JP5756681B2 - Data server and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system including an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a data server and an image forming apparatus of a network system that efficiently stores a document file in a server such as a data center and prints it.

  In recent years, it is possible to communicate with a terminal device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), a so-called MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) or other office machine via a network, and access from these devices. External data servers are widespread. Facilities equipped with these data servers are generally called data centers.

  In such a system, data (documents, image data, etc.) stored in various devices can be collected in a data system. By aggregating data in the data center, it becomes possible to access these data files from various locations and devices. As a result, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use service that enables data sharing.

JP 2003-85345 A

  In the data center system described above, data files can be accessed from a plurality of devices. If access to the same data file from multiple devices competes, the data file may be lost. In particular, such problems can arise when automating access to data files.

  As a method for resolving the access conflict to the data file, there is a method disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1. According to this method, when a plurality of users are accessing the data file of the same document at the same time, the user who tries to access the data file is notified that the document is a competing document. When the first user tries to edit a document and the second user has already been editing the same document, on the PC screen of the first user, “This document is Mr. The contention is prevented by popping up a message such as “second user name is being edited”. When the editing process of the document by the second user is completed, the first user is notified that the document in question can be edited.

  However, in such a method, when a plurality of first users remain, there is a risk that further competition among them will occur. In such a case, the procedure described above must be repeated, and the work efficiency of the user is lowered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data server and an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently forming an image in each image forming apparatus while centrally managing the image forming job data in the data server. is there.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a data server and an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently resolving contention when accesses to the same job data compete in centralized management at the data server.

  A data server according to a first aspect of the present invention receives image forming job data from a first image forming apparatus via a communication unit capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a storage device, and the communication unit. A data server including job data receiving means for storing in a storage device. The job data may include a list of identification information of one or more image forming apparatuses that are to execute image forming processing according to the job data. Further, when the job data received by the job data receiving unit includes a list of identification information of the image forming apparatus, the data server has received the job data to the image forming apparatus identified by the identification information included in the list. In addition to the list via the communication means, and job data transmission means for transmitting the requested job data in response to a job data transmission request from the notification destination by the notification means. The list includes a prioritized list of identification information of the image forming apparatus.

  Job data for image formation is stored in a data server and can be shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Among the image forming apparatuses, those designated as printing destinations based on job data are notified to that effect, so that printing can be performed automatically or printing can be promoted by notifying the user. As a result, it is possible to efficiently form an image in each image forming apparatus while centrally managing the image forming job data with the data server.

  Preferably, the data server responds to the reception of the notification indicating that the printing of the job data is completed from the image forming apparatus to which the job data is transmitted by the job data transmitting unit via the communication unit, and It further includes list updating means for updating the list of identification information of the forming apparatus so as to indicate that printing in the image forming apparatus is completed.

  By checking this list, it is possible to prevent duplicate printing in an already-printed image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit that can communicate with any of the data servers described above, job data that generates image data and generates job data for printing the image data. A list of identification information of other image forming apparatuses that can communicate with the data server, with a priority added to each identification information, is assigned to the job data generated by the generation unit and the job data generation unit And a job data transmission unit that transmits the job data to which the list of identification information is provided by the list addition unit to the data server via the communication unit of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus further includes, in response to the identification information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses being included in the list of identification information given by the list giving unit, the job data given the identification information by the list giving unit, Means for providing storage instruction information indicating that the job data is stored in the server may be included.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including a communication unit capable of communicating with any of the data servers described above, and is notified by the data server via the communication unit of the image forming apparatus. In response to receiving a notification indicating that the job data has been received from the means, the list storage means for storing the list received together with the notification, and the list stored in the list storage means, the self is the highest priority The image forming means for receiving the job data from the data server and executing the image forming process based on the job data in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied, and the image forming means In response to the completion, the image forming apparatus included in the list sends a notification indicating that the image forming process has been completed in the image forming apparatus. And a notification means for notifying that the image formation is not completed.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus has transmitted the notification in response to receiving from another image forming apparatus a notification indicating that image formation based on job data has been completed in the other image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes list update means for updating the list stored in the list storage means to indicate that image formation has been completed with respect to the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit determines whether or not its own priority is the highest when the list is updated by the list updating unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, job data for image formation is stored in a data server and can be shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Since the image forming apparatus designated as the printing destination based on the job data is notified, it is possible to efficiently form an image based on the job data. As a result, it is possible to efficiently form an image in each image forming apparatus while centrally managing the image forming job data with the data server.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the data management network which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic hardware constitutions of the server computer which comprises the data center shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when a document is read by an MFP which is a component of the network shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data format of job data transmitted from an MFP to a data center. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of job data transmitted from an MFP to a data center. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a communication sequence between an MFP and a data center when printing is performed by an MFP that has read a document. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing a communication sequence between each MFP and the data center when the document is printed by accessing the data center from an MFP different from the MFP that has read the document. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of job data transmitted from the MFP to a data center by designating use of an MFP different from the read MFP for printing. When the document data transmitted from the MFP to the data center by designating use of another MFP for printing from the read MFP is automatically printed by the designated MFP, between each MFP and the data center It is a sequence diagram which shows a communication sequence. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of job data transmitted from the MFP to a data center by designating use of a plurality of MFPs different from the read MFP for printing. FIG. The document data transmitted from the MFP to the data center by designating use of a plurality of MFPs other than the read MFP for printing are sequentially printed between the MFPs and the data center. It is a sequence diagram which shows a communication sequence. 5 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program that realizes processing for reading document data and transmitting it to a data center in the MFP. 5 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program for realizing processing executed when job data is received from a data center in the MFP. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program for realizing processing executed when an MFP receives a print completion notification from another MFP. 3 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program for realizing processing for printing document data in an MFP. 6 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program for realizing processing executed when a data file is received from an MFP in a data center. 6 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program for realizing processing executed when a data file transmission request is received from an MFP in a data center. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the outline of operation | movement of the system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program for implement | achieving the process performed when the data request is received in the data center of the system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program for realizing processing for transmitting requested document data to the MFP, which is started by the program shown in FIG. 21.

  In the following description and drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
〔Constitution〕
Referring to FIG. 1, a network system 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a server computer 52 constituting a data center connected to the Internet 50, and a LAN (Local Area) connected to the Internet 50. Network) 54 and a plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64 and 66, all of which are connected to the LAN 54. In the present embodiment, all of the plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64, and 66 have the same configuration, but of course they may be different from each other.

  Referring to FIG. 2, first MFP 60 is connected to communication control unit 80 connected to LAN 54, control unit 82 substantially consisting of a computer connected to communication control unit 80, and control unit 82. An operation unit 84 including a display unit and operation keys, which receives an instruction from the user and gives an operation instruction signal to the control unit 82 or displays an image according to an instruction from the control unit 82; When the user issues a document reading instruction via 84, the document reading unit 86 that reads the document and generates image data according to the control of the control unit 82 that has received the instruction, and the document reading unit 86 The job data generating unit 88 generates job data (including image data) to be transmitted to the server computer 52 based on the received image data and information input using the operation unit 84. , A storage unit 90 for storing job data generated by the job data generation unit 88 and job data received from the server computer 52 via the communication control unit 80, and a job from the storage unit 90 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 82 And a printing unit 92 that reads data and prints the image on a predetermined recording medium (typically a paper medium).

  The MFP 60 is further connected to the operation unit 84 and the control unit 82, and a machine ID storage unit 94 that temporarily stores identification information (machine ID) of another MFP given through the operation unit 84 when reading a document image. And a machine ID list storage unit 96 that is connected to the control unit 82 and stores the machine ID list notified from the server computer 52.

  Referring to FIG. 3, server computer 52 configuring the data center includes a communication control unit 110 that communicates with the Internet 50, a control unit 112 that is connected to the communication control unit 110, and includes a control unit 112. And a storage unit 114 that is connected to the unit 112 and stores job data received from a plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64, 66, and the like.

  FIG. 4 shows a display example of the operation unit 84 at the time of reading by the MFP. Referring to FIG. 4, operation screen 130 displayed after user authentication is permitted includes operation key area 132, print condition setting area 134, and trigger button display area 136 described above. The user can operate each key displayed on the operation key area 132 and the print condition setting area 134 while referring to the print condition setting area 134.

  On the operation key area 132, a numeric keypad 158, a copy number setting key 142 for setting the number of copies, a color mode setting key 144 for setting whether to read original data in color or monochrome, and adjusting the density of the original data. Copy density setting key 146, magnification setting key 148 for setting the magnification of document data, document size setting key 150 for setting the size of document data, paper setting key 152 for setting the size and type of printing paper, and printing on printing paper A printing surface setting key 154 for setting the surface and a staple setting key 156 for setting whether or not to staple the edge of the printing paper are displayed. The user can set conditions for reading and image formation by touching these various keys.

  On the trigger button display area 136, a monochrome print key 162 for instructing start of monochrome copy of document data, a color print key 164 for instructing start of copy of document data in color, and document data A scan start key 166 for starting reading, and a cancel key 168 for canceling or interrupting setting and printing processing for document data are displayed. When the user touches any of these keys, printing and reading of document data is started or interrupted.

  In the print condition setting area 134, a radio button 170 for designating whether or not the read image data is transmitted to the server computer 52 is designated as an MFP for printing the image data when the image data is transmitted to the server computer 52. MFP name display area 172 for displaying an image, MFP selection area 174 for selecting an MFP to be designated, and an add key for giving an instruction to add the MFP selected in MFP selection area 174 to MFP name display area 172 176 is displayed. The machine ID corresponding to the MFP displayed in the MFP name display area 172 is added to the job data as a machine ID list. Each machine ID in the machine ID list is prioritized.

  Referring to FIG. 5, job data 180 transmitted from the MFP to server computer 52 includes job type designation field 190, number of copies field 192, single side / double side designation field 194, user ID field 196, image data field 198, image data. The MFP ID field 200 for designating the MFP for printing the server and the server stop designation field 202 are included. Among these, the MFPID field 200 and the server stop designation field 202 are optional. The number of MFPID fields 200 is variable according to the number of designated MFPs. “Server stop” does not automatically print by the MFP, but temporarily stores image data in the server computer 52, and performs server stop processing for transmitting the image data when each MFP requests printing. That is.

  In this embodiment, as will be described later, when it is specified that image data is transmitted to the server computer 52 and a plurality of MFPs are specified as MFPs to be printed, the server stop specification field 202 is automatically added. Then, the image data is temporarily stored in the server computer 52. The designated MFP is notified from the server computer 52 with reference to the MFP ID field 200. In each MFP, printing is performed when the user requests image data from the server computer 52 in response to this notification. Further, the present embodiment has one feature in that when printing is performed with a plurality of MFPs, priority order can be designated for the MFPs.

  Job data 210 shown in FIG. 6 is a specific example of job data 180. Referring to FIG. 6, job data 210 does not include MFPID field 200 and server stop designation field 202 in job data 180 at all. This type of job data 210 is used when image data is simply stored in the server computer 52. When printing image data, the image data can be requested from any MFP.

  In FIG. 7, the job data 210 is used to store an image read by the MFP 60 in the server computer 52, and when the image data is printed by the same MFP 60 used for reading the image data, the MFP 60 and the server computer 52 are used. The communication sequence with is shown. Referring to FIG. 7, MFP 60 reads image data and transmits job data 230 to server computer 52. The server computer 52 stores image data included in the job data 230 and data related to printing control. When the user designates this image data from the MFP 60 and sends an image data request 234 at an arbitrary later time, the server computer 52 reads the designated image data (236) and transmits it to the MFP 60. The MFP 60 prints this image data. Since the user ID of the user at the time of reading is given to the image data, when the user accesses the server computer 52 from the MFP 60, a list of image data read by the user can be presented. The user may select desired image data from among them.

  In this case, the image data can also be printed from another MFP, for example, the second MFP 62. Referring to FIG. 8, job data 230 is transmitted from MFP 60 to server computer 52, and server computer 52 stores image data and printing condition data included in job data 230 (232). When the second MFP 62 later accesses the server computer 52 and selects this image data, the server computer 52 transmits the image data 242 to the second MFP 62. The second MFP 62 can print the image data 242.

  The job data 260 shown in FIG. 9 is an example of job data 180 when image data read by the MFP 60 is designated to be printed by the second MFP 62 and transmitted to the server computer 52. Referring to FIG. 9, job data 260 includes a field 200 for designating second MFP 62 as MFPID field 200 in job data 180. The other points are the same as the job data 210 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows a communication sequence when an image read by the MFP 60 is transmitted and stored in the server computer 52 and automatically printed by the second MFP 62. Referring to FIG. 10, job data 260 shown in FIG. 9 is transmitted to server computer 52 for the image data read by MFP 60. The server computer 52 accumulates the job data 260 (282). The server computer 52 further refers to the MFPID field 200 of the job data 260 and sends a notification 284 to the second MFP 62 indicating that there is image data that designates the second MFP 62 as the print destination. Receiving this notification 284, the second MFP 62 automatically makes a request 286 for the image data to the server computer 52. Receiving the image data request 286, the server computer 52 transmits the designated image data 288 to the second MFP 62. The second MFP 62 prints this image data.

  The job data 300 shown in FIG. 11 is job data for designating a plurality of MFPs, and has the same format as the job data 180 shown in FIG. However, in the case of job data 300, identifiers of two MFPs (second MFP 62 and third MFP 64) are recorded in the MFP ID field 200 as print destinations. A server stop designation field 202 is automatically added to the end of the job data 300.

  FIG. 12 shows a communication sequence when the image data is transmitted to the server computer 52 by designating the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 as the print destination MFPs after the image data is read by the MFP 60. Referring to FIG. 12, job data 300 shown in FIG. 11 is generated from image data obtained by reading a document with MFP 60, and transmitted to server computer 52. The server computer 52 saves the job data 300 in the storage device (322). Further, the server computer 52, based on the value in the MFPID field 200 in the job data, notifies 324 that there is image data to be printed in the corresponding two MFPs (second MFP 62 and third MFP 64). And 326 are transmitted. These notifications include a list of machine IDs described in the MFPID field 200. In this list, the ID at the top has a higher priority than the ID at the bottom.

  The second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 store the machine ID list included in this notification. Further, the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 read this list, and determine whether or not they have the highest priority in the list. In the examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the third MFP 64 has the highest priority. In the MFP having the highest priority, a message “image data that can be printed exists in the data center” is displayed on the screen. At the same time, the third MFP 64 displays an active button (transmission request button) for requesting the server computer 52 to transmit the image data. In another MFP, a message such as “Image data to be printed exists in the data center but is not yet printable” is displayed.

  When the user performs an operation 328 on the above-described transmission request button in the third MFP 64, an image data transmission request 330 is transmitted from the third MFP 64 to the server computer 52. In response to this request, the server computer 52 transmits the image data 332 to the third MFP 64. The third MFP 64 that has received the image data prints this image data on a recording medium such as paper.

  When the printing is finished, the third MFP 64 adds a message 336 and 337 indicating that the printing is finished (similar to the MFP ID field 200 shown in FIG. 11 and a flag indicating that the printing of the third MFP 64 is completed). Are transmitted to the server computer 52 and the second MFP 62, respectively. The server computer 52 receives this message 336 and updates the machine ID list possessed by itself. On the other hand, in response to the message 337, the second MFP 62 updates the machine ID list held in the machine ID list storage unit 96 in the same manner, and the second MFP 62 has the highest priority among the MFPs for which printing has not been completed. It is determined whether or not it has a rank. In this example, since only two MFPs are designated as shown in FIG. 11, the second MFP 62 has the highest priority. Therefore, the second MFP 62 deletes the message that “the image data to be printed exists in the data center but is not yet printable”, and instead, the third MFP 64 previously performed. Similarly, the message “Printable image data exists in the data center” and a transmission request button are displayed.

  In the second MFP 62, when the user notices this message and performs an operation 338 of pressing the transmission request button, an image data transmission request 340 is transmitted from the second MFP 62 to the server computer 52. In response to the image data transmission request 340, the server computer 52 transmits the designated image data 342 to the second MFP 62, and the second MFP 62 forms an image on the recording medium based on the image data. .

<< Program structure of MFP >>
Hereinafter, the configuration of a program for realizing the functions of the MFP will be described. The MFP functions include a document reading process, a notification receiving process from the server computer 52, a print end notification receiving process from another MFP, and an image data printing process. These will be described in order below.

<Document scanning process>
First, a control structure of a program that realizes processing for reading a document and generating image data will be described. Although a plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64, and 66 are described as having the same function in this embodiment, it goes without saying that only a part of the functions may be implemented depending on the MFP. .

  Referring to FIG. 13, in reading an image, the process waits until an input is first made by the user (step 370). If there is an input, it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to read a document (step 372). Return to. In step 374, for example, conditions for printing (designation of the number of copies, double-sided / single-sided, etc., and an MFP list to be printed) are input. If the instruction is for reading a document, the document is read and converted into image data in step 376. Subsequently, based on the information input in step 374 and the image data read in step 376, job data 180 having a general form shown in FIG. 5 is generated (step 378), and this job data is stored in the server computer 52. (Step 380), and the process ends. When a plurality of machine IDs are specified in the MFP ID field 200 when the job data 180 is generated, a server stop specification field 202 is provided, and a flag indicating server stop is inserted in this field.

<Notification Reception Processing from Server Computer 52>
A program for realizing the processing of the MFP when receiving a notification regarding image data to be printed from the server computer 52 has the following control structure.

  Referring to FIG. 14, this program is activated when a notification from server computer 52 is received, and stores the machine ID list received together with the notification in step 400 and server stop information, if any. In step 402, it is determined whether information indicating server stop is attached to the end of the received machine ID list. If the server is not stopped, image data is requested from the server computer 52 (step 410), and reception permission from the server computer 52 is awaited (step 412). When reception permission is received from the server computer 52, image data is received from the server computer 52 (step 414), and the received image data is printed on a recording medium such as paper (step 416). When printing is completed, a message indicating that printing is completed (a list of machine IDs updated so as to indicate that printing has been completed) is transmitted to the server computer 52. Further, in step 420, it is determined whether or not there is a machine ID list that has not been printed with another machine ID (step 420). A message indicating completion is transmitted and the process is terminated. If there is no machine ID list or if there is no machine ID that has not been printed in the machine ID list, the process ends without doing anything.

  On the other hand, if information indicating server stop is attached at the end of the machine ID list in step 402, it is determined whether or not the machine ID recorded in the list has the highest priority. (Step 404). If the determination is affirmative, a message for notifying that printable image data exists in the server computer 52 and a transmission request button are displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 84, and the process ends. If the determination in step 404 is negative, a message indicating that the image data to be printed exists in the server computer 52 but is not yet ready for printing is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 84 and the process is terminated. To do.

<Receiving notification from other MFP>
A program for updating a machine ID list stored in the machine ID list storage unit 96 that is started when a notification indicating that printing of image data in the MFP is completed is received from another MFP. It has the following control structure.

  Referring to FIG. 15, this program is activated when the above notification is received from another MFP. This program updates the machine ID list stored in the self machine ID list storage unit 96 with the same job name as the received data with the machine ID list in the received data, and the result of the processing in step 440 is a machine And step 442 for determining whether or not one's priority is higher in the ID list. If the determination in step 442 is affirmative, a message indicating that printable image data exists in the server computer 52 and a transmission of the image data are requested to the server computer 52 on the display unit of its operation unit 84. A transmission request button operated by the user to give an instruction to display is displayed (step 444), and the process ends. If the determination in step 442 is negative, the process ends without doing anything thereafter.

<Print image data>
The program that realizes the printing process has the following control structure. Referring to FIG. 16, this program is started when the user operates the transmission request button described above.

  In this program, first, the server computer 52 is requested to transmit image data (step 460) and waits until permission is received from the server computer 52 (step 462). When permission is received from the server computer 52, image data is received from the server computer 52 (step 464), an image is formed on a recording medium such as paper (step 466), and the image data is printed on the server computer 52. A message indicating that is completed is sent (step 468). This message is obtained by adding information indicating that printing has been completed to its own machine ID in the machine ID list stored in the machine ID list storage unit 96. Furthermore, it is determined whether or not there is an MFP ID in the machine ID list that has not been printed yet. If there are, the above-described print completion message is transmitted to all of them (step 472), and the process is terminated. If there is no other such MFP (No at step 470), the process is terminated without doing anything.

<< Program Configuration for Server Computer 52 >>
The program for realizing the function of the server computer 52, which is the center of the system according to the present embodiment, has a control structure as described below. Hereinafter, a process when the server computer 52 receives job data from the MFP (job data reception process) and a process when the server computer 52 receives a transmission request for image data from the MFP (transmission request reception process) will be described.

<Job data reception processing>
Referring to FIG. 17, the job data reception process is started as one process every time job data is received from the MFP. In this program, step 490 for storing the received job data in the storage unit 114, step 492 for determining whether or not there is a list of machine IDs of MFPs to be printed in the received job data, and the determination in step 492 are affirmative. At this time, step 494 for notifying each machine described in the machine ID list of the machine ID list and step 496 for storing the machine ID list in association with the received job data and terminating the process are included. . If it is determined in step 492 that the machine ID is not specified, the execution of the program ends without doing anything.

<Image data transmission request reception processing>
A program executed when a transmission request for image data is received will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the image data file requested to be transmitted by the transmission request is being accessed by a request from another MFP. If access is in progress (determination is YES), the machine ID of the MFP that sent the request is added to the queue generated for the specified file (if there is no such queue, it is generated here). (Step 518) The process ends.

  If the determination in step 510 is negative, it is determined whether or not the file designated by the transmission request has a machine ID designation (MFP ID field 200) to be printed, that is, the machine that prints this image data. It is determined whether it is specified. If not specified, in step 514, the MFP that has transmitted the transmission request is notified of permission to access the image file, transmits the image data (step 516), and the execution of the program is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 512 that there is a machine designation in the designated file (YES), it is determined in step 520 whether or not the designated image data has already been printed by the MFP that has transmitted the transmission request. This is determined by the machine ID list. If the determination is affirmative, an error notification is transmitted to the MFP in step 522, and the process is terminated. If the determination is negative, access permission to the designated image data file is transmitted to the MFP (step 524), and the image data is transmitted to the MFP (step 526). When the transmission of the image data is completed, it waits for a print completion message from the MFP (step 528). When the print completion message is received, it is further determined whether there is another transmission request in the print queue of this file (step 528). 532). If there is another request in the queue, the request at the head of the queue is taken out (step 534), and control is returned to step 524. If there is no request in the queue, the process is terminated.

[Operation]
The network system 40 whose structure has been described above operates as follows. In the following description, a case where a document is read and job data is generated by the MFP 60 and transmitted to the server computer 52 will be mainly described.

<< When no machine is specified >>
In the MFP 60, the operation of the network system 40 when reading an original without specifying an MFP to print is as follows. The MFP 60 executes the program shown in FIG. It is assumed that the MFP to be printed has not been specified in the process of step 374. When the user gives an instruction to start reading, the determination at step 372 in FIG. Based on the image data read in 376, job data 210 as shown in FIG. 6 is generated. In step 380, the job data 210 is transmitted to the server computer 52.

  Referring to FIG. 17, server computer 52 stores the job data in storage unit 114 in step 490. Since no machine ID is designated, the determination in step 492 is NO, and the server computer 52 finishes the processing of this data without further processing.

  Then, for example, consider a case where the user designates this image data and transmits a transmission request to the server computer 52 in the second MFP 62. In this case, the second MFP 62 executes the program having the control structure shown in FIG. In step 460, a transmission request for the image file designated by the user is sent to the server computer 52, and a permission notification from the server computer 52 is awaited (step 462).

  In response to this transmission request, the server computer 52 starts executing the program shown in FIG. If the designated file is not being accessed, the route of steps 510, 512, and 514 in FIG. 18 is executed, the server computer 52 notifies the second MFP 62 of access permission, and then the job data is transmitted. Performed (step 516).

  Referring to FIG. 16, when second MFP 62 receives this permission (YES in step 462), the route of steps 464, 466, and 468 is executed, and image data is received, printed, and printed to server computer 52. Notification of completion is made. Since there is no notification destination other than the server computer 52, no further processing is performed and the execution of the program of FIG. 16 is completed.

  Similar processing is executed when a request is transmitted from an MFP other than the second MFP 62.

<< When only one machine is specified >>
In this case, in the MFP 60, the designated machine ID is stored in the MFPID field 200 in step 378 of FIG. The job data thus generated (format shown in FIG. 9) is transmitted from the MFP 60 to the server computer 52.

  In the server computer 52 that has received the job data, the program of FIG. 17 is started. Here, for example, the machine ID list (including only the ID of the second MFP 62) is notified to the second MFP 62 through the paths of steps 490, 492, 494, and 496.

  In the second MFP 62 that has received this notification, the program shown in FIG. 14 is activated. In step 400, the machine ID list is stored. The determination at step 402 is NO. Accordingly, the steps 410, 414, 416, and 418 are executed, and image data reception, printing, and printing completion notification to the server computer 52 are performed. The determination in step 420 is NO, and the execution of this program ends.

  On the other hand, at this time, the server computer 52 executes the program of FIG. There may be two execution paths in this case. If the designated file is being accessed from another source for some reason, steps 510 to 518 are executed. If it is not being accessed, the routes of steps 510, 512, 520, 524, 526, 528, and 530 are executed. If there is still a request in the queue corresponding to this file in step 532, the processing from step 524 to step 532 is repeated again through step 534. If the determination in step 532 is NO, the process is complete.

  Here, if, for some reason, a process consisting of the program of FIG. 18 (this is referred to as a first process) is being executed and a file is being accessed, a process started later (this is called In step 518, the transmission request is added to the queue corresponding to this file, and the process ends. Since the processing of the first process is completed and the request added by the second process is added to the queue in the determination of step 532, the request is processed by the first process.

<< When two or more machines are specified >>
In this case, in step 378 of FIG. 13, the MFP 60 stores the list of two or more machine IDs (for example, the list of IDs of the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64) in the machine ID list. Also, information indicating server stop is automatically added to the end of the job data and the end of the machine ID list. Here, it is assumed that the third MFP 64 has a higher priority than the second MFP 62.

  The server computer 52 that has received the job data executes the program shown in FIG. This time, the determination in step 492 is YES, and in step 494, the machine ID list is transmitted to each machine described in the machine ID list. At this time, information indicating that the server is stopped is added to the end of the machine ID list. In step 496, the machine ID list is stored in association with the job data, and the process ends.

  In the MFP described in the machine ID list, the program shown in FIG. 14 is executed. First, processing in the second MFP 62 will be described. The machine ID list is saved in step 400, and the determination in step 402 is YES. Control continues to step 404. Here, since it is assumed that the third MFP 64 has a higher priority than the second MFP 62, the determination in step 404 is NO. In step 408, “the image data to be printed exists in the data center. The message “Cannot print yet” is displayed and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, in the third MFP 64, the same program is executed, but the determination in step 404 is YES. Therefore, step 406 is executed, and a message “printable image data exists in the data center” on the display surface of the operation unit 84 and transmission for requesting the server computer 52 to transmit this image data. A request button is displayed. In this state, program execution ends.

<Processing when the send request button is operated>
When the above-described transmission request button is operated in the third MFP 64, the program shown in FIG. 16 is executed. Steps 460 to 468 are the same as the operations of the second MFP 62 in the above “when only one machine is designated”. However, the determination at step 470 is YES, and at step 472, the other machine in the machine ID list (second MFP 62 in this example) is updated to indicate that the third MFP 64 has completed printing. The machine ID list is notified.

  On receiving the machine ID list, the second MFP 62 executes the program shown in FIG. In step 440, the machine ID list owned by itself is updated with the received machine ID list. Here, the determination in step 442 is YES, and in step 444, the message “Image data to be printed exists in the data center but is not yet printable” on the display surface of the operation unit 84 is displayed. “The data exists in the data center.”, And a transmission request button for requesting the server computer 52 to transmit the image data is displayed. In this state, execution of the program ends.

  The operation of the second MFP 62 when the user next presses the transmission request button in the second MFP 62 is the same as the operation of the third MFP 64 described above with reference to FIG. However, the determination in step 470 is NO, and the server computer 52 does not notify the completion of printing.

  Note that the processing executed by the server computer 52 in this case is the same as that described in the above “when only one machine is designated”.

《Update sequence》
The above sequence will be described again with reference to FIG. The MFP 60 acquires the ID of the logged-in user (step 550), and executes a document reading job designated by the user (step 552). Job data is generated according to the read image and user designation (step 554), and the job data 558 is transmitted to the server computer 52 (step 556).

  When the server computer 52 receives the job data 558 (step 560), the server computer 52 saves the job data and checks the machine ID list in the job data (step 562). If there is a list, the machine ID list 566, 568 of the job is transmitted to each machine in the list (step 564). Here, it is assumed that the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 are described in the machine ID list, and that the third MFP 64 has a higher description order and a higher priority order.

  The second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 receive the machine ID lists 568 and 566, respectively (steps 572 and 570). Among these MFPs, the third MFP 64 has the highest priority in the list, and therefore can make a job acquisition request to the server computer 52. When the user instructs printing of a job in the third MFP 64, a job acquisition request (image data transmission request) is transmitted to the server computer 52 in step 574. In response to this job acquisition request, the server computer 52 transfers the job data stored in step 560 to the third MFP 64 (step 576). The third MFP 64 receives this job data and prints it (step 578). When printing is completed, the third MFP 64 updates the machine ID updated to indicate that its own printing has been completed to the server computer 52 and the other MFPs (second MFP 62) in the machine ID list. Send the list. The server computer 52 and the second MFP 62 receive the machine ID list in steps 582 and 584, respectively, and update their own machine ID lists with the received list.

  Further, since the second MFP 62 has the highest priority based on the updated machine ID list, it can send a job acquisition request to the server computer 52. When the user issues a job acquisition request instruction (step 586), the job acquisition request is transmitted to the server computer 52. In response to this request, the server computer 52 transmits the designated job to the second MFP 62. The second MFP 62 receives this job data and prints it (step 590). Thereafter, the second MFP 62 transmits a print end notification to the server computer 52, and the server computer 52 updates the machine ID list according to the notification, and the entire print processing of this job is completed.

In the network system 40 according to the first embodiment, a plurality of MFPs can store job data including image data in a common server computer 52, access it, and perform printing. As described above, it is possible to prevent different MFPs from accessing the same job data at the same time, so there is no possibility of job data being lost or damaged due to access contention. Further, since the user is notified when the job is ready for printing, the printable job is quickly printed and the risk of being left unattended is reduced.

<Second Embodiment>
In the above embodiment, when two or more MFPs are specified and job data is stored in the server computer 52, the server stop process is automatically performed. From each MFP, job data of the server computer 52 is acquired in accordance with a user instruction. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. Even when a plurality of MFPs are specified, it is possible to appropriately handle an access conflict with respect to data without user intervention. In the second embodiment described below, such processing is realized in the server computer 52 by processing, in a queue, competing accesses for each job data.

  FIG. 20 shows an update sequence of the operation of the network system in this embodiment. Here, it is assumed that job data is stored in the server computer 52 by designating the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 from the MFP 60. In this embodiment, up to the MFPID field 200 is used in the job data 180 shown in FIG. 5, and the server stop designation field 202 is not used. The processing is the same as that in the first embodiment until a notification is issued from the server computer 52 to the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64.

  In the second embodiment, when both the second MFP 62 and the third MFP 64 receive a notification from the server computer 52, if their own print processing unit is available, they do not receive a user instruction. Immediately, job data transfer requests 610 and 612 are transmitted to the server computer 52. Therefore, in the server computer 52, there is a possibility that a conflict occurs in the job data transfer request.

  In this embodiment, when the server computer 52 receives transfer requests for the same job data one after another, the server computer 52 processes the transfer request that arrives first, and the one that arrives later is a queue generated corresponding to the job data. By performing a queue addition process 614 to be added in, it is processed later.

  In the example shown in FIG. 20, the job data transfer request 610 from the third MFP 64 has arrived at the server computer 52 first. Accordingly, the server computer 52 transmits an access permission 616 to the job data as a response to the transfer request 610 to the third MFP 64, and adds the transfer request 612 that arrives from the second MFP 62 immediately after the transfer request 610 to the queue. ing.

  The third MFP 64 transmits a file acquisition request 618 to the server computer 52 in response to the access permission 616, and the server computer 52 transmits job data 620 to the third MFP 64. When printing by the third MFP 64 is completed, the third MFP 64 transmits a print completion notification 622 to the server computer 52. When the server computer 52 receives the print end notification 622, the server computer 52 transmits an access permission 624 to the second MFP 62. The second MFP 62 that has received the access permission 624 transmits a file acquisition request 626 to the server computer 52, and the server computer 52 transmits job data 628 to the second MFP 62. The second MFP 62 performs printing based on the job data and transmits a print completion notification 630 to the server computer 52.

  Thereafter, the same processing is performed for each job data.

<< Server Computer 52 Program >>
In the server computer 52 according to the second embodiment, a program having a control structure like the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 instead of the one described in FIGS. 17 and 18 in the first embodiment. Is executed. FIG. 21 shows a control structure of a transfer request processing program executed by the server computer 52 when a job data transfer request is received, and FIG. 22 shows a transfer request activated by the transfer request processing program shown in FIG. The control structure of the transmission job program which transmits job data in response is shown.

  Referring to FIG. 21, when a job data transfer request is received from any of the MFPs, server computer 52 has already generated an access queue corresponding to the job data data file specified by the received transfer request. It is determined whether or not (step 650). If a queue has already been generated, the server computer 52 adds the received transfer request to the queue (step 652) and ends the process. If the queue has not yet been generated, an access queue for the specified data file is generated at step 654, the received transfer request is added to the queue (step 656), and the queue generated at step 654 is specified. Then, a job data transfer job is started (step 658), and the process is terminated.

  Referring to FIG. 22, the transmission job program activated in step 658 in FIG. 21 determines whether there is a request in the designated queue, and if there is no job in the queue, the request is sent. A step 674 for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed and releasing the designated queue and ending the execution of the program when the predetermined time has elapsed. If the determination in step 672 is NO, control returns to step 670.

  If it is determined in step 670 that the request remains in the queue, in step 676, the request is extracted from the head of the queue, and a printable notification (access permission notification) is transmitted to the MFP that has transmitted the request ( Step 678).

  It waits until a file acquisition request is received from the MFP (step 680). When a file acquisition request is received, a permission notice is transmitted (step 682), and further data is transmitted (step 684). When the data transmission is complete, control returns to step 670.

  In the second embodiment, the MFP that has received the job notification from the server computer 52 requests the server computer 52 to transmit job data as soon as it can print. On the other hand, when a transfer request for the same job data conflicts, the server computer 52 generates a queue, adds the request to the queue, and processes the requests sequentially from the top. In that case, the processing of the next request is not performed unless one request is processed. Therefore, even when transfer requests are received from a plurality of MFPs for the same job data, there is no possibility that the file will be lost or damaged.

  As a result, file damage or the like can be prevented while centrally managing print job data in the server computer 52. Since the print job data can be centrally managed by the server computer 52, it can be used effectively while sharing the data in the office.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are included. Including.

40 Network System 50 Internet 52 Server Computer 60, 62, 64, 66 MFP
80 communication control unit 82 control unit 84 operation unit 86 document reading unit 88 job data generation unit 90 storage unit 92 printing unit 94 machine ID storage unit 96 machine ID list storage unit

Claims (6)

Communication means capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A storage device;
A data server including job data receiving means for receiving image forming job data from the first image forming apparatus via the communication means and storing it in the storage device;
The job data is to be executed an image forming processing according to the job data, see contains a list of 1 or identification information of a plurality of image forming equipment,
The data server further includes:
When the job data received by the job data receiving unit includes a list of identification information of the image forming apparatus, the communication that the image forming apparatus identified by the identification information included in the list has received the job data Notification means for notifying together with the list via means;
Job data transmission means for transmitting the requested job data in response to a job data transmission request from the notification destination by the notification means,
The data server includes a prioritized list of image forming apparatus identification information. Identification of the image forming apparatus in response to receiving a notification indicating completion of printing of job data from the image forming apparatus to which job data has been transmitted by the job data transmitting means via the communication means. The data server according to claim 1, further comprising list update means for updating the information list so as to indicate that printing in the image forming apparatus is completed. Communication means capable of communicating with the data server according to claim 1 or 2,
Job data generation means for generating image data and generating job data for printing the image data;
A list of identification information of other image forming apparatuses that can communicate with the data server, to which a priority is added to each identification information, with respect to the job data generated by the job data generation unit Granting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: job data transmission means for transmitting job data to which the list of identification information is assigned by the list assignment means to the data server via the communication means of the image forming apparatus. Further, in response to identification information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses being included in the list of identification information given by the list giving means, the job data given identification information by the list giving means is further added to the job The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for giving storage instruction information indicating that the data is stored in the server. An image forming apparatus including communication means capable of communicating with the data server according to claim 1 or 2,
A list that stores the list received together with the notification in response to receiving the notification indicating that job data has been received from the notification unit of the data server via the communication unit of the image forming apparatus. Storage means;
An image based on the job data received from the data server in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied when the self has the highest priority in the list stored in the list storage means Image forming means for executing a forming process;
In response to the completion of the image formation by the image forming means, the image forming apparatus includes a notification indicating that the image forming process has been completed. An image forming apparatus including notification means for notifying a device that has not been connected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
In response to receiving a notification from another image forming apparatus indicating that image formation based on the job data has been completed in the other image forming apparatus, image formation is performed with respect to the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the notification. A list updating means for updating the list stored in the list storage means to indicate completion,
The image forming unit determines whether or not its own priority is highest when the list is updated by the list update unit.

Images