processing the job. Time is associated and stored.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the contents of the history information 60. As shown in FIG. 13, the history information 60 in the present embodiment is in a table format, and every time the image processing apparatus 12-2 completes processing related to one job, a record associated with each piece of information described above is stored. It will be added.

  The inquiry period setting unit 62 sets an inquiry period for each user based on the history information 60. Specifically, first, the inquiry period setting unit 62 determines, for each user, each job input and processed by the user in the past based on the prediction information acquired from the history information 60 and the processing time management information 36. The prediction processing time for is calculated. Then, the inquiry period for the user is set based on the difference between the predicted processing time calculated for each job and the actual processing time required for processing each job acquired from the history information 60.

  FIG. 13 shows three records for user A and user B, respectively. Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that user A and user B have executed exactly the same three jobs. Specifically, the first job is a scan job in which single-sided scanning is set, and the user can respond to a request from the prediction information acquisition unit 42 during an input operation or processing for the scan job. Assuming that the job is “30 sheets”. The second job is a print job in which single-sided printing and no stapling processing are set. In response to a request from the prediction information acquisition unit 42 during an input operation for the print job, the user sets “25” as the number of document data. It is assumed that the job is “sheet”. The third job is a scan job in which single-sided scanning is set, and the user sets “40 sheets” as the number of remaining original documents in response to a request from the prediction information acquisition unit 42 during an input operation or processing for the scan job. Is input.

  Consider the case where the contents shown in FIG. 3 are stored as the processing time management information 36. The inquiry period setting unit 62 calculates “1.2 minutes” as the predicted processing time for the first and third jobs from the history information 60 and the processing time management information 36. Further, the inquiry period setting unit 62 calculates “0.8 minutes” as the predicted processing time for the second job from the history information 60 and the processing time management information 36.

  Here, in the history information 60 shown in FIG. 13, the user A and the user B execute the same three jobs, and the user A and the user D, even though the same remaining number of documents is input as the prediction information. It should be noted that the actual processing time differs between B and each job.

  First, regarding user A, the actual processing time for the first job for which “1.2 minutes” is calculated as the predicted processing time is “1.1 minutes”, and “0” is the predicted processing time. The actual processing time for the second job for which “.8 minutes” is calculated is “0.6 minutes”, and the third job for which “1.2 minutes” is calculated as the predicted processing time. The actual processing time is “1.3 minutes”. That is, although there is some error, it can be said that the actual processing time of the user A is almost the same as the predicted processing time.

  On the other hand, regarding user B, the actual processing time for the first job for which “1.2 minutes” is calculated as the predicted processing time is “2.4 minutes”, and “0” is the predicted processing time. The actual processing time for the second job for which “.8 minutes” is calculated is “1.7 minutes”, and the third job for which “1.2 minutes” is calculated as the predicted processing time. The actual processing time is “3.0 minutes”. That is, it can be said that the actual processing time of the user B has a large error with respect to the predicted processing time. Specifically, the actual processing time is larger than the predicted processing time. Thus, it can be read from the history information 60 that the prediction processing time calculated based on the prediction information input by the user B tends to be shorter than the actual processing time. As a factor that increases the actual processing time with respect to the predicted processing time, it is conceivable that the user B has input a remaining number of remaining documents as prediction information that is smaller than the actual number of remaining documents.

  If the inquiry period set for a normal user whose difference between the estimated processing time and the actual processing time is small, such as the user A, is the reference inquiry period, the inquiry period setting unit 62 is The inquiry period for users with errors, whose time tends to be shorter than the actual processing time, is set longer than the reference inquiry period. As a result, the user with error is prompted to input the prediction information at the time when more time until the process end deadline remains than the normal user, and is notified according to the result of the input prediction information. It may be. This reduces the possibility that a job input by a user with an error will not be completed by the processing end time limit.

  Specific processing for setting the inquiry period in the inquiry period setting unit 62 is, for example, the following process. The upper limit threshold value of error is stored in advance in the storage unit 32-2. Then, the inquiry period setting unit 62 calculates the average value of the difference between the predicted processing time and the actual processing time for one or more jobs processed in the past based on the history information 60. Then, a reference inquiry period is set for a user whose average value is less than the upper threshold value and greater than or equal to the lower threshold value. For users whose average value is equal to or greater than the upper threshold, an inquiry period longer than the reference inquiry period is set. Here, a longer inquiry period may be set as the difference between the calculated average value and the upper limit threshold increases.

  In addition, the lower limit threshold value of error is stored in advance in the storage unit 32-2, and the inquiry period setting unit 62 sets an inquiry period shorter than the reference inquiry period for users whose average value is less than the lower limit threshold value. You may do it. Again, a shorter inquiry period may be set as the difference between the calculated average value and the lower limit threshold increases.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible unless it deviates from the meaning of this invention.

  10 image forming system, 12 image forming apparatus, 14 terminal device, 16 communication line, 20 communication unit, 22 display unit, 24 input unit, 26 timing unit, 28 image reading unit, 30 image forming unit, 32 storage unit, 34 reservation Information, 36 processing time management information, 38 inquiry period information, 40 control unit, 42 prediction information acquisition unit, 44 prediction processing time calculation unit, 46 processing completion determination unit, 48 notification control unit, 50 inquiry control unit, 60 history information, 62 Inquiry period setting section.

Claims (8)

An input operation accepting unit that accepts an input operation of a processing command from a user;
The processing command input from the user when either the input operation of the processing command or the processing of the processing command is executed during an inquiry period that is a fixed period before the set processing end deadline A prediction information acquisition unit that is used to calculate a prediction processing time predicted to be required for the processing, and acquires at least part of prediction information that is information related to the processing instruction;
A prediction processing time calculation unit that calculates the prediction processing time based on the prediction information;
Based on the predicted processing time, the current time, and the processing end time limit, when it is predicted that processing of the processing command will not be completed by the processing end time limit, A notification unit for notifying that the process is not completed by the process end time limit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The notifying unit notifies the user of a notification content according to a processing stage of the processing command at the start of the inquiry period;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The notification unit can execute processing of the processing command to the user by another image processing apparatus when the processing command is not started at the start of the inquiry period. To notify,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The notification unit notifies the user of the time before the predicted processing time from the processing end time limit when the processing of the processing instruction is predicted to be completed by the processing end time limit.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The notification unit notifies the user of a warning when processing of the processing command is not started at a time based on the prediction processing time before the processing end time limit,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4. In the case where the processing end deadline is set by the reservation period of the processing command reservation reserved by the advance reservation person, and the processing command processing is predicted not to be completed by the processing end deadline, the preceding An inquiry unit for inquiring whether or not to allow the user to use the image processing apparatus during the reservation period of the processing instruction reservation of the advance reservation person,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Based on the difference between the predicted processing time calculated from the prediction information input by the user for the user's past processing command and the actual required time of the past processing command, the user's past processing command An inquiry period setting section for setting an inquiry period;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Computer
An input operation accepting unit that accepts an input operation of a processing command from a user;
The processing command input from the user when either the input operation of the processing command or the processing of the processing command is executed during an inquiry period that is a fixed period before the set processing end deadline A prediction information acquisition unit that is used to calculate a prediction processing time predicted to be required for the processing, and acquires at least part of prediction information that is information related to the processing instruction;
A prediction processing time calculation unit that calculates the prediction processing time based on the prediction information;
Based on the predicted processing time, the current time, and the processing end time limit, when it is predicted that processing of the processing command will not be completed by the processing end time limit, A notification unit for notifying that the process is not completed by the process end time limit;
An image processing program that functions as an image processing program.

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