JPH118727A - Image processor and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an information processing system capable of immediately reporting the production of an error to a user. SOLUTION: Error production information is reported to a job management means 16 and the job management means 16 analyzes the error production information, retrieves all jobs for affecting execution, reports information relating to all retrieved job transmitters and an error kind to a reporting means 24 and specifies the reporting destination of the error production information by referring to the information of a network equipment management means 25 so as to report the error production information to all the retrieved job transmitters. Thereafter, the error production information is reported to the host computer of a specified job transmission origin and the host computer of the job transmission origin receives and displays the error production information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus,
The present invention relates to an information processing system including an image processing device and an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information processing system, a plurality of jobs stored in a queue or a spooler as a data structure are executed sequentially or in the order of job priority by a peripheral device. When an error such as a disconnection occurs, a method of notifying the sender of the job being executed when the error actually occurs of the error has been adopted. In addition, a method has been adopted in which the occurrence of this error is notified to a host computer serving as a print server placed on a network.

Further, it has been possible to start a program for monitoring a job on a host computer for transmitting each job and confirm the status of the queued job.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional information processing system, for example, despite the occurrence of an error after transmission of a large number of print jobs, the sender of the print job is absent, and other job transmissions are performed. If the error is not notified to the sender, there is a problem that other job senders cannot execute the job forever.

[0005] In addition, there is also a problem that a program for monitoring a job is rarely activated, and a later-sent job sender cannot immediately recognize that an error has occurred.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an information processing system that can immediately notify a user of the occurrence of an error in order to solve the above problems.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus connected via a network to an information processing apparatus for transmitting a job. Receiving means for receiving the job from a network device managing means for managing information on the information processing apparatus, managing job information on the received job, and executing the job based on error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus in the job A job management unit that searches for a job affecting the job and obtains search information related to the job; and an information processing apparatus as a notification destination of the error occurrence information from the information managed by the network device management unit and the search information. Notification means for determining the error occurrence information and notifying the information processing apparatus as the notification destination. And wherein the Rukoto.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a plurality of image processing devices.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the search information is not affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus in the information processing apparatus as the notification destination. The image processing apparatus is characterized in that the information is information on a sender who instructs an outgoing job and information indicating an error type of the image processing apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the job management means stores a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus. It is characterized in that a search is performed for each job type.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the job management means stores a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus. The search is performed for each device.

An information processing system according to claim 6, further comprising: an image processing apparatus connected to each other via a network; and an information processing apparatus for transmitting a job to said image processing apparatus. A first receiving unit that receives the job from a network device management unit that manages information about the information processing device; and a job device that manages job information about the received job.
A job management unit that searches for a job whose execution is affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus among the jobs and notifies search information about the job; information managed by the network device management unit; and the search information. An image processing apparatus comprising: a notifying unit that determines an information processing apparatus as a notification destination of the error occurrence information from the information processing apparatus and notifies the information processing apparatus of the error occurrence information to the notification destination; and An information processing apparatus comprising: a second receiving unit that receives the error occurrence information; and a display unit that displays the error occurrence information received by the second receiving unit.

[0013] The information processing system according to claim 7 is based on claim 6.
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image processing devices.

An information processing system according to claim 8 is the information processing system according to claim 6.
Or the information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the search information is information on a sender who instructs a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus in the information processing apparatus as the notification destination, and the image processing apparatus Is information indicating the type of error.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing system according to the sixth aspect.
9. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the job management unit searches for a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus for each job type.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the job management means may execute a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus. The search is performed for each device.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention generates host computers 1, 2, and 3 as information processing apparatuses for generating various jobs and transmitting the jobs to an image forming apparatus 4, which will be described later, and print jobs, scan jobs, and facsimile machines. An image processing device 4 for executing various jobs such as a job, a copy job, etc .;
And a local area network (hereinafter referred to as "LA
N ”) 5).

Each of the host computers 1, 2 and 3 can use the image processing device 4 via the LAN 5. The image processing device 4 may be connected to a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile via the LAN 5.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the image processing apparatus 4 of FIG. The image processing apparatus 4 includes a CPU 6 connected to a system bus 14, a ROM 7, a RAM 8, an external storage device 9, a display unit 10, an operation unit 11, an engine interface 12, and a network interface 13 as a receiving unit.

The ROM 7 is a read-only memory, and is a storage area for a system startup program, a program for controlling the printer engine, character data, character code information, and the like. The RAM 8 stores font data additionally registered by downloading. Alternatively, a program or data is loaded and executed for each of various processes.

The external storage device 9 is a hard disk or the like, which spools a print job received by the image processing device 4 and stores programs, information files, and the like, and can also be used as a work area.

The display unit 10 is made of a liquid crystal or the like, and is used for displaying the setting state of the image processing apparatus 4, the current processing of the image processing apparatus 4, an error state, and the like. Used to change settings or reset.

The engine interface 12 is an interface for communicating commands and the like for controlling devices that perform a scanner job, a printer job, and a facsimile job of the image processing apparatus 4. The network interface 13 connects the image processing apparatus 4 to the LAN 5. Interface. The system bus 14
It should be a data path between the above-mentioned components.

FIG. 3 is a detailed system block diagram of the image processing apparatus 4 of FIG. The external storage device 9 of the image processing apparatus 4 includes programs constituting each of a job management unit 16, a device resource management unit 19, and a network device management unit 25 described below, and a job queue 17 described below.
Is stored.

First, the job 15 is executed by the host computer 1.
3, the job is generated by the host computer 1 in the present embodiment. The job management unit 16 stores information such as a job type (for example, a print job, a scan job, a facsimile job, and a copy job) of the job 15 generated by the host computer 1, a priority, and a job transmission host in the RAM 8 or an external storage device. 9 and job 15
Is stored in the job queue 17. Further, the job management unit 16 analyzes error occurrence information when an error such as running out of toner or paper jam occurs, searches for all jobs that affect execution, and sends the job to all of the searched jobs. Notifying means 24 for information and error type relating to
Notify.

Next, the device resource management unit 19 performs exclusive control of device resources occupied in executing the job, for example, a page memory, a band memory, a document feeder, a marking engine, and an output bin. Holds exclusive control information. Job execution means 18
Refers to the information of the device resource management unit 19, determines whether the job 15 stored in the job queue 17 is executable, and sequentially executes the executable jobs.

The job management means 16 only needs to be connected to the notification means 24 in a state where information communication is possible, and the job queue 17 is only required to be connected to the job execution means 18 in a state where information communication is possible. However, it is not always necessary to store it in the external storage device 9 of the image processing device 4. Further, the job management unit 16 and the job queue 17 may be provided for each job type such as, for example, dedicated to scan jobs, dedicated to print jobs, dedicated to facsimile jobs, dedicated to copy jobs, and the like.

Next, the engine interface 12
Is a scanner 21, a printer 22, and a facsimile 2
3 is an interface for communicating commands for controlling devices such as 3 and communication of their status. Notification means 24
Determines the notification destination based on the information transmitted from the job management unit 16 and the information of the network device management unit 25, and notifies error occurrence information. Note that the notifying unit 24 includes a program stored in the external storage device 9 and the CPU 6. The network device management unit 25 has registered therein information on various devices such as the host computers 1 to 3 connected to the network.
4 is connected to enable information communication. The network device management means 25 does not necessarily need to be stored in the external storage device 9 of the image processing device 4.

Next, each of the host computers 1 to 3 includes a receiving means 29 and a display means 30. The receiving unit 29 waits for a notification transmitted from the notifying unit 24, determines the content of the notification, and displays the content using the display unit 30.

FIG. 4 is a program showing the processing of the job 15. First, the job management unit 16 receives a plurality of jobs 15 generated by the host computer 1 (Step S401). Next, the job types (for example, print job,
Information such as a scan job, a facsimile job, and a copy job), a priority, and a job transmission host are stored in the RAM 8 or the external storage device 9 (step S40).
2), a plurality of jobs 15 are stored in the job queue 17 (step S403).

Next, in step S404, the job execution unit 18 refers to the information of the device resource management unit 19, and stores the plurality of jobs 15 stored in the job queue 17.
Are determined to be executable in the priority order or the reception order. If the determined job 15 is executable, the job is executed (step S405), and this processing is ended. On the other hand, if the determined job 15 is not executable,
The process of determining whether the next job 15 can be executed in the priority order or the reception order is repeated.

FIG. 5 is a program showing a process when an error occurs. First, when an error such as out of toner or paper jam occurs, error occurrence information is notified to the job management unit 16 (step S501). Job management means 1
Numeral 6 analyzes the error occurrence information, searches for all the jobs affecting the execution, and notifies the notifying unit 24 of the information and error types of all the searched job senders (step S502).

Next, in order to notify all the job senders found in step S502 of the error occurrence information, the destination of the error occurrence information is specified by referring to the information of the network device management means 25 (step S502). S503). After that, the job transmission source host computer specified in step S503 is notified of the error occurrence information, and the process ends (step S504).

FIG. 6 is a program showing the processing performed on the host computer which has transmitted the job. First, in step S601, it is determined whether or not the error occurrence information addressed to itself has been notified from the notification unit 24. When the error occurrence information addressed to the user is not notified, the process loops to determine whether the error occurrence information addressed to the user has been notified from the notification unit 24. , The error occurrence information is displayed on the host computer (step S602). After the display, the process returns to step S601 again, and it is determined whether the error occurrence information addressed to itself is notified from the notification unit 24. This process is continued unless the power supply of the host computer is turned off.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, error occurrence information is notified to the job management means 16 (step S501), and the job management means 16 analyzes the error occurrence information and influences the execution. The search is performed for all the affected jobs, and information and error types regarding all the searched job senders are notified to the notifying unit 24 (step S50).
2) In order to notify all the job senders searched in step S502 of the error occurrence information, the notification destination of the error occurrence information is specified with reference to the information of the network device management unit 25 (step S503). . Thereafter, the job transmission source host computer specified in step S503 is notified of the error occurrence information (step S504), and the job transmission source host computer receives and displays the error occurrence information, so that the user is notified of the error. The occurrence can be notified immediately.

[0036]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, information on the information processing apparatus is managed,
Managing job information on the job transmitted from the information processing apparatus, searching for the job that affects the execution by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus among the jobs, and acquiring the search information on the job; Information processing apparatus as a notification destination of the error occurrence information from the information on the information processing apparatus obtained and the obtained search information, and notifies the determined error occurrence information to the information processing apparatus as the notification destination Therefore, the user of the information processing apparatus as the notification destination can be immediately notified of the occurrence of the error in the image processing apparatus.

According to the information processing system of claim 6, when the receiving means receives the error occurrence information notified from the notifying means of the image processing apparatus, the received error occurrence information is displayed on the display means. In addition, the user of the information processing apparatus can be immediately notified of the occurrence of the error in the image processing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the image processing apparatus 4 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed system block diagram of the image processing apparatus 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a job 15;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing when an error occurs.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed on a host computer that has transmitted a job.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3 Host computer 4 Image processing device 5 LAN 6 CPU 7 ROM 8 RAM 9 External storage device 10 Display unit 11 Operation unit 12 Engine interface 13 Network interface 14 System bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 J

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus connected via a network to an information processing apparatus that transmits a job, a receiving unit that receives the job from the information processing apparatus, and a network that manages information about the information processing apparatus. Device management means; job management means for managing job information on the received job, searching for a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus among the jobs, and acquiring search information on the job A notification that determines an information processing apparatus as a notification destination of the error occurrence information from information managed by the network device management unit and the search information, and notifies the information processing apparatus of the error occurrence information to the notification destination; And an image processing apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of image processing devices. 3. The information on a sender who instructs a job whose execution is affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus in the information processing apparatus as the notification destination and the type of error of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is information to be displayed. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job management unit searches for a job whose execution is affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus, for each job type.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the job management unit searches for a job whose execution is affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus for each of the devices.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 6. An information processing system comprising: an image processing apparatus connected to each other via a network; and an information processing apparatus for transmitting a job to the image processing apparatus. (1) a receiving unit; a network device managing unit that manages information relating to the information processing apparatus; a job that manages job information relating to the received job, of which the execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus. And a job management unit for notifying search information about the job, and an information processing apparatus as a notification destination of the error occurrence information is determined from the information managed by the network device management unit and the search information, Notification means for notifying the information processing apparatus of the occurrence information to the notification destination. An information processing apparatus including: a processing device; a second receiving unit that receives the error occurrence information notified by the notifying unit; and a display unit that displays the error occurrence information received by the second receiving unit. An information processing system, comprising: 7. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein said image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image processing devices. 8. The information on a sender who instructs a job whose execution is affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus in the information processing apparatus as the notification destination and the type of error of the image processing apparatus. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein the information indicates information. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the job management unit searches for a job whose execution is affected by the error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus for each job type.
The information processing system according to claim 1. 10. The information according to claim 7, wherein the job management unit searches for a job whose execution is affected by error occurrence information of the image processing apparatus for each of the devices. Processing system.