JP4586915B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming management system using the image forming apparatus.

For example, in the image forming management system (printer management system) described in Patent Document 1, in order to grasp the usage status of the image forming apparatus (printer), after the end of the printing process (image forming process) based on the print job, Information such as the number of sheets printed by the print job and the user who issued the print command is written in the print server as history information.
JP 2003-67174 A

  However, since the history information is written in the print server after the end of the print job in the invention described in Patent Document 1, for example, during the execution of the print job in which the number of prints is plural, the print server and the image forming apparatus When a failure occurs in at least one of them, no history information regarding the print job remains in the print server, and the usage status of the image forming apparatus cannot be accurately grasped.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it makes it possible to accurately grasp the usage status of an image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium based on a print job, wherein the image forming process based on the print job is performed. And a first writing means for performing a writing process for writing history information to an external storage device communicable via a network line. The first writing means forms an image based on a print job. A writing process is executed for each predetermined number of pages among a plurality of pages.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if a failure occurs during the execution of a print job, history information is written for each predetermined page. It becomes possible to grasp in more detail.

  Here, the “writing process” means that when the image forming apparatus directly operates the external storage device to write the history information, and the image forming apparatus only transmits the history information to the external storage device. The writing operation is meant to include any case where the external storage device performs.

When the image forming apparatus directly operates the external storage device to write history information, a simple storage device can be adopted as the external storage device.
The predetermined number of pages may be, for example, one page or two pages. However, if the total number of pages on which image formation is to be performed is very large, the configuration according to claim 2 may be used. Adopt it.

Further, in the first aspect of the invention , “the first writing unit executes a writing process for each predetermined number of pages among a plurality of pages on which an image is formed based on a print job” means that a predetermined page the number as a unit, that has means executing the write processing after imaging before and image formation of one unit.
Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the use status of the image forming apparatus can be grasped accurately and in detail.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming process for one unit is executed on condition that the writing process is successful by the first writing unit before the image forming process for one unit is executed, Since the image forming process is not executed when the writing process by the first writing unit fails, the print job is not executed without the history information remaining, and the image forming apparatus It is possible to more accurately grasp the usage status.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first writing means stores the image forming process for one unit in a storage area in which history information written before execution of the image forming process for one unit is stored. The history information after execution is overwritten.

Thus, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the image forming process for one unit is normally completed, only the history information after the execution of the image forming process for one unit is obtained. Thus, it is possible to prevent the area for storing the history information required in the process from becoming excessively large.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first writing means stores the image forming process for one unit in a storage area in which history information written before the execution of the image forming process for one unit is stored. The history information after the execution of is added.

Thus, in the invention according to claim 3 , when the image forming process for one unit is normally completed, the history information before and after the execution of the image forming process for one unit is stored in one storage area (record). Therefore, it is possible to prevent an excessively large number of areas (records) for storing history information necessary for image forming processing for one unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second writing means for performing a writing process for writing history information in the external storage device after the image forming process based on the print job is completed. It is.

In the invention described in claim 5 , since the second writing means deletes the history information written by the first writing means when writing the history information, the memory necessary for storing the history information is stored. It is possible to prevent the area from becoming excessively large.

In the invention according to claim 6 , when at least one of the writing processes by the first writing means and the second writing means fails, the failed writing process is externally executed. History information storage means for storing history information that was scheduled to be written to the storage device, and when history information is stored in the history information storage means, for writing the stored history information to the external storage device And a third writing means for performing a writing process.

Thus, according to the sixth aspect of the invention, history information can be reliably left in the external storage device.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the third writing means executes the writing process before executing the image forming process based on the print job.

In the invention described in 請 Motomeko 8, and comprising: the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and an external storage device connected via a network line to the image forming apparatus To do.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention is applied to a multifunction machine having a function other than an image forming function such as an image reading function (scanner function). The embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main processing, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing log transmission processing 1. 4 is a flowchart showing the log transmission process 2, and FIGS. 5A to 5D and 6 are diagrams showing log writing examples.

2. Outline of image forming apparatus (see FIG. 1)
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to an image forming unit 3 that forms an image on a recording medium such as a recording sheet (hereinafter referred to as a sheet), it is described in a document. An image reading unit 5 for reading an image is provided.

  The storage unit 7 is a storage unit that stores image electronic data and the like read by the image reading unit 5, and this storage unit 7 can be used even when power supply to a flash memory, an HDD, or the like is stopped. It is comprised with the non-volatile memory | storage device which can hold | maintain the memory content.

  The operation unit 9 serves as user input means for accepting user operations, and the display unit 11 is notification means for notifying and transmitting various information to the user. Note that the display unit 11 according to the present embodiment notifies and transmits various types of information to the user via a display unit for displaying an image such as an LCD.

  The LAN communication unit 13 is a network interface unit for communicating with an external storage device 20 such as a file server (for example, a CIFS (Common Internet File System) server) or a computer 21 via a network line such as Ethernet (registered trademark). It is.

  The operations of the image forming unit 3, the image reading unit 5, the storage unit 7, the operation unit 9, the display unit 11, the LAN communication unit 13, and the like are controlled by the control unit 15. The control unit 15 is configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 15 (CPU) forms an image according to a program stored in a storage unit such as a ROM. Control part 3 and the like.

3. Characteristic operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment (see FIGS. 2 to 6)
3.1. Overview of Operation The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment executes a printing process based on a print job that is a target of the print command when the print (image formation) command is issued to the image forming apparatus 1. Before performing a writing process (hereinafter, this writing process is referred to as a first writing process) for writing history information (log) to the external storage device 20 that can communicate via the LAN communication unit 13. Then, after the end of the printing process based on the print job, a writing process for writing history information (log) in the external storage device 20 (hereinafter, this writing process is referred to as a second writing process) is mainly performed. It is a characteristic.

  Note that “print processing based on a print job” means that a print job transmitted to the computer 21 via the LAN communication unit 13 or a direct print (direct print) command is issued without going through an external computer. This is a process for forming (printing) an image on a sheet by the image forming unit 3 based on the contents of the print job at that time.

3.2. Detailed operation 3.2.1. Main Process FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a main process for executing the “writing process” described in “Overview of Operation”. The main process will be described below by taking a case where a print command is issued from the computer 21 as an example. To do.

  A program for executing the main processing (FIG. 2) is stored in advance in the ROM, and is read from the ROM when the image forming apparatus 1 receives a print command from the computer 21, and is controlled by the control unit 15 (CPU). Is executed.

  When the main process is started, first, after log transmission process 1 for executing the first writing process (details of the log transmission process 1 will be described later) is executed (S1), the log transmission process is performed. Based on the flag set in 1, it is determined whether or not the history information (hereinafter referred to as a log) has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 (S3).

  At this time, if it is determined that the log writing to the external storage device 20 has failed (S3: NO), the execution of the print processing based on the print job that is the target of the print command is stopped ( S41), the main process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the log writing to the external storage device 20 is successful (S3: YES), the total number of pages (total number) of printed matter to be printed is counted based on the print job ( In S5, it is determined whether or not the counted total number of pages is equal to or less than a first predetermined page number (10 pages in the present embodiment) (S7).

  If it is determined that the total number of pages counted in S5 is equal to or less than the first predetermined number of pages (S7: YES), one page is regarded as one unit before the printing process for one unit is executed. And the writing process for writing a log after execution is performed (S9, S23-S29).

  That is, after one page is determined as one unit (S9), before the printing process for one unit is executed, a page log indicating that the printing process for one unit is started is stored in the external storage device. In order to write to 20, log transmission processing 2 (details will be described later) is executed (S23).

Note that the written page log includes a character string (for example, a page number) that identifies a page to be printed first among pages included in one unit to be printed.
When the log transmission process 2 (S23) ends, it is determined whether or not the page log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 based on the flag set in the log transmission process 2 (S25). If it is determined that the page log writing has failed (S25: NO), the execution of the print process based on the print job that is the target of the print command is stopped (S41), and then the main process ends. .

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the page log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 (S25: YES), the printing process for one unit is started (S27), and the printing process for one unit is completed. Then, a log transmission process 2 is executed in order to write a page log indicating that the printing process for one unit is completed in the external storage device 20 (S29).

The written page log includes a character string (for example, a page number) that identifies the last printed page among the pages included in one unit that is the target of the printing process.
When the log transmission process 2 in S29 ends, it is determined whether or not the page log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 based on the flag set in the log transmission process 2 (S31). If it is determined that the log writing has failed (S31: NO), the execution of the printing process based on the print job that is the target of the print command is stopped (S41), and then the main process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the page log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 (S31: YES), it is determined whether or not printing has been completed for all pages (S33). If it is determined that printing has been completed (S33: YES), the log transmission process 1 for executing the second writing process is executed (S35), and then the main process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that printing has not been completed for all pages (S33: NO), S23 is executed again, indicating that printing processing is started for one unit to be printed next. A page log is written.

The unit to be printed next is a unit including a page to be printed next to a page to be printed last among pages included in one unit that has already been printed.
When it is determined that the total number of pages counted in S5 is larger than the first predetermined page number (S7: NO), the second predetermined page number (the total page number is larger than the first predetermined page number). In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not it is less than 100 pages (S11).

  If it is determined that the total number of pages is less than the second predetermined number of pages (S11: YES), for example, 5 pages are taken as one unit, and a log is recorded before and after the execution of the printing process for one unit. Write processing for writing is executed (S13, S23 to S29).

  If 5 pages are taken as one unit, the first page, the sixth page, the eleventh page, the sixteenth page, the twenty-first page,... Before the (5n + 1) th page print processing is executed. After S23 is executed and the print processing of the fifth page, the tenth page, the fifteenth page, the twenty-first page, the twenty-fifth page,..., The fifth n-th page is executed, S29 is executed. However, “n” represents a natural number.

  If it is determined in S11 that the total number of pages is equal to or greater than the second predetermined number of pages (S11: NO), for example, 10 pages are taken as one unit before and after execution of the printing process for this unit. A writing process for writing a log later is executed (S17, S23 to S29).

  When 10 pages are taken as one unit, the first page, the eleventh page, the twenty-first page, the thirty-first page, the forty-first page, and so on, before the print processing of the (10n + 1) th page is executed. After S23 is executed and the print processing of the 10th page, the 20th page, the 30th page, the 40th page, the 20th page,..., The 10th page is executed, S29 is executed.

3.2.2. Log transmission process 1 (see Fig. 3)
A program for executing the log transmission process 1 is also stored in the ROM in advance as in the main process, and is read from the ROM and executed by the control unit 15 (CPU) when the log transmission process 1 is executed.

  When the log transmission process 1 is started, as shown in FIG. 3, the connection to the external storage device 20 is first established via the network line (S51), and the connection to the external storage device 20 is successful. It is determined whether or not it has been done (S53).

  At this time, if it is determined that the connection to the external storage device 20 has failed (S53: NO), the log that was to be written to the external storage device 20 in the current log transmission process 1 is stored in the storage unit 7. (S85), a flag indicating that the log writing to the external storage device 20 has failed is set (S87), and a message to that effect is sent to the computer 21 that issued the print command. Later (S89), the log transmission process 1 ends.

  The “log that was scheduled to be written to the external storage device 20 in the log transmission process 1 (hereinafter, this log is referred to as an error log)” is written to the external storage device 20 in the current log transmission process 1. The log that was scheduled, specifically, the log that was scheduled to be written in S71 or S79 described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the connection to the external storage device 20 is successful (S53: YES), whether or not a file for writing a log (hereinafter referred to as a log file) exists in the external storage device 20. If it is determined that the log file exists (S55: YES), the log file is opened in the writing mode (S59), and the log file is opened in the writing mode. It is determined whether or not it was possible (S61).

  When it is determined that the log file does not exist (S55: NO), after the log file is newly created (S57), the created log file is opened in the write mode (S59). ), It is determined whether or not the log file in the writing mode could be opened (S61).

  At this time, if it is determined that the log file in the writing mode could not be opened (S61: NO), S85 is executed, while it is determined that the log file in the writing mode could be opened. If it is determined (S61: YES), the current timing is when the print job starts or when the print job is completed, that is, when the first writing process is executed or It is determined whether or not the two-writing process is being executed (S63).

  If it is determined that the first writing process is being executed (S63: at the start of the print job), it is determined whether or not an error log is stored in the storage unit 7 (S65). If it is determined that the log is stored (S65: YES), the error log is added to the end of the log file (S67), and it is determined whether the error log has been successfully written. (S69). In the present embodiment, the log is added to the end of the log file. However, the log need not be limited to the end.

  At this time, if it is determined that the error log writing has failed (S69: NO), the log transmission process 1 ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the error log has been successfully written (S69: YES), the error log that has been successfully written is deleted from the storage unit 7 (S70), and the job start log is added to the log file as a log to be written to the external storage device 20 in the first writing process of this time Writing is performed (S71).

  Note that the job start log is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, information indicating the date and time when S71 is executed ("2008/08/05" displayed under "date" and “19:05” displayed under “time”), information for specifying a print job to be executed (“job6” displayed under “name”), and a print command are issued Information for identifying the computer 21 ("PC8" displayed under "host"), the name of the user who issued the print command ("kawai" displayed under "user"), and the print job Information including information indicating that a printing process based on the information is started (“job start” displayed under “status”) and the like.

  When the job start log writing process ends (S71), it is determined whether or not the job start log has been successfully written (S73). If it is determined that the writing has failed (S73: NO). , S85 is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the writing is successful (S73: YES), the log file is closed after the flag indicating that the log writing is successful is set (S81). (S83), and the log transmission process 1 ends.

  If it is determined in S63 that the second writing process is being executed (S63: when the print job is completed), among the logs written in the log file, the printing process is currently in progress. All logs (hereinafter referred to as page logs) written in the log transmission process 2 for the print job are searched and extracted (S75).

  Next, after all the page logs searched / extracted in S75 are deleted from the log file (S77), the job start log for the print job currently being printed is searched from the log file. The job completion log is overwritten as a log written in the second writing process in the storage area (record) in which the job start log is stored (S79), and S73 is executed.

  Note that the job completion log is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5D, information indicating the date and time when S79 is executed (“2008/08/05” and “date” displayed under “date”). “19:06” displayed under “time”), information for specifying a print job to be executed (“job6” displayed under “name”), and a print command are issued Information for identifying the computer 21 ("PC8" displayed under "host"), the name of the user who issued the print command ("kawai" displayed under "user"), and the print job Information ("finish" displayed under "status") that indicates that the printing process is completed (completed), and information indicating that the print job has been completed normally (displayed under "result") Was "OK") is one that is constructed from information such as.

3.2.3. Log transmission process 2 (see Fig. 4)
The program for executing the log transmission process 2 is also stored in advance in the ROM like the main process, and is read from the ROM when the log transmission process 2 is executed and executed by the control unit 15 (CPU).

  When the log transmission process 2 is started, as shown in FIG. 4, first, the connection to the external storage device 20 is established via the network line (S91), and the connection to the external storage device 20 is successful. It is determined whether or not (S93).

  At this time, if it is determined that the connection to the external storage device 20 has failed (S93: NO), the log that was scheduled to be written to the external storage device 20 in the current log transmission process 2 is used as the error log. It is stored in the storage unit 7 (S107).

  Then, a flag indicating that the log writing to the external storage device 20 has failed is set (S109), and a message to that effect is sent to the computer 21 that issued the print command (S111), and then the log is sent. Process 2 ends. The error log is specifically a log scheduled to be written in S99 described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the connection to the external storage device 20 is successful (S93: YES), the log file is opened in the write mode (S95), and the log file is opened in the write mode. It is determined whether or not the process has been completed (S97).

  At this time, if it is determined that the log file in the writing mode could not be opened (S97: NO), S107 is executed, while it is determined that the log file in the writing mode could be opened. If it is (S97: YES), the page log is additionally written to the log file as a log to be written to the external storage device 20 in the current log transmission process 2 (S99).

  The page log is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, the date and time when S99 is executed (“2008/08/05” displayed under “date”). "19:05" displayed under "time" and "time"), information indicating the execution before printing processing for one unit (such as "page1 start" displayed under "status") and one unit Information indicating that the printing process has been executed (such as “page1 end” displayed under “status”), and information indicating that one unit of printing processing has been completed (displayed under “result”) “OK”) and the like.

  Note that FIGS. 5B and 5C are examples in which a page log is written with one page as a unit. Therefore, when a page log is written with a plurality of pages as a unit, “page1 start” is written as “block1 page1 start” or “part1 page1 start”, and “page1 end” is “block1 page [n ] End ”or“ part1 page [n] end ”.

  [N] is the number of pages constituting one unit. That is, in the page log, the page number of the page to be printed first among the pages classified as one unit is written together with the character string “start” indicating that this one unit is printed, When the printing process of one unit is completed, the page number of the page that has been printed last among the pages classified as the unit is “end” indicating that the printing process of one unit has been completed. It is written with the character string.

  When the page log writing process ends (S99), it is determined whether the page log writing is successful (S101). If it is determined that the writing has failed (S101: NO), S107 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the writing has succeeded (S101: YES), the log file is closed (S103) after the flag indicating that the log writing has been successful is set (S103). S105), the log transmission process 2 ends.

3.2.3. As described above, in the present embodiment, the log shown in FIG. 5A is first written to the external storage device 20 by the log transmission process 1, and then the log transmission process 2 is performed. Thus, the page log is written to the log file as shown in the order of FIG. 5B → FIG. 5C.

When the print job is normally completed, all page logs are deleted, and the job completion log is overwritten in the storage area in which the job start log is stored, and the process ends.
That is, when the print job is completed normally, only the job completion log of the print job that has undergone the printing process remains in the log file. On the other hand, when the print job does not complete normally, FIG. ) To FIG. 5C, that is, the job start log or page log remains in the log file, and the job completion log does not remain.

  Both the log stored in the storage unit 7 as the error log in the log transmission process 1 and the log stored in the storage unit 7 as the error log in the log transmission process 2 are both executed when the log transmission process 1 is executed (job The start log is written into the external storage device 20 immediately before the start log is written into the external storage device 20.

4). Features of Image Forming Apparatus According to this Embodiment In this embodiment, a job start log is written in the external storage device 20 before execution of a printing process (image forming process) based on a print job. Since the job completion log is written in the storage device 20, even if a failure occurs during the execution of the print job, at least the job start log remains in the external storage device 20, so that the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1 can be checked accurately. It becomes possible to grasp.

  Here, “writing process” refers to a case where the image forming apparatus 1 directly operates the external storage device 20 to write history information, and the image forming apparatus 1 stores history information such as a job start log. The actual writing operation is meant to include both cases where the external storage device 20 performs.

Note that when the image forming apparatus directly operates the external storage device 20 to write history information, a simple storage device can be employed as the external storage device 20.
In the present embodiment, the job start log includes at least information for specifying a print job for which the print process is executed and information including that the print process based on the print job is started, and Since the job completion log includes at least information for specifying a print job for which print processing has been completed and information that indicates that print processing based on the print job has been completed, management for managing the image forming apparatus 1 When a person checks the log stored in the external storage device 20, it is possible to easily check the log.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the job completion log writing fails, the log that was scheduled to be written to the external storage device 20 by the failed writing process is stored as an error log, and the error log is stored. If the error log is stored, the stored error log is written during the next writing process, so that the job completion log can be reliably left in the external storage device 20.

  In this embodiment, the job completion log is overwritten on the storage area in which the job start log is stored. Therefore, when the printing process is normally completed, as shown in FIG. Only logs remain. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an excessively large area for storing a log required for one print job.

  In this embodiment, the printing process is executed when the job start log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20, while the job start log is printed when the job start log has failed to be written to the external storage device 20. Since the process is not executed, a print job is not executed without leaving a log, and the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1 can be grasped more accurately.

Therefore, it is particularly effective to use the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment in a printing system that charges the user according to the number of printed sheets.
In the present embodiment, when a print process based on a print job is executed, a predetermined number of pages among a plurality of pages to be printed based on the print job is set as a unit before and after the execution of printing for this one unit. Write the page log to the external storage device 20. Therefore, even if a failure occurs during the execution of a print job, the page log remains in the external storage device 20, so that the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1 can be grasped accurately and in detail. Become.

  In the present embodiment, since the predetermined number of pages constituting one unit is determined based on the total number of pages to be printed, the page log is stored when the total number of pages to be printed is very large. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the storage area necessary for this from becoming excessively large.

  In addition, since the frequency of writing the page log is adjusted, traffic related to communication with the external storage device 20 can be reduced when the total number of pages on which image formation is to be performed is very large.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the job completion log is written, the entire page log is deleted, so that it is possible to prevent the storage area necessary for storing the log from becoming excessively large.

  In the present embodiment, when page log writing fails, the page log that was scheduled to be written to the external storage device 20 in the failed writing process is stored as an error log, and the error log is stored. The stored error log is written to the external storage device 20 at the next print processing, so even if the print job does not complete normally, a page indicating the progress of the print job is displayed. The log can be reliably left in the external storage device 20.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the page log is written in the external storage device 20 before and after execution of the printing process for one unit. In this embodiment, the number of pages constituting one unit is determined as shown in FIG. Then (S9, S13, S17), among the plurality of pages constituting one unit, a writing process for writing a log is executed before and after the printing process of the last page of this unit (after execution) ( S19 to S29).

In other words, in this embodiment, when the K (natural number) page is used as one unit, the page log is written in the external storage device 20 before and after the execution of the printing process of the (K × n) th page.
Since the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is only the main process, the present embodiment will be described below mainly on the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Will be explained. 7 is a flowchart corresponding to the main process (FIG. 2) in the first embodiment, and the same control steps as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

1. Main processing (see Fig. 7)
When the number of pages constituting one unit is determined through the same control steps as in the first embodiment (S9, S13, S17), the first page of the print job is set as the print target page (S19). Then, it is determined whether or not the page set as the print target page is a write target page on which the page log writing process is to be executed (S21).

As described above, this determination is affirmative when the K (natural number greater than or equal to 1) page is set as one unit and the (K × n) th page is set as the print target page.
At this time, when it is determined that the page is a page log writing target page (S21: YES), after the log transmission process 2 is executed (S23), based on the flag set in the log transmission process 2 Thus, it is determined whether or not the log writing to the external storage device 20 has been successful (S25).

Note that the page log includes a character string (for example, a page number) for specifying a page to be written, a character string “start” indicating that the page is to be printed, and the like.
If it is determined that the page log writing has failed (S25: NO), the execution of the print process based on the print job that is the target of the print command is stopped (S41), and then the main process is performed. finish.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the writing of the page log to the external storage device 20 is successful (S25: YES), printing of the print target page is started (S27), and when the print of the print target page is finished, Log transmission processing 2 is executed (S29).

Note that the page log includes a character string (for example, a page number) for specifying a page to be written, a character string “end” indicating that the printing process for the page has been completed, and the like.
When the log transmission process 2 in S29 ends, it is determined whether or not the page log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 based on the flag set in the log transmission process 2 (S31). If it is determined that the log writing has failed (S31: NO), the execution of the printing process based on the print job that is the target of the print command is stopped (S41), and then the main process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the page log has been successfully written to the external storage device 20 (S31: YES), it is determined whether or not printing has been completed for all pages (S33). If it is determined that printing has been completed (S33: YES), the log transmission process 1 for executing the second writing process is executed (S35), and then the main process ends.

  If it is determined that printing has not been completed for all pages (S33: NO), after the next page is set as a page to be printed (S39), S21 is executed again. If it is determined in S21 that the page is not a page log writing target (S21: NO), printing is performed without executing S23 to S31 (S37), and S33 is executed.

2. Features of the Image Forming Apparatus According to the Present Embodiment As in the first embodiment, the page log is written every predetermined number of pages, so that the usage status of the image forming apparatus 1 can be grasped accurately and in detail. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment and the first embodiment, the process of S23 may be omitted in the main process shown in FIGS. In this way, compression of the storage area (record) can be prevented.

(Third embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, when the print job is normally completed, the job completion log is overwritten on the storage area (record) in which the job start log is written. However, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. The job completion log is added to the storage area (record) in which the job start log is written.

  As a result, in this embodiment, when the printing process is normally completed, the job start log and the job completion log are written in one storage area (record), so a storage area for storing a log required for the print job It is possible to prevent the number of (records) from becoming excessively large.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the third embodiment, the job completion log is added to the storage area (record) in which the job start log is written. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. In this storage area, a job completion log is added.

As a result, the administrator who browses the log file can easily confirm the start log and the end log of one job in relation to each other.
(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a unit log for a unit log is stored in a storage area in which a page log written before the printing process for one unit (hereinafter referred to as a pre-execution page log) is stored. The page log after execution of the printing process (hereinafter referred to as post-execution page log) is overwritten.

  As a result, in this embodiment, when the printing process for one unit is completed normally, only the post-execution page log is stored, so the log required for the printing process for one unit is stored. It is possible to prevent the area from becoming excessively large.

(Sixth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the post-execution page log is added to the storage area (record) in which the pre-execution page log is stored.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, when the printing process for one unit is completed normally, the log before printing for one unit and the log after printing are written in one storage area (record). It is possible to prevent the number of areas (records) for storing logs necessary for processing from becoming excessively large.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the job start log and all page logs are written to the external storage device 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, a job start log and a job completion log. Of these, at least one of the logs may not be written in the external storage device 20.

  In the above-described embodiment, the number of pages is automatically determined based on the total number of pages to be printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The value input by the user via the interface may be the number of pages constituting one unit.

  Further, when an interrupt print process of another print job occurs while executing a print process for a specific print job, it is desirable to write the log so that it is represented as a cluster for each print job. .

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it meets the gist of the invention described in the claims.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the main process which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the log transmission process 1. It is a flowchart which shows the log transmission process 2. FIG. (A)-(d) which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is a figure which shows the example of writing of a log. It is a figure which shows the example of log writing which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the main process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of log writing which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of log writing which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of log writing which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of log writing which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... Image forming part, 5 ... Image reading part, 7 ... Memory | storage part, 9 ... Operation part,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Display part, 13 ... LAN communication part, 15 ... Control part, 20 ... External storage device,
21: Computer.

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on a print job,
A first writing unit that performs a writing process for writing history information to an external storage device that can communicate via a network line when executing an image forming process based on a print job;
The first writing unit executes the writing process before and after the image formation for one unit , with a predetermined number of pages as a unit among a plurality of pages on which an image is formed based on a print job ,
Furthermore, the image forming process for one unit is executed on the condition that the writing process is successful by the first writing unit before the image forming process for one unit is executed, and the first writing unit is executed. An image forming apparatus , wherein the image forming process is not executed when the writing process by the user fails . The first writing means overwrites history information after execution of the image forming process for one unit in a storage area in which history information written before execution of the image forming process for the unit is stored. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that. The first writing means appends history information after execution of the image forming process for one unit to a storage area in which history information written before execution of the image forming process for one unit is stored. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . After completion of the image forming processing based on the print job, in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in comprising a second writing means for writing processing for writing history information to the external storage device The image forming apparatus described. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the second writing unit deletes the history information written by the first writing unit when writing the history information . When at least one of the writing processes by the first writing unit and the second writing unit fails, the writing to the external storage device is scheduled in the failed writing process. History information storage means for storing the history information;
When history information is stored in the history information storage means, a third writing means for performing a writing process for writing the stored history information to the external storage device is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the third writing unit executes a writing process before an image forming process based on a print job . An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The external storage device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network line;
An image formation management system comprising:

Images