JPH11112701A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the unfair use of resources between users with respect to an image forming system using the plural resources and plural applications. SOLUTION: This system is provided with an image forming device 4 forming an image, an image reader 3 reading the image, the plural applications for different processing and a system controller 101 receiving a request to use and a request to release for each device from plural applications and arbitrating the using right of each device. The controller 101 decides the use right based on a priority order set in advance. In this case, using supply information of each of the applications and supply presence/absence information of each resource are stored and the controller 101 releases an acquired resource use right when supply included in supply information is 'absent' in supply presence/ absence information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine system for converting a document image into an electric signal and restoring the image by an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a digital copying machine system in which a plurality of applications share resources.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a digital copying machine of this type, a document image is converted into an electric signal, and after performing various image processing on the image signal, the image signal is visualized and restored by an image forming apparatus. In addition to a facsimile and a printer, an extended function such as a scanner and a file system, that is, an application can be provided. In this case, resources shared by a plurality of applications include an image reading device, an image forming device,
There are an operation unit, a memory, and peripheral devices (document feeder (DF) and sorter).

In recent years, a multitasking type image forming system has been proposed in which a plurality of applications such as a copy, a printer, and a facsimile share resources of an image reading device, an image forming device and the like and selectively use them. . A digital copier system is generally used for this type of image forming system.

[0004]

By the way, in such a multi-task type image forming system, for example, the copy application is set to the first priority and the printer application is set to the second priority. If the copy is stopped due to the end state, even if the printer application attempts to perform black output, the conventional multi-function device does not consider managing the right to use resources by the toner used. Until the cyan toner is replenished
The machine stopped in the toner supply waiting state.

[0005] This is because the copy application is set to the first priority, so if the copy is not completed, the right to use will not be given to the printer unless cyan toner is supplied even if black printing is possible. It is. For this reason, when the user who is performing copying at this time performs another job and the toner of a specific color runs out as described above, if the toner of that color cannot be supplied, the print output is made from a remote place. Waiting time will occur for the other users who are instructing, and the distribution of resource usage among the users will be unfair.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system in which the use of resources is not unfair among users.

In order to achieve the first object, for example, when the right of use is switched from copy to printer, a warning such as "Toner end. Open the door and replenish toner" is displayed on the image forming apparatus. If the display is displayed, the user may open the door to replace the toner during print output.If the door is opened, not only the printing operation is interrupted, but also the print operation is performed. Will be wasted.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for automatically switching to another application when the application becomes unavailable during the execution of one application and interrupting the operation of the other application. It is a second object of the present invention to provide an image forming system which does not have any image forming apparatus.

Further, when the display of the operation unit is switched, for example, if the display remains unchanged even when the printer output is completed, the user cannot recognize the reason why the copy is not completed.

Therefore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that allows a user to grasp the current state of the system.

Further, the present invention provides an image forming system including at least one application of a copier, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile, which can achieve the first to third objects. This is the fourth purpose.

[0012]

A first means for achieving the above object is to provide an image forming resource for forming an image,
Image reading resources for reading images, a plurality of applications each performing different processing, and a request for use of the resources from each application, receiving a release request,
Resource arbitration means for arbitrating resource usage rights,
The resource arbitration means is a supply information storage means for storing use supply information for each application and supply presence / absence information for each resource in the image forming system which determines a use right based on a preset priority. When the supply included in the supply information is "none" in the supply presence / absence information,
Control means for releasing the acquired resource use right.

The second means is to achieve the above object,
First, it further includes an operation unit that displays information on the unit, and an operation unit use right management unit that manages an operation unit use right that uses the operation unit, wherein the control unit includes: When the supply included in the used supply information is “none” in the supply presence / absence information, the first application shifts to a recovery waiting state for each resource and uses the operation waiting state information as the operation unit use information. The operation unit use right management unit transmits the information to the second application which has acquired the resource to be returned when the return waiting information received from the first application is waiting for return. The right to use the operation unit is switched.

A third means is to achieve the above object.
In the first means, the control means re-arbitrates the right to use the operation unit after the use of the image forming resources of all the operable applications is completed.

A fourth means is to achieve the above object.
The application according to the first to third means includes one of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital image forming system as an embodiment of the image forming system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digital image forming system of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of hardware of the digital image forming system, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another example of hardware of the digital image forming system of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an application layer and a system control layer in the digital image forming system of FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an interleaving operation of a copy application and a printer application in the digital image forming system of FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a parallel operation of a facsimile application and a printer application in the digital image forming system of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the system control unit.

The digital image forming system shown in FIG. 2 includes a document feeding device 1, a reading device 3, an image forming device 4, a sheet feeding device having first, second and third sheet feeding cassettes 7; It comprises a paper discharge sorting device 6. The reading device 3 uses an image on the original 1a as a lamp 3a.
, And taken into the CCD 3c via the mirror 3b, where black Bk, magenta M, cyan C, yellow Y
, And is transferred to the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 4 is capable of forming a full-color image.
b) a laser exposure process using a revolver 4c, a developing process using a toner that develops by a revolver developing method, a primary transfer process of transferring an image onto an intermediate transfer belt 4d, and a registration roller that transfers a toner image on the primary transfer belt. The toner image on the transfer paper conveyed to the fixing roller 4f through the secondary transfer step of transferring to the transfer paper whose timing has been adjusted and the cleaning roller 4f is thermally fixed in the fixing step, and after fixing, the toner image is discharged outside the machine. It has become. When forming a full-color image, the above-described steps of charging, exposure, development, and primary transfer are performed four times for black Bk, magenta M, cyan C, and yellow Y. The timing of each color alignment is generated by detecting a belt mark attached to the intermediate transfer belt 4d by a detecting means (belt mark sensor) 4g including a light reflection sensor or the like.

The duplex unit 5 is configured to turn over the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 7 to the image forming apparatus 4 and having an image formed on one side thereof, and re-feed the sheet to the image forming apparatus 4 again. Therefore, an image can be formed on both sides of one sheet. In addition, this type of double-sided unit 5
There are known ones that immediately re-feed one sheet and those that stack a plurality of sheets and sequentially re-feed the sheets from the top sheet. The paper on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 4 is discharged by the paper discharge sorting apparatus 6 after being sorted in a page order or for each page.

The extended function (application) 8 shares the resources of the original feeding device 1, the operation unit 2, the image reading device 3, the image forming device 4, the duplex unit 5, the paper sorting device 6, and the paper cassette 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is constituted by various other applications 81, 82, 83, 84 such as a copy, a printer, a facsimile (FAX), a scanner, and a file system.

In this embodiment, the extended function is expressed as an "application". The extended function is used for synchronizing the image signal photoelectrically converted by the image reading device 3, the image signal input to the image forming device 4, and the image signal. The signals are collectively referred to as a “video signal”. Further, a signal for exchanging the "video signal" between the image reading device 3, the image forming device 4, and the applications 81 to 84 is expressed as a "control signal" or a "command." A digital copying machine having 81 to 84 is referred to as a "system", and a controller for controlling the "system" is referred to as a "system controller" or a "system controller".

Next, the operation unit (and the display unit) 2 will be described.
In many cases, even a system equipped with .about.84 has only a very limited operation unit. In such a case, it is necessary to surrender the operation unit 2 for an application used by the user. Therefore, in the present invention, the screen prepared for each of the applications 81 to 84 is expressed as a “virtual screen”, and therefore, there are a plurality of “virtual screens”. One.

The application to which the display right of the operation unit 2 has been given is expressed as a "foreground application", and almost all key inputs are notified from the system to the "foreground application". A “virtual screen” is displayed on the operation unit 2. On the other hand, an application having no display right is expressed as a “background application”, and the “background application” does not interrupt the operation only because it has no display right, and a limited key is transmitted from the system control unit 101. Notified. Therefore, for example, even if the printer application 82 is in the background, if there is print data from an external host personal computer (not shown) if the image forming apparatus 4 is vacant, the output by the image forming apparatus 4 is attempted. You can also.

The resources 1, such as the image forming apparatus 4,
A state in which 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are empty is expressed as an “idle state”, and the system control unit 101 manages this idle state in units of 1 to 7 resources. Further, an application to which the screen control right is first given from the system control unit 101 when the power is turned on is referred to as a “startup application”.

Next, "insertion output" or "interleave" will be described. This term is mainly used in the description of the image output operation described later. For example, in recent digital copiers, some functions are combined, and for example, a copier and a combination of a facsimile or a printer or more are integrated into one unit. Generally, for example, output is performed in units of functions (= job units) so that switching to printer output is performed after the copy function ends. On the other hand, inserting another job output into one job output and outputting the job is expressed as "interleave", which means that printer output can be realized without stopping the machine, for example, during output of a copying machine. I do.

The "mode" indicates that the application has the display right. For example, when the printer application has the display right, the digital copying machine is expressed as being in the printer mode. Also, the point at which this mode is switched is referred to as "mode transition" or "mode transition"
This is controlled by the system control unit 101.

Here, when the system becomes complicated, it is necessary to individually deal with the application for each user. However, it is impossible to satisfy all of these at the time of shipment from the factory, and therefore, it is impossible to ship the application to the market. It is indispensable to deal with the situation. Therefore, in the present invention, the nonvolatile RAM
Equipped with a system setting function according to customer requirements. Then, this function is expressed as “user setting”.

When the image forming apparatus 4 is of the electrophotographic process type using a laser beam, the writing density can be selected to some extent.
le Resolusion (variable density) "or" MR: MultiRes
olusion (multiple density). " Further, in a copying machine of the electrophotographic process system, there are many consumables, so that a user may not be permitted to use it without restriction, but this is expressed as "user restriction". In this "user restriction", in order to identify, limit, and manage users, "coin rack"
A “key counter”, a “key card”, a “recitation number”, etc. are used.

As described above, when a multitask type system in which a plurality of applications 81 to 84 share one resource 1 to 7 and selectively use the resources 1 to 7 is configured, this system is controlled as shown in FIG. The system control layer 100 includes a system control unit 101 and controllers 21, 31, 41 of peripheral devices such as an operation unit 2, an image reading device 3, an image forming device 4, and a paper sorting device 6. 61.

The device management layer 110 receives logical instructions such as commands and control signals from the system control layer 100,
It performs conversion for driving and inputting mechanical inputs and outputs of clutches, sensors, motors, etc. that actually drive the device. The applications 81 to 84 coexist in the application layer 80 by functions provided from the system control layer 100.

The hardware of such a system includes, for example, CPUs 81a, 82a, and 83a for each of the applications 81 to 84 as shown in FIG. 3, as well as an operation unit 2, which is a resource, an image reading device 3, and an image forming device. By providing one CPU 10 for each C, the system control layer 100 and the device management layer 110 can be connected to one C
It can be controlled by the PU 10. The printer application 82 and the facsimile application 83 are provided with page memories 82b and 83b, respectively.

As other hardware, as shown in FIG. 4, applications 81 to 83, a system control unit 101, and a CPU 81 for each of resources 2 to 4 are provided.
a to 83 a, 101 a, 21 a, 31 a, 41 a are provided, and each CP is transmitted from the CPU 101 a of the system control unit 101.
Commands to U81a-83a and 21a-41a can be transmitted via a control signal line.
Thus, the hardware configuration of the present invention can be freely set.

Next, virtual resources will be described with reference to FIGS. When viewed from the application layer 80, the system control layer 100 provides a function such that virtual resources exist for all applications 81 to 84 as indicated by broken lines in FIG. There is no need to manage the system state, and the system control layer 100 can manage all the applications 81 to 84 under the same conditions.

That is, each of the applications 81 to 84 sends a use request to the system control layer 100 when a resource to be used is generated, and the system control layer 100 sends a result determined from the resource use status at that time to the request source application. send. The request source application determines whether or not the application can be executed based on the result, and executes the application if possible. The system control layer 100 manages the execution rights of the applications 81 to 84 in basically the same procedure.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, since there are only one actual resource 2 to 4 each, the system control layer 100 determines whether the actual use of the resources 2 to 4 Exclusive control or time-sharing allocation must be performed to pass the right. Whether to perform exclusive control or time-division allocation differs depending on the type of resource and user settings.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a virtual resource indicated by a broken line indicates a case where the application does not have an execution right, and a resource indicated by a solid line indicates a case where the application has an execution right. FIG. 6 shows an interleaving operation between the copy application 81 and the printer application 82, that is, a state in which another job output is inserted into an output of one job and output.
In this state, all the resources of the image reading device 3 and the image forming device 4 are executed and the execution is being performed. In this state, if a request to use the image forming device 4 is issued from the printer application 82, the interleave mode is set by the user setting Is set, the system control layer 100 allocates the image forming apparatus 4 to the copy application 81 and the printer application 82 in a time-division manner.

In the time-sharing allocation control, the execution right of the resource is dynamically changed among a plurality of applications, and the output of the image forming apparatus 4 is a mixture of the output of the copy application 81 and the output of the printer application 82. Will be output. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the waiting time of the copy application 81 and the printer application 82 without stopping the image forming apparatus 4.

FIG. 7 shows a parallel operation of the printer application 82 and the facsimile application 83 as another operation example. Facsimile application 8
3 uses only the operation unit 2 and the image reading device 3 during transmission, while the printer application 82 requires only the image forming device 4. Therefore, even if the resource use requests of the printer application 82 and the facsimile application 83 occur at the same time, resource conflict does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to accept the requests of the two applications 82 and 83 without performing exclusive control or time-division allocation. Therefore, facsimile transmission and printer output can be performed simultaneously.

Next, the operation of the plotter (image forming apparatus 4) will be described. In the present invention, the applications 81 to 84
The priority order can be registered by a predetermined operation method every time. Specifically, a user enters a program mode set by a key combination operation on the operation unit 2, and the priority order of each application 81 to 84 is registered. . The priority registered here is input as a numerical value from “1” to “9”, and when output requests from a plurality of applications 81 to 84 occur simultaneously, the output of the application with the higher priority is given priority. Therefore, an application having a low priority waits for output until the next sheet feeding executable timing.

For example, the user who wants to output the facsimile reception output with the highest priority is assigned to another application 81, 82, 8
4, the facsimile application 83 is registered with the highest priority, so that the facsimile reception output is interleaved when the facsimile reception output becomes possible, for example, even during copying, and further copied at the next sheet-feedable timing. Restart output.

Further, for example, when the user sets the priority of two or more applications to be the same, if output requests from the applications having the same priority occur at the same time, output rights are alternately applied to these applications, so-called Given in round robin.

For example, the same priority is set for the copy application 81 and the printer application 82, and when continuous output is to be performed, that is, at the timing when the next sheet feeding can be executed after one sheet feeding in sheet conveyance. When the next output is performed, the outputs of the applications 81 and 82 are alternately performed, such as copy output → printer output → copy output → printer output. Also, by sorting the bins into different bins for each application by the paper discharge sorting device (sorter) 6, it is possible to prevent confusion when the user of each application takes out the paper.

Therefore, when a plurality of users share and use one copying machine, the right to use can be imparted fairly among the users. In the above example, the case where the same priority is set for the two applications 81 and 82 has been described. However, the same priority may be set for three or more applications. Although output requests from two or more applications may not occur at the same time, it may occur naturally. In this case, the system control unit 101 outputs the application requested first. That is, when one user uses only one application, the operation is similar to that of a conventional copying machine or application.

Here, when the image forming apparatus 4 performs writing by an electrophotographic process method using a laser beam,
By changing the rotation speed of the polygon mirror, the writing density can be changed in a plurality of stages (MR). On the other hand,
The optimum writing density may be different for each application. Therefore, as described above, the rotation speed of the polygon mirror must be changed every time three or more applications output in the so-called round robin with the same priority.

However, if the rotation speed of the polygon mirror is changed, it usually takes about three seconds to stabilize at the rated rotation.
It takes extra time on the order of seconds, which reduces the throughput of the entire system. Therefore, in the present invention, when an output request is generated from two or more applications, the application right is sequentially given from the application having a higher writing density,
In addition, in the case of the same priority, the priority is given to the application that has requested the output at the same writing density as the application that has been fed immediately before, so that a decrease in throughput can be prevented. Further, even when MR is performed, interleaved output can be realized with a minimum switching time.

According to the present invention, the user can enter a program mode set by a user by operating a combination of keys on the operation unit 2, and can set permission and prohibition of interleaving for inserting a print output of another application during execution of print output of one application. Is configured. Here, in the case of permitting interleaving, the same effect as the above-described setting of the priority order can be obtained. However, when the sheet discharge sorting device (sorter) 6 is not provided, one application sheet is set to one sheet. The user is confused by being mixed on the paper discharge tray.

Therefore, the output of the background application having no display right is prohibited in principle, and the user consciously selects an application mode desired to be output on the operation unit 2, or selects the foreground application having the display right. The above-mentioned problem can be solved by automatically switching the background application to the foreground application and outputting the output only when is in the idle state.

Further, the application in which the user restriction is set is prohibited from being output from the background application, and the output is performed only after the user intentionally selects the foreground application. . This allows a second user to be able to output from a background application while the first user is performing output using a user-restricted device such as a coin rack, key card, or key counter in a foreground application. Then, it is counted up to the user-restricted device of the first user. Further, this user restriction can be set for each application.

Further, when the background application starts outputting, the user who is using the foreground application is displayed and notified. FIG. 8 shows an example of this, and LEDs 81c, 82c, 83c for copy, printer, facsimile and other applications 81-84.
84c is provided. In this example, the copy LED 81c is turned on as the foreground, and the facsimile LED 83c being output is blinking as the background. This blinking is performed until the discharge is completed after the background paper supply is started.

Note that a guidance such as "FAX priority output in progress" may be displayed on the LCD 2a of operation 2 instead of blinking the LED when output is being performed as a background. A user who is using the application can be alerted not to mistake the paper discharged by the background application.

The interrupt copying can be set to the highest priority. That is, the interruption copy is positioned to be executed by the user with an urgency, so that setting the highest priority can improve the usability of the user.

Next, the main part of the operation of the system control unit 101 will be described. Copy 81, facsimile 8
3. The resources required to use the image forming apparatus as a reading device for each application of the printer 82 and the scanner are:
It is as shown in Table 1. Each application 81-8
4 issues a request to the system control unit 101 as to whether to use the reading device and the image forming device when performing the processing. Here, ○ indicates a use request and X indicates unused.

[0053]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 2, the resource status of the system control unit 101 includes the availability status of the reading device and the image forming device. Here, it is assumed that ○ is usable and X is not usable.

[0055]

[Table 2]

When receiving the resource use request, the system control unit 101 sorts and registers the resource requests as shown in Table 3 in the waiting table in the order of priority.

[0057]

[Table 3]

Then, it is determined whether all the resources requested to be used are available in order from the top of the table based on the resource status of Table 2, and if available, the request is transferred to the resource acquisition table.

When the end of toner occurs during image output,
The image forming apparatus terminates the request processing after interrupting the image output requested by the application. In response, the application stops outputting the remaining images and releases the resources being used. As a result, the acquisition information of the application registered in the resource acquisition table is deleted. On the other hand, the use request waiting table is also checked again from the first, and if the use request resource is available, the table is moved to the resource acquisition table.

This will be described with reference to an example. Now, assume that the resource request waiting table, the resource acquisition table, and the resource status are as follows, respectively, and the copy application is performing full-color copying.

[0061]

[Table 4]

[0062]

[Table 5]

[0063]

[Table 6]

Each application determines the toner color to be used as shown in Table 7 according to the color mode set by the user for each application.

[0065]

[Table 7]

As described above, in the case of the full color mode, all four toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are used. If the cyan toner has reached the end, since the copy application in the resource acquisition table No. 1 has used the cyan toner, the image forming apparatus cannot continue image recording, and the process ends. Upon receiving the end of the process, the application refers to the toner state information, and waits for the image forming apparatus to supply the cyan toner in the remaining copy before performing the remaining copy. The return wait state information and the resource release request are issued to the system control unit 101. At this time, the resource use waiting table and the resource status are as shown in Tables 8 and 9.

[0067]

[Table 8]

[0068]

[Table 9]

In the resource use request waiting table, 1
The printer application of No. has all resources available for use, so it acquires resources and is registered in the resource acquisition table. Tables 10 and 11 show the state at that time.

[0070]

[Table 10]

[0071]

[Table 11]

As described above, even when the cyan toner end occurs during the full color copy, the operation is switched to the cron print output, so that the resources can be equally distributed among the users.

The system control unit 101 has information as shown in Table 12 below.

[0074]

[Table 12]

When the user intentionally switches the application, the system control unit 101 stores the application switched between the main use right and the current use right. At the same time, the operation unit controller is instructed to display a virtual screen of the application currently stored in the usage right, and this is set as a foreground application.

On the other hand, when receiving information of a return waiting state from the application to which the operation unit use right has been given,
The current usage right is switched to the application with the highest priority among the applications that have acquired the resource. In the main use right, the application switched by the user is stored. If no application has acquired the resource, the current usage right is not switched. After switching the current usage right to the application that has acquired the resource, if nothing is registered in the resource acquisition table, the application stored in the main usage right is returned to the current usage right.

Next, the switching of the operation unit use right will be specifically described with reference to the above-described example. When the copy application has acquired the image forming apparatus and the reading apparatus, the operation unit use right information is as shown in Table 13 below.

[0078]

[Table 13]

At this time, a copy application screen is displayed on the operation unit 2 as shown in FIG.

When the cyan toner reaches the end and the copy application releases the used resources and sends a return wait state to the system control unit 101, the operation unit use right information is as shown in Table 14 below.

[0081]

[Table 14]

At this time, if the current usage right remains the copy application, the operation unit 2 displays the toner end as shown in FIG. 14, but in the present embodiment, the printer application as shown in FIG. Screen is displayed. This can prevent the user from opening the door and trying to replenish toner while printing is in progress. Further, after the print output is completed, the display returns to the copy display, so that the display is still displayed on the printer, and it is not known that the toner is exhausted.

When the image forming apparatus of the printer application is released and nothing is registered in the resource acquisition table, the copy application obtains the current operation unit use right again, and the operation unit use right information is set in the following table. Fifteen
become that way.

[0084]

[Table 15]

At this time, the copy application screen of FIG. 14 is displayed again on the operation unit.

Next, the output operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the power is turned on, for example, the apparatus waits until the temperature of the fixing unit reaches a predetermined temperature or a paper-ready state in which no jam occurs (step 901). (Step 902). Next, it is determined whether or not the application is permitted to output from the background (step 903).
If it is permitted, the process proceeds to step 904 and thereafter, and if it is not permitted, the process branches to step 912.

In step 912, if the application is in the foreground, the flow advances to step 909 to start output, and then the paper is set to a paper-disabled state (step 9).
10), wait for the remaining output requests received (step 911), and return to step 901. If the application is not in the foreground in step 912, the process branches to step 913 to wait for execution. Then, the process proceeds to step 915, and if the processing of the accepted request is completed, the process returns to step 901 and the process is terminated. If not, the process returns to step 903.

If it is determined in step 903 that the application is permitted to output from the background, it is determined whether or not the application is set for user restriction (step 904). Proceeds to step 905 and below, and if set, branches to step 912.

In step 905, it is determined whether or not the interrupt mode has been set. If the interrupt mode has not been set, the process proceeds to step 906, and if it has been set, the process branches to step 912. In step 906, it is determined whether the foreground application has selected the sort or stack mode and the foreground application is not in an idle state. If YES, the process branches to step 912; Proceed to.

In step 907, it is determined whether or not there is a request for the same writing density as that of the application that has the same priority and has been fed immediately before. Is output, and if there is no identical one, the process proceeds to step 908 and subsequent steps. In step 908, it is determined whether or not the request is the same as the writing density fed immediately before. If NO, the process proceeds to step 909 to output the application, and if YES, the process branches to step 914. Then, the process waits for execution, and proceeds to step 915.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 10, of a processing procedure of the resource request waiting table sorting processing executed by the system control unit 101 in step 902 in FIG.

In this process, first, at step 1001, a variable n is set to “1”, and at step 1002, it is checked whether a resource use request is registered in the n-th table. If a resource use request is registered,
The process proceeds to step 1003, and if not registered, proceeds to step 1006. In step 1003, it is checked whether the priority of the n-th table is higher than the priority of the requested application. In this check, n
If the priority of the number table is high, the variable n is increased by “1” in step 1004, and the process returns to step 1002. On the other hand, if the priority of the n-th table is low, step 100
In step 5, all tables after the n-th table are shifted down by one. Then, in step 1006, the request is registered in the nth request.

When the registration is completed, in step 1007,
The variable k is set to “1”, and in step 1008, it is checked whether all the resources used in the k-th table are available. If table k is available,
Proceed to step 1011; if unusable, step 1
Proceed to 009. In step 1009, it is checked whether or not the number “k” is equal to or more than the last table number. If the number is equal to or more than the last table number, this process ends. If less than “k”, “k” is increased by “1” in step 1010. The processing after step 1008 is repeated. On the other hand, step 101
In step 1, the k-th table is moved to the execution buffer, and in step 1012, the tables after the “k + 1” -th table are all shifted up by one, and the process ends.

Further, at the time of print output in step 909 in FIG. 9, the processing after the end of the request processing in step 915 is shown in FIG.
Is performed according to the processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In this process, first, in step 1101, it is checked whether there is an application waiting for return. And if there is no application waiting for return,
This process is terminated, and if there is an application waiting for return, it is checked in step 1102 whether the resource to be returned is used. If it is used, the application to be output to the current usage right is set in step 1103. The leverage processing ends. On the other hand, if it is not used, in step 1104, the application of the main usage right is set as the current usage right, and this processing ends.

Next, the processing performed by the application will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In this processing, first, a start is waited for in step 1201, and if it is started, a resource use request is issued (step 1202). Then, in step 1203, the process waits for the end of the process requested in step 2. Upon completion of the requested processing, it is checked in step 1204 whether there is a remaining job. If there is no remaining job, release of used resources is issued in step 1205 and the process returns to step 1201. If there is a remaining job, step 1206
Check if the used toner is at the end. If it is toner end, the release of the used resource is issued in step 1207, the toner end display is performed in step 1208, and the return wait state of the image forming apparatus is issued in step 1209, and the process returns to step 1206.

On the other hand, if the used toner is not at the end in step 1206, it is checked in step 1210 whether or not the recovery is awaited. If it is not waiting for a check, the process returns to step 1201;
In step 112, the toner end display is turned off. In step 1212, the return waiting state is canceled, and the process returns to step 1201.

[0099]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the supply information storage means for storing the used supply information for each application and the supply presence / absence information for each resource, When the supply to be supplied is “absent” in the supply presence / absence information, control means for releasing the acquired resource use right is provided. In such a case, the acquired resource use right is automatically released, whereby the resources can be fairly distributed among the users using the respective applications.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an operation unit for displaying information, and an operation unit use right management unit for managing an operation unit use right for using the operation unit, wherein the control unit includes: When the supply included in the used supply information is “none” in the supply presence / absence information, the first application of the plurality of applications shifts to a recovery waiting state for each resource and performs the return. Transmitting the waiting state information to the operation unit use right management unit, wherein the operation unit use right management unit receives the return wait information when the return wait information received from the first application is a return wait; The second that won
Since the operation unit usage right is switched to the application of
The display of the supply end warning displayed in the first application is switched, and the second application attempts to recover the supply while using the resources of the second application.
Can be prevented from being misunderstood that the operation of the application is interrupted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means re-arbitrates the right to use the operation unit after the use of the image forming resources of all the operable applications is completed. It is possible to prevent a state in which it is not possible to recognize the reason why the operation being performed by the user who has been using does not end.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the application includes one of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.
An image forming system including at least one of these applications can achieve the effects of the first to third aspects of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a digital image forming apparatus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of hardware of the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another example of hardware of the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG. 1;

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an application layer and a system control layer in the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an interleaving operation of a copy application and a printer application in the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a parallel operation of a facsimile application and a printer application in the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital image forming apparatus system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a resource request waiting table sorting process executed in step 902 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of print output in step 909 in FIG. 9 and after completion of the request processing in step 915.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a process executed by an application.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a copy application displayed on the operation unit in FIG. 2;

14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner end display in the copy application displayed on the operation unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a printer application displayed on the operation unit in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 operation unit 3 image reading device 4 image forming device 10 CPU 81, 82, 83, 84 application 100 system control layer 101 system control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming resource for forming an image, an image reading resource for reading an image, a plurality of applications each performing a different process, and a resource use request and release request from each application are received. Resource arbitration means for arbitrating rights, wherein the resource arbitration means determines the use right based on a preset priority. Supply information storage means for storing information; and control means for releasing the acquired resource use right when the supply included in the used supply information is “none” in the supply presence / absence information. An image forming system comprising: 2. An operation unit for displaying information, and an operation unit use right management unit for managing an operation unit use right for using the operation unit, wherein the control unit includes:
When the supply included in the used supply information is “none” in the supply presence / absence information, the first application shifts to a recovery waiting state for each resource and uses the operation waiting state information as the operation unit use information. The operation unit use right management unit transmits the information to the second application that has acquired the resource to be returned when the return waiting information received from the first application is waiting for the return. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the right to use the operation unit is switched. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit re-arbitrates the right to use the operation unit after the use of the image forming resources of all the operable applications is completed. 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the application includes one of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.