JP6992272B2 - Management device, image processing system, image processing device, management method and management program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a management device, an image processing system, an image processing device, a management method and a management program.

In recent years, a multifunction device (MFP: Multifunction Function Peripheral) having functions such as a copying machine, a scanner, a printer, and a fax machine has been known. The position where the MFP is installed is fixed, and the user moves to the place where the MFP is installed and uses the MFP. However, if the user moves to the place where the MFP is installed and the MFP fails and does not work, or if the MFP is being used by another person, use the MFP. I can't.

On the other hand, a self-propelled image forming apparatus mounted on a traveling device having a self-propelled function is known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-156547 describes an image forming system including a user terminal, an image forming apparatus, and a moving body that is separably connected to the image forming apparatus and moves from the user terminal to a designated position. The moving body is a movement control means for moving the moving body from the user terminal to a designated position, an image reading means for reading an image on a recording medium, and an image forming device for image information read by the image reading means. An image forming system having a transmission means for transmitting to is described. According to this image forming system, various functions other than printing possessed by the image forming apparatus can be used by the user without moving to the image forming apparatus.

However, in the image forming system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-156547, the position of the image forming apparatus is not fixed. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus is directly operated, the position of the image forming apparatus should be confirmed. Alternatively, the position must be specified from the user terminal, which complicates the operation. Further, there is a problem that the time is wasted because it is necessary to wait only for the time from the designation of the position to the movement of the image forming apparatus.
JP-A-2015-156547

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to prevent the travel time of the user who instructs the job from being wasted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and according to an aspect of the present invention, the management device is a management device that manages a plurality of image forming devices, and the plurality of image forming devices are used. , One or more fixing devices in which the position to be arranged is fixed, and one or more self-propelled devices capable of autonomous traveling. A target device determining means for determining a device, an alternative device determining means for determining an alternative device to replace the target device from one or more self-propelled devices when the target device is determined, and a predetermined alternative device from the target device. It is provided with a movement control means for transmitting a command to the self-propelled device in order to move within the range.

According to this aspect, among one or more fixing devices, the fixing device in which the image processing is delayed is determined as the target device, and among one or more self-propelled devices, an alternative device to replace the target device is determined and substituted. A command is sent to the self-propelled device in order to move the device from the target device within a predetermined range. Therefore, when the image processing in the fixed device is delayed, the self-propelled device moves from the fixed device within a predetermined range, so that the user can use the self-propelled device instead of the fixed device. As a result, it is possible to provide a management device that prevents the user's travel time for instructing image processing from being wasted.

Preferably, the target device determining means determines as the target device, among one or more fixing devices, a fixing device in which image processing cannot be performed.

According to this aspect, the fixing device in which the image processing cannot be executed is determined as the target device. Therefore, when the image processing becomes infeasible in the fixing device, the self-propelled device is within a predetermined range from the fixing device. Since it moves inward, the self-propelled device can be made to perform the image processing to be executed by the fixed device.

Preferably, the alternative device determining means determines, among one or more self-propelled devices, at least one of the one or more self-propelled devices that can perform image processing in which the target device becomes infeasible.

According to this aspect, it is possible to cause the self-propelled device to perform image processing that cannot be performed by the fixed device.

Preferably, the target device determining means determines as the target device a fixed device in which a state in which the job accepted by each of the one or more fixed devices is predicted to be delayed by a predetermined time or more is predicted.

According to this aspect, the self-propelled device moves within a predetermined range from the fixed device in a state where the job accepted by the fixed device is delayed by a predetermined time or more. You can run the job. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from waiting.

Preferably, the target device determining means is predicted to be in a state in which, among one or more fixed devices, the end time setting job for which the end time is set is accepted, and the end time setting job cannot be completed by the end time. The fixing device is determined as the target device, and the alternative device determination means determines the self-propelled device capable of executing the end time prediction job among one or more self-propelled devices as the alternative device.

According to this aspect, the end time setting job can be executed by the end time set by the end time setting job.

Preferably, the target device determining means determines as the target device, among one or more fixed devices, a fixed device whose execution time from the start to the end of the accepted job is predicted to be a predetermined time or longer. The alternative device determining means determines, among the one or more self-propelled devices, a self-propelled device capable of at least performing image processing that can be executed by the target device as the alternative device.

According to this aspect, the self-propelled device moves within a predetermined range from the fixed device in a state where the fixed device receives a job whose execution time is longer than the predetermined time, so that the fixed device has the execution time longer than the predetermined time. The self-propelled device can perform image processing without waiting for the job to be completed.

Preferably, the alternative device that receives the command does not accept new jobs from other than the target device.

According to this aspect, the job received by the self-propelled device from the fixed device can be executed immediately.

Preferably, if the alternative device that receives the command receives a job from the target device before moving from the target device to a predetermined range, the received job is received from the target device before it arrives within the predetermined range. Start.

According to this aspect, since the job is executed during the movement in the self-propelled device, the timing to finish the job can be made as early as possible.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus accepts a job for which image processing is defined, and a job execution means for executing the image processing defined by the accepted job, and for executing the image processing. In order to remotely control a self-propelled device equipped with hardware resources and a self-propelled mechanism for autonomous driving, a remote control means for transmitting a command to the self-propelled device is provided, and the remote control means depends on a job execution means. When the image processing is delayed, a command to move the self-propelled device within a predetermined range is transmitted from the self-propelled device.

According to this aspect, when the image processing is delayed, the self-propelled device moves from the image forming device within a predetermined range, so that the user can use the self-propelled device instead of the image forming device. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents the travel time of the user who instructs the image processing from being wasted.

Preferably, the remote control means sends a command to the self-propelled device when the job execution means becomes incapable of performing image processing.

According to this aspect, when the image processing becomes infeasible, the self-propelled device moves within a predetermined range, so that the self-propelled device can execute the image processing scheduled to be executed by the image forming apparatus. ..

Preferably, when there are a plurality of self-propelled devices, an alternative device determining means for determining at least one of the plurality of self-propelled devices capable of performing image processing in an infeasible state is further provided.

According to this aspect, the self-propelled device can be made to execute the image processing that has become infeasible.

Preferably, the remote control means sends a command to the self-propelled device in response to the prediction that one or more jobs accepted by the job execution means will be delayed.

According to this aspect, the self-propelled device moves within a predetermined range from the image forming device in a state where the job is delayed for a predetermined time or more. Therefore, the self-propelled device is allowed to perform image processing so that the job can be executed without delay. Can be done. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from waiting.

Preferably, when there are a plurality of self-propelled devices, an alternative device determination that determines, among the plurality of self-propelled devices, at least one capable of executing at least one of one or more jobs accepted by the job execution means as the alternative device. Further provision of means.

According to this aspect, at least one of the jobs accepted by the image forming apparatus can be executed by the self-propelled apparatus. This makes it possible to eliminate the job delay in the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the alternative device that receives the command does not accept new jobs from other than the target device.

According to this aspect, the self-propelled device can immediately execute the job received from the image forming device.

Preferably, the remote control means sends a command to the alternative device to cause the alternative device to execute a job before the alternative device arrives from its own device within a predetermined range.

According to this aspect, since the job is executed during the movement in the self-propelled device, the timing to finish the job can be made as early as possible.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the image processing method is an image processing method executed by a management device that manages a plurality of image forming devices, and the positions of the plurality of image forming devices are fixed. A target device determination step of determining a fixing device in a state in which image processing is delayed among one or more fixing devices including one or more fixing devices and one or more self-propelled devices capable of self-propelled. And, when the target device is determined, an alternative device determination step of determining an alternative device to replace the target device from one or more self-propelled devices, and in order to move the alternative device from the target device within a predetermined range. Includes a movement control step, which sends a command to the self-propelled device.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image processing method that prevents the travel time of the user who instructs the image processing from being wasted.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the image processing method is a job execution step for accepting a job for which image processing is defined and executing the image processing defined for the accepted job, and for executing the image processing. In order to remotely control a self-propelled device equipped with hardware resources and a self-propelled mechanism for autonomous driving, a remote control step of transmitting a command to the self-propelled device is executed by an image forming apparatus, and the remote control step is performed. , When the execution of image processing is delayed in the job execution step, the step includes a step of transmitting a command to move the self-propelled device from the self-propelled device within a predetermined range.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image processing method that prevents the travel time of the user who instructs the image processing from being wasted.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the image processing program is an image processing program executed by a computer that controls a management device that manages a plurality of image forming devices, and the plurality of image forming devices are arranged. The target device is determined to be a fixing device in which image processing is delayed among one or more fixing devices including one or more fixing devices whose positions are fixed and one or more self-propelled devices capable of self-propelled. The target device determination step, and when the target device is determined, the alternative device determination step for determining an alternative device to replace the target device from one or more self-propelled devices, and the alternative device are moved within a predetermined range from the target device. In order to make the computer perform a movement control step of transmitting a command to the self-propelled device.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image processing program that prevents the user's travel time for instructing image processing from being wasted.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the image processing program accepts a job that defines image processing, and an image executed by a computer that controls an image forming apparatus that executes the image processing defined by the accepted job. A processing program that accepts a job that defines image processing, a job execution step that executes the image processing specified by the accepted job, hardware resources for executing image processing, and self-driving for autonomous driving. In order to remotely control a self-propelled device equipped with a running mechanism, a computer is made to execute a remote control step for transmitting a command to the self-propelled device, and the remote control step delays the execution of image processing in the job execution step. When the state is reached, the step includes sending a command to the self-propelled device to move it within a predetermined range from the self-propelled device.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image processing program that prevents the user's travel time for instructing image processing from being wasted.

It is a figure which shows the whole outline of the image processing system in one of the embodiments of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware configuration of the server in one of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware composition of the MFP in one of the present Embodiments. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware composition of the self-propelled apparatus in one of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which the CPU included in the MFP in 1st Embodiment has. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function of the CPU provided in the server. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function of the CPU provided in the self-propelled apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of information in an image processing system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the fixed device control process in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the job state determination processing in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the apparatus state determination process in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of job substitution processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a movement control process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a function judgment process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a load determination process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of self-propelled apparatus control processing. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which the CPU which the MFP has in 2nd Embodiment has. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the fixed device control process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the job state determination processing in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the apparatus state determination process in 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, the detailed explanation about them will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image processing system according to one of the embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the image processing system 1 includes a multifunction device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”) 100, 100A that functions as an image forming apparatus, a server 200 that functions as a management device, and a self-propelled apparatus 300, 301. 302 and. The MFPs 100 and 100A are examples of fixing devices having an image processing function, and the installation position is fixed. The server 200 is a general computer. The self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 are examples of self-propelled devices having an image processing function and capable of autonomous traveling.

The MFPs 100, 100A and the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 each have an image processing function. Here, the image processing function includes a scanning function for reading a document and outputting image data, and an image forming function for forming an image of image data on paper. Here, the case where the MFPs 100, 100A and the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 have the same image processing function will be described as an example, but the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 are images possessed by the MFPs 100, 100A. It may have a part of the processing function. For example, if any of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 has an image processing function that has only a scanning function for reading a document, or has only an image forming function for forming an image on paper, a scanning function and an image forming function. It may have and.

Further, the MFPs 100 and 100A may have a post-processing function as an image processing function. The post-processing function is a function for sorting, punching holes, stapling, and the like on the paper on which the image is formed. In this case, the image processing function possessed by any of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 has an image forming function and a post-processing function, a scanning function, an image forming function, and a post-processing function. There is.

The MFPs 100, 100A and the server 200 are connected to the network 3 and can communicate with each other. Further, the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 have a wireless communication function and are connected to the network 3 by communicating with the wireless station 5 connected to the network 3. Therefore, the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 can communicate with each other with the MFP 100, 100A and the server 200, respectively. The network 3 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. Further, the network 3 is not limited to the LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, or the like.

Although the figure shows an example in which two MFPs 100 and 100A are connected to the network 3, the number of devices is not limited to this, and may be one or more. Further, instead of the MFPs 100 and 100A, any device having a function of forming an image may be used, for example, a facsimile or a printer. Similarly, an example of three self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 will be described, but only one or more self-propelled devices may be used. Since the hardware and functions of the MFPs 100 and 100A are the same, the MFP100 will be described as an example in the following description unless otherwise specified. Further, the hardware and functions of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 may be different but may be the same. Here, a case where the self-propelled device 300 includes all the hardware and functions provided by each of the other self-propelled devices 301 and 302 will be described by taking the self-propelled device 301 as an example unless otherwise specified.

In the image processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the server 200 monitors the status of the MFPs 100 and 100A. For example, when the MFP 100 is in a predetermined state, the server 200 moves any of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302, for example, the self-propelled device 300 from the MFP 100 within a predetermined range. For example, the server 200 is in a state where an error occurs in the hardware resource included in the MFP 100 and the MFP 100 cannot execute the image processing function, or when the delay of the job submitted to the MFP 100 is predicted. The running device 300 is moved from the MFP 100 within a predetermined range. Therefore, even if an error has occurred in the hardware resources of the MFP 100, the user who tries to use the MFP 100 and moves to the position where the MFP 100 is arranged operates the self-propelled device 300 instead of the MFP 100. Since the image processing can be executed, it is not necessary to move from the MFP 100 to another device, for example, the MFP 100A. Further, even if the job submitted to the MFP 100 is delayed, the user who tries to use the MFP 100 and moves to the position where the MFP 100 is arranged operates the self-propelled device 300 instead of the MFP 100 to perform image processing. Since it can be executed, it is not necessary to move from the MFP 100 to another device, the MFP 100A.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server in one of the present embodiments. With reference to FIG. 2, each of the servers 200 is connected to the bus 208 and has a CPU 201 for controlling the entire server 200 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 for storing a program or the like executed by the CPU 201. , RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 used as a work area of CPU 201, network I / F 204 for connecting server 200 to network 3, hard disk drive (HDD) 205 as a large-capacity storage device, and display unit 206. The operation unit 207 that accepts the input of the user's operation, and the external storage device 209 are included.

The network I / F 204 communicates with the MFPs 100, 100A and the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 connected to the network 3 by a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol). The protocol for communication is not particularly limited, and any protocol can be used. Further, the network 3 to which the network I / F 204 is connected is, for example, a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. Further, the network 3 is not limited to the LAN, and may be a network using a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the like. Further, the network 3 may be connected to the Internet. Therefore, the server 200 can communicate with a computer connected to the Internet.

The external storage device 209 is equipped with a CD-ROM Compact Disk Read Only Memory) 210 that stores the program. The CPU 201 loads the program stored in the CD-ROM 210 into the RAM 203 via the external storage device 209 and executes the program. The recording medium for storing the program is not limited to the CD-ROM210, but is not limited to a CD-ROM210, but is a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versaille Disc)), an IC card, and the like. It may be an optical card, a mask ROM, a semiconductor memory such as an EPROM (Erasable Program ROM), or the like. Further, the program stored in the HDD 205 may be loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. In this case, the server 200 may download the program from another computer connected to the network 3 and store the program in the HDD 205. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 201, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP in one of the present embodiments. With reference to FIG. 3, the MFP 100 includes a main circuit 110, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, an automatic document transfer device 120 for transporting a document to the document reading unit 130, and a document reading unit 130. An image forming unit 140 for forming an image on paper or the like based on image data to be read and output, a feeding unit 150 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 140, a post-processing unit 155, and a user interface. As an operation panel 160, and the like.

The automatic document transporting device 120 automatically transports a plurality of documents set on the document feeding tray one by one to a predetermined document reading position set on the platen glass of the document scanning unit 130, and scans the documents. The original whose original image is read by the unit 130 is ejected onto the original paper ejection tray. The document reading unit 130 includes a light source that irradiates the document conveyed to the document reading position with light and a photoelectric conversion element that receives the light reflected by the document, and scans the document image according to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data which is an electric signal and outputs the light to the image forming unit 140. The paper feed unit 150 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 140.

The image forming unit 140 forms an image by a well-known electrophotographic method, and the image data input from the document reading unit 130 is subjected to various data processing such as shading correction, and the image data after the data processing is performed. Alternatively, an image is formed on the paper conveyed by the paper feed unit 150 based on the image data received from the outside.

The post-processing unit 155 executes a sort process for rearranging and ejecting one or more sheets on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 140, a punch process for punching holes, and a staple process for driving staples.

The main circuit 110 includes a CPU 111, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, a hard disk drive (HDD) 115 as a large-capacity storage device, a facsimile unit 116, an external storage device 117, and the like. including. The CPU 111 is connected to the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the post-processing unit 155, and the operation panel 160, and controls the entire MFP 100.

The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. Further, the RAM 114 temporarily stores the scanned images continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

The facsimile unit 116 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits facsimile data to or receives facsimile data from PSTN. The facsimile unit 116 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 115, or converts it into image data that can be printed by the image forming unit 140 and outputs it to the image forming unit 140. As a result, the image forming unit 140 forms an image of the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 116 on paper. Further, the facsimile unit 116 converts the data (read image) that the document reading unit 130 reads and outputs the document or the data stored in the HDD 115 into facsimile data and transmits the data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the PSTN. ..

The communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting the MFP 100 to the network 3. The communication I / F unit 112 communicates with other MFPs 100A, the server 200, and the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 connected to the network 3 by a communication protocol such as TCP or FTP. The protocol for communication is not particularly limited, and any protocol can be used. Further, the network 3 to which the communication I / F unit 112 is connected is not limited to the LAN, and may be a network using WAN, PSTN, or the like. Further, when the network 3 is connected to the Internet, the MFP 100 can communicate with a computer connected to the Internet.

The external storage device 117 is controlled by the CPU 111, and the CD-ROM 118 is mounted on the external storage device 117. The CPU 111 can access the CD-ROM 118 via the external storage device 117. The CPU 111 loads the program recorded in the CD-ROM 118 mounted on the external storage device 117 into the RAM 114 and executes the program. The program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 118, and the program stored in the HDD 115 may be loaded into the RAM 114 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the network 3 via the network 3 connected to the communication I / F unit 112 rewrites the program stored in the HDD 115 of the MFP 100, or adds a new program. You may write it. Further, the MFP 100 may download a program from another computer connected to the network and store the program in the HDD 115. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 111, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the CD-ROM 118, but may be an optical disk or a semiconductor memory.

The operation panel 160 includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit 163. The display unit 161 is a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro-Lumineluminescence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information on acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 163 includes a touch panel 165 and a hard key unit 167 composed of a plurality of keys. Each of the plurality of keys included in the hard key unit 167 includes a contact switch and is connected to the CPU 111. When pressed by the user, the hard key closes the contacts and closes the circuit connected to the CPU 111. The hard key closes the circuit while it is pressed by the user operating the MFP 100, and opens the circuit while it is not pressed by the user.

When a plurality of keys of the hard key unit 167 are pressed, the operation unit 163 accepts input of data such as instructions, characters, and numbers corresponding to the pressed keys. The touch panel 165 is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the display unit 161 and outputs the coordinates of the position pressed by the user to the CPU 111. The touch panel 165 detects a position designated by the user with a finger or a stylus pen, and outputs the coordinates of the detected position to the CPU 111. The touch panel 165 is preferably the same size as or larger than the display surface of the display unit 161. Since the touch panel 165 is provided so as to be superimposed on the display unit 161, when the user points to the display surface of the display unit 161, the touch panel 165 transfers the coordinates of the position designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 161 to the CPU 111. Output. As the touch panel 165, for example, a resistance film method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, an electromagnetic induction method, and a capacitance method can be used, and the method is not limited.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the self-propelled device according to one of the present embodiments. With reference to FIG. 4, the self-propelled device 300 operates the main circuit 110A, the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, and the post-processing unit 155. It includes a panel 160, a power supply control unit 170, and a traveling device 180. The automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the post-processing unit 155, and the operation panel 160 are the same as those provided in the MFP 100. Therefore, the description is not repeated here. The main circuit 110A includes a CPU 111A that controls the entire self-propelled device 300, a wireless communication unit 112A, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, an HDD 115, an external storage device 117, and a position sensor 119. The ROM 113, RAM 114, HDD 115, and external storage device 117 are the same as those included in the main circuit 110 included in the MFP 100. Therefore, the description is not repeated here.

The CPU 111A is connected to an automatic document transfer device 120, a document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140, a paper feeding unit 150, a post-processing unit 155, an operation panel 160, a power supply control unit 170, and a traveling device 180, and is connected to the self-propelled device 300. Control the whole. The wireless communication unit 112A is capable of wirelessly communicating with the wireless station 5, and is an interface for connecting the CPU 111A to the network 3.

The position sensor 119 is a Global Positioning System receiver, and measures the current position by receiving radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites. The position sensor 119 outputs a value indicating the measured current position, for example, latitude and longitude to the CPU 111A.

The CPU 111A uses the map data stored in the HDD 115 to specify a position on the map based on the position specified by the position information input from the position sensor 119. Further, when the destination is designated as the position on the map by the user, the CPU 111A searches for a route from the current position to the destination based on the map data, and outputs the searched route to the traveling device 180.

The traveling device 180 is a chassis provided in the lower part of the main body of the self-propelled device 300, and includes a driving wheel and a steering wheel. The traveling device 180 includes a driving motor for driving the driving wheels, a steering motor for steering the steering wheels to the left and right, and a traveling control unit 181. The travel control unit 181 is controlled by the CPU 111A and drives a drive motor and a steering motor to drive the travel device 180.

After outputting the route to the traveling device 180, the CPU 111A monitors whether or not the route is deviated based on the current position detected by the position sensor 119 until the route arrives at the destination. When the deviation is detected, the route is searched again and the corrected route is output to the traveling device 180. In addition to the position sensor 119, a sensor for detecting an obstacle may be mounted. Sensors for detecting obstacles are, for example, proximity sensors and distance sensors. In this case, it is possible to move to the destination by avoiding obstacles to the destination, so that it is not necessary to search for a route.

The power supply control unit 170 includes a power supply unit 171 and a battery 173. The power supply unit 171 supplies the electric power supplied from the commercial power source to the entire self-propelled device 300 when connected to the commercial power source. The battery 173 stores the electric power supplied from the power supply unit 171 and supplies the stored electric power to the entire self-propelled device 300 in a state where the power supply unit 171 is not connected to the commercial power source. As a result, while the self-propelled device 300 is moving, the main circuit 110, the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the post-processing unit 155, the operation panel 160, and the battery 173. Since the electric power is supplied, the self-propelled device 300 can execute the image processing during the self-propelled operation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the function of the CPU included in the MFP in the first embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 5 is a function realized by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 executes a fixed device control program stored in the ROM 113, the HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. The fixed device control program is a part of the image processing program.

With reference to FIG. 5, the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 includes an alternative instruction receiving unit 51, a job receiving unit 53, a job execution unit 55, a remote control unit 57, and a status notification unit 59.

The job reception unit 53 accepts a job for execution by the job execution unit 55. The job receiving unit 53 displays a setting screen on the display unit 161 and accepts a job when the user inputs an operation to the operation unit 163 according to the setting screen. Further, the job receiving unit 53 accepts the received job when the communication I / F unit 112 receives the job from the computer connected via the network 3. Further, when the facsimile unit 116 receives the facsimile data from another facsimile device, the job reception unit 53 accepts a job for processing the facsimile data. The job reception unit 53 instructs the job execution unit 55 to execute the accepted job in response to the acceptance of the job.

The job execution unit 55 executes a job input from the job reception unit 53. Specifically, the job execution unit 55 executes the image processing defined by the job. Jobs that can be executed by the job execution unit 55 include a document reading job, an image forming job, a data transmission / reception job, a facsimile transmission / reception job, and a data management job. The processing that can be executed by the job execution unit 55 is not limited to these, and may be less, or may include more types of processing.

The document reading job defines an image process in which the image data obtained by scanning the document by the document reading unit 130 is stored in the RAM 114. The image forming job defines an image process for forming an image of data on the paper supplied from the feeding unit 150 to the image forming unit 140. The data transmission / reception job is an image process for receiving data from a computer connected to the network via the communication I / F unit 112, or data stored in the HDD 115 or the external storage device 117 via the communication I / F unit 112. Defines the image processing to be sent to the computer connected to the network. The facsimile transmission / reception job defines an image process for transmitting an image of facsimile data to the facsimile unit 116 or an image process for receiving an image of facsimile data from the outside. The data management job includes image processing for storing data in the HDD 115 or the external storage device 117, image processing for changing or deleting the data stored in the HDD 115 or the external storage device 117, and data stored in the HDD 115 or the external storage device 117. The image processing that selects one or more of them as the processing target is determined. Image processing that changes data includes image processing that edits data and image processing that changes the format.

Further, the job execution unit 55 can execute a job in which two or more of a document reading job, an image forming job, a data transmission / reception job, a facsimile transmission / reception job, and a data management job are combined. For example, by combining the document reading job and the image forming job, it becomes a copy job that defines the image processing for forming an image of the data obtained by reading the document. Further, when the data receiving job and the image forming job are combined, the print job defines the image processing for forming the image of the data received from the computer.

The job execution unit 55 outputs the job input from the job reception unit 53 to the status notification unit 59. The job execution unit 55 executes jobs in the order of input from the job reception unit 53. While the job execution unit 55 is executing a job, another new job may be input from the job reception unit 53. There is a combination of jobs that the job execution unit 55 can execute in parallel, and a combination of jobs that the job execution unit 55 cannot execute in parallel. If the hardware resources used to execute two jobs are the same, the two jobs cannot be executed in parallel, but if the hardware resources used by the two jobs are different, the two jobs can be executed in parallel. Can be run with. For example, since the image forming job uses the image forming unit 140 and the paper feeding unit 150, and the document reading job uses the automatic document conveying device 120 and the document reading unit 130, the image forming job and the document reading job are arranged in parallel. Can be run with.

The job execution unit 55 executes the first job and the second job in parallel if the first job being executed and the second job input from the job reception unit 53 can be executed in parallel. However, if it cannot be executed in parallel, the second job in the order received is set in the queue, and the second job is executed after the first job is completed.

The status notification unit 59 notifies the server 200 of the status in which the job execution unit 55 executes the image processing defined by the job. The state for executing image processing includes a device state and a job state. The status notification unit 59 includes a device status notification unit 61 and a job status notification unit 63. The device status notification unit 61 detects the device status and notifies the server 200 of the detected device status. The device state indicates the state of the hardware resource included in the MFP 100. The hardware resources included in the MFP 100 include an automatic document transfer device 120, a document reading unit 130, an image forming unit 140, a paper feeding unit 150, a post-processing unit 155, an operation panel 160, a communication I / F unit 112, an HDD 115, and a facsimile unit 116. And an external storage device 117. The state of the hardware resource is a state in which image processing cannot be executed, and includes an error state in which a defect has occurred in the hardware resource and a shortage state in which consumables are out of stock.

Specifically, the device status notification unit 61 monitors the hardware resource, and when detecting a defect that has occurred in a part of the hardware resource, includes resource identification information of the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred. When device status information is generated and a shortage of consumables used by hardware resources is detected, device status information including consumables identification information for identifying the shortage of consumables is generated. The device status notification unit 61 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to notify the server 200 of the device status in response to detecting the device status, and transmits the device status information indicating the device status to the server 200. Send. Further, the device status notification unit 61 outputs the device status information to the remote control unit 57.

The job status notification unit 63 detects the job status and notifies the server 200 of the detected job status. The job status indicates the status of the job accepted by the MFP 100. The job status indicates the date and time when the job ends. The job status notification unit 63 predicts the end time of each of the jobs being executed or scheduled to be executed by the job execution unit 55, and generates job status information including the predicted end time. Further, the job accepted by the job receiving unit 53 includes an end time setting job for which an end time is specified. When the job reception unit 53 accepts the end time setting job, the job status notification unit 63 includes job status information including the expected end time for the end time setting job and the end time set in the end time setting job. To generate. The job status notification unit 63 generates job status information in response to a job input to the job execution unit 55, and controls the communication I / F unit 112 to notify the server 200 of the job status. Job status information indicating the job status is transmitted to the server 200. Further, the job status notification unit 63 outputs the job status information to the remote control unit 57.

Here, the function of the server 200 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a CPU function included in the server. The function shown in FIG. 6 is a function realized by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the server 200 executes a movement control program stored in the ROM 202, the HDD 205, or the CD-ROM 210. The movement control program is a part of the image processing program.

With reference to FIG. 6, the CPU 201 included in the server 200 includes a state acquisition unit 250, a target device determination unit 260, an alternative device determination unit 270, a movement control unit 280, and an alternative instruction unit 290. The state acquisition unit 250 acquires a state for each of the MFPs 100 and 100A to execute image processing. The state acquisition unit 250 includes a device state acquisition unit 251 and a job state acquisition unit 253. The device status acquisition unit 251 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to request each of the MFPs 100 and 100A to transmit the device status information, and receives the device status information transmitted by each of the MFPs 100 and 100A. The device status information is information indicating the device status of each of the MFPs 100 and 100A. When the device status acquisition unit 251 receives the device status information, the device status acquisition unit 251 outputs a set of the received device status information and the device identification information for identifying the device that has transmitted the device status information to the target device determination unit 260. do.

The job status acquisition unit 253 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to request each of the MFPs 100 and 100A to transmit the job status information, and receives the job status information transmitted by each of the MFPs 100 and 100A. The job status information is information indicating the job status of each of the MFPs 100 and 100A. When the job status acquisition unit 253 receives the job status information, the target device determination unit 260 sets a set of the received job status information and the device identification information for identifying the device that has transmitted the job status information. Output.

The target device determination unit 260 determines the target device from among the image forming devices, in which the MFPs 100 and 100A, to which the position to be arranged is fixed. The target device determination unit 260 determines a device that cannot execute the job or a device that is expected to be delayed in executing the job as the target device. When the target device determination unit 260 determines the target device, the target device identification unit 260 outputs device identification information for identifying the target device to the alternative instruction unit 290.

The target device determination unit 260 includes a function determination unit 261 and a load determination unit 263. The function determination unit 261 performs at least one of one or more image processing that can be executed by the device for each of the MFPs 100 and 100A based on the set of the device state information and the device identification information input from the device state acquisition unit 251. Determine if it is infeasible. When the device status information indicates an error status in which a problem has occurred in a hardware resource, the function determination unit 261 determines the device specified by the device identification information paired with the device status information as the target device. Further, when determining the target device, the function determination unit 261 specifies the image processing executed by the hardware resource specified by the resource identification information included in the error state. Then, the function determination unit 261 outputs a set of the device identification information of the target device and the processing identification information for identifying the specified image processing to the alternative device determination unit 270.

Further, when the device status information indicates a shortage state in which consumables are out of stock, the function determination unit 261 determines the device specified by the device identification information paired with the device status information as the target device. Further, when determining the target device, the function determination unit 261 specifies the image processing using the consumables specified by the consumables identification information included in the shortage state. Then, the function determination unit 261 outputs a set of the device identification information of the target device and the processing identification information for identifying the specified image processing to the alternative device determination unit 270.

The load determination unit 263 determines whether or not there is a job for which a delay of a predetermined time or longer is predicted for each of the MFPs 100 and 100A based on the set of the device status information and the job status information input from the job status acquisition unit 253. To judge. The job status information indicates the time when the job is scheduled to end for each of a plurality of jobs. The load determination unit 263 determines that if there is a job whose execution time from the start to the end is longer than a predetermined time, the job after the job whose execution time is longer than the predetermined time is delayed, and the job status information is combined with the job status information. The device specified by the device identification information is determined as the target device. Then, the load determination unit 263 outputs the device identification information of the target device to the alternative device determination unit 270.

Further, the load determination unit 263 determines that the end time setting job is delayed if the set end time is later than the predicted end time for the job indicating that the job status information is the end time setting job. Then, the device specified by the device identification information paired with the job status information is determined as the target device. When determining the target device, the load determination unit 263 sets the device identification information of the target device and the processing identification information for identifying the image processing defined in the end time setting job to the alternative device determination unit 270. Output.

When the set of the device identification information and the processing identification information of the target device is input from the function determination unit 261, the alternative device determination unit 270 is a device capable of autonomous traveling, in this case, of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. Is determined as an alternative device to replace the target device. When the function determination unit 261 inputs a set of the device identification information and the processing identification information of the target device, the alternative device determination unit 270 is in a state in which the target device cannot be executed among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302. The device that can at least execute the image processing that has become is determined as the alternative device. The alternative device determination unit 270 is among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 when the set of the device identification information and the processing identification information of the target device or the device identification information of the target device is input from the load determination unit 263. , Determine as an alternative device a device that can at least execute jobs that are expected to be delayed on the target device.

The alternative device determination unit 270 includes a function identification unit 271. The function identification unit 271 is a hardware for executing image processing identified by the processing identification information when a set of the device identification information and the processing identification information of the target device is input from the function determination unit 261 or the load determination unit 263. Identify the hardware resource. Further, when the device identification information of the target device is input from the load determination unit 263 and the processing identification information is not input, the function specifying unit 271 identifies the same hardware resource as the hardware resource included in the target device.

The alternative device determination unit 270 determines, among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, the device having the hardware resource specified by the function specifying unit 271 as the alternative device. When there are a plurality of devices having the hardware resources specified by the function specifying unit 271, the alternative device determining unit 270 inputs position information indicating the current positions of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 from the movement control unit 280. Therefore, among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302, the device closest to the target device is determined as the alternative device. Further, among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, it is preferable to exclude the device that is already a substitute device for another device. When the alternative device determination unit 270 determines the alternative device, the device identification information of the alternative device is output to the alternative instruction unit 290, and the movement instruction is output to the movement control unit 280. The movement instruction includes device identification information of the target device and device identification information of the alternative device.

When the device identification information of the target device is input from the target device determination unit 260, the alternative instruction unit 290 inputs the device identification information of the alternative device from the alternative device determination unit 270. When the device identification information of the target device is input from the target device determination unit 260, the substitute instruction unit 290 transmits a substitute command to the target device. The alternative command is a command instructing the target device to have the substitute device substitute for the execution of the job. Here, a case where the MFP 100 is determined as the target device and the self-propelled device 300 is determined as the alternative device will be specifically described as an example. The alternative instruction unit 290 controls the network I / F 204 and transmits an alternative command to the MFP 100 determined by the target device. The alternative command includes device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 determined as the alternative device.

The movement control unit 280 controls the movement of each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302. The movement control unit 280 includes a position detection unit 281. The position detection unit 281 controls the network I / F 204 to detect the current positions of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302, respectively. When each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 transmits the position information indicating the detected position to the server 200, the position detection unit 281 transmits the network I / F 204 from each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. When the position information is received, the current position of the device that has transmitted the position information is detected. Further, the position detection unit 281 may request the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 to transmit the position information at predetermined time intervals. In this case, when the network I / F 204 receives the position information that each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 returns in response to the request, the position detection unit 281 detects the current position of the device that has transmitted the position information. When the position detection unit 281 detects the current position of each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, the position detection unit 281 outputs a set of the device identification information and the position information to the alternative device determination unit 270.

The movement control unit 280 commands the alternative device specified by the device identification information of the alternative device included in the movement instruction to move in response to the movement instruction input from the alternative device determination unit 270. Here, a case where the MFP 100 is determined as the target device and the self-propelled device 300 is determined as the alternative device will be specifically described as an example. The movement control unit 280 controls the network I / F 204 and transmits a movement command to the self-propelled device 300 determined as the alternative device. The move command is a command for instructing the movement to the vicinity of the position where the target device is arranged in order to execute the job on behalf of the target device. The movement command includes the device identification information of the MFP 100 determined for the target device.

Here, referring to FIG. 5 again, when the communication I / F unit 112 receives the alternative command transmitted from the server 200, the alternative instruction receiving unit 51 of the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 issues the alternative command to the remote control unit. Output to 57. In the remote control unit 57, an alternative command is input from the alternative instruction receiving unit 51, and device status information or job status information is input from the status notification unit 59. In response to the input of the alternative command, the remote control unit 57 determines the device specified by the device identification information included in the alternative command as the alternative device, and remotely controls the alternative device. Specifically, the remote control unit 57 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to establish a communication path with the alternative device, and causes the alternative device to execute the job accepted by the job reception unit 53. Send the command. Even if the remote control unit 57 transmits a communication route establishment request to the alternative device in response to the input of the alternative command from the alternative instruction receiving unit 51, the remote control unit 57 establishes the communication path with the alternative device. Alternatively, the remote control unit 57 establishes a communication path with the alternative device in response to receiving a communication path establishment request from the alternative device after the alternative command is input from the alternative instruction receiving unit 51. You may do so.

When the device status information is input from the status notification unit 59 at the stage where the alternative command is input from the alternative instruction receiving unit 51, the remote control unit 57 waits after the communication path with the alternative device is established. Remotely control the alternative device until the problem identified in the device status information is resolved. For example, when the device status information includes the resource identification information, the remote control unit 57 remotely controls the alternative device until the defect of the hardware resource specified by the resource identification information included in the device status information is resolved. .. When the device status information includes the consumables specifying information, the remote control unit 57 remotely controls the alternative device until the consumables specified by the consumables specifying information included in the device status information are replenished. The remote control unit 57 is a job accepted by the job reception unit 53 when the device status information is input from the status notification unit 59 at the stage where the alternative command is input from the alternative instruction reception unit 51. In order to cause the alternative device to execute a job that has not been executed by the job execution unit 55, a command requesting execution of the job is transmitted to the alternative device via the communication I / F unit 112. The remote control unit 57 has been established with an alternative device when the defect of the hardware resource specified by the resource identification information is resolved or when the consumables specified by the consumables identification information are replenished. Disconnect the communication path.

Further, when the job status information is input from the status notification unit 59 at the stage where the alternative command is input from the alternative instruction receiving unit 51, the remote control unit 57 establishes a communication path with the alternative device. Then, remotely control the alternative device until the job delay is resolved. If the end time setting job exists among the jobs accepted by the job reception unit 53 at the stage where the alternative command is input from the alternative instruction reception unit 51, the remote control unit 57 substitutes the end time setting job. Sends a command requesting execution of the end time setting job to the alternative device via the communication I / F unit 112. Further, in the remote operation unit 57, at the stage where the alternative command is input from the alternative instruction receiving unit 51, among the jobs accepted by the job receiving unit 53, the jobs whose execution time from the start to the end is longer than a predetermined time are included. If it exists, in order to cause the alternative device to execute the job after the job whose execution time is longer than the specified time, the substitute device is instructed to request the execution of the job after the job whose execution time is longer than the predetermined time. It is transmitted via the communication I / F unit 112. When the end time setting job or the job whose execution time is later than the predetermined time is executed by the alternative device, the remote control unit 57 disconnects the communication path established with the alternative device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a CPU function included in the self-propelled device. The function shown in FIG. 7 is a function realized by the CPU 111A when the CPU 111A included in the self-propelled device 300 executes a self-propelled device control program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. The self-propelled device control program is a part of the image processing program.

With reference to FIG. 7, the CPU 111A included in the self-propelled device 300 includes a movement instruction reception unit 351, a job reception unit 353, a job execution unit 355, a movement control unit 357, and a position information transmission unit 359. ..

The job reception unit 353 accepts a job to be executed by the job execution unit 355. The job reception unit 353 displays the setting screen on the display unit 161 and accepts a job when the user inputs an operation to the operation unit 163 according to the setting screen. Further, the job reception unit 353 receives the received job when the wireless communication unit 112A receives the job from the computer connected via the network 3. The job reception unit 353 instructs the job execution unit 355 to execute the accepted job in response to the acceptance of the job.

The job execution unit 355 executes the job input from the job reception unit 353. Specifically, the job execution unit 355 executes the image processing defined by the job. Jobs that can be executed by the job execution unit 355 include a document reading job, an image forming job, a data transmission / reception job, and a data management job. The processing that can be executed by the job execution unit 355 is not limited to these, and may be less, or may include more types of processing.

When the wireless communication unit 112A receives the movement command transmitted from the server 200, the movement instruction reception unit 351 outputs the movement command to the job reception unit 353 and the movement control unit 357.

The job reception unit 353 includes a remote control unit 361. The remote control unit 361 is remotely controlled by a device specified by the device identification information included in the movement command in response to the movement command input from the movement instruction reception unit 351. Here, a case where the movement command includes the device identification information of the MFP 100 will be specifically described as an example. The remote control unit 361 controls the wireless communication unit 112A in response to the input of the movement command, and establishes a communication path with the MFP 100 specified by the device identification information included in the movement command. When the communication path is established, the MFP 100 may send a job. When the wireless communication unit 112A receives a job from the MFP 100, the received job is output to the job execution unit 355, and the job execution unit 355 is made to execute the job.

The remote control unit 361 causes the job execution unit 355 to execute the job input from the MFP 100 while the communication path with the MFP 100 is established. The job reception unit 353 receives a job received by the wireless communication unit 112A from the MFP 100 from the time when the movement command is input from the movement instruction reception unit 351 until the communication path established with the MFP 100 is disconnected. Although it accepts, the wireless communication unit 112A does not accept a job received from a device other than the MFP 100, for example, a computer connected to the network 3. However, the job reception unit 353 accepts a job input by the user to the operation unit 163.

The movement control unit 357 receives a movement command from the movement instruction reception unit 351 and sets the self-propelled device 300 within a predetermined range from the position where the MFP 100 specified by the device identification information included in the movement command is arranged. Move in. Specifically, the movement control unit 357 sets the destination within a predetermined range from the MFP 100 specified by the device identification information included in the movement command, and from the current position based on the map data stored in the HDD 115. The route to the destination is searched, and the traveling device 180 is controlled to instruct the movement along the searched route. As a result, the self-propelled device 300 moves to the vicinity of the position where the MFP 100 is arranged.

The position information transmission unit 359 controls the position sensor 119 to acquire the current position at predetermined time intervals, and transmits the position information including the value indicating the current position measured by the position sensor 119 to the server 200. , Controls the wireless communication unit 112A.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of information flow in an image processing system. In FIG. 8, the time sound flow is shown from top to bottom, and the processing of the MFP 100, the server 200, and the self-propelled device 300, which are fixed devices, is shown in order from the left. With reference to FIG. 8, the self-propelled device 300 transmits the position information indicating the current position to the server 200. Here, the self-propelled device 300 is shown as an example, but similarly, the position information indicating the current position is transmitted to the server 200 for the other self-propelled devices 301 and 302. Therefore, the server 200 always detects the positions of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302, respectively.

On the other hand, the MFP 100 transmits the status information to the server 200. The state information indicating the state for the MFP 100 to execute the image processing is transmitted to the server 200. Similarly, in the other MFP 100A, the state information indicating the state for executing the image processing is transmitted to the server 200. Therefore, the server 200 always detects the state for executing the image processing for each of the MFPs 100 and 100A. The state for executing the image processing includes the device state information indicating the failure of the hardware resource and the job state information predicted by the job delay.

Then, when the server 200 detects a state in which image processing cannot be executed or a state in which the job is delayed in the MFP 100 based on the state information received from the MFP 100, the server 200 can execute the job on behalf of the MFP 100. Determine an alternative device. Here, a case where the self-propelled device 300 is determined as an alternative device is shown as an example. In this case, the server 200 transmits a movement command to the self-propelled device 300 and a substitute command to the MFP 100. The self-propelled device 300 that receives the movement command identifies the MFP 100 from the device identification information included in the movement command, and starts moving within a predetermined range from the position where the MFP 100 is arranged.

The MFP 100 that receives the alternative command identifies the self-propelled device 300 from the device identification information included in the alternative command, and establishes a communication path with the self-propelled device 300. Then, a self-propelled device can execute a job that cannot be executed, an end time setting job that cannot be completed by the end time set in the end time setting job, or a job that is executed after a job whose execution time is longer than a predetermined time. It sends to 300 and causes the self-propelled device 300 to execute the job. As a result, when a job that cannot be executed occurs in the MFP 100 due to a failure of hardware resources or a shortage of consumables, a job that is submitted to the MFP 100 but is not executed, or a job that is delayed for a predetermined time or longer is a self-propelled device. Run at 300. Therefore, when the user approaches the MFP 100 in order to operate the MFP 100, the MFP 100 is out of order, or the load on the MFP 100 is heavy and a predetermined time is required to start a subsequent job. Even so, since the self-propelled device 300 that has moved to the vicinity of the MFP 100 can execute the job, the self-propelled device 300 can execute the job and acquire the printed matter to be output.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the fixing device control process according to the first embodiment. The fixed device control process is a process executed by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 executes a fixed device control program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. The fixed device control program is a part of the image processing program. With reference to FIG. 9, the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 determines whether or not the job has been accepted (step S01). If the job is accepted, the process proceeds to step S02, otherwise the process proceeds to step S04. The jobs accepted here are jobs determined according to the operation input to the operation unit 163 by the user, jobs received by the communication I / F unit 112 from the computer, and facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 116 from another facsimile device. Includes jobs.

In the next step S02, the job state determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S03. The details of the job state determination process will be described later, but it is a process of determining whether or not a delay occurs in the job or another job due to the acceptance of the job in step S01. In the next step S03, the job accepted in step S01 is added to the queue, and the process proceeds to step S04.

In step S04, the device state determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S03. The details of the device state determination process will be described later, but it is a process for determining the state of the hardware resource of the MFP 100. The state of the hardware resource includes the state of the hardware resource and the state of the consumables. The state of the hardware resource indicates whether the hardware resource is in a normal state or an abnormal error state. The state of the consumables indicates either a state in which the consumables are not out of stock or a state in which the consumables are out of stock. If an error status or out-of-stock status is determined in the device status determination process, the status flag is set to error.

In the next step S05, it is determined whether or not the alternative command has been received. If the communication I / F unit 112 receives the alternative command from the server 200, the process proceeds to step S06, otherwise the process proceeds to step S08. The alternative directive includes device identification information for identifying the alternative device. Here, a case where the alternative command includes the device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 will be described as an example.

In step S06, a communication path is established with the alternative device. The communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to establish a communication path with the self-propelled device 300 which is an alternative device. Then, the operation mode is switched to the alternative mode (step S07), and the process proceeds to step S08. The operation mode is set to either a single mode or an alternative mode, and is set to the alternative mode while the communication path is established with the alternative device, and the independent mode is set while the communication path is not established with the alternative device. Is set to.

In step S08, the process is branched according to the operation mode. If the operation mode is set to the single mode, the process proceeds to step S09, and if the operation mode is set to the alternative mode, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the job substitution process is executed, and the process is returned to step S01. Details of job substitution processing will be described later.

In step S09, it is determined whether or not the status flag is normally set. The operation mode is set to either normal or error in the device state determination process executed in step S04. If the status flag is set normally, the process proceeds to step S10, but if not, the process returns to step S01. This is because the job cannot be executed when the status flag is set to error.

In step S10, it is determined whether or not the job is being executed. If the job is being executed, the process proceeds to step S11, but if not, the process returns to step S01. In step S11, it is determined whether or not there is a waiting job. The job added to the queue in step S03 is a wait job. If the waiting job exists, the process proceeds to step S12, but if not, the process returns to step S01. In step S12, the job added to the queue first is executed, and the process is returned to step S01. As a result, the jobs submitted to the MFP 100 can be executed in the order in which they were submitted. In some cases, multiple jobs can be executed in parallel. For example, while executing a print job that forms an image of print data, it may be possible to execute a scan job that reads a document. Therefore, when the standby job is a scan job, even if it is determined that the print job is being executed in step S10, the process may proceed to step S12 and the scan job may be executed. ..

In the present embodiment, when the status flag is an error, the job is not executed by the MFP 100, but when a part of the hardware resources is an error, the hardware resources that operate normally are not executed. May exist. In this case, since the job using the hardware resource that operates normally can be executed, the process may be advanced to step S10 when executing the job that uses the hardware resource that operates normally. .. Further, the portion of the job that uses the hardware resources that normally operate may be executed by the MFP 100, and the remaining portion of the job may be executed by the self-propelled device 300 that is an alternative device. For example, when the job is a copy job, the MFP 100 executes a document reading process for reading the document, transmits the data obtained by scanning the document to the self-propelled device 300, and forms an image of the data on the self-propelled device 300. The image formation process to be performed is executed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the job state determination process according to the first embodiment. The job state determination process is a process executed in step S02 of FIG. The job is accepted before the job status determination process is executed (step S01). In the job status determination process, the job accepted in step S01 is targeted for processing. Here, the job to be processed is called a reception job. With reference to FIG. 10, the CPU 111 predicts the time when the reception job will end, and advances the process to step S22. The time when the running job ends, the execution time of each waiting job added to the queue, and the execution time of the reception job are predicted, respectively, and the time when the reception job ends is predicted.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not the reception job is an end time setting job in which the set time is set as the end time. If the end time is set in the reception job, the process proceeds to step S23, but if not, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S23, it is determined whether or not the set time set in the reception job is later than the end time predicted in step S21. If the set time is later than the end time, the process proceeds to step S25, but if not, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, it is determined whether or not the delay flag is set. The delay flag is set in step S30 described later, and the delay flag is set when a long-time job is accepted. If the delay flag is set, the process proceeds to step S25, but if not, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S25, the reception job is set as the target job, and the process proceeds to step S26. Therefore, if the reception job is an end time setting job and the set time is after the predicted end time, or if the reception job is a job that is accepted after a long time job, the reception job is the target job. Set.

In step S26, job status information is generated and processing proceeds to step S27. Job status information including the job identification information for identifying the reception job set for the target job and the end time predicted in step S21 is generated. If the reception job set at the top of the target is an end time setting job, job status information including the set time is generated in addition to the job identification information and the end time. Then, the job status information is transmitted to the server 200 (step S27), and the process proceeds to step S28. The communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit job status information to the server 200.

In step S28, it is determined whether or not the execution time is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH. The execution time is a time predicted time from the start to the end of the reception job. If the execution time is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH, the process proceeds to step S29, but if not, the process is returned to the fixed device control process. In step S29, the reception job is set as a long-time job, and the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, the delay flag is set and the process is returned to the fixed device control process. The long-time job may or may not be set as the target job. Further, when the long-time job is accepted, the delay flag is set, so that the job accepted after the long-time job is set as the target job.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the device state determination process according to the first embodiment. The device state determination process is a process executed in step S04 of FIG. With reference to FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred in the hardware resource. If an error has occurred in the hardware resource, the process proceeds to step S33, but if not, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, it is determined whether or not the consumables are out of stock. If the consumables are out of stock, the process proceeds to step S33, otherwise the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the state flag is set normally, and the process is returned to the fixed device control process.

In step S33, the status flag is set to an error, and the process proceeds to step S34. Therefore, at least in the state where the hardware resource has an error or the consumables are out of stock, the state flag is set to the error, and the hardware resource has no error. , The status flag is set normally when no consumables are out of stock.

In step S34, device state information is generated and processing proceeds to step S35. If it is determined in step S31 that an error has occurred in the hardware resource, device state information including resource identification information for identifying the hardware resource in which the error has occurred is generated, and step S32. When it is determined that the consumables are out of stock, device status information including consumables identification information for identifying the out of stock consumables is generated. Then, the device status information is transmitted to the server 200 (step S35), and the process is returned to the fixed device control process. The communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit device status information to the server 200.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of job substitution processing. The job substitution process is a process executed in step S13 of FIG. Before the job substitution process is executed, the substitution command is received from the server 200 (step S05), and the communication path with the substitution device is established (step S06). Here, a case where the device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 is included as an alternative device in the alternative command and a communication path is established with the self-propelled device 300 will be described as an example.

With reference to FIG. 12, the CPU 111 determines whether or not a standby job exists (step S41). If the waiting job exists, the process proceeds to step S42, but if the wait job does not exist, the process proceeds to step S46.

In step S42, it is determined whether or not the standby job is set as the target job. When there are a plurality of wait jobs, the wait job added to the queue first is targeted for processing, and it is determined whether or not the wait job to be processed is set as the target job. If the standby job is set as the target job, the process proceeds to step S44, but if not, the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, it is determined whether or not the state flag is normally set. If the status flag is set normally, the process proceeds to step S45, but if not, the process proceeds to step S44.

In step S44, the standby job is transmitted to the alternative device, and the process proceeds to step S49. Specifically, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit the standby job to the self-propelled device 300 which is an alternative device. As a result, the self-propelled device 300 executes the standby job.

When the process proceeds to step S45, the standby job is not the target job and the status flag is normally set. In this case, there is no error in the hardware resources, no consumables are out of stock, and there is no delay in the standby job. Therefore, in step S45, the wait job is executed and the process proceeds to step S49.

In step S49, it is determined whether or not the job has been completed for a long time. If the long-time job is not set as the target job, it is executed in step S45. If the job has been executed for a long time and has been completed, the process proceeds to step S50, but if not, the process is returned to the fixed device control process. In step S50, the delay flag is cleared and the process is returned to the fixed device control process. After the long-time job ends, it is expected that there will be no delay in the jobs accepted after that, so clear the delay flag so that the job accepted after the long-time job ends is not set as the target job. To make it. If the long-time job is not set as the target job, if no error occurs in the hardware resources, or if the consumables are not out of stock, the job is executed by the MFP100, but an error occurs in the hardware resources. In step S44, a long-time job may be transmitted to the self-propelled device 300, which is an alternative device, and executed by the self-propelled device 300.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S41 that the waiting job does not exist, it is determined in step S46 whether or not the status flag is normally set. If the status flag is set normally, the process proceeds to step S47, but if not, the process returns to the fixed device control process.

In step S47, the operation mode is switched to the independent mode, and the process proceeds to step S48. In step S48, the communication path established with the self-propelled device 300, which is an alternative device, is disconnected, and the process proceeds to step S49. When the status flag is set normally, when the error that occurred in the hardware resource is resolved, or when the consumable item that was out of stock is replenished. When the process proceeds to step S47, it is because there is no waiting job, there is no delayed job, and the MFP 100 can execute the job. Further, by disconnecting the communication path established with the self-propelled device 300 which is an alternative device, it is possible to detect that the self-propelled device 300 no longer needs to execute a job on behalf of the MFP 100. ..

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the movement control process. The movement control process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the server 200 executes a movement control program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 205, or CD-ROM 210. The movement control program is a part of the image processing program. With reference to FIG. 13, the CPU 201 included in the server 200 determines whether or not the location information has been received (step S201). Specifically, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the network I / F 204 has received the position information from any of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302. If the position information is received, the process proceeds to step S202, otherwise the process proceeds to step S204. Here, a case where the position information is received from the self-propelled device 300 will be described as an example.

In step S202, the device that has transmitted the location information is specified. Here, since the self-propelled device 300 transmits the position information, the self-propelled device 300 is specified. Then, the position of the specified self-propelled device 300 is stored (step S203), and the process proceeds to step S204. The position information and the device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 are associated with each other and stored in the HDD 205.

In step S204, it is determined whether or not the device status information has been received. Specifically, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the network I / F 204 has received the device status information from any of the fixed devices, the MFP 100 and 100A. If the device status information is received, the process proceeds to step S205, otherwise the process proceeds to step S206. Here, a case where device status information is received from the MFP 100 will be described as an example. In the next step S205, the function determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S208. The details of the function determination process will be described later, but it is a process of determining an image process in a state in which the MFP 100 that has transmitted the device status information cannot execute.

In step S206, it is determined whether or not the job status information has been received. Specifically, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the network I / F 204 has received job status information from any of the fixed devices, the MFP 100 and 100A. If the job status information is received, the process proceeds to step S207, but if not, the process returns to step S201. Here, a case where job status information is received from the MFP 100 will be described as an example. In the next step S207, the load determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S208. The details of the load determination process will be described later, but it is a process of determining the image process defined by the job to be delayed in the MFP 100 that has transmitted the device status information.

In step S208, the target device is determined from among the fixing devices, MFPs 100 and 100A. Specifically, when the process proceeds from step S205, the device that has transmitted the device status information received in step S204 is determined as the target device. When the process proceeds from step S207, the device that has transmitted the job status information received in step S206 is determined as the target device.

In step S209, the image processing determined by the function determination process executed in step S205 or the image process determined by the load determination process executed in step S207 from the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. The self-propelled device that can execute is determined as a candidate. Here, a case where each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 is determined as a candidate will be described as an example.

In step S210, the candidate closest to the MFP 100 is determined as the alternative device from among the plurality of candidates. Since the position information of each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 is stored in the HDD 205 in step S203, the device closest to the MFP 100 is determined using the position information. Here, the case where the self-propelled device 300 is closest to the MFP 100 will be described as an example.

In step S211 the alternative command is transmitted to the MFP 100 determined to the target device, and the process proceeds to step S212. The network I / F 204 is controlled to send an alternative command to the MFP 100. The alternative command includes device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 determined as the alternative device in step S210.

In step S212, a movement command is transmitted to the self-propelled device 300 determined as the alternative device, and the process returns to step S201. The network I / F 204 is controlled to send a movement command to the self-propelled device 300. The movement command includes the device identification information of the MFP 100 determined as the target device in step S208.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the function determination process. The function determination process is a process executed in step S205 of FIG. The device status information has been received before the function judgment process is executed. Here, the case where the device status information is received from the MFP 100 will be described as an example. With reference to FIG. 14, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the MFP 100 is in an error state based on the device state information. If the device status information includes resource specific information, it is judged to be an error status. If the MFP 100 determines that it is in an error state, the process proceeds to step S223, but if not, the process proceeds to step S222.

In step S222, it is determined whether or not the MFP 100 is out of stock based on the device status information. If the device status information includes consumables identification information, it is judged to be out of stock. If the MFP 100 determines that the product is out of stock, the process proceeds to step S223, but if not, the process is returned to the movement control process.

In step S223, the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred is determined, and the process proceeds to step S224. When the process proceeds from step S221, the hardware resource identified by the resource identification information included in the device state information is determined. When the process proceeds from step S222, the hardware resource using the consumable identified by the consumable specific information included in the device state information is determined.

In step S224, the image processing executed by the hardware resource determined in step S223 is determined, and the processing is returned to the movement control processing.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the load determination process. The load determination process is a process executed in step S207 of FIG. Job status information has been received before the load judgment process is executed. Here, a case where job status information is received from the MFP 100 will be described as an example. With reference to FIG. 15, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the job status information includes the set time and the end time and the set time is later than the end time. If the set time is later than the end time, the process proceeds to step S232, but if not, the process proceeds to step S233.

In step S233, it is determined whether or not the execution time of the job specified by the job status information is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH. If the execution time is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH, the process proceeds to step S234, but if not, the process is returned to the movement control process. In step S234, the hardware resource is determined and the process proceeds to step S232. The device that has transmitted the job status information, here, the hardware resource included in the MFP 100 is determined.

In step S232, the image processing is determined, and the processing is returned to the movement control processing. When the processing proceeds from step S231, the image processing defined by the end time setting job is determined. When the processing proceeds from step S234, the image processing to be executed by the hardware resource determined in step S234 is determined.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the self-propelled device control process. The self-propelled device control process is a function realized by the CPU 111A when the CPU 111A included in the self-propelled device 300 executes a self-propelled device control program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. The self-propelled device control program is a part of the image processing program. With reference to FIG. 16, the CPU 111A included in the self-propelled apparatus 300 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the position information was transmitted (step S301). If a predetermined time has elapsed since the position information was transmitted, the process proceeds to step S302, otherwise the process proceeds to step S304. The predetermined time may be set in advance as an interval for transmitting location information.

In step S302, the current position is detected and the process proceeds to step S303. The position sensor 119 is controlled to detect the current position. In step S303, the position information indicating the current position is transmitted to the server 200, and the process proceeds to step S304. The wireless communication unit 112A is controlled to transmit location information to the server 200.

In step S304, it is determined whether or not a movement command has been received from the server 200. When the wireless communication unit 112A is controlled to receive the movement command from the server 200, the process proceeds to step S305, but if not, the process proceeds to step S308. The movement command includes device identification information of the target device. Here, a case where a movement command including device identification information of the MFP 100 is received will be described as an example.

In step S305, the movement according to the movement command is started. The MFP 100 specified by the device identification information included in the movement command is determined, and the MFP 100 is moved from the MFP 100 to a position within a predetermined range as a destination. Specifically, a position within a predetermined range from the MFP 100 is set as the destination, a route from the current position to the destination is searched for based on the map data stored in the HDD 115, and the traveling device 180 is controlled. , Start moving along the searched route.

In step S306, the wireless communication unit 112A is controlled to establish a communication path with the target device MFP100, and the process proceeds to step S307. Then, the operation mode is set to the proxy mode (step S307), and the process proceeds to step S314.

On the other hand, in step S308, it is determined whether or not a job has been input from the operation panel 160. When the user operates the operation unit 163 to input a job, the job is input from the operation panel 160. When accepting a job input from the operation panel 160, the process proceeds to step S312, but if not, the process proceeds to step S309. In step S312, the job accepted by the operation unit 163 is added to the queue, and the process proceeds to step S314.

In step S309, it is determined whether or not the wireless communication unit 112A has received the job. If the job is received, the process proceeds to step S310, otherwise the process proceeds to step S314. In step S310, it is determined whether or not the operation mode is the substitute mode. If the operation mode is the proxy mode, the process proceeds to step S311. If not, the process proceeds to step S313.

In step S311 it is determined whether or not the source of the job is the target device. Here, since the MFP 100 is the target device, if a job is received from the MFP 100, the process proceeds to step S312, but if not, the process proceeds to step S313. In step S312, the received job is added to the queue, and the process proceeds to step S314. In step S313, error processing is executed, and the processing proceeds to step S314. The error processing is, for example, a process of notifying the sender of the job that the job cannot be executed.

In step S314, it is determined whether or not there is a waiting job. If the waiting job exists, the process proceeds to step S315, but if the wait job does not exist, the process returns to step S301. In step S315, the wait job is executed and the process proceeds to step S316. In step S316, it is determined whether or not the operation mode is the substitute mode. If the operation mode is set to the proxy mode, the process proceeds to step S317, but if not, the process returns to step S301.

In step S317, it is determined whether or not the communication path established in step S306 is disconnected. If the communication path is disconnected, the process proceeds to step S318, but if not, the process returns to step S301. In step S318, the operation mode is set to the normal mode, and the process proceeds to step S319. In step S319, the process is moved to the position determined by default, and the process is returned to step S301. The default position of the self-propelled device 300 may be predetermined. If the default position is not defined, the server may not move until the next move instruction is received from the server 200. Further, when the user inputs an operation instructing the operation unit 163 to move, the user may move according to the operation.

As described above, the MFP 100 disconnects the communication path established with the self-propelled device 300, which is an alternative device, when recovering from a state in which image processing cannot be executed or when the job delay is eliminated. Therefore, the self-propelled device 300 switches the operation mode from the substitute mode to the normal mode in response to the disconnection of the communication path. As a result, the self-propelled device 300 can eliminate the continuation of the state of the alternative device that executes the job on behalf of the MFP 100.

As described above, the server 200 in the first embodiment functions as a management device, and among the MFPs 100 and 100A, a device in which image processing is delayed, for example, the MFP100 is determined as the target device, and the MFP100 determines the target device. When the target device is determined, an alternative device to replace the MFP 100 is determined from the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302. For example, when the self-propelled device 300 is determined to be an alternative device, a command is transmitted to the self-propelled device 300 in order to move the self-propelled device 300 from the MFP 100 within a predetermined range. Therefore, when the image processing in the MFP 100 is delayed, the user can use the self-propelled device 300 that has moved to the vicinity instead of the MFP 100. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the travel time of the user who instructs the image processing from being wasted. Further, when the print job is transmitted to the MFP 100, the print job is executed by the self-propelled device 300. Therefore, the print job is executed by the self-propelled device 300 started in the vicinity of the MFP 100 to acquire the output paper. can do.

Further, when an error occurs in the hardware resource of the MFP 100, it is determined that the image processing cannot be executed. Therefore, even if the MFP 100 cannot execute the image processing scheduled to be executed by the MFP 100, the self-propelled device. It can be run by 300.

Further, among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302, the self-propelled device 300 that can at least execute the image processing in which the MFP 100 is in an unexecutable state is determined as the alternative device, so that the MFP 100 is in an unexecutable state. The image processing can be executed by the self-propelled device 300.

Further, when it is predicted that the job accepted by the MFP 100 will be delayed by a predetermined time or more, the self-propelled device 300 moves within a predetermined range from the MFP 100, so that the job delay in the MFP 100 can be eliminated. In addition, the waiting time of the user who operates and rubs the MFP 100 can be shortened.

Further, when it is predicted that the end time setting job cannot be completed by the end time in the MFP 100, the self-propelled device 300 moves from the MFP 100 within a predetermined range, and the self-propelled device 300 is made to execute the end time setting job. .. Therefore, the end time setting job can be executed by the end time set by the end time setting job. Further, the user who instructed the MFP 100 to execute the end time setting job is output as a result of executing the end time setting job because the self-propelled device 300 is located within a predetermined range from the MFP 100 when the user moves to the MFP 100. The travel distance for picking up the paper can be shortened.

Further, in the MFP 100, a message for notifying the user that the self-propelled device 300 has executed the job may be displayed on the display unit 161 of the MFP 100. In this case, the user can know that the output result of the job is output by the self-propelled device 300 when the user moves to the MFP 100 to obtain the output result of the job.

Further, when the MFP 100 accepts a job having an execution time of a predetermined time or longer, the self-propelled device 300 moves from the MFP 100 within a predetermined range. Since it can be input to the self-propelled device 300, it is not necessary to wait until a job whose execution time is longer than a predetermined time is completed by the MFP 100. Therefore, the waiting time of the user can be shortened as much as possible.

Further, since the self-propelled device 300 does not accept new jobs from other than the MFP 100 while being remotely controlled by the MFP 100, the self-propelled device 300 can immediately execute the job received from the MFP 100.

Further, since the self-propelled device 300 executes the job received from the MFP 100 while moving within a predetermined range from the MFP 100, the timing for ending the job can be made as early as possible.

<Second embodiment>
The image processing system 1 in the second embodiment has the functions of the server 200 in the image processing system in the first embodiment provided to the MFPs 100 and 100A. Therefore, the image processing system in the second embodiment is different from the image processing system 1 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the server 200 is not required, and the MFPs 100 and 100A and the self-propelled device 300 are used. , 301, 302 and so on. The hardware configuration of the MFPs 100 and 100A is the same as the hardware configuration of the MFP100 shown in FIG. The hardware configuration of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 is the same as the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of the function of the CPU included in the MFP in the second embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 17 is a function realized by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 executes a fixed device control program stored in the ROM 113, the HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. The fixed device control program is a part of the image processing program. With reference to FIG. 17, the difference from the function shown in FIG. 5 is that the alternative instruction receiving unit 51 has been deleted, and the remote control unit 57 and the status notification unit 59 have been added to the remote control unit 57A and the status detection unit 59A. The points that have been changed, the state determination unit 70, and the alternative device determination unit 80 have been added. Since the other functions are the same as those shown in FIG. 5, the description is not repeated here.

The state detection unit 59A detects a state in which the job execution unit 55 executes the image processing defined by the job. The state for executing image processing includes a device state and a job state. The state detection unit 59A includes a device state detection unit 61A and a job state detection unit 63A.

The device state detection unit 61A detects the device state and outputs the detected device state to the state determination unit 70. Specifically, the device state detection unit 61A monitors the hardware resource, and when detecting a defect that has occurred in a part of the hardware resource, includes resource identification information of the hardware resource in which the defect has occurred. When device status information is generated and a shortage of consumables used by hardware resources is detected, device status information including consumables identification information for identifying the shortage of consumables is generated. The device state detection unit 61A outputs the device state to the state determination unit 70 in response to detecting the device state. Further, the device state detection unit 61A outputs a resolution signal to the status determination unit 70 when the defect of the hardware resource is resolved or the shortage of consumables is resolved after the device status is detected.

The job state detection unit 63A detects the job state and outputs the detected job state to the state determination unit 70. The job status indicates the status of the job accepted by the MFP 100. The job status indicates the date and time when the job ends. The job state detection unit 63A predicts the time when each job being executed or scheduled to be executed by the job execution unit 55 ends, and generates job state information including the predicted end time. Further, the job accepted by the job receiving unit 53 includes an end time setting job for which an end time is specified. When the job reception unit 53 accepts the end time setting job, the job status detection unit 63A compares the predicted end time for the end time setting job with the end time set in the end time setting job, and ends. Determines whether the end time setting job can be completed by the end time set in the time setting job. When the job status detection unit 63A determines that the end time setting job cannot be completed by the end time set in the end time setting job, the end time predicted for the end time setting job and the end time setting job are used. The job state including the process identification information for identifying the defined image process is output to the state determination unit 70. After outputting the job status to the status determination unit 70, the job status detection unit 63A outputs a cancellation signal indicating that the delay has been eliminated to the status determination unit 70 when there is no waiting job that has not been executed.

The state determination unit 70 determines whether the state of the MFP 100 is a state in which image processing cannot be executed or a state in which the job is delayed. The state determination unit 70 includes a function determination unit 71 and a load determination unit 73. The function determination unit 71 determines whether or not at least one of one or more feasible image processes is infeasible. When the function determination unit 71 and the device state information indicate an error state in which a problem has occurred in the hardware resource, the image processing executed by the hardware resource specified by the resource identification information included in the error state is specified. Then, the function determination unit 71 outputs the processing identification information for identifying the specified image processing to the alternative device determination unit 80. Further, when the device status information indicates a shortage state in which the consumables are out of stock, the function determination unit 71 specifies image processing using the consumables specified in the consumables identification information included in the shortage state. .. Then, the function determination unit 71 outputs the processing identification information for identifying the specified image processing to the alternative device determination unit 80. Further, when the elimination signal is input after the processing identification information is output to the alternative device determination unit 80, the function determination unit 71 outputs the elimination signal to the alternative device determination unit 80.

The load determination unit 73 determines whether or not the job is delayed based on the job status information. The job status information indicates the time when the job is scheduled to end for each of a plurality of jobs. The load determination unit 73 determines whether or not there is a job that is expected to be delayed by a predetermined time or longer. Based on the job status information, the load determination unit 73 determines that if there is a job whose execution time from start to end is longer than a predetermined time, the job after the job whose execution time is longer than the predetermined time is delayed. , The processing identification information for identifying all the image processing that can be executed by the MFP 100 is output to the alternative device determination unit 80. Further, when the job status information includes the process identification information, the load determination unit 73 outputs the process identification information to the alternative device determination unit 80. Further, when the elimination signal is input after the processing identification information is output to the alternative device determination unit 80, the load determination unit 73 outputs the elimination signal to the alternative device determination unit 80.

When the processing identification information is input from the function determination unit 261 or the load determination unit 73, the alternative device determination unit 80 selects one of the devices capable of autonomous travel, here, the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. Decide on an alternative device to replace the MFP100. When the processing identification information is input from the function determination unit 71, the alternative device determination unit 80 is a device capable of at least executing image processing in which the MFP 100 is in an unexecutable state among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. To be an alternative device. When the processing identification information is input from the load determination unit 73, the alternative device determination unit 270 substitutes at least a device capable of executing a job predicted to be delayed by the MFP 100 among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. Decide on the device.

The alternative device determination unit 80 includes a function specifying unit 81. When the processing identification information is input from the function determination unit 71 or the load determination unit 73, the function specifying unit 81 identifies the hardware resource for executing the image processing identified by the processing identification information.

The alternative device determination unit 80 determines, among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, the device having the hardware resource specified by the function specifying unit 81 as the alternative device. When there are a plurality of devices having the hardware resources specified by the function specifying unit 81, the alternative device determining unit 80 inputs the position information of each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 from the remote control unit 57A. Of the traveling devices 300, 301, and 302, the device closest to the MFP 100 is determined as the alternative device. Further, among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, it is preferable to exclude the device that is already a substitute device for another device. When the alternative device determination unit 80 determines the alternative device, the device identification information of the alternative device is output to the remote control unit 57A. Further, when the elimination signal is input after the device identification information of the alternative device is output to the remote control unit 57A, the alternative device determination unit 80 outputs the elimination signal to the remote control unit 57A.

The remote control unit 57A remotely controls the substitute device in response to input of device identification information of the substitute device from the state determination unit 70. Specifically, the remote control unit 57 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to establish a communication path with the alternative device, and causes the alternative device to execute the job accepted by the job reception unit 53. Send the command. The remote control unit 57A may send a communication path establishment request to the alternative device to establish a communication path with the alternative device, or the remote control unit 57A may send a communication path establishment request from the alternative device. A communication path may be established with an alternative device according to the reception of the above.

The remote control unit 57A remotely controls the substitute device from the time when the communication path is established with the substitute device until the cancellation signal is input from the substitute device determination unit 80. In other words, if there is an error in the hardware resource, remotely control the alternative device until the error is resolved, and if the consumable is out of stock, substitute until the consumable is replenished. Remotely control the device, and if the job is delayed, remotely control the alternative device until the delay is resolved. The job delay is determined to be resolved when the waiting job no longer exists.

When the remote control unit 57A has an error in the hardware resource at the stage where the device identification information of the substitute device is input from the substitute device determination unit 80, or when a consumable item is out of stock, the remote control unit 57A is used. In order to cause the alternative device to execute a job that has been accepted by the job reception unit 53 but has not been executed by the job execution unit 55, a command for requesting the execution of the job is sent to the alternative device in the communication I / F unit. It is transmitted via 112. The remote control unit 57A disconnects the communication path established with the alternative device when the error of the hardware resource is resolved or when the consumables are replenished.

Further, if the job delay is detected at the stage where the device identification information of the alternative device is input from the alternative device determination unit 80, the remote control unit 57A waits after the communication path with the alternative device is established. , Remotely control the alternative device until there are no more wait jobs. If the end time setting job exists among the jobs accepted by the job reception unit 53, the remote control unit 57A requests the execution of the end time setting job in order to have the alternative device execute the end time setting job. The command is transmitted to the alternative device via the communication I / F unit 112. Further, when the remote operation unit 57A includes a job whose execution time from the start to the end is longer than a predetermined time among the jobs accepted by the job reception unit 53, the remote control unit 57A is after the job whose execution time is longer than the predetermined time. In order to cause the alternative device to execute the job, a command requesting execution of a job after a job whose execution time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time is transmitted to the alternative device via the communication I / F unit 112. When the end time setting job or the job whose execution time is later than the predetermined time is executed by the alternative device, the remote control unit 57A disconnects the communication path established with the alternative device.

The remote control unit 57A includes a position detection unit 91 and a movement instruction unit 93. The position detection unit 91 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to detect the current positions of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302, respectively. When each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302 transmits the position information indicating the detected position to the server 200, the position detection unit 91 is transmitted by the communication I / F unit 112 from each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302. When the position information is received, the current position of the device that has transmitted the position information is determined. Further, the position detection unit 91 may request the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 to transmit the position information at predetermined time intervals. In this case, when the communication I / F unit 112 receives the position information transmitted from each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, the position detection unit 91 determines the current position of the device that has transmitted the position information. When the position detection unit 91 detects the current position of each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, 302, the position detection unit 91 outputs a set of the device identification information and the position information to the alternative device determination unit 80.

The movement instruction unit 93 controls the movement of the alternative device specified by the device identification information input from the alternative device determination unit 80. Here, a case where the device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 is input from the alternative device determination unit 80 will be described as an example. The movement instruction unit 93 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to transmit a movement command to the self-propelled device 300, which is an alternative device. The move command is a command for instructing the movement from the position where the MFP 100 is arranged to a predetermined range in order to execute a job on behalf of the MFP 100. The move command includes device identification information of the MFP 100.

The CPU functions of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 are different from the functions shown in FIG. 7 in that the movement command is received from either the MFP 100 or 100A instead of the server 200, but the other functions are in FIG. 7. It has the same function as shown in. Therefore, the description is not repeated here.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the fixing device control process according to the second embodiment. With reference to FIG. 18, the difference from the fixing device control process in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is that steps S51 to S53 are added before step S01, and steps S02 and S04. Is changed to step S02A and step S04A, respectively, and steps S54 to S58 are added in place of steps S05 and S06. Since the other processes are the same as those shown in FIG. 9, the description is not repeated here.

In step S51, the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 determines whether or not the position information has been received. Specifically, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the communication I / F unit 112 has received the position information from any of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302. If the position information is received, the process proceeds to step S52, otherwise the process proceeds to step S01. Here, a case where the position information is received from the self-propelled device 300 will be described as an example.

In step S52, the device that has transmitted the position information is specified. Here, since the self-propelled device 300 transmits the position information, the self-propelled device 300 is specified. Then, the position of the specified self-propelled device 300 is stored (step S53), and the process proceeds to step S01. The position information and the device identification information of the self-propelled device 300 are associated and stored in the HDD 115.

In step S02A, the job state determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S03. Details of the job status determination process will be described later. In step S03, the job accepted in step S01 is added to the queue, and the process proceeds to step S04A. In step S04A, the device state determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S54. The details of the device state determination process will be described later.

In step S54, it is determined whether or not the image processing is determined. When the job state determination process is executed in step S02A, or when the device state determination process is executed in step S04A, the image processing may or may not be determined. If the image processing is determined, the processing proceeds to step S55, but if not, the processing proceeds to step S08.

In step S55, a self-propelled device capable of executing the determined image processing is determined as a candidate. Here, a case where each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 is determined as a candidate will be described as an example. In step S56, the candidate closest to the MFP 100 is determined as the alternative device from among the plurality of candidates. Since the position information of each of the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 is stored in the HDD 115 in step S53, the device closest to the MFP 100 is determined using the position information. Here, the case where the self-propelled device 300 is closest to the MFP 100 will be described as an example.

In step S57, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to establish a communication path with the self-propelled device 300 determined as the alternative device, and the process proceeds to step S58. In step S58, a movement command is transmitted to the self-propelled device 300. The move command includes device identification information of the MFP 100. A movement command is transmitted to the self-propelled device 300 determined as the alternative device, and the process proceeds to step S58. The move command includes device identification information of the MFP 100.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the job state determination process in the second embodiment. The difference from the job state determination process in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is that step S26 is changed to step S26A and step S27 is deleted. Since the other processes are the same as the processes shown in FIG. 10, the description will not be repeated here. In step S26A, the load determination process shown in FIG. 15 is executed, and the process proceeds to step S28.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the device state determination process according to the second embodiment. The difference from the job state determination process in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is that step S34 is changed to step S34A and step S35 is deleted. Since the other processes are the same as the processes shown in FIG. 11, the description will not be repeated here. In step S34A, the function determination process shown in FIG. 14 is executed, and the process is returned to the fixed device control process.

The MFP 100 in the second embodiment determines an alternative device to replace the MFP 100 from among the self-propelled devices 300, 301, and 302 when the image processing is delayed. For example, when the self-propelled device 300 is determined to be an alternative device, a command is transmitted to the self-propelled device 300 in order to move the self-propelled device 300 from the MFP 100 within a predetermined range. Therefore, when the image processing in the MFP 100 is delayed, the user can use the self-propelled device 300 that has moved to the vicinity instead of the MFP 100. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the travel time of the user who instructs the image processing from being wasted. Further, when the print job is transmitted to the MFP 100, the print job is executed by the self-propelled device 300. Therefore, the print job is executed by the self-propelled device 300 started in the vicinity of the MFP 100 to acquire the output paper. can do.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Additional Notes>
(1) When at least a part of the hardware resources controlled by the job execution means for image processing becomes undriveable, the remote control means is in charge of the hardware resources in the undriveable state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a state in which image processing cannot be performed is detected. According to this aspect, the self-propelled device can execute the image processing that cannot be executed by the fixed device.
(2) The remote control means detects a state in which image processing using the shortage of consumables cannot be executed when the consumables used for image processing by the job execution means are out of stock. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10. According to this aspect, the self-propelled device can execute the image processing that cannot be executed by the fixed device.
(3) The remote control means informs the self-propelled device in response to the prediction that the end time setting job for which the end time accepted by the job execution means cannot be completed by the end time is predicted. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, which transmits a command. According to this aspect, since the self-propelled device is made to execute the end time setting job, the end time setting job can be executed by the end time determined by the end time setting job.
(4) When there are a plurality of the self-propelled devices, the alternative device determining means for determining one of the plurality of self-propelled devices capable of executing the end time setting job is further provided.
The image forming apparatus according to (3), wherein the remote control means transmits a command instructing execution of the end time setting job to the alternative device. According to this aspect, it is possible to determine a self-propelled device capable of executing the end time setting job.
(5) The alternative device determining means issues a command to the self-propelled device in response to the prediction that the execution time from the start to the end of the job accepted by the job execution means is predicted to be a predetermined time or longer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, which is transmitted. According to this aspect, the delay of the job accepted by the image forming apparatus can be eliminated.
(6) When there are a plurality of self-propelled devices, an alternative device determining means for determining, among the plurality of self-propelled devices, a self-propelled device capable of at least performing image processing that can be executed by the job executing means is used as the alternative device. , Further preparation,
The image forming apparatus according to (5), wherein the remote control means transmits a command instructing execution of a job accepted after a job whose execution time is a predetermined time or longer to the alternative device. According to this aspect, the delay of the job accepted by the image forming apparatus can be eliminated.
(7) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the remote control means transmits a command to the self-propelled device according to the state in which the image processing is delayed continues for a predetermined time. According to this aspect, if the state in which the image processing is delayed does not continue for a predetermined time, the self-propelled device is not moved, so that the self-propelled device can be moved efficiently.
(8) Each of the one or more fixing devices is provided with a remote control means for transmitting a command to the self-propelled device in order to remotely control at least one of the one or more self-propelled devices.
The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the remote control means transmits a command for causing the alternative device to execute a job when the target device is determined. According to this aspect, the self-propelled device can execute the job.

1 image processing system, 3 networks, 5 radio stations, 100, 100A MFP, 300, 301, 302 self-propelled device, 110, 110A main circuit, 111, 111A CPU, 112 communication I / F section, 112A wireless communication section, 113 ROM, 114 RAM, 115 HDD, 116 facsimile unit, 117 external storage device, 118 CD-ROM, 119 position sensor, 120 automatic document transfer device, 130 document reader, 140 image forming unit, 150 paper feed unit, 155 post-processing Unit, 160 operation panel, 161 display unit, 163 operation unit, 165 touch panel, 167 hard key unit, 170 power supply control unit, 171 power supply unit, 173 battery, 180 driving device, 181 driving control unit, 200 server, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 205 HDD, 206 display unit, 207 operation unit, 208 bus, 209 external storage device, 210 CD-ROM, 51 alternative instruction reception unit, 53 job reception unit, 55 job execution unit, 57, 57A remote operation Unit, 59 status notification unit, 59A status detection unit, 61 device status notification unit, 61A device status detection unit, 63 job status notification unit, 63A job status detection unit, 70 status determination unit, 71 function determination unit, 73 load determination unit. , 80 Alternative device determination unit, 81 Function identification unit, 91 Position detection unit, 93 Movement instruction unit, 250 Status acquisition unit, 251 Device status acquisition unit, 253 Job status acquisition unit, 260 Target device determination unit, 261 Function determination unit, 263 Load judgment unit, 270 alternative device determination unit, 271 function identification unit, 280 movement control unit, 281 position detection unit, 290 alternative instruction unit, 351 movement instruction reception unit, 353 job reception unit, 355 job execution unit, 357 movement control Unit, 359 location information transmission unit, 361 remote control unit.

Claims (19)

An image processing device that executes a job, a self-propelled device that can run autonomously and execute a job,
It is a management device that manages
Acquiring the state of the image processing device by communicating with the image processing device, and moving the self-propelled device within a predetermined range from the image processing device when the image processing device is in a predetermined state. A management device characterized by. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined state is a state in which the image processing device cannot execute a job. Claim 2 is characterized in that the state in which the job cannot be executed is an error state in which a defect has occurred in the hardware resource of the image processing device, or a shortage state in which consumables are out of stock. The management device described. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined state is a case where there is a job whose execution time until the job accepted by the image processing device is completed is a predetermined time or longer. The predetermined state is characterized in that the job accepted by the image processing apparatus is an end time setting job for which an end time is set, and the end time setting job cannot be completed by the end time. The management device according to claim 1. Claims 1 to 5 are characterized in that, when there are a plurality of the self-propelled devices, the self-propelled device that is moved from the image processing device within a predetermined range is one of the plurality of self-propelled devices. The management device described in any of. Any of claims 1 to 5, wherein when there are a plurality of the self-propelled devices, the self-propelled device to be moved from the image processing device within a predetermined range is the self-propelled device closest to the image processing device. The management device described in Crab. One of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an alternative instruction unit for transmitting to the image processing device an alternative command for causing the self-propelled device to substitute the execution of the job received by the image processing device. The management device described. An image processing system including an image processing device for executing a job, a self-propelled device for executing a job capable of autonomous travel, and a management device for managing the image processing device and the self-propelled device.
The image processing device is
The job reception department that accepts jobs and
The job execution unit that executes the accepted job, and
It is equipped with a status notification unit that notifies the management device of the status for executing the image processing specified by the job.
The management device is
A job state acquisition unit that receives the state notified from the image processing device, and
A movement control unit for transmitting a movement command for instructing movement from the image processing device to the self-propelled device according to the state received by the job state acquisition unit is provided.
The self-propelled device
A movement instruction receiving unit that receives the movement command transmitted from the movement control unit, and
An image processing system including a movement control unit that controls movement from the image processing device within a predetermined range in response to the movement command. Based on the state received by the job state acquisition unit, the management device instructs the image processing device to move within a predetermined range when the image processing device is in a state in which the job cannot be executed. The image processing system according to claim 9, wherein the movement command to be performed is transmitted to the self-propelled device. The tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the state in which the job cannot be executed is an error state in which a defect has occurred in the hardware resource of the image processing device, or a shortage state in which consumables are out of stock. The image processing system described. The management device is the image processing device when there is a job whose execution time is longer than a predetermined time until the job accepted by the image processing device is completed based on the state received by the job state acquisition unit. The image processing system according to claim 9, wherein a movement command for instructing movement within a predetermined range is transmitted to the self-propelled device. The management device is an end time setting job in which the end time of the job accepted by the image processing device is set based on the state received by the job state acquisition unit, and the end time setting job is performed. The image processing system according to claim 9, wherein when the image processing device cannot be completed by the end time, a movement command instructing the movement within a predetermined range is transmitted from the image processing device to the self-propelled device. The management device further includes an alternative instruction unit for transmitting an alternative command for causing the self-propelled device to substitute the execution of the job received by the image processing device.
The image processing device further includes an alternative instruction receiving unit that receives the alternative command from the alternative instruction unit.
A remote control unit for transmitting a command for causing the self-propelled device to execute a received job in response to the alternative command is provided.
The self-propelled device further includes a job execution unit that executes a job, and a job execution unit.
The image processing system according to any one of claims 9 to 13, further comprising a remote control unit for performing alternative execution of a job accepted by the image processing device based on a command received from the remote control unit. .. The self-propelled device that substitutes and executes a job accepted by the image processing device does not accept a new job from a device other than the image processing device that has transmitted a command for the self-propelled device to execute from the remote control unit. The image processing system according to claim 14. The management device further determines an alternative device as a self-propelled device that moves one of the plurality of self-propelled devices within a predetermined range from the image processing device when there are a plurality of the self-propelled devices. The image processing system according to any one of claims 9 to 15, further comprising a unit. An image processing device that manages a self-propelled device that can run autonomously and execute jobs.
The job reception department that accepts jobs and
The job execution unit that executes the accepted job, and
An image processing apparatus comprising: a movement instruction unit for moving the self-propelled apparatus within a predetermined range from the image processing apparatus when the image processing apparatus is in a predetermined state. It is a management method executed by a computer that manages an image processing device that executes a job and a self-propelled device that is capable of autonomous driving and executes a job.
The step of acquiring the state of the image processing device and
Management to cause the computer to execute a step of transmitting a movement command for moving the self-propelled device within a predetermined range from the image processing device when the acquired state of the image processing device is a predetermined state. Method. It is a management program executed by a computer that manages an image processing device that executes a job and a self-propelled device that can run autonomously and execute a job.
The step of acquiring the state of the image processing device and
Management to cause the computer to execute a step of transmitting a movement command for moving the self-propelled device within a predetermined range from the image processing device when the acquired state of the image processing device is a predetermined state. program.

Images