JP2022020253A - Image forming apparatus, system, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To cause, when an image forming apparatus fails, the other image forming apparatus to execute a job in place of the image forming apparatus without requesting a special operation from a user.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100A comprises: a first network interface card (NIC) 101A and a second NIC 102A that are connected with a network; and a control unit. The control unit sets a primary Internet protocol (IP) address to the first NIC 101A, sets a primary IP address set to a NIC of the other image forming apparatus 100B to the second NIC 102A as a secondary IP address, enables the first NIC 101A, disables the second NIC 102A, executes a job addressed to the primary IP address as a job of the image forming apparatus 100A, and based on detecting that the other image forming apparatus 101B cannot execute a job addressed to the secondary IP address, enables the second NIC 102A and executes the job addressed to the secondary IP address.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, to acting on behalf of a job of the image forming apparatus.

In recent office environments, multiple image forming devices such as MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals) may be used on one floor. The user can register and use a plurality of image forming devices in a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. In reality, users often use a specific unit in a concentrated manner.

In the above environment, when the image forming apparatus normally used by the user becomes unusable due to maintenance or failure, the user does not notice that the image forming apparatus cannot be used, and the user jobs in the image forming apparatus usually used. May be sent. In that case, the user needs to perform complicated operations such as canceling the job and resending the job to another image forming apparatus.

Regarding job substitution, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-21604 (Patent Document 1) states that "a job processing device that selects an image data transmission job or a reception job that can only be performed by the own device while downloading firmware". The primary IP address of the own device and the secondary IP address of the job processing device that substitutes for the job are exchanged, and after downloading the firmware, the exchanged IP address is exchanged again and restored. The job processing device that receives the job received by the job processing device that has acted for the reception of the job and executes it after exchanging the job processing device is disclosed (see [Summary]). ).

Further, another technique relating to job substitution is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-056117 (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-21604 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-056117

According to the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when an image forming apparatus fails, another image forming apparatus can be used instead of the image forming apparatus that cannot execute a job without requiring a special operation from the user. Unable to get the device to execute a job. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus fails, there is a need for a technique for causing another image forming apparatus to execute the job instead of the image forming apparatus that cannot execute the job without requiring the user to perform a special operation. It is said that.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above background, and the purpose in a certain aspect is to be able to execute a job without requiring a special operation from the user when the image forming apparatus fails or the like. The purpose is to provide a technique for causing another image forming apparatus to execute a job in place of the lost image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first NIC (Network Interface Card) and a second NIC connected to a network, and a control unit for controlling the image forming apparatus. The control unit sets the primary IP (Internet Protocol) address in the first NIC, sets the primary IP address set in the NIC of the other image forming apparatus as the secondary IP address in the second NIC, and sets it. Enables the first NIC, disables the second NIC, executes the job addressed to the primary IP address as a job of the image forming device, and detects that the other image forming device cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address. Based on the above, enable the second NIC and execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address.

In one aspect, the first NIC sends a survival confirmation message to the secondary IP address. The control unit further determines that another image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the fact that there is no response to the survival confirmation message for a certain period of time or a certain number of times or more.

In one aspect, the survival confirmation message is a ping message or a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) message.

In one aspect, the control unit further determines that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the receipt of the job proxy request message from the other image forming apparatus.

In one aspect, the control unit further receives a job proxy request message from the image forming apparatus or a server that manages the other image forming apparatus, and the other image forming apparatus is addressed to the secondary IP address. Judge that the job cannot be executed.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus further comprises a storage unit for storing a history of jobs. The control unit further stores the execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address in the storage unit, and based on the detection of the recovery of the other image forming apparatus, the execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address is stored in another image. Send to the forming device.

In a certain aspect, the control unit stores the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address in the storage unit based on the reception of the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address from another image forming apparatus.

In one aspect, the control unit accepts an input for selecting discard or forced execution of the received job based on the job addressed to the secondary IP address that the image forming apparatus cannot execute.

In one aspect, the control unit stores the unexecutable job in the storage unit based on the job addressed to the received secondary IP address being a job that the image forming apparatus cannot execute, and another image forming apparatus. Sends a job that the image forming device cannot execute to another image forming device based on the detection of the recovery of.

In one aspect, the control unit further sends a job proxy request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the primary IP address.

In one aspect, the control unit sends a job proxy stop request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus has recovered to the executable state of the job addressed to the primary IP address. ..

In one aspect, the control unit further disables the second NIC based on the detection of a secondary IP address collision after enabling the second NIC.

According to other embodiments, the system is provided. This system includes a first image forming apparatus, a second image forming apparatus, and a server that manages the first and second image forming apparatus. The first image forming apparatus includes a first NIC in which a first IP address is set and a second NIC in which a second IP address is set, and the first NIC is enabled. , The second NIC has been disabled. The second image forming apparatus includes a third NIC in which the second IP address is set and a fourth NIC in which the first IP address is set, and the third NIC is enabled. , The fourth NIC has been disabled. The server detects that the second image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the second IP address based on the state information acquired from the second image forming apparatus, and causes the first image forming apparatus to perform the job. Send a proxy request message for. The first image forming apparatus enables the second NIC based on the receipt of the job proxy request message, and executes the job addressed to the second IP address.

According to other embodiments, a method of controlling the image forming apparatus is provided. This method includes a step of setting a primary IP address in the first NIC and a step of setting a primary IP address set in the NIC of another image forming apparatus as a secondary IP address in the second NIC. A step to enable the first NIC, a step to disable the second NIC, a step to execute a job addressed to the primary IP address as a job of the image forming apparatus, and another image forming apparatus addressed to the secondary IP address. Includes a step of enabling a second NIC and executing a job addressed to a secondary IP address based on the detection that the job cannot be executed.

In one aspect, the method is based on the step of sending a survival confirmation message to a secondary IP address and no response to the survival confirmation message for a certain period of time or more than a certain number of times, and another image forming apparatus addresses the secondary IP address. Further includes a step of determining that the job cannot be executed.

In one aspect, the survival confirmation message is a ping message or a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) message.

In one aspect, the method further comprises determining that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute the job destined for the secondary IP address based on the receipt of the job proxy request message from the other image forming apparatus.

In one aspect, the method is that another image forming device cannot execute a job destined for a secondary IP address based on receiving a job proxy request message from the image forming device or the server that manages the other image forming device. Further includes a step of determining that.

In one aspect, the method stores the execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address in the storage unit and the execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the detection of recovery of another image forming apparatus. It further includes a step of transmitting to another image forming apparatus.

In one aspect, the method further comprises storing the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address in the storage based on receiving the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address from another image forming apparatus. ..

In one aspect, the method further comprises accepting input for discarding or forcing execution of the job based on the job addressed to the received secondary IP address being a job that the image forming apparatus cannot perform.

In one aspect, the method is based on the job addressed to the received secondary IP address being a job that the image forming apparatus cannot execute, a step of storing the infeasible job in the storage unit, and another image forming. It further includes a step of sending a job that the image forming apparatus cannot perform to another image forming apparatus based on the detection of the restoration of the apparatus.

In one aspect, the method further comprises sending a job surrogate request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus is unable to execute the job destined for the primary IP address.

In one aspect, the method sends a job delegation stop request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming device has recovered to the executable state of the job addressed to the primary IP address. Including further.

In one aspect, the method further comprises disabling the second NIC based on the detection of a secondary IP address collision after enabling the second NIC.

According to other embodiments, a program is provided for causing one or more processors to perform the above method.

According to a certain embodiment, when the image forming apparatus fails, another image forming apparatus is made to execute the job instead of the image forming apparatus that cannot execute the job without requesting a special operation from the user. It is possible.

The above and other objectives, features, aspects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of this disclosure as understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration which includes the image forming apparatus 100 according to a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the job agency of the image forming apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the method which the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the method which the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of the method which the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B. It is a figure which shows an example of the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the circuit structure of the image forming apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the procedure which sends the substitute request of a job in an image forming apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the procedure of the substitute of a job in an image forming apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the procedure of the restoration process in an image forming apparatus 100.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the technical concept according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, the detailed description of them will not be repeated.

<A. Application example>
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment can substitute a job for another image forming apparatus when another image forming apparatus fails or the like. Here, "on behalf of a job" means that, for example, when a certain image forming apparatus X fails, the image forming apparatus Y receives a job addressed to the failed image forming apparatus X and executes the job. Means. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and its operation will be described by taking an office in which two image forming apparatus are installed as an example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration including an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. In the system shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100A, the image forming apparatus 100B, and the terminal 103 are connected to the network 104. Hereinafter, when the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B are generically referred to, they are referred to as an image forming apparatus 100. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the configuration example of the system is not limited to this. In a certain aspect, an arbitrary number of image forming devices 100 and an arbitrary number of terminals 103 may be connected to the network 104.

The network 104 may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof. In certain aspects, the network 104 may be Ethernet®. In that case, the image forming apparatus 100A, 100B and the terminal 103 may be connected to the network 104 by a hub, a switch, a Wi-Fi® (Wireless Fidelity) access point, or the like.

The terminal 103 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet, a smartphone, or any other information processing device. The user transmits a job from the terminal 103 to either the image forming apparatus 100A or 100B.

The image forming apparatus 100A and 100B execute the job received from the terminal 103. Each of the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B includes two NICs (Network Interface Cards). For example, the image forming apparatus 100A includes NIC101A and NIC102A. The image forming apparatus 100B includes NIC101B and NIC102B.

Next, the roles of these two NIC101s will be described. In the example of FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100A sets the primary IP (Internet Protocol) address “192.168.0.11” in the NIC 101A based on the setting input from the administrator. Further, the image forming apparatus 100A sets the secondary IP address "192.168.0.10" in the NIC 102A. The image forming apparatus 100A normally enables only the NIC101A to which the primary IP address is assigned, and invalidates the NIC102A to which the secondary IP address is assigned.

Similarly, the image forming apparatus 100B sets the primary IP address "192.168.0.10" in the NIC101B based on the setting input from the administrator and the like. Further, the image forming apparatus 100A sets the secondary IP address "192.168.0.11" in the NIC 102B. The image forming apparatus 100B normally enables only the NIC 101B to which the primary IP address is assigned, and invalidates the NIC 102B to which the secondary IP address is assigned.

"Enabling the NIC" means enabling the NIC to send and receive messages addressed to the IP address assigned to the NIC. On the contrary, "disable the NIC" means that the NIC cannot send and receive messages addressed to the IP address assigned to the NIC.

The "primary IP address" is used as an IP address when each image forming apparatus 100 accepts a job for its own apparatus. For example, the primary IP address of the image forming apparatus 100A is "192.168.0.11". Therefore, when the terminal 103 transmits the job addressed to "192.168.0.11" to the network 104, the image forming apparatus 100A receives and executes the job as a job addressed to its own device.

The primary IP address of the image forming apparatus 100B is "192.168.0.10". Therefore, when the terminal 103 transmits the job addressed to "192.168.0.10" to the network 104, the image forming apparatus 100B receives and executes the job as a job addressed to its own device.

The "secondary IP address" is an IP address when each image forming apparatus 100 accepts a job for another image forming apparatus 100 on behalf of the other image forming apparatus 100. The secondary IP address is the same as the primary IP address of the other image forming apparatus 100. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the secondary IP address “192.168.0.10” of the image forming apparatus 100A is the same as the primary IP address “192.168.0.10” of the image forming apparatus 100B.

When the image forming apparatus 100A detects that the image forming apparatus 100B cannot execute the job, the image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A to which the secondary IP address is assigned, receives the job for the image forming apparatus 100B, and acts on behalf of the image forming apparatus 100B.

Similarly, the secondary IP address "192.168.0.11" of the image forming apparatus 100B is the same as the primary IP address "192.168.0.11" of the image forming apparatus 100A. When the image forming apparatus 100B detects that the image forming apparatus 100A cannot execute the job, the image forming apparatus 100B activates the NIC 102B to which the secondary IP address is assigned, receives the job for the image forming apparatus 100A, and acts on behalf of the image forming apparatus 100A. The details of job substitution will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a job on behalf of the image forming apparatus 100. A procedure in which the image forming apparatus 100A substitutes for the job of the image forming apparatus 100B will be described with reference to FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the user of the terminal 103 usually uses the image forming apparatus 100B. Therefore, the terminal 103 normally transmits a job to the primary IP address "192.168.0.10" of the image forming apparatus 100B.

If the image forming apparatus 100B shifts to the maintenance mode or fails, the NIC 101B is invalidated. When the image forming apparatus 100A detects that the image forming apparatus 100B cannot process the job or the NIC101B is invalidated, the image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC102A.

As described above, the secondary IP address "192.168.0.10" assigned to NIC102A is the same as the primary IP address "192.168.0.10" assigned to NIC101B. Therefore, the job addressed to the IP address "192.168.0.10" is transferred to NIC102A. While NIC102A is enabled, IP address collision does not occur because NIC101B is disabled.

Therefore, even if the image forming apparatus 100B is out of order, the user of the terminal 103 can send the job 200 to the IP address "192.168.0.10" as usual to the image forming apparatus 100A. Job 200 can be delegated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of a method in which the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100B transmits a message 300 for notifying the image forming apparatus 100A of the state of the image forming apparatus 100B.

The image forming apparatus 100B may send a message 300 to the image forming apparatus 100A when disabling the NIC 101B. In this case, the message 300 can be said to be a message indicating that the image forming apparatus 100B cannot process the job, or a job proxy request message. The image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A based on the receipt of the message 300. The image forming apparatus 100B invalidates the NIC 101B after transmitting the message 300 or receiving a response to the message 300.

In a certain aspect, the image forming apparatus 100B may send a message 300 to the image forming apparatus 100A based on the input from the support man of the manufacturer and entering the maintenance mode. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100B may send a message 300 to the image forming apparatus 100A based on the detection of running out of consumables such as paper or toner, or failure of parts.

As another example, the image forming apparatus 100B may periodically transmit the message 300 to the image forming apparatus 100A. The image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A based on the fact that the message 300 has not been received for a certain period of time or longer. It can be said that the message 300 in this case is a message notifying the survival of the image forming apparatus 100B.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B when the image forming apparatus 100B is restored after the image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A and starts the substitution of the job of the image forming apparatus 100B will be described.

In a certain aspect, the image forming apparatus 100B may send a job proxy stop request (NIC102A invalidation request) to the image forming apparatus 100A based on the restoration of its own apparatus. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100A invalidates the NIC 102A based on the reception of the job proxy stop request. After that, the image forming apparatus 100B activates NIC101B.

Further, in another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100A may determine that the image forming apparatus 100B has been restored based on the detection of the collision of the secondary IP address assigned to the NIC 102A, and invalidate the NIC 102A. ..

Further, in another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100A keeps a result list (job history) of the substitute job, and based on the determination that the image forming apparatus 100B has recovered, the result list of the substitute job. May be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100B. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100B adds the received job result list to the job history in the storage (not shown) in the own apparatus.

Further, in another aspect, when the image forming apparatus 100A cannot execute the job (the job addressed to the secondary IP address) received via the NIC 102A, the image forming apparatus 100A temporarily stores the job in the storage in the own apparatus. For example, when the image forming apparatus 100A does not have a finisher and the job includes a staple process, the job becomes a job that cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus 100A. The image forming apparatus 100A may transmit a job that the image forming apparatus 100A could not execute to the image forming apparatus 100B based on the determination that the image forming apparatus 100B has been restored. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100B executes the received job. Further, in another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100A causes the panel (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 100A to dispose of the job, forcibly execute the job, or the like based on the reception of the job that the image forming apparatus 100A cannot execute. You may display a screen that prompts the user to make a selection and process the job based on the user's input.

The image forming apparatus 100A may save the job that the image forming apparatus 100A could not execute in an external server or the like. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100B acquires and executes the job stored in the external server after the restoration.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of a method in which the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B. The example shown in FIG. 4 differs from the example shown in FIG. 3 in that the image forming apparatus 100A transmits a message 400 for examining the state of the image forming apparatus 100B to the image forming apparatus 100B.

The image forming apparatus 100A may periodically send a message 400 (survival confirmation message) to the image forming apparatus 100B. The image forming apparatus 100A is based on the fact that the response message has not been received for a certain period or more after the transmission of the message 400, or based on the fact that there is no response message even if the message 400 is sent a certain number of times or more. It is determined that 100B cannot execute the job, and NIC102A is activated. In some aspects, the message 400 may be a ping message. Further, in another aspect, the message 400 may be an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) message. Further, in another aspect, the message 400 may be a message conforming to any other protocol.

The operation of the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B when the image forming apparatus 100B is restored after the image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A and starts the job substitution of the image forming apparatus 100B is the same as in FIG. be.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third example of a method in which the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B. The example shown in FIG. 5 differs from the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the image forming apparatus 100A detects the state of the image forming apparatus 100B via the management server 500.

The image forming devices 100A and 100B are connected to the management server 500. The management server 500 periodically communicates with the image forming devices 100A and 100B to acquire the state information of the image forming devices 100A and 100B. The state information includes, for example, information regarding that the consumables of the image forming apparatus 100 have run out, the failure of parts including the NIC, the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like.

It is assumed that the management server 500 determines that the image forming apparatus 100B cannot execute the job based on the state information acquired from the image forming apparatus 100B, for example. In this case, the management server 500 transmits a job proxy request (NIC102A activation request) to the image forming apparatus 100A. The image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A based on the fact that the job proxy request is received from the management server 500.

In a certain aspect, the management server 500 may send a job proxy request to the image forming apparatus 100A and an invalidation request of NIC 101B to the image forming apparatus 100B. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100B may determine whether or not the image forming apparatus 100B can execute a job in its own apparatus, and enable / disable the NIC 101B based on the result of the determination.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B when the image forming apparatus 100B is restored after the image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A and starts the substitution of the job of the image forming apparatus 100B will be described.

In a certain aspect, the management server 500 may determine that the image forming apparatus 100B has been restored based on the state information acquired from the image forming apparatus 100B. In that case, the management server 500 transmits a job proxy stop request (NIC102A invalidation request) to the image forming apparatus 100A. The image forming apparatus 100A invalidates the NIC 102A based on the reception of the job proxy stop request from the management server 500.

The management server 500 may transfer the result list of the job represented by the image forming apparatus 100A and / or the job that the image forming apparatus 100A could not execute from the image forming apparatus 100A to the image forming apparatus 100B. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100B adds the received job result list to the job history in the storage in the own apparatus. Further, the image forming apparatus 100B executes a job that the image forming apparatus 100A could not execute. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B may execute the processing procedure described with reference to FIG. 3 when the image forming apparatus 100B is restored.

In the above examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the procedure in which the image forming apparatus 100A substitutes for the job of the image forming apparatus 100B has been described, but the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to this. In a certain aspect, the image forming apparatus 100B may execute the job of the image forming apparatus 100A instead of the image forming apparatus 100A by using the procedure shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100A and 100B may send and receive each message shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 to and from each other. Further, in other aspects, three or more image forming devices 100 may be used. In that case, the secondary IP address of each image forming apparatus 100 is the same as the primary IP address of any other image forming apparatus 100.

<B. Hardware configuration>
Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 150, an ejection tray 160, a document reading unit 105, a paper feeding unit 140, and a panel 60. The document reading unit 105 includes an automatic document feeder 110, an image scanner 120, a document feeding table 125, and a document discharging table 130.

The image forming unit 150 executes a printing process on the medium conveyed from the paper feeding unit 140. The image forming unit 150 includes an imaging unit (not shown) for forming each toner image of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and key plate (K), and a fixing unit (not shown). ) And. The imaging unit transfers the toner to the medium conveyed from the paper feed unit 140. When the medium passes through the fixing portion, the toner is fixed to the medium. Finally, the medium is discharged into the discharge tray 160.

The paper feed unit 140 stores various media used in the printing process. The image forming apparatus 100 may include a plurality of paper feed units 140, and each paper feed unit 140 may store media of different sizes or types.

The document reading unit 105 reads the document and captures the scanned document as document data. The automatic document feeder 110 conveys the originals placed on the original paper feed tray 125 (also referred to as a manual feed tray) and ejects them to the original paper ejection tray 130. The image scanner 120 scans the documents conveyed by the automatic document feeder 110 and captures them as document data in the image forming apparatus 100. In a certain aspect, originals of different sizes such as A4 paper and A3 paper may be placed on the document feeder 125.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. A circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In certain aspects, some or all of the configurations shown in FIG. 7 may include electronic circuits, software, or sensors and actuators or combinations thereof.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 700, a document reading circuit 704, an image receiving circuit 705, a developing circuit 706, a fixing circuit 707, a storage unit 708, a facsimile circuit 709, a wired interface 710, and a wireless interface. It includes a 711, a user authentication circuit 712, and a panel 60. The panel 60 includes a display unit 61 and an operation unit 62.

The control unit 700 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 702, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 703. The CPU 701 executes or refers to various programs and data read into the RAM 702. In a certain aspect, the CPU 701 may be an embedded CPU, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof or the like. The CPU 701 may execute a program for realizing various functions of the image forming apparatus 100.

The RAM 702 stores a program executed by the CPU 701 and data referenced by the CPU 701. In a certain aspect, the RAM 702 may be realized by a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).

The ROM 703 is a non-volatile memory and may store a program executed by the CPU 701. In that case, the CPU 701 executes the program read from the ROM 703 to the RAM 702. In certain aspects, the ROM 703 may be realized by an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or a flash memory.

The document reading circuit 704 converts the document scanned by the document reading unit 105 into document data. The CPU 701 can acquire document data via the document reading circuit 704. In a certain aspect, the document reading circuit 704 may store the acquired document data in the storage unit 708.

The image receiving circuit 705 acquires document data via the wired interface 710 or the wireless interface 711. In a certain aspect, the image receiving circuit 705 may store the acquired document data in the storage unit 708.

The developing circuit 706 develops the document data captured by the image forming apparatus 100. In certain aspects, the developing circuit 706 may include circuits that control various actuators for developing functions, including an imaging unit. The fixing circuit 707 controls the motor, the heater, and the like of the fixing portion.

The storage unit 708 is a non-volatile memory, and can store data even when the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off. The storage unit 708 may store any program and data executed or referenced by the CPU 701. In a certain aspect, the storage unit 708 may be realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The CPU 701 can read various programs from the storage unit 708 into the RAM 702 as needed and execute the read programs.

The facsimile circuit 709 transmits / receives document data by facsimile using a telephone line. In certain aspects, the facsimile circuit 709 may include a circuit having a communication control function of the facsimile and a communication port of a telephone line.

The wired interface 710 is connected to a wired network device. In some aspects, the wired interface 710 may include a wired LAN (Local Area Network) port. The wireless interface 711 is connected to a wireless network device. In certain aspects, the wireless interface 711 may include a Wi-Fi® (Wireless Fidelity) module and the like. The wired interface 710 and the wireless interface 711 can transmit and receive data using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

The user authentication circuit 712 performs an authentication process for a user who uses the image forming apparatus 100. The user authentication circuit 712 may or may not cooperate with an external authentication server. In a certain aspect, the control unit 700 may include the function of the user authentication circuit 712.

The display unit 61 includes a liquid crystal monitor, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) monitor, and the like. The liquid crystal monitor, the organic EL monitor, and the like include a touch sensor, can display an operation menu, and can accept input by touch from the user. The operation unit 62 includes a plurality of buttons and can receive input from the user in the same manner as the touch panel. In certain aspects, the operating unit 62 may include a touch sensor superimposed on the display unit 61.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may receive a job from the terminal 103 via, for example, a wired interface 710 or a wireless interface 711. The job may include, for example, printing an image. The image forming apparatus 100 executes a job by using the developing circuit 706, the fixing circuit 707, and the like based on the received job.

<C. Flowchart>
Next, the processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. In a certain aspect, the CPU 701 may read a program for performing the processes of FIGS. 8 to 10 into the RAM 702 from the ROM 703 or the storage unit 708 and execute the program. In other aspects, some or all of the processing may also be realized as a combination of circuit elements configured to perform the processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure for transmitting a job proxy request in the image forming apparatus 100. The process shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to, for example, the process in FIG. 3 in which the image forming apparatus 100B requests the image forming apparatus 100A to act for a job.

In step S810, the CPU 701 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 can execute the job. When the CPU 701 determines that the job can be executed by the image forming apparatus 100 (YES in step S810), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S810. If not (NO in step S810), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S820.

In step S820, the CPU 701 transmits a service proxy request to the secondary IP address. In FIG. 3, the process of this step corresponds to the process in which the image forming apparatus 100B transmits a service proxy request to the NIC 101A of the image forming apparatus 100A.

In step S830, the CPU 701 invalidates the NIC of the primary IP address. The process of this step corresponds to the process of invalidating the NIC 102B by the image forming apparatus 100B in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure on behalf of a job in the image forming apparatus 100. The process shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to, for example, the process that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 100A in FIGS. 3 to 5.

In step S905, the CPU 701 transmits a survival confirmation request to the secondary IP address. For example, the process of this step corresponds to the process of transmitting the message 400 by the image forming apparatus 100A in FIG.

In step S910, the CPU 701 determines whether or not there is a response within a certain period of time after transmitting the survival confirmation request. When the CPU 701 determines that there is a response within a certain time after transmitting the survival confirmation request (YES in step S910), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S905. If not (NO in step S910), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S915.

In step S915, the CPU 701 determines whether or not a job proxy request has been received. When the CPU 701 determines that the job proxy request has been received (YES in step S915), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S920. If not (NO in step S915), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S920. In a certain aspect, the CPU 701 may execute only one of the processes of steps S905 and S910 or the process of step S915.

In step S920, the CPU 701 activates the NIC to which it has been assigned a secondary IP address. The process of this step corresponds to, for example, in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the process in which the image forming apparatus 100A activates the NIC 102A.

In step S925, the CPU 701 determines whether or not a job addressed to the secondary IP address has been received. When the CPU 701 determines that the job addressed to the secondary IP address has been received (YES in step S925), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S930. If not (NO in step S925), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S935.

In step S930, the CPU 701 saves the history of the substitute job in the storage unit 708. In a certain aspect, the CPU 701 may further store the job that could not be executed in the storage unit 708, an external server, or the like.

In step S935, the CPU 701 determines whether or not a duplicate secondary IP address (IP address collision) has been detected. When the CPU 701 determines that the duplication of the secondary IP addresses has been detected (YES in step S935), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S940. If not (NO in step S935), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S925.

In a certain aspect, the CPU 701 determines in step S935 whether or not a request for stopping the job substitution (request for invalidating the NIC to which the secondary IP address is assigned) is received from the other image forming apparatus 100 or the management server 500. You may. In this case, when the CPU 701 receives the job proxy stop request (YES in step S935), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S940. If not (NO in step S935), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S925.

In step S940, the CPU 701 invalidates the NIC to which the secondary IP address is assigned. In step S945, the CPU 701 transmits the result list of the substitute job to the secondary IP address (to the other restored image forming apparatus 100). In one aspect, the CPU 701 may further send a job that could not be executed to the secondary IP address.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure for restoration processing in the image forming apparatus 100. The process shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to, for example, the restoration process of the image forming apparatus 100B in FIG.

In step S1010, the CPU 701 determines whether or not the job result list has been received from the secondary IP address. The restored secondary IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 is the primary IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 on behalf of the job. That is, in the process of this step, whether or not the restored image forming apparatus 100 has received the result list of the substitute job (the result list of the job transmitted in step S945) from the image forming apparatus 100 on behalf of the job. It is a process of determining whether or not.

When the CPU 701 determines that the job result list has been received from the secondary IP address (YES in step S1010), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S1020. If not (NO in step S1010), the CPU 701 shifts control to step S1010.

In step S1020, the CPU 701 registers the received job result list in the job history in the storage unit 708 of the image forming apparatus 100. In a certain aspect, the CPU 701 may further acquire a list of jobs that the image forming apparatus 100 acting on behalf of the job could not execute from the image forming apparatus 100 acting on behalf of the job. In this case, the CPU 701 executes the job that the image forming apparatus 100 acting on behalf of the job could not execute.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a NIC to which a primary IP address is assigned and a NIC to which a secondary IP address is assigned. The primary IP address assigned to the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to the secondary IP address of the other image forming apparatus 100, and the secondary IP address assigned to the image forming apparatus 100 is the primary IP address of the other image forming apparatus 100. Corresponds to.

The image forming apparatus 100 provides a special operation to the user by enabling the NIC to which the secondary IP address is assigned when the other image forming apparatus 100 cannot execute the job by providing the configuration. Jobs can be delegated without request.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims. Further, the disclosure contents described in the embodiments and the respective modifications are intended to be carried out alone or in combination as much as possible.

60 panel, 61 display unit, 62 operation unit, 100 image forming device, 103 terminal, 104 network, 105 document reader, 110 automatic document feeder, 120 image scanner, 125 document feeder, 130 document output table, 140 Paper feed unit, 150 image forming unit, 160 ejection tray, 200 jobs, 300,400 messages, 500 management server, 700 control unit, 701 CPU, 702 RAM, 703 ROM, 704 document reading circuit, 705 image receiving circuit, 706 development Circuit, 707 anchoring circuit, 708 storage, 709 facsimile circuit, 710 wired interface, 711 wireless interface, 712 user authentication circuit.

Claims (26)

The first NIC (Network Interface Card) and the second NIC connected to the network,
Equipped with a control unit that controls the image forming apparatus
The control unit
A primary IP (Internet Protocol) address is set in the first NIC, and the primary IP (Internet Protocol) address is set.
In the second NIC, the primary IP address set in the NIC of another image forming apparatus is set as the secondary IP address.
Enable the first NIC and
Disable the second NIC and
The job addressed to the primary IP address is executed as the job of the image forming apparatus, and the job is executed.
An image forming apparatus that enables the second NIC and executes a job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute a job addressed to the secondary IP address. .. The first NIC sends a survival confirmation message to the secondary IP address.
The control unit further determines that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute a job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the absence of a response to the survival confirmation message for a certain period of time or a certain number of times or more. The image forming apparatus according to 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the survival confirmation message is a ping message or an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) message. The control unit further determines that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the reception of the job proxy request message from the other image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control unit further receives the job proxy request message from the server that manages the image forming apparatus or other image forming apparatus, and the other image forming apparatus is addressed to the secondary IP address. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it is determined that the job cannot be executed. It also has a storage unit for storing job history.
The control unit further
The execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address is stored in the storage unit, and the job execution history is stored in the storage unit.
The image forming according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus based on the detection of the restoration of the other image forming apparatus. Device. The control unit stores the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address in the storage unit based on the reception of the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address from the other image forming apparatus. Item 6. The image forming apparatus according to Item 6. The sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit accepts an input of selection of discarding or forced execution of the job based on the received job addressed to the secondary IP address being a job that the image forming apparatus cannot execute. Image forming device. The control unit
Based on the received job addressed to the secondary IP address being a job that cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus, the unexecutable job is stored in the storage unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a job that cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus based on the detection of restoration of the other image forming apparatus. The control unit further transmits a job proxy request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the primary IP address. 9. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 9. The control unit transmits a job proxy stop request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus has recovered to the executable state of the job addressed to the primary IP address. , The image forming apparatus according to claim 10. One of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control unit further invalidates the second NIC based on the detection of a collision of the secondary IP address after enabling the second NIC. The image forming apparatus according to. The first image forming apparatus and
The second image forming device and
A server that manages the first and second image forming apparatus is provided.
The first image forming apparatus is
The first NIC where the first IP address is set, and
Including the second NIC to which the second IP address is set,
The first NIC has been activated and
The second NIC has been disabled.
The second image forming apparatus is
With the third NIC to which the second IP address is set,
Including the fourth NIC in which the first IP address is set,
The third NIC has been activated and
The fourth NIC has been disabled.
The server
Based on the state information acquired from the second image forming apparatus, it is detected that the second image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the second IP address.
A job proxy request message is sent to the first image forming apparatus.
The first image forming apparatus is a system that enables the second NIC and executes a job addressed to the second IP address based on receiving a proxy request message for the job. It is a method of controlling an image forming apparatus.
The step of setting the primary IP address in the first NIC,
A step of setting the primary IP address set in the NIC of another image forming apparatus as the secondary IP address in the second NIC, and
The step of enabling the first NIC and
The step of disabling the second NIC and
A step of executing a job addressed to the primary IP address as a job of the image forming apparatus,
A step of enabling the second NIC and executing a job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address is included. ,Method. The step of sending a survival confirmation message to the secondary IP address,
14. Claim 14 further comprises a step of determining that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute a job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the absence of a response to the survival confirmation message for a certain period of time or a certain number of times or more. The method described. The method according to claim 15, wherein the survival confirmation message is a ping message or an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) message. 14. The 14th aspect of the present invention further comprises a step of determining that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address based on the receipt of the proxy request message for the job from the other image forming apparatus. The method according to any one of 16. Based on the receipt of the job proxy request message from the image forming apparatus or the server that manages the other image forming apparatus, it is determined that the other image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the secondary IP address. The method of any of claims 14-16, further comprising the steps of A step of storing the execution history of the job addressed to the secondary IP address in the storage unit, and
13. The method described in. The claim further comprises a step of storing the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address in the storage unit based on receiving the execution history of the job addressed to the primary IP address from the other image forming apparatus. 19. The method according to 19. 19. The 19th aspect of claim 19, further comprising a step of accepting an input for selecting discard or forced execution of the job based on the received job addressed to the secondary IP address being a job that the image forming apparatus cannot execute. Method. Based on the received job addressed to the secondary IP address being a job that cannot be executed by the image forming apparatus, a step of storing the unexecutable job in the storage unit, and
19. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of transmitting a job that the image forming apparatus cannot perform to the other image forming apparatus based on the detection of restoration of the other image forming apparatus. 22. Of claims 14 to 22, further comprising a step of transmitting a job proxy request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus cannot execute the job addressed to the primary IP address. The method described in either. Further including a step of sending a job proxy stop request message to the secondary IP address based on the detection that the image forming apparatus has recovered to the executable state of the job addressed to the primary IP address. 23. The method of claim 23. 13. Method. A program for causing one or more processors to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 25.

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