JP6900770B2 - Printing systems, print controls and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a print control device that controls a print output by a print output device such as an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral), and a technique related thereto.

There is a distributed printing processing technology in which print jobs are shared by a plurality of print output devices and executed in parallel. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a collection route connecting a plurality of print output devices and a job division device for determining job distribution to each print output device in consideration of a destination in which the print output material (printed matter) is used. ing. More specifically, it is described that the user collects the print output by each of the plurality of print output devices arranged along the route from the current location to the destination and moves to the destination along the route. Has been done. Of the large number of print output devices in the printing system, the plurality of print output devices that are actually used are designated by the user.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-235446

However, in the above-mentioned technique of Patent Document 1, although the destination is taken into consideration, the arrival time at the destination is not taken into consideration. Further, how many print output devices (and which print output device) to use is left to the user's designated operation.

Therefore, in the present technology, in the distributed processing by the print output device (designated device) designated by the user, all the print output processes are not completed by the desired time (or a certain time before the desired time), and the desired time is reached. There is also the possibility that you will not be able to reach your destination by the time you reach your destination.

On the contrary, there is a possibility that print output is distributed in a large number of print output devices even though there is still a margin by the desired time. As the number of print output devices that share the distributed processing increases, the number of distributed print outputs increases, so that the user work of integrating the plurality of print outputs by the plurality of print output devices becomes complicated. Exists.

Therefore, the present invention provides a technique that enables a user to arrive at a destination more reliably by a desired time in a distributed printing processing technique in which a print job is shared by a plurality of print output devices and executed in parallel. The task is to do.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is a print control device that controls print jobs distributed and processed by two or more target devices among a plurality of print output devices, from the starting point. For the print job in which the user moving to the destination receives the print output by the two or more target devices, the acquisition means for acquiring the information regarding the target time of the user to reach the destination, and the printing. The two or more target devices for dividing and executing a plurality of divided jobs in which a job is divided are provided with a determination means for determining from the plurality of print output devices, and the determination means is the two or more. The user can reach the destination by the arrival target time based on the route length of the route from the departure point to the destination via the device to be used and the planned movement speed of the user. It is characterized in that the above-mentioned two or more target devices to be used are determined on condition that it is determined that the above is true.

The invention of claim 2 is the print control device according to the invention of claim 1, wherein the determination means is each remaining time, which is the remaining time during which print output processing can be performed by each use candidate device, and each use candidate. Each remaining time defined on the premise that the user who received the print output by the device can arrive at the destination by the arrival target time is obtained based on the planned movement speed of the user, and the print job is divided. Among the plurality of divided jobs, there is a divided job that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of N use candidate devices (where N is a natural number) is used, and the N use candidate devices are further different. When it is determined that all of the plurality of divided jobs can be processed by using each remaining time of the (N + 1) candidate devices to be used, the (N + 1) candidate devices to be used are used. It is characterized in that it is determined as two or more devices to be used.

The invention of claim 3 is based on the print control device according to the invention of claim 2, wherein the determination means is based on each route length from the starting point to the position of each candidate device for use and the planned movement speed of the user. Each scheduled arrival time to the position of each use candidate device of the user is calculated, and each remaining time in each use candidate device is calculated based on each scheduled arrival time to the position of each use candidate device. It is characterized by that.

The invention of claim 4 is the print control device according to the invention of claim 2, wherein the determination means includes the target time of arrival at the destination, each route length from each candidate device for use to the destination, and the above. Based on the user's scheduled movement speed, each latest passage time, which is the latest passage time at each point for reaching the destination by the arrival target time, is calculated, and the position of each use candidate device is calculated. It is characterized in that each remaining time in each use candidate device is calculated based on each of the latest passage times in.

The invention of claim 5 is the print control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the determination means is in order from the device closest to the destination among the plurality of candidate devices for use on the route. It is characterized by allocating split jobs.

The invention of claim 6 is the print control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the determination means is in order from the device closest to the starting point among the plurality of candidate devices for use on the route. It is characterized by allocating split jobs.

The invention of claim 7 further includes a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user in the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the determination means is the plurality of. Among the divided jobs, the protected divided job, which is a divided job subject to security protection, is within a predetermined range from the specific print output device for the specific print output device that prints out the protected divided job. It is characterized in that a conditional print command including the fact that print output should be started in the presence of the user is given.

The invention of claim 8 further includes a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user in the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the determination means is two or more. If there is an unstarted allocated split job in the specific use target device at the time of the user's arrival at the specific use target device among the use target devices of, the allocation of the unstarted allocated split job It is characterized in that the destination is changed to another use target device arranged on the destination side of the specific use target device.

The invention of claim 9 further includes a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user in the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the determination means is the above two or more. Elapsed time during which the user's arrival at a specific target device among the target devices can execute one or more split jobs in addition to the split job allocated by the specific target device. When it is determined that the delay is likely to occur after the time when the operation is performed, the unprocessed division job assigned to the other target device arranged on the destination side of the specific target device is specified. It is characterized in that it is assigned to the device to be used.

The invention of claim 10 is a print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the determination means cannot print on a specific device to be used among the two or more devices to be used. When the above occurs, the division job that has not been processed by the specific use target device at the time of the occurrence of the unprintable event is assigned to the use target device other than the specific use target device.

The invention of claim 11 is the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs with serial numbers, and the determining means is A series of continuous division jobs are performed in ascending and descending order of the numbers of the kth use target device in which the user reaches the kth (k is a predetermined natural number) among the two or more use target devices. The order of one of the above is assigned so as to be the processing execution order, and the user continuously reaches the (k + 1) th (k + 1) th use target device among the two or more use target devices. The other series of divided jobs to be used is assigned so that the order of the ascending order and the descending order of the numbers, which is the reverse of the one order, is the processing execution order, and the order is assigned to the k-th use target device. Each use so that the number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order and the number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the device to be used (k + 1) are continuous. It is characterized in that a split job is assigned to the target device.

The invention of claim 12 is the print output product recovered from the i-th (i is a natural number) target device and the (i + 1) th-th in the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. It is characterized by comprising a notification control means for controlling a notification operation for notifying the user of explanatory information regarding integration with a print output material collected from a device to be used.

The invention of claim 13 is the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user and the actual position of the user based on the current position of the user. Notification control for determining the movement progress status of the user and notifying the user of information based on the movement progress status of the user when the actual movement progress status of the user deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status. It is characterized by further providing means.

The invention of claim 14 is the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the determination means has the plurality of print jobs even if the print jobs are distributed by the plurality of print output devices. When it is determined by the allocation process for the plurality of divided jobs that the user cannot reach the destination by the arrival target time after collecting the print output by the print output device, the print job The print setting is automatically changed to shorten the processing time of the print job, and then the reassignment process related to the plurality of split jobs is executed.

The invention of claim 15 is the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the print control device is a server computer.

The invention of claim 16 is the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the print control device is an image forming device.

The invention of claim 17 is described in a computer for controlling a print job distributed and processed by two or more target devices among a plurality of print output devices, a) a user moving from a departure point to a destination. Regarding the print job that receives the print output by the two or more target devices, the step of acquiring information on the target time of the user to reach the destination, and b) a plurality of divided jobs that divide the print job. This is a program for executing the step of determining the two or more target devices to be used, which are shared and executed, from the plurality of print output devices, and in the step b), the two or more devices are described. The user can reach the destination by the arrival target time based on the route length of the route from the departure point to the destination via the device to be used and the planned movement speed of the user. It is characterized in that the two or more target devices to be used are determined on condition that it is determined that the above is true.

The invention of claim 18 is the program according to the invention of claim 17, wherein step b) is b-1) each remaining time which is the remaining time during which print output processing can be performed by each candidate device for use. A step of obtaining each remaining time defined on the premise that the user who has received the print output by each use candidate device can arrive at the destination by the arrival target time, based on the planned movement speed of the user. b-2) Of the plurality of divided jobs in which the print job is divided, there is a divided job that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of N use candidate devices (where N is a natural number) is used, and the N is When it is determined that all of the plurality of divided jobs can be processed by using each remaining time of the (N + 1) use candidate devices obtained by adding another use candidate device to the use candidate devices, the (N + 1) It is characterized by including a step of determining N + 1) candidate devices for use as the two or more target devices to be used.

The invention of claim 19 is the program according to the invention of claim 17 or 18. C) Of the plurality of division jobs, the protection division job, which is a division job subject to security protection, is the protection division job. A step of giving a conditional print command including the fact that the print output should be started with the user present within a predetermined range from the specific print output device to the specific print output device. Is further executed by the computer.

The invention of claim 20 is in the program according to the invention of claim 17 or 18, d) the specific use at the time of the user's arrival at the specific use target device among the two or more use target devices. If there is an assigned split job that has not been started in the target device, the allocation destination of the allocated split job that has not been started is another use target device that is arranged on the destination side of the specific use target device. It is characterized in that the computer further executes the step of changing to.

The invention of claim 21 is the program according to the invention of claim 17 or 18. E) The user's arrival at a specific use target device among the two or more use target devices is the specific use. When it is determined that the split job assigned by the target device is likely to be delayed until after the time when one or more split jobs can be executed elapses, the device is more than the specific target device to be used. It is characterized in that the computer further executes a step of assigning an unprocessed division job assigned to another use target device arranged on the destination side to the specific use target device.

According to the invention of claim 22, in the program according to the invention of claim 17 or 18, f) when a non-printable event occurs in a specific target device among the two or more target devices, the print is impossible. It is characterized in that the computer further executes a step of assigning an unprocessed division job in the specific use target device to a use target device other than the specific use target device at the time of occurrence of an event.

The invention of claim 23 is the program according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs with serial numbers, and in step b). A series of continuous division jobs are performed in ascending and descending order of the numbers of the kth use target device in which the user reaches the kth (k is a predetermined natural number) among the two or more use target devices. The order of one of the above is assigned so as to be the processing execution order, and among the two or more target devices to be used, the user reaches the (k + 1) th (k + 1) th (k + 1) target device to be used. A series of other continuous division jobs are assigned so that the order of the ascending order and the descending order of the numbers, which is the reverse of the one order, is the processing execution order, and the k-th use target device is assigned. The number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order and the number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the device to be used (k + 1) are consecutive. A feature is that a split job is assigned to each device to be used.
The invention of claim 24 is the printed output collected from the device to be used up to the g) i-th (i is a natural number) and the (i + 1) th-th in the program according to any of the inventions of claims 17 to 23. It is characterized in that the computer further executes a step of notifying the user of explanatory information regarding integration with the printed output collected from the device to be used.
The invention of claim 25, in the program according to the invention of claim 17 or 18, determines h) the actual movement progress of the user based on the current position of the user, and the actual movement progress of the user. Is characterized in that the computer further executes a step of notifying the user of information based on the movement progress status of the user when is deviated from the reference progress status by a predetermined degree.

The invention of claim 26 is the program according to the invention of claim 17 or 18 , even if the print job is distributed processed by the plurality of print output devices in the step b), the plurality of print output devices. When it is determined by the allocation process for the plurality of divided jobs that the user cannot reach the destination by the arrival target time after collecting the print output by the above, the print setting for the print job Is automatically changed to shorten the processing time of the print job, and then the reassignment process for the plurality of split jobs is executed.

The invention of claim 27 is a print system, which is a print control device that controls a print job distributed and processed by a plurality of print output devices and two or more target devices among the plurality of print output devices. The print control device includes, and the print control device of the user to the destination with respect to the print job in which the user moving from the departure place to the destination receives the print output by the two or more target devices. A determination means for determining, from among the plurality of print output devices, an acquisition means for acquiring information on an arrival target time and the two or more target devices for which the print job is divided and the plurality of divided jobs are shared and executed. The determination means includes the above-mentioned arrival target time based on the route length of the route from the departure place to the destination via the two or more target devices and the planned movement speed of the user. It is characterized in that the two or more target devices to be used are determined on condition that it is determined that the user can reach the destination.
The invention of claim 28 is the printing system according to the invention of claim 27, wherein the determination means is each remaining time, which is the remaining time during which print output processing can be performed by each use candidate device, and each use candidate device. Each remaining time defined on the premise that the user who received the print output by the user can arrive at the destination by the arrival target time was obtained based on the planned movement speed of the user, and the print job was divided. Among the plurality of divided jobs, there is a divided job that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of N use candidate devices (where N is a natural number) is used, and the N use candidate devices are further used. When it is determined that all of the plurality of division jobs can be processed by using each remaining time of the (N + 1) candidate devices for use to which the candidate devices are added, the (N + 1) candidate devices for use are selected as the above 2 The device to be used is determined as described above.
The invention of claim 29 is the printing system according to the invention of claim 27 or 28, wherein the print control device further includes a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user, and the determination means is the determination means. Of a plurality of division jobs, the protection division job, which is a division job subject to security protection, has a predetermined range from the specific print output device for a specific print output device that prints out the protection division job. It is characterized in that a conditional print command including the fact that the print output should be started in the presence of the user is given.
The invention of claim 30 further comprises a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user in the printing system according to the invention of claim 27 or 28, wherein the determination means is the same. If there is an unstarted assigned division job in the specific use target device at the time when the user reaches the specific use target device among the two or more use target devices, the unstarted allocated division job is present. Is changed to another use target device arranged on the destination side of the specific use target device.
The invention of claim 31 further includes, in the printing system according to the invention of claim 27 or 28, a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user, and the determination means is the said. The time during which the user's arrival at a specific target device among two or more target devices can execute one or more split jobs in addition to the split job allocated by the specific target device. If it is determined that the delay is likely to occur after the lapse of time, the unprocessed split job assigned to the other target device located closer to the destination than the specific target device is assigned. It is characterized in that it is assigned to the specific device to be used.
The invention of claim 32 is the printing system according to any one of claims 27 to 31, in which the print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs with serial numbers, and the determination means is: A series of continuous division jobs are performed in ascending and descending order of the numbers of the kth use target device in which the user reaches the kth (k is a predetermined natural number) among the two or more use target devices. One of the two or more target devices is assigned so as to be the processing execution order, and is continuous with respect to the (k + 1) th (k + 1) target device to which the user reaches the (k + 1) th position among the two or more target devices. The other series of split jobs are assigned so that the order of the ascending order and the descending order of the numbers, which is the reverse of the one order, is the processing execution order, and the processing is performed on the k-th use target device. Each usage target is such that the number of the split job assigned to the end of the execution order and the number of the split job assigned to the end of the processing execution order for the (k + 1) th device to be used are continuous. It is characterized by assigning a split job to a device.
The invention of claim 33 is the printing system according to any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein the print control device is a print output collected from the device to be used up to the i-th (i is a natural number). (I + 1) A notification control means for controlling a notification operation for notifying the user of explanatory information regarding integration with the print output collected from the third device to be used is further provided.
The invention of claim 34 is the printing system according to the invention of claim 27 or 28, wherein the print control device uses the position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user and the user based on the current position of the user. When the actual movement progress status of the user is determined and the actual movement progress status of the user deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status, the user is notified of information based on the movement progress status of the user. It is characterized by further including a notification control means.
The invention of claim 35 is the printing system according to the invention of claim 27 or 28, wherein the determination means is based on the plurality of print output devices even if the print job is distributed processed by the plurality of print output devices. When it is determined by the allocation process for the plurality of divided jobs that the user cannot reach the destination by the arrival target time after collecting the print output, the print setting for the print job is set. The print job is automatically changed to shorten the processing time of the print job, and then the reassignment process for the plurality of divided jobs is executed.

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 35 , in a distributed printing processing technique in which a print job is shared by a plurality of print output devices and executed in parallel, the user can more reliably reach the destination by a desired time. It is possible to arrive.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to determine a relatively small number of devices as the devices to be used.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the printing system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the MFP (print output device). The configuration of the print control device will be described. It is a figure which shows the appearance that a plurality of MFPs are arranged. It is a figure which shows the operation of a server (print control device). It is a figure which shows the 1st scheduling operation. It is a figure which shows the 2nd scheduling operation. It is a figure which shows the 3rd scheduling operation. It is a figure which shows the 4th scheduling operation. It is a figure which shows the allocation example of a split job. It is a figure which shows the other allocation example. It is a figure which shows another allocation example (the allocation example by the 2nd scheduling operation). It is a figure which shows the example of aiming at the load leveling in the allocation example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the allocation example by the 3rd scheduling operation. It is a figure which shows the allocation example by the 4th scheduling operation. It is a figure which shows the structure of the printing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (rescheduling operation) of the print control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation change of the division job which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state that the division job is assigned to the last use target device (MPF) in descending order. It is a figure which shows the allocation change example of the division job which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the print output thing in each MFP in the allocation example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the explanatory screen about the integration of the print output. It is a figure which shows another example about the execution order of a split job. It is a figure which shows the display screen of a mobile terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (rescheduling operation) of the print control apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation change of the division job which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other allocation change example of the division job which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows another allocation change example of the division job which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation change of the division job which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation change of the division job which concerns on 5th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1. System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a printing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes a plurality of printers (also referred to as print output devices) 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, ...) And a server computer (also referred to as a print output device) that controls the plurality of printers (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, ...). It includes 50 (also referred to as a print control device) and a client computer 70.

Each printer (print output device) 10, a server computer (print control device) 50, and a client computer 70 are connected to each other via a network 108. The network 108 is composed of a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, and the like. Further, the connection mode to the network 108 may be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

<1-2. Printer configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional block of the print output device (printer) 10. Here, as the print output device 10, an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) is illustrated. In FIG. 2, the functional block of the MFP 10 is shown. The MFP 10 is also referred to as an image forming apparatus or the like.

The MFP 10 is a device (also referred to as a multifunction device) having a scanning function, a copying function, a facsimile function, a box storage function, and the like. Specifically, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 2, the MFP 10 includes an image reading unit 2, a print output unit 3, a communication unit 4, a storage unit 5, an operation unit 6, a controller 9, and the like. Various functions are realized by operating each part of the above in a complex manner.

The image scanning unit 2 is a processing unit that optically scans (that is, scans) a document placed at a predetermined position of the MFP 10 to generate image data of the document (also referred to as a scanned image without a document image). Is. The image reading unit 2 is also referred to as a scanning unit.

The print output unit 3 is an output unit that prints and outputs an image on various media such as paper based on data related to a print target. The printer 10 is an electrophotographic printer (full-color printer), and the print output unit 3 has various hardware mechanisms such as an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit.

The communication unit 4 is a processing unit capable of performing facsimile communication via a public line or the like. Further, the communication unit 4 can also perform network communication via the network 108. In this network communication, for example, various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) are used. By using the network communication, the MFP 10 can exchange various data with and from a desired destination (for example, the print control device 50). The communication unit 4 has a transmission unit 4a for transmitting various data and a reception unit 4b for receiving various data.

The storage unit 5 is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

The operation unit 6 includes an operation input unit 6a that receives an operation input to the MFP 10 and a display unit 6b that displays and outputs various information. The MFP 10 is provided with a substantially plate-shaped operation panel portion 6c (see FIG. 1), and the operation panel portion 6c has a touch panel 25 (see FIG. 1) on the front side thereof. The touch panel 25 is configured by embedding a piezoelectric sensor or the like in a liquid crystal display panel, and is capable of displaying various information and receiving operation input from an operator. For example, on the touch panel 25, various screens (including button images and the like) such as a menu screen are displayed. The operator can change various setting contents of the MFP 10 by pressing a button (a button represented by a button image) virtually arranged in the touch panel 25. The touch panel 25 functions as a part of the operation input unit 6a and also as a part of the display unit 6b.

The controller (control unit) 9 is a control device that is built in the MFP 10 and controls the MFP 10 in an integrated manner. The controller 9 is configured as a computer system including a CPU and various semiconductor memories (RAM and ROM). The controller 9 realizes various processing units by executing a predetermined software program (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a program) stored in a ROM (for example, EEPROM (registered trademark)) in the CPU. The program (specifically, a program module group) may be recorded on a portable recording medium such as a USB memory, read from the recording medium, and installed in the MFP 10. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network or the like and installed in the MFP 10.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 9 executes various processing units including the communication control unit 11, the input control unit 12, the display control unit 13, and the print output control unit 15 by executing the program. Realize.

The communication control unit 11 is a processing unit that controls communication operations with other devices (print control device 50, etc.). For example, the communication control unit 11 cooperates with the communication unit 4 and the like to receive a print command and the like from the print control device 50.

The display control unit 13 is a processing unit that controls the display operation of the display unit 6b. The display control unit 13 causes the display unit 6b to display an operation screen or the like for operating the MFP 10.

The input control unit 12 is a control unit that controls an operation input operation with respect to the operation input unit 6a. For example, the input control unit 12 controls an operation of receiving an operation input to the operation screen.

The print output control unit 15 is a control unit that controls the print output operation in the MFP 10. The print output control unit 15 controls the print output operation in the MFP 10 in response to a command from the print control device 50, an operation instruction by the operator, and the like.

<1-3. Configuration of print control device 50>
Next, the configuration of the print control device 50 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional block of the print control device 50.

The print control device 50 is composed of an information processing device such as a so-called computer device. The print control device 50 is also referred to as a print server, a management server, or the like.

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the print control device 50 includes a communication unit 54, a storage unit 55, an operation unit 56, a controller 59, and the like. To realize the function of.

The communication unit 54 can perform network communication via the network 108. In this network communication, for example, various protocols such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) are used. By using the network communication, the print control device 50 can exchange various data with and from a desired destination (printer 10, etc.). The communication unit 54 has a transmission unit 54a for transmitting various data and a reception unit 54b for receiving various data.

The storage unit 55 is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

The operation unit 56 includes an operation input unit 56a that receives an operation input to the print control device 50, and a display unit 56b that displays and outputs various information.

The controller (control unit) 59 of FIG. 3 is a control device built in the print control device 50 and collectively controls the print control device 50. The controller 59 is configured as a computer system including a CPU and various semiconductor memories (RAM and ROM). The controller 59 realizes various processing units by executing a predetermined program (printer driver or the like) stored in the storage unit (semiconductor memory or the like) in the CPU. The program (specifically, a program module group) may be recorded on a portable recording medium (CD-ROM, USB memory, etc.), read from the recording medium, and installed in the print control device 50. .. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network or the like and installed in the print control device 50.

By executing the program, the controller 59 causes the communication control unit 61, the input control unit 62, the display control unit 63, the print control unit 64, the information acquisition unit 65, the determination unit 66, the position acquisition unit 67, and the notification control unit 68. Realize various processing units including.

The communication control unit 61 is a processing unit that controls the communication operation with the printer 10 and the like in cooperation with the communication unit 54 and the like. For example, the communication control unit 61 cooperates with the communication unit 54 and the like to control the operation of transmitting a print command to each printer 10.

The input control unit 62 is a control unit that controls an operation input operation with respect to the operation input unit 56a.

The display control unit 63 is a processing unit that controls the display operation of the display unit 56b and the like.

The print control unit 64 is a processing unit that controls the print output operation of the printer 10.

The information acquisition unit 65 is a processing unit that acquires various information related to the print job (including information regarding the target time of arrival of the user at the destination).

The determination unit 66 is a processing unit that determines a device to be used for sharing and executing a plurality of divided jobs in which a print job is divided. The determination unit 66 determines a device to be used capable of executing each division job by the arrival target time from among a plurality of print output devices in the print system 1.

The position acquisition unit 67 is a processing unit that acquires the current position of the user.

The notification control unit 68 is a processing unit that controls the notification operation to the user.

<1-4. Configuration of client computer 70>
The client computer 70 is composed of an information processing device such as a personal computer. The client computer 70 has the same physical configuration as the server computer 50, and includes a communication unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, a controller (including a CPU, a semiconductor memory, and the like) and the like.

The controller of the client 70 realizes various processing units by executing a predetermined program (printer driver or the like) in the CPU.

A printer driver is installed on the client computer (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a client) 70.

When the printer driver of the client 70 receives a print instruction (print job) from the user, the printer driver transmits the print instruction to the server (print control device) 50. The server 50 controls the print job based on the print instruction from the client 70. More specifically, the server 50 controls print jobs distributed by a plurality of MFPs.

<1-5. Operation outline>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how a plurality of MFPs 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, ...) Are scattered and arranged in a certain company or the like. The plurality of MFPs 10 may exist in the same company room in a certain company, or may exist in different company buildings (separate buildings) in a certain company.

The user U1 gives a print instruction at the start point (start position) Ps by using the printer driver of the client 70. The print instruction is transmitted from the client 70 to the server 50, and the server 50 controls the print job J1 based on the print instruction. Specifically, as will be described later, the server 50 determines the device to be used (actually) to be used for the print job J1 from the plurality of MFPs 10, and the content to be printed out by each device to be used. (Detailedly, among a plurality of divided jobs in which the print job is divided, the divided job in charge of each device to be used (also referred to as the divided job in charge)) is determined. Then, the server 50 gives an execution command for each division job (each division job in charge) to the MFP 10 determined as the device to be used.

On the way from the start point (also referred to as the movement start position or the departure point) Ps to the goal point (also referred to as the destination position or the destination) Pe, the user U1 determines some MFP10s (also referred to as the destination position or the destination) as the device to be used. For example, stop by three MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f). As described above, the server 50 assigns a division job execution command to these use target devices 10 (for example, three MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f) in response to the above-mentioned print instruction. Further, basically, the print output related to the division job in each MFP 10 is completed by the time the user U1 reaches each MFP 10. Each time the user U1 reaches the point (placement place) of each MFP 10, the user U1 collects the print output of each MFP 10 and finally reaches the destination Pe.

More specifically, it is assumed that a conference material having a large number of pages (for example, 1200 pages) is printed immediately before the conference. It is conceivable that the user U1 existing in his / her own seat (start position) wants to reach the conference room (destination) while obtaining a printed output within a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) before the start of the conference. Due to the limited print output speed of the MFP (eg, 30 pages / minute), a single MFP may not be able to complete the print job within the desired time period. On the other hand, by executing the print job in parallel (distributed) using a plurality of MFPs, the print job can be completed within a desired period.

<1-6. Operation>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of the server 50 (print control device). Hereinafter, the operation and the like of the server 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and the like.

When the user U1 existing at the start point Ps (user U1's own seat, etc.) gives a print instruction using the printer driver of the client 70, the print instruction is transferred from the client 70 to the server 50, and the server 50 transfers the print instruction. Is received (step S11).

In the print instruction, in addition to the normal print information (information of the requesting user U1, information of the file to be printed, print setting information, etc.), other designated information by the user (specifically, information of the requesting user U1). The position information of the current position (start point) Ps, the position information of the destination Pe, the information of the arrival target time, etc.) are included. For example, the position information of the start point Ps includes the position information (coordinate information and the like) of the user U1's own seat, and the position information of the destination Pe includes the position information (coordinate position and the like) of the conference room. Further, the information of the arrival target time Td includes "15:00" (30 minutes after the current time (14:30)) and the like. As the arrival target time Td, the travel time of the section from the start point Ps to the destination Pe (the time required to move the section at a normal travel speed) is added to the current time (start time). It is assumed that the time after the time point Tp (scheduled arrival time Tp (described later)) is set.

By receiving such a print instruction, the server 50 acquires various information including the arrival target time Td of the user U1 to the destination.

In the next step S12, the server 50 uses the MFP near the route connecting the start point (starting point) Ps and the goal point (destination) Pe based on the map information (see FIG. 4 and the like) in the server 50. To search. The map information includes the position information (coordinate position, etc.) of the mounting location of each MFP10 and the information (length, etc.) of each route connecting the plurality of MFPs 10 to each other.

For example, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of routes (routes) are extracted and created as routes connecting the start point Ps and the goal point Pe. More specifically, a route via the MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f (Ps, 10a, 10c, 10f, Pe), a route via the MFPs 10a, 10c, 10g (Ps, 10a, 10c, 10g, Pe), and Multiple routes including routes via MFPs 10b, 10c, 10g (Ps, 10b, 10c, 10g, Pe) and routes via MFPs 10b, 10c, 10f (Ps, 10b, 10c, 10f, Pe) are extracted. Will be done.

In step S13, one of these plurality of routes (routes) is determined as the route of interest (route of interest). For example, a route (Ps, 10a, 10c, 10f, Pe) as shown in FIG. 4 is determined as a route of interest.

In steps S14 to S19, allocation (also referred to as allocation) of a split job related to the attention route is attempted. As a result, for example, the division job as shown in FIG. 10 is assigned. FIG. 10 shows an allocation example when the print job J1 is divided into 12 division jobs G1 to G12. Specifically, first, two split jobs G1 and G2 are assigned to the remaining time TM1 (of the MFP10a at the position P1), and then four split jobs are assigned to the remaining time TM2 (of the MFP10c at the position P2). G3 to G6 are assigned, and finally, the remaining six split jobs G7 to G12 are assigned to the remaining time TM3 (of the MFP10f at position P3). Note that FIG. 10 shows a case where the target arrival time Td to the destination and the estimated arrival time Tp to the destination (described later) are equal to each other.

Here, each division job is assigned to an MFP capable of executing each division job by the arrival target time Td to reach the destination. More specifically, each split job is assigned to each MFP that can be executed within the remaining time TMi (described later) of each MFP. Here, the time at which the remaining time TMi of each MFP elapses from the start time (print job reception time) T0 of the print job J1 is the time before the target arrival time Td to the destination. Therefore, each division job can be executed by the arrival target time Td at the latest.

First, in step S14, the estimated arrival time to each MFP in the attention route is based on the reception time of the print job J1 (the start time of the print job J1) T0 and the scheduled movement speed of the user U1 (a predetermined value). Ti (see also FIG. 6) is calculated.

Next, in step S15, one of the plurality of MFPs constituting the route of interest is added to the “planned MFP”. For example, one of the three MFPs 10a, 10c, and 10f constituting the attention route is added to the "scheduled MFP".

In step S16, a split job is assigned to the MFP to be used. Therefore, first, the remaining time TMi is required. Each remaining time TMi of each MFP is the remaining time during which print output processing (related to the split job) can be performed by each MFP. Each remaining time TMi is a time defined on the premise that the user U1 who has received the print output by each MFP can arrive at the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td. Each remaining time TMi is calculated based on the planned movement speed (described below) of the user U1 and the like.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the time from the job start time T0 to each scheduled arrival time Ti to each MFP is defined as each remaining time TMi. Specifically, it is based on each route length from the departure point Ps to the mounting location Pi of each MFP (use candidate device) 10 and the planned movement speed of the user U1 (here, the normal movement speed (predetermined speed)). Therefore, each scheduled arrival time Ti of the user U1 to each of the MFPs is calculated, and each remaining time TMi in each of the MFPs is calculated based on each scheduled arrival time Ti of each MFP. The curve L1 in FIG. 6 is a curve showing how the user U1 moves from the starting point to the destination at a normal moving speed while reaching each time Ti with respect to each mounting place Pi.

Then, a split job that can be processed is assigned to the scheduled use MFP 10a within the remaining time TMi. For example, if it is determined that the MFP10a can execute up to two split jobs G1 and G2 (7 minutes in total) during the remaining time TM1 (for example, 8 minutes) (see FIG. 6), the MFP10a is split. Jobs G1 and G2 are assigned.

Here, it is assumed that the print job (print job of 1200 pages) J1 is divided into a plurality of divided jobs (for example, 12 divided jobs) G1 to G12 of 100 pages each. The split job G1 corresponds to the print output from the first page to the 100th page, and the split job G2 corresponds to the print output from the 101st page to the 200th page. Hereinafter, similarly, the split job Gi corresponds to the print output from the (100 * (i-1) +1) page to the (100 * i) page. In this way, the print job J1 is divided into a plurality of divided jobs (a plurality of divided jobs arranged in the page order) with serial numbers (in the order of the pages).

In step S17, it is determined whether or not all the divided jobs (G1 to G12) have been assigned. If the allocation is incomplete, the process proceeds to step S18. On the other hand, when the allocation of all the divided jobs (G1 to G12) is completed, the process proceeds from step S17 to step S19.

In step S18, it is determined whether or not an unused candidate device (MFP) still exists among the plurality of (for example, three) MFPs 10 constituting the route of interest.

If there are remaining split jobs (G1 to G12) that have not been allocated and there are no unused candidate devices (MFPs), it is determined that scheduling on the route of interest has failed, and steps S18 to step S18 are performed. Proceed to S21. In step S21, it is determined whether or not all the routes extracted in step S12 have been examined. If an unexamined route remains, the process proceeds to step S13, the next unexamined route is set as the route of interest, and the processes after step S14 are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that an unused candidate device (MFP) still exists, the process proceeds from step S18 to step S15 again.

Then, in step S15, a new MFP (for example, 10c) in the route of interest is added to the MFP to be used. Then, in step S16, if it is determined that the MFP 10c can execute up to four divided jobs G3 to G6 (14 minutes in total) during the remaining time TM2 (16 minutes) related to the MFP 10c, the MFP 10c is determined. Split jobs G3 to G6 are assigned. After that, if it is determined through steps S17 and S18 that an unused candidate device (MFP) still exists, the process returns to step S15 again.

Then, in step S15, a new MFP (for example, 10f) in the route of interest is added to the MFP to be used. Then, in step S16, when it is determined that the MFP10f can execute up to six divided jobs G7 to G12 (20 minutes in total) during the remaining time TM3 (24 minutes) related to the MFP10f, the MFP10c is determined. Split jobs G7 to G12 are assigned. Then, the process proceeds to step S17.

When all the division jobs (G1 to G12) have been assigned, the process proceeds from step S17 to step S19.

In step S19, the sufficiency of the condition C1 that the user U1 can reach the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td is determined. Specifically, the route length of the route from the departure point Ps to the destination Pe via two or more MFPs 10 (for example, three MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f) determined as the device to be used and the planned movement of the user. Based on the speed, it is determined whether or not the condition C1 is satisfied. Specifically, the estimated arrival time Tp (for example, 14:26) to reach the destination Pe is calculated based on the route length and the planned movement speed of the user. When the estimated arrival time Tp is before the arrival target time Td (when it is equal to the arrival target time Td or earlier than the arrival target time Td), it is determined that the scheduling was successful, and in step S20. move on.

When the process proceeds from step S19 to step S20, a print command for each divided job is transmitted to each device to be used (MFP10a, 10c, 10f). Specifically, the server 50 sends a print command to the MFP10a to print the split jobs G1 and G2, sends a print command to the MFP10c to print the split jobs G3 to G6, and sends the split jobs G7 to G7 to. A print command to the effect that G12 should be printed is transmitted to the MFP 10f. Based on such a print command, each MFP 10 executes a print output of the division job in charge.

After such scheduling and printing commands are performed by the server 50, the user U1 stops in sequence at the MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f, collects (receives) the print output by each of the MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f, and receives the print output. Head to your destination Pe. As a result, the user U1 can reach the destination by the arrival target time Td after collecting the print output material related to the print job.

As described above, in steps S14 to S18, a plurality of planned use MFPs (devices to be used) capable of executing each divided job by the arrival target time Td are determined. Then, based on the route length of the route from the departure point Ps to the destination Pe via the two or more determined MFPs 10 and the planned movement speed of the user U1, the user U1 arrives at the destination by the arrival target time Td. On the condition that it is determined that it is possible to reach (step S19), the device to be used for the distributed processing of the print job is determined. Therefore, in the distributed printing process in which the print job is shared by the plurality of print output devices 10 and executed in parallel, the user U1 receives and reaches all the print outputs related to the print job by the arrival target time Td. It is possible to arrive at the destination Pe more reliably by the target time Td.

Further, in the example of FIG. 10, among the plurality of divided jobs G1 to G12 in which the print job J1 is divided, N (where N is a natural number) (for example, N = 2) use candidate devices (two MFPs 10a, 10c) are used. There are split jobs (for example, split jobs G7 to G12) that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of) is used. Further, when the remaining times of the (N + 1) use candidate devices (three MFPs 10a, 10c, 10f) obtained by adding another use candidate device to the N use candidate devices are used, a plurality of division jobs G1 to It is possible to process all of G12. When such a determination is made in steps S17, S18, and the like, the (N + 1) (three) use candidate devices are determined as use target devices used for the distributed processing of the print job. In short, a relatively small number ((N + 1)) of candidate devices that can execute all the divided jobs G1 to G12 are two or more target devices (processing sharing) used in the distributed processing of the print job J1. Also referred to as a device). In other words, in the first scheduling operation (described later), the minimum number of candidate devices for use among the plurality of MFPs on the route of interest is determined as the device to be used.

In this way, since the distributed processing by the minimum number of MFPs 10 is scheduled, the number of print output devices that share the distributed processing can be suppressed. In other words, it is possible to determine a relatively small number of devices as the devices to be used. Therefore, since the number of distributed print outputs is suppressed, it is possible to suppress the complexity of the user work of integrating the plurality of print outputs individually printed and output by the plurality of print output devices.

Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the print output speeds of all the MFPs are the same, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the print output speeds of the respective MFPs may be different from each other. In that case, the print output speed of each MFP 10 may be reflected in the allocation process in step S16. For example, the relatively fast MFP 10 can execute a relatively large number of jobs.

Further, when another print job (such as a split job of another print job) is already assigned to each MFP (MFP to be used), in the process of step S16, each remaining time TMi is already said. It may be calculated by subtracting the time required to execute the assigned job (also referred to as the assigned job). For example, when the remaining time TM3 is calculated as "24 minutes" by the above calculation method, if another job requiring "5 minutes" is already assigned to the MFP 10f, the other job is used. "19 minutes", which is obtained by further subtracting the time required for execution ("5 minutes") from the remaining time TM3, may be calculated as the remaining time TM3 after the update.

<1-7. Scheduling operation>
<First scheduling operation>
In the above, as shown in FIG. 6, each route length from the departure point Ps to the mounting location Pi of each MFP (use candidate device) 10 and the planned movement speed of the user U1 (here, the normal movement speed (here, the normal movement speed (here, the normal movement speed (here)). Each scheduled arrival time Ti of the user U1 to each of the MFPs is calculated based on the predetermined speed)), and each remaining time TMi in each of the MFPs is calculated based on each scheduled arrival time Ti of each MFP. ing. The curve L1 in FIG. 6 is a curve showing how the user U1 moves from the starting point to the destination at a normal moving speed.

Specifically, the user U1 existing at the departure place Ps at the time T0 moves at a normal moving speed and reaches the mounting place P1 of the MFP 10a at the time T1. In this case, the remaining time TM1 in the MFP 10a is calculated as the length of the period from the time T0 to the time T1.

Similarly, the user U1 moves at a normal moving speed and reaches the mounting location P2 of the MFP 10c at time T2. In this case, the remaining time TM2 in the MFP 10c is calculated as the length of the period from the time T0 to the time T2.

Further, the user U1 moves at a normal moving speed and reaches the mounting location P3 of the MFP 10f at time T3. In this case, the remaining time TM3 in the MFP 10f is calculated as the length of the period from the time T0 to the time T3.

Then, a division job is assigned to each MFP so that the print output processing in each MFP is completed within the remaining time TMi.

According to this, the user U1 collects each print output by each MFP 10 while moving from the departure point Ps to the destination Pe at a normal speed, thereby obtaining all the print outputs related to the print job. It is possible.

Further, in the above, the division job G is assigned in order from the MFP closest to the start point Ps among the plurality of MFPs on the route from the start point Ps to the destination Pe. According to this, it is possible to suppress the concentration of the load on the device near the destination Pe. In particular, when a specific place such as a conference room is often selected as the destination Pe, it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated on the MFP in the vicinity of the specific place.

However, the scheduling operation is not limited to the scheduling operation as described above (also referred to as the first scheduling operation). For example, the second to fourth scheduling operations as described below may be performed.

<Second scheduling operation>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second scheduling operation.

The second scheduling operation is that the division job G is assigned in order from the MFP closest to the "destination Pe" among the plurality of MFPs on the route from the start point Ps to the destination Pe. It is different from the scheduling operation of 1.

More specifically, as the MFPs to be used added in step S15, the MFPs closer to the "destination Pe" (in other words, the ones farther from the starting point) are assigned in order from the MFP 10f (in the order of 10f, 10c, 10a). Should be done. In this case, among the plurality of divided jobs G1 to G12, the first divided job G1 may be assigned in order, or conversely, the last divided job G12 may be assigned in order (in reverse order). .. The same applies to operations other than the second scheduling operation.

For example, among the plurality of split jobs G1 to G12, first, a plurality of split jobs G7 to G12 are assigned to the remaining time TM3 (of the MFP10f), and then a plurality of split jobs are assigned to the remaining time TM2 (of the MFP10c). G3 to G6 may be assigned, and finally, a plurality of division jobs G1 and G2 may be assigned to the remaining time TM1 (of the MFP10a) (see also FIG. 10).

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the print job J1 is divided into seven divided jobs G1 to G7, the divided jobs G2 to G7 are first assigned to the remaining time TM3 (of the MFP10f), and then (the divided jobs G2 to G7). The split job G1 may be assigned to the remaining time TM2 (of the MFP10c).

When the print job J1 is divided into seven division jobs G1 to G7 and the first scheduling operation is performed, the allocation operation as shown in FIG. 11 is performed. Specifically, first, a plurality of division jobs G1 and G2 are assigned to the remaining time TM1 (of the MFP10a), and then a plurality of division jobs G3 to G6 are assigned to the remaining time TM2 (of the MFP10c). Finally, the split job G7 is assigned to the remaining time TM3 (of the MFP10f).

In FIG. 12, as can be seen in comparison with FIG. 11, the division jobs are preferentially assigned to the devices close to the destination Pe, and the devices close to the destination Pe execute a relatively large number of division jobs. It is possible to reduce the number of MFPs that execute split jobs from 3 (see FIG. 11) to 2 (see FIG. 12). As a result, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the user's work of integrating a plurality of printouts individually printed out by the plurality of printout devices.

The scheduling operation may be terminated in the state shown in FIG. 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the device load may be leveled between the two MFPs (10f, 10c) used (1). See FIG. 13). In FIG. 13, the load leveling is achieved by changing the execution target device of the divided jobs G2 and G3 from the MFP10f to the MFP10c.

<Third scheduling operation>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third scheduling operation. In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the arrival target time Td is set to a time considerably later than the estimated arrival time Tp (described above) of the user U1 to the destination Pe. The curve L5 in FIG. 8 shows how the user U1 moves from the departure point Ps to the destination Pe at a normal movement speed while stopping at each MFP at each latest passage time Ti5 (described later). It is a curve.

The third scheduling operation differs from the first scheduling operation in that the following values are defined as each remaining time TMi of each MFP. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the time from the job start time T0 to each latest passage time (also referred to as the latest arrival time) Ti5 (described later) to each MFP is defined as each remaining time TMi. Is regulated. More specifically, by the arrival target time Td based on the arrival target time Td to the destination Pe, each route length from each MFP (use candidate device) to the destination Pe, and the planned movement speed of the user U1. Each latest passing time (latest arrival time) Ti5, which is the latest passing time (arrival time) at each point for reaching the destination Pe, is calculated. Then, each remaining time TMi in each MFP is calculated based on each latest passing time Ti5 in each MFP.

The time Ti5 is the latest time that should arrive at the mounting location (each point) Pi of each MFP in order to reach the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td by moving at a normal moving speed. is there. Each time Ti5 traces back the time ti5 (value obtained by dividing the route length of the route by the planned movement speed) required to move the route from each point Pi to the destination Pe at the planned movement speed from the arrival target time Td. It is calculated as the time (Ti5 = Td-ti5).

For example, when the print job J1 is divided into 12 divided jobs G1 to G12, as shown in FIG. 14, first, 3 divided jobs G1 to G3 are assigned to the remaining time TM1 (of the MFP 10a). Next, five division jobs G4 to G8 are assigned to the remaining time TM2 (of the MFP 10c), and finally, the remaining four division jobs G9 to G12 are assigned to the remaining time TM3 (of the MFP 10f).

The remaining time TMi in the third scheduling operation is calculated as a time longer than the remaining time TMi in the first scheduling operation. For example, the remaining time TM1 is calculated as the time from time T0 to time T15 (not time T1). Similarly, the remaining time TM2 is calculated as the time from time T0 to time T25 (not time T2), and the remaining time TM3 is calculated as the time from time T0 to time T35 (not time T3).

According to this, since a relatively long time (a time longer than the first scheduling operation) is set as the remaining time TMi in each MFP, a relatively large number of divided jobs can be assigned in each MFP. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of MFPs used.

If a relatively large number of divided jobs are assigned to any of the MFPs, it is conceivable that even if the user U1 reaches the MFP, the print output by the MFP has not been completed yet. For example, even if the user U1 reaches the time T1 with respect to the MFP 10a, the print output of the split job G3 is not completed.

However, in that case, the user U1 collects the print output of the MFP after waiting for the completion of the print output of the MFP, and sequentially moves toward the next MFP (10c) or the like at a normal speed. By doing so, it is possible to arrive at the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td. In this way, the user U1 may have to wait in one or several print output devices, but all print outputs related to the print job by sequentially collecting each print output in each MFP. It is possible to obtain an object and arrive at the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td.

<Fourth scheduling operation>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a fourth scheduling operation.

The fourth scheduling operation is an operation related to a combination of the third scheduling operation and the second scheduling operation. Specifically, in the fourth scheduling operation, the remaining time TMi of each MFP is calculated in the same manner as in the third scheduling operation, and is close to the "destination Pe" in the same manner as in the second scheduling operation. The split job G is assigned in order from the one MFP.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, of the plurality of divided jobs G1 to G12, first, seven divided jobs G6 to G12 are assigned to the remaining time TM3 (here, time T0 to time T35) (of the MFP10f). Be done. Next, the remaining five divided jobs G1 to G6 are assigned to the remaining time TM2 (here, time T0 to time T25) (of the MFP10c).

According to this, it is possible to obtain the advantages of the third scheduling operation and the advantages of the fourth scheduling operation.

Specifically, since a relatively long time (a longer time than the first scheduling operation) is set as the remaining time TMi in each MFP, a relatively large number of divided jobs can be assigned to each MFP. Further, the split job is preferentially assigned to the device close to the destination Pe, and the MFP10f close to the destination Pe is assigned a relatively large number of split jobs. According to this, it is possible to reduce the number of MFPs used from 3 to 2 (see FIG. 12), and by extension, a plurality of printouts individually printed by a plurality of printout devices. It is possible to reduce the complexity of the user work to be integrated.

In the above, each remaining time TMi is calculated as the time from the time T0 to each time Ti (or Ti5), but is not limited to this. For example, each remaining time TMi may be calculated as the time from time T0 to each time Ti9. Here, the time Ti9 arrives at each point Pi in order to reach the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td by the movement of the running foot (movement at a predetermined speed V9 faster than the normal movement speed V1). It is the latest time to be. Each time Ti9 is calculated as a time obtained by tracing back the time ti9 required to move from each point Pi to the destination Pe at the moving speed V9 of the running speed from the arrival target time Td (Ti9 = Td-ti9). The curves L9 shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 are curves showing how the user U1 moves from the starting point to the destination in a hurry while stopping at each MFP at each time Ti9.

<2. Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, an operation (rescheduling operation, etc.) after the scheduling operation of the first embodiment is performed will be described.

In the second embodiment, when the user U1 is actually moving toward the destination Pe after the scheduling operation according to the first embodiment, the position information of the user U1 is detected, and each MFP is based on the position information. The assignment of split jobs to is dynamically changed.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of the printing system 1 (1B) according to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the user U1 possesses (carries) a mobile terminal 90 (see FIG. 16). The mobile terminal 90 is composed of, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The mobile terminal 90 has a built-in position detection unit 91 (see FIG. 16) that detects the current position. The position detection unit 91 measures each distance to the plurality of base stations by measuring the radio field strength in Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication with a plurality of base stations arranged at a plurality of positions inside and outside the company, for example. To do. Then, the position detection unit 91 can detect the position of the mobile terminal 90 based on the position information of the plurality of base stations and the measured distances and the like. The mobile terminal 90 transmits the detected position of the own device to the server 50, and the server 50 acquires the current position of the mobile terminal 90 (user U1).

When the user U1 starts moving from the departure point Ps to the destination Pe at time T0, the system 1 (1B) (see FIG. 16) according to the second embodiment uses the position information of the mobile terminal 90 of the user U1. Based on this, the current position of the user U1 is specified. Specifically, when the mobile terminal 90 identifies the position of its own device, it transmits the position information to the server 50. The server 50 acquires the position information (position information of the mobile terminal 90) received from the mobile terminal 90 as the position information of the current position of the user U1. Such a position acquisition operation or the like is periodically executed at regular time intervals (for example, at intervals of several seconds).

By the way, in the second embodiment, when the user U1 arrives at each device to be used (specifically, the place where the user U1 is placed) earlier than planned, the allocation content of the divided job is partially changed. Will be explained with reference to. In FIG. 18, when the user U1 moves from the position P1 to the position P2 in a hurry, the user U1 arrives at the position P2 (the place where the MFP10c is placed P2) a certain amount or more earlier than planned (see curve L21). Etc. are shown. The curve L21 shows the position change (movement) of the user U1.

For example, a split job G6 in which the user U1 arrives at the mounting location P2 of a certain MFP 10c earlier than planned by a certain amount or more and is assigned to the MFP 10c but has not started in the MFP 10c (see FIG. 18). If exists, the unstarted assigned split job G6 is assigned to another MFP10f. In other words, if there is an unstarted allocated split job G6 in the specific use target device 10c when the user U1 reaches the specific use target device 10c, the unstarted allocated split job G6 The allocation destination is changed to a use target device other than the specific use target device 10c (specifically, another use target device 10f arranged at a position P3 closer to the destination than the position P2 of the specific use target device 10c). Will be done.

According to this, when the user U1 arrives at the position P2 at a time earlier than planned (for example, the time point P22 during execution of the split job G5), the degree of freedom regarding the movement action from the position P2 to the position P3 is increased. Can be made to. For example, the user U1 collects the print output by the split job G5 at the position P2 (MFP10c) according to the completion of the split job G5, and then moves toward the next position P3 at a speed slower than the normal moving speed. It is possible to do. Alternatively, the user U1 can move toward the next point P3 while making a detour (purchasing a drink from a vending machine or the like near the route).

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing such an operation (operation of the server 50). The operation according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 17 shows an operation executed after the operation of the first embodiment (see FIG. 5).

First, when the server 50 acquires the position information of the user U1 based on the information from the mobile terminal 90 of the user U1 (step S31), the server 50 proceeds to step S32. When it is determined in step S32 that the user U1 has reached the destination Pe, the process of FIG. 17 ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that the user U1 has not yet reached the destination Pe, the process proceeds to step S33.

In step S33, it is determined whether or not the user U1 has reached the mounting location of the next device to be used (for example, MFP10c). For example, when the distance between the position of the user U1 and the mounting location P1 of the MFP 10c is reduced to a predetermined distance (for example, 2 to 3 meters) or less, it is determined that the user U1 has reached the mounting location P1 of the MFP 10c. .. In other words, when the user U1 reaches (approaches) within a predetermined distance (for example, 2 to 3 meters) from the mounting location P1 of the MFP 10c, it is determined that the user U1 has reached the MFP 10c.

If it is determined that the user U1 has not yet reached a certain device to be used, the process returns from step S33 to step S31. On the other hand, when it is determined that the user U1 has reached a certain device to be used, the process proceeds from step S33 to step S34.

In step S34, the server 50 notifies the use target device (MFP10c, etc.) that the user U1 has reached the placement location of the arrival of the user U1, and the job of the user U1 to the use target device. Send a progress notification request for. The target device transmits the progress of the job of the user U1 in response to the notification request. When the server 50 receives the progress of the job of the user U1 in step S35, the process proceeds to step S36.

In step S36, the server 50 determines whether or not there is an unstarted divided job among the divided jobs assigned to the device to be used. For example, if there is no unstarted division job (for example, G1 and G2) assigned to the device to be used (MFP10a) reached by the user U1, the process returns to step S31.

On the other hand, among the division jobs (also referred to as allocated division jobs) (for example, G3, G4, G5, G6) assigned to the device to be used (for example, MFP10c) reached by the user U1, the unstarted division If the job (G6) exists, the server 50 attempts to change the allocation of the unstarted split job. For example, it is attempted to change the allocation destination of the unstarted division job G6 to the next target device (MFP10f).

Then, when such a change (also referred to as reschedule) is successful (it is determined that the split job G6 can be completed within the remaining time TM3 of the MFP 10f), the process proceeds from step S37 to step S38. If the reschedule fails, the allocation of unstarted split jobs is not changed.

In steps S38 and S39, the operation of changing the allocation of the unstarted split job is performed. In step S38, the server 50 notifies the device to be used (10c) to which the unstarted split job (G6) has been assigned to cancel the split job (G6). Further, in step S39, the server 50 notifies the new allocation destination device (for example, the next use target device 10f) of the division job (G6) of the new allocation content (division job G6).

In the second embodiment, such an operation is performed. According to this, as described above, when the user U1 arrives at the position P2 at a time earlier than planned (for example, the time point P22 during execution of the split job G5), the user U1 performs a subsequent action (for example, from the position P2). It is possible to increase the degree of freedom regarding the movement behavior to the position P3, etc.).

<Execution order of split jobs>
Here, the execution order of the divided jobs in each device to be used will be described.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of divided job Gis are distributed and assigned to a plurality of target devices (MFP10), and in each target device, the numbers (divided job numbers) are in ascending order (ascending order). Is assigned at least one split job. Then, in each device to be used, at least one divided job is executed in ascending order of the numbers (in ascending order from the smallest one) according to the allocation order. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the server 50 assigns a series of consecutive division jobs to the k-th (k is a predetermined natural number) target device B (k) among the two or more target devices in ascending order of their numbers. Allocate so that one of the descending orders is the processing execution order. On the other hand, the server 50 performs a series of other continuous division jobs for the next device ((k + 1) th device to be used B (k + 1)) among the two or more devices to be used, of the same number. Allocate so that the order opposite to the one order of ascending order and descending order is the processing execution order. Further, the number of the divided job assigned to the end of the processing execution order for the target device B (k) and the number of the divided jobs assigned to the end of the processing execution order for the target device B (k + 1). A split job is assigned to each device to be used so that the numbers are consecutive.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, when k = 2, with respect to the second target device B (2) (MFP10c at position P2) among the three target devices (10a, 10c, 10f). Therefore, four consecutive divided jobs G3 to G6 are assigned so that the ascending order of their numbers (the order of G3, G4, G5, G6) is the processing execution order. On the other hand, for the third use target device B (3) (mFP10f at position P3) (in other words, the last use target device), six consecutive divided jobs G7 to G12 are in descending order of their numbers (in other words, the last device to be used). G12, G11, G10, G9, G8, G7) are assigned so as to be the processing execution order. Further, among the series of split jobs assigned to the target device B (2) (mFP10c at position P2), the number of the split job G6 (for example, "6") at the end of the processing execution order and the target device B (3). ) (MFP10f at position P3) is divided for both devices so that the number of the divided job (for example, "7") at the end of the processing execution order among the other series of divided jobs is continuous. Jobs are assigned.

When such a division job allocation process is performed in advance, for example, in the second embodiment, the allocation destination of the division job G6 is from the use target device B (2) (MFP10c) to the use target device B (3). When changed to (MFP10f), the processing as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is performed. In FIGS. 20 and 21, after the change, the split jobs G3, G4, and G5 are processed in this order by the target device B (2) (MFP10c), and the target device B (3) (MFP10f) is used. Split jobs G12, G11, G10, G9. It is shown that G8, G7, G6 are processed in this order. According to such an aspect, as can be seen in comparison with FIG. 18, the printed output is easily handled by the device B (3) (MFP10f) to be used.

In FIG. 18, seven divided jobs G7, G8, G9, G10, G11, G12, and G6 are printed out in this order at the MFP10f at position P3. Therefore, the user U1 moves the print output of the last split job G6 from the position next to the print output of the last split job G12 to the position before the print output of the first split job G7. It takes.

On the other hand, in FIGS. 20 and 21, seven split jobs G12, G11, G10, G9. G8, G7, and G6 are printed out in this order. That is, seven consecutive divided jobs are output in a state in which the divided job numbers are consecutive in the order of the numbers (specifically, the reverse order). Therefore, the user U1 does not need to change the order of the print outputs of these seven divided jobs G12 to G6.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21 and the like, in the MFP10f at the position P3, the print output is performed in the reverse order of the print output order (ascending or descending order of the divided job numbers) of each divided job at the MFP10c at the position P2 immediately before the position P3. .. Further, in the MFP 10c and the MFP 10f, the print output order of each page in each divided job is also the reverse order, and the front and back sides of the page are also reversed.

Specifically, in the MFP 10c, the three split jobs G3 to G5 are printed out in this order, and the print output order of each split job G3 to G5 is the same as the page order (normal order) and the page. Printed out with the front side (printing side) facing down (face down). The same applies to the print output of the MFP 10a. In the MFP10a, the two split jobs G1 and G2 are printed out in this order, and the print output order of each split job G1 and G2 is the same as the page order (normal order) and the front surface of the page. The print is output (face down) with the (print side) facing down.

On the other hand, in the MFP10f, the seven divided jobs G12 to G6 are printed out in this order, and the print output order of each divided job G12 to G6 is the reverse order (reverse order) of the page order and the page. Printed out with the front side (printing side) facing up (face-up).

Then, the user U1 can complete the final print output related to the print job J1 by integrating the print output of the MFP 10f with the print output of the other MFPs 10a and 10c. It is possible.

At this time, it is preferable that the screen 310 as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the MFP 10f (specifically, the touch panel 25 or the like). The user U1 can relatively easily complete the final print output of the print job J1 by receiving the operation support from the screen 310.

The screen 310 may be generated and displayed based on the information from the server 50. For example, when transmitting the output instruction in step S20, the server 50 generates display data for the explanation screen for operation support in each MFP 10, and transmits the display data to each MFP 10 in advance. Specifically, the server 50 transmits the display data to each MFP 10 in advance together with a display instruction that the explanation screen should be displayed when the printing of the series of divided jobs assigned to each MFP 10 is completed. After that, each MFP (for example, 10f) may display the explanation screen (310) based on the display data at the time when the print output of the assigned division jobs (G12 to G6) is completed. In this way, the server 50 can display the explanation screen or the like on each MFP 10 and notify the user of the explanation information included in the explanation screen.

On the lower left side of the screen 310 (FIG. 22), the print output Q2 that has been printed out by the different MFPs 10a and 10c so far is shown. The print output Q2 is a user U1 by stacking the print output of the MFP 10c (print output of the division jobs G3 to G5) on the print output of the MFP 10a (print output of the division jobs G1 and G2). It is assumed that it has already been generated by. The print output Q2 is laminated (face down) with the front side (print side) of the page facing down. On the uppermost layer of the print output Q2, the paper related to the last page of the split job G5 is arranged with the back side (non-print side) facing up.

Further, on the upper right side of the screen 310 (FIG. 22), the print output Q3 printed out by the MFP 10f is shown. As described above, the print output Q3 is laminated (face-up) with the front side (print side) of the page facing up. On the uppermost layer of the print output Q3, the paper related to the first page of the split job G6 is arranged with its front side (print side) facing up.

In FIG. 22, after the entire print output Q3 is inverted (turned over) so that the upper surface of the print output Q3 is facing down, the print output Q3 is changed to the print output Q2 (specifically, its maximum). Operational instructions to the effect that it should be placed on the upper layer) are described using character strings and figures.

The user U1 integrates the print output Q3 on the MFP 10f and the print output Q2 printed and output by the other MFPs 10a and 10c according to the instructions on the screen 310. As a result, the print output Q2 and the print output Q3 are overlapped with the paper related to the first page of the split job G6 directly above the top layer of the print output Q2 (the last page of the split job G5). It is integrated to complete the final printout for print job J1.

In this way, the print output collected from the device to be used up to the i-th (from the first) (i is a natural number (i = 2 in this case)) and the print output collected from the device to be used (i + 1). It is preferable that a notification operation (display operation of the screen 310, etc.) for notifying the user of explanatory information regarding the integration of the above is performed.

The screen is also displayed during the integration work related to the print output Q2 (see FIG. 22) (the work of stacking and integrating the print output of the split job G2 with the print output of the split job G1 (see FIG. 21)). It is preferable that the same operation support screen as 310 is displayed.

Further, it is preferable that such notification of explanatory information (display of the operation support screen 310, etc.) is also performed in the first embodiment described above and each embodiment described later.

<Another example of the execution order of split jobs>
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another example regarding the execution order of the split jobs. In FIG. 23,
Twenty-one split jobs G1 to G21 are distributed and assigned to five MFPs 10 at positions P1 to P5. In the example of FIG. 23, as compared with the example of FIG. 19, a relatively large number of divided jobs are distributed and assigned to a relatively large number of MFPs.

In particular, the split jobs G2 to G6 and the split jobs between the second target device B (2) located at position P2 and the third target device B (3) located at position P3. G7 to G12 are assigned to both devices so as to be continuous at the end of each processing sequence in both devices. The numerical order of the divided jobs is the reverse order (ascending order and descending order) between the two devices.

Similarly, split jobs G12 to G20 are split between both the fourth target device B (4) located at position P4 and the fifth target device B (5) located at position P5. Jobs G21 to G30 are assigned to both devices so as to be continuous at the end of each processing order in both devices. In other words, each series of split jobs for both the last device to be used B (5) and the device to be used immediately before it B (4) are continuous at the end of each processing sequence in both devices. Is assigned to.

By performing such a division job assignment change process, the order is automatically adjusted at the end of the series of division jobs assigned to each MFP (the occurrence of discontinuity in the order is avoided). ) Therefore, it is possible to suppress or avoid a decrease in operability of the user U1 as compared with the case where the same allocation change process as in FIG. 18 is performed.

<3. Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences from the second embodiment will be mainly described.

In the third embodiment, FIG. 26 and the like show a mode in which the user U1 partially changes the allocation contents of the divided job in a situation where the user U1 is likely to arrive at each device to be used (specifically, its placement location) later than planned. It will be explained with reference to it. In FIG. 26, the moving speed of the user U1 from the departure point Ps (and the position P1) to the position P2 is slow by using the curve L31 (a curve representing the movement of the user U1), and the user U1 moves to the position P2. It is shown that they will arrive later than planned.

For example, when the user U1 moves from the mounting location P1 of a certain MFP 10a to the mounting location P2 of the next MFP 10c, if the user U1 is likely to arrive at the next MFP 10c more than a certain amount later than planned, the next The unprocessed split job (G7) assigned to the MFP 10f is assigned to the MFP 10c (see FIG. 26). In other words, after the time T27, when the arrival of the user U1 to the specific MFP 10c elapses, the time during which one or more split jobs can be executed in addition to the currently allocated split job on the specific MFP 10c elapses. If it is determined that the job is likely to be delayed, the split job assignment is changed. Specifically, the unprocessed device assigned to another device 10f (the device 10f next to the device 10c) located closer to the destination Pe than the device device 10c to be used. A split job G7 (and a split job capable of completing its print output by the time the user U1 reaches the specific use target device 10c) is assigned to the specific use target device 10c.

According to this, in a situation where the arrival of the user U1 at the position P2 is likely to be later than planned, the degree of freedom regarding the subsequent movement behavior of the user U1 can be increased.

Specifically, the split job G7 is not printed and output by the MFP 10f at the position P3, but is printed and output by the MFP 10c at the previous position P2. In other words, the number of split jobs to be assigned to the MFP10f is reduced by one from six split jobs G12, G11, ..., G8, G7 to five split jobs G12, G11, ..., G8. To. Therefore, the print output by the MFP 10f ends relatively early. Therefore, the user U1 can leave the MFP 10f (position P3) relatively early and head for the destination Pe. In other words, the user U1 can leave the MFP 10f at a time earlier than the original scheduled end time T28 of the split job G7 (the scheduled end time when the split job G7 is assigned to the MFP 10c).

For example, the user U1 starts moving from the position P2 at a larger moving speed than before, and is relatively early with respect to the position P3 (a time earlier than the scheduled end time T28 of the original split job G7). (At) to arrive. Then, immediately after collecting the print output (print output related to the five divided jobs G12, G11, ..., G8) in the MFP 10f (at a time earlier than the time T28), the movement from the position P3 to the destination Pe It is possible to arrive at the destination Pe relatively early.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing such an operation (operation of the server 50). The operation according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 25. Note that FIG. 25 shows an operation executed after the operation of the first embodiment (see FIG. 5).

First, when the server 50 acquires the position information of the user U1 based on the information from the mobile terminal 90 of the user U1 (step S41), the server 50 proceeds to step S42. When it is determined in step S42 that the user U1 has reached the destination Pe, the process of FIG. 25 ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S42 that the user U1 has not yet reached the destination Pe, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, it is determined whether or not the movement of the user U1 is behind the predetermined reference. For example, if the current position of the user U1 is more than a certain distance from the position P2 at T26 when the four division jobs G3 to G6 originally assigned by the MFP 10c at the position P2 are completed, the user U1 is moved to the position P2. The estimated arrival time (scheduled arrival time after the update) is estimated based on the measured value of the moving speed of the user U1 up to that point. Then, when it is determined that the estimated arrival time after the update is after the time point T27 when the time during which one split job can be executed elapses, the process proceeds to step S44. In other cases, the process returns to step S41.

In step S44, the allocation change of the split job is attempted. Specifically, the unprocessed split job (G7) assigned to the other target device (MFP10f) that goes after the next target device (MFP10c) is transferred to the next target device (MFP10c). The allocation change process (see FIG. 26 and the like) is tried.

When such a change (also referred to as reschedule) is successful (the MFP10c determines that the split job G7 can be completed by the estimated arrival time (estimated time) after the update to the position P2 of the user U1), the step. The process proceeds from S47 to step S48. If the reschedule fails, the allocation of the split job is not changed.

In steps S48 and S49, the operation of changing the allocation of the split job is performed. In step S48, the server 50 notifies the original allocation destination device (MFP10f) of the division job (G7) to be changed to cancel the division job (G7). Further, in step S49, the server 50 notifies the new allocation destination device (for example, the next use target device 10c) of the new allocation content (division job G7) of the division job (G7).

The above operation is performed. According to this, in a situation where the user U1 is likely to arrive at each device to be used (specifically, the place where the user U1 is placed) later than planned, the degree of freedom regarding the subsequent movement behavior of the user U1 can be increased.

In the above embodiment, it is determined that the scheduled arrival time (scheduled arrival time after update) of the user U1 to the position P2 is after the time point T27 when the time during which one split job can be executed elapses. In this case, the allocation destination of one split job has been changed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, it is determined that the estimated arrival time of the user U1 after updating to the position P2 is after the time point T61 when the time during which the two divided jobs G7 and G8 can be executed has elapsed. In the case (when the two split jobs G7 and G8 can be further executed by the MFP 10c at the position P2 by the time the user U1 reaches the position P2), the allocation destination of the two split jobs G7 and G8 is May be changed. Specifically, the allocation destinations of the two split jobs G7 and G8 may be changed from the MFP10f at the position P3 to the MFP10c at the position P2. More specifically, the split jobs G7 and G8 may be assigned in this order next to the split job G6 already assigned to the MFP 10c.

Even after this reassignment, the numbers of the last split job G8 in the MFP 10c and the last split job G9 in the MFP 10f are consecutive, so that when integrating the printouts printed out by different MFPs, the relevant numbers are applicable. The printed output is easy to handle. In FIG. 27, the moving speed of the user U1 from the departure point Ps (and the position P1) to the position P2 is slow by using the curve L32 (a curve representing the movement of the user U1), and the user U1 moves to the position P2. It is shown that they will arrive much later than planned.

Further, when the arrival of the user U1 at the position P2 is likely to be delayed in the case where the allocation as shown in FIG. 11 is made, as shown in FIG. 28, the split job G7 only assigned to the MFP 10f at the position P3 is assigned. It may be assigned to the MFP 10c at position P2. In this case, the user U1 collects the print outputs related to the two split jobs G1 and G2 by the first MFP 10a, and collects the print outputs related to the remaining five split jobs G3 to G7 by the second MFP 10c. By collecting, it is possible to collect all the print outputs related to the print job J1. Even if the print output of the split job G7 is already completed by the third MFP 10f, the print output of the third MFP 10f is collected (the print output of the split job G7 may be discarded). It doesn't need to be. In short, distributed processing is realized by two MFPs 10 (a relatively small number of MFPs) instead of three. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the complexity of the user's work of integrating a plurality of printouts individually printed out by the plurality of printout devices.

<Notification regarding user movement operation>
Further, the server 50 determines the actual movement progress status of the user U1 based on the current position of the user U1, and when the actual movement progress status of the user U1 deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status, the server 50 determines the actual movement progress status of the user U1. , The notification operation of notifying the user U1 of information based on the movement progress status of the user U1 (recommended action of the user U1, etc.) may be controlled. As the reference progress status, the reference progress status shown by the curve L1 (see FIGS. 6 to 9 and the like) is exemplified.

For example, the server 50 has a scheduled arrival time (initial scheduled arrival time) Ti and the current position of the user U1 to the placement location (position Pi) of the target device to be used next to the user U1 among the plurality of target devices to be used. Based on the distance from the to the loading location, the user U1 calculates the required speed for the user U1 to reach the loading location at the scheduled arrival time Ti (initial scheduled arrival time), and information based on the required speed. May be notified to the user U1.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 26 to 28, when moving from the MFP 10a at the position P1 to the MFP 10c at the position P2, the server 50 uses the distance from the current position of the user U1 to the position P2 and the position P2. Based on the estimated arrival time Ti and the estimated arrival time Ti, the user U1 calculates the required speed for reaching the loading location at the estimated arrival time Ti. For example, when the time T26 is the current time in FIG. 27, the slope of the curve L33 in FIG. 27 indicates the speed required by the user U1 to reach the position P2 by the time T2.

Then, when the required speed is higher than the current moving speed of the user U1 by a predetermined degree or more (or when the required speed is higher than the normal moving speed of the user U1 by a predetermined degree or more), the server 50 requires the required speed. The user U1 may be notified of speed-based information (recommended behavior information based on the required speed, etc.). Specifically, the server 50 transmits the display data of the screen as shown in FIG. 24 (the screen including characters such as "This is not in time, so please hurry a little") to the mobile terminal 90 of the user U1. Then, it may be displayed on the display unit 95 (see FIG. 16) of the mobile terminal 90.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 20, the required required calculated based on the distance from the current position of the user U1 to the position P2 and the estimated arrival time Ti (initial estimated arrival time) at the position P2. When the speed (for example, a speed similar to a normal moving speed) is smaller than a predetermined degree or more than the current moving speed of the user U1 (for example, a relatively large moving speed), the server 50 reaches the required speed. The user U1 may be notified of the information based on the information. For example, screen display data having a character string such as "There is a little time to spare. You do not have to run." Is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90 of the user U1 and displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal 90. Just do it. Alternatively, when the required speed is smaller than the normal moving speed of the user U1 by a predetermined degree or more, the information based on the required speed may be notified to the user U1. For example, the screen display data having a character string such as "There is time to spare. It is okay to walk slowly." Is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90 of the user U1 and displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal 90. May be good.

In this way, when the actual movement progress status of the user U1 deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status (curve L1 based on the scheduled arrival time Ti), the information based on the movement progress status of the user U1 is notified. It may be done.

Further, here, the required speed (required speed related to the movement of the user U1) calculated based on the estimated arrival time Ti or the like to each MFP is taken into consideration, but the required speed is not limited to this. For example, the required speed calculated based on the latest passing time Ti5 or the like to each MFP may be taken into consideration. Then, the user may be notified of the information based on the required speed.

Specifically, in order to reach the destination by the distance from the current position of the user U1 to the mounting location of the device to be used next to the user and the target time Td to reach the destination by moving at a normal moving speed. Based on the latest arrival time Ti5, which is the latest time to reach the loading location, the required speed for the user to reach the loading location at the latest arrival time Ti5 may be calculated. Then, the information based on the required speed may be notified to the user. More specifically, when the required speed is a predetermined degree or more smaller than the current moving speed of the user U1 (or when the required speed is a predetermined degree or more smaller than the normal moving speed of the user U1), the server 50 , Information based on the required speed (recommended action information based on the required speed, etc.) may be notified to the user U1.

In this way, when the actual movement progress status of the user U1 deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status (curve L5 based on the latest arrival time), the information based on the movement progress status of the user U1 ( User U1's recommended behavior, etc.) may be notified to user U1.

<4. Fourth Embodiment>
The fourth embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences from the second embodiment will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, when the user U1 reaches the specific use target device and there is an unstarted division job (allocated division job) in the specific use target device, the unstarted division job exists. The assignment of the split job has been changed.

In the fourth embodiment, when a non-printable event occurs in a specific target device, the allocation is changed for a split job that has not been completed in the specific target device at the time of the non-printable event. Will be done.

For example, as shown in FIG. 29, when an unprintable event (paper out, paper jam, and / or toner out) occurs in the device 10c to be used at position P2, the use occurs at the time of the unprintable event. The target device 10c changes the allocation of the unfinished division job G6. Specifically, the divided job G6 is assigned to a device to be used other than the device to be used 10c (specifically, the device to be used 10f arranged at a position P3 closer to the destination than the device 10c to be used). ..

According to this, the user U1 can acquire all the printouts related to all the divided jobs G1 to G12 without having to perform an operation for resolving the unprintable event (paper replenishment operation, etc.). .. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or avoid the delay in arrival of the user U1 at the destination due to the cancellation operation (paper replenishment operation, etc.) at the position P2 by the user U1.

<5. Fifth Embodiment>
The fifth embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences from the second embodiment will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, when the user U1 reaches the specific use target device and there is an unstarted division job (allocated division job) in the specific use target device, the unstarted division job exists. The allocation of the split job has been changed (see FIGS. 18 and 20 and the like).

In the fifth embodiment, among the plurality of division jobs, for the division job (also referred to as protection division job) to be protected by security (for example, G6 (see FIG. 30)), the print output of the protection division job is , It is performed after the time when the user U1 arrives at the place where the execution device (for example, MFP10c) of the print output is placed. For example, when the split job G6 is subject to security protection, all pages in the split job G6 (for example, pages 501 to 600) are subject to security protection, and in the split job G6. There are cases where only some pages (for example, pages 521 to 563) are subject to security protection. Whether or not the security protection is specified and the scope of protection are included in the print instruction from the user U1.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 30, the split job G6 subject to security protection is after the time T66 when the user U1 arrives at the allocation destination device (MFP10c) of the split job G6, and is the user U1. Is performed in the situation where is present in the vicinity of the MFP 10c. Even when the print output of the split job G5 immediately before the split job G6 is completed, when the user U1 has not yet reached the MFP 10c (see the movement curve L41 of the user U1), the print of the split job G6 is performed. The output has not started yet.

More specifically, in step S20 (FIG. 5), among the plurality of division jobs, the division job (protection division job) (for example, division job G6) to be protected by security is printed out. A conditional print command is given to a specific print output device (eg, MFP10c). The conditional print command is a print command including the fact that print output should be started in a state where the user U1 exists within a predetermined range from the specific print output device. The specific print output device receives the conditional print command regarding the protection division job and executes a print operation in accordance with the conditional print command. That is, the specific print output device starts the print output related to the protection division job (for example, the division job G6) only when the user U1 exists within a predetermined range from the specific print output device.

According to this, it is possible to avoid or suppress that the divided job (G6 or the like), which is the target of security protection, is printed out in the absence of the user U1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the content to be kept secret is visible to a person other than the user U1.

<6. Deformation example, etc.>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the electrophotographic print output device has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other print output devices such as the inkjet type may be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments and the like, an embodiment in which the server 50 functions as a print control device is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the plurality of MFPs 10 may be made to function as a print control device.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, if YES is determined in step S21 (FIG. 5) (in other words, regardless of any route, the goal is to be achieved after distributed output by a plurality of MFPs on that route. When it is determined that the user U1 cannot reach the destination Pe by the time Td), the mode in which the scheduling operation is not performed is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when such a judgment is made, the print setting contents related to the print job J1 are automatically changed to reduce the print required time (total time of print output related to a plurality of divided jobs), and then rescheduling is performed. You may be asked. For example, by changing the setting contents related to the page aggregation setting (“Nin1” setting) of the print job J1 to “2in1” (or “4in1”, etc.), the time required for printing can be reduced (for example, about 1/2). It is possible to reduce). Alternatively, the time required for printing may be reduced by reducing the print image quality. The reduction of print image quality is particularly useful for inkjet print output devices and the like.

In this way, even if the print job is distributed processed by the plurality of print output devices, the user U1 cannot reach the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td after collecting the print output products by the plurality of print output devices. When it is determined by the allocation process for a plurality of split jobs, the server 50 automatically changes the print settings to shorten the processing time of the print job J1 and then reschedules (rescheduling the plurality of split jobs). The allocation process) may be performed. According to this, the allocation process can be performed so that the user U1 can reach the destination Pe by the arrival target time Td after collecting the print output products by the plurality of print output devices.

Whether or not such automatic change of print settings is allowed is preferably set by the user on the user setting screen or the like.

1 Printing system 10 MFP (print output device)
50 Print control device 70 Client computer 90 Mobile terminal 108 Network G1 to G30 Split job Ps Departure point (movement start position)
Pe Destination Pi Placement location Td (To the destination) Target time to reach Tp (To the destination) Scheduled arrival time Ti (To the installation location of each MFP) Scheduled arrival time Ti5 (To the installation location of each MFP) ) Latest transit time TMi Each remaining time in each MFP

Claims (35)

A print control device that controls print jobs distributed and processed by two or more target devices among a plurality of print output devices.
With respect to the print job in which the user moving from the departure place to the destination receives the print output by the two or more target devices, the acquisition means for acquiring the information regarding the arrival target time of the user to the destination. ,
A determination means for determining the two or more target devices to be used, which are divided and executed by dividing the print job, from the plurality of print output devices.
With
The determination means is based on the route length of the route from the departure point to the destination via the two or more target devices and the planned movement speed of the user, and the user can reach the destination by the arrival target time. A print control device, characterized in that two or more devices to be used are determined on condition that it is determined that the destination can be reached. In the print control device according to claim 1,
The determination means is
In that the user has received the printed output according to the respective use candidate device to a respective remaining time is the remaining time capable of printout process at each use candidate device can arrive at the destination until the final target time Each remaining time specified as a premise is calculated based on the planned movement speed of the user.
Among the plurality of divided jobs in which the print job is divided, there is a divided job that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of N (where N is a natural number) use candidate devices is used, and the N use candidates are present. When it is determined that all of the plurality of divided jobs can be processed by using each remaining time of the (N + 1) candidate devices for which another use candidate device is added to the device, the (N + 1) devices are used. A print control device characterized in that a candidate device for use is determined as the two or more target devices to be used. In the print control device according to claim 2.
The determination means is
Each estimated arrival time to the position of each use candidate device of the user is calculated based on each route length from the departure place to the position of each use candidate device and the planned movement speed of the user.
A print control device for calculating each remaining time in each use candidate device based on each scheduled arrival time to the position of each use candidate device. In the print control device according to claim 2.
The determination means is
To reach the destination by the arrival target time based on the arrival target time to the destination, each route length from each use candidate device to the destination, and the planned movement speed of the user. Calculate each latest passing time, which is the latest passing time at each point,
A print control device characterized in that each remaining time in each use candidate device is calculated based on each of the latest passage times at the position of each use candidate device. In the print control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
The printing control device is characterized in that the determination means allocates division jobs in order from a device closest to the destination among a plurality of use candidate devices on the route. In the print control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
The printing control device is characterized in that the determination means allocates division jobs in order from a device closest to the departure point among a plurality of use candidate devices on the route. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user,
With more
Among the plurality of division jobs, the determination means refers to the protection division job, which is a division job subject to security protection, with respect to the specific print output device that prints out the protection division job. A print control device comprising giving a conditional print command including the fact that print output should be started in a state where the user exists within a predetermined range from the print output device. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user,
With more
When the user reaches a specific use target device among the two or more use target devices, the determination means does not have an assigned division job that has not been started in the specific use target device. A print control device characterized in that the allocation destination of an assigned division job for a start is changed to another use target device arranged on the destination side of the specific use target device. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user,
With more
In the determination means, the user's arrival at a specific use target device among the two or more use target devices is further divided into one or more in addition to the division job allocated by the specific use target device. When it is determined that the job is likely to be delayed until after the time when the job can be executed elapses, it is assigned to another device to be used located closer to the destination than the specific device to be used. A print control device comprising assigning an unprocessed split job to the specific device to be used. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
When a non-printable event occurs in a specific target device among the two or more target devices, the determination means is a split job that has not been processed in the specific target device at the time of the occurrence of the non-printable event. Is assigned to a device to be used other than the specific device to be used. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
The print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs with serial numbers, and the print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs.
The determination means is
A series of consecutive division jobs are performed in ascending and descending order of the numbers of the kth use target device in which the user reaches the kth (k is a predetermined natural number) among the two or more use target devices. Assign so that the order of one of them is the order of processing execution,
Of the two or more target devices to be used, for the (k + 1) th (k + 1) th target device to be used by the user, another series of consecutive division jobs are performed in ascending or descending order of their numbers. Allocate so that the order opposite to the above-mentioned one order is the processing execution order.
The number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the kth use target device and the number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the (k + 1) th use target device. A print control device characterized in that a split job is assigned to each device to be used so that and are continuously assigned to each device. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
Controls the notification operation of notifying the user of explanatory information regarding the integration of the print output material collected from the device to be used up to the i-th (i is a natural number) and the print output material collected from the device to be used (i + 1). Notification control means,
A print control device comprising. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user, and
The actual movement progress status of the user is determined based on the current position of the user, and when the actual movement progress status of the user deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status, the movement progress status of the user. Notification control means for notifying the user of information based on
A print control device characterized by further comprising. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
In the determination means, even if the print job is distributed by the plurality of print output devices, the user arrives at the destination by the arrival target time after collecting the print output products by the plurality of print output devices. When it is determined in the allocation process for the plurality of split jobs that the print job cannot be performed, the print settings for the print job are automatically changed to shorten the processing time of the print job, and then the plurality of split jobs are performed. A print control device characterized by performing a reassignment process for. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
The print control device is a print control device characterized by being a server computer. In the print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
The print control device is a print control device, characterized in that it is an image forming device. To a computer that controls print jobs that are distributed and processed by two or more target devices among multiple print output devices.
a) A step of acquiring information on the target time of arrival of the user to the destination for the print job in which the user moving from the departure place to the destination receives the print output by the two or more target devices. When,
b) A step of determining the two or more target devices to be used, which are divided and executed by dividing the print job, from the plurality of print output devices.
It is a program to execute
In the step b), the route length of the route from the departure point to the destination via the two or more target devices and the planned movement speed of the user are used as the basis for the arrival target time. A program characterized in that two or more devices to be used are determined on condition that it is determined that the user can reach the destination. In the program of claim 17,
In step b),
b-1) The destination, which is the remaining time during which print output processing can be performed by each use candidate device, by the user who has received the print output by each use candidate device by the arrival target time. The step of obtaining each remaining time specified on the premise that the user can arrive at the user based on the planned movement speed of the user, and
b-2) Of the plurality of divided jobs in which the print job is divided, there is a divided job that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of N use candidate devices (where N is a natural number) is used, and the N is When it is determined that all of the plurality of divided jobs can be processed by using each remaining time of the (N + 1) use candidate devices obtained by adding another use candidate device to the use candidate devices, the (N + 1) The step of determining N + 1) candidate devices to be used as the two or more target devices to be used, and
A program characterized by having. In the program according to claim 17 or 18.
c) Of the plurality of division jobs, regarding the protection division job that is the division job to be protected by security, the specific print output device that prints out the protection division job is output from the specific print output device. A step of giving a conditional print command including the fact that print output should be started with the user present within a predetermined range.
A program characterized by causing the computer to further execute. In the program according to claim 17 or 18.
d) If there is an unstarted assigned division job in the specific use target device at the time when the user reaches the specific use target device among the two or more use target devices, the unstarted allocation A step of changing the allocation destination of a completed division job to another use target device arranged on the destination side of the specific use target device.
A program characterized by causing the computer to further execute. In the program according to claim 17 or 18.
e) When the user reaches a specific target device among the two or more target devices, one or more split jobs are executed in addition to the split job allocated by the specific target device. When it is determined that the delay is likely to occur after the time when the possible time elapses, the unprocessed device assigned to the other device to be used located closer to the destination than the specific device to be used. The step of assigning a split job to the specific device to be used,
A program characterized by causing the computer to further execute. In the program according to claim 17 or 18.
f) When an unprintable event occurs in a specific use target device among the two or more use target devices, the unprocessed division job is performed in the specific use target device at the time of the occurrence of the unprintable event. Steps to assign to a device to be used other than a specific device to be used,
A program characterized by causing the computer to further execute. In the program according to any one of claims 17 to 22
The print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs with serial numbers, and the print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs.
In step b),
A series of consecutive division jobs are performed in ascending and descending order of the numbers of the kth use target device in which the user reaches the kth (k is a predetermined natural number) among the two or more use target devices. The order of one of them is assigned to be the processing execution order,
Of the two or more target devices, the user reaches the (k + 1) th (k + 1) th (k + 1) target device, and another series of consecutive division jobs are performed in ascending or descending order of the numbers. The order opposite to the above-mentioned one order is assigned so as to be the processing execution order.
The number of the split job assigned to the end of the processing execution order for the kth use target device and the number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the (k + 1) th use target device. A program characterized in that a split job is assigned to each device to be used so that and are continuously assigned to each device. In the program according to any one of claims 17 to 23.
g) A step of notifying the user of explanatory information regarding the integration of the print output collected from the device to be used up to the i-th (i is a natural number) and the print output collected from the device to be used (i + 1).
A program characterized by causing the computer to further execute. In the program according to claim 17 or 18.
h) The actual movement progress status of the user is determined based on the current position of the user, and when the actual movement progress status of the user deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status, the movement of the user is performed. Steps to notify the user of progress-based information,
A program characterized by causing the computer to further execute. In the program according to claim 17 or 18.
In step b), even if the print job is distributed by the plurality of print output devices, the user collects the print output products from the plurality of print output devices and then the user reaches the destination by the arrival target time. When it is determined in the allocation process related to the plurality of divided jobs that the above cannot be reached, the print settings related to the print job are automatically changed to shorten the processing time of the print job, and then the plurality. A program characterized in that the reassignment process for a split job is executed. It's a printing system
With multiple print output devices
A print control device that controls print jobs distributed and processed by two or more target devices among the plurality of print output devices.
With
The print control device is
With respect to the print job in which the user moving from the departure place to the destination receives the print output by the two or more target devices, the acquisition means for acquiring the information regarding the arrival target time of the user to the destination. ,
A determination means for determining the two or more target devices to be used, which are divided and executed by dividing the print job, from the plurality of print output devices.
With
The determination means is based on the route length of the route from the departure point to the destination via the two or more target devices and the planned movement speed of the user, and the user can reach the destination by the arrival target time. A printing system characterized in that two or more devices to be used are determined on condition that it is determined that the destination can be reached. In the printing system according to claim 27,
The determination means is
It is determined that the user who has received the print output by each use candidate device can arrive at the destination by the arrival target time, which is the remaining time during which the print output process can be performed by each use candidate device. Each remaining time specified as a premise is calculated based on the planned movement speed of the user.
Among the plurality of divided jobs in which the print job is divided, there is a divided job that cannot be processed even if each remaining time of N (where N is a natural number) use candidate devices is used, and the N use candidates are present. When it is determined that all of the plurality of divided jobs can be processed by using each remaining time of the (N + 1) candidate devices for which another use candidate device is added to the device, the (N + 1) devices are used. A printing system characterized in that a candidate device for use is determined as the two or more target devices to be used. In the printing system according to claim 27 or 28.
The print control device is
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user,
With more
Among the plurality of division jobs, the determination means refers to the protection division job, which is a division job subject to security protection, with respect to the specific print output device that prints out the protection division job. A printing system characterized in that a conditional printing command including the fact that print output should be started with the user present within a predetermined range is given from the print output device. In the printing system according to claim 27 or 28.
The print control device is
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user,
With more
When the user reaches a specific use target device among the two or more use target devices, the determination means does not have an assigned division job that has not been started in the specific use target device. A printing system characterized in that the allocation destination of an assigned split job to be started is changed to another use target device arranged on the destination side of the specific use target device. In the printing system according to claim 27 or 28.
The print control device is
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user,
With more
In the determination means, the user's arrival at a specific use target device among the two or more use target devices is further divided into one or more in addition to the division job allocated by the specific use target device. When it is determined that the job is likely to be delayed until after the time when the job can be executed elapses, it is assigned to another device to be used located closer to the destination than the specific device to be used. A printing system characterized in that an unprocessed split job is assigned to the specific device to be used. In the printing system according to any one of claims 27 to 31.
The print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs with serial numbers, and the print job is divided into the plurality of divided jobs.
The determination means is
A series of consecutive division jobs are performed in ascending and descending order of the numbers of the kth use target device in which the user reaches the kth (k is a predetermined natural number) among the two or more use target devices. Assign so that the order of one of them is the order of processing execution,
Of the two or more target devices to be used, for the (k + 1) th (k + 1) th target device to be used by the user, another series of consecutive division jobs are performed in ascending or descending order of their numbers. Allocate so that the order opposite to the above-mentioned one order is the processing execution order.
The number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the kth use target device and the number of the split job assigned to the end of the process execution order for the (k + 1) th use target device. A printing system characterized in that a split job is assigned to each device to be used so that and are continuously assigned to each device. In the printing system according to any one of claims 27 to 32.
The print control device is
Controls the notification operation of notifying the user of explanatory information regarding the integration of the print output material collected from the device to be used up to the i-th (i is a natural number) and the print output material collected from the device to be used (i + 1). Notification control means,
A printing system characterized by further providing. In the printing system according to claim 27 or 28.
The print control device is
A position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the user, and
The actual movement progress status of the user is determined based on the current position of the user, and when the actual movement progress status of the user deviates more than a predetermined degree from the reference progress status, the movement progress status of the user. Notification control means for notifying the user of information based on
A printing system characterized by further providing. In the printing system according to claim 27 or 28.
In the determination means, even if the print job is distributed by the plurality of print output devices, the user arrives at the destination by the arrival target time after collecting the print output products by the plurality of print output devices. When it is determined in the allocation process for the plurality of split jobs that the print job cannot be performed, the print settings for the print job are automatically changed to shorten the processing time of the print job, and then the plurality of split jobs A printing system characterized by performing a reassignment process for.

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