JP6650823B2 - Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device having a user authentication function.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to improve security in an image processing apparatus, an image in which a user using an image processing apparatus is required to input a user ID and a password, and a user is permitted to log in based on the input user ID and password. There is a processing unit. In such an image processing apparatus, when login is permitted, a function such as copying provided in the image processing apparatus can be used.

  In these apparatuses, when a user performs an operation of logging out of the apparatus after the use is completed, each function of the image processing apparatus cannot be used, and another user can log in to the image processing apparatus. It is known. It is also known that when a state in which no operation is performed by a user continues for a certain period of time, the user is logged out of the apparatus, and a state in which another user can log in to the image processing apparatus is known (auto logout function). In addition, in an information processing apparatus having a login authentication function (for example, a PC), it is known that when a user logs out, the execution of a copy job executed by the user is stopped.

  By the way, among the conventional image processing apparatuses, an image processing apparatus capable of submitting a plurality of copy jobs is known. These image processing apparatuses sequentially execute the input copy jobs based on the order in which the copy jobs are input, the priority set for the copy jobs, and the like. It is also known that, when a copy job is input and then the copy job is stopped, all input copy jobs are temporarily stopped by a stop key of an operation unit of the image processing apparatus. Reference 1).

  The image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 discloses that a user is allowed to select a job to be canceled from temporarily stopped copy jobs, cancel execution of the selected copy job, and restart the remaining copy jobs. Have been. In this processing, all the copy jobs are temporarily stopped, so that the processing of the copy job proceeds even while the operation for selecting the copy job to be canceled is performed, so that useless output is generated. That is being suppressed.

JP 2001-251454 A

  It is conceivable that the copy job can be temporarily stopped by the stop key of the operation unit even for an image processing apparatus that performs authentication management on the assumption that a user logs in. However, in the image processing apparatus of Patent Literature 1, the processing when the user logs out has not been considered.

  For example, the user may mistakenly think that the copy job to be stopped has been canceled in response to the suspension of the output operation of the image processing apparatus by pressing the stop key. In this case, the user may perform a logout operation and log out without checking the pause screen displayed on the operation unit. In this case, the state is switched to a state in which the user has not logged in to the image processing apparatus while the copy job is suspended. When the user is not logged in, a screen for accepting the user's login is displayed, and each function of the image processing apparatus cannot be used.

  In addition, when the user who wants to stop the copy job presses the stop key, the user may mistakenly think that the copy job to be stopped has been canceled due to the suspension of the printing operation, and may leave the image processing apparatus as it is. In this case, when the user is logged out by auto logout, the state is switched to a state where the user is not logged in to the image processing apparatus.

  As described above, if the logout is performed in a state where the copy job is suspended, all the copy jobs remain in the suspended state. By the way, if the state in which the copy job is temporarily stopped by the stop key is continued, the copy job that is different from the copy job that the user really wants to cancel is also continued to be temporarily stopped. Further, there is a possibility that hardware resources such as a printing unit may continue to be occupied by print processing based on a copy job in a suspended state waiting for a restart instruction. In this case, even if an attempt is made to execute a print process based on a print job generated by newly receiving print data from an external device, it is possible to overtake a print process based on a suspended copy job occupying the printing unit. There is also a risk of stopping in a waiting state.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for controlling a job that includes print processing to be temporarily stopped by a user operation so that the job does not remain in a suspended state when the user logs out of the image processing apparatus. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that executes print processing based on a job, and includes a receiving unit that receives an operation by a user, and a predetermined operation received by the receiving unit. Accordingly, a change unit that changes a job that has not completed print processing to a suspended state, and a logout event that causes a user who is logged in to the image processing apparatus to log out of the image processing apparatus is detected. Job control means for resuming at least one of the jobs suspended based on the change by the change means and canceling the job not to be restarted is provided.

  According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus that executes a plurality of copy jobs, when a user logs out of the image processing apparatus, it is possible to prevent a job including print processing from remaining in a suspended state. Therefore, the execution of the job can be performed smoothly.

It is a block diagram showing an image processing system. FIG. 2 is an external view illustrating an operation unit and a card reader. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating user data. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen displayed on a panel of an operation unit. 9 is a flowchart illustrating control of login authentication. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen related to a copy function displayed on a panel of an operation unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating data included in a print processing task. FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing task management of print processing. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy job stop screen displayed on a panel of the operation unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen displayed on a panel of an operation unit. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the MFP. 9 is a flowchart illustrating control for accepting a copy job via an operation unit. 9 is a flowchart illustrating copy job suspension control. 9 is a flowchart illustrating control of a copy job at the time of logout. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen related to a copy function displayed on a panel of an operation unit. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating data included in a task of a print process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing control of a copy job at the time of logout according to the second embodiment. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control of a copy job at the time of logout according to the second embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating copy job stop control according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential for solving the invention.

<First embodiment>
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the execution of a copy is accepted according to a user operation. When the execution of the copy is accepted, a copy job is generated, and a reading process of the document by the reading unit is performed. When the reading of the document is completed, a printing process for printing the read image data is performed. When the printing process is completed, the copy job ends.

  When the stop key is pressed during execution of the copy job, the copy job is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the reading process and the printing process based on the copy job are temporarily stopped.

  As described above, when the logout of the user is detected in a state where the copy job is temporarily stopped, the copy job is controlled so that the copy job does not remain in the suspended state.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 101 will be described as an example of an image processing apparatus, and a PC (Personal Computer) 102 will be described as an example of an information processing apparatus. The MFP 101 and the PC 102 are communicably connected via the network 100.

  Although FIG. 1 illustrates a case where one information processing apparatus is provided in the image processing system, the MFP 101 and a plurality of information processing apparatuses may be communicably connected via the network 100. Further, the image processing system according to the present embodiment exemplifies a case including the MFP 101 and the PC 102, but is not limited thereto. For example, only the MFP 101 may be called an image processing system.

  First, the PC 102 will be described. The PC 102 can execute various programs such as an application program. Further, a printer driver for transmitting print data to a printer is installed in the PC 102. A user who wants to print can give a print instruction from various applications and the like. The printer driver can convert the data output by the application into a PDL (Page Description Language) interpretable by the MFP 101 based on the print instruction, and transmit the PDL to the MFP 101.

  Next, the MFP 101 will be described. The MFP 101 has a reading function of reading an image on a sheet and a printing function of printing an image on a sheet. In addition, the MFP 101 has a file transmission function of transmitting image data to an external device.

  In this embodiment, the MFP 101 will be described as an example of the image processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a printing device such as a printer having no reading function may be used. Further, an image reading device such as a scanner having no printing function may be used. In the present embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that the printing apparatus has various components described below.

  A control unit 110 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 controls the operation of the entire MFP 101. The CPU 111 reads a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112 or a storage 114 and performs various controls such as reading control and printing control. The ROM 112 stores a control program executable by the CPU 111. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 113 is a main storage memory of the CPU 111, and is used as a work area, a temporary storage area for expanding various control programs stored in the ROM 112 and the storage 114. The storage 114 stores print data, image data, various programs, and various setting information. In the present embodiment, an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is assumed as the storage 114, but a nonvolatile memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used instead of the HDD.

  Note that in the MFP 101 of the present embodiment, one CPU 111 executes each process shown in a flowchart described later using one memory (RAM 113), but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs, a RAM, a ROM, and a storage may cooperate to execute each processing shown in a flowchart described later. Further, a part of the processing may be executed by using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

  An operation unit interface (I / F) 115 connects the operation unit 116 and the control unit 110. A USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F 121 connects the peripheral device and the control unit 110. FIG. 1 shows a state where the IC card reader 122 is connected. The IC card reader 122 reads an IC card (Integrated Circuit Card) and can acquire information in the card.

  FIG. 2 is an external view showing the operation unit 116 and the card reader 122. The operation unit 116 includes a panel 201 for displaying an operation screen described later and a hard key input unit 202. The panel 201 is, for example, a touch panel display. The hard key input unit 202 has various hard keys such as a stop key 211, a start key 212, and an ID key 213. The user touches a key displayed on the panel 201 or presses various hard keys of the hard key input unit 202 to input an instruction. The operation unit 116 functions as a reception unit that receives an instruction from a user via the panel 201 and the input unit 202, and also functions as a display unit that displays an operation screen on the panel 201 as necessary. The stop key 211 is a key used to issue a copy job stop instruction. In the present embodiment, the case where the stop key 211 is provided as a hard key is illustrated, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the stop key may be a soft key displayed on panel 201.

  The IC card reader 122 is a card reader used when performing card authentication in login authentication described later. When the user touches (closes) the IC card to the card reader 122, the card reader 122 can acquire information from the IC card.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the reading unit I / F 117 connects the reading unit 118 and the control unit 110. The reading unit 118 reads an image on a sheet and generates image data. The image data generated by the reading unit 118 is transmitted to an external device or printed on a sheet. In addition, the reading unit 118 can read a plurality of documents by scanning a sheet placed on a document feeder (not shown).

  The printing unit I / F 119 connects the printing unit 120 and the control unit 110. Image data to be printed is transferred from the control unit 110 to the printing unit 120 via the printing unit I / F 119. The printing unit 120 receives a control command and image data to be printed via the control unit 110, and prints an image based on the image data on a sheet. The printing method of the printing unit 120 may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Other methods (for example, a thermal transfer method) may be used as long as an image can be printed on a sheet.

  Further, the control unit 110 is connected to the network 100 via the communication unit I / F 123. The communication unit I / F 123 transmits image data and information to an external device on the network 100, and receives print data and information from an information processing device on the network 100.

  The print data received via the communication unit I / F 123 is analyzed by a software module (PDL analysis unit, not shown) for analyzing the print data stored in the storage 114 or the ROM 112. The PDL analysis unit generates a print job (to be described in detail later) for printing by the printing unit 120 based on print data expressed in various types of page description languages (Page Description Language).

<Login authentication function>
Next, a login authentication function of the MFP 101 according to the present embodiment will be described. The MFP 101 provides various functions such as copying provided to the MFP 101 to a user who is permitted to log in by login authentication. The user uses each function of the MFP 101 via the operation unit 116 of the MFP 101.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the user data stored in the storage 114 of the MFP 101. The user information 300 is information for managing a user who logs in to the MFP 101, and includes a user ID 301, a password 302, a card ID 303, a role 304, and the like. The user information 300 may include other management data such as an expiration date of a password and an e-mail address in addition to the above.

  The user ID 301 is a user ID that uniquely indicates a user. The password 302 indicates a password for authenticating the user. The card ID 303 is a key for specifying a specific user from the plurality of pieces of user information 300. The card ID 303 is authentication information associated with an IC card possessed by the user of the MFP 101.

  The role 304 is information indicating the authority of the user. Here, two types of “Administrator” indicating that the user has authority to manage the MFP 101 and “GeneralUser” indicating that the user is a general user of the MFP 101 are illustrated. For example, a user whose role is “administrator” can perform management setting of the MFP 101 and the like. Hereinafter, a user whose role is “administrator” is referred to as an administrator.

  The user of the MFP 101 can log in to the MFP 101 using either card authentication or keyboard authentication.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen (hereinafter, referred to as a login screen) for accepting a user login, which is displayed on panel 201 of operation unit 116. A card authentication screen 410 shown in FIG. 4A is a screen displayed when a login is accepted by holding an IC card, and illustrates a case where a card authentication key 401 is selected. A card authentication key 401 in FIG. 4 is a key for displaying a screen for performing card authentication. By bringing the IC card close to the card reader 122, the user can log in using the IC card.

  The CPU 111 obtains information from an IC card near the card reader 122. Also, the user can be authenticated by checking the information acquired from the card reader 122 with the card ID 303 of the user data stored in the storage 114.

  The keyboard authentication key 402 in FIG. 4 is a key for displaying a screen for performing keyboard authentication. When the keyboard authentication key is pressed, the CPU 111 switches the screen displayed on the panel 201 to the keyboard authentication screen 420. FIG. 4B is an example of the keyboard authentication screen 420.

  With the keyboard authentication screen 420 displayed, the user can log in to the MFP 101 by inputting his / her user ID and password. The area 421 is an area for inputting a user ID, and the area 422 is an area for inputting a password. The login key 424 is an operation key for starting a login process.

  When the login key 424 is pressed, the CPU 111 collates the authentication information input to the areas 421 and 422 with the authentication information stored as the user data, and determines whether to permit the user to log in. I do.

  Note that, in the present embodiment, a case has been exemplified in which whether to permit login is determined using user data stored in the storage 114 of the MFP 101, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to connect to an external authentication server via the communication unit I / F 123 and use the authentication result of the external authentication server. In this case, the exchange of the authentication information with the external authentication server is performed using a known technique such as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol).

  Specific login authentication control will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Each operation (step) of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 111 reading out a control program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114 to the RAM 113 and executing the control program. The MFP 101 executes the flowchart in FIG. 5 when detecting the event that the user starts operating the MFP 101 in the logout state. Specifically, when there is no user logged in to MFP 101 and CPU 101 is operated, CPU 111 executes control corresponding to the flowchart in FIG. 5.

  In S501, the CPU 111 displays a card authentication screen 410 on the panel 201. In addition, the CPU 111 appropriately receives a user's input via the operation unit 116 (switching to the keyboard authentication screen 420, input of authentication information via the areas 421 and 422, and the like).

  In S502, the CPU 111 determines whether a login instruction has been issued. More specifically, when either the login key 424 or the ID key 213 is pressed after receiving the authentication information (user ID and password) via the keyboard authentication screen 420 in S501, it is determined that the login instruction has been issued. I do. Also, when the card reader 122 detects an IC card via the external I / F while the screen 410 is displayed, the CPU 111 determines that a login instruction has been issued, and proceeds to S503. On the other hand, if neither the login key 424 nor the ID key 213 is pressed, or if the card reader 122 has not detected an IC card, it is determined that a login instruction has not been issued, and the login process ends without performing authentication. .

  In S503, the CPU 111 acquires the authentication information. When the log-in instruction using the card is issued in S502, the CPU 111 acquires card information from the IC card detected in S502. On the other hand, when a login instruction is issued by the login key 424 or the ID key 213 in S502, the user ID and password input via the screen 420 are acquired.

  In S504, the CPU 111 collates the authentication information acquired in S503 with the user data. As a result of the comparison, if login is permitted (OK in S504), the process proceeds to step S505. If login is not permitted (NG in S504), the process proceeds to S508. Specifically, in the case of a login instruction using a card, the CPU 111 searches for user data stored in the storage 114 using the information acquired from the IC card in S503 as a search key. As a result of the search, if there is a user having the same card ID 303, login is permitted. If there is no user having the same card ID 303, login is not permitted.

  In the case of a login instruction via the keyboard authentication screen 420, the CPU 111 searches for user data stored in the storage 114 using the ID acquired in S503 as a search key. As a result of the search, if a user with the same ID and the same password exists, login is permitted, and if a user with the same ID does not exist, or if a user with the same ID has a different password, , Do not allow login.

  In step S505, the CPU 111 generates a session ID for managing a login session to the MFP 101, and temporarily stores the session ID in the RAM 113. Note that a session in the present embodiment refers to a series of periods from when the user logs in to the MFP until the user logs out. In the present embodiment, a session is managed by assigning a session ID for uniquely identifying the session when the user logs in. When a plurality of users log in to the MFP 101, the MFP 101 controls a screen provided to each user based on the session ID.

  In S506, the CPU 111 acquires the user data of the user permitted to log in in S504, generates session data in which the acquired user data is associated with the session ID generated in S505, and temporarily stores the session data in the RAM 113. The session data includes a user ID 301 and a role 304 (user authority information). Also, a mail address (not shown) of the user is included. The session data is appropriately used in control shown in a flowchart described later and various functions of the MFP 101.

  In step S507, the CPU 111 displays an operation screen of the MFP 101 on the panel 201. For example, the CPU 111 displays a main screen on which buttons (icons) for activating various functions (for example, a copy function and a file transmission function) of the MFP 101 are selectably displayed. If an initial screen (for example, a copy screen) of the MFP 101 is set separately, the initial screen may be displayed. In the present embodiment, the processing from S505 to S507 is called login processing. When the login processing is completed and the operation screen of the MFP 101 is displayed on the panel 201, the CPU 111 ends the login processing.

  On the other hand, in S508, the CPU 111 notifies the user via the panel 201 that the login has failed, and ends the login processing.

  The user who has logged in to MFP 101 through the step of login authentication using FIG. 5 can use various functions provided in MFP 101 via operation unit 116.

<Copy function>
Next, a method of receiving a copy job by the MFP 101 will be described by exemplifying a copy function of the MFP 101.

  First, the copy setting will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of a copy screen displayed on panel 201. A setting screen 601 shown in FIG. 6A is an example of a copy setting screen. An execution screen 603 illustrated in FIG. 6B illustrates an example of the execution screen 603 displayed during execution of a copy job.

  A user who has logged in to the MFP 101 can select a copy function from a main screen (not shown) displayed on the panel 201.

  While the main screen is displayed, the CPU 111 displays the setting screen 601 shown in FIG. 6A according to the button of the copy function being pressed by the user.

  The user can make various copy settings via the setting screen 601. For example, the user can make various settings such as setting of the number of copies, switching between monochrome and color, and setting of double-sided printing. The copy setting includes a number of setting items not illustrated here. Therefore, it is difficult to make all settings in the same screen. Therefore, it is assumed that a transition is made to an individual setting screen for each setting item, and a plurality of functions are set. FIG. 6A illustrates a case where 20 copies are made.

  The screen displayed on panel 201 after the user logs in includes menu bar 610, main area 620, lower bar 630, and the like. The menu bar 610 displays the name of the function being executed by the MFP 101 and the user ID of the user who is logging in. An area 615 is an area for displaying the user ID of the currently logged-in user. In the main area 620, items related to the function being executed are displayed. The lower bar 630 displays device information to be notified to the user, a logout key 631, and the like.

  The logout key 631 is a key used when the user logs out of the MFP 101. The user can also log out using the ID key 213. If the user has logged out of MFP 101 when ID key 213 is pressed, CPU 111 performs the same processing as when login key 424 is pressed. When the ID key 213 is pressed and the user is logged in to the MFP 101 when the ID key 213 is pressed, the CPU 111 performs the same processing as when the logout key 631 is pressed.

  If no operation continues for a predetermined time while the user is logged in, CPU 111 automatically logs the user out of MFP 101 (referred to as auto logout).

  When the CPU 111 detects that the start key 212 has been pressed while the setting screen 601 is displayed, the CPU 111 generates a copy job. The CPU 111 executes a reading process of reading a document by the reading unit 118 and a printing process of printing the read image data on a sheet based on the copy job.

  When the execution of the generated copy job is started, the CPU 111 starts the original reading process by the reading unit 118 and displays the copy execution screen 603 shown in FIG. When the reading process is completed, the CPU 111 executes a printing process of printing the read document on a sheet. Hereinafter, a print process executed based on a copy job is referred to as a print process based on a copy job. A reading process executed based on a copy job is called a reading process based on a copy job. The printing process will be described with reference to FIG.

  The stop key 612 is a key used to stop a copy job. A close key 611 is an operation key displayed after the reading process based on the copy job is completed, and is a key for closing the pop-up 604. When detecting that the close key 611 has been pressed while the screen 603 is displayed, the CPU 111 closes the pop-up screen and displays the setting screen 601. The user can make a reservation for a new copy job via the setting screen 601 (reserved copy).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, if the reading process of the original of the generated copy job is completed, the next copy job is generated even if the printing process executed based on the copy job is not completed. can do.

  Specifically, when the reading of the document is completed, a task of a printing process for printing the read image data is generated. The print processing task indicates a processing unit for controlling the printing unit 120 to print an image on a sheet. In the present embodiment, a plurality of print processing tasks are generated by a copy job or a print job described later. These multiple print processing tasks are sequentially executed by a task scheduler described later.

  It is assumed that when the task of the printing process based on the copy job is executed and the printing on the sheet is completed, the execution of one copy job is completed.

  Next, the printing process will be described. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of data included in the task of the print processing.

  For example, the data included in the print processing task includes data to be printed (such as image data) inherited from the job that generated the print processing task, and print data 707 storing print settings and the like. Further, to the data of the print processing task, attributes for managing the print processing such as a task ID 701, a submission time 702, a task generator 703, a job name 704, a job owner name 705, and a status 706 are added. .

  The task ID 701 is identification information for uniquely specifying a print process. The input time 702 is information indicating the time at which the print processing task was generated. The task generation source 703 is information for specifying the type of the job that generated the print processing task. Here, a case of a print processing task based on a copy job is illustrated.

  The job name 704 is information inherited from the job that generated the print processing task, and is information indicating the name of the job. For a print processing task based on a print job, a name for identifying the print job (for example, a file name of print data) is stored. The job owner name 705 is information inherited from the job that generated the print processing task, and is information indicating the name of the user who executed the job. Here, a case where “UserA” is stored is illustrated. The status 706 is information for the CPU 111 to control the execution of the task of the printing process, and stores information such as printing, waiting for printing, pause, and error. It should be noted that the data used for these printing processes is referred to or changed as needed in the control of flowcharts described later and the control of various functions.

  First, a printing process based on a copy job will be described. The CPU 111 generates a print processing task when reading of a document is completed by the reading unit 118 during execution of a copy job. At this time, a copy job is stored as the task generation source 703, and “copy” is stored in the job name.

  Next, a printing process based on a print job will be described. When receiving the PDL data from the external device, the CPU 111 converts the PDL data into data suitable for printing by a PDL analysis unit (not shown), and generates a print job. When the execution of the generated print job is started, the CPU 111 generates a print processing task based on the print job. At this time, a normal print job is stored as the task generation source 703, and a file name of PDL data and the like are stored in the job name.

  Also, when printing a report or the like indicating the state of the MFP 101, the CPU 111 generates a report based on device settings, history information, and the like, and generates a print job for printing the report. When the execution of the print job is started, a print processing task is generated. In this case, a report print job is stored in the task generation source 703.

  Therefore, in the MFP 101 of the present embodiment, a plurality of printing processing tasks such as a printing processing task based on a copy job and a printing processing task based on a print job are executed using one printing unit 120.

  In the present embodiment, in order to manage the execution of the plurality of print processing tasks, the order in which the print processing tasks are executed is appropriately determined based on the order in which the print processing tasks are generated, attributes, status, and the like. I do.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for describing control relating to the execution order of a plurality of print processing tasks. FIG. 8A illustrates an example of a management list when four print processing tasks are executed. Note that the management list is stored in the RAM 113.

  The management information 811 exemplifies management information for managing a task currently being printed by the printing unit 120. The management information 812 exemplifies management information for managing a task in a print waiting state. As described above, the management information of the task to be executed first is stored at the head of the table. The management information of the task waiting for printing is stored in the next and subsequent rows of the list.

  Items 801 to 806 are fields in which attributes for managing a print processing task are stored, and information of each item shown in 701 to 706 in FIG. 7 is stored.

  The CPU 111 adds task management information to the list at the timing of generating a print processing task along with execution of a copy job or a print job. The management information of the newly added task is added to the end of the list. When the management information is added to the list, sorting (printing order) in the list is performed according to the type of job that generated the added task, the status and the priority setting, and the like. Is

  Further, at the timing when the printing operation by the printing unit 120 is completed, the CPU 111 deletes the management information for managing the task of the printing process in which the printing is completed. When the management information is deleted from the table, the CPU 111 moves the pointer indicating the head of the list to the next line. Therefore, when the execution of the print processing task corresponding to the management information 811 is completed, the management information 811 is deleted, and the top of the list is a line indicating the management information 812. Further, when the status 806 of the management information stored at the top of the table is in a print waiting state, the CPU 111 rewrites the status 806 to a printing state and executes a print processing task corresponding to the management information.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, every time a print processing task is generated, management information for managing the task is added to the management list, and the printing order is appropriately rearranged. When the printing based on the task of the printing process is completed, the management information for managing the task is deleted from the list, and the execution of the task of the printing process to be executed next is started. Accordingly, a plurality of print processing tasks input to the MFP 101 are sequentially executed in the print order managed by the management list.

  Further, the printing operation by the printing unit 120 may be interrupted when consumables used for printing run out. In this case, the CPU 111 rewrites the status of the management information for managing the interrupted print processing task to “stopped”. When the process related to the interruption is completed, the status 806 of the management information for managing the task of the print process is rewritten to the printing status or the print waiting status.

  Note that, instead of the management list in FIG. 8, the execution order of the tasks of the print processing can be managed by a list structure such as a queue. In this case, the CPU 111 stores the print processing task in the queue every time the print processing task is generated. Also, each time the execution of the task is completed, the task of the printing process is taken out of the queue and the task of the printing process is executed. Accordingly, the tasks of the copy job whose execution has been instructed first are executed in order. Further, when storing the print processing task in the queue, the CPU 111 appropriately determines the priority according to the job attribute, the priority setting, and the like. The CPU 111 appropriately sorts the queue based on the determined priority.

  As described above, by the task scheduling described with reference to FIG. 8, it is possible to control the execution of a plurality of print processing tasks generated with the execution of a copy job or a print job.

  Further, the MFP 101 according to the present embodiment has a copy job suspension function for temporarily suspending all copy jobs. With this function, an operation for selecting a copy job to be canceled can be performed in a state where all copy jobs input to the MFP 101 are temporarily stopped.

  When the stop key 211 is pressed while a screen (screen 601 or screen 603) related to copying is displayed on the panel 201, the CPU 111 changes all the copy jobs being executed to a suspended state. Further, the CPU 111 displays a pop-up screen for selecting a copy job to be canceled from a list of the suspended copy jobs.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen displayed on panel 201, and illustrates a pop-up screen 900 for canceling a copy job.

  The CPU 111 changes the copy job to a paused state when the stop key is pressed while a screen related to copying (the screen 601 or the screen 603) is displayed on the panel 201. When the copy job is suspended, the reading process based on the copy job and the printing process based on the copy job are also suspended. Therefore, when the suspension of the copy job is instructed, the status of the task of the printing process based on the copy job is also changed to the suspended state.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the CPU 111 changes the task of the print processing in which the task generation source is a copy job and the status is “printing” or “waiting for printing” to a suspended state. When suspending the task of the print processing based on the copy job whose status is being printed, the CPU 111 controls the print unit 120 to interrupt the print processing on the sheet. Further, if the reading process based on the copy job is being executed, the CPU 111 changes the reading process based on the copy job to a suspended state. If the document has been read halfway, it may be changed to the pause state after reading the document.

  On the pop-up screen 900, a list of suspended copy jobs is displayed. The user can select a row indicating the copy job displayed on the screen 900 and stop the execution of the selected copy job. Note that the screen 900 illustrates a state where the row 901 is selected.

  A cancel key 902 is a key used to cancel the execution of the selected copy job. When the cancel key 902 is pressed, the CPU 111 can cancel the execution of the copy job corresponding to the selected line via the screen 900. A resume key 903 is a key used to resume execution of a suspended copy job. When the restart key 903 is pressed, the CPU 111 restarts the reading process and the printing process of all copy jobs. The cancel process is a process of canceling a copy job and a process of deleting the canceled copy job.

  When restarting the print processing based on the copy job, the CPU 111 controls the task of the print processing based on the paused copy job, and changes the status of the print processing task to the print waiting state.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the user presses the stop key 211 while the user is using the copy function (when the screen 601 or 603 is displayed), all copy jobs are temporarily stopped. Can be With this process, it is possible to prevent the printing process from proceeding during the selection of the copy job to be canceled, and to prevent the useless printout from being executed.

  Here, the user who presses the stop key 211 sees the state in which the printing operation by the printing unit 120 is stopped, and sometimes mistakes that the copy job being executed is stopped. In this case, it is conceivable that the user logs out of the image processing apparatus without checking the pause screen displayed on the operation unit. Here, if the logout processing is simply performed, the state is switched to a state in which the user has not logged in to the image processing apparatus while the copy job is temporarily stopped. When the user is not logged in, a log-in screen is displayed and each function cannot be used.

  Also, when the user who wants to cancel the copy job presses the stop key, the user may mistakenly think that the copy job being executed has been canceled due to the suspension of the printout operation, and may leave the image processing apparatus as it is. is there. In this case, when the logout process for the user is performed by auto logout, the state is switched to a state in which the user has not logged in to the image processing apparatus while all copy jobs are temporarily stopped.

  In this case, a copy job submitted by a logged-out user or a copy job submitted by another user may remain in a suspended state. Therefore, the user keeps temporarily suspending the copy job other than the copy job that the user really wants to cancel.

  In addition, there is a possibility that hardware resources such as a printing unit may continue to be occupied by a task of a printing process based on a suspended copy job. When a hardware resource such as a printing unit is occupied, a copy job occupying the resource is generated even if a print processing task based on the print job as shown by 814 in FIG. 8B is newly generated. Can not overtake the task of the printing process based on. Therefore, the task of the printing process based on the newly generated print job also stops in the waiting state, and the printing efficiency is reduced.

  Conventionally, in an environment in which authentication management is not performed on the assumption that a user logs in, if a user leaves the image processing apparatus while all copy jobs are temporarily stopped, a user who next uses the image processing apparatus resumes or The suspended state continued until the cancel instruction was given. That is, a situation has occurred in which printing of the copy job or printing based on a subsequent print job is not performed until someone notices that the copy job has been suspended and takes measures.

  On the other hand, in an image processing apparatus that performs authentication management on the assumption that a user logs in, it is possible to control a copy job with the logout of the user as a trigger.

  In view of this situation, in the present embodiment, when the user logs out of the image processing apparatus while the copy job is temporarily stopped, the execution of the copy job is controlled so that the copy job does not remain in the suspended state. I do. This will be further described below.

  The administrator of the MFP 101 can set in advance how to process a copy job suspended at the time of logout.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a copy operation setting screen displayed on the panel 201. Radio buttons 1001 to 1004 are radio buttons for selecting one setting from a plurality of buttons (options), and are used to set how to handle a copy job in a suspended state at the time of logout. A radio button 1001 is a button that is selected when it is desired to perform control to cancel a copy job in a suspended state at the time of logout. A radio button 1002 is a button selected when it is desired to control to resume a copy job in a paused state at the time of logout. The radio button 1003 is a button to be selected when it is desired to change the copy job of the user who logs out of the MFP 101 to the error state and to resume the copy job of another user among the copy jobs in the paused state. . The radio button 1004 is a button to be selected when it is desired to control to suspend only the copy job of the user who logs out and to resume the copy job of another user among the copy jobs in the paused state.

  An OK key 1011 is a key used to change settings of the MFP 101 based on setting items made through the screen. A setting cancel key 1012 is a key used to discard settings made via the screen.

  The administrator of the MFP 101 can set in advance how to handle the copy job in the suspended state at the time of logout via the screen of FIG. 10 (hereinafter, referred to as processing setting of the suspended job). The value of the processing setting of the suspended job set by the administrator is stored in the storage 114 or the RAM 113, and is referred to in a flowchart described later.

  For example, when the OK key 1011 is pressed while the radio button 1001 is selected, the CPU 111 stores “mode 1” as the processing setting of the suspended job. If the user presses the OK key 1011 in a state where the radio button 1002 is selected, the mode is stored in “mode 2” as the processing setting of the suspended job. If the user presses the OK key 1011 while the radio button 1003 is selected, the mode is stored in “mode 3” as the processing setting of the suspended job. If the user presses the OK key 1011 while the radio button 1004 is selected, the mode is set to “mode 4” as the processing setting of the suspended job.

  The MFP 101 controls the job based on the processing setting of the suspended job set by the administrator so that the job does not remain in the suspended state.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the administrator sets the processing of the suspended job shown in FIG. 10 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a general user (GeneralUser) may be allowed to make processing settings for a suspended job.

<Control of suspended jobs>
Next, FIGS. 11 to 14 show a method of controlling the execution of the copy job so that the copy job does not continue to remain in the suspended state when the user logs out from the image processing apparatus while the user is temporarily stopped. This will be described with reference to a flowchart. Each operation (step) of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is realized by the CPU 111 reading out the control program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114 to the RAM 113 and executing the control program.

  The CPU 111 executes the flowchart in FIG. 11 when the MFP 101 is powered on and operates in the normal mode. When power is supplied to the MFP 101 and the MFP 101 becomes usable by various boot programs, the CPU 111 executes the control shown in the flowchart in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 illustrates an operation in which the MFP 101 sequentially executes print processing tasks based on management information managed in the management list, and an operation in which management information for newly managing the print processing tasks is added to the management list. I do.

  In step S1101, the CPU 111 determines whether print data has been received from an external device. If print data has been received from an external device, the CPU 111 proceeds to S1102; otherwise, the CPU 111 proceeds to S1103.

  In step S1102, the CPU 111 converts print data received from an external device into data suitable for printing by a PDL analysis unit (not shown), and generates a print job. Further, the CPU 111 starts execution of the print job, and generates a print processing task based on the print job. Also, management information for managing the generated print processing task is added to the management list. When adding the management information to the management list, the CPU 111 appropriately changes the order (printing order) in the management list.

  In step S1103, the CPU 111 determines whether the user is logged in to the MFP 101. If the user has logged in to the MFP 101, the process advances to step S1200. If the user has not logged in to the MFP 101, the process advances to step S500.

  In S500, the login process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed. When a series of login processing is completed, the process proceeds to S1104.

  On the other hand, in S1200, the CPU 111 executes a series of processes related to an operation performed by the user via the operation unit 116 and a copy job receiving process. Details of a series of processes related to a user's operation via the operation unit 116 and a copy job receiving process will be described later with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1104, the CPU 111 executes a print processing task based on the management list stored in the RAM 113. The CPU 111 refers to the information at the head of the management list and sequentially executes the corresponding print processing tasks. The CPU 111 transfers the image data (data 707) included in the print processing task to the printing unit 120 via the printing unit I / F 119. Further, the printing unit 120 is controlled based on the print settings to print image data on a sheet.

  In S1105, the CPU 111 determines whether the printing process in S1104 has been completed. If it is determined that printing has been completed, the process advances to step S1106. On the other hand, if it is determined that the printing has not been completed, the process returns to S1101.

  In step S1106, the CPU 111 ends the task of the printing process for which printing has been completed in step S1104. The CPU 111 notifies the generation source job (copy job or print job) that generated the print processing task that the print processing has been completed, as end processing of the print processing task. Further, the CPU 111 deletes the management information corresponding to the task of the printing process for which printing has been completed in S1104 from the management list. Upon completion of the deletion, the process advances to step S1107.

  Further, the CPU 111 appropriately controls the print job and the copy job being executed. When the print job or the copy job receives the notification from the task that the print processing has been completed, the execution of the job is terminated.

  In S1107, the CPU 111 determines whether or not an event for shifting to power-off has occurred. Specifically, the CPU 111 ends the series of processing when detecting that the power switch (not shown) is turned off, and returns to the processing of S1101 when not detecting that the power switch is turned off.

  Note that when ending the processing in FIG. 11, the CPU 111 executes processing for shutting down the MFP 101, and when the shutdown processing ends, turns off the power of the MFP 101.

  Next, details of a series of processes related to the user operation and the copy job receiving process executed in S1200 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1201, the CPU 111 determines whether a copy execution instruction has been issued. More specifically, when the start key 212 is pressed while the above-described copy setting screen is displayed on the panel 201, the CPU 111 determines that a copy execution instruction has been issued, and proceeds to S1202. On the other hand, if the start key 212 is not pressed, the process skips steps S1202 and S1203, and proceeds to step S1204.

  In step S1202, the CPU 111 generates a copy job based on the settings made via the setting screen, and executes the generated copy job. The CPU 111 executes a reading process of controlling the reading unit 118 to read a document as a first process of a copy job. When the generation of the image of the document to be copied by the reading process is completed, the process advances to step S1203. Note that the number of documents read by the reading process in S1203 may be one or a plurality.

  In step S1203, the CPU 111 generates a print processing task based on the copy job generated in step S1202. Further, the CPU 111 adds management information for managing the generated print processing task to the management list. When adding the management information to the management list, the CPU 111 appropriately changes the order (printing order) in the management list. Through the processing described in S1201 to S1203, a plurality of copy jobs can be accepted.

  In S1204, the CPU 111 proceeds to S1207 if the stop key 211 is pressed, and proceeds to S1205 if the stop key 211 is not pressed.

  In S1205, when the CPU 111 detects either manual logout or automatic logout, the process proceeds to S1206. On the other hand, if neither manual logout nor automatic logout has been detected, a series of user operation and copy job acceptance processing ends, and the flow advances to print processing in S1104.

  Specifically, when the CPU 111 detects a manual logout event that occurs when the logged-in user performs an operation of instructing logout (an operation of pressing either the logout key 631 or the ID key 213), the process proceeds to S1206. . If an event of an auto logout that occurs when a state where the operation of the logged-in user is not performed during the log-in continues for a certain period of time is detected, the process proceeds to S1206. On the other hand, if no logout event has been detected, the series of user operation and copy job accepting processing ends, and the flow advances to print processing in S1104. Note that the logout event is managed for each session.

  In S1206, the CPU 111 discards the session data of the session in which the logout event has occurred, and cancels the user authentication. The CPU 111 displays the login screen shown on the screen 410 on the panel 201, and proceeds to the print processing in S1104.

  On the other hand, in S1207, the CPU 111 determines whether there is a copy job that is being executed or is waiting to be executed. In this process, when a print process based on a copy job or a reading process based on a copy job is being executed, it is determined that there is a copy job that is being executed or is waiting to be executed.

  First, a printing process based on a copy job will be described. The CPU 111 refers to the management list stored in the RAM 113 and determines whether or not there is a print processing task based on a copy job in printing or in a print waiting state.

  Specifically, with reference to the management list, if the task generation source is a copy job and there is a task whose status is "printing" or "waiting for print", it is determined that there is a copy job that is executing or waiting for execution, The process proceeds to a copy job canceling process in S1300. Also, in the case where the reading process based on the copy job described in S1202 is being executed, it is determined that there is a copy job that is being executed or is waiting to be executed, and the process proceeds to the copy job canceling process in S1300.

  On the other hand, if there is no copy job being executed or waiting to be executed, the process proceeds to S1205. Note that the process of S1207 is a process for controlling not to display the stop screen even when the stop key 211 is pressed, when there is no copy job to be stopped.

  In step S1300, the CPU 111 executes a series of processes related to a copy job stop process. Next, details of a series of processes (S1300) related to the copy job stop process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1301, the CPU 111 temporarily suspends a copy job that is being executed or is waiting to be executed. The CPU 111 refers to the management list stored in the RAM 113, and changes the task of the print processing in which the task generation source is the copy job and whose status is “printing” or “waiting for printing” to the paused state. Further, when the status of the printing process whose status is being printed is changed to the suspended state, the CPU 111 controls the printing unit 120 to interrupt the printing process on the sheet. Further, if the reading process based on the copy job is being executed, the CPU 111 controls the reading unit 118 to temporarily stop the reading process. By the processing of S1301, it is possible to temporarily stop a copy job whose print processing has not been completed.

  In step S1302, the CPU 111 displays a copy job stop screen on the panel 201. The CPU 111 refers to the management list and displays a list of copy jobs in the suspended state on the stop screen. The pop-up screen 900 shown in FIG. 9 is an example of a copy job stop screen.

  In step S1303, the CPU 111 receives a selection of a copy job to be canceled via the copy job cancellation screen. A plurality of selections may be made, or one copy job may be made selectable.

  In step S1304, the CPU 111 proceeds to step S1305 if the stop key 902 has been pressed, and proceeds to step S1307 if the stop key 902 has not been pressed. In S1305, the CPU 111 cancels the execution of the copy job selected in S1303. If the copy job to be canceled is temporarily stopped in the print processing, when canceling the copy job, the execution of the print processing task generated based on the copy job is also stopped. If the copy job to be canceled is temporarily stopped in the reading process, the read image data is deleted when canceling the copy job, and the process advances to step S1306.

  In step S1306, the CPU 111 determines whether there is a copy job in a suspended state. If a suspended copy job exists, the process returns to step S1302, and the copy job stop screen is displayed again. If there is no paused copy job, the process related to a series of copy job stop processes is terminated, and the process proceeds to the print process in S1104.

  On the other hand, in S1307, the CPU 111 proceeds to S1308 if the resume key 903 is pressed, and proceeds to S1309 if the resume key 903 is not pressed.

  In S1308, the CPU 111 resumes the copy job in the paused state, and proceeds to S1104. In the case of a copy job that has been temporarily stopped in the printing process, the printing process based on the copy job is also restarted. Specifically, the CPU 111 refers to the management list, and changes the status of the task of the print processing in which the task generation source is the copy job and the status is the pause state, to the print waiting state. Since the task of the print processing based on the copy job whose status is the suspension state is changed to the print waiting state, the print processing is restarted in the print processing of S1104. On the other hand, in the case of a copy job suspended in the reading process, the reading process based on the copy job is restarted.

  On the other hand, in step S1309, if the CPU 111 detects either manual logout or auto logout while the copy job stop screen is displayed on the panel 201, the process proceeds to step S1400. On the other hand, if neither manual logout nor automatic logout is detected, the process returns to S1303.

  In S1400, the CPU 111 executes a series of processes related to copy job control at the time of logout. Next, details of a series of processing (S1400) related to copy job control at the time of logout will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1401, the CPU 111 acquires the processing settings of the suspended job stored in the storage 114 or the RAM 113. In step S1402, the CPU 111 determines whether the setting acquired in step S1401 is a setting for switching control between a copy job of a user who logs out and a copy job of another user. Specifically, the CPU 111 determines that the control is switched between the copy job of the user who logs out and the copy job of another user when the processing setting of the suspended job is “mode 3” or “mode 4”, and S1402 Proceed to. On the other hand, when the processing setting of the suspended job is “mode 1” or “mode 2”, it is determined that the control is not switched between the copy job of the user who logs out and the copy job of another user, and the process proceeds to S1409.

  In step S1403, the CPU 111 acquires the user ID of the user who logs out of the MFP 101.

  In step S1404, the CPU 111 restarts the copy job in the suspended state in which the user ID and the job owner name acquired in step S1403 are different. When restarting a copy job that has been temporarily suspended in the printing process, the printing process based on the copy job is also restarted. The CPU 111 refers to the management list stored in the RAM 113, and changes the status of the task input to the copy job, the status of the task is suspended, and the status of the task whose job owner name is different from the user ID acquired in S1303 to the print waiting state. I do. When a copy job suspended in the reading process is restarted, the reading process based on the copy job is also restarted.

  In step S1405, the CPU 111 determines whether the processing setting of the suspension job acquired in step S1401 is a setting for canceling the execution of the copy job for suspension of the login user. Specifically, when the processing setting of the suspension job is “mode 4”, the CPU 111 determines that the execution of the suspension copy job of the login user is to be canceled, and the process proceeds to S1406. On the other hand, if the processing setting of the suspension job is “mode 3”, it is determined that the setting is not a setting to cancel the execution of the copy job for suspension of the login user, and the process proceeds to S1407.

  In step S1406, the CPU 111 cancels execution of the copy job in the suspended state. When canceling the execution of a copy job that has been temporarily suspended in the print processing, the task of the print processing based on the copy job is also canceled. When canceling a copy job that has been suspended in the reading process, the image data obtained in the reading process is also deleted.

  In step S1407, the CPU 111 changes the status of the copy job suspended in the printing process to an error state. When a copy job that has been temporarily stopped in the printing process is changed to the error state, the task of the printing process based on the copy job is also changed to the error state. More specifically, the CPU 111 refers to the management list stored in the RAM 113, and changes the status of the task whose input source is the copy job and whose status is the suspended state to the error state. Upon completion of the process in S1407, the process advances to S1408. For a copy job that is temporarily stopped while occupying the printing unit 120, the sheet that is being printed is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown), the occupation of the printing unit 120 is released, and the The status shall be changed to the error state.

  In S1408, the CPU 111 cancels the execution of the copy job suspended in the reading process, deletes the image data obtained in the reading process, and proceeds to S1310.

  Note that the process in S1408 is a process for preventing a copy job occupying the reading unit from remaining in an error state.

  By the processing in S1407, the copy job of the logged-in user is left in an error state. It is assumed that the priority of the print processing task based on the copy job in the error state is set lower than that of the print wait task or the print processing task during printing. Accordingly, the newly generated print processing task and the print processing task waiting for printing can be executed overtaking the print processing task in the error state. The user can restart the copy job by issuing a job restart instruction from a status confirmation screen (not shown). When instructed to resume execution, the CPU 111 changes the print processing task corresponding to the copy job to a print waiting state and restarts the print processing task.

  On the other hand, in step S1409, the CPU 111 determines whether the processing setting of the suspended job acquired in step S1401 is a setting for canceling the execution of the suspended copy job. Specifically, if the processing setting of the suspended job is “mode 1”, the CPU 111 determines that the execution of the suspended copy job of the login user is to be canceled, and proceeds to S1409. On the other hand, when the processing setting of the suspended job is “mode 2”, the CPU 111 determines that the setting is not to cancel execution of the suspended copy job, and proceeds to S1410.

  In step S1409, the CPU 111 cancels the execution of the suspended copy job. When canceling a copy job that has been temporarily suspended in print processing, the task of print processing based on the copy job is also canceled. When canceling a copy job that has been suspended in the reading process, the image data obtained in the reading process is also deleted.

  On the other hand, in S1410, the CPU 111 resumes the copy job in the paused state. When canceling the execution of a copy job that has been paused in the print processing, the task of the print processing based on the copy job is also restarted. When canceling the execution of the copy job that has been temporarily suspended in the reading process, the reading unit 118 is controlled to restart the reading process.

  By the series of processes described with reference to FIG. 13, when an event occurs in which the user logs out of the apparatus, the copy job can be controlled so that the copy job is temporarily stopped and does not remain.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 14, in S1310, the CPU 111 discards the session data of the session in which the logout event has occurred, and cancels the user authentication. Upon completion of the process, the process advances to the print process in S1104.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the user presses the stop key and logs out from the image processing apparatus while the copy job is paused, the copy job is not continued in the paused state. Can be Therefore, when the user logs out, the occupation of the printing unit 120 by the task of the printing process based on the suspended copy job can be released. Further, the occupation of the reading unit 118 by the reading process based on the copy job in the paused state can be released. Therefore, job execution efficiency can be improved. Further, when the user logs out, the execution of the copy job of the logged-out user can be canceled and the execution of the copy job of another user can be restarted.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the execution of the copy job of the logged-out user is canceled and the execution of the copy job of another user is restarted. In the second embodiment, a description will be given of focusing on a session, canceling execution of a job whose execution has been instructed in a session targeted for logout processing, and resuming execution of another copy job. Also, a description will be given of canceling the execution of a copy job whose execution is instructed the latest in a copy job whose execution is instructed in a session targeted for logout processing and restarting the execution of another copy job. I do. In the second embodiment, the hardware configuration of the prerequisite device is the same as that of the first embodiment. The detailed description of the same configuration and control as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  The administrator of the MFP 101 can set in advance how to process a copy job suspended at the time of logout. FIG. 15 shows an example of a copy operation setting screen displayed on the panel 201 in the second embodiment, which replaces the setting screen of FIG. 10 in the first embodiment.

  Radio buttons 1501 and 1502 are radio buttons for selecting one setting from a plurality of buttons (options), and are used to set how to handle a copy job in a suspended state at the time of logout. The radio button 1501 is selected when the user wants to cancel execution of a copy job whose execution is instructed in a session to be logged out and to resume execution of another copy job even among copy jobs in a suspended state. Button. The radio button 1502 is used to cancel the execution of the newest copy job whose execution has been instructed in the session targeted for logout processing, and to resume the execution of another copy job among copy jobs in the suspended state. This is the button to select if you want.

  An OK key 1511 is a key used to change settings of the MFP 101 based on setting items made via the screen. A setting cancel key 1512 is a key used to discard settings made via the screen.

  The administrator of the MFP 101 can preliminarily set how to handle a copy job in a suspended state at the time of logout via the screen of FIG. 15 (hereinafter, referred to as processing setting of a suspended job in the second embodiment). The value of the processing setting of the suspended job in the second embodiment set by the administrator is stored in the storage 114 or the RAM 113, and is referred to in a flowchart described later.

  For example, when the OK key 1511 is pressed while the radio button 1501 is selected, the CPU 111 stores “mode 1” as the processing setting of the suspended job. If the user presses the OK key 1511 in a state where the radio button 1502 is selected, the mode is stored in “mode 2” as the processing setting of the suspended job. The MFP 101 controls the job based on the processing setting of the suspended job set by the administrator so that the job does not remain in the suspended state.

  Note that, in the present embodiment, the case where the administrator sets the processing of the suspended job shown in FIG. 15 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a general user (GeneralUser) may be allowed to make processing settings for a suspended job.

  FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 are diagrams for explaining the task of the printing process and the printing process in the second embodiment.

  Next, the printing process will be described. FIG. 16 illustrates an example of data included in a print processing task. As in the first embodiment, the data included in the print processing task includes data to be printed (such as image data) inherited from the job that generated the print processing task and print data in which print settings are stored. 707. Further, print processing attributes 701 to 706 are added to the data included in the print processing task. Further, in the second embodiment, a session ID 1601 for identifying which session has been started to execute is added to the task of the print processing. These attributes are appropriately used in a flowchart described later.

  Next, control regarding handling of a suspended job at the time of logout will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 17A to 17C are diagrams for explaining control relating to handling of a suspended job at the time of logout. FIG. 17A illustrates an example of a management list for managing print processing tasks, and shows a state in which five print processing tasks are being executed or waiting to be executed, and the stop key 211 has been pressed. As illustrated in FIG. 17, in the case of a job (for example, a normal print job) that is input without logging in, the session ID is not added.

  FIGS. 17B and 17C show control of a print processing task when the user logs out of the MFP 101 with the copy job suspended.

  FIG. 17B is a diagram for explaining the handling of the suspended job at the time of logout when “mode 1” is specified as the processing setting of the suspended job. Here, a case where the session ID of the session to be subjected to the logout process is “0003” is illustrated.

  When “mode 1” is specified, the job of the print process with the session ID “0003” is canceled in order to cancel the execution of the job whose execution is instructed in the session targeted for the logout process. . Therefore, the print processing task corresponding to the management information 1712 and 1713 is canceled. On the other hand, the task corresponding to the management information 1711 is a task based on the job instructed to be executed by the same “UserA”, but is a task based on the job instructed to be executed in a different session, and thus is restarted without being canceled. Will be.

  When a reading process based on a copy job is being executed, a similar process is performed for a reading process based on a copy job. If the reading process instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process is being executed, the reading process is also canceled.

  FIG. 17C is a diagram for describing handling of a suspended job at the time of logout when “mode 2” is specified as the suspended job processing setting. Here, a case where the session ID of the session to be subjected to the logout process is “0003” is illustrated.

  When “mode 2” is specified, among the copy jobs in the suspended state, the execution of the copy job whose execution date is latest in the session targeted for logout processing is canceled, and the copy job of another copy job is canceled. Resume execution. Therefore, the execution of the newest copy job with the session ID “0003” is cancelled.

  Therefore, if the reading process is being executed in the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process, the reading process is canceled and the task of the printing process based on another copy job is restarted. .

  On the other hand, if the reading process instructed to be executed in the session targeted for logout processing is not being executed, the task of the newest printing process among the tasks of the printing process designated to be executed in the session targeted for logout processing Will be canceled. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17C, the task of the print processing of the management information 1713 is cancelled, and another print processing task is restarted.

<Control of suspended jobs>
Next, a method for controlling the execution of a copy job so that the copy job does not remain in a suspended state in the second embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 and FIG. Each operation (step) of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 and FIG. 18 is realized by the CPU 111 reading out the control program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114 to the RAM 113 and executing it.

  The processing in the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 to 13 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus will not be described. In the second embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 18 is executed instead of the series of processing related to the copy job control at logout in FIG. 14 in the first embodiment.

  In step S1801, the CPU 111 acquires the processing settings of the suspended job stored in the storage 114 or the RAM 113. In step S1402, the CPU 111 acquires a session ID of a session to be logged out.

  In step S1803, the CPU 111 restarts the copy job instructed to be executed in a session different from the session ID acquired in step S1802. When resuming the execution of a copy job that has been suspended in the printing process, the task of the printing process based on the copy job is also resumed.

  In step S1804, the CPU 111 determines whether the setting acquired in step S1801 is a setting for canceling all jobs whose execution has been instructed in the same session. Specifically, when the processing setting of the suspended job is “mode 1”, the CPU 111 determines that the setting is to cancel all the jobs instructed to be executed in the same session, and proceeds to S1805. On the other hand, if the processing setting of the suspended job is “mode 2”, it is determined that the setting is not to cancel all the jobs whose execution has been instructed in the same session, and the process advances to step S1806.

  In S1805, the CPU 111 cancels the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process based on the session ID acquired in S1803.

  Specifically, if the reading process of the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process is temporarily stopped, the reading process is canceled. Also, the task of the printing process that matches the session ID acquired in step S1802 is cancelled.

  In step S1806, the CPU 111 cancels the execution of the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process based on the session ID, the copy job having the latest instructed date. Further, the execution of another copy job is resumed. Specifically, if the reading process of the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process is temporarily stopped, the reading process is cancelled, and another print processing task is restarted. If the reading process of the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process is not paused, the task of the printing process is processed as follows. The CPU 111 cancels the task of the print processing whose execution instruction date is newest among the tasks of the print processing that matches the session ID acquired in S1802, and restarts the other print processing tasks.

  By the series of processes described with reference to FIG. 18, when an event occurs in which the user logs out of the MFP 101, it is possible to control the copy job so that the copy job is temporarily stopped and does not remain.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the user logs out, the execution of the copy job instructed to be executed in the session targeted for the logout process is canceled, and the execution of another copy job is restarted. be able to. With these processes, it is possible to prevent the copy job from remaining in a suspended state. Further, it is possible to prevent a copy job of another user or a copy job of the same user whose execution has been instructed in another session from being unexpectedly canceled.

  Further, when "mode 2" is set, the newest copy job whose execution has been instructed in the session targeted for the logout process can be canceled, and the execution of another copy job can be resumed. In the control in “mode 2”, when the user performs the canceling process, it is considered that there are many cases where the user wants to cancel the most recent process, and only the newest copy job whose execution has been instructed in the same session is cancelled. The copy job is restarted.

<Third embodiment>
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, when the user logs out of the image processing apparatus, the case where the copy job is canceled or restarted so that the copy job is not stopped and remains in a suspended state has been described.

  In the third embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not a stop instruction to cancel any of the paused copy jobs has been given via the stop screen. Control of restarting another copy job will be described.

  In the third embodiment, the hardware configuration of the prerequisite device is the same as that of the first embodiment. The detailed description of the same configuration and control as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  A method of controlling the stop processing of a copy job in the third embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 19 is a flowchart replacing the flowchart of FIG. 13 in the first embodiment, and is a flowchart for describing an operation to be executed when it is determined in S1207 that there is a copy job.

  First, in S1911, the CPU 111 sets the stop instruction flag to OFF, and proceeds to S1901. The stop instruction flag is temporarily stored in the RAM 113, and is referred to in steps described later.

  In S1901 to S903, the CPU 111 suspends the copy job and accepts the selection of the copy job to be canceled from the user, similarly to S1301 to S1303 of the first embodiment.

  In step S1904, the CPU 111 proceeds to step S1905 if the stop key 902 has been pressed, and proceeds to step S1907 if the stop key 902 has not been pressed.

  In S1905, the CPU 111 cancels the execution of the copy job selected in S1903, and proceeds to S1912. In S1912, the CPU 111 changes the stop instruction flag set in S1911 to ON, and proceeds to S1906. In step S1906, as in step S1306, if there is a copy job in a suspended state, the process returns to step S1902, and the copy job stop screen is displayed again. If there is no paused copy job, a series of processing ends.

  On the other hand, in steps S1907 and S1908, the CPU 111 resumes the copy job when determining that the resume key has been pressed, similarly to steps S1307 and S1308, and ends a series of processing. On the other hand, if the restart key has not been pressed, the process advances to step S1909.

  In step S1909, if the CPU 111 detects either manual logout or auto logout with the copy job stop screen displayed on the panel 201, the process proceeds to step S1913. On the other hand, if neither manual logout nor automatic logout is detected, the process returns to S1903.

  In S1913, the CPU 111 refers to the RAM 113 and determines whether or not the stop instruction flag is OFF. If the stop instruction flag is OFF, the process advances to S1400 to perform copy job control and logout processing at the time of logout, and ends a series of processing. On the other hand, if the stop instruction lulag is not OFF (if it is ON), the process advances to step S1908 to resume the temporarily stopped copy job and end a series of processes.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not a stop instruction has been issued to cancel any of the suspended copy jobs. Another copy job can be resumed. Therefore, if the user logs out after canceling one or more copy jobs, it is possible to resume without canceling another copy job.

  Note that the present embodiment has been described on the assumption that the present invention is applied to the first embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to the second embodiment.

<Other embodiments>
In the first to third embodiments, the case where the press of the stop key is detected during the execution of the copy job and the copy job is temporarily stopped is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.

  For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a transmission job for reading image data and transmitting the image data to an external device such as the PC 102 is temporarily stopped. Further, when the stop key is pressed according to the screen displayed on the panel 201, the type of the job to be temporarily stopped and the attribute of the job may be appropriately changed. For example, when a screen related to copying is displayed, the CPU 111 suspends the copy job. When a screen related to printing of print data (for example, a screen for a function of printing stored data stored in the storage, a screen related to reservation printing, etc.) is displayed, the print job is changed to a paused state. You may.

  The present invention supplies a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus read and execute the program. This processing can be realized. Further, it can also be realized by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

101 image processing device 111 CPU
211 Stop key

Claims (13)

An image processing apparatus that performs print processing based on a job,
Receiving means for receiving an operation by the user;
Changing means for changing a job for which print processing has not been completed to a suspended state in response to receiving a predetermined operation by the receiving means;
Upon detecting a logout event to log out the user logged in to the image processing apparatus from the image processing apparatus, restarting at least one of the jobs suspended based on the change by the change unit, Job control means for canceling the job which does not perform the restart,
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The job control unit, when detecting the logout event, among the jobs suspended based on the change by the change unit, the logout during a series of periods from login to logout related to the logout event. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job whose execution is instructed by the user who logs out due to the event is canceled, and the job not canceled is restarted.   The job control unit, when detecting the logout event, among the jobs suspended based on the change by the change unit, the logout during a series of periods from login to logout related to the logout event. 2. The job according to claim 1, wherein a job that is instructed to be executed by a user who logs out by an event, cancels one new job whose execution has been instructed but does not cancel the job. Image processing device. The image processing apparatus further includes a storage unit that is generated when a user logs in to the image processing apparatus, and stores a session ID and user information that are discarded when the user logs out of the image processing apparatus in association with each other,
When the session ID stored in association with the user who logs out by the logout event matches the session ID added as the attribute of the job, the job control unit determines that the job having the same session ID matches the logout event. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus determines that the job has been instructed to be executed by a user who logs out by the logout event during a series of periods from login to logout related to the job.   The job control unit, when detecting the logout event, restarts a job that has not been instructed to be executed by a user who logs out of the image processing apparatus among jobs suspended based on the change by the change unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a job whose execution is instructed by a user who logs out of the image processing apparatus is canceled. An image processing apparatus that performs print processing based on a job,
Receiving means for receiving an operation by the user;
Changing means for changing a job for which print processing has not been completed to a suspended state in response to receiving a predetermined operation by the receiving means;
A job control unit that cancels execution of a suspended job based on a change by the change unit when a logout event that causes a user logged in to the image processing device to log out of the image processing device is detected;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The job control unit cancels execution of the job in response to receiving a user operation for canceling the job suspended by the reception unit, and resumes execution of the job suspended by the reception unit 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein execution of the job is resumed in response to receiving a user operation to perform the job. Further comprising a display means for displaying a list of jobs suspended based on the change by the change means,
A user operation for selecting at least one job among the jobs displayed on the display unit while the display unit displays a list of jobs, and canceling execution of the selected job; The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the execution of the selected job is canceled in response to receiving the job.   When the job control unit detects a logout event that logs out a user from the image processing apparatus after at least one of the jobs suspended based on the change by the change unit is canceled, 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution of all the suspended jobs is resumed based on the change by the change unit.   The change unit changes a job for which printing processing has not been completed to a suspended state in response to receiving a user operation of pressing a stop key for canceling a job by the receiving unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus that executes print processing based on a job,
A receiving step of receiving an operation by the user;
A changing step of changing a job for which printing processing has not been completed to a suspended state in response to receiving a predetermined operation in the receiving step;
Upon detecting a logout event to log out the user logged in to the image processing apparatus from the image processing apparatus, restarting at least one of the jobs suspended based on the change in the change step, A job control step of canceling the job that does not perform the restart,
A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: A method for controlling an image processing apparatus that executes print processing based on a job,
A receiving step of receiving an operation by the user;
A changing step of changing a job for which printing processing has not been completed to a suspended state in response to receiving a predetermined operation in the receiving step;
A job control step of canceling execution of a suspended copy job based on a change in the change step, when detecting a logout event to log out a user who is logged in to the image processing apparatus from the image processing apparatus,
A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 11.

Images