JP4394055B2 - Image forming apparatus and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program for managing job execution.

Conventionally, the output completion time of the image processing device can be arbitrarily specified, and when output cannot be performed by the output completion time after the output is started, the user is notified of the method to deal with and selected by the user There is known an image processing apparatus that can change the output method and output the image (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Also, when print data specifying the print end time is received, the print start time is calculated, and if the predecessor print data is already stored in the storage device, each data is automatically scheduled. An image forming apparatus that can be corrected is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-118207 A JP 2004-272480 A

  By the way, if the scheduled job execution is canceled by the user or the print end time is changed based on the print data specifying the print end time, this job should be executed at the time when it should have been executed May occur, and the operating efficiency of the apparatus may be reduced. Since canceling job execution or changing execution time is arbitrarily performed by the user, there is a problem that it is difficult to effectively use a time zone in which there is no job to be executed. Another problem is that other users cannot know that there is a time zone in which there is no job to be executed, and therefore a new job cannot be registered immediately in a time zone in which no job exists.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and a control program capable of efficiently setting a job execution schedule. In particular, when the registered content of a registered job is changed and a job waiting for cancellation can be registered as a registered job, the job waiting for cancellation is automatically changed to a registered job, so the user must register the job again. And can be changed to a registered job.

  According to the present invention, a schedule data storage unit that stores job execution schedule data including a job execution start time and an execution end time, and receives and holds a job execution request including job execution end time and job execution target data. A request receiving means; a calculating means for calculating a job execution start time to be executed from a result of analyzing the job execution target data and the job execution end time; the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution Job registration means for registering the job execution request job as a registered job by registering an end time in the schedule data storage means, and another time between the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time. The job has already been registered, and the job cannot be registered by the job registration means. The job execution request job as a job waiting for cancellation, and the job waiting for job registration for registering the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time in the schedule data storage means, and the schedule data storage Change means for changing the registration contents of the registration job stored in the means, and when the registration contents of the registration job are changed by the change means and the job waiting for cancellation can be registered as a registration job, the job waiting for cancellation And a registered job changing means for changing to a registered job.

  According to the present invention, a schedule data storage unit that stores job execution schedule data including a job execution start time and an execution end time, and receives and holds a job execution request including job execution end time and job execution target data. A control program for controlling an image forming apparatus including a request receiving unit, wherein a calculation process for calculating a job execution start time to be executed from a result of analyzing the data to be executed by the job and the job execution end time; Registering the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time in the schedule data storage means to register the job execution request job as a registered job; and the calculated job execution start Another job is already registered between the time and the received job execution end time. If the job registration process cannot register the job, the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time are registered in the schedule data storage unit as a job waiting for cancellation. A registration process for waiting for cancellation, a change process for changing the registration contents of the registration job stored in the schedule data storage means, and the registration contents of the registration job are changed by the change process, and the job waiting for cancellation is set as a registration job. If registration is possible, the computer is caused to perform registration job change processing for changing the job waiting for cancellation to a registration job.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently set a job execution schedule. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute a job to be executed.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming apparatus having multiple functions such as copying, printing, FAX transmission / reception, and image reading. Reference numerals 12 and 13 are terminals used by the user to create document data or the like to be printed, and are configured from a personal computer or the like. The image forming apparatus 10, the terminal 12, and the terminal 13 are each connected to the network N and can communicate information with each other.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that performs overall control of processing operations of the image forming apparatus 10. Reference numeral 2 denotes an image memory that stores bitmap data obtained by expanding print data. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printing unit that transfers an image based on the bitmap data stored in the image memory 2 to a print medium. Reference numeral 4 denotes a job registration unit that registers a job to be executed in the image forming apparatus 10. Reference numeral 5 denotes a schedule database that stores job execution schedule data registered by the job registration unit 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a timer for outputting current date and time information. Reference numeral 7 denotes an e-mail transmission unit that transmits e-mails to the terminals 12 and 13. Reference numeral 8 denotes a communication unit that performs information communication with the terminals 12 and 13 via the network N. Reference numeral 9 denotes a host buffer that temporarily holds print data transmitted from the terminals 12 and 13.

  Here, the job execution schedule data stored in the schedule database 5 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram representing data stored in the schedule database 5 as a table for easy explanation. The job execution schedule data is data including a job identification number, a job start time, and a job end time. When the job identification number is composed of “J” and a number, it indicates a registered job, and “JC”. And a number indicate that the job is waiting for cancellation. Of the job identification number, a three-digit number is a number issued by the job registration unit 4 in the order of registration. FIG. 5 shows an example in which registration jobs J001 to J005 have already been registered, and JC001 and JC002 are registered as waiting for cancellation.

  Next, an operation for registering an execution job in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user uses the document creation application on the terminal 12 to create document data to be printed, and performs a print instruction operation from the document creation application. At this time, the user can receive at the terminal 12 the end time of the printing operation based on the print data to be printed, information on whether or not to register for waiting for cancellation when the job has already been registered. A possible electronic mail address is input from the terminal 12. In response to this, the document creation application generates print data to be printed including the print operation end time, information indicating whether to register for waiting for cancellation, and an e-mail address, and transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus 10. To do.

  The print data is received by the communication unit 8 and temporarily stored in the host buffer 9 (step S1). When the print data is held in the host buffer 9, the job registration unit 4 reads the held print data and analyzes the read print data. The job registration unit 4 calculates a processing time required for printing based on the analysis result and the image processing capability of the image forming apparatus 10. Then, the job registration unit 4 calculates the printing start time by subtracting the calculated processing time required for printing from the end time of the printing operation (step S2).

  Next, the job registration unit 4 refers to the job execution schedule data stored in the schedule database 5 and determines whether or not a new job can be registered (steps S3 and S4). This determination is made based on whether another job has already been registered between the print start time and the print end time of the job to be registered. If the result of this determination is that a new job can be registered, the job registration unit 4 issues a job identification number for the registered job, and the issued job identification number is stored in the host buffer 9. And store it in association with. Then, the job registration unit 4 registers the issued job identification number, the calculated print start time, and the print end time (time specified by the user) in the schedule database 5 (step S5). Then, the job registration unit 4 sends an e-mail including the issued job identification number, the calculated print start time, and the print end time (time specified by the user) to the e-mail transmission unit 7 as print data. To send to the e-mail address included. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 prints the job registration completion notification e-mail including the issued job identification number, the calculated print start time, and the print end time (time specified by the user) as print data. It is transmitted to the included e-mail address (step S11).

  Next, when the job cannot be registered, the job registration unit 4 determines whether or not the setting of waiting for cancellation is set in the print data (step S6). If the result of this determination is that there is no cancel waiting setting in the print data, the job registration unit 4 determines the previously calculated processing time required for printing and the job execution schedule currently registered in the schedule database 5. Data is sent to the e-mail transmission unit 7 to instruct to send an e-mail notifying that job registration has failed to an e-mail address included in the print data. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that the job registration has failed to the e-mail address included in the print data (step S9). This e-mail includes processing time required for printing and job execution schedule data registered at the present time. By this e-mail transmission, the user can refer to the job execution schedule data included in the e-mail, select an available time zone, and make a new job registration request. Then, the job registration unit 4 deletes the print data that could not be registered from the host buffer 9.

  On the other hand, if cancellation waiting is set in the print data, the job registration unit 4 can register a job waiting for cancellation with reference to job execution schedule data stored in the schedule database 5. Is determined (steps S7 and S8). This determination is based on whether another job waiting for cancellation has already been registered between the print start time and the print end time of the job to be registered. As a result of the determination, if the job waiting for cancellation cannot be registered, the job registration unit 4 sends an e-mail to the previously calculated processing time necessary for printing and the job execution schedule data currently registered in the schedule database 5. The transmission unit 7 is instructed to send an e-mail notifying that the job waiting for cancellation cannot be registered to an e-mail address included in the print data. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that registration of the job waiting for cancellation could not be performed to the e-mail address included in the print data (step S9). This e-mail includes processing time required for printing and job execution schedule data registered at the present time. By this e-mail transmission, the user can refer to the job execution schedule data included in the e-mail, select an available time zone, and make a new job registration request. Then, the job registration unit 4 deletes from the host buffer 9 the print data that could not be registered as a job waiting for cancellation.

  Next, when registration of a job waiting for cancellation is possible, the job registration unit 4 issues a job identification number of the job waiting for registration registered for cancellation, and the job identification number issued is printed in the host buffer 9. Store in association with data. The job registration unit 4 registers the issued job identification number, the calculated print start time, and the print end time (time specified by the user) in the schedule database 5 (step S10). Then, the job registration unit 4 sends an e-mail including the issued job identification number, the calculated print start time, and the print end time (time specified by the user) to the e-mail transmission unit 7 as print data. To send to the e-mail address included. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 prints the e-mail of the job registration completion notification e-mail including the issued job identification number, the calculated print start time, and the print end time (time specified by the user). It transmits to the e-mail address included in the data (step S11).

  Next, an operation for changing the schedule of an already registered job will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user uses the job schedule change application on the terminal 12 to perform an operation for changing the execution schedule of an already registered job. At this time, the user inputs the job identification number of the registered job and the schedule change contents from the terminal 12. The input of the change contents is to input the print end time after the change when changing the print end time, or to selectively input the deletion when deleting the registered job. When the job identification number and the schedule change content are input, the job schedule change application transmits a schedule change request including the job identification number, the schedule change content, and the e-mail address to the image forming apparatus 10. The schedule change request is received by the communication unit 8 and temporarily held in the host buffer 9 (step S11).

  Next, when the schedule change request data is held in the host buffer 9, the job registration unit 4 reads the held schedule change request data and determines whether or not the change content is a job deletion. (Step S12). As a result of this determination, if the job is not deleted, the job registration unit 4 refers to the job execution schedule data stored in the schedule database 5 and determines whether or not the registered job can be changed. Is determined (steps S13 and S14). This determination is based on the job already registered between the print start time to be changed (the time obtained from the difference between the print end time before and after the change and the print start time before the change) and the print end time. This is done by determining whether or not there is. As a result of the determination, if the change cannot be made, the job registration unit 4 instructs the e-mail transmission unit 7 to send to the e-mail address that notifies the user that the change cannot be made. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that the job registration cannot be changed to the e-mail address included in the schedule change request (step S15).

  On the other hand, if it can be changed, the job registration unit 4 changes the print start time and print end time of the registered job registered in the schedule database 5 to the changed time (step S16). Then, the job registration unit 4 instructs the e-mail transmission unit 7 to transmit to the e-mail address that notifies the user that the job execution schedule has been changed. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that the job registration has been changed to the e-mail address included in the schedule change request, and at the same time, the user of the job held in the host buffer 9 An e-mail notifying that the registered job has been changed is transmitted to all (e-mail addresses included in all print data) (step S17). Further, when the job waiting for cancellation can be executed due to the change of the registered job, the job registration unit 4 newly issues a job identification number of the registered job and waits for cancellation stored in the schedule database 5. The job identification number is updated to the issued identification number (step S20).

  Next, when the job is to be deleted, the job registration unit 4 deletes the data of the registered job (registered job having a job identification number included in the schedule change request) registered in the schedule database 5 (step S18). . Then, the job registration unit 4 instructs the e-mail transmission unit 7 to transmit to the e-mail address that notifies the user that the registration job has been deleted. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that the registered job has been deleted to the e-mail address included in the schedule change request, and at the same time the user of the job held in the host buffer 9 An e-mail notifying that the registration job has been deleted is transmitted to all (e-mail addresses included in all print data) (step S19). Further, when a job waiting for cancellation can be executed due to the deletion of the registered job, the job registration unit 4 newly issues a job identification number of the registered job and waits for cancellation stored in the schedule database 5. The job identification number is updated to the issued identification number (step S20).

  Next, an operation for executing a registered job will be described with reference to FIG. First, the control unit 1 refers to the date / time information output by the timer 6 and the job execution schedule data registered in the schedule database 5 (step S21). Then, the control unit 1 waits until there is a job to be executed while determining whether there is a job to be executed (step S22).

  When there is a job to be executed, the control unit 1 reads the print data held in the host buffer 9, converts the read print data into bitmap data, and stores it in the image memory 2. Then, a print start instruction is output to the printing unit 3. In response to this, the printing unit 3 reads the bitmap data from the image memory 2, and executes a print job by transferring an image based on the bitmap data to the print medium (step S23). Then, when the printing is finished, the control unit 1 instructs the email sending unit 7 to send an email notifying that the execution of the job is finished. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that the execution of the registration job has been completed to the e-mail address included in the print data (step S24).

  Next, the control unit 1 refers to the job execution schedule data and date / time information stored in the schedule database 5, and cannot execute a job that cannot be executed (a job waiting to be canceled or a job that cannot be executed by executing a registered job). A job or the like in which a paper jam or the like has occurred and the time during which the paper has not been operated overlaps the time zone to be executed is extracted (step S25). When a job that could not be executed is extracted, the control unit 1 instructs the e-mail transmission unit 7 to transmit an e-mail notifying that the job cannot be executed. In response to this, the e-mail transmission unit 7 transmits an e-mail notifying that the job to be executed cannot be executed to the e-mail address included in the print data (step S26).

  If the user's request cannot be satisfied and the request is not satisfied by e-mail (step S15 in FIG. 3 and step S26 in FIG. 4), the processing time required for job execution and the schedule database 5 The job execution schedule data registered at the present time read from the above may be transmitted to the user who cannot satisfy the request. In this way, the user can refer to the job execution schedule data, select an available time zone, and make a job registration request again.

  In the above description, the job to be executed is described as a print job. However, the job to be executed is not limited to a print job, and may be any job that uses a function provided in the image forming apparatus 10.

  As described above, when a job has already been registered at a desired time, it is registered as a job waiting for cancellation, and when a registered job is changed, it is registered as a job waiting for cancellation and a registered job. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of a state where there is no job to be performed. In addition, when there is a change in the registered content, it has been notified to other users that the registered content has been changed, so it is possible to check the blank time zone. A new job can be registered, and the operating rate of the image forming apparatus can be prevented from decreasing. In addition, when a job cannot be registered at a desired time, the current registration status is notified to the user, so the job execution time can be set with reference to this registration status.

  A program for realizing the functions of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed, thereby executing an execution job schedule. Management processing may be performed. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” includes a WWW system having a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the schedule database 5 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Image memory, 3 ... Printing part, 4 ... Job registration part, 5 ... Schedule database, 6 ... Timer, 7 ... E-mail transmission part , 8 ... Communication unit, 9 ... Host buffer, 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 12, 13 ... Terminal

Claims (2)

Schedule data storage means for storing job execution schedule data including job execution start time and execution end time;
Request receiving means for receiving and holding a job execution request including job execution end time and job execution target data;
Calculating means for calculating a job execution start time to be executed from a result of analyzing the data to be executed by the job and the job execution end time;
Job registration means for registering the job execution request job as a registered job by registering the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time in the schedule data storage means;
If another job has already been registered between the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time, and the job registration unit cannot register the job, the job execution request job is awaiting cancellation. As a job, a cancel waiting job registration unit that registers the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time in the schedule data storage unit;
Changing means for changing the registration contents of the registration job stored in the schedule data storage means;
And a registration job changing unit that changes the job waiting for cancellation to a registered job when the registered content of the registered job is changed by the changing unit and the job waiting for cancellation can be registered as a registered job. Image forming apparatus. Schedule data storage means for storing job execution schedule data including job execution start time and execution end time; and request reception means for receiving and holding a job execution request including job execution end time and job execution target data; A control program for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising:
A calculation process for calculating an execution target job execution start time from a result of analyzing the job execution target data and the job execution end time;
Job registration processing for registering the job execution request job as a registered job by registering the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time in the schedule data storage unit;
If another job has already been registered between the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time, and the job cannot be registered by the job registration process, the job execution request job is awaiting cancellation. As a job, a cancel waiting job registration process for registering the calculated job execution start time and the received job execution end time in the schedule data storage unit;
A change process for changing the registration contents of the registration job stored in the schedule data storage means;
When the registration contents of a registration job are changed by the change process and a job waiting for cancellation can be registered as a registration job, the computer is caused to perform a registration job change process for changing the job waiting for cancellation to a registration job. Control program.

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