JP6256175B2 - Job processing apparatus, job processing program, and job processing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a job processing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) which is a multifunction digital image forming apparatus, a job processing program, and a job processing system.

  In the job processing apparatus as described above, firmware installed for version upgrade or the like is updated as necessary. In this case, in order to efficiently upgrade a plurality of job processing apparatuses connected via a network, the order of these job processing apparatuses is set in advance from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy, and the set order is set. The firmware may be downloaded sequentially according to

  However, the user cannot know which job processing device is downloading firmware. This is especially true for job processing apparatuses located at remote locations.

  For this reason, the user may issue a job to the job processing apparatus whose firmware is being downloaded. In this case, there is a problem that the job is waited until the download is completed or the job is discarded. .

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automatically transferring data to a proxy receiving device stored in advance when a data transmission destination device cannot receive the data.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a system including a distribution device having update data, an MFP that is updated via a network, and a connection management device that manages the network connection state of the MFP. Discloses a system that transmits a connection destination introduction request, introduces and connects to the end of the tree by a connection management device, and transmits firmware data according to a tree-like structure.

JP 06-090253 A JP 2007-334602 A

  However, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have the following problems.

  That is, a job issued to a job processing apparatus includes a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by that apparatus. For example, the image data storage unit of the own device such as a box (Box) is designated, and the image data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the job issuing device for printing, or the designated data is stored in the designated box. A job that receives image data for storing the image data or receives image data transmitted by designating the IP address of the own apparatus.

  Such a device-specific image data transmission job or reception job cannot be executed by the substitute device set by the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, and therefore the user is also required to wait until the firmware download is completed. There was a problem that the job was discarded.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by this job processing apparatus is not performed for a job processing apparatus that is downloading firmware. It is an object to provide a job processing apparatus, a job processing program, and a job processing system that, when issued from outside, can accept a job without waiting for the user who issued the job to complete the download or discarding the job To do.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) A job used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing devices connected by a network and that downloads firmware in an order set in advance from an upper level job processing device to a lower level job processing device A processing device that downloads firmware from a job processing device in the upper hierarchy and downloads the downloaded firmware to a job processing device in the lower hierarchy; and before downloading the firmware Selecting means for selecting a job processing apparatus that performs a job from other job processing apparatuses; and receiving the image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by the own apparatus during downloading of the firmware; Selected by Exchange the primary IP address of the own device and the secondary IP address of the job processing device acting on behalf of the job selected by the selection unit so that the job processing device can act on its behalf, and the downloaded IP address after downloading the firmware IP address exchanging means for exchanging and restoring the original, and exchanging the IP address by the IP address exchanging means and restoring the original, and then accepting the job accepted by the job processing apparatus that has accepted the job. Job processing apparatus comprising: execution means for receiving and executing from a processing apparatus.
(2) A job used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing devices connected via a network and that downloads firmware in an order set in advance from an upper level job processing device to a lower level job processing device Based on a request made by another job processing apparatus before downloading the firmware, the processing apparatus exchanges the primary IP address of the other job processing apparatus and the secondary IP address of the own apparatus, and After downloading the firmware of the job processing device, the IP address exchanging means for re-exchanging the exchanged IP address and returning it to the original, and the job issued to the other job processing device with the IP address exchanged Receiving the user instead of the other job processing device A determination unit that determines whether the job received by the reception unit is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing apparatus; If it is determined that the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the apparatus, the job is accepted. If it is determined that the image data transmission job or the reception job can be performed only by the other job processing apparatus, Job processing comprising: job acceptance / cancellation means for canceling the job; and transmission means for transmitting the received image data transmission job or reception job to the other job processing apparatus after downloading. apparatus.
(3) A job used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing devices connected by a network and that downloads firmware in an order set in advance from an upper level job processing device to a lower level job processing device A processing device that downloads firmware from a job processing device in the upper hierarchy and downloads the downloaded firmware to a job processing device in the lower hierarchy; and before downloading the firmware Selection means for selecting a job processing apparatus that performs a job from other job processing apparatuses than the own apparatus, and reception of an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the own apparatus during downloading of the firmware, By means of selection The primary IP address of the own device and the secondary IP address of the job processing device acting on behalf of the job selected by the selection unit are exchanged so that the selected job processing device is substituted, and the exchange is performed after the firmware is downloaded. An IP address exchanging means for exchanging the IP address again and returning the original IP address exchanging means, and a job accepted by the job processing apparatus which has accepted the job after exchanging the IP address by the IP address exchanging means and restoring the original IP address. An IP address exchanging unit that receives the job from the job processing apparatus and executes the job when the own apparatus is selected as a job processing apparatus acting on behalf of the job by another job processing apparatus. Requests made by other job processing devices before downloading the firmware Based on this, the primary IP address of the other job processing device and the secondary IP address of the own device are exchanged, and after the firmware of the other job processing device is downloaded, the exchanged IP address is re-exchanged and restored. A receiving means for receiving, instead of the other job processing apparatus, a job issued to the other job processing apparatus in a state where the IP address is exchanged, and receiving by the receiving means The determination unit determines whether the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device, and image data that can be performed only by the other job processing device by the determination unit. If it is determined that the job is a transmission job or a reception job, the job is accepted and the other job processing is performed. If it is determined that the job is not an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by a physical device, a job reception / cancellation unit for canceling the job, and the received image data transmission job or reception job after the download And a transmission means for transmitting to the job processing apparatus.
(4) The image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by the own device is a transmission job that designates an image data storage unit of the own device and requests transmission of image data stored in the storage unit, or an image data The preceding item 1 or 3 which is at least one of a reception job for requesting storage of image data in the storage unit by designating a storage unit and a request for receiving image data by designating the IP address of the own device The job processing device described in 1.
(5) The job processing apparatus according to (1), (3), or (4), wherein the selection unit selects a job processing apparatus that substitutes a job from job processing apparatuses belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus.
(6) If the job processing apparatus belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus does not exist or the job processing apparatus belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus does not have a predetermined image data storage area, 6. The job processing apparatus according to item 5 above, wherein a job processing apparatus that substitutes a job is selected from job processing apparatuses belonging to a higher hierarchy than the self apparatus.
(7) The selection unit can select a job processing device that performs a job on the basis of a user's selection operation, and the user has selected a job processing device other than a job processing device belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own device. 6. The job processing apparatus according to 5 above, which displays a warning in the case.
(8) If the user performs an operation to change the download order during the firmware download by the download means, the download means interrupts the download or displays that the download order cannot be changed. The job processing apparatus according to any one of 1 and 3 to 7.
(9) An image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing apparatus requests transmission of image data stored in the storage section by designating an image data storage section of the other job processing apparatus A transmission job to be performed, a reception job for designating an image data storage unit of another job processing device and requesting storage of the image data in the storage unit, or an IP address of the other job processing device to designate image data At least one of the reception jobs requesting reception of the image, and the determination unit includes: the job received by the reception unit includes designation of an image data storage unit of the other job processing apparatus; Before specifying an IP address of a job processing device and before determining that the image data transmission job or reception job can be performed only by the other job processing device Job processing apparatus according to 2 or 3.
(10) When canceling a job, the job reception / cancellation means transmits information about an expected end time of firmware download by the other job processing apparatus to the apparatus that issued the job. The job processing device described in 1.
(11) The job acceptance / cancellation means is a pull print job in which the accepted job designates an image data storage unit of the other job processing apparatus, transmits image data stored in the storage unit, and prints the image data. 11. The job processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding items 2, 3, 9 or 10, wherein if there is a reservation job ticket for printing the image data to a user of the apparatus that issued the job.
(12) A job used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing devices connected by a network and that downloads firmware in an order set in advance from an upper level job processing device to a lower level job processing device A download step for causing a computer of the processing device to download firmware from another job processing device in the next higher hierarchy, and for downloading the downloaded firmware to the job processing device in the lower hierarchy, and downloading the firmware. Before, a selection step of selecting a job processing device that performs a job from other job processing devices, and reception of an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the own device during downloading of the firmware, After the firmware is downloaded, the primary IP address of the own device and the secondary IP address of the job processing device acting on behalf of the job selected on the selection step are exchanged so that the job processing device selected on the selection step is substituted. An IP address exchanging step for exchanging the exchanged IP address again, and an IP address exchanging step for exchanging the IP address in the IP address exchanging step. An execution step of receiving and executing the received job from the job processing apparatus.
(13) A job used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing devices connected by a network, and downloads firmware from a higher-level job processing device to a lower-level job processing device in a preset order. Based on a request that another job processing device downloads to the computer of the processing device before downloading the firmware, the primary IP address of the other job processing device and the secondary IP address of the own device are exchanged, and the other After downloading the firmware of the job processing apparatus, an IP address exchanging step for re-exchanging the exchanged IP address and returning the original, and a job issued to the other job processing apparatus with the IP address exchanged Instead of the other job processing device A receiving step for receiving, a determining step for determining whether the job received in the receiving step is an image data transmission job or a receiving job that can be performed only by the other job processing device, and the determining step, If it is determined that the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can only be performed by another job processing apparatus, the job is accepted and it is determined that the job is not an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing apparatus. A job reception / cancellation step for canceling the job, and a transmission step for transmitting the received image data transmission job or reception job to the other job processing apparatus after downloading. Processing program.
(14) A first job processing apparatus comprising the job processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, and a first job processing apparatus comprising the job processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 3, 9 to 11. A job processing system comprising: a job processing apparatus according to claim 2;

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (1), during the download of the firmware, the selected job processing apparatus of the selected substitution destination is allowed to accept the reception of the image data transmission job or the reception job that can be performed only by the own apparatus. Job processing that replaces the primary IP address of its own device and the secondary IP address of the proxy job processing device, and after the firmware is downloaded, replaces the exchanged IP address and restores the original one, and then accepts the job. A job accepted by the apparatus is received from the job processing apparatus and executed. For this reason, even if a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can only be performed by this job processing apparatus is issued from the outside to the job processing apparatus that is downloading the firmware, this job is immediately accepted. This job can be executed promptly after the download is completed. For this reason, it is possible to solve the problem that the user who issued the job waits for acceptance of the job until the download is completed or the job is discarded.

  According to the invention described in (2) above, even if a job that can be performed only by the device is issued from the outside to the job processing device that is downloading firmware, the job is accepted on behalf of the job processing device, Since the received job is transmitted to another job processing device after downloading, even if a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device that is the proxy request source is issued from outside, the job is immediately accepted The job is promptly executed by the requesting job device after the download is completed. For this reason, it is possible to solve the problem that the user who issued the job waits for acceptance of the job until the download is completed or the job is discarded.

  According to the invention described in item (3), the job processing apparatus can operate both as a job substitution request source and a request destination.

  According to the invention described in (4), the image data storage unit of the device itself is designated and a transmission job for requesting transmission of the image data stored in the storage unit or the image data storage unit is designated and the image data storage unit is designated. The proxy job processing apparatus can accept at least one of a reception job requesting storage of image data in the storage unit and a reception job requesting reception of image data by specifying the IP address of the own apparatus. .

  According to the invention described in item (5) above, since a job processing device acting as a job is selected from job processing devices belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own device, a job processing device that is not downloading firmware is selected. You can choose.

  According to the invention described in item (6) above, when there is no job processing apparatus belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus, or a job processing apparatus belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus sets a predetermined image data storage area. Even if the job processing apparatus does not have the job processing apparatus, it is possible to reliably select the job processing apparatus as the substitute destination by selecting the job processing apparatus that performs the job substitution from among the job processing apparatuses belonging to a higher hierarchy than the own apparatus.

  According to the invention described in (7) above, when the user selects a substitute job processing device based on the user's selection operation, the user selects a job processing device other than the job processing device belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own device. When selected, a warning is displayed so that the user can be notified.

  According to the invention described in (8) above, when the user performs an operation to change the download order during downloading of the firmware by the download means, the download means interrupts the download or downloads. Since it is displayed that the order cannot be changed, it is possible to reliably prevent the user from changing the download order during the firmware download.

  According to the invention described in (9) above, a transmission job that designates an image data storage unit of another job processing apparatus that is a substitute request source and requests transmission of image data stored in the storage unit, or other A reception job that specifies the image data storage unit of the job processing apparatus and requests storage of the image data in the storage unit, or a reception job that specifies the IP address of another job processing apparatus and requests reception of the image data It is possible to accept these jobs by accurately determining that the job is at least one of the above.

  According to the invention described in (10) above, when canceling a job, information about the expected end time of firmware download by another job processing apparatus that is the proxy request source is transmitted to the apparatus that issued the job. The user who has issued the job can know the expected end time, and can take measures such as reissuing the job to the job processing apparatus as the substitute request source when the download is completed.

  According to the invention described in the above item (11), a pull print job in which an image data storage unit is designated and image data stored in the storage unit is transmitted and printed is reliably and easily used by using a job ticket. Can be executed.

  According to the invention described in (12) above, even if a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by this job processing device is issued from the outside to the job processing device that is downloading the firmware, The user who issued the job can accept the job without waiting for the download to be completed, and after the download is completed, the job processing apparatus can execute a process that can execute the job promptly. .

  According to the invention described in (13) above, even if a job that can be performed only by the device is issued from the outside to the job processing device that is downloading firmware, the job is accepted on behalf of the job processing device. Since the image data is sent to another job processing device after downloading, even if a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can only be executed by another job processing device is issued from outside, the user who issued the job downloads it The job can be accepted without waiting for the completion of the download, and after the download is completed, the computer of the job processing apparatus can execute a process capable of promptly executing the job.

  According to the invention described in (14) above, even if a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by this job processing apparatus is issued from the outside to the job processing apparatus that is downloading firmware, The user who issued the job can accept the job without waiting for the download to be completed, and the system can execute the job promptly after the download is completed.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the job processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an overall explanatory diagram of a job processing system including a plurality of job processing apparatuses in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the download order at the time of downloading firmware with a tree structure. This is a confirmation screen asking whether to cancel the download. It is a screen indicating that the tree structure and the download priority order are prohibited during the download. It is a screen showing that a proxy job processing apparatus cannot be selected manually. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the job processing system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating other operation | movement of a job processing system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining whether or not a job issued from a job issuing device is a unique job that can be executed only by the job processing device that is the substitute request source, which is performed by the job processing requested to perform the substitution. It is a flowchart which shows the selection process of the substitute apparatus acting on behalf of a job reception.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a job processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an MFP, which is a multifunction digital image forming apparatus having a large number of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function, is used as the job processing apparatus 1.

  The job processing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 101 that performs various settings and displays the status of the apparatus, a firmware (also referred to as FW) download, a FW download unit 102 that causes another job processing apparatus to download firmware, Manages image data storage unit 103 that stores image data transmitted from the outside or image data captured by the device itself, and information related to the image data and image data such as size information and attribute information of the stored image data. Acting as a proxy device for the image data management unit 104 and another job processing device that accepts a unique job that can only be executed by the own device (own device unique job) while the FW is being downloaded. In order for the device selection unit 105 and the substitute device to execute its own job, An IP address exchanging unit 106 that exchanges the IP address of the device and the IP address of the proxy device, and a job proxy processing unit 110 that performs a proxy processing when the own device accepts a job as a proxy device of another job processing device. Yes.

  The job substitution processing unit 110 includes a unique job determination unit 111, an image data transmission job reception unit 112, an image data reception job reception unit 113, and a job cancellation unit 114. Further, the image data transmission job receiving unit 112 includes a job ticket issuing unit 115 that issues a job ticket when the job is a pull print job specifying the image data storage unit 103 of the job processing apparatus 1 that is the proxy request source. Yes.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of job processing apparatuses are connected via a network, and firmware download by the download unit 102 of each job processing apparatus is performed in a tree structure. That is, one or a plurality of job processing apparatuses belonging to the lower hierarchy from the job processing apparatus belonging to the upper hierarchy download, and one or more belonging to the next hierarchy from the downloaded job processing apparatus. Each job processing device downloads. The download order is set in advance, and each job processing apparatus downloads firmware according to the setting.

  The image data storage unit 103 includes a storage area called a box, for example, and a transmission job that designates this storage area and requests transmission of image data stored in the storage area. The job is transmitted from the external device as a job unique to the own device. Alternatively, a reception job that designates a storage area and requests storage of image data in the storage area is transmitted from the external apparatus as a job unique to the own apparatus.

  The substitute device selected by the substitute device selection unit 105 is not particularly limited, but is desirably selected from a hierarchy directly below the own device. If the own device has not yet downloaded the firmware, the job processing device in the lower direct hierarchy is also considered to have not downloaded the firmware, so there is a risk of selecting the job processing device being downloaded as a substitute device. Because there are few. More preferably, it is desirable to select the job processing apparatus having the latest download order among the job processing apparatuses in the second and subsequent layers that are direct and lower than the own apparatus.

  The IP address exchanging unit 106 exchanges the primary IP address of its own device and the secondary IP address of the substitute device. Thereby, the job addressed to the own apparatus is accepted by the substitute apparatus. In other words, proxy processing is possible.

  A unique job determination unit 111 in the job substitution processing unit 110 determines whether the job is a unique image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by another job processing apparatus that is the substitution request source. As described above, the unique image data transmission job or reception job designates the image data storage unit 113 of the job processing apparatus that is the proxy request source, and requests transmission of the image data stored in the storage unit Alternatively, there is a reception job that specifies the image data storage unit 113 and requests storage of the image data in the storage unit. In addition, the IP address of the job processing apparatus that is the proxy request source is specified and the image data There is a reception job that requests reception. If the received job includes the designation of the image data storage unit 113 of the job processing apparatus as the proxy request source or the designation of the IP address of the job processing apparatus, the unique job determination unit 111 It is determined that the image data transmission job or reception job can be performed only by the processing apparatus.

  If it is determined that the image data transmission job is unique to the agency request source, the image data transmission job reception unit 112 accepts the job. If it is determined to be a unique image data reception job of the agency request source, it accepts the image data reception job. The unit 113 receives the job.

  If it is determined that the job is not unique to the job processing apparatus 1 that is the proxy request source, the job cancel unit 114 cancels the job. In this case, it is preferable to transmit information about the expected end time of the firmware download by the job processing apparatus 1 as the proxy request source and a message prompting the issuance of the job again after the expected end time to the apparatus that issued the job. As a result, the user who issued the job can know the expected end time, and can take measures such as reissuing the job to the job processing apparatus 1 that is the substitute request source at the timing when the download is completed.

  The job processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (not shown) that controls the entire apparatus, a ROM that stores an operation program of the CPU, and a RAM that is a work area when the CPU executes the operation program. The operation and control of each unit described above are executed in accordance with instructions from the CPU.

  FIG. 2 is an overall explanatory diagram of a job processing system including a plurality of job processing apparatuses 1 of FIG. Scan TO Box processing, which is image data reception processing for storing image data captured by scanning or the like by the job processing device 1 on the network including overseas, in the Box that is the storage area of the job processing device 1 on the network. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining Box TO Print processing, which is image data transmission processing for extracting and outputting image data stored in a Box of a specific job processing apparatus 1 on a network. Here, a job is requested from the job processing apparatus 1J in Japan to the job processing apparatus 1U in the United States, for example.

  When the Japanese job processing device 1J performs Scan TO Box processing on a specific job processing device (child job processing device) 12a among a plurality of job processing devices in the United States, the child job processing device 12a performs parent job processing. If new firmware is downloaded from the device 11 (also referred to as DL), the child job processing device 12a cannot execute the job. Therefore, the child job processing device 12a replaces the job processing device acting on behalf of the own device with a lower hierarchy, preferably two lower layers in the tree configuration where the download is performed. The subsequent job processing devices 14a to 14d (note that devices in lower layers than the great-grandchild are omitted) are selected as proxy job processing devices. Then, exchange of the primary IP address of the own apparatus 12a and the secondary IP address of the substitute job processing apparatus (for example, the job processing apparatus 14d) is performed so that the substitution of the job can be requested.

  The job processing apparatus 14d that has received the proxy request receives the job addressed to the job processing apparatus 12a on behalf of the job processing apparatus 12a that is the proxy request source.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a download order when downloading firmware in a tree structure. The tree structure downloads from the parent job processing device 11 to the two child job processing devices 12a and 12b, and the child job processing devices 12a and 12b download to the two grandchild job processing devices 13a to 13d, respectively. As described above, the download has a hierarchical structure and is divided into any number of branches. In the present embodiment, the number of job processing apparatuses in the lower hierarchy of each job processing apparatus is two, but may be one or three or more. Of the two grandchild job processing devices 13a and 13b that download from the child job processing device 12a, the download priority order is set. The same applies to the child job processing device 12b. Furthermore, the priority order is also set for each of the two grandchild job processing devices that are downloaded from the grandchild job processing devices 13a and 13b. The priority and the hierarchy of the tree can be changed from a management device (not shown) or an operation panel of any job processing device 1.

  The substitute device selection unit 105 obtains the order in which the download is performed based on the priority order setting for the job processing device that is a lower layer when viewed from the own device on the tree, and the order is the slowest and can be substituted. It is preferable to select the job processing apparatus as the substitute job processing apparatus. If you try to select a job processing device other than the job processing device in the lower hierarchy as seen from the own device as the substitute device, the situation regarding the firmware download performed in another tree cannot be predicted, and when the download is performed Because it cannot be determined whether the download is performed during the substitution, or the job processing apparatus that has become the substitution apparatus performs the substitution process, the download time of the entire tree including the substitution job processing apparatus is prolonged. Invite things.

  FIG. 4 is a confirmation screen asking whether the download can be interrupted. While a specific job processing device on the tree is being downloaded and the proxy job processing device is selected and the proxy processing is being performed, the user or serviceman downloads from the management device or one of the job processing devices 1 There are cases in which it is necessary to change the structure or prioritize. In this case, depending on how the tree structure and the priority order are changed, if the changed contents are validated, it is necessary to interrupt the download that is currently being executed and to download again with the priority order of the new tree. For this reason, an “interrupt” button and an “uninterrupt” button are displayed on the display screen, and confirmation is made as to whether or not the download can be interrupted to an operator who is changing the tree structure or changing the priority order. If “Suspend” is selected, the current download is interrupted, the structure and priority are updated, and then it is checked again whether it has been downloaded from the highest-level job processing device according to the priority. As soon as the job processing device is found, download is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a screen showing that the change of the tree structure and the download priority order is prohibited during the download. If there is a job processing device that is downloading on the tree structure, depending on the changes in the tree structure, the relationship between the subsequent child job processing device and the parent job processing device may be reversed, and the download cannot be performed. Therefore, it is necessary to display the screen shown in FIG. 5 on the display unit and prohibit the change. This screen is displayed when the download is interrupted and the structure or priority order is changed or when the download cannot be interrupted due to a download end process or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a screen showing that the proxy job processing apparatus cannot be manually selected. In this embodiment, it is possible for a user or a service person to manually select a job processing device that performs a job during download. However, on the download tree, a lower layer of the job processing device that performs the download If a job processing device other than is selected as a proxy job processing device, depending on the download order of another tree, downloading may be performed during job substitution, or downloading may be performed at the time of requesting substitution. The display unit displays that the proxy device cannot be selected.

  Next, the operation of the job processing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment exemplifies a case where the child job processing device 12a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 selects the great-grand job processing device 14d as a substitute device. The operation shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the CPU of each job processing apparatus operating according to an operation program recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM.

  First, when the child job processing device 12a to which a job is issued from the job issuing device starts downloading the firmware from the parent job processing device 11 of one higher hierarchy, the child job processing device 12a starts downloading from the parent job processing device 11. A preparation command is received (step S101). When the child job processing device 12a selects a job substitution device (step S102), the child job processing device 12a returns preparation completion to the parent job processing device 11 (step S103). Thereby, download is started (step S104).

  When the child job processing device 12a requests the great-grandchild job processing device 14d selected as the substitute device to accept the job reception (step S105), the requested great-grandchild job processing device 14d returns a substitute approval (step S106).

  Next, an IP address exchange request including information about the primary IP address of the own device and information about the Box formed in the image data storage unit 103 of the own device is sent from the child job processing device 12a to the grandchild job processing device 14d. It is transmitted (step S107). In response to this, the great-grandchild job processing device 14d transmits the secondary IP address of the own device to the child job processing device 12a (step S108), and exchanges the IP addresses respectively. When the exchange is completed, an exchange completion signal is sent from the grandchild job processing apparatus 14d to the child job processing apparatus 12a (step S109).

  When a job acceptance request is transmitted from the job issuing device to the child job processing device 12a during downloading of the firmware (step S110), this request is received by the great-grandchild job processing device 14d serving as the substitute device with the exchanged IP address. . The great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d replies to the job issuing apparatus that it is preparing to accept a job (step S111), and determines whether the job is a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing apparatus 12a. .

  In this embodiment, the issued job is a Scan To Box job that stores image data scanned by the job issuing device in a Box of the image data storage unit 103 of the child job processing device 12a. In the case of this job, the job reception request includes information indicating that the job is a Scan To Box job specifying a Box. The great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d determines that the job is a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing apparatus 12a because the box designation is included.

  If the job is a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing device 12a, the great-grand job processing device 14d transmits job completion preparation completion to the job issuing device (step S112). If the job is not a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing device 12a, the job is canceled without being accepted.

  Upon receiving the job acceptance preparation completion, the job issuing device starts transmitting the scanned image data to the great-grand job processing device 14d (step S113). When the great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d completes the reception of the image data, it transmits a completion notification to the job issuing apparatus (step S114).

  Next, when the job issuing device transmits a Scan To Box job completion notification to the great-grand job processing device 14d (step S115), the great-grand job processing device 14d accepts the job completion (step S116).

  Thereafter, when the child job processing device 12a completes downloading of the firmware (step S117), it transmits a job proxy release request to the great-grand job processing device 14d (step S118), and further transmits an IP address exchange request (step S119). ).

  After receiving the IP address exchange request and returning it to the original IP address, the great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d notifies the child job processing apparatus 12a of the completion of the exchange (step S120), and further receives it from the job issuing apparatus. Image data transmission notification is sent to the child job processing apparatus 12a (step S121).

  When the preparation for receiving the image data from the child job processing device 12a is received (step S122), the great-grand job processing device 14d starts sending image data to the child job processing device 12a (step S123). When the transmission of the image data is completed (step S124), the child job processing device 12a notifies the great-grandchild job processing device 14d of the completion of reception (step S125), and the great-grandchild job processing device 14d ends the substitution processing (step S126).

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining another operation of the job processing system. In this example, a case where the job issued from the job issuing device to the child job processing device 12a is a pull print job for acquiring and printing image data stored in the Box of the storage unit 113 of the child job processing device 12a. Show. Also in this embodiment, the case where the child job processing device 12a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 selects the great-grandchild job processing device 14d as a substitute device is illustrated. The operation shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the CPU of each job processing apparatus operating according to an operation program recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM.

  When the child job processing device 12a to which a job is issued from the job issuing device starts downloading the firmware from the parent job processing device 11 of one higher hierarchy, the child job processing device 12a receives a download start preparation command from the parent job processing device 11. (Step S201). When the child job processing device 12a selects a job proxy device (step S202), it returns a preparation completion message to the parent job processing device 11 (step S203). Thereby, download is started (step S204).

  When the child job processing device 12a requests the great-grandchild job processing device 14d selected as the substitute device to perform job reception on behalf (step S205), the requested great-grandchild job processing device 14d returns a substitute approval (step S206).

  Next, from the child job processing device 12a to the grandchild job processing device 14d, information about the primary IP address of the own device, information about the Box formed in the image data storage unit 103 of the own device, and a file stored in the Box An IP address exchange request including the name is transmitted (step S207). In response to this, the great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d transmits its own secondary IP address to the child job processing apparatus 12a (step S208), and exchanges the respective IP addresses. When the exchange is completed, an exchange completion signal is sent from the great-grand job processing apparatus 14d to the child job processing apparatus 12a (step S209).

  When a job acceptance request is transmitted from the job issuing device to the child job processing device 12a during downloading of the firmware (step S210), this request is received by the great-grandchild job processing device 14d serving as the substitute device with the exchanged IP address. . The great-grandchild job processing device 14d replies to the job issuing device that it is preparing for job reception (step S211), and further notifies the completion of reception preparation (step S212).

  In this embodiment, the issued job is a Box To print image data (file) stored in a Box of the image data storage unit 103 of the child job processing apparatus 12a from the child job processing apparatus 12a and print it on the own apparatus. A case of a Print job (pull print job) is shown. In the case of this job, the information about the storage box and file name is transmitted from the job issuing device that has received the job reception completion notification (step S213). The great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d determines that the job is a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing apparatus 12a because the box designation is included.

  If the job is a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing device 12a, the great-grand job processing device 14d transmits job acceptance completion to the job fermentation device (step S214). If the job is not a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing device 12a, the job is canceled without being accepted.

  Next, the great-grandchild job processing device 14d issues a job ticket, which is a print reservation ticket, to the job issuing device (step S215). Upon receiving the job ticket, the job issuing device transmits a receipt notification to the great-grand job processing device 14d (step S216).

  Thereafter, when the child job processing apparatus 12a completes downloading of the firmware (step S217), it transmits a job proxy release request to the great-grand job processing apparatus 14d (step S218), and further transmits an IP address exchange request (step S219). ).

  The great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d receives an IP address exchange request and returns it to the original IP address, and then notifies the exchange completion (step S220). Further, according to the job ticket sent to the job issuing device, a sending request indicating that the image data of the designated file name in the box designated by the job issuing device is sent to the job issuing device is sent to the child job processing device 12a. (Step S221), the great-grandchild job processing apparatus 14d ends the substitution process (step S222).

  The child job processing device 12a that has received the request for sending the image data from the great-grand job processing device 14d starts sending the designated image data to the job issuing device (step S223). When the transmission of the image data is completed (step S224), the child job processing device 12a notifies the job issuing device of a job completion notification (step S225). According to the job ticket, the job issuing device designates the image data sent from the child job processing device 12a and performs printing (step S226).

  FIG. 9 shows whether the job issued from the job issuing device performed by the great-grandchild job processing device 14d requested for the substitution is a unique job that can be executed only by the child job processing device 12a that is the substitution request source. It is a flowchart which shows the judgment process to perform.

  In step S01, the type of the received job is analyzed, and in step S02, whether or not it is a job that accesses the Box of the child job processing apparatus 12a that is the substitute request source apparatus, in other words, the specification of the Box of the child job processing apparatus 12a is included. Determine if it is a job.

  If it is a job that accesses the Box of the child job processing device 12a (YES in step S02), it is determined as a unique job in step S03, and acceptance of job substitution processing is permitted in step S04.

  If the job is not a job that accesses the Box of the child job processing device 12a (NO in Step S02), it is determined in Step S05 whether or not the job is a facsimile reception job specifying a fixed IP address (primary IP address) of the child job processing device 12a. to decide. If so (YES in step S05), it is determined that the job is a unique job in step S03, and acceptance of job substitution processing is permitted in step S04. If the received job is not a facsimile reception job specifying the IP address of the child job processing device 12a (NO in step S05), the job is canceled in step S06. In this case, it is preferable to send information about the expected end time of firmware download by the child job processing apparatus 12a as the proxy request source and a message prompting the issuance of the job again after the expected end time to the apparatus that issued the job.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing selection processing of a substitute device that acts as a substitute for accepting a job executed by the child job processing device 12a.

  In step S11, a device in the direct lower hierarchy of the device is selected, and in step S12, the download priority order of each device is obtained. In step S13, it is determined whether there is a candidate job processing apparatus. If it does not exist (NO in step S13), in step S17, a job processing apparatus in a higher hierarchy than the own apparatus, for example, the parent job processing apparatus 11 is selected as a substitute apparatus.

  If there is a candidate job processing apparatus in step S13 (YES in step S13), the apparatus having the lowest download priority is selected as a substitute apparatus in step S14. Next, in step S15, the empty size of the data storage area of the selected job processing device is obtained and calculated from the selected job processing device. Then, in step S16, it is determined whether the empty size is larger than a predetermined value. to decide.

  If it is larger (YES in step S16), the device selected in step S18 is determined to be a substitute device on the assumption that there is sufficient storage capacity to receive and store the image data transmitted from the job issuing device. If the empty size is not larger than the predetermined value (NO in step S16), in step S19, the job processing apparatus is excluded from the selection candidates as substitute apparatuses, and the process returns to step S13 to select the next candidate apparatus, empty size And the comparison with the predetermined value of the empty size is performed until the substitute device determines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Job processing apparatus 101 Operation part 102 Firmware download part 103 Image data storage part 105 Proxy apparatus selection part 106 IP address exchange part 110 Job proxy processing part 111 Specific job judgment part 112 Image data transmission job reception part 113 Image data reception job reception part 114 Job cancellation section 115 Job ticket issuing section

Claims (14)

A job processing apparatus used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing apparatuses connected via a network and that downloads firmware from a higher level job processing apparatus to a lower level job processing apparatus in a preset order. There,
Download means for downloading firmware from the job processing apparatus of the next higher hierarchy, and downloading the downloaded firmware to the job processing apparatus of the lower hierarchy;
Before downloading the firmware, selecting means for selecting a job processing device acting as a job from other job processing devices;
The primary IP address of the own device and the selection unit so that the job processing device selected by the selection unit can accept the reception of the image data transmission job or the reception job that can be performed only by the own device during the download of the firmware. An IP address exchanging means for exchanging the secondary IP address of the job processing apparatus acting on behalf of the job selected by the above, and for exchanging the exchanged IP address again after downloading the firmware.
An execution means for receiving and executing a job received by the job processing apparatus that has received the job from the job processing apparatus after exchanging the IP address by the IP address exchanging means and returning the original;
A job processing apparatus comprising: A job processing apparatus used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing apparatuses connected via a network and that downloads firmware from a higher level job processing apparatus to a lower level job processing apparatus in a preset order. There,
Based on a request made by another job processing apparatus before downloading the firmware, the primary IP address of the other job processing apparatus and the secondary IP address of the own apparatus are exchanged, and the firmware of the other job processing apparatus An IP address exchanging means for re-exchanging the exchanged IP address and returning it to the original after downloading;
Receiving means for receiving, instead of the other job processing device, a job issued to the other job processing device with the IP address exchanged;
A determination unit that determines whether the job received by the reception unit is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device;
If the determination means determines that the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device, the job is accepted and the image data transmission job or the job that can be performed only by the other job processing device or If it is determined that the job is not a received job, job acceptance / cancellation means for canceling the job,
Transmitting means for transmitting the received image data transmission job or reception job to the other job processing apparatus after downloading;
A job processing apparatus comprising: A job processing apparatus used in a job processing system that includes a plurality of job processing apparatuses connected via a network and that downloads firmware from a higher level job processing apparatus to a lower level job processing apparatus in a preset order. There,
Download means for downloading firmware from the job processing apparatus of the next higher hierarchy, and downloading the downloaded firmware to the job processing apparatus of the lower hierarchy;
Before downloading the firmware, selecting means for selecting a job processing device that performs a job among job processing devices other than its own device;
The primary IP address of the own device and the selection unit so that the job processing device selected by the selection unit can accept the reception of the image data transmission job or the reception job that can be performed only by the own device during the download of the firmware. An IP address exchanging means for exchanging the secondary IP address of the job processing apparatus acting on behalf of the job selected by the above, and for exchanging the exchanged IP address again after downloading the firmware.
An execution means for receiving and executing a job received by the job processing apparatus that has received the job from the job processing apparatus after exchanging the IP address by the IP address exchanging means and returning the original;
With
The IP address exchanging means is based on a request made before the other job processing device downloads the firmware when the own device is selected as a job processing device acting on behalf of the job by another job processing device. The operation of exchanging the primary IP address of the other job processing apparatus and the secondary IP address of the own apparatus, and re-exchanging the exchanged IP address and returning the original IP address after downloading the firmware of the other job processing apparatus. Also do
further,
Receiving means for receiving, instead of the other job processing device, a job issued to the other job processing device with the IP address exchanged;
A determination unit that determines whether the job received by the reception unit is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device;
If the determination means determines that the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device, the job is accepted and the image data transmission job or the job that can be performed only by the other job processing device or If it is determined that the job is not a received job, job acceptance / cancellation means for canceling the job,
Transmitting means for transmitting the received image data transmission job or reception job to the other job processing apparatus after downloading;
A job processing apparatus comprising:   The image data transmission job or reception job that can be performed only by the own device is a transmission job that designates the image data storage unit of the own device and requests transmission of the image data stored in the storage unit, or an image data storage unit. 4. The reception job for designating and requesting storage of image data in the storage unit or the reception job for designating the IP address of the own device and requesting reception of image data. Job processing device.   The job processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a job processing apparatus that substitutes a job from job processing apparatuses belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus.   If there is no job processing apparatus belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus, or the job processing apparatus belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own apparatus does not have a predetermined image data storage area, the selection means The job processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a job processing apparatus that performs a job substitution is selected from job processing apparatuses belonging to a higher hierarchy.   The selection means can select a job processing device that performs a job on the basis of a user's selection operation, and warns when a user selects a job processing device other than a job processing device belonging to a lower hierarchy than the own device. The job processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:   The download means interrupts the download or displays that the download order cannot be changed when the user performs an operation to change the download order during the firmware download by the download means. The job processing device according to any one of 3 to 7. An image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing apparatus is a transmission job that designates an image data storage unit of the other job processing apparatus and requests transmission of image data stored in the storage unit Or a reception job that designates an image data storage unit of another job processing device and requests storage of the image data in the storage unit, or designates an IP address of the other job processing device and receives image data. At least one of the receiving jobs to request,
The determination unit includes a case where the job received by the receiving unit includes designation of an image data storage unit of the other job processing apparatus or designation of an IP address of the other job processing apparatus. The job processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the job processing apparatus determines that the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing apparatus.   10. The job accepting / cancelling means, when canceling a job, transmits information about an expected end time of firmware download by the other job processing device to the device that issued the job. Job processing device.   When the received job is a pull print job in which the received job designates an image data storage unit of the other job processing apparatus and transmits and prints the image data stored in the storage unit The job processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a reservation job ticket for printing the image data is issued to a user of the apparatus that has issued the job. A job processing apparatus that includes a plurality of job processing apparatuses connected via a network, and that is used in a job processing system that downloads firmware from a higher level job processing apparatus to a lower level job processing apparatus in a preset order. On the computer,
A download step of downloading firmware from another job processing apparatus in the next higher hierarchy, and downloading the downloaded firmware to the job processing apparatus in the lower hierarchy;
A selection step of selecting a job processing device that performs a job from other job processing devices before downloading the firmware;
While downloading the firmware, the primary IP address of the own device and the selection step so that the job processing device selected in the selection step can accept the reception of the image data transmission job or the reception job that can be performed only by the own device. An IP address exchanging step of exchanging the secondary IP address of the job processing apparatus acting on behalf of the job selected by the above, and exchanging the exchanged IP address again after downloading the firmware;
An execution step of receiving and executing a job accepted by the job processing device that has accepted the job from the job processing device after exchanging the IP address in the IP address exchanging step and returning the original;
Job processing program for executing A job processing apparatus that includes a plurality of job processing apparatuses connected via a network, and that is used in a job processing system that downloads firmware from a higher level job processing apparatus to a lower level job processing apparatus in a preset order. On the computer,
Based on a request made by another job processing apparatus before downloading the firmware, the primary IP address of the other job processing apparatus and the secondary IP address of the own apparatus are exchanged, and the firmware of the other job processing apparatus After downloading, an IP address exchanging step for re-exchanging the exchanged IP address and returning it to the original state;
A receiving step of receiving, instead of the other job processing device, a job issued to the other job processing device with the IP address exchanged;
A determination step of determining whether the job received by the reception step is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device;
When the determination step determines that the job is an image data transmission job or a reception job that can be performed only by the other job processing device, the job is accepted and the image data transmission job or the job that can be performed only by the other job processing device or If it is determined that the job is not a received job, a job reception / cancellation step for canceling the job,
A transmission step of transmitting the received image data transmission job or reception job to the other job processing apparatus after downloading;
Job processing program for executing   A first job processing apparatus comprising the job processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, and a second job comprising the job processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 3, 9 to 11. A job processing system comprising a processing device.

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