JP5740842B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a technology that enables a function that cannot be realized by only one image forming apparatus by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses and linking the functions. In addition, there is a technology that enables continuation of printing by transferring print data to another printable image forming apparatus and performing printing when printing becomes impossible in a certain image forming apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a technique, the printer driver of the information processing apparatus that transmits print data to the image forming apparatus monitors the processing state of the service being used and controls various processes according to the processing state. As a method for monitoring the processing state, a method using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) which is a protocol for monitoring and control via a network is widely known. Network management by SNMP is performed by software called an agent and a manager. The agent manages state information called MIB (Management Information Base) for the monitoring target, and reads and changes the state information in response to an acquisition request from the manager. Each of the printer drivers acquires information indicating the state of each image forming apparatus by using a MIB (Management Information Base). For example, in a certain image forming apparatus, when the image forming apparatus cannot be printed, the state is responded by the MIB, so that the printer driver acquires information that the image forming apparatus is in a non-printable state. Become.

  However, even when the image forming apparatus (referred to as image forming apparatus A) is not printable, printing can be continued by cooperating with another image forming apparatus (referred to as image forming apparatus B) that can be printed. It can be said that the image forming apparatus A is in a printable state. For this reason, it has been desired that the image forming apparatus A responds by the MIB as being ready for printing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when the printer itself is incapable of printing, if it can be printed in cooperation with another image forming apparatus, the printer is in a printable state. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program that can respond by MIB.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus connected to an external apparatus that performs image formation, in which states are indicated for the external apparatus and the image forming apparatus, respectively. A storage means for storing information in association with a priority, a receiving means for receiving a transmission request for the status information from an information processing apparatus, and a high priority when the reception means receives the transmission request A transmission unit that preferentially selects the transmitted state information and transmits the selected information to the information processing apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus is in a printable state, a higher priority is designated and the image formation is performed. Requesting means for requesting the external device to register the status information of the device .

The present invention also relates to an image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus connected to an external apparatus that performs image formation, wherein the image forming apparatus indicates a state of each of the external apparatus and the image forming apparatus. A storage unit that stores state information in association with priority; a reception step of receiving a transmission request for the state information from an information processing device; and the higher priority when the transmission request is received in the reception step A step of preferentially selecting the state information associated with the degree and transmitting it to the information processing apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus is in a printable state, specifying a higher priority, And a requesting step for requesting the external apparatus to register the status information of the image forming apparatus .

  Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the above image forming method.

  According to the present invention, even if it is in a state where it cannot be printed, if it can be printed in cooperation with another image forming apparatus, it can respond by the MIB that it is in a printable state.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a basic software configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration for realizing the SNMP agent function. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for registering the printer MIB and canceling the registration. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for registering the printer MIB and canceling the registration. FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the registration status of the printer MIB for each of the image forming apparatus 10A and the image forming apparatus 10B. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming system according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating IP addresses and priorities stored in the subagent 50 according to a modification.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming system according to this embodiment. The image forming system according to the present embodiment includes image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B and remote PCs 100A to 100B. The image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B and the remote PCs 100A to 100B are connected via a network to perform communication. The network is, for example, a local area network (LAN), an intranet, Ethernet (registered trademark), or the Internet. Each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B can realize an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) agent function, and can perform printing in cooperation with each other. In the case where it is not necessary to distinguish the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B from each other, they are simply referred to as the image forming apparatus 10 hereinafter. Further, when it is not necessary to distinguish the remote PCs 100A to 100B, they are simply referred to as remote PCs 100 hereinafter. The remote PC 100 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and requests the image forming apparatus 10 to transmit a printer MIB or transmits print data instructing image printing.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a controller 60, an operation panel 80, an FCU 81, and an engine unit 82. The controller 60 includes a CPU 61, a system memory 62, a north bridge (NB) 63, a south bridge (SB) 64, an ASIC 66, a local memory 67, an HDD 68, a network interface card (NIC) 69, and a USB device. 71, an IEEE 1394 device 72, a Centronics 73, an NVRAM 76, and a TPM 77.

  The operation panel 80 is connected to the ASIC 66 of the controller 60. Further, the FCU 81 and the engine unit 82 are connected to the ASIC 66 of the controller 60 via the PCI bus 83.

  In the controller 60, the local memory 67, the HDD 68, and the like are connected to the ASIC 66, and the CPU 61 and the ASIC 66 are connected via the NB 63 of the CPU chip set. The ASIC 66 and the NB 63 are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 65.

  The NB 63 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 61, system memory 62, SB 64, ASIC 66, NIC 69, USB device 71, IEEE 1394 device 72, and Centronics 73.

  The SB 64, NIC 69, USB device 71, IEEE 1394 device 72 and Centronics 73 are connected to the NB 63 via the PCI bus 74. The SB 64 is a bridge for connecting the PCI bus 74 to the ROM, peripheral devices, and the like.

  The CPU 61 reads out various software stored in the ROM and HDD 68 connected via the SB 64 and activates the software to control the entire image forming apparatus 10 and realize various functions.

  The system memory 62 is a memory used as a drawing memory of the image forming apparatus 10. The local memory 67 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.

  The ASIC 66 is an IC for use in image processing having hardware elements for image processing. The HDD 68 is an auxiliary storage device that stores image data, document data, various software, font data forms, and the like.

  The NIC 69 is an interface device that connects the image forming apparatus 10 to a network. The USB device 71, the IEEE 1394 device 72, and the Centronics 73 are interfaces conforming to the respective standards. The NVRAM 76 stores various data and various software when the CPU 61 executes various software.

  The operation panel 80 accepts an input operation from the operator and performs display for the operator. The engine unit 82 includes a black and white laser printer (B & W LP) 11, a color laser printer (ColorLP) 12, and a scanner 13 as image processing means for processing an image. The black and white laser printer (B & W LP) 11 and the color laser printer (ColorLP) 12 perform printing by forming an image on a print medium such as paper. The FCU 81 is a unit that controls facsimile communication and has a memory (not shown). This memory is used for temporarily storing facsimile data received when the image forming apparatus 10 is powered off, for example.

  Next, a basic software configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an application 30 and a platform 40 as a software group. These entities are various software stored in the ROM and the HDD 68. When the CPU 61 reads and executes these various software, each software is activated, and various functions shown below are realized.

  The application 30 performs processing unique to each user service related to image forming processing such as a printer, copy, facsimile, and scanner. The application 30 includes a printer application 31 that is a printer software having a page description language (PDL, PCL) and a postscript (PS), a copy application 32 that is a copy software, and a fax application 33 that is a facsimile software. And a scanner application 34 as scanner software and a network file application 35 as network file software.

  In addition, the platform 40 interprets a processing request from the application 30 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or more of the B & W LP11, ColorLP12, and the scanner 13 to receive a request from the control service. A system resource manager (hereinafter referred to as SRM) 43 that arbitrates acquisition requests and an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 41 are configured.

  The control service includes a system control service (hereinafter referred to as SCS) 42, an engine control service (hereinafter referred to as ECS) 44, a memory control service (hereinafter referred to as MCS) 45, an operation panel control service (hereinafter referred to as OCS) 46, and a fax. It is configured to have one or more service modules such as a control service (hereinafter referred to as FCS) 47 and a network control service (hereinafter referred to as NCS) 48.

  The platform 40 is configured to have a software program interface (hereinafter referred to as API) that can receive a processing request from the application 30 by a predefined function. The OS 41 is UNIX (registered trademark) or the like, and executes the software of the platform 40 and the application 30 in parallel as processes.

  The process of the SRM 43 performs system control and hardware resource management together with the SCS 42. For example, the process of the SRM43 is from an upper layer that uses the hardware resources of the engine, memory, HDD file, and host I / O (centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394 I / F, RS232C I / F, etc.) Arbitrate and control execution according to request.

  Specifically, the SRM 43 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource can be used. Notify the higher layer. In addition, the SRM 43 performs scheduling for using hardware resources in response to a request from an upper layer, and directly executes the request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory allocation, file generation, etc.). ing.

  The process of the SCS 42 performs processing such as software management, operation panel 80 control and screen display, LED display, hardware resource management, and interrupt software control. The ECS 44 process controls engines such as the monochrome laser printer 11, the color laser printer 12, and the scanner 13.

  The process of the MCS 45 performs memory control such as acquisition and release of image memory, use of the HDD 68, and compression and expansion of image data. The process of the OCS 46 controls the operation panel 80.

  The FCS 47 process performs facsimile transmission / reception using the PSTN or ISDN network from each software layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed in the backup memory, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. API is provided.

  The NCS 48 process provides a service that can be commonly used for software that requires network I / O, and distributes data received by each protocol from the network side to each software, and data from each software. Mediation when sending to the network side.

  For example, the NCS 48 controls data communication with a network device connected via the network using HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon).

  The image forming apparatus 10 can centrally process the processes commonly required by each software on the platform 40. The CPU 61 of such an image forming apparatus 10 activates and executes the SCS 42, SRM 43, ECS 44, MCS 45, OCS 46, FCS 47, and NCS 48 on the OS 41 as processes, and the printer application 31 and the copy application 32 that form the application 30. , The fax application 33, the scanner application 34, and the net file application 35 are appropriately activated and executed to realize various functions.

  In addition to the software configuration as described above, the image forming apparatus 10 further includes software for realizing the SNMP agent function. Here, a software configuration for realizing the SNMP agent function according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a subagent 50, a master agent 51, and a network I / F 52. These entities are various software stored in the ROM and the HDD 68. When the CPU 61 reads and executes these various software, each software is activated, and various functions shown below are realized. When it is necessary to distinguish what the image forming apparatus 10A and the image forming apparatus 10B each have, what the image forming apparatus 10A has are described as a subagent 50A, a master agent 51A, and a network I / F 52A. However, what the image forming apparatus 10B has may be described as a subagent 50B, a master agent 51B, and a network I / F 52B.

  The network I / F 52 corresponds to the NCS 48 described above, and controls communication via the network. The subagent 50 stores an MIB (referred to as a printer MIB) indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 10 itself having the subagent 50, and registers the printer MIB with respect to the master agent 51 using the AgentX protocol. Request. The printer MIB is stored in a storage area allocated to the subagent 50 in the local memory 67, for example. When requesting registration of the printer MIB, the subagent 50 can designate priorities from “1” to “255” as priorities of use of the image forming apparatus 10. The initial value of the priority is “127”, and the smaller the value, the higher the priority of use. Specifically, the subagent 50 designates a low priority (for example, priority “255”) at the time of activation, and then determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 10 having the subagent 50 is in a printable state. If it is detected and the image forming apparatus 10 is in a printable state, a higher priority (for example, priority “1”) is designated. The printable state is, for example, a state where the toner used for printing in the engine unit 82 is a predetermined amount or more, or a state where no trouble has occurred in the engine unit 82. When the image forming apparatus 10 is in a state in which printing cannot be performed, the subagent 50 requests cancellation of registration of the printer MIB having a higher priority.

  In addition, the subagent 50 stores connection destination information indicating a connection destination of another image forming apparatus 10 that can be connected to and cooperate with the image forming system. The connection destination information is, for example, an IP address. The connection destination information is stored in, for example, a storage area assigned to the subagent 50 in the local memory 67, but may be the same storage area as the storage area where the printer MIB is stored or a different storage area. When the image forming apparatus 10 having the subagent 50 is in a printable state, the subagent 50 refers to the connection destination information and has the other image forming apparatus 10 via the network I / F 52. The master agent 51 is requested to register the printer MIB by designating a medium priority (for example, priority “127”), and the image forming apparatus 10 having the subagent 50 becomes unprintable. In this case, the master agent 51 of the other image forming apparatus 10 is requested to cancel the registration of the medium-priority printer MIB, and the master agent 51 of its own image forming apparatus 10 has a higher level. Request to cancel the registration of the printer MIB with the priority of. When the subagent 50 receives an SNMP packet requesting transmission of the printer MIB from the master agent 51 of another image forming apparatus 10, the subagent 50 responds to the master MIB 51 with the printer MIB stored therein. An SNMP packet is transmitted.

  When the master agent 51 requests registration of the printer MIB from the subagent 50 of its own image forming apparatus 10 by the AgentX protocol, the master agent 51 stores the printer MIB in association with the designated priority, thereby storing the printer MIB. Register the MIB. In addition, when registration of the printer MIB is requested by the AgentX protocol from the subagent 50 included in the other image forming apparatus 10, the master agent 51 receives a print request from the other image forming apparatus 10. Whether or not the print request is acceptable is detected. If the print request is acceptable, the printer MIB is registered in association with the designated priority. The state in which the print request from the other image forming apparatus 10 can be accepted is, for example, a state in which the image forming apparatus 50 is capable of printing and a print job that instructs the engine unit 82 to print. In this state, the number is equal to or less than a predetermined number. The printer MIB is stored in a storage area assigned to the master agent 51 in the local memory 67, for example. Further, the above connection destination information is also stored in the storage area assigned to the master agent 51. When the master agent 51 receives an SNMP packet requesting transmission of the printer MIB from the remote PC 100 via the network I / F 52, the master agent 51 selects a printer MIB having a high priority from among the stored printer MIBs, and selects the selected printer. The printer MIB is acquired from the subagent 50 of the image forming apparatus 10 whose state is indicated by the MIB. Specifically, when the image forming apparatus 10 whose state is indicated by the selected printer MIB is another image forming apparatus 10, the master agent 51 refers to the connection destination information and the other image forming apparatus 10. An SMNP packet requesting transmission of the printer MIB is transmitted to the subagent 50 via the network I / F 52, and the printer MIB transmitted in response to this request is received via the network I / F 52. On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 10 whose state is indicated by the selected printer MIB is its own image forming apparatus 10, the subagent 50 of the image forming apparatus 10 is requested to transmit the printer MIB, and the request is made. The printer MIB is acquired from the corresponding subagent 50. In any case, the master agent 51 transmits an SNMP packet whose response is the acquired printer MIB to the remote PC 100 via the network I / F 52.

  When the master agent 51 receives print data instructing image printing from the remote PC 100 via the network I / F 52, the master agent 51 preferentially selects a printer MIB having a higher priority from among the stored printer MIBs. It is determined that printing is to be performed by the image forming apparatus 10 whose state is indicated by the selected printer MIB. When the determined image forming apparatus 10 is another image forming apparatus 10, the master agent 51 transmits the print data to the other image forming apparatus 10 via the network I / F 52 to execute printing. Request (print request). As a result, printing using the print data is performed in another image forming apparatus 10. When the determined image forming apparatus 10 is its own image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 10 performs printing using its own engine unit 82 using the print data.

  Next, a processing procedure performed by the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, a procedure of processing in which the subagent 50 registers and cancels the registration of the printer MIB with respect to the master agent 51 of its own image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, for example, the image forming apparatus 10A will be mainly described. After starting, the subagent 50A of the image forming apparatus 10A uses the AgentX protocol for the master agent 51A to register the printer MIB stored in the subagent 50A with a low priority (for example, priority “ 255 ") is designated and requested (step S1). In response to the request, the master agent 51A associates and stores the printer MIB and the priority “255”. Further, the subagent 50A determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 10A is in a printable state (step S2), and determines that the image forming apparatus 10A is in a printable state (step S2: YES), the master agent 51A is requested to register the printer MIB stored in the subagent 50A by designating a high priority (eg, priority “1”) (step S3). Return to S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image forming apparatus 10A is not ready for printing (step S2: NO), the subagent 50A instructs the master agent 51A of the printer MIB stored in the subagent 50A. Request for cancellation of registration (step S4). In this case, the master agent 51A may delete the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A in response to the request, or the priority stored in association with the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A. You may make it update to low rank (for example, priority "255"). After step S4, the process returns to step S2. Thereafter, when the image forming apparatus 10A is ready for printing, the determination result in step S2 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step S3, where the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A has a high priority “1”. It is associated and stored in the master agent 51A.

  Next, a processing procedure in which the subagent 50A included in the image forming apparatus 10A performs registration and deregistration of the printer MIB with respect to the master agent 51B included in another image forming apparatus 10B that cooperates with the image forming apparatus 10A. This will be described with reference to FIG. The subagent 50A of the image forming apparatus 10A determines whether or not the print request from the other image forming apparatus 10B can be accepted (step S10). If it is determined that the print request from the other image forming apparatus 10B is acceptable (step S10: YES), the subagent 50A performs a network connection to the master agent 51B of the other image forming apparatus 10B. The registration of the printer MIB stored in the subagent 50A is requested via the I / F 52A by designating the medium priority (for example, priority “127”) (step S11). On the other hand, if it is determined that the print request from the other image forming apparatus 10B cannot be accepted (step S10: NO), the subagent 50A makes a response to the master agent 51B of the other image forming apparatus 10B. A request to cancel registration of the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A having the subagent 50A is made via the network I / F 52A (step S12). In this case, the master agent 51B of the other image forming apparatus 10B may delete the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A in response to the request or may be associated with the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A. The stored priority may be updated to a lower level (for example, priority “255”).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the registration status of the printer MIB for each of the image forming apparatus 10A and the image forming apparatus 10B. For example, when the image forming apparatus 10A is in a non-printable state, but the image forming apparatus 10B is in a printable state, as shown in FIG. The printer MIB of the apparatus 10A is stored in association with the low priority, and the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B is stored in association with the medium priority. On the other hand, in the master agent 51B of the image forming apparatus 10B, the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B is stored in association with a high priority, and the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10A is associated with a low priority. Remembered.

  In such a registration situation, when the image forming apparatus 10A receives an SNMP packet requesting transmission of the printer MIB from the remote PC 100, the function of the master agent 51A causes the highest priority (here, the priority “1”). The printer MIB registered in association with (is) is searched. In the example of FIG. 7, the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B corresponds. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10A selects the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B by the function of the master agent 51A, and transmits the printer MIB to the subagent 50B of the image forming apparatus 10B via the network I / F 52A. An SNMP packet requesting is sent. When the image forming apparatus 10B receives the SNMP packet, the function of the subagent 50B causes the network agent to send the SNMP packet with the stored printer MIB as a response to the master agent 51A of the image forming apparatus 10A in response to the request. Transmit via / F52B. When the image forming apparatus 10A receives the SNMP packet, the function of the master agent 51A transmits the SNMP packet with the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B as a response to the remote PC 100 via the network I / F 52A.

  Further, when the image forming apparatus 10A receives print data from the remote PC 100, the function of the master agent 51A searches for a printer MIB registered with the highest priority associated therewith. In the example of FIG. 7, the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B corresponds. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10A selects the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10B by the function of the master agent 51A, determines that the image forming apparatus 10B performs printing, and sends the network I / F 52A to the image forming apparatus 10B. Send print data via Upon receiving the print data, the image forming apparatus 10B performs printing using the print data.

  As described above, in an image forming system capable of performing printing in cooperation with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having the SNMP agent function, when the image forming apparatus is in a printable state, the printer MIB of its own is used. It is registered not only for itself but also for other image forming apparatuses. When the transmission of the printer MIB is requested from the remote PC, the image forming apparatus selects a printer MIB having a high priority from the registered printer MIBs, and the status is indicated by the printer MIB. The printer MIB is acquired from the server, and the printer MIB is transmitted as a response to the remote PC. As a result, even if the image forming apparatus is in an unprintable state, if the other image forming apparatus capable of cooperating with the image forming apparatus is in a printable state, the printable state is indicated. The printer MIB can be returned to the remote PC as a response. When the image forming apparatus receives print data for instructing image printing from the remote PC, the image forming apparatus selects a printer MIB having a high priority from the registered printer MIBs, and the status is indicated by the selected printer MIB. The image forming apparatus to be printed performs printing using the print data. As a result, even if the image forming apparatus in a non-printable state receives print data, if the other image forming apparatus that can cooperate with the image forming apparatus is in a printable state, the other image forming apparatus Can be used for printing.

  When the image forming apparatus is in a printable state, the timing and conditions for requesting registration of its own printer MIB from other image forming apparatuses are not limited, and may be any timing that is convenient for the image forming apparatus. . For this reason, the image forming apparatuses can cooperate with each other at a convenient timing.

[Modification]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. Further, various modifications as exemplified below are possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, various programs executed by the image forming apparatus 10 may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The various programs are recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in a file in an installable or executable format. The computer program product may be provided.

  In the embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 10 may have at least one of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, such as a copier, a printer, a scanner device, and a facsimile device. Any image forming apparatus can be applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the number of image forming apparatuses 10 included in the image forming system is two. However, the number is not limited to this, and may be three or more. In this case, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, at least one image forming apparatus 10 </ b> C may not be connected to the remote PC 100. The image forming apparatus 10C is connected to the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B and can realize the functions of the subagent 50 and the master agent 51 described above, so that printing can be performed in cooperation with the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the subagent 50 stores connection destination information of other image forming apparatuses 10 that are connected to the image forming system and can cooperate with each other in association with the priority. You may do it.

  Further, the priority value is not limited to the above example, and may be arbitrarily determined by each of the image forming apparatuses 10A to 10B.

  In addition, the master agent 51 stores the printer MIB in association with the priority. However, the master agent 51 may not perform the storage in association with the priority. In this case, when the master agent 51 receives an SNMP packet requesting transmission of the printer MIB or print data, the master agent 51 stores the printer MIB of the image forming apparatus 10 having the master agent 51 or the image forming apparatus stored therein. A printer MIB of another image forming apparatus 10 that can cooperate with the printer 10 may be selected according to a predetermined condition.

  In the above-described embodiment, the master agent 51 selects the printer MIB registered with the highest priority when the transmission of the printer MIB is requested and when the print data is received. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a printer MIB having a priority level equal to or higher than a predetermined value may be selected.

10, 10A, 10B, 10C Image forming apparatus 50, 50A, 50B Subagent 51, 51A, 51B Master agent 82 Engine unit 52, 52A, 52B Network I / F
100, 100A, 100B Remote PC

JP 2007-062059 A

Claims (11)

An image forming apparatus connected to an external apparatus that performs image formation,
Storage means for storing state information indicating a state in association with a priority for each of the external device and the image forming device;
Receiving means for receiving a transmission request for the state information from an information processing device;
A transmission unit that preferentially selects the state information associated with the higher priority when the reception unit receives the transmission request, and transmits the state information to the information processing apparatus;
Requesting means for requesting the external device to register the status information of the image forming apparatus by designating a high priority when the image forming apparatus is in a printable state;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The request unit requests the external device to cancel the registration of the state information of the image forming apparatus associated with a high priority when the image forming apparatus is in a non-printable state. about,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . In response to a request from the external device, the storage device further includes a registration unit that associates a medium priority with the status information of the external device and stores the medium in the storage unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the registration unit cancels the registration of the state information associated with a medium priority in response to a request from the external apparatus. The requesting unit designates a medium priority when the image forming apparatus is in a state where it can accept a print request, and registers the status information of the image forming apparatus with respect to the external apparatus. Requesting ,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in. The request unit cancels the registration of the status information of the image forming apparatus associated with a medium priority when the image forming apparatus cannot accept a print request. Requesting against,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 . When the receiving unit receives the transmission request, according to the priority associated with the state information of the image forming apparatus and the priority associated with the state information of the external apparatus, Selecting means for selecting at least one of the status information from the status information of the image forming apparatus and the status information of the external apparatus;
An acquisition unit that acquires state information indicating the state of the device from the device whose state is indicated by the state information selected by the selection unit;
The transmission unit, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein transmitting the status information acquired by the acquiring unit. The storage means further stores connection destination information indicating a connection destination of the external device,
The requesting unit refers to the connection destination information and requests the external apparatus to register the status information of the image forming apparatus ;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in. The receiving means and the transmitting means are subagents in SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol);
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in. An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus connected to an external apparatus that performs image formation,
The image forming apparatus includes storage means for storing state information indicating a state in association with a priority for each of the external apparatus and the image forming apparatus.
A receiving step of receiving a transmission request for the state information from an information processing device;
When the transmission request is received in the reception step, a transmission step of preferentially selecting the state information associated with the high priority and transmitting it to the information processing device;
A requesting step of requesting the external device to register the status information of the image forming apparatus by designating a high priority when the image forming apparatus is in a printable state;
An image forming method comprising: A program for causing a computer to execute the image forming method according to claim 10 .

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