JPH08111736A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simultaneously execute plural function requests included in one job request. CONSTITUTION: A request analysis part 300 accepts job requests from plural hosts 100 and 101, decomposes the requests by functions, and registers them in a registration part 410. 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 the function requests on the basis of the states by the functions. When plural function requests are included in one job request, the job management part 400 instructs the execution of the function requests included in the job request once it is judged that all function parts for executing the function requests are free.

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, conventionally, a system for processing job requests from a plurality of hosts in parallel has not been considered, and no measures have been considered for job requests concentrated on one function. Further, due to the diversification of processing, one job may include contents requesting a plurality of functions such as print and transmission. In such a case, it may be better to wait until all the requested functions are available, or it may be possible to execute the processing more efficiently by sequentially executing the available functions. However, conventionally, no measures have been taken when a plurality of such functions are requested as one job.

[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 device which enables simultaneous parallel processing of job requests using a plurality of functions issued from a plurality of hosts.

[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. A request analysis unit that receives a request and decomposes the job request by function, a registration unit that registers the function request decomposed by function, and a plurality of function requests when one job request includes a plurality of function requests. A means for assigning an identifier indicating that a plurality of function requests are included in the same job request, and the same job request depending on the presence or absence of the function request with the same identifier when executing the function request registered in the registration means. The identifier discriminating means for detecting that a plurality of function requests are included in the, and when it is detected that a plurality of function requests are included in the same job request, Based on the above, when it is determined that all the function units necessary for executing the function request included in the same job request are available, the job management unit gives a request execution instruction to each function unit. The first feature is the point.

Further, according to the present invention, the registration means is configured to register the function requests in a queue so that the function requests are executed in the order of reservation, and a plurality of job requests included in the same job request are registered. When executing one of the function requests, if the remaining function requests are not registered at the head of the queue, there is provided means for exchanging the registration in order to grant the next usage right to the function request. The second characteristic is the point.

[0008]

According to the present invention having the above first feature, job requests from a plurality of hosts are decomposed for each function. Then, among the received job requests, a plurality of function requests included in one job request are registered with an identifier so as to be able to identify each other. When executing each function request,
When there is another function request included in one job request, execution of the function request is instructed when all the function requests are ready to be executed.

Further, according to the present invention having the second feature, the queue registration order is changed so that all of the plurality of function requests included in the same job request can be executed at an early stage.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 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. Then, the function request included in the same job request includes
A common identifier for identifying these is given, and the function request to which the identifier is given is stored in the registration unit 410 in 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. In the execution instruction, the function request having the same identifier can be executed at the same time when all the functions for executing this are available according to the instruction content set in the system data or the like in advance. The function management unit 600 includes the function unit 5
The state of each function such as the print unit of 00 and the communication control unit is constantly managed, and the result is supplied to the job management unit 400. Therefore, the job management unit 400 gives an appropriate instruction for simultaneous execution of all the functions as described above, for example, based on the state of each function unit obtained from the function management unit 600 and the type of requested job. Function part 5
00 can be given.

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 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 registration unit 41 of the job management unit 400
The print request is stored in 0. 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, step S
In step 5, the registration unit 410 of the job management unit 400 stores that there is a transmission request. Hereinafter, similarly, step S
In 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, respectively, and the registration unit 410 of the job management unit 400 is executed. Each request is stored in. The job request is repeatedly analyzed, and each time a request is detected, it is stored to indicate that there is a request. Other job requests (not shown) are similarly determined and instructions for processing are given, but the illustration is omitted. These job requests are stored as a queue so that they can be executed in the order received.

Further, when the function requests are stored in the registration unit 410, the function requests included in the common job request are stored with the same identifier. For example, when a job request from the host 100 includes a transmission request and a print request, an identifier including at least information indicating the request from the host 100 and the job number is added. Further, the identifier may include the name of the user who has requested the job using the host 100. With this identifier, when these function requests are executed simultaneously, the function requests included in one job request can be identified.

Next, the processing of the job request from the host will be described with reference to the flowchart. First, FIG.
In step S10, it is determined whether or not there is a "print request" based on the analysis result of the request analysis unit 300.
If there is a "print request", the process proceeds to step S11. If there is no "print request", the process moves to another function request process, for example, a transmission request process. Step S1
In No. 1, 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 in operation, 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 S12 to perform a multi-function request process. This multi-function request process relates to a process in the case where one job request includes a request to use a plurality of functions, for example, a print and transmission request, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. In step S13, it is determined whether to continue the print request process or move to another function request process based on the result of the multiple function process. If it is determined to continue the print request process, step S
In step 14, the transfer function for receiving print data from the host is activated. The processing by this transfer function is shown in FIG.
Will be described later. If it is determined in step S13 that another function request is to be processed, the routine proceeds to, for example, a routine for processing a transmission request.

In step S15, it is determined whether the printing unit 16 is in use. This can be determined by the “in-use flag” of the function management unit 600 indicating whether the print is in use. If it is not in use, the process proceeds to step S23 to secure the printing unit 16. That is, the "in-use flag" is set to secure the printing unit 16.

On the other hand, if the printing unit 16 is in use, the process proceeds to step S16, and it is determined whether or not the waiting time is set. This judgment can be performed by setting predetermined system data, for example. When setting the waiting time, the process proceeds to step S17, and the scheduled waiting time is set in the timer means to start counting. When the waiting time is not set, that is, the print unit 16
When waiting until the time becomes empty, the process proceeds to step S18, where the waiting time is set to infinity or a predetermined maximum value in the timer means to start time counting. The infinite time is set here so that the operation can be restored at any time when the processing is interrupted due to a jam of the printing unit 16 or the like and the processing becomes possible.

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. The printing operation will be described further below with reference to FIG. In step S25, it is determined whether the data transfer and the printing have been completed. This judgment is made at the end of the processing described with reference to FIGS.
Based on the notification to. If the determination in step S19 or step S21 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S22, the data transfer from the host is interrupted, and step S2 is performed.
Proceed to 6. 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, one of the stored print requests is deleted.

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. In step S32, 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, step S3
In step 4, it is determined whether or not the reception of all print data has been completed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S35 to notify the job management unit 400 of the completion of reception of all print data.

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, details of the multi-function processing will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the figure,
In step S50, it is determined whether or not there is another function request to which the same identifier is added. If there is no other function request to which the same identifier is given, the process proceeds to step S51. In step S51, data indicating that the function request process currently being executed, in this example, the print process is to be continued, is set in the register. The data in this register is used for the determination in step S13 (FIG. 5).

On the other hand, if there is another function request with the same identifier, it is determined in step S52 whether or not to wait until all the function units for executing the function request with the same identifier are available. To do. This judgment can be performed by setting predetermined system data, for example. Step S to wait until all functions are available
If it does not wait, go to step S51.

In step S53, it is determined whether each requested functional unit is in use. If all the function units are empty, the process proceeds to step S54, and it is determined whether another function request is at the head of the memory registration. If it is at the head of the memory registration, it can be executed next, so that step S51 is performed as it is
Proceed to. On the other hand, if another function request is not at the head of the memory registration, the process proceeds to step S55, and it is determined whether or not the next usage right for executing the function request next is secured. This judgment can be performed by setting predetermined system data, for example. If the next usage right is to be secured, the process proceeds to step S56, the registration is changed so that the function request is registered at the head of the queue, and then the process proceeds to step S51. If the next usage right is not secured, and if the determination in step S53 is affirmative, that is, if the requested functional unit is in use, the process proceeds to step S57. Step S
At 57, data indicating the shift to another function request is set in the register. The data in this register is used for the determination in step S13 (FIG. 5).

In the multi-function process, if it is determined in step S53 that each functional unit is empty and the process proceeds to step S13, the determination in step S15 becomes negative and the process proceeds to the printing operation. Subsequent processing such as waiting time setting is not performed. That is, operations such as waiting time setting are performed when a single job request includes only a single function request, or when each function request is executed independently.

The case where the print data from the host is printed by the print unit 16 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. However, similar to the print processing, transmission and reception are performed by each job. 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.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, when one job request includes a plurality of function requests, these function requests are executed at the same time. Therefore, for example, if all the function requests included in the one job request are not executed at the same time, it is possible to collectively execute the job requests that cause a waiting time.

According to the invention of claim 2, for example, 1
If a job request contains multiple feature requests,
If these processes are not performed at the same time, it is possible to execute a batch of job requests that cause a waiting time in the end.

[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 a configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of job request analysis.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a print request.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of print data transfer processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a print operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of multi-function processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 101 ... Host, 300 ... Request analysis unit, 4
00 ... 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 specified function request, and means for, when one job request includes a plurality of function requests, for giving an identifier indicating that the plurality of function requests are included in the same job request. An identifier discriminating means for detecting that the same job request includes a plurality of function requests depending on the presence or absence of the function request to which the same identifier is added when executing the function request registered in the registration means; When it is detected that the request includes a plurality of function requests, the functions included in the same job request are based on the status of each function unit obtained from the function management means. Facsimile apparatus characterized by all of the functional unit required for executing the request when it is determined to be available, and and a job management means for giving an execution instruction of request to each functional unit. 2. The registration means is configured to register the function requests in a queue so that the function requests are executed in a reservation order, and one of a plurality of function requests included in the same job request. When the remaining function requests are not registered at the head of the queue when executing one of the two, the device further comprises means for performing registration replacement to give the next usage right to the function request. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.