JP6772811B2 - Image forming device, delivery method and delivery program of output by the device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripherala) which is a multifunction digital image forming apparatus, particularly a self-propelled image forming apparatus equipped with a moving means, a method of delivering an output of the apparatus, and a delivery program. ..

A technique has been proposed in which a print job is executed by a self-propelled image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus moves to deliver a printed matter as an output to a user who requests the print job.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a user's seat holding a card that is a printing request source is provided as an image forming system that detects the moving destination of the printing request source and provides a printed matter when the printing request source moves. The mobile image forming apparatus that moves to and executes the printing process, and the mobile image forming apparatus accepts printing requests, periodically calculates the position information of the card, and based on the time change of the calculated position information. A system having an information processing server that sends a print instruction to move to the user's seat and execute printing when it is determined that the user is not moving is disclosed in the mobile image forming apparatus. ..

By the way, after the requesting user of the print job sends the print job to the image forming apparatus, there is a case where the printed matter is received and moved to, for example, a conference room, and the printed matter is distributed in the conference room. In such a case, if the requesting user joins the self-propelled image forming apparatus that printed the printed matter while moving to the conference room or the like and can obtain the printed matter, the user can obtain the printed matter at an early stage, which is convenient.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-12878

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 detects a moving destination when the requesting user is moving, and the image forming apparatus moves to the moving destination to perform printing. When the user moves, After determining that the destination has been stopped for a certain period of time, the destination is specified. Therefore, the user cannot obtain the printed matter by merging with the image forming apparatus on the way.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and the requesting user who has sent the print job to the image forming apparatus merges with the image forming apparatus to obtain the printed matter while moving to the moving destination. An object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled image forming apparatus capable of performing, a method of delivering output by the apparatus, and a delivery program.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) Acquire the receiving means for receiving the identification information of the print job and the requesting source user sent from the requesting terminal of the printing job, the output means for outputting the received print job, and the location information of the requesting source user. The location information acquisition means, the schedule information acquisition means for acquiring the schedule information regarding the location and time of the requesting user to move based on the identification information, and the location information of the requesting user acquired by the location information acquisition means. The first calculation means for calculating the movement route from the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition means to the requesting user moving to the place where the requesting user is scheduled to move, the movement means, and the own device by the movement means. Is calculated by the second calculation means for calculating the movement route until the vehicle moves to the planned movement location, the movement route of the requesting user calculated by the first calculation means, and the second calculation means. The movement so as to move from the movement route of the own device to the third calculation means for calculating the optimum merging point between the requesting user and the own device and the merging point calculated by the third calculation means. An image forming apparatus including a movement control means for controlling the means.
(2) the position information acquisition means, based on the requesting user's location information obtained by the sensor, or based on the position information of requesters terminal, to item 1 for obtaining location information of the requesting user The image forming apparatus described.
(3) The image forming apparatus according to the preceding item 1 or 2, wherein the schedule information acquisition means acquires the schedule information from a management server that manages the identification information of the requesting user and the schedule information of the requesting user in association with each other. ..
(4) The second calculation means calculates the movement route of the own device from the planned movement location included in the schedule information of the requesting user, the position information of the own device, and the movement speed of the own device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above items 1 to 3.
(5) The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4 above, wherein the output means outputs a print job while moving to the confluence.
(6) The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5 above, wherein the third calculation means calculates a confluence point at which the moving distance of the own device is the shortest.
(7) The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5 above, wherein the third calculation means calculates a confluence point where the moving distance of the requesting user is the shortest.
(8) Acquire the reception step of receiving the identification information of the print job and the request source user sent from the request source terminal of the print job, the output step of outputting the received print job, and the position information of the request source user. The location information acquisition step, the schedule information acquisition step for acquiring the schedule information regarding the location and time of the requesting user to move based on the identification information, and the location information of the requesting user acquired by the location information acquisition step. , The first calculation step of calculating the movement route from the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition step to the location where the requesting user is scheduled to move, and the location where the own device is scheduled to move by the movement means. The second calculation step for calculating the movement route to move to, the movement route of the requesting user calculated by the first calculation step, and the movement route of the own device calculated by the second calculation step. From the third calculation step for calculating the optimum merging point between the requesting user and the own device, and the movement control for controlling the moving means so as to move to the merging point calculated by the third calculation step. A method of delivering an output by an image forming apparatus, which comprises performing a step and an image forming apparatus.
(9) Acquire the reception step of receiving the identification information of the print job and the requesting user sent from the requesting terminal of the printing job, the output step of outputting the received print job, and the position information of the requesting user. The location information acquisition step, the schedule information acquisition step for acquiring the schedule information regarding the location and time of the requesting user to move based on the identification information, and the location information of the requesting user acquired by the location information acquisition step. , The first calculation step of calculating the movement route from the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition step to the location where the requesting user is scheduled to move, and the location where the own device is scheduled to move by the movement means. A second calculation step for calculating the movement route to move to, a movement route of the requesting user calculated by the first calculation step, and a movement route of the own device calculated by the second calculation step. From the third calculation step of calculating the optimum merging point between the requesting user and the own device, and the movement control for controlling the moving means so as to move to the merging point calculated by the third calculation step. A program for passing output to make the computer of the image forming apparatus execute the steps.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (1), the image forming apparatus acquires the position information of the requesting source user, and based on the identification information of the requesting source user, the image forming apparatus obtains the scheduled information regarding the planned movement location and time of the requesting source user. From the acquired location information and schedule information, the movement route until the requesting user moves to the planned movement location is calculated. On the other hand, the movement route until the own device moves to the place where the user is scheduled to move by the moving means is calculated. Then, the optimum merging point between the requesting user and the own device is calculated from the calculated movement route of the requesting source user and the moving route of the own device, and the moving means is controlled so as to move to the calculated merging point. ..

Therefore, the requesting user of the print job can obtain the printed matter which is the output by merging with the image forming apparatus while moving to the place to be moved, and the user should obtain the printed matter at an early stage. It is convenient. In addition, since the image forming apparatus does not need to move to the planned moving place, the energy consumption can be reduced.

According to the invention as described in the preceding paragraph (2), based on the requesting user's location information obtained by the sensor, or based on the position information of requesters terminal acquires position information of the requesting user that Can be done.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (3), the schedule information of the request source user can be acquired from the management server that manages the identification information of the request source user and the schedule information in association with each other.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (4), the image forming apparatus itself is based on the location of the planned movement included in the schedule information of the requesting user, the position information of the own device, and the moving speed of the own device. Calculate the movement route of the device.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (5), the print job can be output while moving to the confluence point.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (6), the user can join the user at the merging point where the moving distance of the own device is the shortest.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (7), it is possible to join the user at the merging point where the moving distance of the requesting user is the shortest.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (8), the requesting user of the print job can obtain the printed matter which is the output by merging with the image forming apparatus while moving to the place to be moved. , The user can get the printed matter at an early stage, which is convenient. In addition, since the image forming apparatus does not need to move to the planned moving place, the energy consumption can be reduced.

According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (9), a process in which a user requesting a print job can merge with an image forming apparatus and obtain a printed matter as an output while moving to a place to be moved. Can be executed by the computer of the image forming apparatus.

It is a top view of the office room where the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is arranged. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical composition of the terminal device owned by a user. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the movement of the user and the operation of an image forming apparatus when a requesting user who is scheduled to move to a moving destination submits a print job to an image forming apparatus. It is a top view of the office room similar to FIG. 1 for demonstrating another embodiment of this invention.

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

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an office room 1 in which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged.

In the room 1, an office 111 in which a desk 101 for a user to perform business and a terminal device 3 are installed, a plurality of conference rooms 112 and 113, and the like are arranged, and one self-propelled image. A forming device 2, an information management server 4, and a plurality of cameras 5 are arranged.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 2. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 2 uses an MFP, which is a multifunctional digital multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanning function, and a facsimile function. In the following description, the image forming apparatus is also referred to as an MFP.

The MFP 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a scanner unit 24, a storage unit 25, a printer unit 26, an operation panel 27, a network controller (N1C) 28, and a mobile device 29.

The CPU 21 controls the entire image processing apparatus 1 so that basic functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function can be used. In addition, when the position information of the own device is acquired by the GPS function or the like and a print job is submitted from a user who is planning to move to the planned moving location via the terminal device 3 or the like, the user is sent to the planned moving location. The movement route and time are calculated, the movement route of the own device is also calculated, the merging point with the user is calculated, and control such as moving to the merging point is executed. A detailed explanation will be described later.

The ROM 22 is a memory for storing an operation program of the CPU 21, and the RAM 23 is a memory for providing a work area when the CPU 21 operates based on the operation program.

The scanner unit 24 digitizes the paper information by reading the image of the original placed on the platen (not shown) by an optical method, and performs image format conversion on the digitized information. It is a reading means for generating image data in a predetermined format such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), TIFF (tag image file format), and PDF (Portable Document Format).

The storage unit 25 is composed of a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and has a function of storing various data such as image data generated by the scanner unit 24 and data received from the outside. Is.

The printer unit 26 prints the image data generated by the scanner unit 24, the print data from the user's terminal device 3, and the like according to the instructed mode.

The operation panel 27 is used for various input operations and the like, and has a display unit 271 composed of a touch panel type liquid crystal or the like for displaying a message, an operation screen, or the like, and a key including a numeric keypad, a start key, a stop key, and the like. The input unit 272 is provided.

The network controller 28 transmits and receives data by controlling communication with other image forming devices on the network, a user's terminal device 3, an information management server 4, and the like.

The moving device 29 includes a moving mechanism such as a motor and wheels, and moves the MFP 2 to a predetermined position.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the terminal device 3 owned by the user.

The terminal device 3 is composed of a personal computer and can communicate with the MFP 2 via a network. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal device 3 includes a CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, a storage unit 34, a display device 35, an input device 36, a network interface unit (network I / F unit) 37, and the like, and is provided via a system bus 38. Connected to each other.

The CPU 31 comprehensively controls the entire terminal device 3 by executing a program stored in the ROM 32, the storage unit 34, or the like, generates a print job based on the user operation, and sends the print job to the MFP 2. The GPS function acquires its own position information and executes control such as transmitting it to the MFP2, and a detailed description will be described later.

The ROM 32 is a storage medium for storing programs and other data for execution by the CPU 31.

The RAM 33 is a storage medium that provides a work area when the CPU 31 operates according to an operation program.

The storage unit 34 is composed of a storage medium such as a hard disk, and in addition to an application program or the like for the CPU 31 to execute an operation, management data for managing the printing device 2 is registered.

The display device 35 includes a CRT, a liquid crystal display device, and the like, and displays various messages, an input reception screen for the user, a selection screen, and the like.

The input device 36 is used for input operations by the user, and includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

The network interface unit 37 functions as a communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the MFP 2 via a network.

The information management server 4 is also composed of a personal computer and has the same configuration as the terminal device 3. In the information management server, the identification information (user ID) of each user and the schedule information of each user are associated and stored and managed in the storage unit. The user's schedule information includes information on the user's scheduled movement location, movement time, and the like.

The camera 5 analyzes the position of the user captured on the screen from the captured image, and transmits the obtained position information to the MFP 2 via the network. Each camera 5 partially captures the room 1, but the cameras 5 are dispersedly arranged at appropriate locations in the room 1 so that all the cameras 5 can capture the entire room.

Next, the movement of the user and the operation of the MFP 2 when the requesting user who is scheduled to move to the destination submits a print job to the MFP 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the operation of the MFP 2 is executed by the CPU 21 of the MFP 2 operating according to the operation program stored in the ROM 22 or the like.

As shown in the indoor layout of FIG. 1, a user A having a seat at a corner of the room 1 instructs a terminal device (user terminal) 3 to print (step S11). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user A plans to move to the conference room 102 after inputting the print job, and the schedule information regarding the moving place and the time (moving time) is stored in the information management server 4 in advance.

Based on the printing instruction by the user, the terminal device 3 transfers the user's identification information (also referred to as user information at the end), the position information of the terminal device 3, that is, the position information of the user A, and the print job including the job data to the MFP 2. Transmit (step S21). When a plurality of MFPs 2 exist, the MFP2 that the user A wants to use may be specified via the terminal device 3.

After receiving the print job, the CPU 21 of the MFP 2 transmits the user information included in the print job to the information management server 4 (step S31), and the corresponding user managed by the information management server 4 in association with the user information. The latest schedule information is acquired from the information management server 4 (step S32).

The position information of the user A may be acquired not by the position information acquired from the terminal device 3 but by the position information of the user A detected by the camera 5. Alternatively, the user-owned card or the like may be detected by a sensor to acquire the position information, and the method of acquiring the position information of the user A is not limited.

The MFP 2 calculates a confluence point with the user from the acquired schedule information, the user's position information included in the print job, and its own position information (step S33). Specifically, the calculation of the confluence point is performed as follows.

That is, the MFP 2 calculates the movement route from the position information of the user A and the place where the user A is scheduled to move (meeting room 102) until the user A moves to the meeting room 102. The MFP 2 holds information regarding the arrangement of the passage in the room, the conference room 102, and the like, and can easily calculate the movement route until the user A moves to the conference room 102. As shown in FIG. 1, a movement route as shown by arrows D1 and D3 is calculated from the position of user A to the conference room 102, and further, as shown by arrow D2 from the position of user A to the corner portion P1 of the room 1. It is assumed that another movement route is calculated.

On the other hand, the MFP 2 calculates the movement route of the user A from the current position information and the information of the conference room 102, which is the place to be moved, included in the schedule information of the user A, to the conference room 102. In this example, the movement route as indicated by arrows D4 and D3 is calculated. At this time, in consideration of the movement speed of the user A, the movement route that is unlikely to be able to join the user A at the time when the user A moves to the conference room A is excluded.

Then, the merging point is calculated from the calculated movement route of the user A and the movement route of the MFP2 itself. In this example, the corner portion P1 of the room 1 is calculated as the confluence point. It is desirable to calculate the merging point so that the user-A can join at the timing after the output is completed.

Next, the MFP 2 presents to the terminal device 3 whether to receive the printed matter at the calculated confluence point P1, to pick up the printed matter to the current position of the MFP 1, or to receive the printed matter in the destination conference room 102 (step S34). The terminal device 3 displays the presented content on the display device 35 and lets the user select it.

When the user selects, for example, to receive the printed matter at the confluence point P1 (step S12), that fact is transmitted to the MFP 2 (step S22).

Based on its own travel time required to reach the confluence point P1 and the user's travel time information included in the user's schedule information, the MFP2 has its own travel time so that the user A can arrive at the confluence point P1 in time. The scheduled time for starting the movement is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the scheduled time has arrived (step S35). If it has not arrived (NO in step S35), wait until it arrives. When it arrives (YES in step S35), it starts moving to the confluence point via the moving device 29 (step S36). Then, printing is started while moving (step S37). It should be noted that the movement is performed while adjusting the output so as to join the user A at the timing after the printing is completed. After completing the printing (step S38), the user arrives at the confluence point P1. The user receives the printed matter (output) printed by the MFP2 at the confluence point P1.

If the user A chooses to come to the current position of the MFP1 in step S12, the MFP2 remains stationary without moving. If user A chooses to pick up at the destination conference room 102, MFP1 adjusts the move start time in time for user A to arrive at conference room 102, and prints to conference room 102. Moving.

In this way, the requesting user A of the print job can join the MFP 2 and obtain the printed matter which is the output while moving to the conference room 102 which is the planned moving place, so that the user can obtain the printed matter at an early stage. Printed matter is available and convenient. Further, since the MFP2 does not need to move to the conference room 102 to be moved, the energy consumption can be reduced.

When the print completion time is instructed by the user A, the optimum merging route, movement start time, and the like are calculated by referring to the schedule information according to the completion time.

Further, when the user A specifies to print the document attached to the schedule information stored in the information management server 4, the MFP 2 may calculate the merging point, the movement start time, and the like based on the schedule information. Further, when a plurality of movement routes are calculated, a confluence point close to the user A may be calculated, or the plurality of movement routes may be displayed on the terminal device 2 and selected by the user. If the movement route is specified in advance by the user A, the movement route may be used as the calculated movement route.

At the time of calculating the merging point, there may be a case where the merging point with the user-A does not exist on the movement route. In that case, the MFP 2 moves so that it can merge in the conference room 102, which is the destination, and prints are completed by the time they merge.

Further, if printing is not completed by the time the user-A joins at the merging point, the moving speed of the MFP 2 may be adjusted.

Also, when a print job of another user is received while moving to the confluence point with the user who submitted the print job earlier, the print job of the other user is interrupted and processed, and the confluence with the other user is performed first. Even if you go, if there is no problem in merging and delivering with the other user, you may print the job of the other user first and join the other user first.

Further, when a plurality of MFPs 2 are installed in the room 1 and these form one group, when the user-A specifies the group and requests printing, the plurality of MFPs 2 belonging to the group can be joined at the shortest time. The MFP2 may be configured to join the merging point while printing. In this case, if the MFP2 that can join in the shortest time is printing another user, the MFP2 that is not doing the job next may join. Further, in the case of a large number of print jobs, a plurality of MFPs 2 may divide and print, each of which may calculate a confluence point and move to the confluence point.

Further, for example, when 10 copies are printed and one copy is confirmed by the user A in another conference room 103 which is a prior confirmation place, only one copy is handed over in the conference room 103 with the conference room 103 as a confluence point. The rest may be moved to the conference room 102, which is the final moving place, and handed over to the conference room 102.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, when there are two merging points with the user A calculated by the MFP1, P1 and P2, as a method of determining which merging point is to be, in this embodiment, the following The method is adopted.

First, as the first method, the confluence point P1 at which the moving distance of the MFP 2 is minimized is adopted. As a result, the time when the MFP 2 is absent from the fixed position can be shortened. Further, when the moving device is a battery-powered MFP2, the battery consumption can be reduced by minimizing the moving distance.

As the second method, the confluence point P2 closest to the movement start position of the user A is adopted so that the user A can obtain the printed matter as soon as possible.

A priority may be set in advance as to which one to adopt, and the MFP2 may determine according to this priority.

Further, it may be determined by presenting a plurality of confluence points P1 and P2 to the terminal device 2 and letting the user-A select them.

1 Indoor 2 Image forming device 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Scanner unit 25 Storage unit 26 Printer unit 27 Operation panel 28 Network controller 29 Mobile device 3 Terminal device 4 Information management server 5 Camera 102, 103 Conference room P1, P2 Confluence

Claims (9)

A receiving means for receiving the identification information of the print job and the requesting user sent from the requesting terminal of the print job, and
Output means to output the received print job and
The location information acquisition means for acquiring the location information of the requesting user, and
A schedule information acquisition means for acquiring schedule information regarding the location and time of the requesting user's schedule to move based on the identification information, and
From the location information of the requesting source user acquired by the location information acquisition means and the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition means, the movement route until the requesting user moves to the planned location is calculated. 1 calculation means and
Means of transportation and
A second calculation means for calculating the movement route until the own device moves to the place to be moved by the movement means, and
From the movement route of the requesting source user calculated by the first calculation means and the movement route of the own device calculated by the second calculation means, the optimum confluence point between the requesting source user and the own device is calculated. The third calculation means and
A movement control means that controls the movement means so as to move to the confluence point calculated by the third calculation means, and
An image forming apparatus characterized by being provided with. The position information acquisition means, based on the requesting user's location information obtained by the sensor, or according to claim 1, based on the position information of requesters terminal acquires position information of the requesting user Image forming device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the schedule information acquisition means acquires the schedule information from a management server that manages the identification information of the requesting user and the schedule information of the requesting user in association with each other. The second calculation means is claimed to calculate the movement route of the own device from the planned movement location included in the schedule information of the requesting user, the position information of the own device, and the movement speed of the own device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output means outputs a print job while moving to the confluence. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the third calculation means calculates a confluence point where the moving distance of the own device is the shortest. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the third calculation means calculates a confluence point where the moving distance of the requesting user is the shortest. A receiving step that receives the identification information of the print job and the requesting user sent from the requesting terminal of the print job, and
Output step to output the received print job and
The location information acquisition step for acquiring the location information of the requesting user and
A schedule information acquisition step for acquiring schedule information regarding the location and time of the requesting user's scheduled movement based on the identification information, and
From the location information of the requesting source user acquired by the location information acquisition step and the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition step, the movement route until the requesting user moves to the planned location is calculated. 1 calculation step and
The second calculation step of calculating the movement route until the own device moves to the place where the own device is scheduled to move by the moving means, and
From the movement route of the requesting source user calculated by the first calculation step and the movement route of the own device calculated by the second calculation step, the optimum confluence point between the requesting source user and the own device is calculated. The third calculation step and
A movement control step that controls the moving means so as to move to the confluence point calculated by the third calculation step.
A method of delivering an output by an image forming apparatus, which comprises executing the above. A receiving step that receives the identification information of the print job and the requesting user sent from the requesting terminal of the print job, and
Output step to output the received print job and
The location information acquisition step for acquiring the location information of the requesting user and
A schedule information acquisition step for acquiring schedule information regarding the location and time of the requesting user's scheduled movement based on the identification information, and
From the location information of the requesting source user acquired by the location information acquisition step and the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition step, the movement route until the requesting user moves to the planned location is calculated. 1 calculation step and
The second calculation step of calculating the movement route until the own device moves to the place where the own device is scheduled to move by the moving means, and
From the movement route of the requesting source user calculated in the first calculation step and the movement route of the own device calculated in the second calculation step, the optimum confluence point between the requesting source user and the own device is calculated. The third calculation step and
A movement control step that controls the moving means so as to move to the confluence point calculated by the third calculation step.
Output delivery program for the computer of the image forming apparatus to execute.

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