JP4343554B2 - Distributed image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and in particular, stores printing parameters and document data to be imaged in one or more storages connected via a network, and performs image forming processing on the document data according to the printing parameters. And a distributed image forming apparatus capable of distributing image forming processing on the document data to one or more other image forming apparatuses via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When printing is performed from a PC (Personal Computer) connected to the printer via a network, the printing may be interrupted due to factors such as running out of paper, paper jam, or running out of toner on the printer side. Therefore, in order to ensure that printing is performed, when printing is interrupted by a server connected to a plurality of printers and controlling printing processing to these printers, the processing is switched to another printer. Became possible.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the printer system provided with the above-described conventional server, it is necessary to perform a work by a user for setting a printer connected to the server. For this reason, every time the configuration of a printer connected to the server is changed by adding or removing a printer, the setting must be changed by the user.
[0004]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to store print parameters and document data to be image-formed in one or more storages connected via a network, and perform image formation processing for the document data according to the print parameters. An image forming apparatus capable of causing one or more other image forming apparatuses to perform an image forming process on the document data via a network is provided.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming parameter that can be accessed by another image forming apparatus based on a first image forming request for requesting image formation. For storage means for storing target data to be imaged,In order to suppress overlapping output by the other image forming apparatusAll or part of the target dataofRequest lockdo it,According to the image forming parameters, the lockShiControl means for controlling the image forming process so that an image is formed based on all or part of the target data.If the lock cannot be performed even after a predetermined lock time has elapsed, the control means forcibly releases all or a part of the lock of the target data, and again stores the target data. Request all or part of the lockIt is characterized by
[0006]
  In such a distributed image forming apparatus, since control is performed so that all or part of the locked document data is subjected to image forming processing after the storage unit that stores the target data is requested to be locked. The image forming process of the document data can be performed without overlapping the image forming process with the image forming apparatus.Furthermore, the target data locked by another image forming apparatus can be forcibly released after the lock time and the image forming process can be performed by the own apparatus. Accordingly, even if a failure occurs in another image forming apparatus during the image forming process, the image forming process of the target data that has not been processed due to the occurrence of the failure after the lock time can be executed by the own apparatus.
[0007]
  The present invention also provides, as described in claim 2,The control means includesUpon receipt of the first image formation request, a lock request is made to all or a part of the target data, and a storage request for storing the image formation parameters and the target data is sent to one or more storage means.NoAnd sending a second image forming request indicating a part of the image forming parameters to one or more other image forming apparatuses.RuIt can be constituted as follows.
[0008]
In such a distributed image forming apparatus, an image forming process is performed and an image forming request is made to another image forming apparatus. A forming process can be performed. For example, since an image forming apparatus that has directly received a first image forming request from a PC spontaneously makes a second image forming request to another image forming apparatus, it is necessary to include a server for controlling such processing. Absent. Further, since the user only needs to make a single image formation request, there is no need to know the state of the image forming apparatus such as a failure.
[0009]
  Furthermore, the present invention as described in claim 3,The control means includesWhen the second image formation request is received from another image forming apparatus,All or part of the above target dataofWhile requesting the lock, the storage unit may be requested to download all or part of the target data, and the target data may be downloaded and acquired from the storage unit.
[0010]
In such a distributed image forming apparatus, when a second image formation request is received from another image forming apparatus instead of directly from the PC, all or part of the target data to be imaged is locked to the storage unit. Since the image data is downloaded from the storage unit, even if a failure occurs in another image forming apparatus that has transmitted the second image formation request, image formation of the target data can be performed without duplication.
[0011]
  Further, the present invention provides a method according to claim 4,A lock time for controlling the storage means to request the lock after the lapse of the predetermined lock time when the lock cannot be performed even though all or part of the target data exists in the storage means. And when the lock by the lock time control means cannot be locked, the storage means forcibly releases all or a part of the lock of the target data, and again the target data Request all or part of the lockIt can be constituted as follows.
[0012]
  Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 5, the control means may be configured to request the storage means to lock in units of divided data obtained by dividing the target data at a predetermined division. it can.In such a distributed image forming apparatus, it is possible to lock each divided data (page) during image forming processing.
[0013]
  Furthermore, the present invention provides the claims.6As described inThe control means includesWhen image formation processing is performed in units of the above divided data,Target divided dataEveryLockTheIn the storage meansRequest,TheSplit data isHas been deletedLockIf you could not,As an object of the image forming processLock next partitionThethe aboveSaveTo the meansRequestCan be configured.
[0014]
In such a distributed image forming apparatus, image forming processing can be executed with priority from lockable divided data (pages).
[0015]
  The present invention also includes claims.7As described inThe control means includesWhen image formation processing is performed in units of the above divided data, the target divided dataEveryLock to the above storage meansRequest, PlaceConstantLock timeTheProgressEven if the divided data cannot be locked,The storage meansUnlock split dataAnd request to lock the divided data again.Can be configured to.
[0017]
  Furthermore, the present invention provides the claims.8As described inThe control means includesWhen performing image formation processing in units of the target data, the jobofLockTheIn the storage meansRequestTo lock all of the target data.ConstantLock timeTheProgressIf the job cannot be locked even after,The storage meansUnlock jobAnd request to lock the job againCan be configured to.
[0018]
In such a distributed image forming apparatus, a job locked by another image forming apparatus can be forcibly released after the lock time and the image forming process can be performed by the own apparatus. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in another image forming apparatus during the image forming process, the image forming process for a job that has not been processed due to the occurrence of the failure after the lock time can be executed by the own apparatus. For example, a job is locked when image forming processing is performed in units of copies.
[0019]
  The present invention also includes claims.9As described above, when one or more other image forming apparatuses are not specified in the first image forming request, the apparatus has a device searching means for searching for another image forming apparatus capable of image forming processing. the abovecontrolThe means can be configured to transmit the storage request to one or more other image forming apparatuses searched by the apparatus searching means.
[0020]
In such a distributed image forming apparatus, a user needs to designate only one image forming apparatus because an image forming request is spontaneously performed by searching for an image forming apparatus that can perform image forming processing.
[0021]
  Furthermore, the present invention provides the claims.10As described inControlThe means deletes the divided data formed as an image.RuA deletion request can be transmitted to the storage means. The present invention also includes claims.11As described inRecordThe control meansAll of the above data orImage processing has been completed for all the divided data constituting the target data.IfA job deletion request for deleting a job for the target data is sent to the storage means.UIt can be constituted as follows.
[0022]
In such a distributed image forming apparatus, since the divided data (page) or job for which the image forming process has been completed is deleted from the saving unit, the saving unit manages the divided data (page) or the job for which the image forming process has been completed. There is no need to do.
[0027]
  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides the following claims.13As described in the above, over a network, a user terminal used by a user, at least one storage device that stores information relating to image formation processing, and at least one image formation device that executes image formation processing In the image forming method in which the image forming system performs the image forming process in response to the image forming request from the user terminal, the user terminal sends a first image forming request for image forming to the image forming system. A first image formation request transmission procedure for transmitting to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus, based on the first image formation request,Accessible by other image forming devices,For storage means for storing image formation parameters and target data to be imaged,In order to suppress overlapping output by the other image forming apparatusAll or part of the target dataofRequest lockdo itAccording to the image formation parameters, the lockShiControl the image forming process to form an image based on all or part of the target data.RuControl procedureTheHaveIn the case where the lock cannot be performed even after a predetermined lock time has elapsed, the control procedure forcibly releases the lock of all or part of the target data to the storage means, and again or again Request some lockConfigured to do.
[0028]
In such an image forming method in an image forming system, a user only issues an image forming request to one image forming apparatus via a network, and a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus or the storage device. In this case, the image forming process can be performed by any one of the image forming apparatuses and the storage apparatus.
[0029]
As means for solving the above-described problems, the present invention may be a recording medium on which the above-described program for causing a computer to execute is recorded.
[0030]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0031]
The image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a network configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image forming system 1001 includes a plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-n that perform print processing, a storage 200 that stores print parameters and document data, and a PC (Personal) used by a user who prints a document. Computer) 300. The plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-n, the storage 200, and the PC 300 are connected via the network 40.
[0032]
In such an image forming system 1001, the main printer 100-1 is a printer that directly receives a print request from the PC 300, and an auxiliary printer that the printer 100-1 transmits a print request on behalf of the PC 300 is the printer 100-2. To 100-3. The plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-n are printers having equivalent functions, and are hereinafter simply referred to as the printer 100 when collectively referred to.
[0033]
For convenience of explanation, the printer 100-1 is a printer that directly receives a print request from the PC 300, but any printer among the printers 100-1 to 100-n may be used. A printer that directly receives a print request from the PC 300 among the printers 100-1 to 100-n is simply defined as a main printer. Further, although the printers 100-2 to 100-3 to which the main printer 100-1 transmits a print request are used as auxiliary printers, any printers 100-2 to 100-n may be used. The auxiliary printer may be one or more of the printers 100-2 to 100-n connected via the network 40 other than the main printer 100-1. Here, if only the main printer 100-1 exists on the network 40, the main printer 100-1 performs the printing process as usual and outputs the result.
[0034]
An outline of a processing flow in the image forming system 1001 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0035]
When the main printer 100-1 receives a print request directly from the PC 300 (step S1), a print parameter indicating a finishing method such as a list of desired printers 100 as output destinations specified by the print request and necessity of stapling. And a job based on the document data to be printed. The job instruction information regarding the generated job includes a print parameter created based on the print parameter from the PC 300 and notification instruction information regarding an event notification of the printing process.
[0036]
The main printer 100-1 transmits a job storage request for storing the job instruction information in the storage 200 to the storage 200 (step S2). When the storage 200 receives a job storage request from the main printer 100-1, the storage 200 stores the job instruction information and the document data with the file name specified by the job storage request.
[0037]
Assume that printers 100-2 to 100-3 are auxiliary printers desired by the user. The main printer 100-1 sequentially transmits auxiliary print requests in which print parameters for the auxiliary printer based on the print parameters instructed from the PC 300 are set to the auxiliary printers 100-2 to 100-3 (steps S3-1 and S3-). 2).
[0038]
The main printer 100-1 executes print processing according to the generated job. Similarly, the auxiliary printers 100-2 and 100-3 respectively acquire all or part of the job instruction information and document data by transmitting a job acquisition request to the storage 200 (steps S4-1 and S4-). 2) The printing process is executed.
[0039]
In such an image forming system 1001, the printer 100-1 that has received a print request from the PC 300 autonomously becomes the main printer and controls the printers 100-2 and 100-3 desired by the user as auxiliary printers. There is no need to provide a dedicated server for controlling the plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-n. Since the main printer 100-1 and the auxiliary printers 100-2 and 100-3 perform printing processing, even if a failure occurs in any of the printers 100-1 to 100-3, printing is performed by another printer. Since the process is performed, the user can always obtain a document printed by any one of the designated printers 100-1 to 100-3. Therefore, it is possible to realize a system with excellent fault tolerance that is not easily affected by printer faults.
[0040]
The printer 100 applied to the image forming system 1001 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 2, for example. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0041]
In FIG. 2, a printer 100 is a device that is controlled by a computer and executes print processing. The printer 100 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, A non-volatile random access memory (RAM) 14, a real-time clock 15, an Ethernet (registered trademark) I / F (Ethernet (registered trademark) Interface) 21, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 22, and an IEEE (Institute of Institute) Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1284 23, a hard disk I / F 24, a video I / F 25, and an RS-232C I / F 26 are connected to the system bus B.
[0042]
The CPU 11 controls the printer 100 according to a program stored in the ROM 12. In the RAM 13, for example, areas are allocated to resources connected to the interfaces 21 to 26. The nonvolatile RAM 14 stores information necessary for processing by the CPU 11 until the printer 100 is turned off. The real-time clock 15 measures the current time and is used by the CPU 11 to synchronize processing.
[0043]
An Ethernet (registered trademark) interface cable such as 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX is connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) I / F 21. A USB interface cable is connected to the USB 22. An IEEE1284 interface cable is connected to the IEEE1284 23.
[0044]
A hard disk 34 is connected to the hard disk I / F 24, and document data of a document to be printed or image data after printing processing transmitted via the network is stored in the hard disk 34 via the hard disk I / F 24. . A printer engine 35 is connected to the video I / F 25, and image data is transmitted to the printer engine 25 via the video I / F 25, and an image is formed on a printable medium such as paper based on the image data. . An operation panel 36 is connected to the RS-232C I / F 26 to display information to the user and acquire input information or setting information from the user.
[0045]
The storage 200 applied to the image forming system 1001 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a computer having a hard disk for storing job instruction information and document data, and requests for job storage and job acquisition from the printer 100. Perform processing according to the request. Further, the PC 300 is a personal computer used by a user, and makes a print request to the printer 100.
[0046]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the printer 100 mainly includes a job reception unit 101 that receives a print request and an auxiliary print request, a job issue unit 102 that issues a job to execute a print process, and a printable that exists on the network 40. A service search unit 103 that searches for a printer, a notification issuance unit 104 that notifies a status, and a control unit 105 that analyzes and creates job instruction information related to a job using XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and controls the entire process. The print processing unit 106 that controls the printer engine 35 shown in FIG. 2 to execute the printing process, the lock time control unit 107 that controls the lock time of the job or page, and the storage 200 and the PC 300 via the network 40. And a network control unit 110 that controls each communication.
[0047]
The job reception unit 101 receives a print request from the PC 300, an auxiliary print request from another printer, and job instruction information regarding a job from the storage 200, and notifies the control unit 105 that the job has been received.
[0048]
The job issuing unit 102 generates a job in response to the print request, transmits a job storage request to the storage 200, and transmits an auxiliary print request to another printer desired by the user. Submit the job. Thereafter, a job acquisition request is transmitted to the storage 200. On the other hand, for the auxiliary print request, the job issuing unit 102 generates a job in the same manner as when the print request is received, and transmits a job acquisition request to the storage 200 specified by the auxiliary print request.
[0049]
In response to an instruction from the control unit 105, the service search unit 103 executes a discovery function for searching for other printers on the network 40 that can perform print processing, generates a printer list, and notifies the control unit 105 of the discovery function. .
[0050]
The control unit 105 analyzes job instruction information and the like set in the print request and the auxiliary print request using XML (eXtensible Markup Language), controls the job issuing unit 102 based on the analysis result, and generates the job issuing unit 102 According to the received job, the print processing unit 106 is controlled to execute print processing. When searching for an auxiliary printer, the service search unit 103 is controlled to obtain a list of printers that can perform print processing.
[0051]
The notification issuing unit 104 notifies the client PC 200 with the HTTP protocol by the network control unit 110 based on the status notified from the control unit 105.
[0052]
The print processing unit 106 executes print processing in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 105, forms an image on a predetermined medium, and outputs the image.
[0053]
The lock time control unit 107 performs control to try to lock again after the lock time elapses when a job or page to be printed that is stored in the storage 200 is locked. In response to the notification from the lock time control unit 107, the control unit 105 forcibly releases the lock and sets the lockable state.
[0054]
The network control unit 110 further includes a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) 111, an HTTP 112, a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) 113, and a BMLinkS 114.
[0055]
TCP / IP 111 is a network communication protocol that controls data communication via the network 40. HTTP 112 is an Internet communication protocol that realizes information provision and information acquisition on the Internet. The SOAP 113 is a message exchange protocol for controlling the exchange of messages described according to XML, for example. The BMLinkS 114 controls data communication related to job control procedures, status reference, etc. for one or more OA devices having at least one of a printer, scanner, storage, FAX transmission and reception function on the network 40. OA device I / F protocol.
[0056]
The storage 200 and the PC 300 have the same configuration as that of the network control unit 110, and communicate with the printer 100 via the network 40 according to BMLinkS.
[0057]
Next, processing performed by the control unit 105 that controls processing in the printer 100 will be described. First, processing when a print request is directly received from the PC 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining a processing example when a print request of the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is received. In FIG. 4, the control unit 105 determines whether or not a job has been received (step S11). When the job (print request from the PC 300) is not received and the notification from the lock time control unit 107 is received, lock result processing described later is executed (step S19). On the other hand, when a job is received, that is, when a print request is received from the PC 300, the contents of the print request are acquired (step S12).
[0058]
Based on the contents of the print request, it is determined whether printing is in units of copies or printing in units of pages (step S13). If it is determined that the printing is in units of copies, the control unit 105 causes the job issuing unit 102 to generate a job, and sends a job save request for saving job instruction information indicating the lock of the job in the storage 200 to the storage 200. Transmit (step S14). Even if the print request is not specified directly in the copy request, for example, when the print request includes the staple specification, it is determined that the print is in the copy unit. Then, the job issuing unit 102 transmits an auxiliary print request to all the auxiliary printers specified by the print request received from the PC 300 (step S15).
[0059]
The control unit 105 controls the print processing unit 106 to print all pages of document data to be printed received from the PC 300 (step S16). When printing of all pages by the print processing unit 106 is completed, the control unit 105 transmits a page deletion request for requesting the storage 200 to delete all pages (step S17), and then requests the storage 200 to delete the job. The job deletion request to be transmitted is transmitted (step S18), and the processing when the print request is received is terminated.
[0060]
On the other hand, when the control unit 105 determines in step S13 that printing is performed in units of pages, the control unit 105 sets 1 to page X (step S21), causes the job issuing unit 102 to generate a job, and A job save request for saving job instruction information indicating job lock in the storage 200 is transmitted to the storage 200 (step S22). Then, the job issuing unit 102 transmits an auxiliary print request to all the auxiliary printers specified by the print request received from the PC 300 (step S23).
[0061]
The control unit 105 controls the print processing unit 106 to print the page X of document data to be printed received from the PC 300 (step S24). When the printing of the page X is completed, the control unit 105 transmits a page deletion request for requesting the storage 200 to delete the page X (step S25).
[0062]
Then, the control unit 105 determines whether there are still pages (step S26). If there is still a page, the control unit 105 adds 1 to the page X (step S27) and requests the storage 200 to lock the page X (step S28). By locking page X, it is possible to prevent duplicate output from other printers.
[0063]
Then, the control unit 105 determines whether or not the response from the storage 200 has been locked (step S29). If the page X can be locked, the control unit 105 returns to step S24, causes the print processing unit 106 to print the page X, and performs the same processing as described above.
[0064]
On the other hand, when the control unit 105 determines in step S29 that the page X cannot be locked, it determines whether or not the page X has been deleted (step S30). If page X is deleted and does not exist, the process returns to step S26 to determine whether there is a next page. On the other hand, if there is a page X, that is, if either the auxiliary printer 100-2 or 100-3 has locked the page X, the lock time control unit 107 is notified (step S31), and the process returns to step S26. It is determined whether there is any page.
[0065]
As described above, when the page X cannot be locked, the process returns to step S26 so that the printing process can be performed from the lockable page first. In step S31, the lock time may be acquired from the storage 200 and notified to the lock time control unit 107. The acquisition of the lock time may be set in the response from the storage 200. Alternatively, the control unit 105 may make an inquiry about the lock time to the storage 200. Further, the lock time only needs to indicate the time when the other printer is locked and the interval until the lock expires. Alternatively, when it is possible to have a time synchronized with another printer, the lock time may indicate the time when the lock expires.
[0066]
When the control unit 105 determines that there is no page in step S26, it is determined whether or not the lock time control process by the lock time control unit 107 has ended (step S32). If the lock time control process has not ended, the process waits until the lock time control process ends. After the lock time control process is completed, the control unit 105 transmits a job deletion request to the storage 200 and ends the process when a print request is received directly from the PC 300.
[0067]
Next, processing performed by the control unit 105 when an auxiliary print request is received from another printer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining a processing example when an auxiliary printing request is received from the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the printer 100-2 receives an auxiliary print request from the printer 100-1, and functions as an auxiliary printer. The control unit 105 determines whether a job has been received (step S41). When a job (auxiliary print request from another printer 100) is not received and a notification from the lock time control unit 107 is received, a lock result process described later is executed (step S42), and the process proceeds to step S51. On the other hand, when a job is received, that is, when an auxiliary print request is received from another printer 100, the contents of the auxiliary print request are acquired (step S43).
[0068]
The control unit 105 sets 1 to the page X (step S44). Subsequently, the control unit 105 determines whether printing is in units of copies or printing in units of pages based on the content of the auxiliary print request (step S45). When printing is performed in units of pages, the control unit 105 requests the storage 200 to lock page X and download page X (step S46).
[0069]
Then, the control unit 105 determines whether or not the response from the storage 200 has been locked (step S47). If the page X cannot be locked, it is determined whether or not the page X has been deleted (step S48). If the page X is deleted and does not exist, the process proceeds to step S53, and it is determined whether or not there is a next page.
[0070]
On the other hand, if there is a page X, if either the main printer 100-1 or the auxiliary printer 100-3 locks the page X, the lock time control unit 107 is notified (step S49), and the process proceeds to step S53. Determine whether there is a next page. As described above, when the page X cannot be locked, the process proceeds to step S53 so that the printing process can be performed from the lockable page first.
[0071]
In step S49, the lock time may be acquired from the storage 200 and notified to the lock time control unit 107. The acquisition of the lock time may be set in the response from the storage 200. Alternatively, the control unit 105 may make an inquiry about the lock time to the storage 200. Further, the lock time only needs to indicate the time when the other printer is locked and the interval until the lock expires. Alternatively, when it is possible to have a time synchronized with another printer, the lock time may indicate the time when the lock expires.
[0072]
On the other hand, when the control unit 105 determines in step S47 that the page X has been locked, the page X is downloaded (step S50). When the page X is acquired, the control unit 105 controls the print processing unit 106 to perform print processing for the page X. When the printing of the page X by the print processing unit 106 is completed, the control unit 105 transmits a page deletion request for requesting the storage 200 to delete the page X (step S52).
[0073]
Then, the control unit 105 determines whether there is still a page of document data (step S53). If there are still pages, the control unit 105 adds 1 to the page X (step S54), and determines whether the printing is in units of copies or pages (step S55). In the case of printing in units of copies, the control unit 105 requests the storage 200 to download page X and returns to step S51. On the other hand, if printing is performed in units of pages, the process returns to step S46. If printing is in units of copies, the storage is requested to download page X (step S56), and the process returns to step S50.
[0074]
On the other hand, if the control unit 105 determines that there is no page in step S53, it is determined whether or not the lock time control process has ended (step S57). If the lock time control process has not ended, the process waits until the lock time control process ends. If the lock time control process has been completed, the control unit 105 transmits a job deletion request for deleting a job to the storage 200 (step S58), and ends the auxiliary print request process.
[0075]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S45 that printing is in units of copies, the control unit 105 requests the storage 200 to lock the job and download page X (step S61). Even if the printing for each copy is not directly specified in the auxiliary print request, for example, when the staple is specified in the printing request, it is determined that the printing is for each copy.
[0076]
Then, the control unit 105 determines whether or not the response from the storage 200 has been locked (step S62). If the job cannot be locked, it is determined whether or not the job has been deleted (step S63). If the job is deleted and does not exist, the auxiliary print request processing ends. On the other hand, if there is a job, the lock time control unit is notified (step S64), and the auxiliary print request processing is once ended. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S62 that the control unit 105 has been locked, the process returns to step S50 and the same processing as described above is performed.
[0077]
In step S64, the lock time may be acquired from the storage 200 and notified to the lock time control unit 107. The acquisition of the lock time may be set in the response from the storage 200. Alternatively, the control unit 105 may make an inquiry about the lock time to the storage 200. Further, the lock time only needs to indicate the time when the other printer is locked and the interval until the lock expires. Alternatively, when it is possible to have a time synchronized with another printer, the lock time may indicate the time when the lock expires.
[0078]
Next, the lock time control process executed by the lock time control unit 107 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the lock time control process. In FIG. 8, the lock time control unit 107 waits for the lock time to elapse according to the notification from the control unit 105 (step S81), and determines the job type after the lock time elapses (step S82). If the job type is a print request directly transmitted from the PC 300, the storage 200 is requested to lock the page X (step S83), and the lock result is notified to the control unit 105 (step S84).
[0079]
If the lock time control unit 107 determines in step S82 that it is an auxiliary print request, it determines whether the job is locked (step S85). If the page is locked, the storage 200 is requested to lock and download page X (step S86), and the lock result is notified to the control unit 105 (step S84).
[0080]
If it is determined in step S85 that the job is locked, the storage 200 is requested to lock the job and download page X (step S87), and the lock result is notified to the control unit 105 (step S84).
[0081]
In this way, when the lock time elapses, the storage 200 is requested to lock or download again, and the result is notified to the control unit 105, whereby the processing according to the processing state in the other printer 100 is performed as shown in FIG. 19 and the lock result process in step S42 of FIG.
[0082]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the lock result processing. In FIG. 9, the control unit 105 receives the lock result from the lock time control processing unit (step S91), and determines the type of job (step S92). If the job is a print request, the contents of the lock result are determined (step S93). When the lock result indicates that the page X has been deleted, that is, when the page X has already been printed by the other printer 100, the process proceeds to step S26 in FIG. .
[0083]
On the other hand, if the lock result indicates that it is still locked, that is, it is locked even after the lock time elapses, it is determined that printing cannot be performed by the other printer 100, and the control unit 105 The storage 200 is forcibly released from the lock of the page X (step S94). After unlocking the page X, the control unit 105 requests the storage 200 to lock the page X again (step S95), proceeds to step S29 in FIG. 5, and performs the same processing as described above.
[0084]
If the control unit 105 determines in step S92 that the job is an auxiliary print request, it further determines whether the job is locked or page X is locked (step S96). If it is determined that the page X is locked, the content of the lock result is determined (step S97). If the lock result indicates that the page X has been deleted, that is, if the page X has already been printed by the other printer 100, the process proceeds to step S53 in FIG. .
[0085]
On the other hand, if the lock result indicates that it is still locked, that is, it is locked even after the lock time elapses, it is determined that printing cannot be performed by the other printer 100, and the control unit 105 The storage 200 is forcibly released from the page X lock (step S98). After unlocking the page X, the control unit 105 requests the storage 200 to lock and download the page X again (step S99), proceeds to step S50 in FIG. 6, and performs the same processing as described above.
[0086]
If the control unit 105 determines in step S96 that the job has been locked, the content of the lock result is determined (step S100). If the lock result indicates that the job has been deleted, that is, if the other printer 100 has already printed the entire document data, the process according to the auxiliary print request is terminated.
[0087]
When the lock result indicates that the lock is still locked, that is, since the lock is locked even after the lock time elapses, it is determined that the other printer 100 cannot perform printing, and the control unit 105 stores the storage. The job is forcibly released by 200 (step S101). After unlocking the job, the control unit 105 requests the storage 200 to lock and download the job again (step S101), and proceeds to step S50 in FIG. 6 to perform the same processing as described above.
[0088]
According to the processing shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, in the case of the main printer, the printer 100 locks the storage 200 for each processing unit indicated by the number of copies or the unit of pages, and converts the document data received from the PC 300. Based on this, the printing process is executed without obtaining from the storage 200. Therefore, the same document or page is not duplicately printed by another printer 100 in units of copies or pages. In the case of processing in units of pages, it is possible to search for an unlocked page and print the page with priority. Furthermore, if the page is locked by another printer 100 and remains locked even after the lock time has elapsed, the lock can be forcibly released and printing can be performed by the printer 100 itself.
[0089]
In addition, the printer 100 as the auxiliary printer makes a lock and download request to the storage 200 so that the same document or page is not duplicated by another printer 100 in units of copies or pages. In the case of processing in units of pages, it is possible to search for an unlocked page and print the page with priority. Furthermore, if the page is locked by another printer 100 and remains locked even after the lock time has elapsed, the lock can be forcibly released and printing can be performed by the printer 100 itself.
[0090]
It should be noted that the processing shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 can be performed by all the printers 100-1 to 100-n.
[0091]
Next, a method for spontaneously searching for an auxiliary printer will be described. FIG. 10 is a follow chart for explaining a second processing example of the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, steps similar to those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 10, after determining that the control unit 105 has received a job and acquiring the contents of the job indicating the print request (steps S <b> 11 and S <b> 12), the control unit 105 performs an auxiliary printer on the print request received from the PC 300. Is determined (step S12-2). If an auxiliary printer is designated, the control unit 105 executes step S13. On the other hand, when an auxiliary printer is not designated, the control unit 105 causes the service search unit 103 to search for a printer 100 that can be printed on the network 40 (step S12-4). Thereafter, the processing from step S13 in FIG. 4 to step S33 in FIG. 5 is executed to print the document without overlapping pages.
[0092]
Even if a print request not specifying the auxiliary printer 100 is received from the PC 300 by such second processing, the printer 100 that has received the print request spontaneously exists on the network 40 and can be printed. Therefore, the user need only make a print request to one printer 100 without designating the auxiliary printer.
[0093]
For example, job instruction information managed by the storage 200 and job data including management information and document data has a structure as shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows the structure of job data. Based on the job storage request received from each printer 100, the storage 200 stores job management information having job instruction information specified by the job storage request and management information necessary for management in the storage 200 for each job. It has a job management area 291 for storing, and a page data management area 292 for storing at least one or more page data (pages 1 to n) constituting a document associated with job management information. For example, in the job management area 291, the lock time for each job or each page is managed by the job management information.
[0094]
A script for a print request transmitted from the PC 300 to the main printer 100-1 in step S1 in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a print request transmitted from the PC. In FIG. 12, a description 400 indicated by <bm: create_job xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: create_job> indicates that the description is in XML according to BMLinkS. . A description 401 indicating create_job indicates that a create_job command specified by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0095]
A description 402 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ request-user-name> indicates the user name “someone” who requested printing.
[0096]
A description 403 indicated by <job-instruction> to </ job-instruction> includes a description 404 indicated by <job-instruction-params> to </ job-instruction-params> for specifying a parameter relating to print processing, and a notification And a description 405 indicated by <notification-instruction> to </ notification-instruction> for designating an event during printing processing to be performed.
[0097]
In the description 404, a description indicated by <job-name> to </ job-name> specifies a job name, for example, “sample-job”. The description from <optional-attributes-fidelity> to </ optional-attributes-fidelity> is specified as, for example, “false”. The description shown from <copies> to </ copies> indicates the number of copies to be printed, for example, “1”.
[0098]
A description 406 indicated by <parallelprint enc: arrayType = "bm: parallelprint [1]"> to </ parallelprint> is an array of storage for storing job instruction information and document data and an auxiliary printer according to BMLinkS. It is specified by “parallelprint [1]”. <storageName uri = ”http://192.168.3.1”> to </ storageName> describes, for example, “storage # 1” and saves job instruction information and document data in the storage name “storage # 1” Specify what to do. In this case, it is assumed that the storage name of the storage 200 is “storage # 1”. The description indicated by <printerName uri = “http://192.168.2.2”> to </ printerName> indicates, for example, “printer # 2”, and designates printing processing with the printer name “printer # 2”. In this case, it is assumed that the printer name of the printer 100-2 is “printer # 2.” The description indicated by <printerName uri = “http://192.168.2.3”> to </ printerName> indicates, for example, “printer # 3” and designates printing processing with the printer name “printer # 3”. In this case, it is assumed that the printer name of the printer 100-3 is “printer # 3”.
[0099]
A description 407 indicated by <finishings enc: arrayType = "bm: finishing [1]"> to </ finishings> specifies finishing after printing processing by the array "finishing [1]" in accordance with BMLinkS. The description from <finishing> to </ finishing> specifies that the printed document is bound with “staple” as finishing.
[0100]
The description shown from <document-format> to </ document-format> specifies the data format “image / tiff” of the document data.
[0101]
A description 405 designates a notification method of the print processing result and is referred to by the notification issuing unit 104. For example, the description 408 from <notification-recipient> to </ notification-recipient> specifies the URI “http://192.168.2.1/event” of the main printer 100-1 as the notification destination. Description 409 from <events enc: arrayType = "bm: Event [2]"> to </ events> indicates that the array “Event [2]” specifies that two events are notified according to BMLinkS. Each event type is specified by a description from <event> to </ event>. For example, an event “job-completed” indicating normal termination and an event “job-canceled” indicating that print processing has been canceled are specified.
[0102]
A job save request script transmitted from the main printer 100-1 to the storage 200 in step S14 of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a job saving request transmitted from the main printer to the storage. In FIG. 13, a description 410 indicated by <bm: create_file xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: create_file> indicates that the description is in XML according to BMLinkS. . A description 411 indicating create_file indicates that a create_file command defined by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0103]
In the description 410, a description 412 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ request-user-name> indicates the registered user name “someone”. A description 413 indicated by <file-instruction> to </ file-instruction> specifies data storage conditions. A description 415 from <file-instruction-params> to </ file-instruction-params> specifies a parameter value of a data storage condition. For example, the description from <file-name> to </ file-name> specifies the file name “sample-job”. In the description from <read-only> to </ read-only>, “true” indicating only reading is specified.
[0104]
Further, in the description 410, a description 414 indicated by <file-attribute> to </ file-attribute> specifies an attribute for printing a document. The description 416 indicated by <parallelprint enc: arrayType = "bm: parallelprint [1]"> to </ parallelprint> indicates that the auxiliary printer is designated by one array “parallelprint [1]” according to BMLinkS. Is specified by the description from <printerName> to </ printerName>. The description indicated by <printerName uri = “http://192.168.2.2”> to </ printerName> indicates, for example, “printer # 2”, and designates printing processing with the printer name “printer # 2”. In this case, it is assumed that the printer name of the printer 100-2 is “printer # 2.” The description indicated by <printerName uri = “http://192.168.2.3”> to </ printerName> indicates, for example, “printer # 3” and designates printing processing with the printer name “printer # 3”. In this case, it is assumed that the printer name of the printer 100-3 is “printer # 3”.
[0105]
An auxiliary print request script transmitted from the main printer 100-1 to each of the auxiliary printers 100-2 and 100-3 in step S15 of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a script example of an auxiliary print request transmitted from the main printer to the auxiliary printer. In FIG. 14, the description 420 indicated by <bm: create-job xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: create_job> is an XML description according to BMLinkS. Indicates. A description 421 indicating create_job indicates that a create_job command defined by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0106]
A description 422 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ request-user-name> indicates the user name “someone” that requested printing.
[0107]
A description 423 indicated by <job-instruction> to </ job-instruction> includes a description 424 indicated by <job-instruction-params> to </ job-instruction-params> for specifying a parameter relating to print processing, and a notification And a description 425 indicated from <notification-instruction> to </ notification-instruction> for designating an event during printing processing to be performed.
[0108]
In the description 424, the description indicated from <job-name> to </ job-name> specifies the job name, and the description indicated from <job-name> to </ job-name> specifies the job name For example, “sample-job” is specified. The description from <optional-attributes-fidelity> to </ optional-attributes-fidelity> is specified as, for example, “false”. The description shown from <copies> to </ copies> indicates the number of copies to be printed, for example, “1”.
[0109]
The description 426 indicated by <finishings enc: arrayType = "bm: finishing [1]"> to </ finishings> designates finishing after printing processing by the array “finishing [1]” in accordance with BMLinkS. The description from <finishing> to </ finishing> specifies that the printed document is bound with “staple” as finishing.
[0110]
The description shown from <document-format> to </ document-format> specifies the data format “image / tiff” of the document data.
[0111]
In the description 427 regarding the job storage location, the description from <source-uri> to </ source-uri> indicates the URI “http://192.168.2.1/sample-job” in which the job is stored, The description from <source-file-id> to </ source-file-id> indicates the file ID “001”.
[0112]
The description 425 designates a printing process result notification method, and is referred to by the notification issuing unit 104 of each of the auxiliary printers 100-2 and 100-3. For example, a description 408 from <notification-recipient> to </ notification-recipient> specifies the URI “http://192.168.1.1/event” of the main printer 100-1 as a notification destination. The description 429 from <events enc: arrayType = "bm: Event [3]"> to </ events> indicates that the array “Event [3]” specifies that three events are notified according to BMLinkS. Each event type is specified by a description from <event> to </ event>. For example, an event “job-completed” indicating normal termination, an event “job-canceled” indicating that the printing process has been canceled, and an event “read-completed” indicating that reading has ended are specified.
[0113]
A script that locks a page by designating only a page in response to a job acquisition request transmitted from the auxiliary printer 100-2 to the storage 200 in step S46 of FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a first script example of page lock according to a job acquisition request transmitted from the main printer to the storage. In FIG. 15, a description 430 indicated by <bm: file-attribute xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: file-attribute> is an XML description according to BMLinkS. It shows that there is. A description 431 indicating a file-attribute indicates that a file-attribute command specified by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0114]
In the description 430, a description 432 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ requesting-user-name> indicates the registered user name “someone”. A description 433 indicated by <source-file-id> to </ source-file-id> indicates a file ID “001”. A description 434 indicated by <lock-page-id> to </ lock-page-id> indicates a page “001” to be locked.
[0115]
A script that locks a page by specifying a page and a lock period by a job acquisition request transmitted from the auxiliary printer 100-2 to the storage 200 in step S46 of FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a second script example of page lock by a job acquisition request transmitted from the main printer to the storage. In FIG. 16, description 440 indicated by <bm: file-attribute xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: file-attribute> is a description by XML according to BMLinkS. It shows that there is. A description 441 indicating a file-attribute indicates that a file-attribute command specified by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0116]
In the description 440, a description 442 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ requesting-user-name> indicates the registered user name “someone”. A description 433 indicated by <source-file-id> to </ source-file-id> indicates a file ID “001”. A description 434 indicated by <lock-page-id> to </ lock-page-id> indicates a page “001” to be locked. Further, a description 455 indicated by <lock-expire-seconds> to </ lock-expire-seconds> specifies, for example, a lock period of “60” seconds. In this case, an end time may be designated.
[0117]
A page deletion request script for deleting a printed page stored in the storage 200 in step S25 of FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a page deletion request for deleting a printed page stored in the storage 200. In FIG. 17, a description 450 indicated by <bm: delete_page xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: delete_page> indicates that the description is in XML according to BMLinkS. . A description 451 indicating delete_page indicates that a delete_page command defined by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0118]
In the description 450, a description 452 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ requesting-user-name> indicates the registered user name “someone”. A description 453 indicated by <file-id> to </ file-id> indicates a file ID “001”. A description 454 indicated by <page-id> to </ page-id> indicates a page “001” to be deleted.
[0119]
In the image forming system 1001 according to the first embodiment, a method for storing a job in one storage and outputting a document without duplication by a plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-3 has been described. A second embodiment capable of printing a document even when a failure occurs will be described below.
[0120]
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a network configuration example of an image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the image forming system 1002 shown in FIG. 18, the printer 100 has the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 of the printer 100 of the image forming system 1001 according to the first embodiment, and also has the functional configuration shown in FIG. Storage 200-1 to 200-3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as storage 200) and PC 300 are equivalent to storage 200 and PC 300 in the first embodiment.
[0121]
An image forming system 1002 illustrated in FIG. 18 includes a printer 100 that performs printing processing, a plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3 that store printing parameters and document data, and a PC 300 that is used by a user who prints a document. It is a configured system. The printer 100, the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3, and the PC 300 are connected via the network 40.
[0122]
In such an image forming system 1002, when a print request is received from the PC 300, the printer 100 transmits a job storage request from the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3. For convenience of explanation, the printer 100 transmits a job storage request to the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3. However, the number of storages 200 that transmit the job storage request may be one or more.
[0123]
An overview of a processing flow in the image forming system 1002 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0124]
When the printer 100 receives a print request from the PC 300 (step S131), the printer 100 displays a list of the storage 200 desired as a storage destination specified by the print request, a print parameter indicating a finishing method such as necessity of stapling, and print processing. A job is generated based on the document data to be processed. The job instruction information regarding the generated job includes a print parameter created based on the print parameter from the PC 300 and notification instruction information regarding an event notification of the printing process.
[0125]
The printer 100 sequentially transmits job save requests of the job instruction information to the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3 (steps S132-1 to S132-3). Upon receiving a job save request from the printer 100, each of the storages 200-1 to 200-3 saves job instruction information and document data with a file name specified by the job save request.
[0126]
  The printer 100 then issues a print request.InsideFor example, first, a job acquisition request is transmitted to the storage 200-1 (step S133-1), and printing processing is executed according to the acquired job instruction information and document data. If the printer 100 cannot acquire a page from the storage 200-1 for printing processing, the printer 100 acquires the page and prints by transmitting a job acquisition request to the next storage 200-2 (step S133-2). To do. Further, when a page cannot be acquired from the storage 200-2, a job acquisition request is transmitted to the next storage 200-3 (step S133-3), and the page is acquired and printed.
[0127]
As described above, when the page to be printed cannot be acquired from the storage 200-1 for some reason, the page to be printed can be acquired from the other storage 200-2 or 200-3. Therefore, the user of the PC 300 designates the storages 200-2 and 200-3 as backups, and does not know the status of each storage 200-1 to 200-3. Can be printed. Therefore, the image forming system 1002 can improve the fault tolerance.
[0128]
Next, processing performed by the control unit 105 that controls processing in the printer 100 will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of the control unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 19, the control unit 105 determines whether or not a job has been received every predetermined time (step S141). If no job has been received, the process waits and repeats step S141 every predetermined time. On the other hand, when a job is received from the PC, step S113 is executed.
[0129]
The control unit 105 causes the job issuing unit 102 to generate a job, and sequentially saves job instruction information instructing job contents in the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3 designated by the print request (step S142). Then, the control unit 105 selects the first storage specified in the print request (in this case, the storage 100-1) (step S143).
[0130]
The control unit 105 sets 1 to page X (step S144), and makes a request by transmitting a job acquisition request to the storage 200-1 that has selected acquisition of page X (step S145). The control unit 105 determines whether or not the page X has been acquired from the storage 200-1 (step S146). If the page X cannot be acquired, the next storage 200-2 is selected (step S147), and the process returns to step S145. In this case, when the page X cannot be acquired from the storage 200-1, the storage 200-2 is selected. When the page X cannot be acquired from the storage 200-2, the storage 200-3 is selected in order.
[0131]
On the other hand, if the page X has been acquired, the control unit 105 controls the print processing unit 106 to print the page X (step S148). The control unit 105 determines whether there are still pages to be printed (step S149). If there is still a page, the control unit 105 adds 1 to the page X (step S150) and returns to step S145. On the other hand, when all pages have been printed, in order to delete the job, a job deletion request is transmitted from the storage 200-1 to the storage 200-3, and the processing in the control unit 105 is terminated (step S151).
[0132]
A script for a print request transmitted from the PC 300 to the main printer 100-1 in step S131 in FIG. 18 will be described. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a print request in which a plurality of storages are specified. In FIG. 20, a description 460 indicated by <bm: create_job xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: create_job> indicates that the description is in XML according to BMLinkS. . A description 461 indicating create_job indicates that a create_job command specified by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0133]
A description 462 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ request-user-name> indicates the user name “someone” who has requested printing.
[0134]
A description 463 indicated by <job-instruction> to </ job-instruction> includes a description 464 indicated by <job-instruction-params> to </ job-instruction-params> for specifying a parameter relating to print processing, and a notification And a description 405 indicated by <notification-instruction> to </ notification-instruction> for designating an event during printing processing to be performed.
[0135]
In the description 464, a description indicated by <job-name> to </ job-name> specifies a job name, for example, “sample-job”. The description from <optional-attributes-fidelity> to </ optional-attributes-fidelity> is specified as, for example, “false”. The description shown from <copies> to </ copies> indicates the number of copies to be printed, for example, “1”.
[0136]
A description 466 represented by <parallelprint enc: arrayType = "bm: parallelprint [1]"> to </ parallelprint> specifies a plurality of storages for storing job instruction information and document data according to BMLinkS. <storageName uri = ”http://192.168.3.1”> to </ storageName> describes, for example, “storage # 1” and saves job instruction information and document data in the storage name “storage # 1” Specify what to do. The description from <storageName uri = ”http://192.168.3.2”> to </ storageName> indicates, for example, “storage # 2”, and job instruction information and document data are stored in the storage name “storage # 2”. Specify to save. Furthermore, the description indicated by storageName uri = ”http://192.168.3.3”> to </ storageName> indicates, for example, “storage # 3”, and job instruction information and document data are stored in the storage name “storage # 3”. Specify to save. In this case, the storage name “storage # 1” corresponds to the storage 200-1, the storage name “storage # 2” corresponds to the storage 200-2, and the storage name “storage # 3” corresponds to the storage 200-3.
[0137]
A description 467 indicated by <finishings enc: arrayType = "bm: finishing [1]"> to </ finishings> specifies finishing after printing processing by the array "finishing [1]" in accordance with BMLinkS. The description from <finishing> to </ finishing> specifies that the printed document is bound with “staple” as finishing.
[0138]
The description shown from <document-format> to </ document-format> specifies the data format “image / tiff” of the document data.
[0139]
The description 465 designates a notification method of the print processing result and is referred to by the notification issuing unit 104. For example, the description 468 from <notification-recipient> to </ notification-recipient> specifies the URI “http://192.168.4.1/event” of the PC 300 as the notification destination. Description 469 from <events enc: arrayType = "bm: Event [2]"> to </ events> indicates that the array “Event [2]” specifies that two events are notified according to BMLinkS. Each event type is specified by a description from <event> to </ event>. For example, an event “job-completed” indicating normal termination and an event “job-canceled” indicating that print processing has been canceled are specified.
[0140]
A job save request script transmitted from the printer 100 to the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3 in steps S133-1 to S133-3 in FIG. 18 will be described. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a script example of a job saving request transmitted from the printer to a plurality of storages. In FIG. 21, a description 470 indicated by <bm: create_file xmlns: bm = "urn: schemas-bm: service: bm"> to </ bm: create_file> indicates that the description is in XML according to BMLinkS. . A description 471 indicating create_file indicates that a create_file command defined by BMLinkS has been issued.
[0141]
In the description 470, a description 472 indicated by <requesting-user-name> to </ request-user-name> indicates the registered user name “someone”. A description 473 indicated by <file-instruction> to </ file-instruction> specifies data storage conditions. A description 474 from <file-instruction-params> to </ file-instruction-params> includes a description 475 indicating information about a file and a description 476 indicating a list of a plurality of storages as backups.
[0142]
In the description 475, for example, the description from <file-name> to </ file-name> specifies the file name “sample-job”. In the description from <read-only> to </ read-only>, “true” indicating only reading is specified.
[0143]
In the description 476, three descriptions indicated by <backup-uri> to </ backup-uri> are URIs “http://192.168.3.1/sample-” in which job instruction information and document data are stored as backups. Specify "job", "http://192.168.3.2/sample-job", and "http://192.168.3.3/sample-job".
[0144]
As described above, when the page X cannot be acquired from the storage 200-1 for some reason, the printer 100 can acquire and print the page X from the storage 200-2 or 200-3. Therefore, the user of the PC 300 designates the storages 200-2 and 200-3 as backups, and does not know the status of each storage 200-1 to 200-3. Can be printed. Therefore, the image forming system 1002 can improve the fault tolerance.
[0145]
Next, the printer 100-1 that has received the print request from the PC 300 stores the job in the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3 as a main printer, and assists the printers 100-2 and 100-3 as auxiliary printers. A third embodiment for transmitting a print request will be described.
[0146]
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of the image forming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the image forming 1003 shown in FIG. 22, the printers 100-1 to 100-3 form the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 of the printer 100 of the image forming system 1001 according to the first embodiment, and also shown in FIG. Configure the functional configuration. Storage 200-1 to 200-3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as storage 200) and PC 300 are equivalent to storage 200 and PC 300 in the first embodiment.
[0147]
An image forming system 1003 shown in FIG. 22 prints a plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-3 that perform print processing, a plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3 that store print parameters and document data, and a document. This is a system configured with a PC 300 used by a user. The plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-3, the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3, and the PC 300 are connected via the network 40.
[0148]
In such an image forming system 1003, the main printer 100-1 is a printer that directly receives a print request from a PC, and an auxiliary printer that the printer 100-1 transmits a print request on behalf of the PC 300 is the printer 100-2. To 100-3. The plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-n are printers having equivalent functions, and are hereinafter simply referred to as the printer 100 when collectively referred to. The main printer 100-1 that directly receives the print request from the PC transmits a job storage request to the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3. For convenience of explanation, the printer 100 transmits a job storage request to the plurality of storages 200-1 to 200-3. However, the number of storages 200 that transmit the job storage request may be one or more.
[0149]
For convenience of explanation, the printer 100-1 is a printer that directly receives a print request from the PC 300, but any printer among the printers 100-1 to 100-n may be used. A printer that directly receives a print request from the PC 300 among the printers 100-1 to 100-n is simply defined as a main printer.
[0150]
The outline of the processing flow in the image forming system 1003 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0151]
When the main printer 100-1 receives a print request directly from the PC 300 (step S161), the list of the printer 100 desired as the output destination specified by the print request, the list of the storage 200 for storing the job, and the staple A job is generated based on print parameters indicating a finishing method such as necessity and the document data to be printed. The job instruction information regarding the generated job includes a print parameter created based on the print parameter from the PC 300 and notification instruction information regarding an event notification of the printing process.
[0152]
The main printer 100-1 transmits job storage requests for sequentially storing the job instruction information in accordance with the list of the storage 200 specified by the print request to the storages 200-1 to 200-3 (steps S162-1 to S162). -3). Upon receiving a job save request from the main printer 100-1, each of the storages 200-1 to 200-3 saves job instruction information and document data with a file name specified by the job save request.
[0153]
Assume that printers 100-2 to 100-3 are auxiliary printers desired by the user. The main printer 100-1 sequentially transmits auxiliary print requests in which the print parameters for the auxiliary printer based on the print parameters instructed from the PC 300 are set to the auxiliary printers 100-2 to 100-3 (steps S163-1 and S163-3). 2).
[0154]
Then, the main printer 100-1 acquires all or part of the job instruction information and the document data by transmitting a job acquisition request to the storage 200-1 (step S164-1), and executes print processing. Similarly, the auxiliary printers 100-2 and 100-3 respectively acquire all or part of the job instruction information and the document data by transmitting a job acquisition request to the storage 200 (steps S164-2 and S164-). 3) Print processing is executed.
[0155]
In such an image forming system 1003, the printer 100-1 that has received a print request from the PC 300 autonomously becomes the main printer, and controls the printers 100-2 and 100-3 desired by the user as auxiliary printers. There is no need to provide a dedicated server for controlling the plurality of printers 100-1 to 100-n.
[0156]
Since the main printer 100-1 and the auxiliary printers 100-2 and 100-3 perform printing processing, even if a failure occurs in any of the printers 100-1 to 100-3, printing is performed by another printer. Since the process is performed, the user can always obtain a document printed by any one of the designated printers 100-1 to 100-3. Therefore, it is possible to realize a system with excellent fault tolerance that is not easily affected by printer faults.
[0157]
Further, even if a failure occurs in any of the storages 200-1 to 200-3, the document can be printed by any of the printers 100-1 to 100-3. Therefore, it is possible to realize a system with excellent fault tolerance that is not easily affected by a storage fault.
[0158]
Further, in such an image forming system 1003, each printer 100-1 to 100-3 transmits a job storage request to the storage 200-1 to 200-3, respectively, so that each printer 100-1 to 100- 3 can print a document. For example, since three copies can be printed simultaneously, the printing process can be performed at high speed.
[0159]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming process can be performed, and also in other image forming apparatuses, the image forming parameter and the target data can be acquired from the storage unit and the image forming process can be performed. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in itself, image forming processing can be performed by any of the image forming apparatuses. In addition, the image forming apparatus that has received the image forming request voluntarily saves the image forming parameters and the target data in the storage unit, and makes an image forming request to another image forming apparatus. There is no need to provide a server for this.
[0160]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when a print request is received from a control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when a print request is received from the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when an auxiliary print request is received from the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when an auxiliary printing request is received from the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining lock time control processing;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining lock result processing;
FIG. 10 is a follow chart for explaining a second processing example of the control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of job data.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a print request transmitted from a PC.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a job saving request transmitted from the main printer to the storage.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a script example of an auxiliary print request transmitted from the main printer to the auxiliary printer.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a first script example of page lock according to a job acquisition request transmitted from the main printer to the storage;
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a second script example of page lock by a job acquisition request transmitted from the main printer to the storage.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a page deletion request for deleting a printed page stored in the storage.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of a control unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a print request in which a plurality of storages are specified.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a script example of a job saving request transmitted from a printer to a plurality of storages.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of an image forming system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
40 network
100, 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 Printer
101 Job reception department
102 Job issuing department
103 Service Search Department
104 Notification issuing department
105 Control unit
106 Print processing unit
107 Lock time controller
110 Network control unit
200, 200-1, 200-2, 200-3 storage
300 PC

Claims (13)

Based on the first image forming request for image formation, is accessible by another image forming apparatus, with respect to storage means for storing the target data to be image forming parameters and the image formation, said other image formation In order to suppress duplication output by the apparatus , all or part of the target data is requested to be locked, and an image is formed based on all or part of the locked target data according to the image forming parameter. have a control means that controls the image forming process,
The control means forcibly releases all or a part of the lock of the target data to the storage means when the lock cannot be performed even after a predetermined lock time has elapsed, A distributed image forming apparatus which requires a part of lock . The control means includes
Upon receipt of the first image formation request, a request is made to lock all or part of the target data, and a storage request for requesting storage of the image formation parameters and the target data is sent to one or more storage means. Yes ,
Distributed image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the that sends the second imaging request of a portion of the image forming parameters for one or more other image forming apparatus. The control means includes
When the other image forming apparatus receives the second image forming request, the requesting locking of all or part the target data, in whole or in part of downloading said subject data requests to said storage means ,
Distributed image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the this downloading and acquiring the target data from said storage means. A lock time for controlling the storage means to request the lock after the lapse of the predetermined lock time when the lock cannot be performed even though all or part of the target data exists in the storage means. Having control means,
When the lock means cannot lock by the lock time control means, the control means forces the storage means to release all or part of the target data, and again, all or part of the target data 4. The distributed image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lock is requested. Control written above means, the storage means, variance image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to request a lock split data units obtained by dividing the target data in a predetermined delimiter . The control means, when performing image forming processing by the division data units, the lock for each divided data to be requested to the storage means, if the divided data could not lock has been removed, the image forming process distribution type image forming apparatus to lock the next divided data as a target according to claim 4, wherein that you request to said storage means. The control means, when performing image forming processing by the division data units, the lock request to the storage means for each divided data of interest, if even after Jo Tokoro lock time can not lock the divided data 7. The distributed image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the storage unit unlocks the divided data and requests the divided data to be locked again . The control means, when an image forming process in unit of the number of copies of the target data, to lock all of the subject data by requesting a lock on the job in the storage means, even after Jo Tokoro lock time the If you can not lock the job, to unlock the job to said storage means, again, distributed image of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that to request a lock on the job Forming equipment. When one or more other image forming apparatuses are not specified in the first image forming request, the apparatus has a device searching unit that searches for other image forming apparatuses that can perform image forming processing.
3. The distributed image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit transmits the storage request to one or more other image forming apparatuses searched by the apparatus searching unit. Control written above means, distributed image forming apparatus of the deletion to delete the divided data image forming request according any of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that to send to said storage means. Control written above means, when the image processing is completed for all the divided data constituting the whole or the target data of the target data, it intends line to the storage means a job deletion request to delete a job for the target data distributed image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in. A distributed image forming method in an image forming apparatus ,
Based on the first image formation request for requesting image formation, the other image forming apparatus can store the image forming parameters and the target data to be imaged , which can be accessed by another image forming apparatus. An image is requested so that all or part of the target data is locked in order to suppress duplication output by the apparatus, and an image is formed based on all or part of the locked target data according to the image forming parameter. a control procedure that controls the formation process,
In the case where the lock cannot be performed even after a predetermined lock time has elapsed, the control procedure forcibly releases the lock of all or part of the target data to the storage means, and again or again distributed image forming method characterized by requesting a portion of the lock. An image forming system in which a user terminal used by a user, at least one storage device that stores information relating to image forming processing, and at least one image forming device that executes image forming processing are connected via a network. In the image forming method for performing the image forming process in response to an image forming request from the user terminal,
The above user terminal
A first image formation request transmission procedure for transmitting a first image formation request for requesting image formation to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes:
On the basis of the first image formation request, a duplicate output by the other image forming apparatus is provided to a storage unit that is accessible by another image forming apparatus and stores the image forming parameters and target data to be imaged. requesting a lock on all or part the subject data in order to suppress, in accordance with the image forming parameters, the image forming processing to form an image based on all or part of the target data the lock It has you control control procedure,
In the case where the lock cannot be performed even after a predetermined lock time has elapsed, the control procedure forcibly causes the storage means to release all or a part of the lock of the target data, and again A distributed image forming method characterized by requiring a part of lock .

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