JPH11146121A - Image input and output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an external device to recognize information of an operating state including paper size information of one page of image data entered or outputted actually during execution of image input/output in the image input/ output device that inputs/outputs an image in page unit according to an instruction from the external device. SOLUTION: A processing request based on an instruction from an external device is received to generate a session consisting of an image input job and an output job (steps S601, S602), and the image input job and the image output job by means of a printer are executed (S603-S608, 609-614). During execution of the image output job, the external device is informed of the job operation state including the size of a paper printed and discharged at the end of print of one page (S612).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input / output device for inputting / outputting image data in page units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of this type of image input / output device is a copying machine. In recent years, with the digitalization of copiers, a facsimile function for performing facsimile transmission and reception using a scanner and a printer of the copier, and a PDL (Page Descr) representing an image transferred from an external computer or the like.
Multifunction devices having a plurality of functions, such as a PDL print function for developing code data of an iption language into image data and printing it out, have been put to practical use. Such multi-function machines include copier functions, facsimile functions, PDL
It is configured to be able to operate not only with a single function such as a print function and a scanner function but also with a combination of a plurality of functions such as facsimile transmission of image data developed from PDL. Further, by connecting the multifunction peripheral to a network such as a LAN, a computer or the like can use the functions of the multifunction peripheral. In addition, the input image data is temporarily stored in a storage medium such as a page memory or a hard disk so that a plurality of functions can be easily and efficiently realized by using the scanner and the printer of the copying machine. A device configured to output an image from a medium has also been devised.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional multifunction peripheral, for example, in a PDL print function, when a host computer prints a desired document via a network, first, the host computer transmits PDL data on the network. Transfer to the print server. Next, the NIC (Network Interface Ca
The rd) section acquires PDL data to be a print job from the printer server. N that acquired PDL data
The IC unit converts the acquired PDL data into RIP (Raster Image) data.
ge Processor) part. The RIP unit sequentially develops the transferred PDL data into image data, transfers the image data to the printer engine unit, and an image is formed and printed out by the printer engine unit.

Here, a print job completion notification to a printer server or a host computer is conventionally sent from the printer of the multifunction peripheral via the printer server when a series of PDL data has been transferred from the NIC unit to the RIP unit. F has been notified.

[0005] However, this notification alone requires the RIP
There is a problem that it is difficult for the user to determine whether each page of the image data transferred from the printer unit to the printer engine unit is normally formed and printed out. In addition, even if an image is normally formed and printed out, there is a problem that the user cannot know the size of the actually printed sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image input / output device for inputting / outputting an image in page units in response to an instruction from an external device. During execution of image input / output in response to an instruction from the external device, information on the operation status of the image input / output including information on the paper size of the page of the input / output image can be known on the external device side. It is to provide a configuration.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image input / output apparatus for inputting image data in page units, and outputting image data in page units. An image output unit, a processing request unit that requests image input / output processing in response to an instruction from an external device, and an image input job that inputs image data from the image input unit in response to a request from the processing request unit. An input / output job control unit that controls to execute one or a combination of an image output job to transfer the input image data to the image output unit and output the image data,
The input / output job control means, when executing an image input job or an image output job in response to the request, at the time of completion of input or output of one page of image data, the information of the job including the paper size information of the page. A configuration is adopted in which information relating to the operation status is notified to the processing request means, and the processing request means notifies the external device of the notified information.

According to such a configuration, the processing requesting means requests the image input / output processing in response to the instruction from the external device,
In response to this, one or both of the image input job and the image output job are executed under the control of the input / output job control means. During the execution, when the input or output of one page of the image data is completed, Information relating to the operation status of the job, including information on the paper size, is notified from the input / output job control unit to the processing request unit, and further notified to an external device. Therefore, the external device can know the information relating to the operation status of the image input or output job including the information of the paper size of one page of the input or output completed image data.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image input / output device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image input / output device includes a reader (scanner) unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3. The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document page by page and inputs image data corresponding to the document image to the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image in page units according to image data provided from the image input / output control unit 3 on paper (recording paper).

The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a storage unit 5, a computer interface unit 7,
It comprises an IP section 8, an operation section 9, a core section 10, and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 decompresses the page-based compressed image data received via the telephone line 13 and transfers it to the core unit 10, and compresses the page-based image data transferred from the core unit 10 to compress it. The data is transmitted via the telephone line 13. Image data to be transmitted and received can be temporarily stored in a hard disk 6 connected to the storage unit 5.

The storage unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores it on the hard disk 6 together with an ID number for searching the image data.
Also, the storage unit 5 stores the I
The compressed image data stored in the hard disk 6 is searched based on the code data of the D number, the compressed image data is read, decompressed, and transferred to the core unit 10.

The computer interface unit 7 is provided with a personal computer or a workstation (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer).
This is an interface between the PC / WS 11 and the core unit 10, and may be connected to the PC / WS 11 via a local interface on a one-to-one basis, or may be connected via the printer server 12 via a network.

The RIP unit 8 develops code data (PDL) representing an image in page units transferred from the PC / WS 11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2.

The operation unit 9 includes, for example, a touch panel display, hard keys, and the like, and performs operation instructions and operation settings to the image input / output device through a user interface.

The details of the core section 10 will be described later.
0 is a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, a facsimile unit 4,
Storage unit 5, computer interface unit 7,
It controls the flow of data between the RIP unit 8 and the operation unit 9.

FIG. 2 shows a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing details of the configuration of FIG. In the configuration of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 1, a document feeder 101 feeds a document one by one on a platen glass 102 in the leading order, and discharges the document on the platen glass 102 after the reading operation of the document is completed. When the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on and the scanner unit 104 is turned on.
Is started, and the original is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is transmitted to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter C) by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108.
(Referred to as CD) 109.

As described above, the scanned image of the original is CC
Read by D109. The image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

On the other hand, the printer section 2 is configured here as a laser beam printer. In the configuration, the laser driver 221 drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202
And a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the sheet is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205, is conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and transfers the developer adhered to the photosensitive drum 202 to the sheet. The cassettes 204 and 205
In this case, sheets of different sizes are stored, and the sheets are fed from the cassette storing the appropriate size in accordance with the specification of the sheet size in the print setting by the user described later. The sheet carrying the developer is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the sheet by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is
8 to the sorter 220.

Here, when the discharge of the paper is completed normally, information relating to the printing operation status including the paper size information of the discharged paper is notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10 as described later.

The sorter 220 stores the discharged paper in each bin and sorts the paper, and staples the sorted paper. Note that the sorter 220 stores sheets in the uppermost bin when no sorting is set.

When double-sided recording is set,
After the sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the sheet is guided to the re-feed conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209. Refeeding conveyance path 210
The sheet guided to the sheet is turned upside down and fed to the transfer unit 206 again, and printing is performed on the back side of the sheet in the same manner as described above.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the details of the configuration of the core unit 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
Comprises an interface 120, a data processing unit 121, an interface 122, a CPU 123, and a memory 124.

In this configuration, the image data input from the reader unit 1 to the core unit 10
Is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. Image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 and processed is transferred to the storage unit 5 via the interface 120. Transferred to

The computer interface unit 7
The code data (PDL) representing the image input to the core unit 10 via the interface is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120, and then transferred to the RIP unit 8 and expanded into image data in page units. After this image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121, the storage unit 5
Transferred to

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the storage unit 5.

After the image data from the storage unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121,
And the facsimile unit 4 and the computer interface unit 7.

The CPU 123 controls the data transfer and processing as described above in accordance with the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control commands transferred from the operation unit 9. The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123.

With such a configuration, functions such as reading of an original image, printing of an image, transmission and reception of an image, storage of an image, input / output of data from a computer, etc. are performed through the storage unit 5 with the core unit 10 at the center. Can be combined.

Next, a unit of control of a job executed by the present apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 logically shows a unit of job control. The unit of job control is input and output processing for a group of image data of one page or a plurality of pages. Jobs controlled by this are roughly classified into image input jobs and image output jobs.

The image input job is an image input job 411 for sequentially inputting image data read by the reader unit 1 from the reader unit 1 and recording (storing) the image data in the storage unit 5.
An image input job 412 for sequentially inputting the image data developed by the unit 8 from the RIP unit 8 and recording the image data in the storage unit 5;
An image input job 413 for sequentially inputting image data received by the facsimile unit 4 from the facsimile unit 4 and recording the image data in the storage unit 5;
Are classified into an image input job 414 for sequentially recording image data input from the storage unit 5.

The image output job is sent to the storage unit 5.
And an image output job 403 for sequentially transferring the image data from the storage unit 5 to the printer unit 2 for printing and outputting the image data, and an image output job 403 for reading the image data from the storage unit 5 and sequentially transferring the image data to the facsimile unit 4 to output the image transmission. , The image data is read from the storage unit 5 and sequentially transferred to the computer
The job is classified into an image output job 404 to be output to the WS 11.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an example of a unit (hereinafter referred to as a session) obtained by combining a plurality of jobs. A PDL print session 501 controls an image input job 412 and an image output job 401 in combination. A copy session 502 controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 401 as a session. A facsimile transmission session 503 controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 403 as a session. 50
Reference numeral 4 denotes a facsimile reception session, which controls the combination of the image input job 413 and the image output job 401 as a session. Reference numeral 505 denotes a scan session, which controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 404 as a session.

A session is a control unit including one or more jobs. For example, the image input job 412 is treated as one session, the image output job 401 is treated as one session, and the image input job 412 and the image The output job 401 and the image output job 403 may be combined and treated as one session.

Next, the operation of the image input / output device of the present embodiment according to the present invention will be described. Here, in response to a user's print instruction on PC / WS 11, PC / W
From S11, an image input job 412 for transferring image data transferred as PDL data via the printer server 12 and developed by the RIP unit 8 to the storage unit 5 sequentially, and image data recorded in the storage unit 5 to the printer unit 2 sequentially. Image output job 401 to output and print out
The operation in the case of executing the PDL print session 501 composed of the following will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the PD
5 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of an L print session 501. This control is performed by the CPU 12 of the core unit 10.
3 is performed as a subject of control. Note that S60 in FIG.
1 to S615 indicate each step of the control process.

First, in step S601, PC / WS
The user makes print settings on the screen 11. Print settings include the number of copies, paper size, scaling ratio, one-sided / two-sided,
The page output order, the sort output, the presence or absence of stapling, and the like. After the print setting, the user gives a print instruction on the PC / WS11, and the driver software installed on the PC / WS11 converts the document data to be printed into so-called PDL data in response to the print instruction.
Together with the set print setting parameters, the target document name, and the user name registered on the PC / WS 11 in advance, via the printer server 12 on the network,
The PDL data is transferred to the computer interface unit 7 of the image input / output device connected to the network.

After the PDL data representing the image input to the core unit 10 via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, the PDL data is transferred to the RIP unit 8, and the transferred PDL data is transferred to the RIP unit 8. Are sequentially developed (rasterized) into image data in page units. R
When the IP unit 8 starts receiving PDL data, the RIP unit 8
Issues an image input / output processing request to the core unit 10.
In the core unit 10, the CPU 123 accepts the issued processing request. Here, the print setting set by the user is also C
Transferred to PU123.

In step S602, a session is internally generated from the processing request issued from the RIP unit 8 and managed. FIG. 7 shows the session management table 700.
In the session generation, the session management table 70
0 is created on the memory 124, and various information is held until the session ends.

Here, the configuration indicated by reference numerals 701 to 707 of the session management table 700 will be described. First,
The session ID (identification information) field 701 is for generating and holding a unique session ID in the image input / output device. The generated session ID is RI
The PIP 8 is notified, and the RIP 8 holds this session ID until the session ends. The session ID is used for notification of a job operation status from the core unit 10 to the RIP unit 8, which will be described later.

The session type field 702 specifies the type of the created session (PDL print session, copy session, facsimile transmission session, facsimile reception session, scan session, etc.). Record what you have.

The session priority field 703 contains
The priority order regarding the processing order of the session is held.

Session status field 704
Holds information on the execution state of the session (executable state, execution state, interruption state, end state, error state, etc.) according to the execution state.

The number of link jobs field 705 holds the number of image input jobs and image output jobs that constitute the session. Here, it is assumed that the session is a PDL print session, and The number of two jobs 401 is set.

First job pointer field 706
Is the job management table 710 of the image input job 412
Is a pointer to

The second job pointer field 7
07 is a job management table 7 of the image output job 401.
Pointer to 30.

Next, in step S603, the job management table 710 of the image input job 412 is stored in the memory 124.
Above, and hold various information until the job is completed.

Here, the configuration of the job management table 710 will be described. First, the job I in the job management table 710
The D field 711 generates and holds a unique job ID in the image input / output device.

The job type field 712 specifies the type of the generated job (the image input job and the image output job described above).
It is recorded that the image data is the image input job 412 for sequentially recording the image data developed by the P unit 8 in the storage unit 5.

The job priority field 713 holds priority information on the processing order of the job.

The job status field 714 holds information on the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status, interrupt status, end status, error status, etc.) according to the execution status.

The page number field 715 holds the number of pages of the image of the job.

The page pointer field 716 is a pointer to a page management table 720 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The page management field 720 is recorded on the hard disk 6.

The job parameter field 717 holds various setting parameters of the job. In this example, the number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, one-sided / two-sided, page output order, sort output, set in step S601. The presence or absence of stapling is retained.

Next, in step S604, processing of the generated image input job 412 is started.

In step S605, one page of the image data expanded by the RIP unit 8 is received. That is, RI
Image transfer from the P unit 8 to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120 is performed.

In step S606, the data processing unit 12
1 is transferred to the storage unit 5.
Is recorded (stored) on the hard disk 6 of. At this time, the page 1 field 721 in the page management field 720
Then, various kinds of image attribute information (resolution, number of pixels, etc.) of the image data of one page are recorded.

In step S607, it is determined whether or not all pages developed by the RIP unit 8 to be processed have been recorded on the hard disk 6 as image data. If the result of this determination is that there are pages that have not been processed, the process returns to step S605 and returns to step S605.
Steps 605 to S607 are repeated, and if all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step S608.

In step S608, the above step S
The process proceeds to step S609 using the information in the job status field 714 in the job management table 710 generated in step 603 as the end state information.

In step S609, image output job 4
01 is created on the memory 124 and various information is held until the job is completed.

The configuration of the job management table 730 is the same as that of the job management table 710 described above.
A job ID field 731, a job type field 732, and a job priority field 7 similar to the fields 711 to 717 of the same table 710 respectively
33, a job status field 734, a page number field 735, a page pointer field 736, and a job parameter field 737, each of which holds the various kinds of information described above.

However, here, the job type field 732 includes, as information for specifying the job, information indicating that the image data is the image output job 401 for sequentially printing out the image data recorded in the storage unit 5 to the printer unit 2. Record it.

The page pointer field 736
Is a pointer to a page management table 740 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The substance of the page management table 740 is the image input job 412
Is the same as the page management table 720 recorded on the hard disk 6.

Next, in step S610, processing of the generated image output job 401 is started.

In step S611, step S606
Reads one page of image data for each page recorded on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5 and transfers the image to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120.

In step S612, the data processing unit 12
The image data of one page transferred to 1 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the interface 122, and the printer unit 2 forms an image as described above, and prints out the image data of one page.

Hereafter, in accordance with a change in the operation status of the image output job 401 in the printer unit 2, the printer unit 2 notifies the core unit 10 of the operation status data.

The change in the operating condition is that the output of one page of image data is completed (here, the printer unit 2 outputs one page).
After the image data of the page is formed on the paper, the discharge of the paper to the outside of the machine is normally completed), and the above operation is performed every time the output of one page of the image data is completed. The status data is notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10.

FIG. 8 shows a list of operation status data 800 of the image output job 401 notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10. The operation status data 800 includes an ID field 801, a job execution status notification factor field 802, a job status field 803, a completed page count field 804, a completed copy count field 805, a document name field 806, and a user name field 807. It consists of each data.

The ID field 801 contains the step S6
02 sets the data of the session ID generated.

Job execution status notification factor field 802
Indicates a factor notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10 and includes fields 821 to 825. Of these, the page unit discharge completion field 821
After a page of image data is formed on a sheet by the printer unit 2, the value of the data is set to 1 when the sheet is normally discharged out of the machine. The colleted discharge completion field 822 is used to output the collated page image data on a sheet in accordance with the set number of print settings, and then discharge the collated page sheet out of the apparatus. When the paper is normally completed, the value of the data is set to 1. The job-unit discharge completion field 823 indicates that after the image data of the page of the job is formed on the sheet according to the set print setting, the sheet of the page of the job is discharged to the outside of the apparatus. The data value is set to 1 at the time of normal completion. The value of the data in the status change field 824 is set to 1 when a change occurs in the job execution status other than that indicated by the data in the fields 821, 822, and 823. The completed page paper size field 825 is for setting the size information of the paper discharged by the printer unit 2 when the page unit discharge completion field 821 is set.

The job status field 803
Is a field set when the value of the status change present field 824 is set to 1,
It consists of fields 831 to 837. The value of the printing field 831 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 starts the printing operation. The value of the suspended field 832 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 suspends printing. The value of the paper out field 833 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 detects that paper is out during printing. The value of the paper jam field 834 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 detects the occurrence of a paper jam (jam). The value in the toner absence field 836 is set to 1 when the printer unit 2 detects that the toner is out. The value of the abnormal end field 837 is set to 1 when the printing operation in the printer unit 2 ends abnormally.

The number of completed pages in job field 804 is for setting the total number of completed pages in the job when the page unit discharge completion field 821 is set.

The number of completed copies field 80 in the job
5 sets the total number of completed copies in the job when the set unit discharge completion field 822 is set.

The document name field 806 and the user name field 807 are stored in the PC / WS in step S601.
The document name and the user name set from step 11 are set.

The image output job 401 having the above contents
The operation status data is notified from the printer unit 2 to the core unit 10 according to the change in the operation status of the job. More specifically, each of the above-described job execution status notification factors of page unit discharge completion, copy unit discharge completion, and job unit discharge completion, as well as no paper, paper jam, staple alarm, no toner, The printer unit 2 notifies the core unit 10 when the status changes, such as abnormal termination.

The core unit 10 having received the notification notifies the RIP unit 8 of the operation status data having the same contents together with the data of the session ID 801. Further, the RIP unit 8 that has received the notification notifies the print server 12 of the notified job operation status.
Also notifies the PC / WS 11 of the job requester of the job operation status.

As a result, in the print server 12, the size information of the sheet on which the image is normally formed in the printer unit 2 and discharged outside the apparatus is sequentially stored together with the document name and the user name of the issued print job. Will be.

Referring again to the flowchart of FIG. 6, in step S613, it is determined whether or not all the image data for each page recorded on the hard disk 6 has been printed out. As a result of the determination, if there is any unprocessed page, the process returns to step S611, and steps S611 to S613 are repeated.
If all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step S
Proceed to 614. At this point, the value of the job unit discharge completion field 813 is set to 1. The RIP unit 8 that has received the notification of the completion of the job-unit discharge,
The completion of the job unit discharge is notified to the printer server 12 on the network via the computer interface unit 7.
The print server 12 notifies the PC / WS 11 of the job request source of the completion of the job unit paper discharge.

In step S614, the above-described step S
The data of the job status field 734 in the job management table 730 generated in 609 is set to the end state, and the process proceeds to step S615.

In step S615, the above step S
603 and the job management tables 710 and 730 generated in step S609, the page management table 720 generated in step S606, and the image data for each page are discarded to release the resources, and generated in step S602. Also, the session management table 700 is discarded, resources are released, and a series of processing ends.

With the above control, the PC / WS 11
According to the print settings set by the user above,
The PDL print function is executed. At this time, each time the printer unit 2 forms an image of one page of image data on a sheet and completes the discharge, it is related to the operation status of the image output job including the discharged sheet size information. Information is sent to the printer server 12, P
C / WS 11 can be notified.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image input job and the image output job can be divided and controlled, and the image input job and the image output job can be arbitrarily combined to perform the image input / output session. And the job ID of the image input job, the job ID of the image output job, and the session I of the image input / output session.
D is generated, and the session ID of the image input / output session is held in association with the job IDs of the image input job and the image output job. To the printer server 12 and the PC / WS 11. As a result, the PC / WS 11 can accurately know the operation status information of the image output job including the information of the discharged paper size.

In the printer server 12, the operation status data of the image output job of the printer unit 2 can be accumulated and totalized for each user. Can be managed.

In the above embodiment, when an image output job to the printer unit 2 is being executed and the output of one page of image data is completed, information relating to the operation status of the job including the paper size information of the page is externally output. Although the apparatus is notified, even during execution of an image output job to other image output means such as the facsimile unit 4 and the computer interface unit 7, when the output of one page of image data is completed, the information of the paper size is similarly set. It is a matter of course that the information relating to the operation status of the job including the above may be notified to the external device. Further, even when the input of one page of the image data is completed during the execution of the image input job, the information on the operation status of the job including the paper size information of the page may be similarly notified to the external device.

[0086]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in an image input / output device for inputting / outputting image data in page units, image data is input from image input means in response to an instruction from an external device. An image input job for inputting
When one or both of the image output job and the image output job for transferring the input image data to the image output unit and outputting the image data are executed, when the input or output of one page of the image data is completed, Since the information relating to the operation status of the job including the paper size information is notified to the external device, the information of the operation status of the currently executing image input or output job including the paper size information is output to the external device. And the user can be informed of the information, and the information can be used to manage the use status of the image input / output device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of an image input / output control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanical configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a core unit of an image input / output control unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an image input job and an image output job that are units of job control in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a session in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image input / output control in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of each table of session management, job management, and page management used for control of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of operation status data of an image output job of a printer unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 Storage part 7 Computer interface part 8 RIP part 9 Operation part 10 Core part 11 Personal computer or workstation 12 Printer server 13 Telephone line 120 Interface 121 Data processing part 122 Interface 123 CPU 124 Memory

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuaki Miyahara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image input means for inputting image data in page units, an image output means for outputting image data in page units, and a processing request means for requesting image input / output processing in accordance with an instruction from an external device. One or both of an image input job for inputting image data from the image input unit and an image output job for transferring and outputting the input image data to the image output unit in response to a request from the processing request unit And an input / output job control means for controlling the execution of the combination of the image data, wherein the input / output job control means completes the input of one page of the image data during the execution of the image input job or the image output job according to the request. At the time of or at the completion of output, information relating to the operation status of the job, including information on the paper size of the page, is notified to the processing requesting means. Image input and output apparatus and notifies the information notified to the external device. 2. An image storage means for storing image data, wherein the image data input from the image input means is stored in the image storage means, and the stored image data is transferred to the image output means for output. The image input / output device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The input / output job control means, when executing a combination of an image input job and an image output job in response to the request, generates unique identification information for each of the job combination and the job. Each of the identification information is stored in association with each other and used for each control of the job, and the identification information of the combination of the jobs is notified to the processing request unit, and when the input of one page of the image data is completed or output. When notifying the processing request unit of information relating to the operation status of the job at the time of completion,
2. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is added to identification information of the job combination and notified.