JP4093663B2 - Print job processing method in image processing system, program for executing the method, recording medium recording the same, and image processing system having group job processing function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to print processing of an image processing apparatus, and in particular, when performing print processing including post-processing such as punching and stapling, a group job is set for a plurality of print jobs, and this is processed as a series of jobs by the image processing apparatus. Print processing method configured to form one booklet (document) by processing, and program for executing group job processingAnd itAnd an image processing system having a job combination processing function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital multifunction peripherals having printers and printer functions, many products including post-processing peripheral devices such as punches and staplers are available. In addition, they are large and installed in a common space (OA corner or the like), are connected to a network and are shared by a plurality of users, and are often separated from individual users.
In such a conventional printer system, post-processing is specified in units of jobs and is valid only for that job. Therefore, for example, in a document that requires stapling, the document needs to be composed of one job. For this reason, when a user wants to create a single booklet by combining multiple documents, data, cover pages, etc., collect them and create a single document (for example, edit using DTP software). However, printing + post-processing is designated, or each document is printed without post-processing, and the post-processing is manually performed later.
However, considering the usage situation of today's personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), the situation where a single document is created by editing a plurality of documents is very common. However, it is a very inefficient creation procedure to require special editing processing as described above, or to print a plurality of jobs individually and finish them together by hand.
[0003]
Also, as a form that is one step further than the one described above, a plurality of print jobs are temporarily stored in a storage device in the printing apparatus, and a plurality of stored documents are designated on the operation panel of the printing apparatus, so that one booklet is obtained. Copy server devices that perform printing and post-processing have already been commercialized. However, this copy server apparatus is 1. The operation panel on the printing device is not sufficient in terms of user interface, not only on the PC, but also in function.
2. The user performs an input operation on the operation panel of the printing apparatus to edit the booklet. During this period, the apparatus to be shared is occupied,
3. The user must move to the place where the device is installed for editing, and if a shortage is discovered, for example, the user may make a round trip between his PC and the printing device. There are still problems to be solved.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As above, in a system with machines connected to the network, used as a shared high-speed and large-sized printing machine, and often located in areas such as office machines and corners, the machine should be It is expected that the final output result desired by the user can be obtained without direct user intervention.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems in the conventional printer system, and an object of the present invention is to perform the work more efficiently when one booklet (document) is created by a plurality of print jobs. An object of the present invention is to provide a print job processing method that can be performed, a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing the print job processing method is recorded, and a printer system having a job processing function.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a group job is set by giving a condition for configuring one booklet to two or more print jobs in the host device of the image processing system. A basic requirement is to create a booklet by processing the print jobs in the group job as a series of jobs. The above-mentioned conditions for constituting one booklet include all processing conditions that can be obtained from the image processing system to form one booklet. For example, a plurality of print documents are collected in one booklet form. Or post-processing such as punching and stapling.
  The invention of claim 1 is a print job processing method in an image processing system comprising a host device and an image processing apparatus that performs printing and post-processing by a print job created by the host device and sent via a network. A group job is set by assigning conditions for composing one booklet to two or more print jobs on the host device.And the processThe image processing apparatus creates a booklet by processing the print jobs in the group job as a series of jobs.A process,
  The step of setting the group job sets print parameters for each print job in the same group job together with the setting of the group job, and the step of creating the one booklet includes the first job and the second print job as the first job. Determining whether or not post-processing settings for contradictory content have been made, and determining whether or not the contradiction is set content that can be handled by image rotation in the image processing apparatus when it is determined And a step of correcting the setting contents that can be handled by rotating the image when it is determined that the setting contents can be handled by rotating the image.It is characterized byStuffThe
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print job processing method according to the first aspect, when the group job is set, if the second and subsequent print jobs belong to the group job, a message to that effect is displayed. It is.
[0007]
  The invention according to claim 3 is the print job processing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the group jobThe process of settingThe second and subsequent print jobs are set to conflict with the first jobA step of determining whether or not it has been done, and displaying that fact when it is determined that the step of creating the one booklet has a setting of content inconsistent with the first job in the second and subsequent print jobs. A step of determining whether or not it has been made, and a step of displaying the fact when it has been madeIt is characterized by this.
[0008]
  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the print job processing method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the group job is set.To set one of multiple groupsIt is characterized by this.
[0009]
  A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the print job processing method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the group job is used.A print file from the first job to the last job is temporarily stored in the host device and then sent to the image processing apparatus in a batch.It is characterized by this.
[0010]
  A sixth aspect of the present invention provides the print job processing method according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,The process of creating the one booklet includes:From the first job to the last job in the group jobimagefileAfter temporarily storing in the image processing apparatus, there is a step of batch printingIt is characterized by that.
[0011]
  The invention of claim 7The print job according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the host device in the image processing system includes: a host device; and an image processing apparatus that performs printing and post-processing using a print job created by the host device and sent via a network. A program for executing the step of setting the group job in a processing method and a computer for causing the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the step of creating the one booklet in the print job processing method according to claim 1. Is a program consisting of.
[0012]
  The invention of claim 8 claims7DescriptionNoComputer reading with recorded programTakeRecordable mediaInThe
[0013]
  The invention of claim 9 is an image processing system comprising a host device and an image processing apparatus that performs printing and post-processing by a print job created by the host device and sent via a network, wherein the host deviceIsMeans for setting a group job by assigning conditions for composing one booklet to two or more print jobsHaveThe image processing apparatusIsMeans for creating a booklet by processing a print job in a group job set in the host device as a series of jobs;And the means for setting the group job has a function of setting print parameters for each print job in the same group job together with the setting of the group job. Means for determining whether or not post-processing settings for the print job inconsistent with the head job are set, and if it is determined by the means that the contradiction is detected by the image processing apparatus Means for determining whether or not the setting content can be handled by the image processing unit, and means for correcting the setting content to be able to be handled by image rotation when it is determined that the setting content can be handled by image rotation. HaveImage processing system having a group job processing functionInThe
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following examples illustrate the invention with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a printer system according to the present invention. This system is composed of a plurality of workstations (hereinafter referred to as “WS”) (1), (2), (3)..., A file server, a composite printer, and a network OS required by the LAN system to be used. . Although the network OS is not mentioned here, in order to configure this system, it is necessary to have a physical LAN configuration and to incorporate some kind of network OS. The system is configured so that the file server and the composite printer can communicate bidirectionally. The following examples will be described on the premise of such a system configuration. Although an example using a “composite printer” is shown here, the present invention can also be implemented by a printer that does not have a composite function.
[0015]
FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a composite printer (hereinafter referred to as the present apparatus) constituting this system.
The apparatus is roughly divided into a scanner unit 21, a plotter unit 22, a base engine controller unit 23 (hereinafter referred to as a base engine unit) for controlling these, and a scanner / printer controller unit 24 (hereinafter referred to as a base engine unit). , Called the controller section).
The base engine unit is a copying machine that is completed by itself. It has a scanner engine with ARDF (automatic reversing document feeder) and a wide range of paper handling (paper feed tray, duplexer, paper delivery device). A copy engine portion comprising an image processing unit (IPU) 25 for executing image processing of video data between a scanner unit 21 and a plotter (printer) unit 22, and a copier engine portion thereof And a display & touch panel as a man-machine interface unit of the present apparatus, an operation unit 27 having mechanical keys, and a base engine controller unit 23 for controlling them.
[0016]
The operation unit 27 uses the functions of the display unit (indicator, etc.), the display & touch panel (liquid crystal display touch panel, etc.) and the mechanical key to set the copier function, the printer function, and the scanner function while interacting with the user. Setting is possible. Furthermore, status message display required by the scanner / printer function is also possible.
Here, the control of the copy engine section is to check the configuration of the base engine section (check the connected options), the status of each paper feed tray, the status of the duplex device, the status of the paper output device, Check the status of the document feeder, set the paper path for them, activate the print / scan operation, check the progress of the process, and check the status when an error occurs It is to confirm in detail.
[0017]
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the controller unit 24 has a video interface 35 (interface A) for inputting read image data from the scanner and outputting image data to the printer, an operation control command for the base engine unit, and A display command to the operation unit, a state transition notification from the base engine controller unit 23, and a command / status interface 34 (interface B) for exchanging the operation notification as a command / status are connected to the base engine unit. .
The controller section 24 has a scanner data input / output control function and a printer data input / output control function centered on a page buffer memory.
[0018]
Next, an embodiment of a print job processing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the following description, the operation / operation sequence of a print job executed on this system (see FIG. 1), that is, input of print data on WS, printer status confirmation, job execution, The process from job specification, parameter change, and job execution / completion will be described as [Processing Procedures 1 to 9]. In the following description, the step numbers of the sequences in FIGS. 4 and 5 are given in parentheses for reference.
[0019]
[Processing Procedure 1] First, print data is created on a WS connected to the network (S101). This operation is performed by an ordinary application such as a word processor.
[0020]
[Processing Procedure 2] On the WS, the status of the composite printer connected via the network, that is, whether or not necessary post-processing devices such as a punch and a stapler are installed is confirmed (S102). A means for performing this operation is already common as a driver / utility that displays the status of the printer on the host using the back channel of the network or the parallel port 44.
[0021]
[Processing Procedure 3] The user sets print parameters (paper size, double-sided, staple, number of copies, etc.) on the WS on the print job. At this time, a job ID and a group job are designated (S103).
FIG. 6 shows an example of an input screen when performing group job designation.
When performing a group job, enter the JobID according to the input screen shown in the figure. When specifying a group, enter the information “Group Job = ON / OFF” and “Number of Job = n / End / Cont.”. When Group Job = ON, if Number of Job = n, n jobs are included in one job group including that job. If Number of Job = Cont., Number of Job = End The job group is defined as a single job group.
The job ID and the grouping flag are sent to the printer in a printer language such as PJL. The PJL processing is known and will not be described here.
A job for which all parameter settings have been completed is normally sent to the printer by a “print” button, but in the case of a group job, it is spooled by the PC on the WS side until the setting of the final job of the group is completed.
In the sequence of FIG. 4, it is determined whether the job is the first job in the group (S104) or the subsequent job in the group (S108), and spooled as a print file (S105). The means for holding the print job as a file in the PC is known as a “print as file” function, and will not be described here.
[0022]
Here, when Number of Job = Cont. Is specified, if a warning message such as "Spooled as the same job group is sent" can be issued when sending a job, inadvertent grouping Can be useful.
Information sent from the host (WS) side in order to perform grouping processing is a command of “JobID” and “Number of Job = End / Cont.”.
In normal operation, Number of Job = End or Cont. Will be input, but some applications may seem to automatically send multiple jobs in one print operation. . In such a case, if the number of jobs in the group is designated beforehand with Number of Job = n, these can be designated as a job group.
[0023]
[Processing Procedure 4] As an operation for sending a job of the same group, the user executes the procedure shown in [Processing Procedure 3] again. Here, if the same job ID is specified and the group job is the last job in this job, Number of Job = End is set. For post-processing settings after the second job in the group, for example, stapling, the setting of the first job is displayed as it is on the WS PC screen. At this time, an impossible specification for the first job is grayed out.
In the settings for the second and subsequent jobs, it is determined whether or not the settings for the first job can be applied (S106). If the settings cannot be applied (for example, the paper sizes of the first job and the second job are different). Displays a warning screen (S107).
FIG. 7 shows an example of the display screen. This screen is displayed on the screen of the second job in the middle of the setting operation to inform the user. By viewing this warning screen, the user can cancel the staple designation. For example, by a PJL command such as “Staple = Cancel”.
Further, in the settings after the second job, as a process when it is determined that the setting of the first job cannot be applied, the settings after the second job can be automatically corrected so that the setting of the first job is prioritized. By using this function, for example, the user's burden on post-processing settings and the like can be reduced.
The above processing is performed to confirm that there is no subsequent job in the group (S108), and the print file in the job group spooled by the driver processing on the WS and the data of the last job in the group are stored on the printer side. (S109).
[0024]
[Processing Procedure 5] The controller unit 24 of the printer that has received the print job analyzes the job group command together with the print parameters of the job (for example, those described in a printer control language such as PCL or PJL) (S110). As a result, in the case of a single job, the print parameters are compared with the conditions that can be executed in the current printer (for example, the size of the loaded paper, feed direction, available options, supply status, etc.) If printing as specified by the parameter is possible, normal processing is performed (S111).
If there is a job group command, the job ID is held (S112), and the print parameters and post-processing parameters are held. After that, if printing as specified by the parameters in the job is possible, the print code data is expanded into image data (lmage Data), and then compressed using a compression chip 36 for each page. And temporarily stored in the hard disk unit 32 (S114), and waits for the next group job input.
In FIG. 3, the print code data sent from WS is inputted to the printer from the network I / F 41 and enters the buffer memory on the DRAM 37. In this apparatus, after the print code data is expanded into image data, it is compressed page by page using the compression chip 36 and temporarily stored in the hard disk unit 32. The job control data and job management information are managed separately along with each job file. This method is the same as that used for general file systems. Further, the image development and compression processes here are known and will not be described here.
[0025]
[Processing Procedure 6] Since group jobs are continuously transmitted from the WS (host PC), the printer controller treats them as the same job until a job having a command of Number of Job = End is entered. Therefore, after receiving one job, it waits for the next job, detects whether the received next job is the same group job (S116), and has a different job ID in the middle (or no job ID). If a job is detected, an error report is printed and the job is flushed (S117).
[0026]
[Processing procedure 7] The printer controller compares the post-processing setting (for example, stapling or punching) set for the second and subsequent jobs in the job group with the post-processing setting set for the first job. It is determined whether the current printing and post-processing are possible (S118).
Even if this check is not possible, for example, in the case of stapling, a table illustrated in FIG. 8 is prepared, and the feed direction, printing direction, and stapling location specified in the first job are prepared from that table. Then, it is determined whether or not printing of the corresponding job can be handled only within the range of image rotation (S119). The table shown in FIG. 8 is an example of the staple position in the short edge feed, and tables (A) and (B) show the cases of “portrait” and “landscape”, respectively. As a result of the determination here, post-processing (for example, stapling) cannot be performed as set in the job (by the first job), but for images that can be printed within the range of image rotation, image rotation is set ( In step S120, the staple position for the image is corrected by executing this, and the image is stored as image data in the storage device in which the image in the group is stored together with the image that has not been corrected (S122). When correction cannot be performed by image rotation, an alert message is issued on the operation panel to wait for user processing (S121).
[0027]
[Procedure 8] Before performing the procedure of [Procedure 7], the user can select whether to automatically correct the staple position or to always display an error message and request user intervention when there is a contradiction. Good. 9 is performed on the operation panel of the operation unit 27 on the side of the apparatus, and the operation is set by the user selecting whether to cancel or continue on the selection screen as shown in FIG. It is convenient to keep it.
[0028]
[Processing Procedure 9] In the controller unit, the last job in the group is input, that is, the above processing 7) is repeated until Number of Job = End (S123), and a booklet composed of a series of jobs is stored as an image file on the storage device. To generate.
The controller starts printing in order from the first page of the first job, and performs post-processing (for example, stapling) for each booklet. If there are two or more copies designated, this operation is repeated to complete a booklet with the required number of copies (S124).
[0029]
As a means for performing the above-described print job combination process, a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing the processing procedure is recorded can be used.
Any existing medium that can be read by a computer can be used as a recording medium, and the print job combination processing program recorded therein can be easily installed as a host device in an existing printer utilization system and a processing program in a printer. In addition, the processing by the group job described above can be executed.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
  Effect corresponding to claim 1: A group job is set by assigning conditions for composing one booklet to two or more print jobs, and the print jobs in the group job are integrated as a series of jobs in the image processing apparatus. When creating a booklet composed of a plurality of documents, even if the documents are stored in separate files, the image processing apparatus side can be operated by operation from the host device (PC). Thus, it can be easily created including post-processing (such as stapling).
  In addition, when post-processing settings that conflict with the first job are made in the print parameter settings of the print jobs specified as the same group job, there is a function for correcting the inconsistent part settings to executable contents. Thus, it is possible to reduce the user's burden on post-processing settings.
[0031]
The effect corresponding to claim 2: In order to prevent the contradiction in setting the print parameters of the print jobs designated as the same group job, for example, it is displayed on the screen to the user that the group job is set. By notifying and performing an alert, a user's misconfiguration can be prevented.
[0032]
Effect corresponding to claim 3: When contradictory settings are made in the print parameter settings of print jobs designated as the same group job, a warning message is displayed on the printer panel and the host device (PC), and the user Can intervene (settings can be changed by an input operation), and when necessary, a confirmation step of the user can be inserted to obtain a more reliable result.
[0033]
  Effects corresponding to claim 4:Since one of multiple types of group jobs can be specified, it responds to requests for operation depending on the application and usage.be able to.
[0034]
  The effect corresponding to claim 5:In the host device, after temporarily storing the print files from the first job to the last job in the group job, another job interrupts the group job by using a processing method that sends them to the image processing device in a batch. PreventCan.
[0035]
  The effect corresponding to claim 6:In an image processing apparatus, after temporarily storing image files from the first job to the last job in a group job, by adopting a processing method that prints in a lump, even in printing a booklet etc. composed of groups, Post-processing such as sorting and stapling is possibleThe
[0037]
  ClaimItem 7, 8Effects corresponding to:On recording mediaRecorded program existingHost device in image processing system and computer of image processing apparatusYou can easily execute group jobs by installing in
[0038]
  ClaimItem 9Effects corresponding to: The image processing system having a group job processing function causes an image processing apparatus to print a print job in a group job set by giving a condition for configuring one booklet to two or more print jobs. Can be integrated and processed as a series of jobs, and even if multiple documents are stored in separate files, group jobs can be set for them by operating the host device (PC). Thus, it is possible to easily create a booklet from two or more print jobs including post-processing (stapling or the like) on the image processing apparatus side.
  In addition, when post-processing settings that conflict with the first job are made in the print parameter settings of the print jobs specified as the same group job, there is a function for correcting the inconsistent part settings to executable contents. Thus, it is possible to reduce the user's burden on post-processing settings.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an embodiment of a printer utilization system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a composite printer that constitutes the system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the control unit of the composite printer shown in FIG. 2 in more detail.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart (No. 1) of an operation / operation sequence from print job designation to job execution / completion in the system of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 2) of an operation / operation sequence from print job designation to job execution / completion in the system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows an example of an input screen for specifying a job ID and a group job.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a warning screen when a setting job cannot be executed.
FIG. 8 shows a table for determining whether a set job can be handled with respect to a staple position.
FIG. 9 shows an example of a process selection screen for a staple position setting error.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Scanner part, 22 ... Plotter part, 23 ... Base engine controller part, 24 ... Controller part, 25 ... Image processing part, 26 ... Peripheral device, 27 ... Operation part, 30 ... CPU, 31 ... ASIC, 32 ... Hard disk unit 33 ... SCSI-2 I / F, 34 ... Command I / F, 35 ... Video I / F, 36 ... Compression chip, 37 ... DRAM, 38 ... EEPROM, 39 ... Boot ROM, 40 ... Code ROM, 41 ... Network I / F, 42 ... Font ROM, 43 ... Serial port, 44 ... Parallel port.

Claims (9)

A print job processing method in an image processing system comprising: a host device; and an image processing apparatus that performs printing and post-processing by a print job created by the host device and sent via a network,
A step of setting a group job by assigning conditions for composing one booklet to two or more print jobs in the host device, and processing the print jobs in the group job as a series of jobs in the image processing apparatus and a step of creating a booklet by,
The step of setting the group job sets a print parameter for each print job in the same group job together with the setting of the group job,
The step of creating the one booklet includes a step of determining whether or not the second and subsequent print jobs have post-processing settings that are inconsistent with the first job, and if the determination is made, the contradiction is determined by the image processing apparatus. Determining whether or not the setting contents can be handled by rotating the image at step S, and correcting the setting contents to be handled by rotating the image when it is determined that the setting contents can be handled by rotating the image. the print job processing method characterized in that it comprises a.   2. The print job processing method according to claim 1, wherein, when the group job is set, if the second and subsequent print jobs belong to the group job, a message to that effect is displayed. The step of setting the group job includes a step of determining whether or not a setting inconsistent with the first job has been set in the second and subsequent print jobs, and a step of displaying that when it is determined that the setting has been made. And the step of creating the one booklet includes a step of determining whether or not the second and subsequent print jobs are set with contents inconsistent with the head job, and a step of displaying that when it is determined the print job processing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the having and. 4. The print job processing method according to claim 1, wherein the group job is set so that one of a plurality of types of groups is set . 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of temporarily storing print files from the first job to the last job in the group job in the host device and then collectively sending the print files to the image processing apparatus. The print job processing method according to any one of the above. The step of creating said one booklet, after the image file to the last job from leading job in the group job is temporarily stored in the image processing apparatus, characterized Rukoto to have a step of printing at once The print job processing method according to claim 1. The print job according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the host device in the image processing system includes: a host device; and an image processing apparatus that performs printing and post-processing using a print job created by the host device and sent via a network. A program for executing the step of setting the group job in a processing method and a computer for causing the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the step of creating the one booklet in the print job processing method according to claim 1. A program consisting of programs . Was recorded program according to claim 7, a computer-readable recording medium. An image processing system comprising a host device and an image processing apparatus that performs printing and post-processing by a print job created by the host device and sent via a network,
The host device has means for setting a group job by adding conditions for configuring one booklet to two or more print jobs ,
The image processing apparatus includes a means for creating a booklet by processing the print job in the group job set by the host device as a series of jobs,
The means for setting the group job has a function of setting a print parameter for each print job in the same group job together with the setting of the group job.
The means for creating the one booklet is a means for judging whether or not the second and subsequent print jobs have post-processing settings inconsistent with the first job, and when it is judged that the means has been done. Means for determining whether or not the contradiction is a setting content that can be handled by image rotation in the image processing apparatus, and rotation of an image when it is determined by the means that the setting content can be handled by image rotation an image processing system having a group job processing function, wherein Rukoto to have a means for correcting the corresponding possible settings by.

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