JP2019155846A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To determine whether a data accumulation destination is to be inside the device or outside according to an application when residual capacity of accumulation means inside the device is insufficient.SOLUTION: An image forming device includes: a data accumulation unit 113 for accumulating job data on a job executed by an application according to an accumulation request output from the application (a printing application 121, reading application 122, ...); and an accumulation control unit 112 for causing the data accumulation unit 113 inside an image forming device 100 or a data storage unit 312 of a data server 300 to store the job data for the accumulation request according to the type of application that outputs the accumulation request when residual capacity of the data accumulation unit 113 is insufficient for required capacity to store the job data for the accumulation request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

A technique for storing image data of a document read processed by a reading application and FAX data received by a FAX application in a data storage memory provided in the apparatus is known.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 identifies the application that outputs the processing request by analyzing the content of the scanning processing request, and stores the image data storage destination according to the type of application that processes the image data obtained by the scanning processing. Discloses a configuration for determining which of a semiconductor memory and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). For example, when an application executes a copy process that requires high speed, a semiconductor memory is selected. When a FAX transmission process that does not require high speed or a mail transmission process with an attached file is executed, an HDD is selected. .

A technique for storing the image data and FAX data on a server arranged on a network is also known, but in order to prevent information leakage, data containing personal information and confidential information should not be stored on the server as much as possible. Is desirable. However, if the capacity of the storage means provided in the apparatus is insufficient, a server may be used as a data storage destination.
In Patent Document 1, storage means provided in the apparatus is used as a data storage destination, and storage of data in a server on a network is not considered. In other words, Patent Document 1 cannot solve the problem that data that is likely to contain personal information or confidential information is stored in a server on the network regardless of the user's intention.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and when the remaining capacity of the storage means in the apparatus is insufficient, whether the data is stored in the apparatus or outside depending on the type of application. The purpose is to be able to determine.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an application that executes a job based on an instruction, a storage unit that stores job data relating to the job in response to a storage request output from the application, and the storage When the remaining capacity of the means is insufficient for the capacity required to store the job data related to the storage request, the job related to the storage request according to the type of the application that has output the storage request Storage control means for storing data in the storage means or an external data storage means.

  According to the present invention, when the remaining capacity of the storage means in the apparatus is insufficient, it is possible to determine whether the data storage destination is internal or external depending on the type of application.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing terminal which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and a data server. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of each apparatus constituting the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a job data processing procedure in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting input screen concerning the priority accumulation setting of job data. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting input screen which concerns on the data movement setting of job data. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which moves all the job data. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which moves some job data per job. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which moves some job data per page data.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present invention has the following features in data accumulation processing. In short, when storing data, it is characterized by confirming the application to be stored and changing the storage destination. The features of the present invention described above will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .

〔System Configuration〕
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the image forming system 1, an image forming apparatus 100, a plurality of information processing terminals 200 (200a, 200b), and a data server 300 are wired or wireless such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). It has a configuration in which information is connected to each other via a network N or a communication cable C conforming to a standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).
The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, an apparatus having any one of a printing function (printer function), a reading function (scanner function), a FAX function, and a copying function (copying function). The image forming apparatus 100 may be an apparatus having one of these functions alone, or may be an apparatus having a plurality of functions in combination. In realizing each of the above functions, the image forming apparatus 100 accumulates (stores) job data relating to each of the above functions. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 100 has a printing function for printing an image on a recording medium such as printing paper based on print data received from the outside, and a reading function for optically reading a document image to acquire image data. This will be described with reference to an example of an apparatus having the same.

The information processing terminal 200 is a personal computer, a smartphone, or the like. The information processing terminal 200a is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network N, and the information processing terminal 200b is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via the communication cable C. The information processing terminal 200 creates print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus 100, transmits the print data together with a print command and print settings to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network N or the communication cable C, and prints the print data as an image. The forming apparatus 100 is made to print.
The data server 300 is means for storing (accumulating) job data. More specifically, the data server 300 is a unit that stores new job data or job data moved from the image forming apparatus 100 when the image forming apparatus 100 cannot store new job data.

[Hardware configuration diagram]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a flash memory 104, an operation panel 105, a communication I / F 106, a print engine 107, and a reading engine. 108 and the like.
The CPU 101 controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The ROM 102 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores programs executed by the CPU 101, data, and the like. The RAM 103 is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores programs and data. The CPU 101 reads out a program stored in the ROM 102, develops it in the RAM 103, and executes it, thereby realizing control of the entire apparatus and various functions.

The flash memory 104 is a non-volatile storage unit that can read and write data, and stores job data and various settings. Instead of the flash memory 104, an SSD (Solid State Drive), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or the like may be used.
The operation panel 105 is a means for inputting various settings and the like to the image forming apparatus 100 and displaying processing results of the image forming apparatus 100 and various settings. The operation panel may be configured by a touch panel display or the like in which the input unit and the display unit are integrated, or both units may be configured separately such as a physical key and a display.
The communication I / F 106 is an interface that connects the image forming apparatus 100 with other apparatuses that constitute the image forming system 1 so as to be able to transmit and receive information.
The print engine 107 is means for printing an image based on the print data on a print sheet.
The reading engine 108 is means for optically reading a document image and acquiring read data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing terminal and the data server according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The information processing terminal 200 is composed of a general computer.
The information processing terminal 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 204, an input device 205, a display device 206, and a communication I. / F207 etc.

The CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire apparatus. A ROM 202 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores programs executed by the CPU 201, data, and the like. The RAM 203 is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores programs and data. The HDD 204 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data. The CPU 201 reads out a program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204, develops it in the RAM 203 and executes it, thereby realizing control of the entire apparatus and various functions.
The input device 205 is a means for inputting various settings and the like to the information processing terminal 200, and is realized by a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The display device 206 is a means for displaying the processing result of the information processing terminal 200 and various settings, and is realized by a liquid crystal display or the like. Note that the input device 205 and the display device 206 may be integrated as a touch panel display or the like.
The communication I / F 207 is an interface that connects the information processing terminal 200 so as to be able to transmit and receive information to and from other devices that constitute the image forming system 1.
Since the data server 300 is also composed of a general computer having the same configuration as the information processing terminal 200, a detailed description of the hardware configuration is omitted.

[Function block diagram]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of each apparatus constituting the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The information processing terminal 200 includes a job generation unit 211 and a job transmission unit 212.
The job generation unit 211 generates various jobs to be output to the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the job generation unit generates a print job including a print command, print settings, and print data, and generates a read job including a read command and read settings. The job generation unit 211 is realized as a program executed by the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG.
The job transmission unit 212 transmits the job generated by the job generation unit 211 to the image forming apparatus 100. The job transmission unit 212 is realized by the communication I / F 207 illustrated in FIG.

The image forming apparatus 100 realizes the functions of the panel control unit 111, a storage control unit (storage control unit) 112, a data storage unit (storage unit) 113, a setting storage unit 114, a communication unit 115, and the image forming apparatus 100. An application group 120 including a plurality of applications (applications) is provided.
The panel control unit 111 is means for controlling the operation of the operation panel 105 shown in FIG. The panel control unit 111 acquires setting contents input from the operation panel 105 and controls display of various information on the operation panel 105.
The accumulation control unit 112 controls the accumulation (storage) of job data in the data accumulation unit 113. That is, the accumulation control unit 112 causes the data accumulation unit 113 to store job data and causes the data accumulation unit 113 to delete job data.
The data storage unit 113 is a unit that temporarily stores job data relating to a job acquired by the image forming apparatus 100 from the information processing terminal 200, and is realized by the flash memory 104 of FIG.
The setting storage unit 114 is a unit that stores various settings related to accumulation and deletion of job data, and is realized by the flash memory 104 of FIG.
The communication unit 115 receives a job transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 and transmits / receives job data to / from the data server 300. The communication unit 115 is realized by the communication I / F 106 shown in FIG.

The application group 120 includes applications prepared for each function of the image forming apparatus 100. The application group 120 includes a printing application 121, a reading application 122, and the like as examples of applications. The print application 121 controls the print engine 107 shown in FIG. 2 to form an image based on the print data on the print paper based on the print job transmitted from the information processing terminal 200. The reading application 122 controls the reading engine 108 shown in FIG. 2 so as to acquire image data obtained by reading an image of a document based on a reading job transmitted from the information processing terminal 200.
Each application included in the panel control unit 111, the accumulation control unit 112, and the application group 120 is realized as a program executed by the CPU 101 illustrated in FIG.

The data server 300 includes an overall control unit 311, a data storage unit (data storage unit) 312, and a communication unit 313.
The overall control unit 311 is means for controlling the entire data server 300, and is realized as a program executed by the CPU (see FIG. 3).
The data storage unit 312 is a unit that stores job data acquired from the image forming apparatus 100, and is realized by an HDD (see FIG. 3).
The communication unit 313 transmits and receives job data to and from the image forming apparatus 100. The communication unit 313 is realized by a communication I / F (see FIG. 3).

[Job data stored in the data storage unit]
The image forming apparatus 100 executes various jobs based on job data transmitted from the information processing terminal 200. When the job cannot be executed immediately, the image forming apparatus 100 temporarily stores job data related to the job in the data storage unit 113 until the job can be executed. When the job is executed, the image forming apparatus 100 Is deleted from the data storage unit 113.
Here, when the job cannot be executed immediately, for example, although the image forming apparatus 100 has received job data from the information processing terminal 200, the execution of the job requires the user authentication of the commander. In some cases, the job data is temporarily stored in the data storage unit 113 until the job is completed until the job is completed. However, the capacity of job data that can be stored by the data storage unit 113 is limited, and if a large amount of job data related to a job waiting to be executed is stored, job data related to a new job cannot be stored.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, depending on the type of application that executes a new job, whether to store job data related to the job in the data storage unit 113 or the data server 300 is determined. When new job data needs to be stored in the data storage unit 113, the job data stored in the data storage unit 113 is moved to the data server 300 based on a predetermined rule, and new job data is stored. To secure the storage capacity required for storage.

[Main flow]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a job data processing procedure in the image forming apparatus.
In step S <b> 101, the accumulation control unit 112 constantly monitors whether or not there is a request to accumulate job data output from each application included in the application group 120. For example, when the print application 121 cannot execute a print job immediately, the print application 121 requests the storage control unit 112 to store job data related to the print job. Other apps work in the same way. If there is no job data accumulation request (No in step S101), the accumulation control unit 112 ends the process. If a job data accumulation request is acquired (Yes in step S101), the accumulation control unit 112 performs the process in step S103. Execute.
In step S103, the accumulation control unit 112 calculates the storage capacity necessary for accumulating job data, in other words, the data size of the job data. Here, the storage capacity necessary for storing job data is described in the page description language in the data size of the print data calculated from the resolution and the number of data lines, for example, when the job data is data relating to a print job. It can be calculated by adding the print setting data size. The above storage capacity calculation method is an example. The accumulation control unit 112 may calculate a storage capacity necessary for accumulating job data using a method other than the above.

In step S <b> 105, the accumulation control unit 112 acquires the remaining capacity of the data accumulation unit 113 from the data accumulation unit 113.
In step S <b> 107, the accumulation control unit 112 compares the storage capacity necessary for job data accumulation with the remaining capacity of the data accumulation unit 113 to determine whether job data can be accumulated in the data accumulation unit 113. . If accumulation is possible (Yes in step S107), the processing in step S113 (processing for accumulating job data in the data accumulation unit 113) is executed. If accumulation is impossible (No in step S107), step S113 is performed. The processing from S109 is executed.
In step S109, the accumulation control unit 112 reads the priority accumulation setting from the setting storage unit 114, and whether the application that has output the job data accumulation request is an application that prioritizes the data accumulation unit 113 as the job data accumulation destination. Determine whether or not.

Here, the priority accumulation setting will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting input screen related to job data priority accumulation setting.
The priority accumulation setting screen 401 is a screen displayed on the operation panel 105 shown in FIG. From the priority accumulation setting screen 401, the user accumulates data for each function of the image forming apparatus 100 (for each application installed in the image forming apparatus 100) for a temporary accumulation destination (storage destination) of job data. Whether storage in the unit 113 is prioritized or storage in the data server 300 is allowed is set. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, job data of the printing application (printer) (data relating to the printing job), job data of the reading application (scanner) (data relating to the reading job), and job data of the FAX application (related to the FAX job). For data), priority is given to storage in the data storage unit 113, and copy application job data (data related to copy jobs) is allowed to be stored in the data server 300.
Here, in a setting that allows storage in the data server 300, job data is stored in the data storage unit 113 if it can be stored in the data storage unit 113, and the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113 is insufficient. If it cannot be stored in the data storage unit 113, it is stored in the data server 300. In this example, priority is given to storing job data of the printing application, reading application, and FAX application in the data storage unit 113, but the job data may be moved to the data server 300 depending on the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113. obtain.

Returning to FIG. 5, if the application that has output the accumulation request in step S109 is an application that is allowed to store job data related to the application in the data server 300 (No in step S109), step S111 is performed. The process is executed. If the application that has output the accumulation request is an application that preferentially stores job data related to the application in the data accumulation unit 113 (Yes in step S109), the process of step S113 is executed.
In step S111, the accumulation control unit 112 causes the data server 300 to store job data related to the application that has output the accumulation request, and ends the process.
In step S113 and subsequent steps, a process of moving job data already stored in the data storage unit 113 to the data server 300 is executed in order to store job data related to the application that has output the storage request in the data storage unit 113. .
In step S113, the accumulation control unit 112 reads the data movement setting from the setting storage unit 114, and determines how to move the job data accumulated in the data accumulation unit 113 (job data movement mode). .

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting input screen related to data movement setting of job data.
The data movement setting screen 402 is a screen displayed on the operation panel 105 shown in FIG. As for the movement of job data from the data movement setting screen 402 to the data server 300, the user moves all of the job data, moves a part of the job data in units of jobs, Set whether to move part of the page. In this example, all the job data is set to move to the data server 300.
In step S115, the accumulation control unit 112 executes processing for moving job data from the data accumulation unit 113 to the data server 300 according to the movement mode determined in step S113. Details of the process in step S115 will be described later.
In step S117, the accumulation control unit 112 stores the job data related to the application that has output the accumulation request in the data accumulation unit 113, and ends the process.

[Subroutine: Movement processing of all data]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for moving all job data. This figure is a flowchart corresponding to step S115. This example shows an example in which all job data is moved in units of jobs. However, job data may be divided and moved in other units, for example, all job data is moved in units of pages. Good.
In step S <b> 201, the accumulation control unit 112 selects job data to be moved from the data accumulation unit 113 to the data server 300.
In step S <b> 203, the accumulation control unit 112 moves the selected job data to the data server 300. That is, the accumulation control unit 112 stores the selected job data in the data storage unit 312 of the data server 300 and executes processing for deleting the selected job data from the data accumulation unit 113.
In step S205, the accumulation control unit 112 determines whether all job data in the data accumulation unit 113 has been moved. If the movement of all job data has been completed (Yes in step S205), the process ends. If job data to be moved remains, the processing from step S201 is executed.
When all the job data is moved to the data server 300 as in this process, the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113 can be increased at a stretch.

  In this subroutine, the accumulation control unit 112 may move only the job data related to the application whose priority is not given to the data accumulation unit 113 to the data server 300. In this case, the accumulation control unit 112 executes the determination process corresponding to step S107 after moving all the job data related to the application to be moved to the data server 300. Then, when the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113 exceeds the necessary storage capacity, the process is terminated, and when the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113 is less than the necessary storage capacity, A process of moving all (or a part) of job data relating to an application that prioritizes accumulation to the data server 300 is executed.

[Subroutine: Movement processing of some data (each job)]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for moving a part of job data in units of jobs. This figure is a flowchart corresponding to step S115.
In step S <b> 301, the accumulation control unit 112 selects job data to be moved from the data accumulation unit 113 to the data server 300. Here, the accumulation control unit 112 selects job data to be moved so that job data related to an application that is not prioritized for accumulation in the data accumulation unit 113 is moved to the data server 300 in advance. If job data related to an application that is not prioritized to be stored in the data storage unit 113 does not exist in the data storage unit 113, job data related to an application that is prioritized to be stored in the data storage unit 113 is selected as a movement target. .

In step S <b> 303, the accumulation control unit 112 moves the selected job data to the data server 300. That is, the accumulation control unit 112 stores the selected job data in the data storage unit 312 of the data server 300 and executes processing for deleting the selected job data from the data accumulation unit 113.
In step S <b> 305, the accumulation control unit 112 determines whether job data relating to the accumulation request can be accumulated in the data accumulation unit 113. For example, the storage control unit 112 compares the storage capacity necessary for storing job data related to the storage request with the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113, and if the latter is larger, the job data is stored in the data storage unit 113. It can be determined that accumulation is possible. Alternatively, the accumulation control unit 112 may determine that the job data can be accumulated in the data accumulation unit 113 when an amount of data exceeding the difference between the necessary storage capacity and the remaining capacity is moved to the data server 300. . If accumulation is possible (Yes in step S305), the process is terminated. If accumulation is impossible (No in step S305), the process from step S301 is executed.

When part of the job data is moved as in this process, the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113 necessary for storing the job data can be secured while suppressing the data movement amount. In particular, when a part of job data is moved for each job, the job data can be easily managed after the job data is moved.
In selecting the job data to be moved, the accumulation control unit 112 can select job data to be moved in the order from the oldest accumulation date / time, the largest data size, or the other order.

[Subroutine: Partial data (page data unit) movement processing]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for moving part of job data in units of page data. This figure is a flowchart corresponding to step S115. In this example, a part of job data stored in the data storage unit 113 is moved to the data server 300 in units of page data (for each print data of each page). Here, the movement in units of page data means that the print data of each page is sequentially moved when job data related to one print job includes a plurality of page data.
In step S <b> 401, the accumulation control unit 112 selects page data to be moved from the data accumulation unit 113 to the data server 300. Here, the accumulation control unit 112 selects page data so that job data relating to an application that is not prioritized for accumulation in the data accumulation unit 113 is moved to the data server 300 in advance. When there is job data in which some page data has already been moved to the data server 300, the accumulation control unit 112 can select page data in the job data as a movement target. If job data related to an application that is not prioritized to be stored in the data storage unit 113 does not exist in the data storage unit 113, job data related to an application that is prioritized to be stored in the data storage unit 113 is selected as a movement target. .

In step S <b> 403, the accumulation control unit 112 moves the selected page data to the data server 300. That is, the accumulation control unit 112 stores the selected page data in the data storage unit 312 of the data server 300 and executes a process of deleting the selected page data from the data accumulation unit 113.
In step S <b> 405, the accumulation control unit 112 determines whether the job data relating to the accumulation request can be accumulated in the data accumulation unit 113. For example, the storage control unit 112 compares the storage capacity necessary for storing job data related to the storage request with the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113, and if the latter is larger, the job data is stored in the data storage unit 113. It can be determined that accumulation is possible. Alternatively, the accumulation control unit 112 may determine that the job data can be accumulated in the data accumulation unit 113 when an amount of data exceeding the difference between the necessary storage capacity and the remaining capacity is moved to the data server 300. . If accumulation is possible (Yes in step S405), the process is terminated. If accumulation is not possible (No in step S405), the process from step S401 is executed.

When part of the job data is moved as in this process, the remaining capacity of the data storage unit 113 necessary for storing the job data can be secured while suppressing the data movement amount. In particular, when a part of job data is moved for each page data, the remaining capacity can be secured with the minimum necessary movement amount.
In selecting the job data to be moved, the accumulation control unit 112 can select job data to be moved in the order from the oldest accumulation date / time, the largest data size, or other order.
In addition, the accumulation control unit 112 leaves the page data that is likely to contain personal information and confidential information in the data accumulation unit 113 and moves other page data to the data storage unit 312. Can be selected. For example, when the job data is FAX data processed by a FAX application, a FAX transmission form is arranged on the first page as a business practice, and information (an example of personal information) of the FAX data transmission source and transmission destination is provided. Often described. In this way, since the degree of confidentiality of information varies depending on the page, it is possible to move a page that is unlikely to contain personal information or confidential information to the data storage unit 312 in advance.

〔effect〕
Some applications installed in the image forming apparatus handle (or have a high possibility of) a lot of personal information and confidential information. It is desirable not to store job data relating to such an application outside the image forming apparatus 100 as much as possible. According to the present embodiment, when job data cannot be stored in the data storage unit 113 provided in the image forming apparatus 100, it is determined whether the job data related to the storage request is job data related to which application. Since the storage destination is determined, personal information and confidential information can be effectively protected.

[Summary of Embodiments, Actions, and Effects of the Present Invention]
<First embodiment>
The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment is to be executed by an application (a printing application 121, a reading application 122,...) That executes a job based on a command and an accumulation request output from the application. Storage unit (data storage unit 113) for storing job data related to a job, and output of a storage request when the remaining capacity of the storage unit is insufficient for the capacity required to store job data related to a storage request A storage control unit (storage control unit 112) that stores job data related to the storage request in a storage unit or an external data storage unit (data storage unit 312 of the data server 300) according to the type of application. It is characterized by.

According to this aspect, when the remaining capacity of the storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus is insufficient and the server must be used as a data storage destination, the application processes according to the type of application. It is possible to determine whether the job data to be stored is stored inside the apparatus or is stored outside the apparatus.
It is desirable to store data including information that should not be leaked to the outside, such as personal information and confidential information, not in an external server but in storage means inside the apparatus. Further, the degree of confidentiality of information included in job data varies greatly depending on the application that processes the job data. For example, FAX data handled by a FAX application often includes information on the data transmission source and transmission destination, and it is desirable to store such data inside the apparatus.
According to this aspect, personal information and confidential information can be effectively protected by determining the job data storage destination according to the type of application.

<Second embodiment>
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, the accumulation control unit (accumulation control unit 112) causes the remaining capacity of the accumulation unit (data accumulation unit 113) to be equal to the capacity necessary for storing job data related to the accumulation request. Storage means when the application (print application 121, reading application 122,...) That has output the storage request is a priority application that uses the storage destination of the job data related to the storage request as the storage means. The job data stored in is stored in data storage means (data storage unit 312), and job data related to the storage request is stored in the storage means.
In this aspect, the job data stored in the storage means is moved to the data storage means, the remaining capacity necessary for storing the job data related to the storage request is secured in the storage means, and the job data related to the storage request is stored. Memorize in means. According to this aspect, personal information and confidential information can be effectively protected.

<Third embodiment>
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this aspect, the accumulation control unit (accumulation control unit 112) moves all of the job data stored in the accumulation unit (data accumulation unit 113) to the data storage unit (data storage unit 312). It is characterized by making it.
According to this aspect, since all of the job data is moved to the data storage unit, the remaining capacity of the storage unit can be increased at once, and the job data relating to the storage request can be reliably stored in the storage unit.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this aspect, the accumulation control unit (accumulation control unit 112) stores a part of the job data stored in the accumulation unit (data accumulation unit 113) as a data storage unit (data The storage unit 312) is moved to secure a remaining capacity in the storage unit that can store job data related to the storage request.
According to this aspect, part of the job data is moved to the data storage unit, so that it is possible to secure the remaining capacity of the storage unit necessary for storing the job data while suppressing the data movement amount. Further, since part of the job data is moved for each job, the job data can be easily managed even if the job data is divided into the storage means and the data storage means.

<Fifth embodiment>
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this aspect, the accumulation control unit (accumulation control unit 112) stores a part of the job data stored in the accumulation unit (data accumulation unit 113) as a data storage unit (data The storage unit 312) is moved to secure a remaining capacity in the storage unit that can store job data related to the storage request.
According to this aspect, part of the job data is moved to the data storage unit, so that it is possible to secure the remaining capacity of the storage unit necessary for storing the job data while suppressing the data movement amount. In addition, since a part of the job data is moved for each page data, the remaining capacity can be secured with the minimum necessary movement amount.

<Sixth embodiment>
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this aspect, the accumulation control unit (accumulation control unit 112) accumulates the accumulation destination of the job data related to the accumulation request among the job data stored in the accumulation unit (data accumulation unit 113). It is characterized in that job data relating to an application (print application 121, reading application 122,...) That is not prioritized as means is preceded and moved to data storage means (data storage unit 312).
When the remaining capacity of the storage means is insufficient, it is necessary to move the job data to an external data storage means to secure the remaining capacity necessary for storing the job data related to the storage request. However, if job data is uniformly moved to the data storage means, personal information and confidential information may not be effectively protected.
According to this aspect, prior to the job data of the application that is prioritized to use the storage destination as the storage unit, the job data of the application that is not prioritized to use the storage destination as the storage unit is moved to the data storage unit. Personal information and confidential information can be protected effectively.

<Seventh embodiment>
In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this aspect, the storage control unit (storage control unit 112) has a remaining capacity of the storage unit (data storage unit 113) corresponding to a capacity necessary for storing job data related to the storage request. If the application (print application 121, reading application 122,...) That is insufficient and has output a storage request is an application that does not prioritize storing the job data storage destination related to the storage request as a storage means, The job data is stored in an external data storage unit (data storage unit 312 of the data server 300).
According to this aspect, job data that does not need to be stored in the apparatus is stored in the external data storage unit. Therefore, for job data for which priority is given to using the storage destination as the storage unit, Capacity can be secured.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, N ... Network, C ... Communication cable, 100 ... Image forming apparatus, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Flash memory, 105 ... Operation panel, 106 ... Communication I / F, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 107 ... Print engine, 108 ... Reading engine, 111 ... Panel control part, 112 ... Accumulation control part (accumulation control means), 113 ... Data accumulation part (accumulation means), 114 ... Setting storage part, 115 ... Communication part, 120 ... Application group 121... Print application 122 122 Reading application 200, 200a, 200b Information processing terminal 201 CPU 202 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 HDD 205 Input device 206 Display device 207 ... Communication I / F, 211 ... Job generation unit, 212 ... Job transmission unit, 300 ... Data server, 31 ... overall control unit, 312 ... data storage unit (data storage means), 313 ... communication unit, 401 ... preference accumulation setting screen, 402 ... data movement setting screen

JP 11-239235 A

Claims (7)

An application that executes jobs based on instructions;
In accordance with a storage request output from the application, storage means for storing job data related to the job;
When the remaining capacity of the storage means is insufficient with respect to the capacity necessary for storing the job data related to the storage request, the storage means relates to the storage request according to the type of the application that has output the storage request. An image forming apparatus comprising: an accumulation control unit configured to store the job data in the accumulation unit or an external data storage unit.   The accumulation control unit is configured such that the remaining capacity of the accumulation unit is insufficient with respect to a capacity necessary for storing the job data related to the accumulation request, and the application that has output the accumulation request relates to the accumulation request. If the priority is to set the storage destination of the job data as the storage unit, the job data stored in the storage unit is moved to the data storage unit, and the job data related to the storage request The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the image data.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the accumulation control unit moves all of the job data stored in the accumulation unit to the data storage unit.   The accumulation control means moves a part of the job data stored in the accumulation means to the data storage means in units of jobs, and has a remaining capacity capable of storing the job data related to the accumulation request. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is secured in the storage unit.   The accumulation control means moves a part of the job data stored in the accumulation means to the data storage means in units of pages, and has a remaining capacity capable of storing the job data related to the accumulation request. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is secured in the storage unit. The accumulation control means includes the job data stored in the accumulation means.
6. The job data according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the job data related to an application for which priority is not given to storing the job data related to the storage request as the storage means is moved to the data storage means in advance. The image forming apparatus described.   The storage control unit is configured such that the remaining capacity of the storage unit is insufficient with respect to a capacity necessary for storing the job data related to the storage request, and the application that has output the storage request is the storage request. The job data relating to the accumulation request is stored in the data storage means when an application that does not prioritize the storage means of the job data as the storage means is stored in the data storage means. Image forming apparatus.

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