JP2002169683A - Image processing apparatus, information processing system, and data processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To notify each client of a list indicating each client who has requested each job affected by an error, thereby making it easy to identify a client that resolves the error. When an error such as out of toner, paper jam, paper out, etc. occurs, an image processing apparatus 5 obtains all jobs whose execution is affected by this error according to the type of error, and The identification data of each device and the user who requested the execution is obtained, an error information notification destination list is generated, and the error message and the error information notification destination list are transmitted to the network interface 22.
To each of the devices through.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an information processing system, and a data processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, devices such as printers and digital multifunction peripherals are requested by a plurality of terminal devices to execute respective jobs for recording images, texts, and the like on paper via a network. Execute sequentially or according to priority. At this time, if the execution of the job is interrupted due to paper shortage, paper jam, toner shortage, or the like, the terminal device requesting the job is notified of the occurrence of the error through the network. The user of the terminal device sees the notification of the error, goes to the device, resolves the error of the device, and resumes the job execution.

[0003] However, if the user to whom the error is notified is absent, the error of the apparatus cannot be eliminated and another job will not be executed no matter how long.

[0004] For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-8727 discloses that when an error occurs, all the jobs affected by the error are searched, and an error is sent to each terminal device which has requested execution of these jobs. There has been proposed a technique of notifying the occurrence of an error through a network. By notifying the occurrence of an error to a plurality of terminal devices in this way, the error of the device can be eliminated by the user of any of the terminal devices.

[0005]

However, as described in the above publication, when a plurality of terminal devices are notified of the occurrence of an error,
All or multiple users may be present at the same time to resolve equipment errors, which is very inefficient. Or, when the user goes, the error may have already been resolved by another user, and the user may have to return immediately to his seat to complete his job.

[0006] If such a situation continues, it is likely to be left to others, and this may lead to a situation where the error is left until the error is eliminated by another user.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention notifies each client of a list indicating each client who has requested each job affected by an error, thereby eliminating the error. It is an object to provide an image processing device, an information processing system, and a data processing method that make it easy to identify a client.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for connecting to a plurality of clients via a network, requesting each client to execute a job via the network. The image processing apparatus that extracts each job affected by the error and notifies each client that has requested the execution of the job of the occurrence of the error via a network has requested the execution of each job affected by the error. Error job management means for generating a list of the respective clients and notifying the clients of the list through the network together with the occurrence of an error.

According to the image processing apparatus having such a configuration, not only the occurrence of an error but also a list of each client that has requested execution of each job affected by the error is notified to each client. Therefore, each client can know each other, communicate with each other, decide which client will go to resolve the error, and inefficient situations such as multiple clients going at the same time It is not necessary to invite. Alternatively, the error is quickly eliminated without being left to others.

In the present invention, the list distinguishes between a client who has requested a job being executed at the time of occurrence of an error and a client of another job which is executed after the completion of the job. I have.

Thus, the client who has requested the job that caused the error can be recognized, and this client can immediately go to resolve the error. In addition, the number of other clients following the job can be known, and it can be determined whether or not the error should be eliminated urgently. Further, it is possible to request another client to resolve the error.

Further, in the present invention, the list includes a message for a client requesting a job being executed at the time of occurrence of an error, and a message for a client of another job executed after the completion of the job. They are shown separately.

[0013] Thus, an appropriate message can be given to each of the client requesting the job that caused the error and the other client.

In the present invention, the list represents each client who has requested execution of each job in accordance with the execution order of each job.

According to this, the client who has requested the job that caused the error can be recognized, and this client can immediately go out to resolve the error, and know the number of other clients to resolve the error. Can be determined to be urgent, or another client can be requested to resolve the error.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of clients are classified into a plurality of groups in advance, and a list including a client which has requested execution of a job affected by the error is notified through the network together with the occurrence of the error. are doing.

As described above, if each client is divided into each group and the list and the occurrence of the error are notified to the group,
Even if the client does not request the job that caused the error, another client in the same group can go to the client quickly to resolve the error.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of clients are associated with a plurality of error information notification destination clients, and an error information notification destination client corresponding to a client who has requested execution of a job affected by the error is provided. The list is notified through the network when an error occurs.

By associating each client with each error information notification destination client and notifying the error information notification destination client of the occurrence of the list and the error,
The error information notification destination client in charge of error elimination can promptly go out for error elimination.

Next, the present invention provides a method for providing a plurality of clients,
Each client is provided with an image processing device connected through a network, and the image processing device is requested by each client to execute a job through the network, and when an error occurs, extracts each job affected by the error. In an information processing system that notifies each client who has requested the execution of these jobs that an error has occurred through a network, the image processing apparatus uses the client of each client that has requested execution of each job affected by the error. Generate a list,
The list is transmitted to the clients along with the occurrence of the error over the network, and when the client receives the list and the occurrence of the error, the client indicates the list and the occurrence of the error.

According to the information processing system having such a configuration, not only the occurrence of an error but also a list of each client who has requested execution of each job affected by the error is notified to each client.

Alternatively, according to the present invention, a plurality of clients are connected through a network, each client is requested to execute a job through the network, and when an error occurs, each job affected by the error is extracted. In the data processing method of the image processing apparatus for notifying each client who has requested the execution of the job of the occurrence of the error through the network, a list of each client which has requested the execution of each job affected by the error is generated. And notifying the clients of this list over the network with the occurrence of an error.

According to such a data processing method of the image processing apparatus, not only the occurrence of an error but also a list of each client who has requested execution of each job affected by the error is notified to each client.

In the present invention, the list distinguishes between a client who has requested a job being executed at the time of occurrence of an error and a client of another job which is executed after the completion of the job. I have.

As a result, the client who has requested the job that caused the error can be recognized, and this client can immediately go to solve the error.

Further, in the present invention, the list represents each client who has requested execution of each job in accordance with the execution order of each job.

In this way, the client who has requested the job that caused the error can be identified.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of clients are classified into a plurality of groups in advance, and a list including a client which has requested execution of a job affected by the error is notified through the network together with the occurrence of the error. are doing.

As a result, even if the client does not request the job that caused the error, another client in the same group can go to the client quickly to eliminate the error.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of clients are associated with a plurality of error information notification destination clients, and an error information notification destination client corresponding to the client which has requested execution of a job affected by the error is provided. The list is notified through the network when an error occurs.

As a result, not the client requesting the job that caused the error but the error information notification destination client responsible for the error can be promptly sent to eliminate the error.

In the present invention, the client is
The terminal device or its user is shown.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. The information processing system according to the present embodiment includes each of the computers 1, 2, 3, a mobile terminal device 4, each of the image processing devices 5, 6, and a local area network LAN interconnecting these. The image processing apparatus 5 is a multifunctional digital multifunction peripheral having a copy function, a print function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, an Internet facsimile function, and the like. The image processing device 6 has only a printer function.

Each of the computers 1 to 3 and the portable terminal device 4
When there is a print request for data such as an image or text, it inquires of any of the image processing apparatuses 5 and 6 via the network LAN whether or not printing is possible. For example, the computer 1 inquires of the image processing apparatus 5 via the network LAN whether or not printing is possible. Then, when confirming that the image processing apparatus 5 can perform printing, the computer 1 transmits the data to the image processing apparatus 5 via the network LAN. The image processing device 5 develops the data, records an image, text, and the like on a sheet, and discharges the sheet. At this time, the progress of the print job for recording the data is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 5 to the computer 1 via the network LAN, and the progress is displayed on the computer 1 side. In each of the other computers 2 and 3 and the mobile terminal device 4,
Further, data recording is performed in the other image processing apparatus 6 in the same procedure.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing the image processing apparatus 5 of the multi-function digital multifunction peripheral. The image processing apparatus 5 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a ROM 1,
3, an external storage device 14, a display unit 15 for displaying numbers, symbols, images, and the like; an operation unit 16 operated for inputting various conditions, instructions, and the like; a display unit 15 and an operation unit 16 , A printer device 18 that records data on paper, a scanner device 19 that reads an image of a document, a facsimile device 20 that performs facsimile communication,
Engine interface 2 for controlling 8, 19, 20
1 and a network interface 2 for controlling connection to a network LAN and transmitting and receiving various data
2 and a system bus 23 interconnecting them.

The CPU 11 comprehensively controls access between components connected to the system bus 23 based on a control program and the like stored in the ROM 13.

The ROM 13 stores font data and the like in addition to the control program.

The RAM 12 functions as a work area for the CPU 11 to execute a program.

The external storage device 14 is a hard disk or the like, which spools a print job received by the image processing device 5, stores programs and various data, and is also used as a work area.

The display section 15 preferably has a dot matrix type display screen, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. A touch panel may be provided on the display screen of the display unit 15. Thereby, the input operation of touching the touch panel according to the display on the display screen becomes possible, and even if the input content to the image processing apparatus 5 is complicated,
The input operation does not have to be complicated. Therefore, the operability is improved for the user, and the configuration of the operation unit 16 can be simplified, for example, by reducing the number of operation keys of the operation unit 16.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the image processing device 5 of the multifunction digital multifunction peripheral. Note that, in FIG. 3, portions that perform the same functions as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 3, a print waiting job queue 31, a line waiting job queue 32, a scanner waiting job queue 33, and registration data 34 are formed in the RAM 12 or the external storage device 14. ROM 13
Are executed by the CPU 11,
By performing each process using the work area in the RAM 12, the functions of the job management unit 35, the error job management unit 36, and the job execution control unit 37 are performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a job storing process in the image processing apparatus 5.

First, in the image processing apparatus 5, when a job is transmitted from any of the computers 1 to 3 and the portable terminal device 4 via the network LAN, the job is received by the network interface 22, and the job is transmitted to the network interface 22. Input to the job management unit 35 (step S4
01).

The job management unit 35 extracts the type of the job, the priority of the job, the device requesting the job, the identification data of the user, and the like from the accompanying data of the job, and extracts the RA.
It is stored in M12 or the external storage device 14 (step S402). Then, the job management unit 35 stores the job in each of the job queues 31 and 32, in accordance with the type of the job.
33 to be stored. Further, the job management unit 35 determines the execution order of the jobs based on the priority of the job, and inserts the jobs in the execution order into the previously determined job queue (step S403). As a result, a job related to data recording by the printer device 18 is stored in the print waiting job queue 31, a job related to reading of a document by the scanner device 19 is stored in the scanner waiting job queue 33,
Further, jobs related to facsimile communication by the facsimile device 20 are stored in the line waiting job queue 32.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a job execution process in the image processing apparatus 5.

First, the job execution control unit 37
The first job is extracted from one of the job queues 31, 32, and 33 (step S501). The job execution control unit 37 monitors the operation state of the device resources occupied when executing the job, for example, the operation states of the memory and the devices 18 to 20 (step S502).
It is determined whether the extracted job is executable (step S503). If it cannot be executed (step S503, No), the monitoring of the operation state of the device resource is continued (step S502).

If executable (step S50)
3, Yes), the job execution control unit 37 executes the job by operating the device resources (step S).
504).

Thereafter, if there is a job in any of the job queues (step S505, Yes), the process proceeds to step S505.
Returning to step 501, if there is no job (step S505,
No), this process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the error processing in the image processing apparatus 5.

First, when an error such as out of toner, paper jam, or paper out occurs in the printer device 18, the job execution control unit 37 notifies the job management unit 35 of the occurrence and type of the error (step S6).
01).

The job management unit 35 determines, according to the type of error, all jobs whose execution is affected by this error,
That is, data relating to the job that caused the error and all the jobs in the print waiting job queue 31 are stored in the RAM.
12 or the hard disk 14 (step S602), and reads the identification data of each device and user who have requested the execution of these jobs (step S603). The identification data is notified to the error job management unit 36 (step S604).

The error job management section 36 selects one of a plurality of error messages stored in the RAM 12 or the hard disk 14 in advance according to the type of error (step S605). Further, the error job management unit 36 uses the identification data of each device and the user who has requested execution of each job affected by the error (step S606), and registers the names of these devices and the user in the registration data 34. (Step S6)
07), an error information notification destination list in which the names of the respective users are arranged in accordance with the execution order of the jobs of the respective users is generated (step S608). Further, the error job management unit 36
Transmits an error message and an error information notification destination list to each device via the network interface 22 using the identification data of each device and the user (step S609).

Each of the computers 1 to 3 and the portable terminal device 4
Receives the error message and the error information notification destination list, and displays the error message and the error information notification destination list on the display screen if the execution of the job affected by the error is requested to the image processing apparatus 5.

FIG. 7 exemplifies display contents on the display screen of each of the computers 1 to 3 and the portable terminal device 4. This display content is generated when each job in the print waiting job queue 31 is being executed, and includes an error message E and an error information notification destination list L. The error message E indicates that the image processing apparatus 5 has run out of paper. The error information notification destination list L
Is composed of two columns L1 and L2, the name of the user who has requested the job that caused the error is displayed in the column L1, and other jobs subsequent to the job that caused the error are displayed in the column L2. The names of the users who have made the requests are displayed according to the execution order of the other jobs. Here, since the names of the five users are displayed, the display contents of FIG. 7 are displayed on the devices of the respective users.

Since the names of the users affected by the error can be known from the display contents, the users can communicate with each other, and any one of the users can resolve the error. It is possible to decide whether to go to No. 5 and to avoid an inefficient situation in which a plurality of users go to at the same time.

Also, since the names of the users who have requested the job that caused the error are displayed separately, it is possible to immediately know the users who need to go out. This name may be displayed in specially large characters or colored characters so that the name of this user is conspicuous.

Furthermore, a user who has requested a job that has caused an error may know the number of other users waiting for the error to be resolved and determine whether or not the error should be resolved urgently. it can. Thereby, the image processing device 5
Use efficiency can be improved.

If the user who has requested the job that caused the error cannot go out for some reason, a rule such that each user goes out in the order shown in the column L2 is predetermined. If this is done, the error can be promptly entrusted to another user, and the error can be quickly eliminated.

In the error information notification destination list L of FIG. 7, the names of five users are displayed.
FIG. 1 shows only four devices, ie, each of the computers 1 to 3 and the portable terminal device 4, but the network L
It is assumed that the number of devices connected to the AN is not limited, and other devices not shown are connected.

Instead of displaying the name of the user in the error information notification destination list L, identification data of the apparatus which has requested the job may be displayed. In other words, any display content may be used as long as the user or the client as the device can be identified.

Further, an error message E for each user
May be changed. For example, to the user who has caused the error, a display content such as "An error (A4 size) has occurred during the execution of your job" as shown in FIG. 8A is notified. Then, to each of the other users, a display content such as "A job is being reserved .... An error (A4 size has occurred)." As shown in FIG. 8B is notified.

Further, a plurality of users may be classified into a plurality of groups, and these groups may be included in the registration data 34. Then, a group including the user who caused the error and a group including the user affected by the error are searched from the registration data 34 and displayed on the error information notification destination list L. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the groups A, B, and C are displayed in the error information notification destination list L.
Group A is a group including the user who has requested the job that caused the error, and the names of all the users belonging to this group A are displayed. The name of the user who has requested the job of group A is highlighted in bold. Further, each of the groups B and C is a group including each user who has requested another job following the job that caused the error, and is displayed according to the execution order of each of the other jobs.

In this case, even if the user who has requested the job of the group A cannot go out for some reason, if a rule such that another user of the group A goes out is determined in advance, an error can be generated. Resolution can be entrusted to another user promptly, and errors can be resolved quickly.

Further, a plurality of users may be divided into a plurality of groups, each error information notification destination user may be set for each group, and these groups and the error information notification destination users may be included in the registration data 34. I do not care. Then, an error information notification destination user of a group including a user who has caused the error and a group of error information notification destinations of a group including a user affected by the error are searched from the registration data 34 and stored in the error information notification destination list L. The error information notification destination list L is displayed only on the device of each error information notification destination user or on the device of all users in the error information notification destination list L for display. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, each group A, B,
For each C, the name of each error information notification destination user is displayed in the error information notification destination list L.

In this case, if an error occurs during the execution of a job requested by each user of one group, a rule such that an error information notification destination user of this group will go to the destination can be eliminated. Can be quickly entrusted to another user, and the error can be eliminated quickly.

In the present embodiment, the processing of the image processing device 5 is exemplified, but exactly the same processing is performed by the image processing device 6.
Can be done with Further, the display contents of the user's device may be variously modified.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only the occurrence of an error but also a list of each client who has requested execution of each job affected by the error is notified to each client. For this reason, each client
You can get to know each other, keep in touch, and decide which client will go to resolve the error, avoiding the inefficient situation of multiple clients going at the same time. Alternatively, the error is quickly eliminated without being left to others.

In the present invention, the list distinguishes between a client who has requested a job being executed at the time of occurrence of an error and a client of another job which is executed after the completion of this job. I have.

As a result, the client who has requested the job that caused the error can be recognized, and this client can immediately go out to resolve the error. In addition, the number of other clients following the job can be known, and it can be determined whether or not the error should be eliminated urgently. Further, it is possible to request another client to resolve the error.

Further, according to the present invention, the list includes a message for the client who has requested the job being executed at the time of occurrence of the error, and a message for the client of another job executed after the completion of this job. Are distinguished from each other. As a result, an appropriate message can be given to each of the client requesting the job that caused the error and the other clients.

According to the present invention, the list represents each client who has requested execution of each job in accordance with the execution order of each job. In this way, the client who requested the job that caused the error can be identified, and this client can go immediately to resolve the error. It is possible to determine whether or not to do so and to request another client to resolve the error.

Further, according to the present invention, each client is divided into each group, and the list and the occurrence of the error are notified to the group. Other clients in the same group can go quickly to resolve the error.

Further, according to the present invention, each client is associated with each error information notification destination client, and the list and the occurrence of the error are notified to the error information notification destination client. The error information notification destination client can quickly go out to resolve the error.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus of the multi-function digital multifunction peripheral in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating the image processing apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a job storing process in the image processing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating job execution processing in the image processing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating error processing in the image processing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display contents displayed on a device that has requested a job.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an example of a message to a user who has requested a job, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating another example of a message to a user who has requested a job.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of display content displayed on the device that has requested a job.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of display content displayed on the device that has requested a job.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3 Computer 4 Mobile terminal device 5, 6 Image processing device 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 ROM 14 External storage device 15 Display unit 16 Operation unit 17 User interface 18 Printer device 19 Scanner device 20 Facsimile device 21 Engine interface 22 Network interface 23 System Device

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of clients are connected via a network, each client is requested to execute a job via the network, and when an error occurs, each job affected by the error is extracted and executed. In the image processing apparatus that notifies the client of the error occurrence through the network, the client generates a list of each client that has requested execution of each job affected by the error. An image processing apparatus, comprising: an error job management unit that notifies a list via a network when an error occurs. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list distinguishes between a client requesting a job being executed at the time of occurrence of the error and a client of another job executed after the completion of the job. Item 2. The image processing device according to Item 1. 3. The list distinguishes between a message for a client requesting a job being executed at the time of occurrence of an error and a message for a client of another job executed after the job is completed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the list represents each client that has requested execution of each job according to the execution order of each job. 5. A method in which a plurality of clients are classified into a plurality of groups in advance, and a list including a client which has requested execution of a job affected by the error is notified through the network together with the occurrence of the error. The image processing device according to claim 1. 6. A method in which a plurality of clients are associated with a plurality of error information notification destination clients, and an error information notification destination client corresponding to a client who has requested execution of a job affected by the error generates a list of errors. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification is performed via a network. 7. An image processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of clients; and an image processing apparatus connected to each of the clients via a network. The image processing apparatus is requested by each client to execute a job through the network. In an information processing system that extracts each job affected by an error and notifies each client who has requested the execution of these jobs of the occurrence of the error via a network, the image processing apparatus includes: Generates a list of each client that has requested to execute, and sends the list to the clients along with the occurrence of the error through the network. Characterized by displaying Information processing system. 8. A plurality of clients are connected through a network, each client is requested to execute a job through the network, and when an error occurs, each job affected by the error is extracted and executed. In the data processing method of the image processing apparatus for notifying each client who has requested the error occurrence of the error through a network, a step of generating a list of each client that has requested execution of each job affected by the error, Notifying the client of the list along with the occurrence of an error via a network. 9. The list distinguishes between a client requesting a job being executed at the time of occurrence of an error and a client of another job executed after the completion of the job. Item 9. A data processing method of the image processing device according to Item 8. 10. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the list represents each client that has requested execution of each job according to the execution order of each job. 11. A method in which a plurality of clients are distinguished into a plurality of groups in advance, and a list including a client requesting execution of a job affected by the error is notified through the network together with the occurrence of the error. The data processing method of the image processing apparatus according to claim 8. A plurality of clients are associated with a plurality of error information notification destination clients, and an error information notification destination client corresponding to a client who has requested execution of a job affected by the error generates a list of errors. 9. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the notification is made via a network.