JP2023144606A - image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming system from which a job is output in a suitable specific processing mode based on reception intensity and the history of a user's job processing mode.SOLUTION: An image forming system 1 comprises a BLE beacon transmission unit 20, a BLE beacon receiving unit 30, a measuring unit 10, a storage unit 11, a specification unit 12, and a switching unit 13. The BLE beacon transmission unit 20 transmits an advertisement. The BLE beacon receiving unit 30 receives the advertisement. The measuring unit 10 measures the reception intensity of the advertisement. The storage unit 11 stores the reception intensity and the history of a user's job processing mode in association with each other. The specification unit 12 specifies the processing mode associated with the reception intensity as a specific processing mode based on the reception intensity. The switching unit 13 switches a mode for performing image processing on a job based on the specific processing mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that can reduce wasteful power consumption.

JP2019-111711A

However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose an image forming system that switches the job processing mode based on the job processing history by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system in which a mode for image processing a job can be switched in a preferred specific processing mode based on the reception strength of advertisements or the history of job processing modes by a user.

The image forming system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a BLE beacon transmitting section, a BLE beacon receiving section, a measuring section, a storage section, a specifying section, and an output section. The BLE beacon transmitter transmits an advertisement. The BLE beacon receiving unit receives the advertisement. The measurement unit measures the reception strength of the advertisement. The storage unit stores the reception strength in association with a history of how jobs are processed by the user. The identification unit identifies, based on the reception strength, a specific processing mode associated with the reception strength. The switching unit switches a mode for image processing the job based on the specific processing mode.

According to the image forming system of the present invention, the mode for image processing a job is switched in a preferred specific processing mode based on the reception intensity of advertisements or the history of job processing modes by the user.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between reception strength and distance. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific processing mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific processing mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific processing mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific processing mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific processing mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific processing mode. 3 is a flowchart showing control of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing control of the image forming system according to the present embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are attached to the same or corresponding parts in the figures, and overlapping explanations will not be repeated.

The configuration of an image forming system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment. The embodiment described in FIG. 1 may be applied to all embodiments and examples of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes a transmitting terminal 2 and a receiving terminal 3. The transmitting terminal 2 and the receiving terminal 3 may be connected by wireless communication.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming system 1 includes a BLE beacon transmitting section 20 (Bluetooth Low Energy), a BLE beacon receiving section 30, a measuring section 10, a storage section 11, a specifying section 12, and a switching section. The device includes a section 13, an adjustment section 14, a setting section 15, a discharge section 16, a detection section 17, and a notification section 18.

The measurement unit 10, the identification unit 12, the switching unit 13, the adjustment unit 14, the setting unit 15, and the notification unit 18 may be realized by, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

The storage unit 11 may include any storage device such as a semiconductor storage device and a magnetic storage device. The storage unit 11 may include multiple types of storage devices. The storage unit 11 may include a combination of a portable storage medium such as a memory card and a storage medium reading device.

The discharge section 16 will be explained in the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

An example of the detection unit 17 is an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver. Ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic transmitting device are reflected by a sheet ejected to a discharging section 16, which will be described later, and are received by an ultrasonic receiving device. The ultrasonic receiving device receives the ultrasonic waves or detects the presence of the sheet in the discharge section 16 based on the intensity of the received ultrasonic waves.

Next, the transmitting terminal 2 includes a BLE beacon transmitting section 20.

The receiving terminal 3 includes a BLE beacon receiving section 30.

BLE is a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication method.

Bluetooth is one of the standards for short-range wireless communication. Bluetooth is used, for example, for wireless communication between a keyboard, a mouse, and other peripheral devices and a terminal.

Bluetooth is classified into, for example, Bluetooth Classic and BLE. BLE is a standard defined specifically for power saving among Bluetooth standards.

As shown in FIG. 1, BLE is configured by a transmitting terminal 2 and a receiving terminal 3.

The originating terminal 2 is generally sometimes referred to as a peripheral or a slave device.

An example of the calling terminal 2 is an ID card or a smart watch.

The receiving terminal 3 is generally sometimes referred to as a master device or a central device.

An example of the receiving terminal 3 may be an image forming apparatus.

An example of the receiving terminal 3 may be a PC terminal (PC: Personal Computer).

The image forming system 1 includes, for example, a PC terminal, a cloud, a server, and an image forming apparatus.

A PC terminal is a computer assigned to a user. An example of a PC terminal is a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a tablet, or a smartphone. A PC terminal may generate a job. The PC terminal may transmit the generated job to a server, a cloud, or an image forming apparatus. The PC terminal may control the image forming apparatus. The PC terminal can instruct the image forming apparatus to form an image of the job.

The cloud is a usage form that provides computer resources via a computer network such as the Internet, and includes, for example, applications, platforms, and infrastructure.

A server stores data and provides the corresponding data when requested via a communication line.

The image forming apparatus may be a multifunction device. A multifunction device is a device that combines an image reading function using an image reading device and an image forming function using an image forming device. For example, a multifunction device has functions such as a scanner, a printer, a copy machine, a telephone, a printing machine, and a facsimile machine.

The image reading device includes a document tray, a document conveyance device, a document reading section, and a document ejection tray.

The image reading device reads an image written on a document and outputs image information. An example of an image reading device is a scanner. The image reading device can be attached with a document transport device. An example of a document feeding device is an ADF (Auto Document Feeder).

The document tray stores documents.

The document reading unit reads an image from a document conveyed from the document tray.

The document reading section generates image data from the read image. The document reading unit uses a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) method or a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) method.

The document discharge tray accommodates documents whose images have been read.

The image forming apparatus has a feeding section, a transport section, an image forming section, a fixing section, and a discharge section 16 as image forming functions.

The feeding section includes a sheet tray and a pickup roller. The sheet tray stores sheets. The pickup roller picks up the sheets stored in the sheet tray one by one and feeds them to the conveying section.

The image forming section forms an image on the sheet using toner or ink. When the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic type, the image forming section includes a photoreceptor, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and a static eliminator.

The photoreceptor is, for example, a photoreceptor drum. The photosensitive drum has a photosensitive layer on its outer peripheral surface. An example of the photosensitive drum is a selenium drum or OPC (Organic Photoconductor).

The charging device charges the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor to a predetermined potential. An example of a charging device is a corona discharger.

The exposure device exposes the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor by irradiating it with laser light. The exposure device exposes the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor based on image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor. An example of an exposure device is an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The developing device contains, for example, a two-component developer containing a carrier made of a magnetic material and a toner. The developing device then develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor with the toner, thereby forming a toner image on the photoreceptor. The transfer device transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor to a sheet. The cleaning device removes residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transfer. The static eliminator removes static electricity from the photoreceptor.

When the image forming apparatus is an inkjet printer, the image forming section includes an ink cartridge, an ink tank, a pump, a head, a nozzle, an electrode, and a conveyor belt.

The ink cartridge and the ink tank store, for example, water-based inks of each color: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black).

The pump supplies ink from the ink tank to the head.

A large number of nozzles forming pixels are arranged in the head. Based on the image data, ink of a color corresponding to the image data is supplied to the head from an ink tank. Ink is ejected from the nozzle toward the sheet.

The electrode includes, for example, a charging electrode and a deflection electrode. The charging electrode charges the ink ejected from the nozzle. The deflection electrode controls the flying direction of the charged ink.

The conveyor belt is arranged to face the nozzles of the head and conveys the sheet. An image is formed on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor belt using ink ejected from the nozzles of the head.

Next, when the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic type, a fixing device heats and presses the toner image developed on the sheet to fix the toner image on the sheet. The fixing device includes, for example, a fixing roller, a heater, and a press roller.

The fixing roller is a hollow cylindrical roller. The fixing roller is pressed against the press roller. The press roller and the fixing roller form a nip portion. The press roller is rotationally driven by a drive unit (not shown), and forms a nip portion with the fixing roller, thereby rotating the fixing roller.

The heater is supplied with power from a power source (not shown) and heats the fixing roller. The heater is arranged close to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller. The sheet conveyed to the fixing device passes through a nip portion, is heated by a heater, and the toner image is fixed.

If the image forming device is an inkjet printer, no fixing device is required.

The discharge unit 16 discharges the sheet to the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus 6 . The discharge section 16 has a sheet discharge roller and a sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge roller discharges the sheet conveyed by the conveyance device from the fixing device to the sheet discharge tray. The sheet ejection tray stores ejected sheets.

Next, the BLE beacon transmitter 20 transmits an advertisement.

The BLE beacon receiving unit 30 receives advertisements.

The measurement unit 10 measures the reception strength of the advertisement.

The BLE beacon transmitter 20 of the transmitter terminal 2 transmits signals such as radio waves and infrared rays. The BLE beacon receiving unit 30 receives signals such as radio waves and infrared rays transmitted from the BLE beacon transmitting unit 20.

In BLE, waiting for a connection from the receiving terminal 3 is sometimes referred to as an advertisement or an advertisement signal. Advertising is broadcast communication. Advertisement is a radio signal used by the transmitting terminal 2 to notify the receiving terminal 3 of the location or existence of the transmitting terminal 2. The BLE beacon transmitter 20 of the transmitter terminal 2 may periodically transmit advertisements.

The advertisement may include information specifying the originating terminal 2, user ID information, attribute data, and any other information regarding the originating terminal 2 or the user. The advertisement may be multi-advertisement in which multiple signals can be transmitted from the transmitting terminal 2 to the receiving terminal 3.

The BLE beacon receiving unit 30 of the receiving terminal 3 scans the surrounding area and receives advertisements. The presence of the transmitting terminal 2 in the vicinity of the receiving terminal 3 is detected by scanning.

When the receiving terminal 3 receives the advertisement, it obtains the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the advertisement.

That is, the measurement unit 10 measures the reception strength of the advertisement.

The measurement unit 10 may be placed in the image forming apparatus.

According to this embodiment, the measurement unit 10 of the image forming apparatus can measure the intensity of advertisements received by the receiving terminals 3 located around the image forming apparatus.

Here, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of the relationship between the reception strength of the advertisement received by the measuring unit 10 and the distance between the transmitting terminal 2 and the receiving terminal 3 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between reception strength and distance. The vertical axis in FIG. 2 indicates the reception strength of the advertisement received by the measurement unit 10. The received strength is expressed as a negative number, and the unit is (dBm). The horizontal axis is the distance between the sending terminal 2 and the receiving terminal 3, and the unit is (m).

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the distance is 0.3 m, the reception strength is -40 dBm. When the distance is 1 m, the received strength is -45 dBm. When the distance is 5 m, the received strength is -55 dBm. If the distance exceeds 30 meters, advertisements cannot generally be received.

Next, the storage unit 11 associates and stores the reception strength and the history of the job processing manner by the user.

The storage unit 11 may be placed in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud.

The identification unit 12 may be placed in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud.

The storage unit 11 may be placed in a PC terminal.

The identification unit 12 may be placed in a PC terminal.

The identification unit 12 identifies, based on the reception strength, a specific processing mode associated with the reception strength.

The specific processing mode may be a mode in which any one of a job data input function, an image forming function, or a document reading function is performed.

The specific processing mode may be the operating ratio of any one of the job data input function, image forming function, or document reading function.

Specific examples of specific processing modes will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

The switching unit 13 switches the mode for image processing a job based on a specific processing mode.

The switching unit 13 may be arranged in the image forming apparatus.

That is, the switching unit 13 may be configured to switch the operation mode of the feeding unit, image forming unit, transport unit, fixing unit in an electrophotographic system, or discharge unit 16 of the image forming apparatus.

According to the present embodiment, the BLE beacon receiving unit 30 receives the advertisement transmitted by the BLE beacon transmitting unit 20, and the specific processing mode is specified based on the reception strength and the history of the job processing mode by the user. Therefore, the job is output in a suitable specific processing mode based on the user's history.

According to this embodiment, by disposing the storage unit 11 or the specifying unit 12 in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus can independently process a job.

According to the present embodiment, the storage unit 11 or the identification unit 12 is placed in either the server or the cloud, thereby simplifying the configuration of the image forming apparatus and reducing the processing load on the image forming apparatus. .

According to this embodiment, by disposing the switching unit 13 in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus can switch the mode so as to perform image processing on a job in a specific processing mode. Therefore, necessary image processing functions can be operated according to the distance between the user and the image forming apparatus and the history of job processing modes.

According to this embodiment, the storage section 11 or the identification section 12 is placed in the PC terminal, thereby simplifying the configuration of the image forming apparatus and reducing the processing load on the image forming apparatus.

Next, the adjustment unit 14 adjusts the amount of resources used to perform image processing on the job according to the specific processing mode.

The resource may be power, toner, ink, or sheets.

The setting unit 15 sets a mode for image processing a job based on resource usage.

The mode may be OFF mode, SLEEP mode, or READY mode.

The OFF mode is, for example, a mode in which the display is hidden. The OFF mode may also be a mode in which power supply to the fixing unit is stopped in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

The SLEEP mode is, for example, a mode in which the display is hidden.

The READY mode is a mode in which the display is displayed, information is displayed on the display, and instructions from the user are accepted. The READY mode may be a mode in which the original reading function and the image forming function are ready to operate.

That is, as an example, the adjustment unit 14 adjusts the display to be hidden in the OFF mode. The adjustment unit 14 adjusts the power supply to the fixing unit in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to be stopped in the OFF mode.

Further, as an example, the adjustment unit 14 adjusts the display to be hidden in the SLEEP mode.

Further, as an example, the adjustment unit 14 controls the display to display information and accept instructions from the user in the READY mode. The adjustment unit 14 adjusts the document reading function and the image forming function to prepare for operation in the READY mode.

The adjustment unit 14 may be placed in the image forming apparatus.

The adjustment unit 14 may be placed on either a server or a cloud.

The setting unit 15 may be placed in the image forming apparatus.

The setting unit 15 may be placed on either a server or a cloud.

The adjustment unit 14 is placed in a PC terminal.

The setting unit 15 is placed in the PC terminal.

According to the present embodiment, resources can be intensively invested in operating necessary functions, and energy saving of the image forming apparatus can be realized.

According to this embodiment, the adjustment section 14 and the setting section 15 are arranged in the image forming apparatus, so that the image forming apparatus can perform image processing on a job independently.

According to the present embodiment, the adjustment section 14 and the setting section 15 are arranged in either the server or the cloud, thereby simplifying the configuration of the image forming apparatus and reducing the image processing burden on the image forming apparatus. .

According to this embodiment, the adjustment section 14 or the setting section 15 is arranged in the PC terminal, thereby simplifying the configuration of the image forming apparatus and reducing the image processing burden on the image forming apparatus.

According to this embodiment, resources such as electric power, toner, ink, or sheets can be used effectively, and energy saving can be realized.

According to the present embodiment, by switching to the OFF mode, SLEEP mode, or READY mode, power can be efficiently supplied based on the reception strength and the history of the job processing mode by the user, thereby saving energy. can be realized.

The discharge unit 16 discharges the sheet on which the image of the job has been formed.

The detection unit 17 detects the sheet discharged to the discharge unit 16.

The notification unit 18 notifies the BLE beacon transmission unit 20 that the sheet is not collected from the discharge unit 16.

The discharge unit 16 may be placed in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud.

The detection unit 17 may be placed in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud.

The notification unit 18 may be placed in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud.

According to the present embodiment, the notification unit 18 notifies the calling terminal 2 that the sheet has not been collected from the discharge unit 16, so it is possible to prevent forgetting to take out a sheet on which an image has been formed.

According to this embodiment, by disposing the ejecting section 16, the detecting section 17, and the notifying section 18 in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus can independently notify that a sheet has been left out.

According to the present embodiment, the detection unit 17 and the notification unit 18 are placed in either the server or the cloud, thereby simplifying the configuration of the image forming apparatus and reducing the processing load on the image forming apparatus. Ru.

Next, specific processing modes for each user will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9. 4 to 9 are diagrams illustrating specific examples of specific processing modes.

4 to 9 show the positional relationship between the transmitting terminal 2 and the receiving terminal 3, the usage history of the image forming apparatus, and the relationship between specific processing modes for each time period.

FIG. 4 shows the positional relationship between the transmitting terminal 2 and the receiving terminal 3, the usage history of the image forming apparatus, and the relationship between specific processing modes at 8 am on a weekday in a certain office.

For example, at 8 a.m. on a weekday, the distance between the transmitting terminal 2 (for example, an ID card) owned by users B to J and the receiving terminal 3 (for example, a multifunction device) in the office is 30 meters or more. The advertisement sent by the BLE beacon transmitting unit 20 of the transmitting terminal 2 (ID card) owned by users B to J is not received by the BLE beacon receiving unit 30 of the receiving terminal 3 (multifunction device) in the office. Therefore, the measuring unit 10 measures the reception strength at which the receiving terminal 3 (multifunction device) in the office receives advertisements transmitted by the transmitting terminals 2 (ID cards) owned by users B to J as approximately 0.

Furthermore, the receiving terminals 3 (PC terminals) assigned to users B to J are in an inactive state (inactive state). In other words, User B to User J have not yet come to work.

The distance between the transmitting terminal 2 owned by user A with identification number 001 and the receiving terminal 3 in the office is 1 m. The receiving terminal 3 in the office receives the advertisement transmitted by the transmitting terminal 2 owned by user A with a very high reception strength. The measurement unit 10 measures extremely high reception strength. Further, the receiving terminal 3 (PC terminal) assigned to user A is in an activated state (active state). In other words, user A is already at work.

However, user A has used the image forming function, document reading function, copying function, and memory function of the multifunction peripheral infrequently in the past 30 days. Therefore, it is unlikely that user A will execute a print job using the multifunction device. Furthermore, there is a low possibility that user A will execute a scanner job, copy job, and memory job on the multifunction device.

The identifying unit 12 changes the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from OFF mode to SLEEP mode based on the fact that the reception strength is very high but the frequency of use is low. In other words, the specifying unit 12 does not specify the specific processing mode of the multifunction device by suddenly changing it from the OFF mode to the READY mode.

5 to 9 will be briefly described below. In FIG. 5, many users are already at work at 10 am on a weekday. It is assumed that User D and User F are operating the multifunction device. Furthermore, user F has a history of using the image forming function frequently.

Therefore, the specifying unit 12 detects users D and F whose reception strength is very high, and changes the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from the SLEEP mode based on the detection of the user F who uses the machine frequently. Change to READY mode and specify. The identifying unit 12 may change the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from OFF mode to READY mode to specify the multifunction device.

In FIG. 6, all users are absent at 12:00 a.m. on weekdays, for example, because they have gone out.

Therefore, since the reception strength is approximately 0, the specifying unit 12 changes the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from READY mode to OFF mode and specifies it, regardless of the frequency of use. The identifying unit 12 may change the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from READY mode to SLEEP mode to specify.

In FIG. 7, many users go out at 2:00 pm on weekdays, and users A and G are away from the multifunction device, for example, in a meeting. Furthermore, user A and user G use the image forming function of the multifunction device infrequently or do not use it at all.

Therefore, since the reception strength is very weak and the usage frequency is low or unused, the identification unit 12 changes the identification processing mode of the multifunction peripheral from READY mode to SLEEP mode to identify it.

In FIG. 8, at 4:00 pm on a weekday, many users are away from the multifunction device due to meetings, etc., and user H is attempting to operate the multifunction device. Furthermore, user H uses the document reading function and the like of the multifunction device frequently.

Therefore, since the receiving strength is very high and the frequency of use is high, the specifying unit 12 changes the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from SLEEP mode to READY mode to specify it.

In FIG. 9, all users leave work at 6:00 pm on weekdays.

Therefore, since the reception strength is approximately 0, the specifying unit 12 changes the specific processing mode of the multifunction device from READY mode to OFF mode and specifies it, regardless of the frequency of use. The identifying unit 12 may change the specific processing mode of the multifunction peripheral from SLEEP mode to OFF mode.

Next, control of the image forming system 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

10 and 11 are flowcharts showing control of the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment.

All steps in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11 may be processed. Some of the steps in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11 may be processed.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the flowchart includes steps S10 to S23. Specifically, it is as follows.

In step S10, the BLE beacon transmitter 20 of the transmitter terminal 2 transmits an advertisement. The process advances to step S11.

In step S11, the BLE beacon receiving unit 30 of the receiving terminal 3 receives the advertisement. The process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the measurement unit 10 measures the reception strength of the advertisement. If the reception strength is stronger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S13. If the reception strength is weaker than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S15.

If the reception strength is stronger than the predetermined value (Yes in step S12), in step S13, the storage unit 11 reads out the history of the job processing mode by the user. If the history of the user's processing mode is high (Yes in step S13), the process proceeds to step S14. If the history of the user's processing mode is not high frequency (No in step S13), the process proceeds to step S16.

If the history of the user's processing mode is high (Yes in step S13), in step S14, the specifying unit 12 specifies, based on the reception strength, the processing mode associated with the reception strength as a specific processing mode. The adjustment unit 14 adjusts the amount of resources used to process a job according to a specific processing mode. The setting unit 15 sets the READY mode. The process proceeds to step S18 shown in FIG. 11.

If the history of the user's processing mode is not high frequency (No in step S13), the setting unit 15 sets the SLEEP mode in step S16. The process proceeds to step S18 shown in FIG. 11.

If the reception strength is weaker than the predetermined value (No in step S12), in step S15, the storage unit 11 reads the history of the job processing mode by the user. If the history of the user's processing mode is high (Yes in step S15), the process proceeds to step S16. If the history of the user's processing mode is not high frequency (No in step S15), the process proceeds to step S17.

If the history of the user's processing mode is high (Yes in step S15), the setting unit 15 sets the SLEEP mode in step S16. The process proceeds to step S18 shown in FIG. 11.

If the history of the user's processing mode is not high frequency (No in step S15), the setting unit 15 sets the OFF mode in step S17. The process proceeds to step S18 shown in FIG. 11.

In step S18 shown in FIG. 11, the switching unit 13 switches the mode for image processing the job based on the specific processing mode. The process advances to step S19.

In step S19, the discharge unit 16 discharges the sheet on which the image of the job has been formed. The process proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, the detection unit 17 detects the sheet discharged to the discharge unit 16. If a sheet is detected (Yes), the process advances to step S21. If no sheet is detected (No), the process advances to step S22.

If a sheet is detected (Yes in step S20), the notification unit 18 notifies the originating terminal 2 that the sheet will not be collected from the ejection unit 16 in step S21. The process proceeds to step S22.

If no sheet is detected (No in step S20), in step S22, the control unit (not shown) determines whether the job has ended. If the job has ended (Yes), the process advances to step S23. If the job has not ended (No), the process advances to step S18 and continues the process.

If the job has ended (Yes in step S22), the control unit determines in step S23 whether or not the power has been turned off. If the power is turned off (Yes), the process ends. If the power is not turned off (No), the process proceeds to step S12 shown in FIG. 10, and the process is continued.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The drawings may mainly show each component schematically for ease of understanding. The number of each illustrated component may be different from the actual number for convenience of drawing drawings. Moreover, each component shown in the above embodiment is an example, and is not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without substantially departing from the effects of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in the field of image forming systems.

1 Image forming system 2 Transmitting terminal 20 BLE beacon transmitting section 3 Receiving terminal 30 BLE beacon receiving section 10 Measuring section 11 Storage section 12 Specification section 13 Output section 14 Adjustment section 15 Setting section 16 Ejection section 17 Detection section 18 Notification section

Claims (17)

A BLE beacon transmitter that transmits advertisements,
a BLE beacon receiving unit that receives the advertisement;
a measurement unit that measures the reception strength of the advertisement;
a storage unit that associates and stores the reception strength and a history of how the job is processed by the user;
an identification unit that identifies a specific processing mode associated with the reception strength or the history based on the reception strength;
An image forming system comprising: a switching unit that switches a mode for image processing the job based on the specific processing mode. an adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of resources used to image process the job according to the specific processing mode;
The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a setting unit that sets the mode for image processing the job using the usage amount. an ejection unit that ejects the sheet on which the image of the job is formed;
a detection unit that detects the sheet discharged to the discharge unit;
The image forming system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a notification unit that notifies the BLE beacon transmission unit that the sheet is not collected from the discharge unit. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the BLE beacon transmitter is included in a transmitting terminal. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the calling terminal is an ID card or a smart watch. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the BLE beacon receiving unit is included in a receiving terminal. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the receiving terminal is an image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the receiving terminal is a PC terminal. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the measuring section is arranged in an image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the storage unit or the identification unit is located in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the switching unit is arranged in an image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein either the adjustment section or the setting section is located in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein any one of the ejecting unit, the detecting unit, and the notifying unit is located in an image forming apparatus, a server, or a cloud. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the storage unit or the identification unit is located in a PC terminal. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment section or the setting section is arranged in a PC terminal. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the resource is any one of electric power, toner, ink, and a sheet. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the mode is one of an OFF mode, a SLEEP mode, and a READY mode.

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