JP5947734B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program for temporarily applying an image forming condition specified at the time of image formation such as printing instead of an existing image forming condition.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as an image forming apparatus such as a printer, an apparatus that receives a print job (image formation request) from a user terminal on a network such as a LAN and performs printing (image formation) is known.

  In such an image forming apparatus, in addition to the case where printing conditions (image forming conditions) are set in advance and the existing printing conditions (immediately preceding printing conditions) are applied to the print job, printing is performed. There are cases where printing is performed by temporarily applying specified printing conditions instead of the previous printing conditions.

  When temporarily applying the printing conditions specified in the print job, the previous printing conditions are restored after the printing for the print job is completed.

  However, in the image forming apparatus on the network, communication with the user terminal may be interrupted for some reason, and reception of print job data may be interrupted.

  In this case, since printing by the print job cannot be completed, it is not possible to return to the previous printing condition described above, and the temporary printing condition specified in the print job is replaced with the previous printing condition in the image forming apparatus. There is a problem of remaining.

  On the other hand, as in Patent Document 1, if a print job in which data reception is interrupted is retried, it is possible to return to the previous printing condition in accordance with the completion of printing.

  However, if another print job is received without retrying the print job, the previous print condition cannot be restored, so that the temporary print condition specified by the print job still remains in the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the temporary print condition of the interrupted print job may be applied to another print job, resulting in a print result unintended by the user.

JP 2005-234910 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, when reception of data of an image formation request is interrupted, there is a possibility that image formation conditions according to the image formation request remain.

The present invention makes it possible to return to the immediately preceding image forming condition even when reception of the image forming request data is interrupted, so that the specified image forming condition is set for the image forming request based on the received data. An image forming processing unit that performs image formation by applying instead of the immediately preceding image forming condition, a condition holding unit that acquires and holds the immediately preceding image forming condition in response to the image forming request, and reception of the data is interrupted Held by the condition holding unit when the same image formation request is received again and when the same image formation request is not received again. a condition restoration unit for restoring the immediately preceding image forming condition, a data saving unit for saving the received data portion to the interrupted data, the interrupted data identical image And most main feature in that a saved data reading unit for receiving the data portion after the interruption by reading the saved data portion upon receiving a formed request.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to return to the image forming condition immediately before the image formation without completing the image formation with the interrupted data.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (first embodiment). FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of interrupted job management of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1 (first embodiment). 6 is a flowchart illustrating interrupted job management processing (first embodiment). FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of interrupted job management of an image forming apparatus (second embodiment). 12 is a flowchart illustrating interrupted job management processing (second embodiment). FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of interrupted job management of an image forming apparatus (third embodiment). 10 is a flowchart illustrating interrupted job management processing (third embodiment). A part of flowchart concerning a modification is shown (examples 1-3).

  The purpose of enabling to return to the previous image forming condition for the image forming request even when reception of the image forming request data is interrupted is to acquire and hold the previous image forming condition according to the image forming request. This is realized by restoring the previous image forming condition held when the same image forming request as the image forming request data whose reception has been interrupted is not received again.

[Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a digital multi-function peripheral, and has at least a print function and an interrupted job management function.

  The print function is a function for receiving a print job via the network 3 such as a LAN and performing printing based on the received print job. Note that the print job is data for making a print request as an image formation request (hereinafter, the print job may be described synonymously with the print request or may be described as data). The interrupted job management function is a function for performing job management when reception of a print job in the image forming apparatus 1 is interrupted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a panel operation unit 5, a document reading unit 7, an input / output unit 9, a printing unit 11, an interrupted job management unit 13, a control unit 15, a storage unit 17, and the like. ing.

  The panel operation unit 5 includes a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like, and performs operation inputs such as print execution and print condition setting for the image forming apparatus 1 and displays the operation status thereof.

  The document reading unit 7 is configured by a scanner, reads a document image in response to an instruction input from the panel operation unit 5, and outputs corresponding image data.

  The input / output unit 9 is an interface that transmits / receives data to / from an external terminal such as a user terminal (hereinafter also referred to as a user terminal) via the network 3 using a predetermined protocol.

  The printing unit 11 includes, for example, a controller having an engine such as a printing mechanism, a processor, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing an operation program for the processor. The printing unit 11 develops image data from the document reading unit 7 or image data of a print job from an external terminal into image data, and actually forms an image on a sheet.

  The suspended job management unit 13 is a controller having a processor and a ROM that stores an operation program for the processor, and has a suspended job management function when the reception of the print job is suspended. The interruption of the reception of the print job occurs due to a communication error, for example, a communication interruption at the time of data reception in the image forming apparatus 1 or a power interruption of the data transmission side user terminal.

  The control unit 15 has a main control function for controlling each of the above-described units, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that is a main part of the control calculation function and a ROM that stores an operation program of the CPU.

  The storage unit 17 is an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of interrupted job management of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the suspended job management unit 13 implements a suspended job management function in cooperation with the printing unit 11. Specifically, the printing unit 11 functions as a print processing unit 21 that is an image formation processing unit by executing a program, and the interrupted job management unit 13 performs condition saving unit 23, communication error monitoring unit 25, data saving by executing the program. Functions as a unit 27, a request determination unit 29, a condition return unit 31, and a saved data reading unit 33.

  The print processing unit 21 realizes an image formation processing function, and performs printing based on the received print job. Specifically, the received print job is analyzed, and image data expansion and print execution instructions are performed based on the analysis result.

  In this embodiment, if a print condition is specified in the print job, the print condition is applied instead of the immediately preceding print condition set in the image forming apparatus 1 to perform printing. If the print condition is not specified in the print job or if the previous print condition is specified, printing is performed by applying the previous print condition.

  The printing conditions are various settings for obtaining a desired printing result, such as color setting and paper size. The printing conditions specified in the print job include those that are temporarily applied and returned to the previous printing conditions after completion of printing, and those that change the printing conditions immediately before the image forming apparatus 1.

  The immediately preceding printing conditions are printing conditions set for the image forming apparatus 1 before the execution of the print job, and are held in the storage unit 17, for example.

  The condition holding unit 23 implements a condition holding function, and acquires and holds the previous print condition according to the received print job. For example, the print condition immediately before is acquired and held when reception of the print job is started. However, there is no particular limitation, and it is only necessary that the printing conditions immediately before applying the printing conditions specified in the print job can be held. This printing condition can be held by the storage unit 17, for example.

  The communication error monitoring unit 25 implements a communication error monitoring function, and monitors the input / output unit 9 for a communication error for receiving a print job. Through this monitoring, the communication error monitoring unit 25 determines whether the reception of the print job data is interrupted when a communication error occurs.

  The data saving unit 27 implements a data saving function, and saves a received data portion before interruption for a print job in which data reception is interrupted. The received data portion can be saved in the storage unit 17, for example.

  The request determination unit 29 realizes a request determination function, and determines whether or not a print job having the same print request as the interrupted print job is received again when reception of the print job is interrupted. This determination can be made based on the job identification information. Note that re-reception of the same print request is performed after the communication state is restored after the reception of the print job is interrupted once due to a communication error.

  The job identification information is given when a print job is generated at the user terminal. When the same print request is made again, a print job to which the same job identification information is assigned may be generated at the user terminal.

  The condition return unit 31 realizes a condition return function, and returns to the previous print condition held by the condition holding unit 23 when the same print request as the interrupted print job is not received again. As the return, for example, the printing condition held as the existing printing condition in the storage unit 17 is overwritten by the printing condition immediately before being held.

  The saved data reading unit 33 realizes a saved data reading function, and when the same print request as that of the interrupted print job is received, the saved data reading unit 33 reads the saved data part and receives the interrupted data part.

Specifically, the read data portion is transferred to the print processing unit 21 to receive the interrupted data portion. In order to receive the interrupted data portion, the offset information of the unreceived data portion may be transmitted to the user terminal based on the previously saved data portion. Accordingly, the user terminal can transmit the same print request including the interrupted data portion according to the received offset information, and the image forming apparatus 1 can receive only the interrupted data portion. .
[Suspended job management processing]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the interrupted job management process.

  The interrupted job management process of this embodiment starts when the image forming apparatus 1 starts receiving a print job. In this embodiment, a case where printing conditions are specified in a print job will be described as an example.

  First, in step S1, “hold the previous printing condition” is performed. That is, the condition holding unit 23 holds the previous printing condition at the time when the reception of the print job is started.

  When step S1 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, the process “communication error occurred?” Is performed. In this process, the communication error monitoring unit 25 determines whether or not there is a communication error with respect to the input / output unit 9.

  If there is a communication error such as communication interruption, the process proceeds to step S3 (YES), and if there is no communication error, the process proceeds to step S6 (NO).

  In step S3, a process of “Is there an interrupted job?” Is performed. In this process, the communication error monitoring unit 25 determines whether the reception of print job data is interrupted when a communication error occurs.

  If there is an interrupted print job, the process proceeds to step S4 (YES). On the other hand, if there is no interrupted print job, all data is received and printing is performed as usual, and the interrupted job management process ends (NO).

  In step S4, “saving of the received data portion” is performed. That is, the data saving unit 27 saves the received data portion for the interrupted print job in the saving area of the storage unit 17.

  Thereby, step S4 is completed and it transfers to step S5.

  In step S5, a “reprint request?” Process is performed. In this process, the request determination unit 29 determines whether the same print request as that of the interrupted print job has been received again. This processing is performed, for example, whether a print job of another print request is received after the print job is interrupted, whether the same print request is received again within a predetermined time, or the same print request from the user terminal. It can be performed depending on whether or not there is an instruction not to perform.

  If the same print request as the interrupted print job is received again, the process proceeds to step S6 (YES), and if not received again, the process proceeds to step S8 (NO).

  In step S6, “reception of all data” is performed. In this process, when the process proceeds from step S5, the data portion saved by the save data reading unit 33 is read from the save area of the storage unit 17 and transferred to the print processing unit 21. Thereby, the print processing unit 21 can acquire all data of the interrupted print job by receiving the received data portion and the subsequent data portion.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step S2, since no communication error has occurred, the print processing unit 21 acquires all data of the print job as usual.

  When step S6 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, “print execution” is performed. In this process, the printing processing unit 21 performs printing under the designated printing conditions based on the print job received. As a result, the interrupted job management process ends.

  In step S8, “return of previous printing conditions” is performed. In this process, the condition return unit 31 does not receive the same print request as that of the interrupted print job again, and thus returns to the previous print condition held.

  As a result, it is possible to return to the previous printing condition for the print job without completing printing based on the interrupted print job.

When step S8 is completed in this way, the interrupted job management process ends.
[Effect of Example 1]
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a print processing unit 21 that performs printing by applying a specified print condition instead of the immediately preceding print condition to a print request based on the received print job, and the print request. Accordingly, a condition holding unit 23 that acquires and holds the immediately preceding print condition, and a request determination unit 29 that determines whether the same print request as the interrupted print job is received again when reception of the print job is interrupted. When the same print request as that of the interrupted print job is not received, a condition return unit 31 is provided for returning to the previous print condition held by the condition holding unit 23.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, even when reception of a print job is interrupted, it is not necessary to complete printing by the interrupted print job, and it is possible to reliably return to the previous printing condition.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the immediately preceding printing condition is changed according to the printing condition specified in the interrupted print job, and the changed printing condition is prevented from remaining in the image forming apparatus 1 as the existing printing condition. .

  As a result, even if another print job is received without being retried after the print job is interrupted, the user can obtain the intended print result by returning to the previous print conditions for the interrupted print job. Is possible.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment saves the data saving unit 27 that saves the received data portion for the interrupted print job, and saves it when the same print request as the interrupted print job is received again. And a saved data reading unit 33 for reading the data portion and receiving the interrupted data portion.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the interrupted print job is completed, it is not necessary to restart the print job from the beginning, and the interrupted print job recovery process can be performed efficiently.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus. Since the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the corresponding configurations, or redundant descriptions are omitted using the same reference numerals.

  In this embodiment, the suspended job management unit 13A further functions as a request holding unit 35 and a re-request receiving unit 37, and performs suspended job management when another print job is received after a print job is suspended.

  The request holding unit 35 realizes a request holding function, and holds a print request based on a print job received after the interruption when the interrupted print job and a print job received thereafter are different.

  The re-request accepting unit 37 realizes a re-request accepting function and re-accepts the same print request as that of the suspended print job while being held by the request holding unit 35. Specifically, the interruption of the print job is notified to the transmission source user terminal, and the presence / absence of re-request of the print job interrupted at the user terminal is input. The notification to the transmission source user terminal preferably includes offset information of the unreceived data part.

  It should be noted that the condition return unit 31A of the present embodiment returns to the previous print condition when the same print request as that of the interrupted print job is not made again.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the interrupted job management process, which is basically for a print job different from the interrupted print job as in the first embodiment.

  The interrupted job management process according to the present embodiment starts when the image forming apparatus 1A starts receiving a print job.

  In step S21, “Is there an interrupted job?” Is performed. In other words, the request holding unit 35 determines whether there is a print job that has already been interrupted when the print job is received. This determination may be made based on the result in the communication error monitoring unit 25.

  When there is a suspended print job, the process proceeds to step S22 (YES), and when there is no suspended print job, the process proceeds to step S27 (NO).

  In step S22, "holding of received job" is performed. In this process, the print request based on the print job received by the request holding unit 35 is held, and the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, “accepting a reprint request” is performed. That is, the re-request receiving unit 37 notifies the transmission source user terminal of the interruption of the print job, and inputs the presence / absence of a re-print request for the print job that has been interrupted at the user terminal.

  When step S23 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S24, as in step S5 in FIG. 3, the process of “reprint request?” Is performed. That is, the request determination unit 29 determines whether the same print request as that of the interrupted print job has been received again. This determination can be made based on, for example, whether or not the same print request has been received again within a predetermined time, or whether or not the user terminal has instructed not to perform the same print request.

  When the same print request as that of the suspended print job is received again, the process proceeds to “interrupt job printing” in step S25, and the process giving priority to the suspended print job is performed. That is, printing is performed for the interrupted print job in the same manner as in steps S6 and S7 in FIG. 3 (YES).

  Note that the interrupted job management process for the interrupted print job is performed in the same manner as FIG. 3 of the first embodiment in parallel with the interrupted job management process of FIG. At this time, the interrupted job management process similar to that shown in FIG. 3 may proceed to steps S6 and S7 as described above after waiting for the process in step S24 instead of step S5.

  On the other hand, if the same print request as that of the interrupted print job is not received again, the process proceeds to step S26 (NO).

  In step S26, as in step S8 in FIG. 3, "return of the previous printing condition" is performed. In this process, the condition return unit 31 returns to the print condition immediately before the print request for the interrupted print job.

  When step S26 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, “hold job printing” is performed. In this process, when the process proceeds from step S26, the print processing unit 21 issues a print execution instruction to the held print job in response to the return to the previous print condition. In this way, by returning to the printing conditions immediately before the print request by the interrupted print job, it becomes possible to obtain the print result intended by the user for the held print job.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step S21, the print job received as usual is printed.

  When printing for the received print job is completed, the interrupted job management process ends.

  In the image forming apparatus 1A of the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent another print job from being executed unintentionally after the print job is interrupted. As a result, a print result intended by the user can be obtained more reliably for an interrupted print job as well as another print job.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus. Since the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, redundant description is omitted by using the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals with B added to the corresponding configurations.

  In this embodiment, the interrupted job management unit 13B further functions as a print number acquisition unit 39 as an image formation number acquisition unit, and performs interrupted job management for a print job of a plurality of pages.

  The print number acquisition unit 39 realizes an image formation number acquisition function, and acquires the number of pages output by halfway printing in response to interruption of reception of a print job in response to a print request for a plurality of pages. As this acquisition, the number of sheets actually printed out from the printing unit 11 is acquired.

  Based on the number of pages obtained in this way, the print processing unit 21B performs printing. That is, the print processing unit 21B performs printing for all the data of the interrupted print job based on the acquisition of the saved data portion and the reception of the interrupted data portion for the number of acquired pages and beyond.

  Specifically, in the analysis of the print job, even if the print processing unit 21B analyzes up to the acquired number of pages, the print processing is not performed and is discarded. Subsequent pages are analyzed as usual and processed for printing.

  In addition, the print processing unit 21B causes all pages to be printed for the print job when the acquired number of pages is less than a threshold value set for the planned number of prints, for example, 10%. Note that the threshold for the scheduled number of prints can be arbitrarily set according to the use environment of the image forming apparatus 1B, and can be set in consideration of, for example, the printing time and the amount of paper used.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the interrupted job management process. The flowchart in FIG. 7 is basically the same as the flowchart in FIG. 3, and is different in that steps S31 to S33 are added.

  The interrupted job management process according to the present embodiment starts when the image forming apparatus 1A starts receiving a print job.

  First, in step S 1, “holding the previous printing condition” is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, and the previous printing condition is held when reception of the print job is started.

  When step S1 is thus completed, the process proceeds to step S31 in this embodiment.

  In step S31, “acquisition of actual printing number” is performed. Printing for a print job is sequentially performed in response to reception, and the actual number of printed sheets is acquired by the number-of-printed-sheet acquiring unit 39. The actual number of prints is incremented each time printing is performed in the printing unit 11 and is passed to the print number acquisition unit 39.

  When step S31 is completed in this way, processing is sequentially performed from step S2 to step S6 as in FIG.

  When “reception of all data” is performed in step S6, the print processing unit 21B acquires all data of the interrupted print job and completes reception by receiving the received data part and the interrupted data part. Can do.

  When step S6 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, a process of “the number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than a threshold?” Is performed. In this process, the print processing unit 21B compares the scheduled print number of the print job that has been received with the actual print number acquired in step S31, and determines whether or not the actual print number is equal to or greater than a threshold with respect to the planned print number. Judging.

  If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S33 (YES), and if the threshold value is not reached, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S33, "reading out of data up to the actual number of printed sheets" is performed. That is, the print processing unit 21B reads and discards the print request based on the print job that has been received without performing the process for printing even if the analysis is performed until the acquired number of actual stamps is reached.

  Thereby, step S33 is completed and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, “print execution” is performed. In the present embodiment, when the process proceeds from step S33, the print processing unit 21B prints only the page data after discarding.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step S32, the print processing unit 21B performs normal printing on all pages of the print job that has been received.

  When printing is completed in this way, the interrupted job management process of this embodiment is completed.

  In this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as the first embodiment, printing can be started after the printed page until a communication error occurs, and wasteful processing and printing can be performed. Output can be prevented.

  Further, in this embodiment, when pages printed before a communication error occurs do not satisfy the threshold set for the scheduled number of prints, all pages for the print job can be printed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, flexible printing can be performed in consideration of the balance between useless processing and print output according to the use environment of the image forming apparatus 1B.
[Others]
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, A various change is possible.

  In the first to third embodiments, when there is an interrupted print job and there is no reprint request, a process for always returning to the previous print condition is performed (step S8 or S26). Instead, it may be restored to the previous print condition only when the print condition is changed by the interrupted print job.

  FIG. 8 shows a part of a flowchart according to the modified example of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the modification, step S41 is added after step S5 of FIGS. 3 and 7 or step S24 of FIG.

  In step S41, a process of “change in printing conditions?” Is performed. In this process, the condition return unit 31 determines whether or not the previous print condition has been changed by the interrupted print job. This determination can be made, for example, based on whether or not a change flag is held in the storage unit 17.

  When the printing condition is changed, the process proceeds to step S8 in the first and third embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and the process proceeds to step S26 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 (YES).

  On the other hand, if there is no change in the printing conditions, the interrupted job management process ends in any of the embodiments of FIGS. 3, 5, and 7 (NO).

  Thereby, it is possible to return to the previous printing condition only when the previous printing condition is actually changed.

  When a communication error occurs, the print condition may not be changed due to the interrupted print job (received data). In this modification, it is necessary to perform a useless print condition return process in such a case. Disappears.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 13 Interruption job management part 21 Print processing part (image formation processing part)
23 Condition holding unit 27 Data saving unit 29 Request determining unit 31 Condition returning unit 33 Saved data reading unit 35 Request holding unit 37 Re-request receiving unit 39 Print number acquisition unit (image formation number acquisition unit)

Claims (4)

In response to an image formation request based on received data, an image formation processing unit that performs image formation by applying specified image formation conditions instead of the previous image formation conditions;
A condition holding unit that acquires and holds the immediately preceding image forming condition in response to the image forming request;
A request determination unit that determines whether the same image formation request as the interrupted data is received again when reception of the data is interrupted;
A condition return unit for returning the previous image forming condition held by the condition holding unit when not receiving the same image formation request again;
A data saving unit for saving a received data portion with respect to the interrupted data;
A saved data reading unit that reads the saved data portion and receives the suspended data portion when the same image formation request as the suspended data is received;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A request holding unit for holding an image forming request based on the data after the interruption when the data received after the interruption is an image forming request different from the interrupted data;
A re-request receiving unit that receives again the same image formation request as the suspended data during the holding,
The condition return unit returns the previous image forming condition when there is no request for the image formation again.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
An image formation number acquisition unit that acquires the number of pages output by intermediate image formation accompanying interruption of reception of the data in response to an image formation request for a plurality of pages;
The image formation processing unit performs image formation for the number of acquired pages and thereafter in response to an image formation request based on data that has been received in the saved data portion and the interrupted data portion.
An image forming apparatus. In response to an image formation request based on received data, an image formation processing function that performs image formation by applying specified image formation conditions instead of the previous image formation conditions;
A condition holding function for acquiring and holding the immediately preceding image forming condition in response to the image forming request;
A request determination function for determining whether the same image formation request as the interrupted data is received again when reception of the data is interrupted;
A condition return function for returning the previous image forming condition held by the condition holding unit when the same image forming request is not received again;
A data saving function for saving a received data portion with respect to the interrupted data;
A saved data read function for reading the saved data portion and receiving the interrupted data portion when receiving the same image formation request as the suspended data;
An image forming program for causing a computer to realize the above.

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