JP2009113320A - Image forming apparatus, program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a file stored in an external storage device by using a user's selection / designation operation time to generate a print job from the file in the external storage device. Reduce the waiting time from printing to printing.
When a connection of an external storage device 5 is detected, a CPU 19 determines whether or not data that can be directly printed is stored in the external storage device 5, and data that can be directly printed is stored. If it is determined, data that can be directly printed is read from the external storage device 5, a print job in a print pending state is generated in the RAM 16 based on the read data, and data to be printed is selected from the operation panel 3 and the selected data is selected. When print conditions for data are specified, printing is executed based on the print pending print job based on the selected data and the print conditions.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium including a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine thereof.

Image forming apparatuses including facsimile machines, printers, copiers, and their multifunction devices receive data described in a page description language (PDL) from a terminal device (PC) that is communicably connected via a network. In addition to the function of creating bitmap data of characters and figures based on the data and printing the bitmap data, an external storage device including an SD card and a USB memory can be connected and externally connected without using a PC. Some have a direct print function for printing a file stored in a storage device.
In the direct print function, the user connects an external storage device that stores the file to be printed including image files (image data) to the image forming device, and selects the file to be printed in the external storage device from the operation panel of the image forming device. When the printing conditions for the selected file are specified, the image forming apparatus reads the selected file from the external storage device, expands the read file into print image data (bitmap data), and executes a print job. And generating the print job based on the designated print condition.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an image forming apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 1) that determines the type of printer description language of a file stored in an external storage device and prints the file stored in the external storage device based on the determination result. It was.
JP 2007-50649 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus capable of direct printing, after the user selects an image file to be printed and designates the printing condition for the image file, the selected image file is read from the external storage device and bitmap data is read. Since the print job is generated and the print process is started, it takes time until the printing is completed after the user completes the above selection and designation operations, and the user waits until the print result is obtained. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. When an external storage device is connected and a file stored in the external storage device is printed, printing is executed after the user performs a printing operation. The purpose is to be able to shorten the waiting time until the start.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following image forming apparatus, program, and computer-readable recording medium.
(1) Connection means for connecting an external storage device, detection means for detecting connection / disconnection of the external storage device to / from the connection means, and when the connection of the external storage device is detected by the detection means, the external storage device Determining means for determining whether or not direct printable data is stored, and when determining that direct printable data is stored by the determining means, direct printable data is stored from the external storage device. The generation means for generating a print job in a print pending state based on the read data and the data to be printed are selected from the data stored in the external storage device, and the printing conditions for the selected data are set. Selection designation means to be specified and a print pending status based on the data selected by the selection designation means A determination unit that determines whether or not a print job is generated by the generation unit, and the selection unit determines that the print pending print job based on the selected data is generated by the determination unit. An image forming apparatus comprising a printing unit that executes printing based on a print pending print job based on the recorded data and the printing condition.

(2) In the image forming apparatus as described above, the generation unit generates a print job in a print pending state based on each direct printable data read from the external storage device in the order of reading the data. Forming equipment.
(3) In the image forming apparatus as described above, when the printing condition is specified by the selection specifying unit, the generation unit generates the print pending print job based on the data selected by the determination unit. If it is determined that the data is not generated by the means, the selected data is preferentially read from the data stored in the external storage device, and a print job in a print pending state is generated based on the read data. An image forming apparatus having means for performing.

(4) In the image forming apparatus as described above, when the generation unit selects a plurality of data by the selection / designation unit and print conditions for combining and printing the data are specified, the generation unit From the print pending print jobs generated based on the data read from the storage device, the print pending print jobs based on the selected data are combined in the selected order of the selected data. An image forming apparatus having means for generating a new print job in a combined print pending state.
(5) In the image forming apparatus as described above, after each print job in a print pending state based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device is generated by the generation unit, a preset condition is set And a erasure unit that erases all print jobs in a print pending state generated by the generation unit when it is determined that a condition preset by the condition determination unit is satisfied. An image forming apparatus.

(6) In the image forming apparatus as described above, the condition determination unit is a unit that determines that the preset condition is satisfied when the detection unit detects removal of the external storage device from the connection unit. An image forming apparatus.
(7) In the image forming apparatus as described above, the elapsed time after each print job in a print pending state based on all the direct printable data stored in the external storage device is generated by the generation unit is measured. And an erasing time storage unit that stores an erasing time from when each print job in the print pending state is generated until the erasing is performed, and the condition determining unit includes the elapsed time measured by the measuring unit. An image forming apparatus as means for determining that the preset condition is satisfied when the erase time stored in the erase time storage means is reached.
(8) In the image forming apparatus as described above, an image forming apparatus provided with means for setting the erasing time.

(9) A detection procedure for detecting connection and removal of an external storage device and whether or not data that can be directly printed is stored in the external storage device when the connection of the external storage device is detected by the detection procedure. If it is determined that the data that can be directly printed is stored by the determination procedure, the data that can be directly printed is read from the external storage device, and the print is suspended based on the read data. A generation procedure for generating a print job in a state, a selection specification procedure for selecting data to be printed from the data stored in the external storage device, and specifying a print condition for the selected data, and the selection specification procedure A print job in a print pending state based on the data selected by If it is determined that a print job in a print pending state based on the selected data is generated based on the determination procedure, and the print pending state based on the selected data is determined. A program for executing a printing procedure for executing printing based on a print job and the printing conditions.

(10) In the program as described above, the generation procedure is a procedure for generating print pending print jobs based on each direct printable data read from the external storage device in the order of data reading.
(11) In the program as described above, when the print condition is designated by the selection / designation procedure, the print procedure in the print pending state based on the data selected by the determination procedure is performed by the generation procedure. A procedure for preferentially reading the selected data from the data stored in the external storage device and generating a print pending print job based on the read data when it is determined that the data is not generated Including programs.

(12) In the program as described above, when the generation procedure selects a plurality of data according to the selection / designation procedure, and specifies print conditions for combining and printing the data, the external storage device The print pending state print jobs based on the selected data are combined from the print pending state print jobs generated based on the data read from the data in the order of selection of the selected data. A program that includes a procedure for creating a new print job in a print pending state.
(13) In the above-described program, after each print job in a print pending state based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device is generated by the generation procedure, a preset condition is satisfied. A condition determination procedure for determining whether or not a print job has been performed, and an erasure procedure for erasing all print jobs in the print pending state generated by the generation procedure when it is determined that a condition set in advance by the condition determination procedure is satisfied. Including program.

(14) In the program as described above, the condition determination procedure is a procedure for determining that the preset condition is satisfied when removal of the external storage device is detected by the detection procedure.
(15) In the program as described above, measurement for measuring an elapsed time from generation of each print pending print job based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device by the generation procedure. A erasing time storage procedure for storing a erasing time from when each print pending print job is generated until erasing is performed, and the condition determining procedure includes the elapsed time measured by the measuring procedure described above. A program which is a procedure for determining that the preset condition is satisfied when the erase time stored in the erase time storage procedure is reached.
(16) In the above program, a program including a procedure for setting the erasure time.
(17) A computer-readable recording medium storing any of the above programs.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when an external storage device is connected and a file stored in the external storage device is printed, the user selects a file to be printed and specifies a print condition for the file. Since the print job is generated from the file in the external storage device using the time, it is possible to reduce the waiting time from when the user performs the printing operation until the printing is executed.
The program according to the present invention connects an external storage device to a computer, and when printing a file stored in the external storage device, the user selects a file to be printed and specifies a print condition for the file. A function to reduce the waiting time from when the user performs a printing operation until printing is executed by generating a print job from a file in the external storage device Can be realized.
Furthermore, the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention can easily introduce the program into a computer.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This system includes a facsimile apparatus, various types of printers including color or monochrome laser printers, a copier, and an image forming apparatus 1 including all printing (image forming) apparatuses including their multifunction peripherals. And the host computer 20 are communicably connected via a network 21 which is a communication medium including the Internet and a local area network, and the image forming apparatus 1 prints document and image data sent from each host computer 20. It has a function and a direct print function.
In the figure, the case where one image forming apparatus 1 is connected on the network 21 is shown. However, even when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected, the function of the present invention is the same as described below. Thus, it can be implemented in each image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a controller 2, an operation panel 3, and a printer engine 4, and an external storage device 5 can be connected to and detached from the apparatus main body.
The operation panel 3 includes a display unit including an LCD and a touch panel type input unit provided on the display unit. The operation panel 3 includes various operation screens including operations related to direct printing on the display unit, and status information of the image forming apparatus 1. And the user inputs information on various input operations including a switch operation for switching the mode and font of the image forming apparatus 1 and an operation related to direct printing to the input unit.

  The printer engine 4 exposes the image bearing member that rotates in the sub-scanning direction (which is uniformly charged in advance by the charging device) by the exposure unit based on the image data and control data received from the controller 2. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image by a developing unit to form a toner image, the toner image is transferred onto a recording medium by a transfer unit, The toner image is printed on a sheet by performing a series of image forming operations in which the toner image is heat-pressed and fixed by a fixing unit including a fixing roller including a heater and a pressure roller.

  The external storage device 5 is a flash memory including a secure digital (SD) memory card and a USB memory card. The external storage device 5 can be connected (attached) to and removed from the image forming apparatus 1 and is directly connected. When printing, data that can be directly printed, including image data and PDF data that the user wants to print, is stored, and after being mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, data that can be directly printed is selected and printing conditions are set. It is possible to print without going through the host computer 20.

  The controller 2 is a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1, and includes an operation panel interface (I / F) 10, an external storage device interface (I / F) 11, a network interface (I / F) 12, The printer engine interface (I / F) 13, program ROM 14, font ROM 15, RAM 16, NV-RAM 17, option RAM 18, and CPU 19 are included.

The operation panel I / F 10 is an interface between the controller 2 and the operation panel 3, and displays various operation screens including operations related to direct printing and status information of the image forming apparatus 1 on the display unit under the control of the CPU 19. Information corresponding to various input operations including a switch operation for switching the mode and font of the image forming apparatus 1 input by the user and an operation related to direct printing are input to the input unit. Send to CPU19.
The external storage device I / F 11 is an interface for connecting the controller 2 and the external storage device 5. When the external storage device 5 is connected, information indicating that the external storage device 5 is connected is sent to the CPU 19 and removed under the control of the CPU 19. And stops the output of the information sent in the connection state, and controls the reading of data from the external storage device 5.

The network I / F 12 is an interface between the controller 2 and the network 21, and controls data exchange with the host computer 20 on the network 21 under the control of the CPU 19, and receives control information and data from the host computer 20. Status information is transmitted to the host computer 20.
The printer engine I / F 13 is an interface between the controller 2 and the printer engine 4. Under the control of the CPU 19, control information and data are transmitted from the controller 2 to the printer engine 4, and status information is transmitted from the printer engine 4 to the controller 2. Exchanges various data including transmission of.

The program ROM 14 is a memory that stores a program including each procedure executed by the CPU 19 for managing data in the controller 2 and controlling each unit in the controller 2.
The font ROM 15 is a memory that stores various types of fonts used in printing by the printer engine 4.
The RAM 16 is a work memory used when the CPU 19 performs various control processes, a buffer memory that temporarily manages the data from the host computer 20 in units of pages, and a bitmap of the actual print pattern for the stored data. Used as a bitmap memory for converting data into data and storing it, and a direct-printable data (for example, image data, PDF data) stored in the external storage device 5 as bitmap data for storing the data. It is memory.

The NV-RAM 17 is a non-volatile memory for storing data that is to be retained even when the power is turned off, and stores various types of information including an erasing time from generation of a print pending print job to deletion. To do.
The option RAM 18 is an optional work area.
The CPU 19 executes each procedure of the program stored in the program ROM 14 to control the entire image forming apparatus 1 and performs print processing based on data (image data, control data) received from the host computer 20. Perform direct print processing.

In the image forming apparatus 1, data sent from the host computer 20 through the network I / F 12 is divided into print data and print control data by the processing of the CPU 19, and the print data is converted into bitmap data and printed. The control data is converted into a control code and stored in the buffer memory.
When the print command from the host computer 20 or the data received from the host computer 20 exceeds one page, the controller 2 first converts the intermediate code into video data, and when that is finished, the printer 2 passes through the printer engine I / F 13. A command to start printing is issued to the printer engine 4.
The data from the host computer 20 is printed on the paper via the printer engine 4 through the series of flows as described above.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of various control programs related to printing and direct printing executed by the CPU 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
This program includes a page description language (PDL) analysis module 40, a job management module 41, and a service providing module group 42. The service providing module group 42 further includes a network management module 43, It comprises an external storage device management module 44, a memory management module 45, a system management module 46, an operation panel management module 47, and a printer management module 48.
By executing these modules, the processes of the modules communicate with each other to share the basic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and cooperate to respond to requests from higher layers.

The PDL analysis module 40 is a program including a procedure for generating bitmap data of an image to be printed by analyzing PDL data that is image data received by the image forming apparatus 1 from the host computer 20.
The job management module 41 performs control related to direct printing and overall control of PDL processing, and requests for processing of modules necessary for direct printing and processing of modules required for processing of the PDL analysis module 40. It is a program that consists of the procedure to perform.

In the job management module 41, the PDL data received by the processing of the network management module 43 is transferred to the processing of the PDL analysis module 40, and the device information managed by the processing of the system management module 46 by the processing of the PDL analysis module 40 is obtained. The mediation to be acquired, the media management for the memory management module 45 to secure the necessary memory area in the RAM 16 by the processing of the PDL analysis module 40, and the print request for the processing of the printer management module 48 regarding the bitmap data created by the processing of the PDL analysis module 40 Issue.
Also, the PDL data is received from the network I / F 12 and the bitmap data of the image to be printed is generated on the bitmap memory area secured on the RAM 16 by the processing of the memory management module 45.
Further, when generating bitmap data of an image to be printed, device configuration information of the printer engine 4, for example, information such as the configuration of a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray and the paper size in the paper feed tray is required. Is obtained by processing of the system management module 46.

The network management module 43 is a program comprising a procedure for managing communication of the network I / F 12 with the network 21 and controlling processing of received data obtained from the network 21, and is essential for receiving data from the host computer 20. The main responsibility is to receive the data by controlling the communication protocol (such as ftp or lpr) that is not allowed, and to pass the received data to other modules.
The memory management module 45 is a program comprising a procedure for managing read / write and memory area reservation for the memory including the font ROM 15, RAM 16, NV-RAM 17 and option RAM 18, and managing read / write to the external storage device 5. Based on the request, the memory area and the memory area in the external storage device are allocated and released.

The system management module 46 is a program including procedures for managing and controlling device configuration information and device status of the image forming apparatus 1.
The above device configuration information is information such as information on the attachment and detachment of the paper feed tray and paper discharge tray and the paper configuration in the paper feed tray. The device status refers to errors such as jams and out of paper during printing and standby. The contents are inside.
In addition to notifying such information to the processing of other modules, the main duties are the management of device settings by the user (customizable items whose operation is changed by setting).

The operation panel management module 47 is a program having a procedure for managing the display of the operation panel 3 and the input operation by the user.
In the processing of the operation panel management module 47, a menu screen for displaying the status of the image forming apparatus 1 and changing the device settings managed by the processing of the system management module 46 based on a request from the processing of another module. The main responsibility is to prompt the user to take appropriate measures by displaying the display and error screen.
When a button is displayed on a menu screen or an error screen, the pressed button is recognized and notified to the processing of another module.

The printer management module 48 is a program including a procedure for performing control related to printing processing of bitmap data generated by processing of the PDL analysis module 40.
In the printer management module 48, the main responsibility is to execute various processes necessary for printing the bitmap data stored in the memory by the printer engine 4; It issues commands, detects error conditions related to printing, and notifies other modules of processing.

Next, direct print processing in the image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing direct print processing in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
In this direct print process, when the CPU 19 detects the connection of the external storage device in step (indicated by “S” in FIG. 1), the memory area is allocated to the RAM by the process of the memory management module in step 2 and the external storage is performed. A file stored in the apparatus is read to determine whether or not an image file is stored in the external storage device. If an image file of image data that is data that can be directly printed is stored, step 3 is performed. The image file selection / printing condition designating process and the printing process are executed, and this process ends.
If it is determined in step 2 that no image file is stored in the external storage device, the process ends without doing anything.

The process of step 3 in the case where the image file is stored is divided into an image file selection / printing condition designation process flow and a printing process flow. This image file selection / printing condition designation process and printing process Are executed simultaneously.
The image file selection / printing condition designating process is performed by the operation panel management module 47, and the printing process is performed by the job management module 41.

Next, the details of the image file selection / printing condition designation process will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print image selection / print condition designation processing in direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
In this print image selection / print condition designation process, the CPU 19 executes the operation panel management module 47, extracts the file name of the image file (image data) stored in the external storage device in step 11, and extracts the file name. Display a list of file names on the operation panel.
Therefore, the user selects and inputs the file name of the image file to be printed on the operation panel.

In step 12, it is determined whether or not an image file has been selected from the list display on the operation panel. If not selected, the determination process in step 12 is repeated, and if selected, it is selected in the operation panel in step 13. A work screen for specifying printing conditions for the image file is displayed, and the printing conditions are accepted.
In step 14, it is determined whether or not printing conditions are designated on the operation screen on the operation panel. If not designated, the processing in step 14 is repeated. If designated, the processing is terminated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a list display screen of file names of image files displayed on the operation panel.
The user, for example, enters the column 50 of the file name “******* B.jpg”, the save date and time “2007/01/01 22:35”, and the size “1,000 (KB)” on this list display screen. When touching and touching the button 51 for shifting to the printing condition designation screen, the image file to be printed is selected, and the screen moves to a work screen for designating the printing conditions for the selected image file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen for specifying printing conditions displayed on the operation panel.
For example, the user sets the document size to “A4”, sets the number of copies to “1”, specifies “color” in the designation of color printing or monochrome printing, as shown in the printing condition designation work screen of FIG. Specify "ON" for printing, specify "ON" for consolidated printing, specify "ON" for sorting, and set both staple and punch to "OFF" If the OK button 52 is touched after the designation, the printing conditions are designated.

Next, details of the printing process will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing process in direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
In this printing process, the CPU 19 executes the job management module 41, reads image files stored in the external storage device one by one in step 21 and develops them into bitmap data, and prints the bitmap data print job. Generate the print pending state, and go to step 22. Here, the order in which image files are expanded into bitmap data is the order read from the external storage device. The print job generated here is pending printing.

In step 22, it is determined whether or not printing conditions are designated. In this determination, based on the notification by the process of the operation panel management module 47, it is determined that the print condition has already been specified in the print image selection / print condition specification process.
If the print condition is not specified in the determination of step 22, the process returns to the process of step 21 to repeat the above process. If the print condition is specified, the process proceeds to step 23.
In step 23, a print job based on the image file selected by the print image selection / print condition designation process is searched from the print pending print jobs generated by the process, and the selected image file is searched. It is determined whether or not the print job has been generated. If it has been generated, the process proceeds to step 25. If it has not been generated, the process proceeds to step 24.

In step 24, the selected image file is preferentially read from the external storage device and expanded into bitmap data, a print job of the bitmap data is generated, put in a print pending state, and the process proceeds to step 25.
In step 25, a print process is executed by combining the generated print job and the designated print condition, the printer engine is caused to print, and the process ends.

Next, an example will be given of a method for realizing each process in the image file selection / print condition designation process and the print process.
As a method for causing the user to select an image file to be printed, there is a means for using WEB.
In addition, when selecting an image file, a list of images (or thumbnail images) based on the image file instead of the file name is displayed, and the user can select and check the image. It is convenient because it can.
However, since the display screen of the display unit of the operation panel 3 attached to the image forming apparatus 1 is limited in size, the displayed image is often small and difficult to see.
Therefore, an image of an image file may be displayed by WEB, and an image file may be selected by selecting an image to be printed from the host computer 20, and a printing condition for the image file may be designated.

Further, in order to check whether or not an image file that can be directly printed is included in the external storage device, there is a method of examining the extension of each data file stored in the external storage device.
Alternatively, a method of analyzing several bytes at the beginning of each data file may be used.
In this embodiment, the case of an image file is described as data that can be directly printed. However, not only an image file but also a PDF file can be directly printed.

Next, a method for determining whether or not a printing condition is specified for an image file selected by the user and whether or not a print job based on the selected image file has been generated is described using a table. To do.
9 to 11 use a table to determine whether or not a printing condition is specified for an image file selected by the user and whether or not a print job based on the selected image file has been generated. It is explanatory drawing to do.

In this table, the file name of the data that can be directly printed stored in the external storage device is set, and “0” indicating that the printing condition is not set is set as an initial value in the column of the printing condition corresponding to each file. Storing.
In the printing condition column corresponding to the file name for which the printing condition is set by the user, “0” is rewritten to “1” indicating that the setting has been completed.
For the file name for which the print job has been generated, the ID assigned to the generated print job is stored in the print job ID column.

When the print condition is not specified and the print job is not generated, as shown in FIG. 9, the “print condition” line of the table contains all “0”, and the “job” line contains Is a state in which “-” is entered. The “file name” line contains file names in the order of reading from the external storage device.
When the user selects the file name “****** B.jpg” and designates the printing conditions, as shown in FIG. 10, “# ****** B.jpg” corresponds to the file name “****** B.jpg”. “Printing condition” is set to “1”.
In this way, it is possible to determine whether or not the printing condition is designated based on whether or not “1” is present in the “printing condition” line.

When a print job is generated, the job ID assigned to the generated print job is entered in the “print job” line corresponding to the print job generated by expanding the image file into bitmap data. .
Further, FIG. 11 shows a table when a print job corresponding to the file name “****** A.jpg” and the file name “****** B.jpg” is generated.
Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not a print job based on the image file selected by the user has been generated and which print job is the generated print job.

Next, when printing conditions are specified before the image file is expanded into bitmap data and the print job is generated, the selected image file is expanded preferentially to generate the print job. This can also be realized by operating the table.
Here, basically, an image file having a file name on the left registered in the table is developed into bitmap data in order, and the print job is generated.
12 and 13 show that when the print condition is specified before the image file is expanded into bitmap data and the print job is generated, the selected image file is preferentially expanded and the print job is displayed. It is explanatory drawing when performing the process which produces | generates using a table.

As shown in FIG. 12, during the generation of a print job corresponding to the file name “****** A.jpg”, an image file with the file name “****** C.jpg” is selected and printed. When the condition is specified, as shown in FIG. 13, the column of the file name “****** C.jpg” is changed to the file name “****** A.jpg” that is currently generating the print job. Insert into the next column of the corresponding print job.
Thereby, the priority of a specific print job generation process can be raised.

  In this way, by processing the image file in the external storage device into bitmap data in advance until the printing process is started, processing after the printing conditions are specified and the printing process is started. Is reduced. In addition, the print job expanded into bitmap data is not printed until the print condition is specified, and is placed in a print pending state. Printing is started after waiting for the user to specify the print condition. Time to completion can be shortened.

Next, in the above-described processing, the processing for generating one print job for one image file has been shown. However, when a plurality of image files are to be printed as one document, each image file is printed separately. It may be inconvenient if you have to.
For example, when it is desired to combine an image file and a PDF file into a single material, each file is a separate print job and cannot be stapled together.
In addition, when a plurality of such materials are printed, they cannot be sorted and printed.

Next, a process when a plurality of image files in the image forming apparatus 1 are collectively printed with one print job will be described.
First, a print image selection / print condition designation process when a plurality of image files in the image forming apparatus 1 are collectively printed in one print job will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing print image selection / print condition designation processing when printing a plurality of image files together in the direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

In this print image selection / print condition designation process, the CPU 19 executes the operation panel management module 47, extracts the file name of the image file (image data) stored in the external storage device in step 31, and extracts the file name. Display a list of file names on the operation panel.
Therefore, the user selects and inputs the file names of a plurality of image files that are to be printed together on the operation panel.

In step 32, it is determined whether or not an image file is selected from the list display on the operation panel. If it is not selected, the determination process in step 32 is repeated. If selected, the selected image file is selected in step 33. Is stored (for example, stored in the RAM), and the process proceeds to step 34.
In this way, the user selects and inputs the file names of a plurality of image files to be printed together from the list display on the operation panel in the order of synthesis.
After completing the selection of a plurality of image files, the user touches an image file selection completion button (not shown) on the operation panel.

In step 34, it is determined whether or not an image file selection completion notification is received from the operation panel. If there is no notification, the process returns to step 32 and the above-described processing is repeated. Proceed to
In step 35, an operation screen for designating print conditions for a print job for printing the selected image files together on the operation panel is displayed, accepting the print conditions, and the process proceeds to step 36.
In step 36, it is determined whether or not printing conditions are designated on the operation screen on the operation panel. If not designated, the processing in step 36 is repeated. If designated, the processing is terminated.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying a list of file names of image files displayed on the operation panel.
The user, for example, has a file name “******* C.jpg”, a save date and time “2007/01/02 22:30”, a size “1,000 (KB)” field 53 on the list display screen. , File name “****** A.jpg”, storage date and time “2007/01/01 22:30”, size “1,000 (KB)” field 54 and file name “******”. * D.jpg ", save date and time" 2007/01/05 22:30 ", size" 1,000 (KB) "column 55 and touch in this order to print multiple images together When a file is selected and a button 51 for shifting to a printing condition designation screen is touched, a plurality of image files to be printed together are selected, and the screen moves to a work screen for designating printing conditions for the selected image file. .

In this list display screen, a number (NO.) Indicating the selection order is displayed on the rightmost side of the screen touched by the user.
Here, one print is performed in the order of the file name “****** C.jpg”, the file name “****** A.jpg”, and the file name “****** D.jpg”. Printed as a job.

Next, a printing process when a plurality of image files in the image forming apparatus 1 are collectively printed with one print job will be described.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process when printing a plurality of image files together in the direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
In this printing process, the CPU 19 executes the job management module 41, reads image files stored in the external storage device one by one in step 41, develops them into bitmap data, and executes a print job of the bitmap data. Generate the print pending state and proceed to step 42. Here, the order in which image files are expanded into bitmap data is the order read from the external storage device. The print job generated here is pending printing.

In step 42, it is determined whether printing conditions are specified. In this determination, based on the notification by the process of the operation panel management module 47, it is determined that the print condition has already been specified in the print image selection / print condition specification process.
If the print condition is not specified in the determination of step 42, the process returns to the process of step 41 and the above process is repeated. If the print condition is specified, the process proceeds to step 43.
In step 43, a print job based on each image file selected by the print image selection / print condition designation process is searched from the print pending print jobs generated in the process, and all the selected print jobs are searched. It is determined whether or not each print job of the image file has been generated. If it has been generated, the process proceeds to step 45. If it has not been generated, the process proceeds to step 44.

  In step 44, if a print job has not been generated for all of the selected image files, the selected image files are preferentially read from the external storage device and expanded into bitmap data. Each print job of each bitmap data is generated, put in a print pending state, and the process proceeds to step 45. If no print job has been generated for any of the selected image files, an image file for which a print job has not yet been generated is preferentially read from the external storage device and developed into bitmap data. Then, a print job of the bitmap data is generated, the print is suspended, and the process proceeds to step 45.

In step 45, the generated bitmap data of each print job is combined (combined into one print image data), a new print job is generated based on the combined bitmap data, and the process proceeds to step 46.
In step 46, the newly generated print job and the designated print condition are combined to execute a print process, and the printer engine performs printing, and the process is terminated.

Next, an example of a method for generating a print job in which the plurality of print jobs are combined into one will be described.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a method for generating a print job that combines a plurality of print jobs into one.
For example, when three print jobs A60, print job B61, and print job C62 generated on the RAM 16 are combined into one, a pointer for referring to bitmap data stored in each of the print jobs A new print job is generated by combining the two.

For example, the print job A60 stores a pointer pA that refers to the bitmap data A63 of the print job A60, and the print job B61 stores a pointer pB that refers to the bitmap data B64 of the print job B61. When the pointer pC that refers to the bitmap data C65 of the print job C62 is stored, the C62 generates a new print job X66 having all the pointers pA to pC.
Here, when the selection order of the print jobs A60, B61, and C62 is the order of the print job B61 → the print job A60 → the print job C62, the array of pointers in the print job X66 is changed. If the order is pointer pB → pointer pA → pointer pC, printing is executed in the order of bitmap data B64 → bitmap data A63 → bitmap data C65 when the print job X66 is printed.

Then, after the generation of the print job X66, the print job A60, the print job B61, and the print job C62 are deleted.
In this manner, when a plurality of print jobs exist, a plurality of print jobs can be combined into one print job by generating a new print job having all pointers to the bitmap data held by each. it can.

Next, when the external storage device 5 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 in the above-described processing, the directly printable image file stored in the external storage device 5 is read and automatically developed into bitmap data. If the generated print job is generated, the print job generated in the image forming apparatus 1 may remain unexecuted when the user does not print all the image data in the external storage device 5.
In such a case, a means for erasing a print job that is not printed while printing is pending is necessary.

  Therefore, after each print pending print job based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device 5 is generated, the condition set in advance by the condition determination means realized by the processing of the CPU 19 is satisfied. If it is determined whether a preset condition is satisfied, all the print pending print jobs generated by the erasure unit realized by the processing of the CPU 19 may be deleted.

Next, examples of when the preset condition is satisfied include when the external storage device 5 is removed and when a preset time has elapsed.
Next, processing for erasing an unprinted print job pending when the external storage device 5 in the image forming apparatus 1 is removed will be described.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of processing for erasing an unprinted print job pending when the external storage device 5 in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is removed.
In this process, after the CPU 19 executes the job management module 41 and print jobs in a print pending state based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device 5 are generated, in step 51 the external storage device If it is not detected, this determination process is repeated. If detected, all print jobs generated in the RAM and in the print pending state are erased in step 52, This process ends.

In the above-described processing, the case where the print job pending printing is erased at the timing of removing the external storage device 5 has been described. However, if the user forgets to remove the external storage device, an unnecessary print job is left pending printing to form an image. It will be left in the apparatus 1.
In view of this, it is preferable to automatically delete the print pending print job when a predetermined time has elapsed since all the image data in the external storage device 5 has been developed into bitmap data.

Next, a process of automatically erasing a print job pending printing when an elapsed time after all image data in the external storage device 5 in the image forming apparatus 1 is expanded into bitmap data reaches a predetermined time. explain.
FIG. 19 shows a print job that is automatically put on hold when the elapsed time after all the image data in the external storage device 5 in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure of the process to erase.

In this process, after the CPU 19 executes the job management module 41 and generates a print job for all image data that can be directly printed in the external storage device 5, in step 61, for example, externally stored by a timer (measuring means) of the CPU. Measurement of elapsed time from the generation of each print-pending print job based on all direct printable data stored in the apparatus is started. In step 62, the print hold previously set in the NV-RAM is started. Referring to the erasing time from when each print job in the state is generated until erasing is performed, it is determined whether or not the above erasing time has passed a preset erasing time. If all the print jobs generated in the RAM and in the print pending state are deleted in step 63, the process is terminated.
In this way, the elapsed time from when each print job is generated by developing the bitmap data of all image data is measured, and when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time, the print job pending printing is displayed. Erase all.

Next, in the above processing, the print pending print job generated from all direct printable image data in the external storage device 5 is automatically deleted when a predetermined erasure time has elapsed since the generation. Since a preferable erasing time until erasing often varies for each user, it is convenient to allow the user to set an erasing time from generation of a print job to erasing to an arbitrary time.
Therefore, when the user inputs this deletion time from the operation panel 3, it is preferable to additionally register it as a new setting item in the NV-RAM 17 by the processing of the system management module 46.

Next, normal direct printing is a method in which printing conditions are acquired from an image file in the external storage device 5 and printing is performed, and information regarding the printing conditions must be previously stored in the external storage device 5 as a file. It is not easy to use.
Therefore, in the direct printing of the image forming apparatus 1, the printing conditions are not given to the file in the external storage device 5, but the user can specify arbitrary printing conditions from the operation panel 3, which is easy to use. .
In addition to specifying from the operation panel 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 when specifying the printing conditions, only the printing conditions can be specified from the host computer 20 via the WEB or from the PDA via the network 21. For example, by utilizing these user interfaces (UI), it is possible to specify a wider range of printing conditions using various devices.

Next, in the above-described embodiment, the recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 1 including the SD memory card or the USB memory card has been described as the external storage device 5. When the mobile phone is made communicable with the mobile phone, when the mobile phone is brought close to the image forming apparatus 1, the image file stored in the memory in the form phone is automatically transferred to the image forming apparatus 1 and is based on the image file. A print job waiting for designation of print conditions may be generated.
Furthermore, the user may select an image file to be printed and specify printing conditions using the UI of the mobile phone.
By doing so, the range of print conditions that can be specified can be expanded.

  The image forming apparatus, the program, and the computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention can be applied to all image forming apparatuses including a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, and a complex machine thereof.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. 1 is a system configuration diagram including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of various control programs related to printing and direct printing executed by the CPU of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing direct print processing in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing print image selection / print condition designation processing in direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example list display screen of the file name of the image file displayed on the operation panel shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a work screen for specifying printing conditions displayed on the operation panel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a printing process in direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which judges using the table whether the printing conditions were designated with respect to the image file selected by the user, and whether the print job based on the selected image file was produced | generated. It is explanatory drawing of a continuation of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram continued from FIG. 10. If the print conditions are specified before the image file is expanded into bitmap data and the print job is generated, the process of generating the print job by preferentially expanding the selected image file is displayed in the table. It is explanatory drawing when performing using. It is explanatory drawing of a continuation of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing print image selection / print condition designation processing when printing a plurality of image files together in direct printing in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

It is a figure which shows the example list display screen of the file name of the image file displayed on the operation panel shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing when a plurality of image files are printed together as one in direct printing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a method for generating a print job that combines a plurality of print jobs into one.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing for erasing an unprinted print job pending when an external storage device is removed from the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a flowchart of processing for automatically erasing a print job pending when all the image data in the external storage device in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is.

Explanation of symbols

1: Image forming apparatus 2: Controller 3: Operation panel 4: Printer engine 5: External storage device 10: Operation panel I / F 11: External storage device I / F 12: Network I / F 13: Printer engine I / F 14 : Program ROM 15: Font ROM 16: RAM 17: NV-RAM 18: Option RAM 19: CPU 20: Host computer 21: Network 40: PDL analysis module 41: Job management module 42: Service providing module group 43: Network management module 44: External storage management module 45: Memory management module 46: System management module 47: Operation panel management module 48: Print Data management module

Claims (17)

Connection means for connecting an external storage device;
Detecting means for detecting connection and removal of the external storage device with respect to the connection means;
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not data that can be directly printed is stored in the external storage device when the detection unit detects connection of the external storage device;
Generation means for reading data that can be directly printed from the external storage device and generating a print job in a print pending state based on the read data when the determination means determines that data that can be directly printed is stored When,
A selection designating unit for selecting data to be printed from data stored in the external storage device and designating printing conditions for the selected data;
Determining means for determining whether a print job in a print pending state based on the data selected by the selection specifying means is generated by the generating means;
When it is determined that the print pending print job based on the selected data has been generated by the determination unit, printing is performed based on the print pending print job based on the selected data and the print condition. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit that executes the printing unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit is a unit that generates a print job in a print pending state based on each directly printable data read from the external storage device in a data reading order. .   When the generation unit determines that a print job in a print pending state based on the selected data is not generated by the generation unit when a printing condition is specified by the selection specifying unit, 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for preferentially reading the selected data from data stored in the external storage device and generating a print pending print job based on the read data. Or the image forming apparatus of 2.   The generation unit generates a print generated based on data read from the external storage device when a plurality of data is selected by the selection / designation unit and a print condition for combining and printing the data is designated. Combining print jobs in the print pending state based on the selected data from the print jobs in the hold state in the order of selection of the selected data, and generating a new print job in the combined print hold state The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   Condition determining means for determining whether or not a preset condition is satisfied after each print job in a print pending state based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device is generated by the generating means And an erasing unit for erasing all print pending jobs generated by the generating unit when the condition determining unit determines that a preset condition is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. The image according to claim 5, wherein the condition determining means is a means for determining that the preset condition is satisfied when removal of an external storage device from the connection means is detected by the detecting means. Forming equipment. Measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after each print job in print pending state based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device by the generating means, and each printing in the print pending state An erasing time storage means for storing an erasing time from when the job is generated until it is deleted,
The condition judging means is means for judging that the preset condition is satisfied when the elapsed time measured by the measuring means reaches the erase time stored in the erase time storage means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for setting the erasing time.   A detection procedure for detecting connection and removal of an external storage device in the computer, and whether or not data that can be directly printed is stored in the external storage device when the connection of the external storage device is detected by the detection procedure. If it is determined that data that can be directly printed is stored by the determination procedure, the data that can be directly printed is read from the external storage device, and the print pending state is printed based on the read data. A generation procedure for generating a job, a selection specification procedure for selecting data to be printed from data stored in the external storage device, and specifying a printing condition for the selected data, and a selection specification procedure. Whether a print job in a print pending state based on the generated data has been generated by the generation procedure And a print pending state print job based on the selected data and the print pending state based on the selected data, and the print pending state print job based on the selected data And a printing procedure for executing printing based on the conditions.   The program according to claim 9, wherein the generation procedure is a procedure for generating a print pending print job based on each directly printable data read from the external storage device in the order of reading the data.   In the generation procedure, when a printing condition is specified by the selection specifying procedure, when it is determined by the determination procedure that the print pending print job based on the selected data is not generated by the generation procedure, 11. The program according to claim 9, further comprising a procedure for preferentially reading the selected data from data stored in the external storage device and generating a print job in a print pending state based on the read data. .   In the generation procedure, when a plurality of pieces of data are selected by the selection / designation procedure and printing conditions are specified when the data is combined and printed, the print generated based on the data read from the external storage device Combining print jobs in the print pending state based on the selected data from the print jobs in the hold state in the order of selection of the selected data, and generating a new print job in the combined print hold state The program as described in any one of Claims 9 thru | or 11 including the procedure to perform.   Condition determination procedure for determining whether or not a preset condition is satisfied after each print job in a print pending state based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device is generated by the generation procedure And an erasing procedure for erasing all print pending print jobs generated by the generating procedure when it is determined that a preset condition is satisfied by the condition determining procedure. The program described in the section.   14. The program according to claim 13, wherein the condition determination procedure is a procedure for determining that the preset condition is satisfied when removal of an external storage device is detected by the detection procedure. A measurement procedure for measuring an elapsed time from generation of each print pending print job based on all direct printable data stored in the external storage device by the generation procedure, and each print pending print An erase time storage procedure for storing an erase time from when a job is generated until it is erased,
The condition determination procedure is a procedure for determining that the preset condition is satisfied when an elapsed time measured by the measurement procedure reaches an erase time stored in the erase time storage procedure. The program described.   The program according to claim 15, comprising a procedure for setting the erasure time.   The computer-readable recording medium which memorize | stored the program as described in any one of Claims 9 thru | or 16.

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