JP2014179961A - Image forming apparatus and job execution program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a job execution program capable of executing a job at an early stage even when a log image is generated.
An MFP stores a RAW image of an image in a storage unit in parallel with a storage unit, a job execution unit that executes a job based on an image (S161), and job execution by the job execution unit (S161). (S162) RAW image storage means and log image generation means for generating a log image as an image history based on the RAW image stored in the storage unit. A log image is generated after the execution of.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a job execution program for generating a log image as a history of an image when a job based on the image is executed.

  Information leakage using an image forming apparatus has occurred in organizations such as companies. For example, confidential information stored in paper in an organization is copied by an image forming apparatus to generate a copy, and information is leaked when the copy is taken out of the organization.

  In order to suppress the occurrence of information leakage using such an image forming apparatus, conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus that generates and stores a log image as a history of this image when executing a job based on the image. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2.) The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 executes a job after generating and saving a log image of the job. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 executes a job log image after generating and storing the job log image, or generates and stores a log image of the job in parallel with the job execution. Can be set.

  According to these conventional image forming apparatuses, an administrator can grasp which user has executed a job based on what image based on the log image. Therefore, in the conventional image forming apparatus, for example, the administrator may be able to prevent the occurrence of violations such as information leakage. Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the administrator can specify the violator, the violation by the user can be psychologically suppressed.

JP 2007-166175 A JP 2007-068100 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since this job is not executed until the job log image is generated and stored, it takes time to generate and store the job log image. If this happens, job execution will be delayed. That is, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there is a case where the user is kept waiting for a long time until the end of the execution of the job. Therefore, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the business efficiency of the user may be reduced.

  Also in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, if it is set to execute this job after generating and storing a log image of the job, the image described in Patent Document 1 is set. Similar to the forming apparatus, there is a problem that the user's business efficiency is sometimes lowered.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, when it is set to generate and save a log image of this job in parallel with the execution of the job, only the job execution process is set. In addition, since the CPU (Central Processing Unit) is burdened also in the process of generating and saving the log image of the job, the execution of the job is delayed as a result. That is, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the user may be kept waiting for a long time until the end of job execution. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, even if it is set to generate and save a log image of this job in parallel with the execution of the job, the user's work efficiency is improved. There is a problem that sometimes drops.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a job execution program that can execute a job at an early stage even when a log image is generated.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention stores a RAW image of the image in the storage device in parallel with the storage device, job execution means for executing a job based on the image, and execution of the job by the job execution means. RAW image storage means; and log image generation means for generating a log image as a history of the image based on the RAW image stored in the storage device, wherein the log image generation means is based on the job execution means. The log image is generated after execution of the job is completed.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention stores the RAW image of this image in the storage device in parallel with the execution of the job based on the image, and stores the log image on the job based on the RAW image stored in the storage device. Since it is generated after the execution is completed, the job can be executed at an early stage even when a log image is generated.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the storage device may be a nonvolatile storage device.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention generates a log image based on the RAW image stored in the storage device when the power is shut off during the generation of the log image and is subsequently activated. can do. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of a problem that the log image of the executed job is not generated.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the image forming apparatus is activated, the log image generating unit stores the RAW image for which the log image has not been generated in the storage device. The log image may be generated based on the RAW image.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention automatically generates a log image based on the RAW image stored in the storage device when the power is shut off during generation of the log image and then starts up. Can be generated. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can more reliably suppress the occurrence of the problem that the log image of the executed job is not generated.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a log image generation time reception unit that receives designation of a generation time of the log image by the log image generation unit, and the log image generation unit includes the log image generation time reception unit. The log image may be generated at a time accepted by.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can generate a log image at a time desired by the administrator.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention receives a log image transmission unit that transmits the log image generated by the log image generation unit to the outside, and designation of a timing for transmitting the log image by the log image transmission unit. Log image transmission time reception means, and the log image transmission means may transmit the log image at a time received by the log image transmission time reception means.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can transmit a log image at a time desired by the administrator.

  The job execution program according to the present invention is a job execution program executed by an image forming apparatus including a storage device, and executes job execution means for executing a job based on an image, in parallel with execution of the job by the job execution means. RAW image storage means for storing the RAW image of the image in the storage device, and log image generation means for generating a log image as a history of the image based on the RAW image stored in the storage device An image forming apparatus is caused to function, and the log image generation unit generates the log image after the job execution unit finishes executing the job.

  With this configuration, the job execution program of the present invention stores a RAW image of this image in the storage device in parallel with the execution of the job based on the image, and stores the log image on the job based on the RAW image stored in the storage device. Since it is generated after the execution is completed, the job can be executed at an early stage even when a log image is generated.

  The image forming apparatus and the job execution program of the present invention can execute a job at an early stage even when a log image is generated.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the job log database shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when receiving designation of a log image generation time. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when accepting designation of a job log transmission time. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when executing a job. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when generating a log image. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when transmitting a job log. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when activated.

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

  First, the configuration of the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 includes a plurality of MFPs including an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 as an image forming apparatus, a management server 30 that is a computer that manages a plurality of MFPs including the MFP 20, and an MFP 20. And a plurality of PCs including a PC (Personal Computer) 40 capable of transmitting print data to the plurality of MFPs. A plurality of MFPs including the MFP 20 and the management server 30 are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. Similarly, a plurality of MFPs including the MFP 20 and a plurality of PCs including the PC 40 are connected to be communicable with each other via the network 11.

  The configuration of each of the plurality of MFPs included in the image forming system 10 is the same as that of the MFP 20. Therefore, in the following, the MFP 20 will be described on behalf of a plurality of MFPs included in the image forming system 10.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 is a display device such as an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by the user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 22, a scanner 23 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, a printer 24 that is a printing device that executes printing on a recording medium such as paper, an external facsimile apparatus (not shown), a public telephone line, and the like A fax communication unit 25 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a communication line, a network communication unit 26 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and various data. Stored EEPROM (Electrically rasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) storage unit 27 is a nonvolatile storage device such as, and a control unit 28 which controls the entire MFP 20.

  The operation unit 21 may include an input device that forms a touch panel together with the display unit 22.

  The storage unit 27 stores a job execution program 27 a executed by the MFP 20. The job execution program 27a may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from a storage medium such as an SD card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or on the network 11. To the MFP 20 may be additionally installed.

  The storage unit 27 can store a plurality of RAW images 27 b and a job log database 27 c that stores a job log that is a job history of the MFP 20.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job log database 27c.

  In the job log database 27c shown in FIG. 3, each of a plurality of job logs is displayed in each line. The job log contains jobs such as “Job ID”, “Department Name”, “User Name”, “Job Type”, “Color / Monochrome”, “Number of Input Pages”, “Number of Output Pages”, “Result”, etc. Various information about is included. “Job ID” is job identification information. “Department name” is identification information of a department to which the user who executed the job belongs. “User name” is identification information of the user who executed the job. The “job type” is, for example, “print” in which print data received from the outside of the MFP 20 (see FIG. 2) via the network communication unit 26 (see FIG. 2) is printed by the printer 24 (see FIG. 2). An image read from the document by the scanner 23 (see FIG. 2) is “copied” by the printer 24, and the image read from the document by the scanner 23 is sent to the MFP 20 via the fax communication unit 25 (see FIG. 2). Information indicating the type of job, such as “fax” for fax transmission to the outside. “Color / monochrome” is information indicating whether the job is a color job or a monochrome job. “Number of input pages” is information indicating the number of pages input for a job. The “number of output pages” is information indicating the number of pages output by job execution. The “number of output pages” may be smaller than the “number of input pages” depending on the type of printing such as double-sided printing and aggregate printing. “Result” is information indicating whether or not the job has been successfully executed. The “log image” included in the job log is information indicating a link to the log image as the history of the job target image. Therefore, the job log substantially includes a log image. The log image itself is stored in the storage unit 27 (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 27 includes log image generation time designation information 27d that designates the generation time of the log image, and job log transmission time designation information 27e that designates the transmission time of the job log. Is remembered.

  The control unit 28 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 27.

  The control unit 28 executes the job execution program 27a stored in the storage unit 27, thereby executing a job based on the image. The job execution unit 28a executes a job based on the image. RAW image storage means 28b for storing the RAW image 27b of the image based on the storage section 27, log image generation means 28c for generating a log image as an image history based on the RAW image 27b stored in the storage section 27, and a storage section 27, a job log transmission unit 28d for transmitting the job log stored outside, a log image generation time reception unit 28e for receiving designation of a generation time of a log image by the log image generation unit 28c, and a job log transmission unit 28d. Job log transmission time reception means 28 for receiving designation of the job log transmission time by To function as. As described above, the job log includes a log image. Therefore, the job log transmission unit 28d constitutes a log image transmission unit of the present invention. Similarly, the job log transmission time reception unit 28f constitutes a log image transmission time reception unit of the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the MFP 20 when receiving designation of the log image generation time will be described.

  For example, the administrator of the MFP 20 can instruct the MFP 20 to specify the generation time of the log image from the PC 40, or can instruct the MFP 20 to specify the generation time of the log image from the operation unit 21 of the MFP 20. Various times such as a time immediately before the MFP 20 enters the sleep mode and an arbitrary date and time set by the administrator can be adopted as the time that can be selected by the administrator.

  The log image generation time reception means 28e of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 performs the operation shown in FIG. 4 when the specification of the log image generation time is instructed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 in the case of accepting designation of the log image generation time.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the log image generation time reception unit 28e receives specification of the generation time of the log image (S101).

  Next, the log image generation time reception means 28e stores the time received in S101 in the log image generation time designation information 27d (S102), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when receiving designation of the job log transmission time will be described.

  For example, the administrator of the MFP 20 can instruct the MFP 20 to specify the time for transmitting the job log from the PC 40, or can instruct the MFP 20 to specify the time for transmitting the job log from the operation unit 21 of the MFP 20. Various times such as a time when the user logs out the MFP 20 and an arbitrary date and time set by the administrator can be adopted as the time that can be selected by the administrator. .

  When the job log transmission time reception unit 28f of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 is instructed to specify the time of job log transmission, the operation shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when the designation of the job log transmission time is accepted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the job log transmission time reception unit 28f receives designation of a job log transmission time (S131).

  Next, the job log transmission time reception unit 28f stores the time received in S131 in the job log transmission time designation information 27e (S132), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when executing a job will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when executing a job.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the job execution unit 28 a of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 executes a job based on an image such as a “print” job, a “copy” job, and a “fax” job (S 161).

  The RAW image storage unit 28b of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 stores the RAW image 27b of the image based on the job in the storage unit 27 in parallel with the job execution by the job execution unit 28a (S161) (S162). .

  The control unit 28 ends the operation shown in FIG. 6 after the end of S161 and S162.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when generating a log image will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when generating a log image.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the log image generation unit 28c of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 determines whether or not the current time is the time indicated in the log image generation time designation information 27d (S201).

  When the log image generation unit 28c determines in S201 that the current time is the time indicated in the log image generation time designation information 27d, for example, based on the RAW image 27b stored in the storage unit 27, the PDF (Portable Document Format) is used. ) Format and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format etc. are generated (S202).

  Next, the log image generation unit 28c stores the log image generated in S202 in the job log in the job log database 27c on the storage unit 27 (S203).

  When the log image generation unit 28c determines in S201 that the current time is not the time indicated in the log image generation time designation information 27d, or ends the processing of S203, the operation shown in FIG. 7 ends.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when a job log is transmitted will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when transmitting a job log.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the job log transmission unit 28d of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 determines whether or not the current time is the time indicated in the job log transmission time designation information 27e (S231).

  If the job log transmission unit 28d determines in S231 that the current time is the time indicated in the job log transmission time designation information 27e, the job log transmission unit 28d transmits the job log stored in the storage unit 27 via the network communication unit 26. 30 (S232). The management server 30 stores the job log transmitted from the MFP 20.

  The job log transmission unit 28d determines in S231 that the current time is not the time indicated in the job log transmission time designation information 27e, or ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when activated is described.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when activated.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the log image generation unit 28c of the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 determines whether or not a RAW image 27b for which no log image has been generated is stored in the storage unit 27 (S261).

  When the log image generation unit 28c determines in S261 that the RAW image 27b for which no log image has been generated is stored in the storage unit 27, a log image is generated from the RAW images 27b stored in the storage unit 27. Based on the RAW image 27b determined in S261 as not being performed, a log image such as PDF format or JPEG format is generated (S262).

  Next, the log image generation unit 28c stores the log image generated in S262 in the job log in the job log database 27c on the storage unit 27 (S263).

  When the log image generation unit 28c determines in S261 that the RAW image 27b for which no log image has been generated is not stored in the storage unit 27, or ends the processing of S263, the operation illustrated in FIG. 9 ends.

  As described above, the MFP 20 stores the RAW image 27b of this image in the storage unit 27 (S162) in parallel with the execution of the job based on the image (S161), and the RAW image 27b stored in the storage unit 27. Since the log image is generated after the execution of the job based on (S202 or S262), the job can be executed early even when the log image is generated.

  Note that the MFP 20 needs to store the raw image 27b in the storage unit 27 (S162). However, the process of saving the RAW image 27b in the storage unit 27 (S162) has a lighter processing load than the process of generating a log image based on the RAW image 27b (S202 or S262).

  In addition, since the storage unit 27 is a non-volatile storage device, the MFP 20 has a RAW image stored in the storage unit 27 when the power is shut off during generation of the log image and is subsequently activated. A log image can be generated based on 27b (YES in S261 and S262). Therefore, the MFP 20 can suppress the occurrence of a problem that the log image of the executed job is not generated.

  Further, even if the power is shut off during the generation of the log image, the MFP 20 automatically generates a log image based on the RAW image 27b stored in the storage unit 27 when activated (S261). YES and S262). Therefore, the MFP 20 can more reliably suppress the occurrence of the problem that the log image of the executed job is not generated.

  In the MFP 20, since the log image generation unit 28c generates a log image at the time received by the log image generation time reception unit 28e (YES in S201 and S202), the log image can be generated at a time desired by the administrator. it can.

  Note that the log image generation unit 28c may generate a log image immediately after the end of job execution, as long as the log image is generated after the end of job execution.

  In the MFP 20, since the job log transmission unit 28d transmits the job log at the time received by the job log transmission time reception unit 28f (YES in S231 and S232), the job log can be transmitted at a time desired by the administrator. it can.

  The job log transmission time reception means 28f only needs to be able to transmit the job log after the job log is generated, so even if the job log is transmitted immediately after the end of the job log generation. good.

  In this embodiment, the image forming system 10 stores the job log of the MFP 20 not only in the MFP 20 itself but also in the management server 30. However, the job log of the MFP 20 is stored only in the MFP 20 itself. Alternatively, it may be stored only by the management server 30.

  The image forming system 10 includes an MFP as the image forming apparatus of the present invention in the present embodiment, but includes an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, and a FAX dedicated machine. Also good.

20 MFP (image forming apparatus)
27 Storage unit (storage device)
27a Job execution program 27b RAW image 27c Job log database 28a Job execution means 28b RAW image storage means 28c Log image generation means 28d Job log transmission means (log image transmission means)
28e Log image generation time reception means 28f Job log transmission time reception means (log image transmission time reception means)

Claims (6)

A storage device;
Job execution means for executing a job based on an image;
RAW image storage means for storing a RAW image of the image in the storage device in parallel with execution of the job by the job execution means;
Log image generation means for generating a log image as a history of the image based on the RAW image stored in the storage device;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the log image generation unit generates the log image after completion of execution of the job by the job execution unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a nonvolatile storage device.   When the image forming apparatus is activated, the log image generation unit stores the log image based on the RAW image when the RAW image for which the log image has not been generated is stored in the storage device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus generates the image forming apparatus. Log image generation time receiving means for receiving specification of the generation time of the log image by the log image generation means,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the log image generation unit generates the log image at a time received by the log image generation time reception unit. Log image transmission means for transmitting the log image generated by the log image generation means to the outside;
Log image transmission time receiving means for receiving specification of the time of transmission of the log image by the log image transmission means,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the log image transmission unit transmits the log image at a time received by the log image transmission time reception unit. A job execution program executed by an image forming apparatus including a storage device,
Job execution means for executing a job based on an image;
RAW image storage means for storing the RAW image of the image in the storage device in parallel with the execution of the job by the job execution means, and
Causing the image forming apparatus to function as a log image generating unit that generates a log image as a history of the image based on the RAW image stored in the storage device;
The log image generation unit generates the log image after the job execution unit finishes executing the job.

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