JP2021192149A - System and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology for improving information notification by an information processing device regarding an image forming job being input to an image forming device.SOLUTION: In a system 100 of a present embodiment, a PC1 transmits a print job associated with identification information of the PC1 to an MFP5. The MFP5 transmits a completion notice indicating execution complete of printing which is based on the print job to the PC1 by using the identification information associated with the print job after completion of the printing which is based on the print job received from the PC1. The PC1 allows a user IF13 to notify completion notice indicating execution complete of printing which is based on the print job, when receiving the completion notice from the MFP5 via a communication IF14 after having transmitted the print job to the MFP5. Further the PC1 acquires information indicating a usage state of the MFP5, and when the acquired information indicates a restriction condition, does not allow the completion information to be notified even if the completion notice is received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to systems and programs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a notification technique for notifying an information processing apparatus of information about an image forming job input to the image forming apparatus.

In the information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus, a technique for notifying information about an image forming job is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image forming system in which at least one host PC is connected to one digital multifunction device as a technique for notifying error information, and an error occurs in the digital multifunction device. , A technique for transmitting information for recovering the error from the digital multifunction device to the host PC is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-157929

After transmitting the image forming job to the image forming apparatus, the information processing apparatus cannot know whether or not the image forming job is completed. Therefore, the user does not know when his / her own image forming job is completed. For example, if the image forming apparatus is a printer, the print job is not completed when the image forming apparatus is moved to the printer, and the printed matter is waited until it is completed. Problems such as forgetting to go get the printer arise. As in Cited Document 1, the notification when an error occurs is known, but there is room for improvement in the notification when an error does not occur.

The present specification discloses a technique for improving the notification of information about an image forming job input to the image forming apparatus in the information processing apparatus.

The system made for the purpose of solving this problem is a system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus for transmitting an image forming job to the image forming apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is the information processing apparatus. An image forming job associated with the device identification information for identifying the image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via a communication interface included in the information processing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus transmits the image transmitted from the information processing apparatus. When the formation job is received, the image formation based on the image formation job is started, and after the completion of the image formation based on the image formation job, the device identification information associated with the image formation job is used to describe the above. A completion notification indicating the completion of execution of the image formation based on the image formation job is transmitted to the information processing apparatus which is the transmission source of the image formation job, and the information processing apparatus transfers the image formation job to the image forming apparatus. After transmission, when the completion notification addressed to the information processing apparatus is received from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface, the completion information indicating the completion of execution of the image forming based on the image forming job is described. The user interface provided in the information processing apparatus is notified, and the information processing apparatus further acquires usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus, and when the acquired usage information satisfies the restriction condition, the completion notification is received. Even in this case, the user interface is not notified of the completion information based on the image forming job.

According to the system disclosed herein, the image forming apparatus sends a completion notification to the information processing apparatus indicating the completion of execution of image formation based on the image forming job transmitted from the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus: , Since the completion information is notified when the completion notification is received, the user can know that the image formation based on the image formation job is completed. Further, depending on the usage status of the image forming apparatus, the information processing device does not notify the completion information even when the completion notification is received, so that the user's annoyance that the completion information is frequently notified is reduced. can.

A control method for realizing the functions of the system, a computer program, and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the computer program are also new and useful.

According to the technique disclosed in the present specification, a technique for improving the notification of the information regarding the image forming job input to the image forming apparatus in the information processing apparatus is realized.

It is a schematic block diagram of the system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a notification process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a setup process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the selection reception screen of a notification setting. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a notification process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the guidance information.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the system and the program are embodied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This embodiment discloses a system including a multifunction device having a printing function (hereinafter referred to as "MFP") and a personal computer connected to the MFP (hereinafter referred to as "PC").

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 of the present embodiment includes PCs 1 to 4 and MFPs 5 to 6, and these are communicably connected to each other. PCs 1 to 4 are devices capable of executing various application programs (hereinafter referred to as "applications"). PCs 1 to 4 are examples of information processing devices. PCs 1 to 4 are devices having similar functions, and will be described below with reference to PC1. The MFPs 5 to 6 are devices having at least a printing function. MFPs 5 to 6 are an example of an image forming apparatus. The MFPs 5 to 6 are devices having the same functions, and will be described below with reference to the MFP 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the PC 1 of the present embodiment includes a controller 10 including a CPU 11 and a memory 12. The CPU 11 is an example of a computer. Further, the PC 1 includes a user interface (hereinafter referred to as “user IF”) 13 and a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “communication IF”) 14, which are electrically connected to the controller 10. .. The controller 10 in FIG. 1 is a general term for hardware and software used for controlling the PC 1, and does not necessarily represent a single hardware that actually exists in the PC 1.

The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program read from the memory 12 and based on the user's operation. The memory 12 is, for example, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, or a flash memory, and stores various programs such as a start program for starting the PC 1 and various data such as image data, document data, and various setting information. It is a storage area to be stored. The memory 12 is also used as a work area when various processes are executed. The buffer included in the CPU 11 is also an example of the memory.

An example of the memory 12 is not limited to the ROM, RAM, HDD, etc. built in the PC 1, and may be a storage medium that can be read and written by the CPU 11. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitional medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes recording media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a signal medium that can be read by a computer, which is a kind of medium that can be read by a computer, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

The user IF 13 includes hardware that displays information on the screen and hardware that accepts input operations by the user. The user IF 13 may be a combination of a display for display, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, or may be a touch panel having a display function and an input reception function.

The communication IF 14 includes hardware for communicating with an external device such as the MFP 5. The communication method of the communication IF14 may be wired or wireless, or may be any standard method such as Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), USB, and LAN. Further, the communication IF 14 may include a configuration of a plurality of methods.

As shown in FIG. 1, the memory 12 of the PC 1 incorporates an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) 21, an editing application 22, and a notification application 23. OS21 is, for example, Windows (registered trademark), macOS (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark).

The editing application 22 is a program that receives various instructions such as editing instructions such as image data and document data, and printing instructions based on the edited data, and executes processing based on the received instructions. The editing application 22 may be a combination of a plurality of applications including a printer driver and the like corresponding to the MFP 5. In this embodiment, when the editing application 22 receives a print instruction, it generates a print job and sends the print job to the MFP 5 via the OS 21 and the communication IF 14. The print job is an example of an image forming job. The print job transmitted from the PC 1 includes device identification information which is information indicating the transmission source PC 1 and job identification information which is information for identifying the print job. The device identification information is, for example, the IP address or the Mac address of the PC1. The device identification information may be any information that can identify the device of the transmission source, and may be information indicating the serial number of PC1 or the user who uses PC1.

The notification application 23 is a program that transmits a print job generated by the editing application 22 or the like to the MFP 5, acquires information about the print job from the MFP 5, and notifies the user IF 13 of various information based on the acquired information. Is. The notification application 23 is an example of a notification program. The notification by the notification application 23 is performed, for example, by displaying a pop-up for a predetermined display time. The information notified by the notification application 23 includes, for example, completion information indicating the completion of execution of the print job, start information indicating the start of printing by the print job, and busy information indicating that another print job is being executed. The notification application 23 may be provided as a part of the editing application 22, a printer driver, or the like, or may be provided as an independent program.

When incorporating the notification application 23 into the PC 1, for example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the installer 24 for installing the notification application 23 is incorporated into the memory 12. The installer 24 is a program that installs the notification application 23 and sets up various settings for the installed notification application 23. The installer 24 is an example of a setup program. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the installation and setup of the notification application 23 is completed, and the installer 24 does not have to be included in the memory 12.

The MFP 5 of the present embodiment is a device that receives a print job transmitted from PCs 1 to 4 and executes printing based on the received print job. The MFP 5 has a function of notifying the PCs 1 to 4 that have transmitted the print job of the execution information indicating the execution status of the received print job. The execution information transmitted by the MFP 5 to the PCs 1 to 4 includes, for example, a completion notification indicating the completion of execution of the print job, a start notification indicating the start of printing by the print job, and another print job being executed when the print job is received. There is a busy notification, which indicates. The execution information transmitted from the MFP 5 includes the job identification information attached to the print job.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 5 of this embodiment includes a non-volatile memory 52. The memory 52 stores the number of users 521 and the number of executions 522. The number of users 521 is, for example, the number of users who use the MFP 5, and the number of executions 522 is, for example, log information regarding printing executed by the MFP 5. Details of the number of users 521 and the number of executions 522 will be described later. In the initial state of the MFP 5, the values of the number of users 521 and the number of executions 522 are both 0.

Next, the notification procedure by the notification application 23 will be described with reference to the flowchart. In addition, each of the following processing and each processing step of the flowchart basically shows the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program. That is, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", and "control" in the following description are the processes of the CPU 11. Represents. The processing by the CPU 11 also includes hardware control using the API of the OS of the PC1. In this specification, the operation of each program will be described by omitting the description of the OS. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C using the API of the OS". Further, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program may be described in abbreviated wording. For example, it may be described as "CPU 11 performs". Further, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program may be described by a wording that omits the CPU, such as "program A performs".

Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving the data without the CPU 11 requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU 11 acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Data having the same substantial meaning and different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification. Further, "requesting" and "instructing" are concepts indicating that information indicating that a request is being made or information indicating that an instruction is being given is output to the other party. Further, the information indicating that the request is made or the information indicating the instruction is simply described as "request" or "instruction".

Further, the process of determining whether or not the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B by the CPU 11 is conceptually described as "determining whether or not the information A is the matter B". There is. The process of determining whether the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B or the matter C by the CPU 11 is "determined from the information A whether the information A is the matter B or the matter C." It may be described conceptually as in.

Hereinafter, the procedure of notification processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed by the CPU 11 of the PC 1 when the notification application 23 is started by the PC 1. The notification application 23 is started, for example, when the PC1 is started, and resides in the PC1. The notification application 23 is started when the MFP5 is selected as the device for executing printing, when a print instruction specifying the MFP5 is received, when a print job is sent to the MFP5, or when a user start instruction is received. You may.

In the notification process, the CPU 11 first determines whether or not this time is the first time the notification application 23 is started (S101). The CPU 11 determines, for example, whether or not information indicating the first activation is stored in the storage area that can be used by the notification application 23. The information indicating the first startup is, for example, a flag preset in the notification application 23, and the CPU 11 clears this flag after the first startup. The setting and clearing of flags may be reversed. Further, the notification application 23 may accept the operation of the user who changes the state of this flag.

When it is determined that the operation is the first time (S101: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the device to be controlled by the notification application 23, that is, the MFP to which the print job is transmitted is selected (S102). .. For example, if the setup of the notification application 23 is completed by the installer 24, the device is already selected even at the first startup.

When it is determined that the startup is not the first time (S101: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the instruction to change the device to be controlled has been accepted (S103). If it is the first boot and it is determined that the device is not selected (S102: NO), or if it is determined that the device change instruction has been accepted (S103: YES), the CPU 11 determines that the device is not selected via the user IF13. Accepts the selection of (S104). S104 is an example of the device selection process. The CPU 11 displays, for example, a list of selectable MFPs 5 to 6 on the user IF 13 and accepts the selection of the device to be controlled. The CPU 11 stores information that identifies the selected device in a storage area that can be used by the notification application 23.

After accepting the selection of the device, the CPU 11 executes the setup process (S105). When the device is not selected at the first startup, or when the instruction to change the device is accepted, it is an example of the timing for setting up. The procedure of the setup process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the setup process, the CPU 11 acquires information on the type of communication IF used for communication with the selected device, for example, the MFP 5 (S201). The type of communication IF is, for example, LAN or USB, and is selected by the user when selecting or changing a device. The information of the type of communication IF acquired in S201 is information on the connection mode and is an example of usage information. S201 is an example of the acquisition process at the time of setup.

When the printing application 22 or the like receives a printing instruction, the notification application 23 may use a device selected as a device for executing printing as a device to be controlled. For example, the editing application 22 or the like accepts the selection of the print queue registered in the OS 21, and instructs the MFP or the like to print using the information stored in association with the selected print queue. In each print queue, the information of the target device and the information of the communication IF used for communication with the device are stored in association with each other. When the notification application 23 receives an instruction to execute printing by the editing application 22 or the like, the notification application 23 acquires the information of the print queue selected by the editing application 22 or the like, and based on the acquired information, the device to be controlled or Information on the communication IF used for communication with the device may be acquired.

Based on the information acquired in S201, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the selected communication IF is a local connection such as USB (S202). When it is determined that the connection is local (S202: YES), the CPU 11 turns off the notification setting (S203). S203 is an example of the setting process at the time of setup.

The notification setting is one of the information for determining whether or not to perform notification regarding the received notification when the PC 1 receives the notification regarding the print job from the MFP 5 or the like. If the notification setting is off, the notification application 23 does not notify even if the notification is received. If it is a local connection, there is a high possibility that the MFP is located near the PC1 and it is unlikely that the MFP is shared with another PC, so that the need for notification is small. Therefore, by turning off the notification setting, the processing load is reduced and the annoyance of the display is reduced.

When it is determined that the connection is not local (S202: NO), the CPU 11 acquires the information of the number of users 521 stored in the memory 52 from the MFP 5 (S205). The number of users 521 is, for example, the number of users who use the MFP 5 and the number of PCs for which the notification application 23 is set up with the MFP 5 as the control target. The number of users 521 is counted up when the setup of the notification application 23 is completed, as will be described later. The number of users 521 is an example of usage information. S205 is an example of the acquisition process at the time of setup. By storing the number of users 521 in the MFP 5, the number of users who use the MFP can be easily managed for each MFP. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the number of users of the MFP 5 is 1 or more (S206). 1 is an example of a predetermined number.

When it is determined that the number of users is not 1 or more (S206: NO), the CPU 11 turns off the notification setting (S203). When the number of users is 0, it means that there is no other user who uses the MFP5. If there is only one user, the job of another user does not wait for the execution of the own job, and the need for notification is small.

When it is determined that the number of users is 1 or more (S206: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the information of the number of executions 522 from the MFP 5 (S210). The number of executions 522 is, for example, information about a print job that has been printed in the past by the MFP 5. When the MFP 5 receives a print job and executes the printing, the MFP 5 stores, for example, the execution date and time and the number of print pages in the memory 52 as the number of executions 522. The number of executions 522 is an example of usage information or execution amount information. S210 is an example of the acquisition process at the time of setup.

Then, the CPU 11 acquires the average value of the number of printed pages per day based on the information of the number of executions 522 acquired from the MFP 5 (S211). The average number of printed pages per day is an example of the amount of execution. The CPU 11 may acquire an average value during the period by limiting the period to, for example, the latest one week. If the CPU 11 can acquire information on the number of printed pages per day or its average value from the MFP 5, the information may be acquired in S210.

The CPU 11 determines whether or not the average value of the number of printed pages per day is more than 1000 pages (S212). 1000 pages is an example of a predetermined amount. When it is determined that there are more than 1000 pages (S212: YES), the CPU 11 turns on the notification setting (S213). S213 is an example of the setting process at the time of setup. If the notification setting is on, the notification application 23 notifies the completion, for example, when the completion notification is received from the MFP 5. If the MFP 5 is shared with other users and the number of print pages per day is large, there is a possibility that the print job will be waiting to be executed, and there is a high need for notification of the progress of printing.

When it is determined that the average value of the number of printed pages per day is not more than 1000 pages (S212: NO), the CPU 11 sets the notification setting to auto (S214). S214 is an example of the setup-time setting process. Auto is a setting in which the notification application 23 determines whether or not to notify, depending on the situation at that time. Details of the notification processing when the notification setting is auto will be described later.

After any of S203, S213, and S214, the CPU 11 transmits an instruction to count up the number of users 521 to the MFP 5 (S215), and ends the setup process. S215 is an example of the count-up process. The MFP 5 counts up the value stored in the number of users 521 based on the instruction transmitted in S215.

The notification application 23 may receive, for example, an instruction to change the notification setting by the user via the user IF 13. In that case, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the notification application 23 may accept an instruction to change the notification setting at each of the completion time, the start time, and the busy time. As described above, the notification received from the MFP 5 includes the completion notification, the start notification, and the busy notification. Therefore, in this way, the notification is sent for each type of the received notification according to the user's preference. You can specify whether or not to do it.

When the notification setting is turned off in S203, it is set to be off for all notifications at the time of completion, start, and busy. When the notification setting is turned on in S213, it is set to be on for all notifications. When the notification setting is set to auto in S214, as shown in FIG. 4, the setting is automatic at the time of completion and at the time of start, and turned on at the time of busy. Of the notification settings determined in any of S203, S213, and S214, the setting at the time of completion is an example of the completion notification setting, on is an example of a value indicating validity, and off is an example of a value indicating invalidity. As an example, auto is an example of a value indicating automatic.

The explanation returns to the description of the notification process of FIG. After the setup process of S105 is completed, when it is determined that the device has been selected for the first boot (S102: YES), or when it is determined that the device change instruction is not accepted (S103: NO). ), The CPU 11 determines whether or not the notification setting is off (S106). When it is determined that the notification setting is off (S106: YES), that is, when all types of notifications are set to off, the CPU 11 does not perform notifications, and thus ends the notification processing.

When it is determined that the notification setting is not off (S106: NO), the CPU 11 opens a predetermined receiving port of the communication IF 14 (S110). S110 is an example of the opening process. The notification application 23 and the MFPs 5 to 6 are preset to use the receiving port having a predetermined port number. The CPU 11 instructs the OS 21 to open the receiving port. The OS 21 stores the program instructed to open in association with the port number, and passes the information received in the receiving port of the port number to the notification application 23 which is the program instructed to open. By opening the receiving port in S110, the CPU 11 can receive the notification from the MFPs 5 to 6 via the communication IF14. Different receiving ports may be used between the MFP 5 and the MFP 6.

After opening the receiving port, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the notification has been received via the receiving port (S111). When it is determined that the notification has not been received (S111: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the instruction to terminate the notification application 23 has been accepted (S112). If it is determined that the end instruction is not accepted (S112: NO), the CPU 11 waits until either the notification is received or the end instruction is received.

When it is determined that the notification has been received (S111: YES), the CPU 11 executes the notification process (S113). The notification process is a process of notifying the user IF 13 based on the received notification. The procedure of the notification process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The notification received in S111 is information indicating the execution status of the print job in the MFP 5, and is an example of the execution information.

The notification received from the MFP 5 includes information indicating the type of notification, job identification information of the print job to be notified, and information on the number of print pages of the print job. As described above, there are types of notifications received from the MFP 5, such as completion notifications, start notifications, and busy notifications, and the CPU 11 can acquire the types of notifications based on the information included in the received notifications. Further, even if there are a plurality of print jobs transmitted from the PC 1 that has received the notification to the MFP 5, the CPU 11 can determine which print job the notification is related to based on the job identification information included in the received notification.

In the notification process, the CPU 11 first determines whether or not the received notification is a completion notification (S301). S301 is an example of completion detection processing. When it is determined that it is a completion notification (S301: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether the completion setting is on, off, or auto (S302). The completion setting is the notification setting at the time of completion among the above-mentioned notification settings.

When it is determined that the completion setting is off (S302: off), the CPU 11 ends the notification process without performing notification regarding the current notification. When it is determined that the completion setting is on (S302: on), the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to notify the completion information indicating the completion of printing of the print job (S303) based on this notification, and ends the notification process. .. S303 is an example of completion notification processing. The CPU 11 displays, for example, a pop-up display or a toast display including a message indicating that printing is completed as notification of completion information. The pop-up display and the toast display are display modes in which a message is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen only for a predetermined time. The same applies when notifying information other than completion information.

When it is determined that the completion setting is auto (S302: auto), the CPU 11 acquires the number of pages of the print job to be notified (S304). The number of pages is an example of usage information and a second usage information, and S304 is an example of acquisition processing. The CPU 11 acquires the number of pages based on the received notification. When transmitting the print job, the CPU 11 may store the information on the number of pages of the print job to be transmitted in the memory 12 in association with the job identification information. In that case, in S304, the job included in the notification. Information on the number of pages may be acquired from the memory 12 based on the identification information. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the acquired number of pages is less than 100 pages (S305). 100 pages is an example of a predetermined number of pages.

If it is determined that the number of pages is less than 100 (S305: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the number of users stored in the number of users 521 from the MFP 5 that has transmitted the notification (S306). The number of users is an example of usage information and a second usage information, and S306 is an example of acquisition processing. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the number of acquired users is less than 2 (S307). "2" is an example of a predetermined number of people.

When it is determined that the completion setting is auto and the print job is 100 pages or more (S305: NO), or when it is determined that the number of users is 2 or more (S307: NO), the CPU 11 completes printing. Is notified (S303), and the notification process is terminated. For a print job of 100 pages or more, it takes some time to complete printing, so there is a high need for notification. Further, if the number of users is two or more, a print job may be transmitted to the MFP 5 from a PC other than the PC 1, so there is a high need for notification.

On the other hand, when it is a print job of less than 100 pages and it is determined that the number of users is 1 (S307: YES), the CPU 11 ends the notification process without notifying the completion of printing. The condition that the completion setting is off, the condition that the number of pages is less than 100, and the condition that the number of users is 1, are examples of restriction conditions, and S305 and S307 are examples of restriction processing. The condition that the completion setting is on, the condition that the number of pages is 100 pages or more, and the condition that the number of users is 2 or more are examples of the notification condition.

When it is determined that the received notification is not a completion notification (S301: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not it is a busy notification (S311). S311 is an example of busy detection processing. When it is determined that it is a busy notification (S311: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether the busy setting is on or off (S312). The busy setting is a notification setting at the time of busy among the notification settings, and is an example of the busy notification setting.

When it is determined that the busy setting is on (S312: on), the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to notify the busy information indicating that the user IF 13 is busy (S313). S313 is an example of busy notification processing. By notifying the busy information, the user can know that printing based on the print job does not start immediately.

Further, the CPU 11 sets the notified flag (S314) and ends the notification process. S314 is an example of storage processing. The notified flag is information indicating that a busy notification has been performed, and is an example of notification history information. The CPU 11 stores the notified flag in an area that can be used by the notification application 23 in the memory 12 in association with the job identification information indicating the print job.

When it is determined that the busy setting is off (S312: off), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the guidance unnecessary is stored in the memory 12 (S315). The guidance is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, guidance information that informs the user that busy notification can be selected. Guidance information includes a button that allows you to choose whether or not to notify you of busyness, and a check box that indicates that you do not need to display further messages. When the check box is checked, the CPU 11 stores the need for guidance in the memory 12. It can be expected that the user will switch the busy setting on by informing that the busy can be notified.

When it is determined that the guidance unnecessary is not stored (S315: NO), the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to display the guidance information (S316). Further, the CPU 11 receives an instruction by a user operation in the displayed guidance information (S317). For example, when the notify button is selected, the CPU 11 changes the busy setting to on. When the busy setting is changed to on, the CPU 11 may also set the notified flag. After S317, or when it is determined that the guidance unnecessary is stored (S315: YES), the CPU 11 ends the notification process.

When it is determined that the received notification is not a busy notification (S311: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not it is a start notification (S321). S321 is an example of the start detection process. When it is determined that it is a start notification (S321: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether the start setting is on, off, or auto (S322). The start setting is the notification setting at the start of the notification settings. When it is determined that the start setting is off (S322: off), the CPU 11 ends the notification process without performing notification regarding the current notification.

When it is determined that the start setting is auto (S322: auto), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the busy has been notified (S323). The CPU 11 determines S323 based on whether or not the notified flag is set in association with the job identification information of the print job that is the target of the start notification this time. When it is determined that the busy has been notified (S323: YES), the notified flag is cleared (S324). After S324 or when it is determined that the start setting is on (S322: on), the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to notify the start information indicating the start of printing (S325). S325 is an example of the start notification process. When the busy is notified, it is difficult to know the timing of printing start. Therefore, by notifying the start information, the user can know that printing has started.

After S325 or when it is determined that the busy has not been notified (S323: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the number of print pages of the print job to be notified this time is less than 100 pages. (S326). S326 is the same processing as the processing of S304 and S305. When it is determined that the number of pages is not less than 100 (S326: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the completion setting is off (S327). Then, when it is determined that the number of pages is less than 100 (S326: YES) or when it is determined that the completion setting is off (S327: YES), the CPU 11 ends the notification process.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of print pages is 100 or more and the completion setting is not off, that is, it is either auto or on (S327: NO), the CPU 11 completes when the execution of the print job is completed. The user IF 13 is notified of the notice information for notifying that the information is to be notified (S328), and the notification process is terminated. S328 is an example of advance notice processing. For printing of 100 pages or more, even if the completion setting is auto, S305 determines NO and notifies the completion of printing. Further, in a print job having a large number of pages, it takes time from the start to the completion of printing, so it is suitable for the user by notifying the completion information when the printing is completed at the timing of the start of printing. It will be a notification.

If it is determined that the received notification is not a start notification (S321: NO), the CPU 11 performs an operation corresponding to the received notification (S331), and ends the notification process. For example, when the received notification is a notification indicating an error of the MFP 5, the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to notify the information indicating the error regardless of the notification setting.

The explanation returns to the description of the notification process of FIG. After the notification process of S113, the CPU 11 returns to S111 and waits for an instruction to receive or end the notification. Then, when it is determined that the instruction to terminate the notification application 23 has been accepted (S112: YES), the CPU 11 passes the instruction to close the receiving port opened in S110 to the OS 21 (S114), and terminates the notification process.

The process of setting up the notification setting of the notification application 23 may be performed by another program other than the notification application 23 itself in S105 of the notification process. For example, the installer 24 of the notification application 23 accepts the selection of the device to be controlled by the notification application 23, installs the notification application 23 corresponding to the selected device on the PC 1, and then processes the setup of the installed notification application 23. As a result, the setup process shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

Alternatively, a setup program may be prepared separately from the installer 24. For example, in a mobile device or the like, since the installation process is performed by the program provided by the OS, the setup by the installer is not performed. Therefore, a program for setting up the notification application 23 may be prepared instead of the installer 24. Then, the installed notification application 23 may start the program for the setup at the time of the first startup or the like. The user may also start the program for the setup. In this case, the setup program accepts the selection of the device to be controlled by the notification application 23, and executes the setup process shown in FIG.

The notification settings determined by the setup process by a program other than the notification application 23 such as the installer 24 are stored in a format that can be used by the notification application 23. When the setup process is executed by a program other than the notification application 23, S201, S205, and S210 in FIG. 3 are examples of the first acquisition process, and S203, S213, and S214 are examples of the setting process. be. Further, the information on the type of communication IF acquired in S201, the information on the number of users acquired in S205, and the information on the number of executions acquired in S210 are all examples of the first usage information. Further, if the configuration is set up by a program other than the notification application 23, the notification processes S101 and S102 may be omitted.

When the notification application 23 receives the uninstall instruction, the notification application 23 transmits an instruction to count down the number of users to the MFP selected as the control target, for example, the MFP 5. Upon receiving the countdown instruction, the MFP 5 counts down the value of the number of users stored in the number of users 521. When the notification application 23 is uninstalled, there is a high possibility that the MFP will not be used thereafter, and the number of users suitable for the actual situation is likely to be stored by counting down.

As described in detail above, the notification application 23 of this embodiment notifies the completion information based on the completion notification output from the MFPs 5 to 6, so that the user knows that the printing based on the print job is completed. Can be done. However, depending on the usage status of the target MFP, the need to notify the completion information may be low, so the notification application 23 completes when the usage information indicating the usage status of the MFP meets the restriction conditions. Even if a notification is received, the completion information is not notified. As a result, it is possible to reduce the annoyance that the completion information is frequently notified, and the notification on the PC 1 is improved.

Further, in this embodiment, when the number of users is small or the number of pages of the print job is small, the restriction condition is satisfied. Therefore, in the situation where the need for notification of completion information tends to be low, the notification of completion information is restricted. Will be done. This can be expected to reduce the annoyance that the completion information is frequently notified. On the other hand, in the case of a print job with a large number of users and a large number of pages, the start of printing may be awaited, and printing may take a long time. be. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the notification condition is satisfied in such a situation, so that the notification is suitable for the user.

Further, in this embodiment, the PC 1 executes the setup process when the notification application 23 is started for the first time, and sets the value of the notification setting based on the usage status of the MFPs 5 to 6 at the time of setup, so that each time the notification is received. The processing load is smaller than when acquiring usage information. Further, if the installer 24 of the notification application 23 or the program for setup sets the value of the notification setting based on the usage status of the MFPs 5 to 6, it is necessary to perform the setup process when the notification application 23 is started for the first time. Therefore, the time required to start the notification application 23 is shortened. Further, in the present embodiment, since the change of the notification setting is accepted based on the instruction of the user, the notification setting can be set according to the user's preference.

Further, in this embodiment, the auto setting is accepted as the completion setting or the start setting, and when the auto is set, whether or not the PC1 notifies according to the usage status at that time and the number of pages of the print job. decide. As a result, notification according to the usage status of the MFPs 5 to 6 at that time becomes possible, and the notification is further improved. For example, if the number of users 521 is large but the number of executions 522 is not large, the auto setting is set, so that it can be expected that the notification will be according to the actual situation.

It should be noted that the present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, the techniques disclosed herein can, of course, be variously improved and modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the number of PCs and MFPs, the wording of various notification messages, and the like are not limited to the illustrated examples. An example of the information processing device is not limited to a PC, and may be, for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. Further, the device to be controlled by the notification application 23 is not limited to the MFP, and may be a printer, a copier, a fax machine, a sewing machine, or the like. Further, the numerical values such as the predetermined number which is the threshold of the number of users, the predetermined amount which is the threshold of the average execution amount, and the predetermined number of pages which is the threshold of the number of pages of the print job are all examples and are the numbers described in the specification. Not limited to.

Further, in the present embodiment, the PC 1 determines whether or not to perform the notification regarding the notification received from the MFP 5 based on the notification setting, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the notification setting is off, an instruction not to notify the MFP 5 may be transmitted so that the notification from the MFP 5 is not transmitted. Alternatively, the completion setting, the start setting, and the busy setting may be passed to the MFP 5 so that only the notification, which is the setting to be transmitted, is transmitted.

Further, in this embodiment, the setup process is executed only when the notification application 23 is started. However, for example, when the MFP that sends the print job is changed by the editing application 22 or the like even after the startup. You may execute the setup process again. Further, the notification application 23 may be able to notify the execution status of a plurality of devices. In that case, the notification setting is stored for each target device, and the notification application 23 is based on the notification setting corresponding to the device to which the notification is transmitted. You may give a notification.

Further, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the information of the number of users 521 and the information of the number of executions 522 are acquired from the MFP 5 as the usage information, but the acquisition is not limited to the example of directly acquiring from the MFP 5, but the information is acquired via the OS 21, the print server, or the like. May be. Further, the number of users 521 is not limited to the value stored by counting up from the PC 1, and may be, for example, the number of users registered in the MFP 5 by the administrator. Further, the device for managing the number of users and the number of executions is not limited to the MFP itself, and may be a device other than the MFP such as a print server or a PC. The PC 1 may acquire information from the device as needed.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the completion setting is auto, the number of users 521 is acquired from the MFP 5 every time the completion notification is received in S306 of the notification process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be acquired and stored at startup, and the value may be continuously used.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example is disclosed in which a check box indicating that subsequent messages do not need to be displayed is included as guidance information for guiding that busy notification is possible, but even if there is no check box. good. For example, the guidance information may be notified every time a busy notification is received when the busy setting is off, may be notified when a predetermined number of busy notifications are received, or a busy notification may be received. You may notify only the first time you do.

Further, in the present embodiment, a button for accepting a setting for notifying is provided in the busy guidance information, but the button may not be provided. That is, the guidance information does not have to accept the change of the setting. In that case, for example, the guidance about the procedure for changing the notification setting may be displayed in the guidance information.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the start setting is off, the notice information is not displayed, but the notice information may be displayed when the condition of the notice is satisfied. Specifically, if it is determined in S322 that it is off, the CPU 11 may proceed to S326.

Further, in this embodiment, as an example of limiting the notification, the notification is not performed, but the notification is not limited to this. For example, the display time of the pop-up display may be shortened, or the display location may be in the corner. You can make the display smaller.

Further, in any flowchart disclosed in the embodiment, the plurality of processes in any plurality of steps can be arbitrarily changed in the execution order or executed in parallel as long as the processing contents do not conflict with each other.

Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment may be executed by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment can be realized in various aspects such as a recording medium or a method in which a program for executing the process is recorded.

1, 2, 3, 4 PC
5, 6 MFP
11 CPU
13 User IF
14 Communication IF
23 Notification app 100 system

Claims (21)

A system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus for transmitting an image forming job to the image forming apparatus.
The information processing device is
An image forming job associated with the device identification information for identifying the information processing device is transmitted to the image forming device via the communication interface included in the information processing device.
The image forming apparatus is
When the image forming job transmitted from the information processing apparatus is received, the image formation based on the image forming job is started, and after the image formation based on the image forming job is completed, the image formation job is associated with the image forming job. Using the device identification information, a completion notification indicating the completion of execution of the image formation based on the image formation job is transmitted to the information processing device which is the transmission source of the image formation job.
The information processing device is
After transmitting the image forming job to the image forming apparatus, when the completion notification to the information processing apparatus is received from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface, the image forming based on the image forming job is performed. The completion information indicating the completion of the execution of the above is notified to the user interface provided in the information processing apparatus.
Further, the information processing device is
When the usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus is acquired and the acquired usage information satisfies the restriction condition, even if the completion notification is received, the completion information based on the image forming job can be obtained. Do not notify the user interface
A system characterized by that. A system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus for transmitting an image forming job to the image forming apparatus.
The information processing device is
An image forming job associated with the device identification information for identifying the information processing device is transmitted to the image forming device via the communication interface included in the information processing device.
The image forming apparatus is
When the image forming job transmitted from the information processing apparatus is received, the image formation based on the image forming job is started, and after the image formation based on the image forming job is completed, the image formation job is associated with the image forming job. Using the device identification information, a completion notification indicating the completion of execution of the image formation based on the image formation job is transmitted to the information processing device which is the transmission source of the image formation job.
The information processing device is
After the image forming job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the usage status of the image forming apparatus is shown when the completion notification to the information processing apparatus is received from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface. When the usage information is acquired and the acquired usage information satisfies the notification condition, the user interface provided with the information processing apparatus is notified of the completion information indicating the completion of the execution of the image formation based on the image formation job.
A system characterized by that. To the computer of the information processing device
Completion detection that acquires execution information indicating the execution status of the image formation job from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface included in the information processing apparatus and detects the completion of execution of the image forming job based on the acquired execution information. The processing is executed, and the image forming job is a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus via the communication interface.
Further to the computer
When the execution completion of the image forming job is detected by the completion detection process, the completion notification process for notifying the user interface of the information processing apparatus of the completion information indicating the completion of the execution of the image forming job is executed.
Further to the computer
Acquisition processing for acquiring usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus, and
When the usage information acquired in the acquisition process satisfies the restriction condition, even if the execution completion of the image formation job is detected, the restriction process for limiting the notification of the completion information by the completion notification process and the restriction process.
To execute,
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 3,
In the acquisition process,
The number of users who use the image forming apparatus is acquired as the usage information, and
In the restriction process,
Even when the restriction condition is satisfied when the number of users acquired by the acquisition process is less than the predetermined number of users and the execution completion of the image forming job is detected, the completion information is notified by the completion notification process. To limit,
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 3,
In the acquisition process,
The number of pages for which the image forming apparatus is made to form an image by the image forming job is acquired as the usage information.
In the restriction process,
Even when the restriction condition is satisfied when the number of pages acquired in the acquisition process is less than the predetermined number of pages and the execution completion of the image forming job is detected, the completion information of the completion notification process is detected. Limit notifications,
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 5,
To the computer
Based on the execution information acquired from the image forming apparatus, a start detection process for detecting the start of image formation by the image forming job transmitted to the image forming apparatus is executed.
Further to the computer
When the start of image formation by the image formation job is detected by the start detection process and the usage information acquired by the acquisition process does not satisfy the restriction condition, the completion information is obtained when the execution of the image formation job is completed. Is executed, the notice processing for notifying the user interface of the notice information indicating that is notified is executed.
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to any one of claims 3 to 6.
To the computer
Based on the execution information acquired from the image forming apparatus, a busy detection process for detecting a busy indicating that the image forming apparatus is executing another image forming job is executed.
Further to the computer
When a busy is detected by the busy detection process, the busy notification process for notifying the user interface of the busy information indicating the busy is executed.
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 7,
In the busy notification process,
When a busy is detected by the busy detection process, if the busy notification setting, which is a setting for enabling or disabling the notification of the busy information, is enabled, the busy information is notified to the user interface. If the busy notification setting is invalid, the busy information is not notified, and the user interface is notified of guidance information for informing that the busy notification setting is enabled.
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 7 or 8.
To the computer
When the busy information is notified by the busy notification process, a storage process for storing the notification history information indicating that the busy information has been notified is executed.
Further to the computer
Based on the execution information acquired from the image forming apparatus, a start detection process for detecting the start of image formation by the image forming job transmitted to the image forming apparatus is executed.
Further to the computer
When the start of image formation by the image formation job is detected by the start detection process and the notification history information is stored, the start information indicating the start of image formation by the image formation job is transmitted to the user interface. To execute the start notification process to notify
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to any one of claims 3 to 9.
To the computer
The communication interface included in the information processing apparatus is made to execute an opening process for opening a receiving port for receiving a notification transmitted from the image forming apparatus.
In the completion detection process,
After the information processing apparatus transmits the image forming job to the image forming apparatus, the communication interface whose reception port is opened receives the execution information addressed to the information processing apparatus, so that the execution information can be obtained. The image forming job acquired and transmitted from the information processing apparatus is transmitted to the image forming apparatus together with the device identification information for identifying the information processing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives the information from the information processing apparatus. When the image formation based on the image formation job is completed, the execution information indicating the completion of the execution of the image formation job is transmitted to the sender of the image formation job by using the device identification information received together with the image formation job. Sending to the information processing device,
A program for notification that is characterized by this. To the computer of the information processing device
Completion detection that acquires execution information indicating the execution status of the image formation job from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface included in the information processing apparatus and detects the completion of execution of the image forming job based on the acquired execution information. The processing is executed, and the image forming job is a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus via the communication interface.
Further, when the computer detects the completion of execution of the image forming job by the completion detection process,
Acquisition processing for acquiring usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus, and
When the usage information acquired in the acquisition process satisfies the notification condition, the completion notification process for notifying the user interface of the information processing apparatus of the completion information indicating the completion of execution of the image forming job, and the completion notification process.
To execute,
A program for notification that is characterized by this. To the computer of the information processing device
A setup process for setting up a notification program in the information processing apparatus to notify the user interface of the information processing apparatus of the completion information indicating the completion of the execution of image formation based on the image formation job in the image forming apparatus is executed. The notification program acquires execution information indicating the execution status of the image formation job from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface included in the information processing apparatus, and the image forming job is based on the acquired execution information. When the notification condition for notifying the completion information is detected and the notification condition for notifying the completion information is satisfied, the completion information is notified to the user interface, and the image forming job is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus. It is a submitted job
Further, in the setup process,
The first acquisition process for acquiring the first usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus, and
Based on the first usage information acquired in the first acquisition process, the completion notification setting is determined to be either a value indicating valid or a value indicating non-valid, and the determined value is the value of the completion notification setting. If the value of the completion notification setting is a value indicating validity, the notification condition is satisfied.
A program for setup that features that. In the setup program according to claim 12,
In the first acquisition process,
Information indicating the connection mode between the information processing device and the image forming device is acquired as the first usage information.
In the setting process,
When the connection mode acquired in the first acquisition process indicates a local connection, the value of the completion notification setting is determined to be a value indicating invalidity, and when the value of the completion notification setting is a value indicating invalidity, the notification is performed. The conditions are not met,
A program for setup that features that. In the setup program according to claim 12 or 13.
In the first acquisition process,
The number of users who use the image forming apparatus is acquired as the first usage information, and the number of users is obtained.
In the setting process,
When the number of users acquired in the first acquisition process is less than a predetermined number, the value of the completion notification setting is determined to be a value indicating invalidity, and when the value of the completion notification setting is a value indicating invalidity, the above-mentioned Notification conditions are not met,
A program for setup that features that. In the setup program according to claim 14,
In the first acquisition process,
The number of users stored in the image forming apparatus is acquired from the image forming apparatus, and the number of users is acquired from the image forming apparatus.
Further to the computer
When the notification program is set up in the information processing apparatus in the setup process, the count-up process for instructing the image forming apparatus to count up the number of users stored in the image forming apparatus is executed. ,
A program for setup that features that. In the setup program according to claim 12,
In the first acquisition process,
Execution amount information indicating the execution amount for causing the image forming apparatus to perform image formation is acquired as the first usage information.
In the setting process,
When the execution amount indicated by the execution amount information acquired in the first acquisition process is larger than a predetermined amount, the value of the completion notification setting is determined to be a value indicating validity.
A program for setup that features that. In the setup program according to any one of claims 12 to 16.
In the setting process,
Based on the first usage information acquired in the first acquisition process, the completion notification setting is set to a value indicating one of valid, invalid, and automatic, and the notification program is described. If the second usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus is acquired and the completion notification setting is a value indicating automatic when the execution completion is detected, the acquired second usage information sets a limiting condition. It is determined whether or not the conditions are satisfied, and if the restriction condition is not satisfied, the completion information is notified to the user interface, and if the restriction condition is satisfied, the completion information is not notified to the user interface.
A program for setup that features that. In the setup program according to any one of claims 12 to 17.
In the setup process,
As the setup of the notification program, the notification program is installed in the information processing apparatus.
A program for setup that features that. To the computer of the information processing device
Completion detection that acquires execution information indicating the execution status of the image formation job from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface included in the information processing apparatus and detects the completion of execution of the image forming job based on the acquired execution information. The processing is executed, and the image forming job is a job transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus via the communication interface.
Further to the computer
When the completion detection process detects the completion of execution of the image forming job and the notification condition for notifying the completion information is satisfied, the information processing apparatus displays the completion information indicating the completion of execution of the image forming job. Executes the completion notification process to notify the user interface provided in
Furthermore, at the timing of setting up the computer,
The setup acquisition process for acquiring usage information indicating the usage status of the image forming apparatus, and
Based on the usage information acquired in the setup acquisition process, the completion notification setting is determined to be either a value indicating valid or a value indicating non-valid, and the determined value is set as the value of the completion notification setting. If the value of the completion notification setting is a value indicating validity, the notification condition is satisfied.
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 19,
To the computer
As one of the timings for setting up, the setup-time acquisition process and the setup-time setting process are executed at the first startup.
A program for notification that is characterized by this. In the notification program according to claim 19 or claim 20
To the computer
Execute the device selection process that accepts the selection of the device to be controlled,
Further to the computer
As one of the timings for setting up, when the image forming apparatus is selected in the device selection process, the setup time acquisition process and the setup time setting process are executed.
A program for notification that is characterized by this.

Images