JPH08111727A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a processing method for a case wherein many function requests are concentrated on one function part. CONSTITUTION: A request analysis part 300 decomposes a job request accepted from a host 100, etc., by functions and registers it in a registration part. A function management part 600 grasps the states by the functions and sends information to a job management part 400. The job management part 400 makes a function part 500 execute the decomposed job requests by function requests based on the states by the functions. Namely, when job requests using the function of one function part are concentrated on the function part, request execution indications are supplied to the function part 500 according to previously set priority levels, interruption instructions, discontinuation instructions, etc. Consequently, when an interruption instruction or discontinuation instruction is set, the latest request is executed preferentially, and when a priority level is set, it is compared with that of a function request which is already registered, the request having top priority is executed first.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine capable of simultaneously processing a plurality of jobs requested by a plurality of hosts in parallel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Facsimile machines have functions such as reading originals, storing in a memory, transmitting, receiving, and printing out. Normally, in a facsimile machine, each of these functions is used one by one, and processing is executed for each job. However, in the processing for each job, the throughput of the facsimile apparatus, that is, the operating rate is low. Therefore, a facsimile apparatus has been proposed in which a plurality of jobs are simultaneously processed in parallel so as to improve the throughput (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 6-62).
1-28853).

On the other hand, the facsimile device can be used not only by itself but also by being incorporated in an information processing system. For example, it is possible to configure a system that executes jobs such as the transmission, reception, and printing in response to requests from a plurality of host computers (hereinafter referred to as “hosts”).

[0004]

By the way, when the facsimile apparatus is incorporated in the system as described above and used, there are job requests from a plurality of hosts, and the job requests concentrate on one function. It is expected that. However, heretofore, a system for concurrently processing job requests from a plurality of hosts in parallel has not been considered, and no measure has been considered for job requests concentrated in one functional unit.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus that enables simultaneous parallel processing of job requests using a plurality of functions issued from a plurality of hosts, and in particular takes measures when job requests concentrate on one functional unit.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To solve the above problems and to achieve the object, the present invention provides a function managing means for grasping and managing each state of each function unit, and a job from a plurality of hosts. Request analysis means for receiving a request and disassembling the job request by function; registration means for registering the function request disassembled by function in order of acceptance; and when there are a plurality of job requests disassembled by function, Job management means for simultaneously and concurrently processing the plurality of job requests by judging available functions based on information obtained from the function management means, wherein the job management means adds to the newly accepted function request. By the priority comparison means for comparing the priority of the function requests already registered in the registration means and the priority of the function request already registered in the registration means, and the comparison result of the priority comparison means. The first feature is that it further comprises registration instruction means for registering the newly accepted function request at the head of the queue of the registration means when it is determined that the priority of the added function request is high. is there.

The present invention further includes a function managing means for grasping and managing each state of each functional unit, a request analyzing means for accepting job requests from a plurality of hosts and disassembling the job requests by function. When there are a plurality of registration means for registering the function requests decomposed by the function in the order of reception, and when there are a plurality of job requests decomposed by the function, the usable function is judged based on the information obtained from the function management means. A job management means for simultaneously processing the plurality of job requests in parallel, and the job management means, when executing the function request registered in the registration means, determines the availability of the functional unit corresponding to the request. A copy availability determining means, and an interruption instructing means for interrupting a job that is currently being executed when the function availability determining means determines that the function portion corresponding to the function request is in use. After interruption of the job, further has a second feature in that and means for securing the functional unit for execution of the function request.

[0008]

According to the present invention having the first feature, the newly accepted job request is decomposed for each function request.
When the accepted function request has a higher priority than the already registered function requests, the newly accepted function request is registered at the head of the queue. As soon as the functional unit corresponding to the function request becomes available, the function request can be executed immediately.

Further, according to the second feature, when the function unit corresponding to the function request is in use, the job currently being executed can be interrupted and the function unit can be reserved for a new function request. Therefore, it is possible to interrupt a new urgent function request.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the facsimile apparatus 1 has a hardware configuration which will be described later with reference to FIG. Two hosts 3, 4 and an external storage device 5 are connected to the facsimile apparatus 1 via a bus 2. A server 6 is provided in the facsimile apparatus 1, and the server 6 is connected to a plurality of computers 8 and 9 via a LAN network 7. Further, the facsimile machine 1 is connected to other facsimile machines (hereinafter referred to as "remote facsimile") 10, 11 and 12 by a telephone line.

Next, the hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, each component is connected by a system bus 13. The function of each unit will be described according to the processing of the job. For example, a case will be described in which a document supplied from the host 3 is printed according to an instruction from the host 3 and at the same time, a document supplied from the host 4 is transmitted to a remote facsimile (FAX) 10 according to an instruction from the host 4. To do.

First, when the instruction of the host 3 is executed, the image information of the original supplied from the host 3 is the interface 1
It is stored in the storage unit 15 via The accumulated image information is transferred to the print unit 16, and the print unit 16 prints the received image information. The CPU 17 manages the image information storage state of the document in the storage unit 15, the printing state in the printing unit 16, and the like. Further, in order to perform the above printing operation, the CPU 17 issues an instruction to store image information in the storage unit 15, transfer the image information to the printing unit 16, and start printing in the printing unit 16. The storage unit 15
The transfer of the image information from the print unit 16 to the print unit 16 may be any time transfer or transfer in page units, and the selection is based on the setting of the CPU 17.

On the other hand, in the case of a transmission job for transferring the original supplied from the host 4 to the remote facsimile 10, the image information of the original is stored in the storage unit 15 via the interface 18, as in the case of the above printing. Then, the stored image information is sent from the communication control unit 19 to the telephone line and sent to the remote facsimile 10. In this transmission job, the states of the storage unit 15 and the communication control unit 19 are managed by the CPU 17, and the progress of processing of the transmission job is grasped. If the transmission original is data that does not match the reception function of the remote facsimile 10, for example, the size of recording paper, data processing is performed using the encoding / decoding unit 20, the enlarging / reducing unit 21, and the like. Can be sent to the line from.

In the facsimile apparatus 1, the above two jobs, that is, print and transmission, can be simultaneously processed in parallel. Further, during the job execution, the processing status of the job request is read from the CPU 17 according to an instruction from the input unit 22 to display the progress status of each job and the usage status of each function, that is, each printing unit 16 and communication control unit 19. It is also possible to display on 23. If necessary, the processing can be interrupted by an instruction by operating the input unit 21.

Although not used in the above processing, when the facsimile apparatus 1 is used alone, the reading unit 24
The original can be read with. Also, interface 2
5 is provided to connect the server 6. CPU
In addition to the above status monitoring, 17 controls the entire facsimile apparatus 1 according to the programs and system data stored in the ROM 26.

Next, the main functions of the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In the figure, a job request from the host 100 or 101 is sent to the request analysis unit 30 via the host interface 200 or 201.
Input to 0 respectively. The job request from the host 100 or the like is given by a combination of functions. For example, when the data supplied from the host 100 or the like is printed at the same time as the transmission, a job request including a combination of “transmission” and “print” is made. The request analysis unit 300 analyzes the job request by function. The request for each function is input to the job management unit 400.

The job management unit 400 executes a job for each function, and therefore instructs the function unit 500 including a print unit and a communication control unit to execute a function request. Function management unit 6
00 constantly manages the status of each function such as the print unit and communication control unit of the function unit 500, and supplies the result to the job management unit 400. Therefore, the job management unit 4
00 can give an appropriate instruction to the functional unit 500 based on the state of each functional unit obtained from the functional management unit 600 and the type of requested job.

Further, since the job processing result is grasped by the job management unit 400, the notification unit 700 can notify the host 100, 101 of this processing result via the host interfaces 200, 201.
The processing result includes job request suspension, job request cancellation, and the like, and the processing in these job management units 400 is executed based on a scheduled program and system data. Note that FIG. 1 shows the case where there are two hosts, but the same applies when receiving a job request from two or more hosts.

Next, the main function of the job management unit 400 will be described in more detail. In the block diagram of FIG.
When the function request is notified from the request analysis unit 300, the availability determination unit 30 reads the usage status of the function unit 500 from the function management unit 600 and determines whether the function unit corresponding to the request, for example, the print unit 16 is in use. To determine. Then, the signal s1 is output if it is in use, and the signal s2 is output if it is free. The function waiting presence / absence determining unit 31 reads the registration state of the job registration unit 32 in response to the signal s2, and determines the presence or absence of a waiting job of the corresponding function. If there is a waiting job, the signal s3 is output.

The interruption instruction discriminating section 33 discriminates the presence or absence of the interruption instruction set in the instruction setting section 34 in response to the signal s1. This interruption instruction is an instruction whose content is to interrupt the currently executing job and give priority to the latest request. If there is an interruption instruction, the signal s4 is output, and if there is no interruption instruction, the signal s5 is output. The suspension instruction unit 35 outputs a suspension instruction to the functional unit 500 in response to the signal s4.

On the other hand, the interrupt instruction determination unit 36 determines whether or not there is an interrupt instruction set in the instruction setting unit 34. The interrupt instruction is an instruction having the content of registering the latest function request at the head of the job registration unit 32. The interrupt instruction determination unit 36 determines the presence or absence of the interrupt instruction when the signals s3 and s5 are supplied, and outputs the determination result to the registration instruction unit 37. The registration instructing unit 37 changes the registration of the queue of the job registration unit 32 according to the determination result of the interrupt instruction determining unit 36, if necessary. In addition,
The discrimination signal s4 of the interruption instruction discrimination unit 33 is also registered in the registration instruction unit 3
7, the registration instruction unit 37 inputs an instruction to move the interrupted job to the head of the queue in response to the signal s4, to the job registration unit 32.

When neither the interruption instruction nor the interruption instruction is set, the priority order determination section 38 reads the registered contents from the job registration section 32 in response to the function request, and sets the priority order with the latest function request. To determine. The priority may be, for example, a priority unique to the requesting host or may be a priority unique to the user. Priority determination unit 3
If it is determined that the registration should be changed based on these priorities, 8 outputs the determination result to the registration instructing unit 37.

Next, the processing in the request analysis unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, in step S1, the job request supplied from the host 100 or 101 is analyzed, and if the request is composed of a plurality of functions, the job request is decomposed for each function. In step S2,
It is determined whether the decomposed job request includes a print request. If the print request is included,
In step S3, the print request process described later with reference to FIG. 8 is executed. If the job request is not a print request, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether the disassembled job request includes a transmission request. If the transmission request is included, the process proceeds to step S5 to execute the transmission request process. Similarly, in steps S6 and S7,
It is determined whether or not the job request includes a reception request and a reading request. If these job requests are included, the process proceeds to steps S8 and S9, and the processing of each request is executed.

Next, the processing of the job request from the host will be described with reference to a flow chart by taking a printing operation as an example. First, in FIG. 6, in step S10, it is determined whether or not resources can be secured based on whether or not there is a memory capacity for receiving print data, whether or not the operator is operating the device, and the like. If the resource cannot be secured, the process proceeds to step S26, the result information indicating that the resource cannot be secured is registered in the job management unit 400, and the end information is notified to the host via the notifying unit 700. On the other hand, if it is determined that the resources can be secured, the process proceeds to step S11, and wait state confirmation / change processing is performed. This waiting state confirmation / change process is a process for determining whether or not there is a print request in the waiting state and changing the waiting state according to the result, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. In step S12, it is determined whether the print unit 16 has been secured. In the process of step S11, if the printing unit 16 is secured, the determination of step S12 is affirmative, but if there is another job being executed, or if there is another job being executed and the host sends it. If no interrupt request is issued, the determination in step S12 is negative.

If the printing unit 16 is secured, the process proceeds to step S13, and the transfer function for receiving print data from the host is activated. The processing by this transfer function will be described later with reference to FIG. After the data transfer is activated, the process proceeds to step S24, and the printing unit 16 is activated. Details of the printing operation will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, if the print unit 16 is not secured, the process proceeds to step S14 to activate the data transfer function.

In step S15, it is determined whether or not a waiting time is set when the print request is registered in the queue of the job registration unit 32. This determination is made based on an instruction set in advance in the system data. When the waiting time is set, the process proceeds to step S16, the scheduled waiting time is set in the timer means, and counting is started. When the waiting time is not set, that is, when waiting for the printing unit 16 to become free, the process proceeds to step S17.
The waiting time is set to infinity or a predetermined maximum value in the timer means to start time counting. The reason for setting the infinite time here is to enable the operation to be resumed at any time when the processing becomes possible when the processing is interrupted due to a jam of the printing unit 16 or the like.

In step S19, it is determined whether the set waiting time has elapsed. If the waiting time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S20 and it is determined whether or not the printing unit 16 has become available. If the printing unit 16 is not usable, the process proceeds to step S21 to determine whether to interrupt. This determination is made based on the presence / absence of an interruption instruction from the input unit 22, for example. If not interrupted, the process proceeds to step S19. When the print unit 16 becomes usable, the process proceeds to step S23 to secure the print unit 16. In step S24, the print unit 16 is activated to print the data from the host. Step S2
At 5, it is determined whether or not the data transfer from the host and the printing of the data are completed. This determination is made based on the notification to the job management unit 400 performed at the end of the processing described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

Further, step S19 or step S2
If the determination in 1 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S22, the data transfer from the host is interrupted, and the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the result information is registered in the job management unit 400, and the end information is notified to the host via the notification unit 700. At the same time as the notification of the end information, the registration of the print request is deleted from the job registration unit 32.

Next, the print data reception from the host will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, in step S30, reception of print data is started, and in step S31, the received data is accumulated in the storage unit 15, for example. Step S3
In step 2, it is determined whether or not the receipt of the planned amount of print data such as page units has been completed. If this determination is affirmative, the job management unit 400 is notified in step S33 that the scheduled amount of data has been transferred. Further, in step S34, it is determined whether or not the reception of all the print data is completed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S35 and the job management unit 400 is informed of the completion of the reception of all the print data. Notice.

Next, the printing of the print data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, in step S40, it is determined whether or not the operation of the printing unit 16 is possible. This is for judging the state such as "no paper". In step S41, the presence or absence of print data is determined. If at least the scheduled unit (for example, one page) of the print data has been received from the host, this determination is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step S42 to execute the print operation. In step S43,
It is determined whether or not the printing of the planned unit of data has been completed. If it is determined that the printing of the planned unit of data has been completed, the job management unit 400 is notified of the completion of printing of the planned amount of data in step S44. Further, in step S45, it is determined whether or not printing of all print data is completed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S46 and the job management unit 400 is informed of the end of printing of all print data. Notice. Note that step S4
If it is determined in 1 that there is no print data, the process proceeds to step S47, and it is determined whether the scheduled time has timed out. Wait for print data in step S41 until time out, and if time out, step S4
In step 6, the job management unit 400 is notified that printing could not be performed because print data did not come. If print data is received from the host before the time-out, the process proceeds to step S42.

Next, the waiting state confirmation / change processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, in step S30, it is determined whether the printing unit 16 is in use. If not in use, step S3
In step 1, it is determined whether or not another job request is registered in the queue. If there is no other job request, the print is ready to be executed immediately.
Proceed to step 1 to secure the print section 16. On the other hand, if another job request is registered, the process advances to step S33 to determine whether or not to interrupt immediately after the processing of the job currently being executed. To interrupt immediately, the process proceeds to step S34, and the job request is registered at the head of the queue.

If the current job is not interrupted immediately after being processed, the process proceeds to step S35 to compare the priority with the waiting job. For example, a priority order is set in advance for each host, the priority orders are compared, and a job request from a host with a high priority order is changed in registration to the head side of the queue. In step S36, as a result of the comparison, it is determined whether or not the processing order needs to be changed. If necessary, the process proceeds to step S37, and the queues are changed in order of priority. That is, the print request is registered at the head side rather than at the tail end of the queue. If it is determined that the processing order does not need to be changed as a result of the comparison, the process proceeds to step S38, and the print request is registered at the end of the queue.

Further, if the determination in step S30 is affirmative, that is, if the printing unit 16 is in use, the process proceeds to step S39, and it is determined whether or not to interrupt the print currently being executed. If not interrupted, the process proceeds to step S33.
On the other hand, when the currently executed process is interrupted and the print request is executed first, the process proceeds to step S40, the job in execution is interrupted, and the interrupted job process is transferred to the head of the queue. In step S41, the print unit 16 is secured.

It should be noted that it is determined whether or not to interrupt the currently executed job processing and whether to interrupt immediately after the currently executed job processing, that is, step S39 or step S33.
The determination may be made in advance as system data, or may be made as additional information at the time of a job request from the host and made based on this instruction.

The case where the print data from the host is printed by the print unit 16 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. However, similar to the print processing, transmission, reception, etc. of each job are performed. Whether or not there is a request is judged from the contents registered in the memory, and simultaneous processing can be performed by time sharing or by forming a functional module.

Further, the determination of the presence / absence of a request for a function other than the "print request" is simultaneously performed in parallel. Therefore, for example, if it is determined that there is a "transmission request",
The process for the “transmission request” is executed regardless of the presence or absence of the “print request”. By such processing, it is possible to efficiently meet the following requests from the host.

For example, it is assumed that the host 3 issues a document print request, and then the host 4 issues a document print request and a document transmission request. In this case, the facsimile apparatus 1 activates the print unit 16 in response to the print request from the host 3. Therefore, the print request from the host 4 cannot be executed immediately. However, if the communication control unit 19 is in an empty state, it is possible to deal with the transmission request from the host 4, so that the transmission request is first executed. Then, when the processing for the print request from the host 3 is completed, the print unit 16
Becomes free, the print request from the host 4 becomes executable, and the process for the request is executed.

In this case, if the transmission operation is completed earlier than the printing operation, it is preferable that the result information is stored in the facsimile apparatus 1 as the information regarding the job of the host 4. Then, when the print operation is finished, the result information of the transmission may be notified to the host 4 together with the result information. Such processing result information in the facsimile apparatus 1 is automatically notified to the host in response to a request from the host requesting the job or when the operation of each function ends.

It should be noted that the facsimile device is the printing unit 16
The present invention can be applied to the case where each of the functions such as the above is plural. That is, the function management unit 600 can grasp the status of each function, the job management unit 400 can activate each function based on the status, and notify the host of the processing result.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, when the newly accepted function request has a higher priority than the already registered function requests, Since the newly accepted function request is registered at the head of the queue, the function request can be immediately executed as soon as the function unit corresponding to the function request, such as the printing unit, becomes available. Therefore, when a plurality of function requests are concentrated on one function unit, it is possible to execute the processing in the order of higher priority without affecting the job currently being executed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the functional unit corresponding to the functional request is in use, the job currently being executed can be interrupted and the functional unit can be reserved for a new functional request. . Therefore, when a plurality of function requests are concentrated in one function unit, the urgent function request can be interrupted with the highest priority.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of essential parts of a facsimile apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing main functions of a job management unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of job request analysis.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print request.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of print data transfer processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a printing operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of waiting state confirmation / change processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 ... Empty discriminating unit, 31 ... Function waiting presence / absence discriminating unit, 3
2 ... Job registration unit, 33 ... Suspension instruction determination unit, 34 ...
Instruction setting unit, 35 ... interruption instruction unit, 36 ... interrupt instruction determination unit, 37 ... registration instruction unit, 38 ... priority order determination unit,
100, 101 ... Host, 300 ... Request analysis unit,
400 ... Job management unit, 600 ... Function management unit, 700
… Notification section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A function management unit that grasps and manages each state of each functional unit, a request analysis unit that receives job requests from a plurality of hosts and decomposes the job requests by function, and decomposes by function. Registration means for registering the selected function requests in the order of acceptance, and when there are a plurality of job requests decomposed by the function, the available functions are judged based on the information obtained from the function management means. A job management means for processing the job requests in parallel at the same time, wherein the job management means sets the priority order added to the newly accepted function request and the priority order of the function request already registered in the registration means. If it is determined that the priority order of the newly accepted function request is high, based on the comparison result of the priority order comparison means and the priority order comparison means, A facsimile apparatus further comprising registration instruction means for registering the received function request at the head of the queue of the registration means. 2. A function management unit that grasps and manages each state of each functional unit, a request analysis unit that receives job requests from a plurality of hosts and decomposes the job requests by function, and decomposes by function. Registration means for registering the selected function requests in the order of acceptance, and when there are a plurality of job requests decomposed by the function, the available functions are judged based on the information obtained from the function management means. A job management unit for concurrently processing job requests in parallel, wherein the job management unit, when executing the function request registered in the registration unit, judges whether or not the function unit corresponding to the request is empty. An interruption instruction means for interrupting a job currently being executed when the functional part availability determination means determines that the functional part corresponding to the function request is in use; Facsimile apparatus after the interruption, characterized in that further comprising a means for securing the functional unit for execution of the function request.