JPH1084445A - Copying machine management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the copying machine management system in which interrupt processing is conducted before image information is outputted at present when a sorter bin is idle, even in the case that a copying machine equipped with a sorter at the transmission opposite party is busy outputting. SOLUTION: The copying machine management system consists of a plurality of digital copying machines connected by a communication line and one server, a control section 24 equipped with a copying machine inserts management information of image data to be sent to a head of a reception header management file in the case that a value obtained by subtracting an output number of image data being outputted at present from number of bins of a sorter 29 is the output number of image data to be sent or over based on the output number of the image information being outputted at present, written in a reception header management file of a transmission opposite party, on number of bins of the sorter stored in a function list file of the transmission opposite party, and on the output number of the image information received and to be sent from the operation section 27, when the transmission opposite party is busy outputting upon the receipt of an interrupt command from an input section in the case of transmission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a copier management system capable of connecting a plurality of digital copiers to a communication line and mutually transmitting and receiving image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile apparatuses have been put into practical use as means for transmitting image information to a remote place. However, in a system such as a facsimile that directly transmits data to a transmission destination, when image information is transmitted to a large number of transmission destinations, transmission operations must be performed by the number of transmission destinations. On the other hand, digital copiers have also been developed for copiers, and transmission and reception have been facilitated by converting image information of a document into a digital signal. Copiers are larger or smaller than facsimile machines,
Since it has many functions such as double-sided copying function, if a copier management system that can connect and transmit and receive image information to and from multiple digital copiers is established, many It can be used effectively.
In view of such a fact, the present applicant has established a plurality of digital copiers connected to a communication line and one server, and a plurality of copiers connected to the communication line regularly access the server. Japanese Patent Application No. 8-197167 proposes a copier management system which takes in the received information of the user.

[0003]

In a facsimile apparatus equipped with a memory, it is possible to print the received information while storing the information in the memory. That is, an interrupt is made before the data waiting for printing. It is possible to apply such an interrupt processing to the copier management system. However, some of the copiers used in the above copier management system are equipped with a sorter for sorting printed paper. It is possible to sort and print out the processed image information.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and its main technical problem is that even if a copying machine equipped with a sorter, which is a transmission partner, is outputting, if there is an excess bin in the sorter, An object of the present invention is to provide a copier management system capable of performing an interrupt process before image information currently being output.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problems, there are provided a plurality of digital copying machines connected to a communication line and one server,
The server includes an image file directory having image files for storing image data transmitted from each digital copying machine, and a reception header management file for storing management data relating to image data to be received created for each digital copying machine. The digital copying machine has an image scanner unit that scans a document to be transmitted, a transmission partner, an input unit that specifies the number of output copies of image information to be transmitted, and an interrupt process.
A memory for storing image data to be received, a printing unit for printing the received image data, a sorter for sorting the sheets printed by the printing unit, and a control unit. The image data scanned by the image scanner unit in communication with the server is written into the image file in the image file directory of the server, and the image is stored in the reception header management file of the client directory of the transmission destination specified by the input unit. Writes management data related to data, periodically checks whether there is image data to be received by accessing the reception header management file in the server's own client directory at the time of reception, and if there is image data to be received, Access the image file directory and store the image file A copier management system that stores pertinent image data in the memory unit for each page and instructs the printing unit to print the image data stored in the memory unit, wherein the control unit includes: If there is an interrupt command from the input unit at the time of transmission, and if the transmission destination is outputting, if the transmission destination is outputting, the number of output copies of the currently output image information written in the reception header management file of the transmission destination and a function list of the transmission destination Based on the number of bins of the sorter stored in the file and the number of output copies of the image information to be transmitted input from the operation unit, a value obtained by subtracting the number of output copies of the currently output image information from the number of bins of the sorter is If the number of output copies of the image information to be transmitted is equal to or greater than the number of output copies of the image information that is currently being output, the management information of the image information to be transmitted is interrupted at the beginning of the reception header management file. When the calculated value is smaller than the number of output copies of the image information to be transmitted, the management information of the image information to be transmitted is interrupted next to the management information currently being output in the reception header management file. A system is provided.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a copier management system constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the illustrated embodiment, each part in an organization such as a company or government office is
A copier management system in which a plurality of copiers are connected by a so-called LAN (local area network) connecting sections via a communication line will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier management system configured according to the present invention. The copier management system includes a plurality of digital copiers (DPPCs) 2 arranged in respective sections and sections connected to a LAN as a communication line.
.. And one server 4.

[0008] The server 4 is composed of, for example, a personal computer and is installed in a predetermined department of the organization. The server 4 has a management directory as described below. The management directory is, as shown in FIG. 2, a client list file storing the registered departments of the copying machines 2,..., And a client created for each registered department of the copying machines 2,. , And an image file directory for storing image data transmitted from each of the copying machines 2,....

[0009] The client directory is provided for each copying machine, that is, for each department in which each copying machine is installed, and includes a transmission header management file, a reception header management file, and a function list file. The transmission header management file stores transmission information from the corresponding copying machine, such as the total number of transmission header files, the document header file name, the transmission date, the transmission time, and the transmission destination bit. The document header file name is automatically given a number obtained from a serial number file described later. The received header management file includes the total number of received documents (image information) to be received transmitted from another copying machine, a document header file name,
Stores reception management information such as the number of output copies (the number of copies), the number of output pages, and the output progress of received documents. The function list file contains the functions of the corresponding copying machine, that is, the maximum copyable size, resolution, image data compression method, zoom minimum value, zoom maximum value, original mode, duplex mode,
The functions of the corresponding copying machine such as sorter, combination mode, movement, binding margin, date and time insertion, character insertion, numbering, etc. are stored.

[0010] The image file directory includes a plurality of document header files, a plurality of image files, and a serial number file. The document header file is created each time one transmission is performed, and the management information and the processing information of the image file for each document transmitted from each copying machine, that is, the total number of distributions of the document transmitted from each copying machine (specified Number of destinations) and total number of pages, number of pages to be written, designated magnification, binding position, binding width, original mode, date insertion, finisher, duplex copy, image file name (1 to 1)
n) are stored. The image file name is automatically given a number obtained from a serial number file described later. The image file stores full-size actual data of the transmission information. It should be noted that the image files are created in page units. Therefore, when there are a plurality of originals in one transmission, the number of image files corresponding to the number of originals is created. Then, a number obtained from a serial number file described later is automatically added to the image file as an image file name. The serial number file manages a serial number used as the next document header file name and image file name.

Next, each of the copying machines 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The copying machine 2 is composed of a digital copying machine, and has an image scanner unit 21 for reading a document.
, An image processor unit (IPU) 22, and a printing unit 2
3, a control unit 24, a memory unit 25, a network unit 26, an operation unit 27, and a display unit 28. Further, the copying machine 2 is equipped with a sorter 29 for sorting the paper printed by the printing unit 23.

The image scanner unit 21 includes an automatic document feeder for feeding a document to be copied or transmitted by the copying machine 2, an image pickup unit including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line image sensor, and an image processing unit. Is scanned relative to the original, the original image is read line by line in the original transport direction (the original line direction), and the read data is subjected to predetermined image processing as a digital signal. (IPU)
Output to 22

The image processor unit (IPU) 22 includes:
The image data input from the image scanner unit 21 is subjected to gradation processing, and is output to the printing unit 23 when copying is performed as it is. The image processor unit (IPU) 22
When transmitting image data input from the image scanner unit 21 to another copying machine, the image data subjected to gradation processing is output to the control unit 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the printing unit 23 converts the modulated signal generated based on the image information read by the image scanner unit 21 or the configuration data of the image information transmitted from another copying machine. A laser optical unit that converts the laser light into an output, a developing unit that visualizes a latent image of the print image formed by the laser light emitted from the laser optical unit, and the visualized print image on a recording sheet. The laser printer includes a transfer unit for transferring and forming an image and a fixing unit for fixing a print image transferred and formed on recording paper.

The control unit 24 includes a central processing unit (CPU) for performing arithmetic processing according to a predetermined processing program, a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a processing program for executing a copying function and a transmitting / receiving function, and various processing data.
y), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing the processing results and the like calculated according to the processing program
Is built-in. The control unit 24 temporarily stores the image data input from the image processor unit (IPU) 22 in the memory unit 25, performs an editing process designated by the operation unit 27, and outputs the edited data to the network unit 26. Further, after temporarily storing the image data received via the network unit 26 in the memory unit 25, the image data is subjected to a specified editing process and output to the printing unit 23.

The memory unit 25 temporarily stores image data, and has a built-in RAM (Random Acce
ss Memory) may be used.

The network unit 26 includes a control unit 24
Is transmitted to the server 4 via the LAN. The image data received from the server 4 via the LAN is sent to the control unit 24.

The operation unit 27 includes various input keys such as a transmission partner setting key as a transmission partner setting unit, an interrupt processing designation key as an interruption processing designation unit, a transmission start key, and a ten-key for inputting the number of output units. The user inputs a transmission partner and various processing functions (copy conditions), sets copy start / stop and transmission start / stop instructions, and inputs the same to the control unit 24.

The display unit 28 includes an LCD, an LED, and the like.
Displays the copy conditions and the operation of the current operation.
In addition, the display unit 28 displays the contents of the function list of the other copying machines.

The sorter 29 has a plurality of bins for sorting sheets printed by the printing unit 23.

Each of the copying machines 2 and the server 4 constituting the copying machine management system in the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above. Hereinafter, transmission and reception operations of each copying machine are shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to a flowchart.

First, the control unit 24 in the copying machine on the transmitting side
Will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. When transmitting the image information, a transmission operation is performed by the operator (Step S).
0). That is, the operator sets a document to be transmitted to the automatic document feeder of the image scanner unit 21 and operates the operation unit 27.
The transmission partner is input using the transmission partner setting key, and the management information and the processing information to be performed by the copying machine of the transmission partner, that is, the copy conditions such as the number of output copies (the number of copies), the copy magnification, and double-sided copy are input. At this time, if the user wants to perform an interrupt process, he or she inputs that fact using the interrupt process designation key. Then, when the operator presses the transmission start key from the operation unit 27, reading of the document set by the image scanner unit 21 is started. The image scanner unit 21 performs predetermined image processing for each read page of the read data, and outputs the digital data to the image processor unit (IPU) 22 as a digital signal. When used as a copying machine, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 outputs the image data input from the image scanner unit 21 to the printing unit 23 as it is. When editing is required, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 performs a predetermined editing process on the image data and outputs the image data to the printing unit 23. When transmitting the image data to another copying machine, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 outputs the image data input from the image scanner unit 21 to the control unit 24.

As described above, the control unit 24 that has received the copy conditions and the image data creates an image file in page units based on the image data that has been input from the image processor unit (IPU) 22, and stores this in the memory unit. 25 (step S1). Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S2,
It communicates with the server 4 via the AN and copies the image file temporarily stored in the memory unit 25 to the image file in the image file directory of the server 4. The control unit 2
4 copies the image file to the image file directory of the server 4 and deletes the image data temporarily stored in the memory unit 25. Then, the control unit 24 determines in step S
In step 3, a document header file is created based on the management information and processing information input from the operation unit 27 in step S0 and the data read by the image scanner unit 21, and the document header file is created in the document header file in the image file directory of the server 4. Write. Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S4 and writes the transmission management information in the transmission header management file of the client directory on the transmission side.

Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S5 to check whether or not an interrupt process is designated. If no interrupt process is designated, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S5.
The process proceeds to step 6, where the reception management information is written next to the last reception data of the reception header management file in the client directory on the receiving side as the transmission partner.

In step S5, if interrupt processing is specified, the control section 24 proceeds to step S7 to determine whether the transmission destination specified by the transmission destination setting key of the operation section 27 is currently being output. Check if not. Whether or not this transmission destination is currently outputting can be recognized by checking the progress of the received document written in the reception header management file of the client directory of the transmission destination. If the transmission destination is not currently outputting in step S7, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S8, and causes the reception management information to be inserted into the head of the reception header management file in the client directory that is the transmission destination.

In step S7, if the transmission destination is currently outputting, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S9 to output the image information currently being output from the data of the reception header management file in the client directory as the transmission destination. The number of copies (A) is obtained, the process proceeds to step S10, the number of bins (B) of the equipped sorter is obtained from the function list file of the client directory as the transmission destination, and the process further proceeds to step S11 to be input from the operation unit 27. The number of output copies (the number of copies) (C) of the image information to be transmitted is obtained, and these are temporarily stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory). Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S12, where the number of output copies of the image information currently being output (A) and the number of bins of the sorter (B)
And a value obtained by subtracting the output number (A) of the currently output image information from the bin number (B) of the sorter based on the output information copy number (copy number) (C). (C) or more, ie, (B-
A) Check whether ≧ C or not. Step S12
If the value obtained by subtracting the number of output copies (A) of the currently output image information from the number of bins (B) of the sorter is equal to or larger than the number of output copies (number of copies) (C) of the image information to be transmitted, Since the number of surplus sorter bins is sufficient even if it is output immediately, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S8 and causes the reception management information to be inserted into the head of the reception header management file in the client directory that is the transmission destination.

In step S12, the number of output image information copies (A) is calculated based on the sorter bin number (B).
If the value obtained by subtracting is smaller than the number of output copies of image information to be transmitted (the number of copies) (C), if the image information to be transmitted is output immediately, the number of bins of the sorter is not enough, and the control unit 24 proceeds to step S13. Then, the reception management information is interrupted next to the currently output reception data of the reception header management file of the client directory as the transmission destination.
As described above, the transmission operation of the transmission-side copying machine ends.

Next, the receiving operation of the copying machine on the receiving side will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Each copier periodically communicates with the server 4 to check its own client directory. The control unit 24 of each copying machine accesses its own client directory of the server 4 and checks the total number of received documents in the received header management file to confirm whether or not there is received data (step P1). Step P if no data
The process proceeds to step 2, and after a predetermined time elapses, the presence or absence of received data is checked again. If there is received data in step P1, the control section 24 proceeds to step P3 to obtain a document header file name from its own received header management file. When the name of the document header file to be received is obtained in this way, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P4, accesses the image file directory, and finds the corresponding document header file name at the head of the received header management file. Get an image file The image file in the image file directory is one file for each page. Then, the control unit 24 fetches the image data of the corresponding image file name in Step P5,
To be stored temporarily. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P6, executes an editing operation of the image data stored in the memory unit 25 based on the processing information, and proceeds to step P7 to output the image data to the printing unit 23. As described above, the image file is one file for each page. Therefore, the image data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 25 for each page, and the image data is edited and printed. When an interruption occurs during the output and the reception management information is interrupted at the head of the reception header management file, the control unit 24 of the copying machine on the receiving side processes the page being output of the document (image information) being output. Is completed, the document header file name is obtained from the reception management information interrupted at the head, and image data is taken in and output from the image file corresponding to the document header file name. Note that the output printed paper is not discharged to the bin of the sorter that was output before the interrupt processing, but is discharged to an unused bin. Then, after the interrupted information is output, the reception, editing and printing operations of the remaining data of the document (image information) being output are executed. When the interrupt information is interrupted next to the currently output reception data in the reception header management file, the reception, editing, and printing operations of the interrupt information are performed after outputting the currently output reception data. . When the printing unit 23 prints out the corresponding image data, the control unit 24 subtracts “1” from the total number of received documents in the reception header management file, deletes the corresponding management information, and deletes the total number of distributions of the document header file. Is subtracted by "1", and if the total number of distributions becomes zero (0) (in the case of the last recipient at the designated transmission destination), the corresponding image file is deleted. Thus, the receiving operation of the receiving copying machine ends.

[0029]

Since the copier management system according to the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following operational effects.

That is, according to the present invention, the control unit provided in each copying machine connected to the communication line, when receiving an interrupt command from the input unit at the time of transmission, transmits when the transmission partner is outputting. The number of output copies of the currently output image information written in the reception header management file of the other party, the number of bins of the sorter stored in the function list file of the other party, and the output of image information to be transmitted input from the operation unit If the value obtained by subtracting the number of output copies of the currently output image information from the number of bins of the sorter based on the number of copies is equal to or greater than the number of output copies of the image information to be transmitted, the management information of the image information to be transmitted is transferred to the head of the reception header management file. If the value obtained by subtracting the number of output copies of the currently output image information from the number of bins of the sorter is smaller than the number of output copies of the image data to be transmitted, the management information of the image data to be transmitted is received. Since the management information that is currently being output in the management file is interrupted, even if the copy machine of the transmission destination is outputting, if there is a bin in the sorter, it will interrupt before the image information that is currently being output. Processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a management directory provided in a server constituting the copier management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a copier constituting a copier management system according to the present invention;

4 is a partial flowchart showing a transmission operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart showing a transmission operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: Digital copier 4: Server 21: Image scanner unit 22: Image processor unit (IPU) 23: Printing unit 24: Control unit 25: Memory unit 26: Network unit 27: Operation unit 28: Display unit 29: Sorter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of digital copying machines connected to a communication line; and one server, wherein the server includes an image file having an image file for storing image data transmitted from each digital copying machine. A file directory, and a client directory having a reception header management file that is created for each digital copying machine and stores management data relating to image data to be received. The digital copying machine stores a document to be transmitted. An image scanner unit for scanning, a transmission partner, an input unit for designating the number of output units of image information to be transmitted and an interrupt process, a memory unit for storing received image data, a printing unit for printing received image data, A sorter for sorting the paper printed by the printing unit; and a control unit. The control unit communicates with the server at the time of transmission to communicate with the server. The image data scanned by the image scanner unit is written to the image file in the image file directory of the server, and the management data relating to the image data is stored in the reception header management file of the client directory of the transmission destination specified by the input unit. At the time of writing and receiving, the server periodically accesses the reception header management file in its own client directory to check whether there is image data to be received, and if there is image data to be received, stores it in the image file directory. Copier management for accessing and storing pertinent image data stored in the image file in the memory unit for each page, and instructing the printing unit to print the image data stored in the memory unit; The system, wherein the control unit receives the input when transmitting. If an interrupt command is issued from the unit, if the transmission destination is outputting, the number of output copies of the currently output image information written in the reception header management file of the transmission destination and the function list file of the transmission destination are stored. Based on the number of bins of the sorter and the number of output units of image information to be transmitted input from the operation unit, a value obtained by subtracting the number of output units of the currently output image information from the number of bins of the sorter is image information to be transmitted. If the number of output copies is equal to or greater than the number of output copies of the image information to be transmitted, the management information of the image information to be transmitted is interrupted at the head of the reception header management file, and the value obtained by subtracting the number of output copies of the image information currently being output from the number of bins of the sorter is transmitted. Wherein the number of output copies is less than the number of output copies, the management information of the image information to be transmitted is interrupted next to the management information currently being output of the reception header management file. .