KR100662608B1 - Image forming system containing a managing function of stored image data and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data and a management method thereof are disclosed. According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus having a recording medium capable of storing an image forming job received from a user's device manages a job stored in any one of a storage mode, a safety mode, and a delay mode. Information about the state occurring in the stored job can be communicated to the user. As a result, the user may know the state change information generated for the job stored in the image forming apparatus and cope with it, and the image forming apparatus may effectively manage and operate the recording medium by removing the unnecessary stored job.

Image forming apparatus, network, storage mode, recording medium, safe mode, delay mode, state change information

Description

An image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data and a method of managing the same

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data according to the present invention; and

2 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of processing a storage mode job in an image forming system according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of processing a safe mode job of an image forming system according to the present invention; and

4 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of processing a delay mode job in an image forming system according to the present invention.

      The present invention provides a management function of stored image data, which manages stored image data by informing a user of state change information when a situation such as printing or deleting of stored image data occurs in an image forming apparatus including storage means. It relates to an image forming apparatus and a management method thereof.

With the development of network technology and communication technology, a system for creating a document on a computer and printing the document using an output device such as a printer has been formed in a network environment.

In a wired or wireless network printer system in which at least one computer and at least one printer are connected, a user can print a document created on one computer through a printer on a network.

Printers, copiers, photo printers, printers including multifunction printers, etc., have a larger size of the image data to be transmitted and have separate image data storage means therein to support various processing of the image data. As such separate image data storage means, a hard disk and a large capacity portable memory device are typical.

Image data transferred from a computer or the like to a printer or the like is generally delivered in one job unit including several pages. Such image data is coded in each page setting language, and includes digital image data and an attribute of a job.

Conventional printers and the like also support a function of storing and managing image data received via a network in a storage means. That is, the user adds and transmits a predetermined command while instructing the printing of the image data. Accordingly, the printer or the like can store the received image data in the storage means, and then print or manage in various modes.

For example, a storage mode in which a printer or the like receives image data and stores it in a storage means, and later prints, deletes, or saves it again, and a safety command that waits for input of a password without printing the received image data immediately and prints it. This includes the mode and the delay mode for printing at a certain time.

However, even if the stored image data is simply stored in the storage means and processed in the print mode of the stored image data, such as a conventional printer, the number of stored jobs increases, and these are not properly managed, resulting in a system load such as a printer. Became bigger. This management required more complex management functions.

Furthermore, the user may forget about the job received in the safe mode or the user may remove the corresponding document or image data from his or her computer without printing by a password input until a predetermined time.

In the delay mode, even if a document is printed at a predetermined time, there is always a problem that a user does not know that the document is printed or an unauthorized person can take the printed document. Therefore, there is a need for a printer equipped with a management function for solving this problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a management function for notifying a user of a state change information including printing and deleting of image data stored in a storage means of an image forming apparatus, so as to properly manage stored image data. An image forming apparatus having a management function of image data and a method thereof are provided.

A stored image data management method of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of: receiving a print job set to one of a plurality of storage options, and storing the received job. And transmitting state change information generated for the stored job to a user through a network.

Preferably, the step of transmitting, the state change information to any one of the user's e-mail address, text message, voice message, or transmitted to any one of the user's system and the mobile terminal through the network.

The state change information may correspond to a storage mode in which a storage option of the print job is stored for a preset time, when the print job is printed, when the print job is deleted, or when a preset storage time is reached. If the storage mode job reaches the predetermined time and transmits the state change information to the user, the storage mode job may be deleted from the user and stored by a new time setting. The command can be received.

In addition, the state change information is for any one of the case where the print job is printed and the preset storage time is reached, which corresponds to a safe mode in which the storage option of the print job is printed by input of a password. Information about any one of when the print job is printed and when a preset storage time has been reached, which corresponds to information or corresponds to a safe mode in which the storage option of the print job is printed by input of a password. This may be the case.

In addition, an image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data, connected to a user's first apparatus via a network, includes a recording medium storing a print job set to one of a plurality of storage options, from the first apparatus. A control unit which stores the received job on the recording medium, and transmits state change information generated for the stored job to the user, and a printing unit which prints an image corresponding to the image data received from the control unit on printing paper. .

Preferably, the first device may be one of a computer, a digital camera, a scanner, a notebook, a mobile phone, and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

The control unit may transmit the state change information to any one of an e-mail address, a text message, and a voice message of the user, or directly transmit the state change information to the first device through the network.

The state change information may correspond to a storage mode in which a storage option of the print job is stored for a preset time, when the print job is printed, when the print job is deleted, or when a preset storage time is reached. If the storage mode job reaches the predetermined time and transmits the state change information to the user, the storage mode job may be deleted from the user and stored by a new time setting. The command can be received.

The state change information may be information about any one of when the print job is printed and when a preset storage time is reached, which corresponds to a safe mode in which the storage option of the print job is printed by input of a password. The print job may be information about a state in which the print job reaches the preset time and is printed, corresponding to a delay mode in which the storage option of the print job should be printed after a preset time elapses.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 110 of the present invention is connected to a plurality of client devices (not shown) including the first device 130 through the network 170. However, here, only one first device 130 is shown for convenience of description.

The network 170 includes a wired and wireless network 170, through which one image forming apparatus 110 may be shared by a plurality of client devices.

The first device 130 may be connected to the network 170 and generates image data such as a document or a photo to be printed through the image forming apparatus 110. The first device 130 may be a computer, a digital camera, a scanner, a laptop, a mobile phone, Personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like may be applicable.

The first apparatus 130 includes a document writer 133, an image processor 135, and an event processor 137. When the document writer 133 generates a document to be printed and receives a print command of image data from the user, The document to be printed is transmitted to the image processing unit 135.

The image processing unit 135 converts the received document into image data in a form that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 110 and sends it to the image forming apparatus 110 for printing.

Preferably, the image data generated by the first device 130 is transferred to the image forming apparatus 110 in a job unit including at least one page. In addition, the first device 130 may transmit the generated image data in various modes. Preferably in three modes:

The first is a storage mode in which the image forming apparatus 110 receives image data and stores the image data in the storage means for a predetermined time. The stored image data may be deleted after being printed or stored again after printing. Hereinafter, the image data of one job transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110 in the storage mode is referred to as a 'storage mode-job'.

The second mode is a safe mode, in which a password is input from a user without printing the received image data immediately and is printed when the safe mode is released. Hereinafter, the image data of one job transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110 in the safe mode is referred to as a 'safe mode-job'.

Finally, the delay mode is to be printed only after a certain time, and the image data of one job transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110 in the delay mode is referred to as 'delay mode-job'.

The event processor 137 is a device that receives and processes the state change information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 110 and is displayed so that the user can know it. The event processor 137 processes the received state change information when the image forming apparatus 110 directly transmits the state change information to the first device 130. According to another embodiment of the present invention, an event processor 137 may be included in the image processor 135.

The image forming apparatus 110 may include storage means for storing image data transmitted in a job unit, and may store image data transmitted in the above mode for a predetermined period of time for a predetermined purpose.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 110 may notify the user of state change information regarding an event occurring in each stored job for each mode, thereby enabling the user to take immediate action or follow-up.

The state change information is information corresponding to any one of a storage mode-job printing, a case of not printing after a preset time, and a case of deleting. In the case of the safe mode job, the information indicates that the safe mode job is deleted, printed, or the safe mode is not released after a predetermined time. In the case of the delay mode job, the delay mode job is printed. do.

The image forming apparatus 110 may transmit the image forming apparatus 110 to a dedicated receiving apparatus (not shown) included in the first apparatus 130. The image forming apparatus 110 may already know the network address of the first device 130 or may check the user's first device 130 using Universal Plug & Play (Upnp).

Further, when the first device 130 is a portable wireless terminal including a mobile phone, the state change information may be sent to the user using a text message or a voice message.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 110 may notify the user of the state change information by using the user's e-mail address. When the user's e-mail address is used, the device to which the user can be notified of the state change information is not limited to the first device 130 but is connected to the network 170 or another network (not shown) connected to the network 170. It is possible to use any device capable of receiving an e-mail as a device (not shown) connected to the device.

For this purpose, the job generated by the first device 130 and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110 may include an e-mail address of the user.

Hereinafter, each component of the image forming apparatus 110 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

The image forming apparatus 110 may include a printer for a computer, a multifunction printer, a photo printer, and the like, which may be connected to the network 170, and print commands from a client device including the first device 130 on the network 170. Receive the print job.

The image forming apparatus 110 includes a user interface unit 111, a recording medium 117, a memory 119, a control unit 121, and a printing unit 123.

The user interface unit 111 includes a display unit 113 and an input unit 115.

The display unit 113 is a display device that displays information received from the control unit 121 in a text or picture so that a user can recognize the information. The display unit 113 corresponds to a display device capable of displaying liquid crystal display (LCD) or other characters or pictures.

The display unit 113 may display various information under the control of the controller 121 for a user's print command. In addition, when there is a print command of data stored in the safe mode, the display unit 113 may display a password to be input under the control of the controller 121.

The input unit 115 may include a user's print command for a storage mode job, a safety mode job, and a delay mode job, a setting and change command for various settings of the image forming apparatus 110, as well as a password for the safety mode job. Get input.

The recording medium 117 is a device in which image data delivered through the first device 130 is spooled and stored in a unit of a job, and includes a memory device, a hard disk, and a floppy disk ( Floppy Disk). Also, an external recording medium using a flash memory device may be used. Preferably, a hard disk is used.

The memory 119 is an active or inactive memory device, in which a program for operating the image forming apparatus 110 is stored, and image data stored in the recording medium 117 or received from the first device 130 is finally printed. The device is temporarily stored for the purpose of processing.

The printing unit 123 receives the image data to be printed from the control unit 121 and prints an image corresponding to the image data on the printing paper.

The controller 121 not only controls the entire image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 110 but also processes a user's command input through the input unit 115. When the control unit 121 is to print the received job according to each mode to make the image data of the format that can be processed by the printing unit 123 to be delivered to the printing unit 123 to be printed.

The controller 121 manages image data stored in the recording medium 117 for each mode, and when various state change information occurs, the controller 121 directly transfers the image data to the first device 130 or uses an e-mail. Notify

The controller 121 receives the storage mode-job, the safety mode-job, and the delay mode-job from the first device 130 through the network 170 and stores the received storage mode-job in the recording medium 117.

In the case of the storage mode-job, the controller 121 stores the storage mode-job on the recording medium for a predetermined time. When the storage mode-job is printed, 'first print state change information' including state change information about printing is generated, and when deleted, 'first delete state change information' including information about deletion is generated and transmitted to the user. . In addition, when the time set in the storage mode-job reaches the controller 121, the controller 121 generates and transmits the 'first time reached state change information' including the state change information regarding the arrival of the set time to the user.

In the case of the safe mode job, the control unit 121 prints the state change information 'second time reached state change information', which is the state change information related thereto when the time set in the safe mode job is not reached, by inputting a password. In this case, the second printing state change information including the state change information about printing is generated and transmitted to the user.

In the case of the delay mode-job, the control unit 121 prints the delay mode-job when the predetermined time is reached, and when the delay mode-job is printed, the third printing state change information including the state change information on the printing of the delay mode-job. Generate and pass it to the user.

When an event occurs with respect to the storage mode job, the safe mode job, and the delay mode job, the controller 121 may deliver the state change information about the event to the user by using the email address of the user attached to each job. And, if there is no e-mail address attached to the job or by the user's setting command directly delivered to the first device 130 that is the user's device, the event processing unit 137 of the first device 130 displays this to the user. .

2 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of processing a storage mode job in an image forming system according to the present invention.

When the controller 121 of the image forming apparatus 110 receives the storage mode job from the image processor 135 of the first apparatus 130, the controller 121 stores the stored mode job on the recording medium 117 (S201).

The control unit 121 stores the storage mode job on the recording medium for a predetermined time set in the storage mode job. When the time set for the storage mode-job stored in the recording medium 117 arrives (S203), the first time-arrival state change information including time-reach information is transmitted.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user may receive one command of deletion or storage in response to the first time-reach state change information, thereby deleting the storage mode job or resetting the storage mode job to a predetermined time. It can be set and stored (S205).

In step S203, the controller 121 determines whether the storage mode-job has been deleted before reaching the set time (S207).

If it is determined in step S207 that the storage mode-job has been deleted, the control unit 121 transmits the first deletion state change information to the user (S209).

In addition, if the storage mode-job is not deleted, the control unit 121 determines whether or not printing is performed (S211). If the storage mode job is printed, the control unit transmits the first print state change information to the user (S213). If the control mode job is not printed, the controller returns to step S203 and checks whether the storage time set in the storage mode job is reached.

In this way, the storage mode-job management function is performed.

3 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of processing a safe mode job of an image forming system according to the present invention.

When the control unit 121 of the image forming apparatus 110 receives the safe mode job from the image processing unit 135 of the first device 130, the controller 121 stores the safety mode job on the recording medium 117 (S301).

The control unit 121 stores the safe mode job on the recording medium for a predetermined time set in the safe mode job. When the time set for the storage mode-job stored in the recording medium 117 arrives (S303), the second time delivery state change information including the time delivery information is transmitted.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the user may receive one command of deletion or storage in response to the second time-reach state change information, thereby deleting the safe mode job or resetting the safe mode job again. It can be set and saved. Alternatively, the corresponding safe mode job may be deleted without waiting for a response from the user (S305).

The control unit 121 determines whether a password has been input and a safe mode job has been printed before reaching the set time in step S303 (S307).

If it is determined in step S307 that the safe mode-job is printed, the control unit 121 transmits the second print state change information to the user. As in step S305, the control unit 121 may receive a command for the subsequent processing for the safe mode job from the user (S309).

If the control mode job has not been printed, the controller returns to step S303 and checks whether the set time for the safe mode job has been reached.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the deletion is performed by the corresponding safety mode-job password, state change information including the information about the deletion may be transmitted to the user in correspondence with steps S207 and S209 of FIG. 2.

In this way, the safe mode-job management function is performed.

4 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of processing a delay mode job in an image forming system according to the present invention.

When the control unit 121 of the image forming apparatus 110 receives the delay mode-job from the image processing unit 135 of the first apparatus 130, the controller 121 stores the delay mode-job in the recording medium 117 (S401).

The control unit 121 stores the delay mode-job on the recording medium for a predetermined time set in the delay mode-job. And when the time set for the delay mode job stored in the recording medium 117 arrives (S403), after printing the delay mode job, the third print state change information including information on printing of the delay mode job. It passes (S405).

The controller 121 waits until the set time is reached if the time set for the delay mode job is not reached.

In this way, the delay mode-job management function is performed.

The method described in FIGS. 2 to 4 has been shown and described to include the management function of the present invention, but in general, a description regarding a method for managing a job stored in a recording medium may be added.

By this method, the operation of the image forming apparatus having the management function of the stored image data is performed.

The invention can be implemented with methods, apparatus and systems. In addition, when the present invention is implemented in computer software, the components of the present invention may be replaced with code segments necessary for performing necessary operations. The program or code segment may be stored on a medium that can be processed by a microprocessor and transmitted as computer data coupled with carrier waves via a transmission medium or communication network.

Media that can be processed by a microprocessor include those capable of transmitting and storing information such as electronic circuits, semiconductor memory devices, ROMs, flash memories, EEPROMs, floppy disks, optical disks, hard disks, optical fibers, wireless networks, and the like. Include. Computer data also includes data that can be transmitted over electrical network channels, optical fibers, electromagnetic fields, wireless networks, and the like.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manage according to the storage mode of the job (JOB) stored in the image forming apparatus. As a result, when there are a large number of stored jobs, it is possible to prevent the unnecessary work by the job stored on the recording medium unnecessarily or to reduce the efficiency of the image forming apparatus.

In addition, by such a management function, it is possible to prevent the deletion of the job arbitrarily necessary, and to notify the user of the state change information generated according to each storage mode, the user can take appropriate measures.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

Claims (15)

Receiving a print job set as one of the plurality of storage options; Storing the received print job; And And transmitting state change information generated for each of the storage options for the stored print job to a user through a network. The method of claim 1, The transmitting may include transmitting the state change information to any one of an e-mail address, a text message, and a voice message of the user. The method of claim 1, The transmitting of the stored image data management method of the image forming apparatus, characterized in that for transmitting to any one of the user's system and the mobile terminal through the network. The method of claim 1, The state change information, The storage option of the print job corresponds to a storage mode for storing for a preset time, wherein the print job is information about any one of when the print job is printed, when the print job is deleted, and when the preset storage time is reached. Stored image data management method of the image forming apparatus. The method of claim 4, wherein When the storage mode print job reaches the predetermined time and transmits the state change information to the user, the user may receive one of the commands of deleting the storage mode print job and storing the data by setting a new time. A stored image data management method of an image forming apparatus. The method of claim 1, The state change information, An image for any one of when the print job is printed and when a preset storage time has been reached, the storage option of the print job corresponding to a safe mode printed by input of a password; A stored image data management method of the forming apparatus. The method of claim 1, The state change information, The stored image data management method of the image forming apparatus, wherein the storage option of the print job corresponds to a delay mode that is to be printed after a preset time elapses. . An image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data connected to a first device of a user through a network, A recording medium storing a print job set to one of a plurality of storage options; A control unit which stores the print job received from the first device on the recording medium and transmits state change information generated by the storage options for the stored print job to the user; And And a printing unit which prints an image corresponding to the image data received from the control unit on a printing sheet. The method of claim 8, And the first device is selected from a computer, a digital camera, a scanner, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The method of claim 8, And the control unit transmits the state change information to any one of an e-mail address, a text message, and a voice message of the user. The method of claim 8, And the control unit transmits the stored image data to the first apparatus through the network. The method of claim 8, The state change information, The storage option of the print job corresponds to a storage mode for storing for a preset time, wherein the print job is information about any one of when the print job is printed, when the print job is deleted, and when the preset storage time is reached. An image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data. The method of claim 12, When the storage mode print job reaches the predetermined time and transmits the state change information to the user, the user may receive one of the commands of deleting the storage mode print job and storing the data by setting a new time. An image forming apparatus having a management function of stored image data. The method of claim 8, The state change information, The storage option of the stored image data, wherein the storage option of the print job corresponds to a safety mode printed by the input of a password, which is either one of when the print job is printed and when a preset storage time is reached. An image forming apparatus having a management function. The method of claim 8, The state change information, And a storage function of the stored image data, wherein the storage option of the print job corresponds to a delay mode that is to be printed after a preset time elapses. Image forming apparatus.

Images