JP2002268859A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an image processing device that efficiently notifies an error by narrowing down a terminal device of a user who notifies a generated error more effectively. An information processing device A, which is a terminal device of a user,
When the job data whose priority is designated from B,... Is received, the job processing is executed in accordance with the priority designated by the information processing apparatus, and the occurrence of an error is detected by the sensor group 6a which detects the occurrence of an error in each unit. Is detected, the job data management unit 11 extracts job data designated as having a high priority, and notifies the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the extracted job data of the occurrence of an error.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a copying machine, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine has been used.
In a network system in which a plurality of users share and use via a computer as a terminal device and an information processing device such as a personal digital assistant, when an error occurs in the image processing device, the error is not cleared. In order to prevent a decrease in the operation rate of the image processing apparatus due to being left for a long time, the occurrence of an error is notified to the user's terminal device.

In the conventional apparatus for notifying an error by such a method, if the error is notified only to the terminal of the user who instructed the job being executed at the time of the error, for example, if the user is absent, the error may occur. If the cancellation is not performed, there is a problem that the error is left for a long time without being canceled and the operation rate of the image processing apparatus is reduced.

[0004] On the other hand, if an error is notified to the terminal devices of all users waiting for processing in the image processing apparatus, the number of persons required for the error cancellation processing may be one, but in some cases, the installation location of the image processing apparatus may be reduced. A problem may occur that many users come to error cancellation.

[0005] To solve the problems of the conventional device 1
As one of the apparatuses, there is an image processing apparatus having a composite function such as a multifunction printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-8727.

In this apparatus, when an error occurs in a part where a specific job is executed, the error occurrence information is analyzed to identify the content of the error and to designate a job in which the error should not occur. All data relating to the terminal devices of the users waiting for processing are searched, and based on the searched data, the error is notified to the terminal devices of all the users who transmitted the job data that should not have the error. .

In general, the types of errors of the image processing apparatus include, for example, errors relating to paper (out of A4 paper, paper jam during print processing, etc.) and errors such as running out of toner. In the image processing apparatus described above, for example, if the type of error is analyzed as an error of out of A4 paper as a result of analyzing the error occurrence information, It is possible to retrieve all the data relating to the terminal device of the user who has instructed the job, and to notify the error to the terminal devices of all the users who transmitted the retrieved job data.

[0008]

However, in the image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-8727, if an error occurs as described above, it cannot be executed due to the error. Although an error can be notified to the terminal devices of all the users who have requested a job and have been on standby, the error occurs at a high frequency and has a large influence, for example, an error related to A4 paper or an out-of-toner condition. When an error occurs, almost all jobs relating to the printing process cannot be executed, so that the error is notified to almost all the user terminal devices.

As a result, if an error occurs, the error is also notified to the user's terminal device that does not need to hurry the job processing at the same time. There is a problem that it is not possible to narrow down to terminal devices, and it is not possible to efficiently notify an error.

[0010] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and when an error occurs, narrows down the terminal devices of the users who are notified of the error more effectively, thereby achieving more efficient error elimination. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device that performs notification.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an image processing apparatus according to the present invention has a function to transmit a signal from an information processing apparatus which is a user terminal apparatus. Receiving means for receiving job data having a designated priority, detecting means for detecting occurrence of an error in each section, and, when an error is detected by the detecting means, job data having a high priority designated And an informing unit that notifies the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the extracted job data of the occurrence of the error by the managing unit.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to notify an error to a terminal device of a user who is in a hurry to process a job, so that the user can immediately respond to the occurrence of an error such as canceling the error.

An image processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit for receiving job data having a designated priority transmitted from an information processing apparatus, which is a terminal device of a user, and detecting an error in each unit. Detecting means for determining the content of the error detected by the detecting means, and when the content of the error is determined by the determining means, a job which cannot be executed due to the determined error Management means for extracting job data designated as having a high priority; and notification means for notifying the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the job data extracted by the management means that an error has occurred. I do.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to notify an error to a user's terminal device whose processing is urgently performed in a job that cannot be executed due to the error, and to narrow down the user's terminal devices more effectively. It becomes possible.

In addition, the user can be made to immediately respond to the occurrence of an error such as canceling the error.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the management unit executes the error notification by the notification unit for a predetermined time. If the error is not cleared even after the elapse, job data having a high priority and not specified among the jobs that cannot be executed due to the error is extracted, and the notifying unit extracts the job data extracted by the managing unit. The information processing apparatus that has transmitted the job data is also notified of the occurrence of the error.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to avoid stagnation of job processing and to minimize inconvenience to many users.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, the power consumption is limited and job data is not extracted by the management means. In this case, power control means is provided which can be set to enter a low power mode in which the power consumption of the entire apparatus is limited.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress power consumption until the error is released.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Configuration> FIG. 1 shows a network system 1 in which an image processing apparatus 2 according to the present invention and information processing apparatuses A, B,... 1 shows a schematic configuration of the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 2 includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses A, B,.
Is communicably connected to

The image processing apparatus 2 includes a control unit 4, a display unit 5, an image forming unit 6, a memory 7, a network interface (hereinafter, referred to as a network I / F).
8 and a power supply unit 9.

The control section 4 controls the above sections, and converts print data such as documents or drawings in job data received from the information processing apparatuses A, B,. An image processing unit 10 for conversion;
Job data management unit 1 for managing received job data
1, an error determination unit 12 that determines an error detected in the image forming unit 6 by an error detection sensor group 6a provided in the image forming unit 6, and a power management unit that manages power supplied from the power supply unit 9. 13, a clock circuit unit 14 for counting the current time and the passage of time, and a notifying unit 15 for notifying the information processing apparatuses A, B,... .

In such a configuration, the job data management section 11 sequentially receives job data from the information processing apparatuses A, B,... And data relating to the execution order of the jobs are stored in an order storage unit (hereinafter, referred to as a queue) 11b, and information concerning the information processing device of the user, that is, code information for specifying the information processing device, etc. 11a is stored separately.

On the other hand, if any one of the information processing apparatuses receives job data in which a priority for giving a higher priority to the execution order than the job data already stored in the queue 11b is received, the storage order And the designated priority is also registered in the queue 11b.

FIG. 2 shows a table representing a data array relating to the execution order registered in the queue 11b of the job data management section 11, and the priority of each job will be described with reference to FIG.

If the user does not specify anything about the priority, the job of the normal job (job data ID: 004)
57, and is registered as job data ID: 4559). If data indicating a priority is input in response to a request for priority processing, the priority indicating the priority is registered based on the input data.

With regard to the priority, in the present invention, the priority 2 job (job data ID: 00460) is set higher than the priority 1 job (job data ID: 00458).

Therefore, the processing order of the priority 2 job (job data ID: 0046) is executed before the priority 1 job (job data ID: 4558).

Therefore, in the case shown in FIG. 2, the job with the second priority received (job data ID: 0046) is the job currently being executed (job data ID: 00457). Is registered in the queue 11b so as to be processed next.

If it is not necessary to give priority to the job processing at all, the job is designated and registered as non-priority like the job indicated by the job data ID: 00414, so that the job processing can be performed later than the normal job. Done.

In the present invention, when there are a plurality of job data having the same priority, the job data is registered in the queue 11b so that the printing process is performed in order from the one received earlier.

With regard to the designation of the priority by the information processing apparatus, the designation is generally permitted for all the information processing apparatuses. Instead of permitting the designation of the degree, the user ID of the information processing apparatus for which the designation of the priority is permitted is registered in advance in the user information 11a of the job data management unit 11, and the priority of the information processing apparatus registered in advance is registered. May be configured to allow the designation of the priority based on.

As a result, even if job data indicating a higher priority than the previously specified priority is received from the information processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus 2 rejects the job data and changes the storage order according to the priority. Never run.

Referring again to FIG.
The types of errors determined by (2) include errors related to paper (paper jams due to paper jam due to paper conveyance failure due to running out of A4 paper or B4 paper, skewing of paper during print processing, etc.) and errors such as running out of toner. There is.

The notifying unit 15 determines the contact information and the contact means of the information processing apparatus of the user based on the user information stored in the user information unit 11a.
The error information and the necessary information from the image processing apparatus 2 are notified to the information processing apparatus.

The display unit 5 is composed of a liquid crystal display including a touch panel type switch unit, and includes data inputted by operating the switch unit, a state of the image processing apparatus 2 including an error state, an operation guide for a user operation, and the like. Is displayed.

The image forming section 6 prints job data received from the information processing apparatuses A, B,..., And employs any printing method such as an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method. ing.

The memory 7 includes information processing devices A, B,.
A storage unit 7a for storing print data such as a drawing included in the job data received from the server until print processing is executed, and a storage unit 7b for storing a program required for controlling the image processing apparatus 2. It is divided into a storage unit 7c for storing other various data.

The network I / F 8 is connected to the image processing device 2 and the information processing device A via the network 3.
B. An interface for communicating with.

The power supply section 9 supplies power to each section of the image processing apparatus 2 through a power supply line (not shown).

The information processing apparatuses A, B,..., Which are terminal apparatuses of the user, each include a control unit 17, a display unit 18, and a network I / F 16 for controlling the information processing apparatuses.

In such a configuration, the control unit 17
Performs control of each section in the information processing apparatus. When transmitting job data to the image processing apparatus 2, the processing designation data input by the display section 18 is also transmitted through the network I / F 16. Control is performed so that the error information is transmitted to the processing device 2, and when error data is received from the image processing device 2, control is performed so that the received error information is displayed on the display unit 18. <Description of Operation> The operation of the image processing apparatus 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention when an error occurs will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the flowchart of FIG. 3, a case will be described in which the error determination unit 12 determines that the type of error that has occurred in the image processing apparatus 2 is out of A4 paper.

First, the job data management unit 11 extracts all the job data that is affected by the A4 out-of-paper error and has a job data ID of the job data of which priority is designated among these job data. Is extracted (step S1).

Next, among the job data specifying the priority extracted in step S1, the job data specified with a higher priority (in the present embodiment, the priority 1
It is determined whether or not there is priority job data (step S2). If there is priority job data, YES is determined, and the priority job data is designated. To the information processing apparatus that has performed the error processing, at least one of error occurrence information indicating that an A4 paper out error has occurred or an error release request for requesting replenishment of A4 paper is performed (step S3). ).

Further, the error is also notified to the information processing device of the user who requested the job being processed at the time of occurrence of the error and the information processing device of the system administrator of the network system 1 set in advance (step S
4), the job data management section 11
In step S5, the error notification time in steps S3 and S4 is stored, and counting of the time from the error notification time until a predetermined time has elapsed is started (step S5).

On the other hand, if there is no priority job data in step S2, the job data management unit 11 determines NO, and proceeds to step S6 to determine whether there is any job data that is not affected by the execution due to an A4 out of paper error. Check.

If there is no job data that is not affected by the execution due to the error, there is no job that needs to be processed at this point, so that the power management unit 13 restricts the power consumption of the image processing apparatus 2 to save power. After shifting to the mode (step S7), steps S4 to S5 are performed.

On the other hand, in step S6, if there is any job data which is not affected by the execution due to the A4 out-of-paper error, the job data management unit 11 determines YES and outputs the job indicated by the job data (for example, B4 printing). Steps S4 and S5 are performed without shifting to the power saving mode in order to execute the printing process of step S).

Thereafter, the image processing apparatus 2 enters a standby state until the user who has received the error notification in steps S3 and S4 cancels the error (step S4).
8) In step S8, if the user who has been notified of the error replenishes the A4 paper and cancels the error (YES in step S8), the notification step when an error occurs ends.

On the other hand, in step S8, the error is not canceled by the user who has been notified of the error, and another event (for example, B4) is executed before the predetermined time elapses from the error notification time as shown in step S9. When the reception of paper job data has occurred (step S9), the processing shown in the following steps is executed.

That is, as job data which is not affected by the execution due to the error occurring in the queue 11b, A4
When the job data of the print processing on the B4 paper other than the paper is added, if the image processing apparatus 2 is in the power saving mode at this time, the print processing of the newly added job data is executed. For this purpose, the power saving mode is canceled and the printing process of the job is executed (step S10).

As described above, by executing a job for printing B4 paper which is not affected by the occurrence of an error due to running out of A4 paper, it is possible to prevent the memory 7 from being full due to a delay in processing of job data.

Next, when the printing process in step S10 is completed, a notification of the completion of the job processing is sent to the information processing apparatus that has requested the job of B4 paper.
Notification of an error that has occurred in connection with the four sheets is also made to the same device (step S11).

The reason for performing such processing is to notify a user who comes to the installation location of the image processing apparatus 2 for picking up the printed B4 paper to an error and to prompt the user to cancel the error.

Next, after the end of the step 11, the job data management section 11 returns to the job data newly added to the queue 11b the job data which is not affected by the error based on the A4 sheet. Is determined (step S12).

If there is unaffected job data, it is determined as YES, and the image forming unit 6 is caused to execute a job related to unaffected job data, and the process returns to step S8.

On the other hand, if there is no job data unaffected by the execution in step S12, the job data management section 11 determines NO, and proceeds to step S13, where the job data is newly added to the queue 11b again. It is determined whether there is priority job data in the job data (step S13).

If there is priority job data, it is determined as YES, and the process returns to step S3.

On the other hand, if there is no priority job data in step S13, the job data management unit 11
Is determined to be NO, and there is no job that needs to be processed at this time. Therefore, after the power management unit 13 shifts to the power saving mode in which the power consumption of the image processing apparatus 2 is limited (step S14), the above step S8 is performed again. Return to

Next, as another event shown in step S9, a process in a case where a predetermined time has elapsed from the notification of the error will be described using steps S15 to S19.

The image processing apparatus 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention notifies an error to the information processing apparatus requesting the priority job data when the priority job data exists in the queue 11b. It requires quick error clearing.

For this reason, a predetermined time (error release waiting time) for monitoring whether the error is released within a predetermined time from the notification of the error is set in the job data management unit 11 in advance. As for the waiting time,
The first error release waiting time for an information processing apparatus that has requested a high priority job of priority 2 is set shorter than the second error release waiting time for an information processing apparatus that has requested a job of priority 1 Have been.

Therefore, when an error occurs, first, the job data management section 11 determines whether or not the first error release waiting time has passed after the error notification to the information processing apparatus (for example, A) that has requested the priority 2 job. (Step 15).

If the first error release waiting time has elapsed without the release operation (replenishment of A4 paper in this example) performed by the user of the information processing apparatus A, the job data management unit 11 returns YES. After the determination, the data relating to the priority of the job of priority 2 registered in the queue 11b is changed to the data of priority 1, that is, the priority is lowered (step S16), and thereafter, the flow returns to step S8 again.

As described above, the job data management unit 11
The reason that the priority specified by the information processing apparatus is lowered is that the error is not canceled within a predetermined time even though the priority is specified to be high, which means that the priority print processing is actually performed. Is determined not to be necessary.

Next, the job data management section 11 determines whether or not the second error release waiting time has elapsed after the error notification to the information processing apparatus (for example, B) which has requested the job of priority 1 (step 17).

If the second waiting time elapses without a release operation (replenishment of A4 paper in this example) performed by the user of the information processing apparatus B, the job data management section 11 determines YES. Then, the data relating to the priority of the job of priority 1 registered in the queue 11b is changed to the data of the normal job, that is, the priority is lowered (step S
18).

Then, in order to avoid further stagnation of job processing, an error is notified to all information processing apparatuses that have requested a normal job affected by the error (step S19).

In the above example, the embodiment in which the designation of the priority is permitted for all the information processing apparatuses has been described, but the information processing apparatus which permits the designation of the priority in the user information section 11a of the job data management section 11 has been described. When the user ID is registered in advance, the error release waiting time can be applied.

The details of the job priority changing operation described with reference to FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4A shows the job data management unit 11.
3 shows a table representing a data array related to the execution order registered in the queue 11b.

As shown in this figure, if an A4 out-of-paper error occurs during the execution of a job (job data ID: 00457), the job data management unit 11 sets a priority level that affects the execution due to the error. An error notification is sent to the information processing apparatus that has requested the second job (job data ID: 0046) and the first priority job (job data ID: 4558).

Further, the error is notified to the information processing apparatus which requested the job (job data ID: 00457) being executed at the time of occurrence of the error and to the information processing apparatus of the manager of the entire system (not shown). The job data management unit 11 starts counting the error release waiting time in cooperation with the clock circuit unit 4.

Next, as shown in FIG.
The print processing of the job of B4 paper (job data ID: 00461) which is not affected by the out-of-paper error is executed, and when the print processing of the job by the B4 paper is completed, the information requesting the job of the B4 paper The completion of the job is notified to the processing device, and at the same time, an error relating to A4 paper is also notified to the processing device.

FIG. 5A shows a B4 sheet job (job data ID: 00) described with reference to FIG.
461), the job data I
D: 00457 indicates that the job is in the standby state, and from (a) to (b) in FIG.
The first error release waiting time elapses without the error being released by the user of the information processing apparatus requesting the job of the priority 2 (job data ID: 0046),
The state changed to the priority 1 is shown.

As a result, the priority of the job of priority 2 (job data ID: 0046) is reduced to 1 by the job data management unit 11.

The details of the operation of changing the priority of the information processing apparatus in which the job data management unit 11 is allowed to specify the priority in advance and the user ID is registered will be described with reference to FIG.

This figure shows that in the user information section 11a,
This shows a state in which the information processing apparatuses of the user ID: (Suzuki) and the user ID: (Yamamoto) designate the priority 2.

In such a storage state of the user information section 11a, an error occurs and an error notification is issued.
After the elapse of the first error release waiting time accompanying this, the priority of the information processing apparatus of the user ID: (Yamamoto) is changed by the operation of the job data management unit 11 as shown in FIG. It is changed to 1.

In (b) above, the priority of the information processing apparatus (user ID: (Suzuki)) is not lowered because of the change of the priority of the information processing apparatus by the administrator of the entire system. This is because the technology of changing the priority of the present invention has not been applied until now.

Of course, the priority of the information processing device of the administrator may be lowered.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention,
The image processing apparatus 2 receives the job data in which the priority for giving priority to the processing order of the job is specified from the information processing apparatuses A, B,.
Although only the printer function for performing print processing in the print order specified by the above is described, the present invention can be applied to a copy function or a fax function in addition to the printer function.

[0085]

The present invention is configured as described above. According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when job data with a designated priority is received from an information processing apparatus which is a user terminal apparatus. Executing the job processing in accordance with the priority specified by the information processing apparatus, and when an error is detected, extracts the job data designated with a higher priority and transmits the extracted job data By notifying the occurrence of the error to the information processing apparatus, the notification of the occurrence of the error can be notified to the information processing apparatus that hasten the processing of the job.
It is possible to immediately respond to the occurrence of an error such as canceling the error.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, upon receiving the job data of which the priority is designated transmitted from the information processing apparatus which is the user's terminal apparatus, according to the priority designated by the information processing apparatus, When the processing of the job is executed and the occurrence of an error is detected, the content of the error that has occurred is determined, and a high priority is specified for a job that cannot be executed due to the content of the determined error. Extract job data.

Then, by notifying the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the extracted job data of the occurrence of the error, the information processing apparatus that promptly processes the job in which the error occurrence notification cannot be executed due to the error. , And the information processing apparatuses can be narrowed down more effectively.

In addition, the user can be made to immediately respond to the occurrence of an error such as canceling the error.

Further, if the error clearing wait time has elapsed without the error clearing being performed, the job data having a high priority and not specified among the jobs that cannot be executed due to the error that has occurred is deleted. By notifying the sending information processing device of the occurrence of the error,
There is an effect that stagnation of job processing can be avoided and inconvenience to many users can be minimized.

Further, when an error occurs, it is unlikely that the error will be cleared in a short time. Therefore, by setting the image processing apparatus to enter a low power mode in which the power consumption of the image processing apparatus is limited, the error can be reduced. It is possible to suppress power consumption until the power is released.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a network system including an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a table representing a data array related to a job execution order registered in a queue of a job data management unit in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention when an error occurs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of changing the priority of a job according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of changing the priority of job data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of changing the priority of an information processing apparatus permitted to designate a priority in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network system 2 image processing device 3 network 4 control unit 5 display unit 6 image forming unit 7 memory 7a storage unit 7b storage unit 7c storage unit 8 network I / F 9 power supply unit 10 image processing unit 11 job data management unit 11a user information Unit 11b queue 11c job reception unit 12 error determination unit 13 power management unit 14 clock circuit unit 15 notification unit 16 network I / F 17 control unit 18 display unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B41J 29/46 B41J 29/46 Z H04N 1/00 107 H04N 1/00 107A F-term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ05 AQ06 AS02 HH11 HK11 HN15 HQ06 HT02 HT06 HV09 HV13 HV14 HV32 5B021 AA01 AA05 AA19 BB10 EE01 NN16 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA35 AB38 AC34 AC42 AC58 AF00 BA00

Claims (4)

[Claims] A receiving unit for receiving job data having a designated priority transmitted from the information processing apparatus; a detecting unit for detecting an error in each unit; and a priority when an error is detected by the detecting unit. And a notifying unit for notifying the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the job data extracted by the managing unit that an error has occurred. Image processing device. 2. A receiving means for receiving job data transmitted from an information processing apparatus and having a designated priority, a detecting means for detecting an error in each section, and a discriminating means for discriminating the content of the error detected by the detecting means. Means for extracting, when the content of the error is determined by the determining means, job data designated as having a high priority among jobs which cannot be executed due to the determined error; An image processing apparatus comprising: an information processing apparatus that has transmitted job data extracted by a management unit; and a notification unit that notifies an occurrence of an error to the information processing apparatus. 3. The management unit, if the error is not cleared within a predetermined time after the notification of the error by the notification unit is executed, the priority of the job that cannot be executed due to the error is set. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: extracting job data that is not specified as high; and notifying the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the job data extracted by the management unit that an error has occurred.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. A power control unit which controls power consumption and which can be set to enter a low power mode for limiting power consumption of the entire apparatus when job data is not extracted by the management unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: