JP6303326B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Description

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

  Conventionally, there is a method of operating a notification means such as a speaker or an LED and notifying the user of the fact when a job state transitions in the image forming apparatus. At present, user requests such as execution of processing related to the system, for example, change of a display screen, and the like are diversified in conjunction with job state transition, not just notification when a job state transitions.

JP 2002-368930 A JP 2007-070441 A

  An object of the present invention is to execute a process desired by a user in conjunction with a job state transition.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is generated in correspondence with the job before the execution of the job generated in response to instruction by the user, and status information identifying the state of the specified job by the user, a plurality of types A receiving means for receiving processing control information associated with processing information for specifying display processing of the display screen selected by the user from among the display screens, and execution of a job generated in response to an instruction from the user The job execution control means for controlling the job, and the time when the job transitions to the job status specified by the status information of the process control information generated corresponding to the job in accordance with the job execution by the job execution control means in, and having a a process control means for controlling the execution of processing based on the processing information included in the processing control information.

In addition, the processing control unit is designated corresponding to the job status when the job transits to the job status specified by the status information of the processing control information generated corresponding to the job. If it is determined that the process is inappropriate, or if it is determined that a combination of a plurality of processes specified corresponding to the state of the job is inappropriate, the process is not executed.
Further, the job state is a pending state.

The image forming system according to the present invention is generated in correspondence with the job before the execution of the job generated in response to instruction by the user, and status information identifying the state of the specified job by the user, a plurality of types Generating process control information associated with processing information for specifying display processing of the display screen selected by the user from among the display screens, and a job generated in response to an instruction from the user In accordance with job execution control means for controlling execution and job execution by the job execution control means, the job has transitioned to the job status specified by the status information of the processing control information generated corresponding to the job at the time, characterized by having a, a processing control unit for controlling execution of processing based on the processing information included in the processing control information.

  In addition, when the generation unit determines that the process specified by the user corresponding to the job status is inappropriate, or the combination of a plurality of processes specified by the user corresponding to the job status is inappropriate If it is determined that the process control information is not generated, the process control information is not generated.

The program according to the present invention generates a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus in response to a job generated in response to an instruction from a user and displays a job status designated by the user. Accepting means for receiving process control information in which state information to be identified and processing information for specifying display processing of a display screen selected by the user from among a plurality of types of display screens are associated , in response to an instruction from the user A job execution control unit that controls the execution of the job generated by the job, and the job specified by the status information of the processing control information generated corresponding to the job as the job is executed by the job execution control unit As a process control means for controlling execution of a process based on the process information included in the process control information at the time of transition to the state of To.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the process desired by the user can be executed in conjunction with the job state transition.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, inappropriate processing can be prevented from being executed in conjunction with job state transition.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a process desired by the user in conjunction with the transition of the job to the hold state.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a process desired by the user in conjunction with the job state transition.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent inappropriate processing from being executed in conjunction with job state transition.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to execute a process desired by the user in conjunction with the job state transition.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention and a block diagram of each device. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a hardware block diagram of the computer which forms PC in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the job execution request screen provided by the job execution request part in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the screen for setting about screen display in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the screen for setting about an operation mode in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the accompanying process control process in this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention and a block diagram of each device. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which an image forming apparatus 30 and a personal computer (PC) 10 used by a user who wants to use various services provided by the image forming apparatus 30 are connected via a network 2. In FIG. 1, only one PC 10 is illustrated as a network connection device used for receiving the service provided by the image forming apparatus 30, but a plurality of network connection devices may be connected to the network 2. .

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 30 in the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 30 is a multifunction machine equipped with various functions such as a copy function and a scanner function. The image forming apparatus 30 is a device with a built-in computer that provides various services to the user by performing these functions. In FIG. 2, the CPU 41 controls the operation of various mechanisms such as the scanner 44 and the printer engine 46 that are installed in the apparatus according to a program stored in the ROM 49. The address data bus 42 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 41 and performs data communication. The operation panel 43 is a user interface unit that receives instructions from the user and displays information. The scanner 44 reads a document set by a user and accumulates it in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 45 or the like as electronic data. The HDD 45 stores an electronic document read using the scanner 44. The printer engine 46 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 41. A network interface (IF) 47 is connected to the network 2 and is used for transmitting electronic data generated by the apparatus, receiving an e-mail transmitted to the apparatus, and accessing the apparatus via a browser. The The RAM 48 is used as a work memory during program execution and a communication buffer during electronic data transmission / reception. The ROM 49 stores various programs relating to control of the apparatus, encryption of electronic data, and transmission / reception of electronic data. By executing various programs, each component described later exhibits a predetermined processing function. The external media interface (IF) 50 is an interface with an external memory device such as a USB memory or a flash memory.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer forming the PC 10 in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the server computer forming the PC 10 can be realized by a general-purpose hardware configuration that has existed in the past. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the computer is provided as a CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, HDD controller 25 to which a hard disk drive (HDD) 24 is connected, a mouse 26 and keyboard 27 provided as input means, and a display device. An input / output controller 29 for connecting each display 28 and a network interface (IF) 18 provided as a communication means are connected to an internal bus 19.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a job execution request unit 31, a job control management unit 32, a service control processing unit 33, an accompanying process control unit 34, a system control unit 35, a display control unit 36, and an information change processing unit 37. have. Note that components not used in the description of the present embodiment are omitted as appropriate. The job execution request unit 31 requests job execution in accordance with a user instruction. In particular, the job execution request unit 31 in the present embodiment generates accompanying process control information that is characteristic in the present embodiment. The job execution request unit 31 is realized by executing a service application such as copying or facsimile transmission. The job execution request unit 31 includes a job parameter setting processing unit 311 and an accompanying processing parameter setting processing unit 312. The job parameter setting processing unit 311 executes job parameter setting processing. The accompanying process parameter setting processing unit 312 is provided as a generation unit, and generates accompanying process control information. The accompanying process control information will be described later.

  The job control management unit 32 executes all control processes related to the job. Specifically, it receives a job execution request sent from the job execution request unit 31 inside the image forming apparatus 30 or from the job execution request unit 11 of the PC 2 via the network 2. The job control management unit 32 is provided as a job execution control unit, and controls execution of a job generated according to a user instruction, that is, according to a job execution request. In this embodiment, accompanying process control information is added to a job, and execution of the process is controlled according to the state transition of the job according to the accompanying process control information. The job control management unit in this embodiment 32 is provided as an acquisition unit, and acquires accompanying process control information generated corresponding to a job generated in response to an instruction from the user.

  The service control processing unit 33 generates a job according to the received job execution request and registers it in the job control management unit 32. Then, various service processes such as printing, copying, facsimile communication, and scanning provided by the image forming apparatus 30 are executed according to the job. The accompanying process control unit 34 is provided as a process control unit, and the job is specified by the status information of the accompanying process control information generated corresponding to the job as the job control management unit 32 executes the job. At the time of transition to this state, the execution of the process based on the process information included in the accompanying process control information is controlled. The system control unit 35 performs overall control related to the system such as processing related to the system mounted on the image forming apparatus 30, application execution control, and system environment setting change. The display control unit 36 performs display control of the operation panel 43. The information change processing unit 37 changes the setting contents of the accompanying process control information received by the job control management unit 32.

  The components 31 to 37 in the image forming apparatus 30 are realized by a cooperative operation of a computer mounted on the image forming apparatus 30 and a program operating on the CPU 41 mounted on the computer.

  The PC 10 has a job execution request unit 11. Note that components not used in the description of the present embodiment are omitted as appropriate. The job execution request unit 11 basically has the same function as the job execution request unit 31 in the image forming apparatus 30, and similarly to the job execution request unit 31, the job parameter setting processing unit 111 and the accompanying process parameter setting are performed. A processing unit 112 is included. The job execution request unit 11 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer that forms the PC 10 and a program that operates on the CPU 21 mounted on the computer. When the print service is used, it is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer forming the PC 10 and a printer driver operating on the CPU 21 mounted on the computer.

  The program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB memory. The program provided from the communication means or the recording medium is installed in the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU of the computer sequentially executing the program.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 30 according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured to display the current job status such as the time when the job is received, the time when the received job is started, the time when the executed job ends normally or abnormally, or the time when the job is suspended. And a function for executing processing designated by the user in correspondence with the state of the job at the timing at which the state changes to another state. In this embodiment, accompanying process control information is added to a job to be executed in order to perform process execution control in conjunction with this job status transition, but first, the image forming apparatus 30 from the PC 10. The job execution request process will be described with reference to an example in which a print job execution request is transmitted to the client.

  FIG. 4 is a user interface provided by the job execution request unit 11 (printer driver), and shows an example of a job execution request screen displayed on the display 28. The user sets various information from this screen.

  The job parameter setting processing unit 111 in the job execution requesting unit 11 allows the user to set job parameters. Specifically, various parameters are set from a screen (not shown) corresponding to the basic setting tab and application setting tab shown in FIG. When a print service execution request is made, parameters such as paper size, number of copies, enlargement / reduction ratio, black and white / color are set. The job parameters set by the job parameter setting processing unit 111 may be the same as before.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the incidental process setting menu screen when the incidental process setting tab is selected by the user on the job execution request screen. The accompanying process parameter setting processing unit 112 generates accompanying process control information according to a user setting operation for the accompanying process setting. In FIG. 4, the job statuses for which the accompanying process control information is to be generated include the normal end of the job (processing when the job ends normally), abnormal end (processing when the job ends abnormally), and start (when the job starts) However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, it may be possible to set the state of another job such as the time when the job is put on hold. If the user wants to set a process to be executed in conjunction with the normal end of the job, the user selects the “Process when normal end of job” button. FIGS. 5 and 6 show setting screens displayed when this “job normal end” button is selected. Note that the initial screen displayed first after the button selection may be any screen.

  Among these, FIG. 5 is a setting screen for setting a screen to be displayed on the operation panel 43 when the job is normally completed. Here, in order to switch the screen display of the operation panel 43 when the job ends normally, the “Yes” button 51 is selected. Since the image forming apparatus 30 prepares a plurality of types of display screens, a desired display screen is selected from the plurality of types of display screens listed in the pull-down menu from the “screen” setting area 52.

  FIG. 6 is a setting screen for switching the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 30 at the timing when the job is normally completed. Here, in order to switch the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 30 when the job is normally completed, the “Yes” button 54 is selected. When the image forming apparatus 30 has a plurality of operation modes, a desired operation mode is selected from a plurality of operation modes listed in the pull-down menu from the “mode” setting area 55.

  As illustrated above, the user may set to execute a plurality of processes for the state of one job (in this example, “normal end”). The user also makes settings for other job states in the same manner.

  When the setting operation exemplified above is performed by the user, the incidental process parameter setting processing unit 112 corresponds to the status information specifying the job status (“normal end”) and the job status specified by the status information. Processing information specifying processing specified by the user (display of job confirmation screen and transition to power saving mode) is set, and accompanying process control information including these information is generated. Then, the job execution request unit 11 adds a job parameter and accompanying process control information to the data to be printed and transmits a job execution request to the image forming apparatus 30.

  Note that the screens shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are examples, and may be realized by other layout configurations. In the present embodiment, the case where the process of changing the display screen and the switching of the operation mode is executed in conjunction with the job state transition is taken as an example. However, the process linked to the job state transition is limited to this. There is no need to do this, and in other processes, a setting screen as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be provided to allow the user to specify the process.

  In the above description, the case where a print job execution request is transmitted from the PC 10 to the image forming apparatus 30 has been described as an example. However, the job execution request unit 31 in the image forming apparatus 30 issues a job execution request such as copying or facsimile transmission. In this case, the same processing as described above is performed. However, while the PC 10 uses the display 28, the mouse 26, and the keyboard 27, the image forming apparatus 30 has a different user interface in that it is used from the operation panel 43.

  Next, processing in the image forming apparatus 30 when a job execution request is transmitted will be described.

  When a job execution request including accompanying process control information and job parameters generated by the job execution request unit 11 or the job execution request unit 31 is sent, the job control management unit 32 receives the job execution request, Notify the control processing unit 33. The service control processing unit 33 generates a job for the requested service according to the job parameters included in the job execution request. When the job is generated, the job control management unit 32 generates a job ID as information for identifying the job with respect to the job, and performs accompanying processing control information corresponding to the job together with the generated job ID. This is sent to the control unit 34. Thereafter, the job control management unit 32 starts executing the generated job, but always monitors the job status after the job is generated. When a job status transition occurs, status notification information including the job ID of the job and the status of the new job to which the job has transitioned is transmitted to the accompanying process control unit 34 when the status transition occurs. To notify that the job status has changed. In the image forming apparatus 30, a plurality of jobs may be executed simultaneously in parallel. However, the accompanying process control unit 34 includes a job ID in the status notification information, so It can be specified.

  Hereinafter, the accompanying process control process in the accompanying process control unit 34 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the accompanying process control unit 34 acquires the accompanying process control information corresponding to the newly generated job as described above, the accompanying process control unit 34 stores it in a predetermined storage area (step 101). Thereafter, when status notification information is sent from the job control management unit 32, it is acquired (step 102). Then, by referring to the accompanying process control information corresponding to the job ID included in the acquired status notification information, it is confirmed whether the information related to the job status included in the status notification information is set in the accompanying process control information. To do. When information regarding the state of the transitioned job is set in the accompanying process control information (Y in Step 103), the accompanying process to be executed is identified by referring to the accompanying process control information (Step 104), and the identified accompanying process is performed. The execution of the process is instructed to the corresponding process control means, in the case of the present embodiment, the system control unit 35 or the display control unit 36 (step 105). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, if the process “display job confirmation screen” is set in the accompanying process control information, the accompanying process control unit 34 instructs the display control unit 36 to change the job. A job confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel 43 at the time of normal termination. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, if the process “operation in the power saving mode” is set in the accompanying process control information, the accompanying process control unit 34 instructs the system control unit 35 to execute the job When the operation ends normally, the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 30 is shifted to the power saving mode.

  In step 102, if status notification information indicating that the job of normal end or abnormal end has been completed has not been sent (N in step 106), the process returns to a standby state for status notification information (step 102). . On the other hand, when status notification information indicating that the job has been completed is sent (Y in step 106), the accompanying process control unit 34 deletes the saved accompanying process control information of the job (step 107). ).

  Note that FIG. 7 is a flowchart focusing on one job, and when the execution of one job ends, the accompanying process control process for the job ends. However, since a plurality of jobs can be executed simultaneously in the image forming apparatus 30, once started, the attendant process control unit 34 is resident in the RAM 48 until an instruction to end the attendant process control processing application is given. Will always work.

  Note that a user who operates the operation panel 43 of the image forming apparatus 30 and waits for the end of the job in front of the image forming apparatus 30 changes the state of the image forming apparatus 30 (operation However, the user who requested the job execution from the PC 10 may not be aware of the occurrence of the job state transition. In this case, a notification unit (not shown) such as a speaker or an LED mounted on the image forming apparatus 30 is activated in accordance with the occurrence of the job state transition to notify the user of the PC 10 of the occurrence of the job state transition. You may do it.

  In the present embodiment, the information change processing unit 37 is provided even after generation of the accompanying process control information so that the setting contents of the accompanying process control information can be changed in the image forming apparatus 30. That is, in response to an operation instruction from the operation panel 43 by the user, the information change processing unit 37 changes the setting content of the accompanying process control information stored in the accompanying process control unit 34 that is instructed by the user. For example, “display job confirmation screen at normal end” is changed to “display menu screen at normal end”.

  By the way, the present embodiment is characterized in that the accompanying process designated by the user is executed at the timing when the job state transitions. The process to be executed may be a plurality of processes executed in response to the occurrence of a job state transition. For example, each process of shifting to the power saving mode and network connection offline is executed when the job is normally completed.

  However, it may be assumed that an improper incidental process is designated by the user, for example, a process of shifting to the power saving mode at the start of the job. In addition, there is a possibility that an inconsistent combination of sending the execution result of the job by e-mail at the normal end time of the job and taking the network connection offline is designated. In addition, the image forming apparatus 30 inherently performs processing such as a process of transmitting the execution result of the job by e-mail when the job is normally completed to the image forming apparatus 30 that is not equipped with the e-mail communication function. There may be cases where an impossible accompanying process is specified. Further, even if the process is inherently executable by the image forming apparatus 30, the accompanying process may not be performed for some reason when the job state transition occurs.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to cope with the case where the above-described inconvenience occurs. Therefore, the incidental process parameter setting processing units 112 and 312 according to the present embodiment determine that the process specified by the user corresponding to the job state is inappropriate or the user specifies the process corresponding to the job state. The process control information is not generated when it is determined that the combination of the processes specified by is inappropriate. It is assumed that the information for determining that this is inappropriate is set in advance. For example, in the present embodiment, the user selects an accompanying process from the setting screen illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, but an inappropriate accompanying process and a process related to a function not installed in the image forming apparatus 30. Is prevented from being displayed as a selection candidate in the setting area, thereby preventing inconsistent processing from being selected in advance. For example, a process for shifting to the power saving mode cannot be selected as an accompanying process for the job start time. Specifically, it is excluded from the process selection candidates displayed in a list in the setting area. When an inconsistent combination of processes is designated, a warning to that effect is displayed. Alternatively, only the processes that can be combined with the previously specified accompanying processes are displayed as a selection candidate in the setting area. In this way, the occurrence of inconvenience is prevented before the accompanying process control information is generated.

  Also, it may be determined whether or not the accompanying process is to be executed at the time of execution of the job. That is, the incidental process control unit 34 determines that the process designated in accordance with the job state is inappropriate at the time when the job state transition occurs, or is designated in accordance with the job state. When it is judged that the combination of a plurality of processes is inappropriate, the process is not executed. It is assumed that the information for determining inappropriateness and the information for determining inappropriate combination are set in advance. For example, if the process for shifting to the power saving mode is specified at the start of job execution, the system controller 35 or the like is not instructed to execute the process for shifting to the power saving mode. Further, when the e-mail transmission process and the network connection offline process are specified at the normal end time of the job, execution of at least one of the processes is not instructed to the system control unit 35 or the like. In this way, it is determined whether or not the accompanying process is inappropriate when the job state transition occurs. If it is determined that the incidental process is inappropriate, the process is not executed.

  In this embodiment, the user is allowed to set various types of information included in the accompanying process control information through the accompanying process setting screens illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. For example, “display job confirmation screen” For each job status such as “operation in power saving mode”, “menu screen display”, etc., a plurality of associated process setting information for specifying processing to be executed in conjunction with the job status transition is defined in advance. The user may select desired associated process setting information from the defined associated process setting information, and the associated process control information may be generated based on the selected associated process setting information.

  2 Network, 10 PC, 11, 31 Job execution request section, 18, 47 Network interface (IF), 19 Internal bus, 21, 41 CPU, 22, 49 ROM, 23, 48 RAM, 24, 45 Hard disk drive (HDD) , 25 HDD controller, 26 mouse, 27 keyboard, 28 display, 29 input / output controller, 30 image forming apparatus, 32 job control management unit, 33 service control processing unit, 34 associated processing control unit, 35 system control unit, 36 display control , 37 Information change processing unit, 42 Address data bus, 43 Operation panel, 44 Scanner, 46 Printer engine, 50 External media interface (I / F), 111, 311 Job parameter setting processing unit, 112, 312 Attached processing Parameter setting processing unit.

Claims (6)

Before execution of a job generated in response to an instruction from the user, it is generated in correspondence with the job, and status information for specifying the status of the job specified by the user and the user from among a plurality of types of display screens. Receiving means for receiving processing control information associated with processing information for specifying display processing of the selected display screen ; and
Job execution control means for controlling the execution of a job generated in accordance with an instruction from a user;
Included in the process control information at the time when the job transitions to the job state specified by the state information of the process control information generated corresponding to the job accompanying the job execution by the job execution control means Processing control means for controlling execution of processing based on processing information;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The processing control means performs processing designated in accordance with the status of the job when the job transits to the status of the job specified by the status information of the processing control information generated corresponding to the job. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is not executed when it is determined to be inappropriate or when it is determined that a combination of a plurality of processes specified corresponding to the state of the job is inappropriate. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job status is a hold status. Before execution of a job generated in response to an instruction from the user, it is generated in correspondence with the job, and status information for specifying the status of the job specified by the user and the user from among a plurality of types of display screens. Generating means for generating processing control information associated with processing information for specifying display processing of the selected display screen ;
Job execution control means for controlling the execution of a job generated in accordance with an instruction from a user;
Included in the process control information at the time when the job transitions to the job state specified by the state information of the process control information generated corresponding to the job accompanying the job execution by the job execution control means Processing control means for controlling execution of processing based on processing information;
An image forming system comprising: The generation unit determines that the process specified by the user corresponding to the job status is inappropriate, or the combination of a plurality of processes specified by the user corresponding to the job status is inappropriate. The image forming system according to claim 4 , wherein the processing control information is not generated when it is determined. A computer installed in the image forming apparatus
Before execution of a job generated in response to an instruction from the user, it is generated in correspondence with the job, and status information for specifying the status of the job specified by the user and the user from among a plurality of types of display screens. Receiving means for receiving processing control information associated with processing information for specifying display processing of the selected display screen ;
Job execution control means for controlling the execution of a job generated in accordance with an instruction from the user;
Included in the process control information at the time when the job transitions to the job state specified by the state information of the process control information generated corresponding to the job accompanying the job execution by the job execution control means Processing control means for controlling execution of processing based on processing information;
Program to function as.

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