KR20050074797A - Image forming device and a method deleting printing files thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus and a method of deleting a print file thereof are disclosed. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit, an interface unit for providing a communication interface with an external device, a storage device for storing information on at least one print file and the date on which the print file was last used, and an interface unit. When the print target print file is received from the external device, the memory remaining checker for checking the remaining memory of the storage device, the delete file list generator for generating the delete target file list based on the date information, and the storage space of the storage device are provided. If it is insufficient, control the deletion file list generation unit to generate a deletion target file among at least one print file stored in the storage device, display the generated deletion target file list on the display unit, and select the selected file from the deletion target file list displayed on the display unit. And a control unit for deleting the same. Thereby, the print file can be deleted efficiently when the storage space for storing the print file is insufficient in the image forming apparatus.

Description

Image forming device and a method deleting printing files

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and a method for deleting a print file thereof, which can efficiently delete a pre-stored print file when a storage space for a print file is insufficient. will be.

In general, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that implements a combination of these functions through one device has a common printing function. Among these, a printer is the most common image forming apparatus for printing a print sheet on an image corresponding to print data received from a computer or a scanner.

Recently, such printers are connected through wired or wireless local area networks (LANs) to allow multiple users to use them in common, thereby increasing the use efficiency of the printers. In addition, the printer adopts a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) for internal and external use, and can save a print file created by an application on the host computer and print the stored file. It is equipped with a function.

However, since the storage device as described above has a limited recording capacity, the storage device may not store the print file any more when the storage space of the storage device is insufficient. In addition, the print file stored in the storage device is maintained until the user deletes it, which may cause a waste of storage space.

Conventionally, when the storage device is insufficient to store the print file anymore, an error message is displayed through an operation panel provided on the printer to inform the user that the storage space is insufficient. In this case, in order to secure the storage space, the user searches a list of print files stored in the storage device, selects a file to be deleted from the list of searched print files, and deletes the file.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to efficiently print by providing a user with information about a print target to be extracted based on the reuse information of a pre-stored print file when the storage space of the storage device storing the print file is insufficient. An image forming apparatus and a method for deleting a print file thereof are provided.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit; An interface unit providing a communication interface with an external device; A storage device storing at least one print file and information on a date when the print file was last used; A memory remaining amount checking unit which checks a memory remaining amount of the storage device when a print target print file is received from the external device through the interface unit; A deletion file list generation unit generating a deletion file list based on the date information; And when the storage space of the storage device is insufficient, controlling the deletion file list generation unit to generate a deletion target file among the at least one print file stored in the storage device, and generating the deleted file list on the display unit. And a control unit which deletes the selected file from the list of deletion target files displayed on the display unit.

The apparatus may further include an input unit for selecting at least one file to be deleted from the storage device from the list of deleted files displayed on the display unit.

Preferably, the deletion file list generating unit determines the deletion file based on a least recently used (LRU) method of determining the deletion file in order of a print file not used for the longest time among the print files stored in the storage device. Create a list.

On the other hand, in order to solve the above technical problem, at least one print file transmitted from an external device according to the present invention in the storage device for storing and printing the print file delete method of the image forming apparatus, the storage from the external device Checking a remaining memory of the storage device when a target print file is received; If it is determined that the storage space of the storage device is insufficient, generating a file list to be deleted based on the last used date information set in at least one print file stored in the storage device; Displaying the generated file list to be deleted on a display unit; And when at least one file of the displayed deletion target file list is selected, deleting the selected file among the at least one print file stored in the storage device.

And if it is determined that the storage space is secured in the storage device as a result of checking the remaining memory of the storage device, storing the received print target print file in the storage device.

Preferably, the list generation step is based on the Least Recently Used (LRU) method of determining the file to be deleted in the order of the print file that has not been used for the longest time of the print files stored in the storage device; Create a list.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a method of deleting a print file thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing system having an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a printing system includes a host computer 100 applied as an external device and a printer 200 applied as an image forming apparatus.

The host computer 100 transmits a print and / or storage target print file to the printer 200.

The printer 200 is connected to and used by the host computer 100, and stores and / or prints a print file transmitted from the host computer 100 in the auxiliary storage device.

The printer 200 may be referred to as an operation panel unit 210, a ROM 220, a RAM 230, a PC interface unit 240, a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”). 250, a memory remaining amount checker 260, a delete file list generator 270, a print engine 280, and a controller 290. Each part is interconnected via a system bus.

The operation panel 210 displays an operation state of the printer 200 under the control of the input unit 212 provided with a plurality of keys for selecting and setting various functions supported by the printer 200 and the controller 290. The display unit 214 is provided.

The ROM 220 is a nonvolatile memory device and stores various control programs necessary to implement a function supported by the printer 200.

The RAM 230 is a volatile memory device. The RAM 230 temporarily stores various data generated according to the program execution of the controller 290.

The PC interface unit 240 may be connected to the host computer 100 to support a bidirectional communication interface between the host computer 100 and the controller 290. The PC interface unit 240 receives the storage and / or print target file transmitted from the host computer 100, provides the file to the controller 290, and controls the power supply state of the printer 200 under the control of the controller 290. The print status information is transmitted to the host computer 100.

The HDD 250 is an auxiliary storage device employed for the internal and external devices of the printer 200 according to the present invention, and stores a plurality of print files transmitted from the host computer 100 through the PC interface unit 240. The HDD 250 stores only the print file in which the storage function is set among the print files transmitted to the host computer 100. In addition, the HDD 250 according to the present invention stores information (eg, year / month / date / hour / second) on the date when each print file was last used. For example, when a print file (eg, aaa.hwp) stored in the HDD 250 is not reprinted once after being stored, the last used date is a date when the print file is stored. On the other hand, in the case of a print file reprinted at least once, the last reprinted date becomes the end user date. That is, the information on the last used date for the print file stored in the HDD 250 is updated every time the print job is performed. Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the case where the HDD 250 is adopted as the auxiliary storage device has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a flash memory, a memory stick, and a smart card may be used as the auxiliary storage device. to be.

The memory remaining amount checker 260 checks the memory remaining amount of the HDD 250 and transmits the remaining amount of memory to the controller 290 under the control of the controller 290.

The deletion file list generation unit 270 is controlled by the control unit 290, and deletes based on the last used date information corresponding to each print file stored in the HDD 250 when the storage space of the HDD 250 is insufficient. Create a list of target files. In more detail, the deletion file list generation unit 270 determines a file to be deleted in order of a least recently used (LRU) method, that is, a print file not used for the longest time among print files stored in the HDD 250. Create a list of files to delete using the method. The deleted file list 260 generates a file to be deleted list based on a predetermined number (eg, five or ten) files determined by the LRU method.

The print engine 280 performs a print job of printing the print target image data on a recording sheet under the control of the controller 290.

The controller 290 controls the overall operation of the printer 200 according to the control program stored in the ROM 220. For example, when the print file is received from the host computer 100 through the PC interface unit 240, the controller 290 determines whether the received print file is a print target file or a save target file, and prints the print target. In the case of a file, the print engine 280 is controlled to perform a print job.

On the contrary, when the received print file is a print target print file, the memory remaining amount checker 260 is controlled to determine whether the print file received in the HDD 250 can be stored. If it is determined that the storage space of the HDD 250 is insufficient, the controller 290 deletes the list of deleted files to generate a list of the print files to be deleted among the print files stored in the HDD 250. The generation unit 270 is controlled. When the deletion target file list is generated by the deletion file list generation unit 270, the controller 290 may display the generated deletion target file list on the display unit 214 and / or the host computer ( Displayed on a display device (not shown) provided in 100 to notify the user. In the present embodiment, a case of displaying a file list to be deleted on the display unit 214 provided in the operation panel unit 210 will be described as an example.

If at least one print file is selected from the list of files to be deleted displayed on the display unit 214 by the user, the controller 290 deletes the print file selected by the user from among the print files stored in the HDD 250.

Hereinafter, a method of efficiently deleting a print file stored in the HDD 250 when the storage space of the HDD 250 is insufficient will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

1 and 2, first, when a print file is received from the host computer 1000 through the PC interface unit 240 (S305), the controller 290 determines whether the received print file is a file to be stored. It is determined whether or not the file (S310). The controller 290 may parse a header portion of the received print file and determine whether the received print file is a print target file or a storage target file.

If it is determined in step S310 that the received print file is a print target file, the controller 290 controls the print engine unit 280 to perform a print job on the received print file (S315). The print engine 280 performs a print job on the print file under the control of the controller 290.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the print file received in step S310 is a file to be stored, the controller 290 controls the memory remaining amount checker 260 to check the remaining amount of memory of the HDD 250 (S320). The memory remaining amount checking unit 260 checks the remaining amount of memory of the HDD 250 under the control of the controller 290.

The controller 290 compares the memory remaining amount checked by the memory remaining amount checker 260 with the size of the received print file to determine whether a storage space for storing the received print file is secured to the HDD 250. (S325).

In operation S325, when it is determined that the storage space for storing the print file received in the HDD 250 is secured, the controller 290 may list a list of files determined as files to be deleted among the print files stored in the HDD 250. The delete file list generation unit 270 is controlled to generate (S330). The deletion file list generation unit 270 generates a deletion target file list in the LRU method based on the date information last used.

When a list of files to be deleted is generated by the delete file list generator 270, the controller 290 displays the generated file to delete list on the display unit 214 to notify the user (S335). The user may operate the input unit 212 to select a print file to be deleted from a list of files to be deleted displayed on the display unit 214. If any file is selected by the user from the list of files to be deleted displayed on the display unit 214 (S340), the controller 290 deletes a file corresponding to the selected file among the print files stored in the HDD 250. (S345). Preferably, before deleting the print file stored in the HDD 250, a message (not shown) requesting input of a password through the display unit 214 to determine whether or not the user has been granted the delete right for the print file. To provide. The selected file is deleted from the print files stored in the HDD 250 only when the password input from the user and the preset password match.

The controller 290 controls the memory remaining amount checking unit 260 to check the remaining amount of memory of the HDD 250 (S350). Preferably, the controller 290 controls the memory remaining amount checker 260 to check the remaining amount of memory of the HDD 250 whenever a print file stored in the HDD 250 is deleted by a user's selection.

The controller 290 compares the memory remaining amount checked by the memory remaining amount checker 260 with the size of the received print file to determine whether the storage space is secured in the HDD 250 (S355). As a result of the determination in step S350, when it is determined that the storage space for storing the print file is secured in the HDD 250, the controller 290 stores the received print file in the HDD 250 (S360).

On the contrary, when it is determined in step S350 that the storage space is not secured in the HDD 250, the controller 290 switches to step S335 to process the deletion target file list on the display unit 214. The control unit 290 repeats steps S335 to S350 until the condition of step S355 is satisfied.

As described so far, according to the image forming apparatus and the method of deleting a print file thereof according to the present invention, when the auxiliary storage device provided in the image forming apparatus lacks a storage space, printing which has not been used for a long time among previously stored print files By determining the print files to be deleted in order of files and providing them to the user, the user can efficiently delete the print files.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing system having an image forming apparatus according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of efficiently deleting a print file stored in an HDD when the storage space of the HDD provided in the printer shown in FIG. 1 is insufficient.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: host computer 200: printer

210: operation panel 220: ROM

230: RAM 240: PC interface

250: HDD 260: remaining memory check unit

270: delete file list generation unit 180: printing engine unit

290: control unit

Claims (6)

A display unit; An interface unit providing a communication interface with an external device; A storage device storing at least one print file and information on a date when the print file was last used; A memory remaining amount checking unit which checks a memory remaining amount of the storage device when a print target print file is received from the external device through the interface unit; A deletion file list generation unit generating a deletion file list based on the date information; And When the storage space of the storage device is insufficient, the deletion file list generation unit is controlled to generate a deletion target file among the at least one print file stored in the storage device, and the generated deletion target file list is displayed on the display unit. And a controller which deletes the selected file from the list of deletion target files displayed on the display unit. The method of claim 1, And an input unit to select at least one file to be deleted from the storage device among the list of deletion target files displayed on the display unit. The method of claim 1, The deletion file list generation unit generates the deletion target file list based on a least recently used (LRU) method of determining the deletion target file in order of a print file which has not been used for the longest time among print files stored in the storage device. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that. In the print file deleting method of the image forming apparatus for storing and printing at least one print file transmitted from an external device in a storage device, Checking a remaining memory of the storage device when a print target print file is received from the external device; If it is determined that the storage space of the storage device is insufficient, generating a file list to be deleted based on the last used date information set in at least one print file stored in the storage device; Displaying the generated file list to be deleted on a display unit; And And deleting at least one file selected from at least one of the print files stored in the storage device, when at least one file is selected from the displayed list of files to be deleted. The method of claim 4, wherein If it is determined that the storage space is secured in the storage device as a result of the memory remaining check of the storage device, storing the received print target print file in the storage device; printing of the image forming apparatus further comprises: How to delete a file. The method of claim 4, wherein The list generating step may include generating the list of files to be deleted based on a least recently used (LRU) method for determining the files to be deleted in order of print files that are not used for the longest time of the print files stored in the storage device. And a print file deleting method of the image forming apparatus.