JP2025028141A - Printing device, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To inform a user that a printing apparatus is presently in a state of readiness to automatically and immediately cancel a print job by this function when the job is supplied newly.SOLUTION: Information to display indicates that the printing apparatus having a not-yet-eliminated specific factor of hindering printing is in the state of readiness to automatically cancel a newly received print job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device, a control method thereof, and a program.

In an office environment, multiple users submit (send) print jobs to a printer using printer drivers from their respective host computers, and the printer prints the submitted print jobs. When a printer installed in such an office environment encounters a specific factor that prevents printing (interruption factor), such as a paper jam or lack of toner, it will not print the accepted print job and will wait for the interruption factor to be resolved. Once the interruption factor is resolved, the printer will print.

Patent document 1 discloses a printing device that automatically cancels printing of print jobs that have been accepted up to that point if a set time has elapsed without the cause of the interruption being resolved.

JP 2017-87591 A

In Patent Document 1, if a print job is automatically canceled as the set time elapses and a new print job is accepted, the new print job is automatically canceled after the set time elapses again if the interruption factor has not yet been resolved. On the other hand, if the interruption factor is resolved before the set time elapses again, the new print job is automatically printed.

However, it may be desirable for a newly accepted print job when the cause of the interruption has not been resolved to be cancelled in the same way as a previously submitted and cancelled print job. Therefore, when a new print job is accepted after a print job has been automatically cancelled after a set time has elapsed, if the cause of the interruption has not yet been resolved, a function is required that will immediately cancel the job before the set time elapses again.

In addition, when implementing such a function in a printing device, it is desirable to inform the user that the current state of the printing device is such that if a new print job is submitted, the print job will be automatically and immediately canceled by this function.

The printing device of the present invention is a printing device having an acceptance means for accepting a print job, and an execution means capable of executing printing of the print job accepted by the acceptance means, the execution means having a function of automatically canceling the printing of the print job accepted by the acceptance means when a set time or more has elapsed without a specific factor preventing the printing of the print job being resolved, and is characterized in that it further has a notification means for at least notifying a user or an external device communicating with the printing device of information indicating that the current state of the printing device in which the specific factor has not been resolved is a state in which a print job newly accepted by the acceptance means will be automatically canceled by the cancellation function.

According to the present invention, the user can be informed that the current state of the printing device is such that if a new print job is submitted, the print job will be automatically and immediately canceled by this function.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software module configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 13 illustrates a setting screen for automatically canceling a print job. 10 is a flowchart showing an execution control process for automatically canceling a print job. 13 is a flowchart showing a process for setting the automatic cancellation state to an execution state. 13 is a flowchart showing a process for setting the automatic cancellation state to a non-execution state. 4 is an example of a main menu screen displayed on an operation unit. 5 is an example of a copy setting screen displayed on an operation unit. 13 is an example of a warning screen displayed on the operation unit. 11 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit when a print job is canceled by an automatic cancel function of the print job.

Below, the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

First Embodiment
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus in which a plurality of functions, such as a scanning function and a printing function, are integrated. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a controller unit 100 that controls the entire apparatus, a scanner 113, a printer 114, and an operation unit 106. The scanner 113 is an image input device that optically reads an image on a set document. The printer 114 is an image output device that prints an image on a recording medium, such as printing paper, based on image data.

The operation unit 106 includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad and a touch sensor for receiving input of instructions such as job execution from the user, and also includes a display panel that displays device information, job progress information, etc., to the user, or a setting screen for functions that the image forming device 1 can execute. In this embodiment, the operation unit 106 is a user interface that includes a touch screen, which displays (notifies) the user of information such as status information and setting screens of the image forming device 1, and accepts operations on the displayed screen.

The scanner 113 and printer 114 are connected to a scanner processing unit 111 and a printer processing unit 112, respectively, included in the controller unit 100. The operation unit 106 is connected to an operation unit interface (I/F) included in the controller unit 100. With this configuration, the scanner 113, printer 114, and operation unit 106 each operate under the control of the controller unit 100.

The controller unit 100 includes a CPU 101 that controls each block of the controller unit 100. The CPU 101 is connected to a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a hardware disk drive (HDD) 104, an operation unit I/F 105, and a network I/F 107 via a system bus 108. The RAM 102 is a general-purpose RAM and is a memory for providing a working area for the CPU 101. The RAM 102 is also used as a memory for temporarily storing parameters, setting values, etc., and an image memory for storing image data in predetermined units such as pages. The RAM 102 also stores image data (information) read by the scanner 113 as a print job to be printed by the printer 114, and also stores image data (information) received by the network I/F 107 as a print job to be printed by the printer 114. In this embodiment, deleting a print job from the RAM 102 is called canceling a print job, or canceling printing of a print job. ROM 103 is a general-purpose ROM, and stores, for example, a system boot program as a boot ROM. HDD 104 stores system software programs, history data, image data, tables, etc. The functions of image forming device 1 are realized, for example, by CPU 101 reading the programs stored in ROM 103 into RAM 102 and executing them.

The operation unit I/F 105 is an interface for inputting and outputting information to and from the operation unit 106. The operation unit I/F 105 outputs display data to the operation unit 106 in response to instructions from the CPU 101, and also transmits information input by the user on the operation unit 106 to the CPU 101.

The network I/F 107 is connected to a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) 115, and enables input and output of information between the image forming device 1 and devices on the LAN 115. The network I/F 107 has a configuration compatible with the LAN 115, and may have a configuration compatible with near field communication (Near Field Communication) with a wireless distance of about several tens of centimeters. In that case, mutual communication is performed with a portable wireless terminal.

The image processing unit 109 is a hardware module that performs general-purpose image processing, such as enlarging/reducing, rotating, and converting image data acquired from the outside via the LAN 115. The image processing unit 109 also performs processing to expand the PDL code received via the LAN 115 into a bitmap image. When outputting the image data to the printer 114 via the printer processing unit 112, the image processing unit 109 also performs processing to convert the image data compressed and encoded and stored in the HDD 104 into a format that can be processed by the printer processing unit 112. The device I/F 110 is connected to the scanner 113 and the printer 114 via the scanner processing unit 111 and the printer processing unit 112, and transmits synchronous/asynchronous conversion of image data, setting values, adjustment values, and the like. The device I/F 110 also transmits status information on the scanner 113 and the printer 114 to the CPU 101. This status information includes, for example, error information such as a jam (paper jam) that has occurred in the scanner 113 or printer 114, or the toner (developer) used for printing by the printer 114 having run out.

The scanner processing unit 111 is a hardware module that performs various processes corresponding to the scanning function, such as correction, processing, image area separation, magnification, and binarization, on the read data (image data) read and input by the scanner 113. The scanner 113 includes an automatic continuous document feeder and a pressure plate reader (not shown), and is capable of reading a document placed on a glass document table and double-sided reading of multiple documents. The scanner 113 is also provided with sensors (not shown) that detect the opening and closing of a document cover, the presence or absence of a document, the document size, etc. The detection signals of these sensors and status information of the scanner 113 are sent to the CPU 101 via the scanner processing unit 111 and the device I/F 110, and the CPU 101 recognizes the status of the scanner 113, such as the occurrence of an error and the resolution of the error.

The printer processing unit 112 is a hardware module that performs processing corresponding to the print function, such as output correction, resolution conversion, and image print position adjustment, corresponding to the output characteristics of the printer 114, on the image data to be printed. The printer 114 includes at least one paper feed cassette for storing print paper. The printer 114 is provided with sensors that detect the amount of paper remaining in each paper feed cassette, the presence or absence of toner, and paper jams on the paper transport path. Detection signals from the sensors and status information of the printer 114 are sent to the CPU 101 via the printer processing unit 112 and the device I/F 110, and the CPU 101 recognizes the occurrence of errors in the printer 114 and the resolution of errors. That is, the CPU 101 detects the occurrence and resolution of specific factors (e.g., paper shortage, toner shortage, paper jam, etc.) that prevent the printing of a print job based on information from the sensor, and controls whether or not to execute printing in response to the detection. In the following description, a specific factor that prevents the printing of a print job will be called an error. In this embodiment, a paper shortage error is an error associated with a print job, and is resolved by canceling the print job that caused the paper shortage or by refilling paper. A toner shortage error is an error associated with the image forming device 1, and is resolved by refilling toner, but is not resolved even if the print job that caused the toner shortage is canceled. A paper jam error is an error associated with the image forming device 1, and is resolved by clearing the paper jam, but is not resolved even if the print job that caused the paper jam is canceled.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the software module configuration of the image forming device 1. Each module in Figure 2 is realized by the CPU 101 executing a program. The job control processing unit 201 controls the other modules and provides overall control over the execution of each job that occurs within the image forming device 1, such as copying, printing, scanning, and user interface (UI) processing.

The UI processing unit 202 performs processing related to the operation unit 106 and operation unit I/F 105. The UI processing unit 202 transmits information on operations performed by the user on the operation unit 106 to the job control processing unit 201, and displays a display screen on the operation unit 106 in response to instructions from the job control processing unit 201. This UI processing unit 202 receives copy instructions from the user to read image data with the scanner 113 and print it with the printer 114, and transmits the copy instructions to the job control processing unit 201. The UI processing unit 202 also performs editing of drawing data to be displayed on the operation unit 106.

The network processing unit 203 performs communication processing with devices (e.g., a host computer) on the LAN 115 via the network I/F 107. When the network processing unit 203 receives control commands or data (e.g., print data or image data written in a page description language) from devices on the LAN 115, it transmits the information to the job control processing unit 201. In other words, the network processing unit 203 accepts image data (information) and a print instruction to print the image data on the printer 114 from an external device on the LAN 115, and transmits the instruction and image data to the job control processing unit 201. The network processing unit 203 also transmits control commands and data to devices on the LAN 115 in response to an instruction from the job control processing unit 201.

The scan processing unit 204 controls the scanner 113 and scanner processing unit 111 in response to instructions from the job control processing unit 201 to execute a reading process for a document placed on the scanner 113. The scan processing unit 204 controls the scanner processing unit 111 to execute image processing for the read image data. The scan processing unit 204 also acquires status information of the scanner processing unit 111 and scanner 113 (such as error information indicating the presence or absence of an error) and transmits it to the job control processing unit 201.

The print processing unit 205 controls the image processing unit 109, printer processing unit 112, and printer 114 according to instructions from the job control processing unit 201 to execute print processing of the print job. The print processing unit 205 receives information such as image data to be printed, image information (image data size, color mode, resolution, etc.), and output paper information (size, print direction, etc.) from the job control processing unit 201. The print processing unit 205 then controls the image processing unit 109 and printer processing unit 112 to execute appropriate image processing on the image data, and controls the printer processing unit 112 and printer 114 to execute print processing of the image data on print paper (sheets). The print processing unit 205 also acquires status information of the printer processing unit 112 and printer 114 (for example, error information indicating the presence or absence of an error such as a paper shortage, a toner shortage, or a paper jam) and transmits it to the job control processing unit 201.

The job control processing unit 201 accepts information sent from the UI processing unit 202 and the network processing unit 203 as a print job, and registers the print job in a job list managed on the RAM 102. That is, the job control processing unit 201 accepts a print job when it receives print data from an external device via the network I/F 107, or when it accepts a copy instruction from a user via the operation unit 106 and the operation unit I/F 105. The job control processing unit 201 then stores the print job in the RAM 102. As will be described later, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the printing of the print job by deleting the print job from the RAM 102. The job control processing unit 201 can also prevent printing from being automatically performed even if the interruption factor is eliminated by changing the print job to a print standby state on the job list without deleting it from the RAM 102. It also issues instructions to each module to process the job. Furthermore, the job control processing unit 201 defines an automatic cancellation state having at least two states, an execution state and a non-execution state, as a state related to the automatic job cancellation function performed by the image forming device 1, and stores the current automatic cancellation state in the RAM 102. The execution state is a state in which, as described below, if a set time or more has elapsed without an error being resolved and the image forming device 1 accepts a print job, the print job is automatically canceled before the set time has elapsed. The non-execution state is a state in which the print job is not automatically canceled and is held in the image forming device 1. In the non-execution state, the print job is canceled according to a cancellation instruction from the user. The job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a screen corresponding to the current automatic cancellation state on the operation unit 106.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing a setting screen for automatically canceling a job when print processing is interrupted due to an error in this embodiment. Setting item 301 is an item for accepting a setting for whether or not to enable a function for automatically canceling an interrupted job when a set time has elapsed after an error occurs. An interrupted job is a print job whose printing is prevented by an error. If "ON" is specified by the user, the interrupted job is canceled when a specified time has elapsed after the error occurs. If "OFF" is specified by the user, the interrupted job is not canceled. Automatically canceling a job means canceling the job even if there is no cancellation instruction from the user after the job is received.

The setting item 302 is an item for accepting a time specification from the user until the execution of automatic cancellation of the interrupted job, and setting the specified time as the setting time. This setting item 302 is in a state where it can be set when "ON" is specified in the setting item 301, and is in a state where it cannot be set when "OFF" is specified, so that it cannot be set. The setting time can be specified in minutes in the range from 0 to 999 minutes. In FIG. 3, the user can adjust the setting time from the default value of "5 minutes" displayed by using the plus button and minus button. When the user presses the confirm button, the setting contents accepted on the setting screen in FIG. 3 are confirmed and are saved in the HDD 104 or RAM 102 by the job control processing unit 201 and the UI processing unit 202. When the user presses the cancel button, the setting contents accepted on the setting screen in FIG. 3 are canceled. Here, if the user sets 0 minutes as the time until automatic cancellation, in this embodiment, all print jobs registered in the job list at the time an error occurs are immediately canceled at the time the error occurs. On the other hand, if a time other than 0 minutes is set, the print jobs registered in the job list are not canceled for the set time from the time the error occurs. However, in this embodiment, if the set time or more has passed without the error being resolved, all print jobs registered in the job list at that time are canceled. However, as described later, if a print job is accepted in a state in which the set time or more has passed without the error being resolved (a state in which the error continues for the set time or more), the print job is immediately canceled. In other words, the new print job is canceled before the set time has passed from the time the new print job was registered in the job list. In this embodiment, only users who have administrator authority for the image forming device 1 can set each setting item 301, 302. Therefore, the image forming device 1 has a function of authenticating the administrator, and the user inputs the administrator's ID and password into the operation unit 106. If the ID and password are correct, the image forming device 1 authenticates the user as a user with administrator authority.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the execution control process for job cancellation. In this embodiment, for jobs that have not been printed due to an error, a function is executed to automatically cancel all print jobs registered in the job list at that time after the time set in setting item 302 has elapsed. This function corresponds to the processing of S406 YES to S408 described below. In addition, for a newly accepted print job when the error has not been resolved and the set time has elapsed, a function is also executed to automatically cancel the print job before the set time has elapsed from the time it was accepted. This function corresponds to the processing of S409 YES, S405 NO, and S406 YES to S408 described below.

The processing of this flowchart is realized, for example, by the CPU 101 reading a program stored in the HDD 104 into the RAM 102 and executing it. The flowchart is started by the job control processing unit 201 registering a job in the job list. Hereinafter, the term "job" refers to a print job. Note that the registration of a job accepted by the image forming device 1 in the job list is performed in parallel with the processing of this flowchart.

In S401, the job control processing unit 201 checks whether the job is registered in the job list. If the job is registered, the process proceeds to S402. If the job is not registered in the job list, the process returns to S401.

In S402, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether an error has occurred. The job control processing unit 201 receives error information from the scan processing unit 204 or print processing unit 205. If the content of this error information indicates that a specific factor has occurred that prevents printing from being executed (continued), it is determined that the error has occurred. Based on the occurrence of this error, the job control processing unit 201 starts measuring time using a timer, which will be described later.

Errors caused by the printer 114 (specific factors that prevent printing, interruption factors) include the following: A paper shortage when the paper feed cassette has run out of paper, a paper mismatch when the specified paper is not in the paper cassette, a paper jam on the paper transport path, a toner shortage, etc. When the print processing unit 205 notifies the job control processing unit 201 of error information, the job control processing unit 201 registers in the job list that the target job is an interrupted job. The job control processing unit 201 then instructs the scan processing unit 204 and print processing unit 205 to stop printing the job.

An example of an error caused by the scanner 115 is a paper jam in an automatic continuous document feeder (not shown). When the scan processing unit 204 notifies the job control processing unit 201 of error information, the job control processing unit 201 registers in the job list that the target job is an interrupted job. The job control processing unit 201 then instructs the scan processing unit 204 and print processing unit 205 to stop printing the job.

If it is determined in S402 that an error has occurred, the job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a screen (error screen) on the operation unit 106 indicating that an error has occurred, and processing proceeds to S403. If it is determined that no error has occurred, processing proceeds to S411.

In S403, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the setting item 301 in FIG. 3 is ON. If it is determined that the setting item 301 is ON, the process proceeds to S404, and if it is determined that the setting item 301 is not ON, the process proceeds to S411.

In S404, the job control processing unit 201 sets the time (also called grace time, set time, or timer time) until automatic cancellation is executed, which is accepted in the setting item 302 in FIG. 3, in a timer and starts the timer. The timer in this embodiment is a countdown timer, and when the job control processing unit 201 starts the timer, it counts down the set time. This countdown timer counts down the time in predetermined time units (for example, in one-minute units). For example, if the set time is set to "5 minutes," the job control processing unit 201 counts down the countdown timer by "1" every time one minute has passed from "5 (minutes)."

In S405, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the error has been resolved (the cause of the interruption has been resolved). Specifically, the job control processing unit 201 receives error information from the scan processing unit 204 or print processing unit 205. If the content of this error information indicates that a specific error has not occurred, it is determined that the error has been resolved. If it is determined that the error has been resolved, the process proceeds to S410, and if it is determined that the error has not been resolved, the process proceeds to S406.

In S406, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether the timer time set in S404 has expired. That is, it determines whether the set time or more has elapsed without the error being resolved. Here, if the countdown timer is 0 (zero), it is determined that the timer time has expired. If it is determined that the timer time has expired, the process proceeds to S407 to execute automatic cancellation of the job. On the other hand, if it is determined that the timer time has not expired, the process returns to S405. Note that since the countdown timer remains at 0 even after the timer time has expired, if it is determined again in S406 whether the timer time has expired, the process also proceeds to S407. Note that the job control processing unit 201 may change (set) the automatic cancellation state of the image forming device 1 from a non-execution state to an execution state in response to the countdown timer becoming 0. In this case, the job control processing unit 201 may determine in S406 whether the current automatic cancellation state of the image forming device 1 is an execution state, and if it is determined that it is an execution state, the process proceeds to S407.

Next, in the process loop of S407 to S409, when the timer expires, the printing of all print jobs registered in the job list is canceled. The specific process is as follows:

In S407, when the job control processing unit 201 detects that the time until automatic cancellation (timer time) has expired, it obtains a list of jobs (job list) that have been accepted up to the current time (i.e., until the timer expires).Then, the job control processing unit 201 selects the first job in the job list.

In S408, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the job selected in S407. That is, printing of the selected print job is canceled. As a specific example, the job control processing unit 201 deletes the information of the selected print job from the job list (i.e., RAM 102) to prevent future printing of the selected print job. At this time, the job control processing unit 201 also deletes the print data of the print job. As a result, even if the interruption factor is resolved after the timer time has elapsed, the print job will not be automatically printed. In S408, the job control processing unit 201 may record information (message or identification number) indicating that the print job was canceled because the error was not resolved for a certain period of time as history information of the print job canceled in S408. This information can be referenced by the user later.

When the printing of the print job is canceled in S408, the job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a screen as exemplified in FIG. 10 on the operation unit 106. The display screen 1101 as exemplified in FIG. 10 includes, for example, information indicating that the print job has been canceled. Also, for example, the display screen 1101 includes information indicating that "the state of the image forming device 1 is in a state in which the printing of a newly accepted print job is automatically canceled." The display screen 1101 also includes an OK button 1104, and when the OK button 1104 is pressed by the user, the UI processing unit 202 displays the screen that was displayed immediately before displaying the display screen 1101.

Also, in S408, the job control processing unit 201 sets the automatic cancellation state stored in the RAM 102 to the execution state. When the automatic cancellation state is set to the "execution state", the UI processing unit 202 causes the operation unit 106 to display information such as that shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In other words, the operation unit 106 notifies the user that "the state of the image forming device 1 is in a state in which printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled." Details of this process will be described later with reference to Fig. 5.

Note that instead of the cancellation process of S408, the following process may be performed. That is, the job control processing unit 201 does not delete the print job selected in S407 from the RAM 102 (i.e., does not cancel the print job), but changes the print job to a state waiting for a print instruction. As a result, since the print job is in a state waiting for a print instruction from the user, the print job will not be printed automatically even if the interruption factor is resolved after the timer has elapsed. After the interruption factor is resolved, the user can issue a print instruction for the print job via a list of uncompleted jobs (not shown), and the print job waiting for a print instruction will be printed.

In S409, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether or not scanning has been completed up to the last job in the job list, i.e., the latest job in the job list. If it is determined that scanning has not been completed up to the last job in the job list, the job control processing unit 201 selects the next job in the job list in S407, and executes cancellation in S408. On the other hand, if it is determined in S409 that scanning has been completed up to the last job in the job list, the process returns to S405.

One of the features of this embodiment is that the process returns to S405 after the process of S409. That is, since the process returns to S405 without canceling the timer after the process of S409, if the error is still not resolved, the timer remains expired, and the processes of S407 to S409 are executed after the judgments of S405 and S406. As a result, a print job that is accepted after the timer expires and before the error is resolved and newly registered in the job list is canceled immediately without waiting for the timer to elapse further. Note that instead of the cancellation process here, a process of changing the print job to a state waiting for a print instruction may be executed. A print job in a state waiting for a print instruction is not printed and is held in the image forming device 1 until the image forming device 1 accepts a print instruction from the user.

If it is determined in S405 that the error has been resolved, in S410, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the timer set in S404. The job control processing unit 201 causes the UI processing unit 202 to erase the error screen displayed on the operation unit 106 and return to the normal screen (standby screen). Alternatively, after erasing the error screen, the operation unit 106 displays a screen indicating that the error has been resolved for a predetermined time, and then displays the normal screen (standby screen). Then, the job control processing unit 201 causes the scan processing unit 204 and the print processing unit 205 to automatically resume the printing process of the interrupted print job. This printing resume is performed without any additional print instruction from the user after the error resolution operation. In this way, if the interruption cause (error) is resolved before the grace period (set time) has elapsed since the occurrence of the interruption cause, the printing process of the interrupted print job and the subsequent print jobs is automatically resumed. After the processing of S410, the process returns to S402.

Also, in S410, the job control processing unit 201 sets the automatic cancellation state stored in the RAM 102 to a non-execution state. When the automatic cancellation state is set to a "non-execution state," the operation unit 106 stops displaying the information as exemplified in FIG. 8. That is, the operation unit 106 stops displaying information informing the user that "the state of the image forming device 1 is a state in which printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled." Details of this process will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

If it is determined in S402 that no error has occurred, or if it is determined in S403 that the setting item 301 is not ON, in S411 the job control processing unit 201 determines whether or not a job has been registered in the job list. If it is determined that a job has been registered in the job list, the process returns to S402. If it is determined that a job has not been registered in the job list, the process of this flow ends. This flow ends when printing of the job is completed. After this flow ends, if a new job is registered in the accepted job list, this flow starts again.

In this embodiment, a countdown timer is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any means capable of measuring the time during which an error occurs and continues (i.e., the time that has elapsed without the error being resolved) may be used. For example, in S404, the job control processing unit 201 may start a count-up timer from 0 (zero), and in S406, the job control processing unit 201 may determine whether the count-up timer has reached a set time.

For example, in S404, the job control processing unit 201 acquires and stores the current time from the RTC, and in S406, the job control processing unit 201 acquires the current time from the RTC. The job control processing unit 201 may then determine whether the difference in time between the acquired time and the time stored in S404 has reached a set time.

Figure 5 shows a process flow for displaying information on the operation unit 106 to inform the user that the image forming device is in a state in which automatic job cancellation is to be performed, depending on the automatic cancellation status. This flow is performed by the UI processing unit 202.

In step S501, the UI processing unit 202 refers to the automatic cancellation state stored in the RAM 102 and determines whether or not it is in an "executing state." If it is in an "executing state," the process proceeds to S502; if it is not, the process of S501 is executed again after a predetermined time (e.g., 100 milliseconds).

In step S502, the UI processing unit 202 displays information on the operation unit 106 to inform the user that the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state in which the printing of a newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled. This information is, for example, the information in the status display unit 904 in FIG. 8 (a message indicating that automatic job cancellation is in progress). The information in the status display unit 904 in FIG. 8 indicates that the timer expired without the error being resolved (YES in S406), and therefore the printing of the newly accepted print job will be automatically canceled.

This information is, for example, the information in the pop-up display 1002 in FIG. 9. The information in the pop-up display 1002 is displayed when the user instructs the image forming device 1 to execute a copy, and indicates that the copy print job will be automatically canceled if the error is not resolved.

Note that this display of S502 may be performed when the operation unit 106 displays a specific screen, such as a main menu screen or a copy setting screen, on the operation unit 106.

Figure 6 shows a process flow for stopping the display on the operation unit 106 of information informing the user that the image forming device is in a state in which automatic job cancellation is to be performed, depending on the automatic cancellation state. This flow is performed by the UI processing unit 202.

In step S601, the UI processing unit 202 refers to the automatic cancellation state stored in the RAM 102 and determines whether or not it is in a "non-execution state." If it is in a "non-execution state," the process proceeds to S602; if not, the process of S601 is executed again after a predetermined time (e.g., 100 milliseconds).

In step S602, the UI processing unit 202 stops the display that was displayed on the operation unit 106 by the processing of S502. By stopping the display, for example, the main menu screen becomes as shown in FIG. 7, and the copy setting screen becomes a state in which the information in the status display section 904 in FIG. 8 is not displayed.

Figure 7 shows an example of a main menu screen 701 of the UI display screen that the UI processing unit 202 causes to be displayed on the operation unit 106. The main menu screen is a screen that is displayed on the operation unit 106 immediately after starting up the image forming device 1, and is a screen that allows the user to select various functions.

The operation icon group 703 is displayed according to the purpose of the user's operation. Eight operation icons are displayed in FIG. 7, including a "menu" icon for setting the menu, a "copy" icon for copying, and a "secure print" icon for setting a password and printing. The contents displayed in the status display section 702 are changed by the UI processing section 202 according to the setting state of the automatic cancellation state. For example, if an error occurs and the automatic cancellation state is set to "non-executing state", information indicating the error content is displayed. In the example of FIG. 7, the error content is a paper shortage of A4-sized plain paper. If no error occurs, neither the error content nor information indicating that the image forming device 1 is in the state of automatic job cancellation (the image forming device is in the state of automatically canceling the printing of a newly accepted print job) is displayed. If the automatic cancellation state is set to "executing state", information indicating the error content and information indicating that the image forming device 1 is in the state of automatic job cancellation are displayed alternately.

Figure 8 is an example of a copy setting screen displayed on the operation unit 106 when the user presses the "COPY" icon shown in Figure 7 when the automatic cancellation state is set to "execution state" by the job control processing unit 201. This is an example of a display screen when the copy setting screen 901 illustrated in Figure 8 is displayed. The status display unit 904 displays information corresponding to the current automatic cancellation state. The UI processing unit 202 accepts an operation by the user on the operation unit 106 and transmits the accepted information to the job control processing unit 201. For example, the UI processing unit 202 accepts the user's pressing of the copy setting button 902. That is, the UI processing unit 202 accepts, as copy settings, a setting of whether to read only one side (front side) of the document or both sides (front side and back side) and a setting of whether to print the read document image on only one side (front side) of the sheet or both sides (front side and back side). Then, the UI processing unit 202 accepts the user's pressing of the copy execution button 903. Accepting the pressing of this button 903 corresponds to accepting an instruction to print a copy (print job). If no error occurs, the job control processing unit 201 prints the copy (print job) based on the accepted settings. On the other hand, if the automatic cancellation status of the image forming device 1 is set to "execution status," the job control processing unit 20 causes the UI processing unit 202 to display a warning screen 1001, as exemplified in FIG. 9.

The warning pop-up display 1002 illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed when the user presses the copy execution button 903 when the automatic cancellation status of the image forming device 1 is set to "execution status" as shown in FIG. 8, for example. This display notifies the user in advance that if the user instructs to execute a copy without resolving the error, the copy print job will be automatically and immediately canceled.

This warning pop-up display 1002 includes a back button 1003 and an OK button 1004, both of which can be pressed by the user. When the back button 1003 is pressed, the copy print job is not executed and the screen transitions to the previous screen (for example, FIG. 8). When the OK button 1004 is pressed, the copy print job is newly accepted. If the error is resolved before the copy print job is newly accepted, the job control processing unit 201 executes the process shown in FIG. 4 for the newly accepted print job from the process of S401 or S411. Before the copy print job is newly accepted, that is, the period during which the warning screen 1001 in FIG. 9 is displayed. On the other hand, if the error is not resolved, the job control processing unit 201 executes the process shown in FIG. 4 for the newly accepted print job from the process of S407. That is, the job control processing unit 201 automatically and immediately cancels this new print job. When a new print job is immediately canceled in this manner, the UI processing unit 202 displays a screen such as that shown in FIG. 10 on the operation unit 106.

According to the present embodiment described above, the user can understand that the state of the image forming device 1 is such that if a new print job is accepted, it will be automatically and immediately cancelled. Therefore, by submitting a print job to the image forming device 1 after resolving the error, the user can more easily avoid a situation in which a new print job is submitted and then immediately cancelled.

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, the screens shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are displayed on the operation unit 106 to notify the user that the current state of the image forming device 1, in which the error has not been resolved, is a state in which printing of a newly accepted print job will be immediately and automatically canceled. However, the present invention is not limited to only these screen displays. That is, the user of the image forming device may be notified by voice using a buzzer (not shown) provided in the image forming device 1 that the current state of the image forming device 1 is a state in which printing of a newly accepted print job will be immediately and automatically canceled. Also, instead of the screen display, the user of the image forming device may be notified of the current state of the image forming device by a lighting or blinking pattern of an LED (not shown) provided in the image forming device 1.

In the above embodiment, the operation unit 106 of the image forming device 1 notifies the user in front of the image forming device 1 of the current state of the image forming device 1, in which the error has not been resolved. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the image forming device 1 may notify (transmit) to an external device capable of transmitting print data to the image forming device 1 via the network I/F 107 that the current state of the image forming device 1 is a state in which printing of a newly accepted print job is immediately and automatically canceled. By notifying the external device in this manner, the user of the external device can know that when the print data is transmitted, printing of the print data is immediately and automatically canceled. That is, according to the present disclosure, the image forming device at least notifies the user, or notifies the external device communicating with the image forming device, that the current state of the image forming device is a state in which a newly accepted print job is immediately and automatically canceled.

In the above embodiment, after the timer time has expired, a screen like that shown in Figures 8 to 10 is displayed to notify the user that the current state of the image forming device 1, in which the error has not been resolved, is such that printing of newly accepted print jobs will be immediately and automatically canceled. However, the present invention does not limit the timing of the notification to this. In other words, the above notification may be issued when the timer time begins to be measured and before it expires (the period during which the processes of S405 and S406 are repeatedly looped), such as when an error occurs.

In the above embodiment, the UI processing unit 202 displayed the copy execution button 903 as being in a state where it can be pressed even if the automatic cancellation status is set to "execution status." However, as a modified example, the UI processing unit 202 may display the copy execution button 903 as being in a state where it cannot be pressed when the automatic cancellation status is set to "execution possible."

In the above embodiment, when the timer time has expired, the job cancellation from the top to the bottom of the list of jobs accepted up to the present time (until the timer expires) is continued. In other words, when the timer time has expired, all print jobs in the list are canceled. However, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which after canceling one job, it is confirmed whether the error has been resolved. In other words, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the process of S409 may be omitted and the process may proceed from S408 to S405. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process of S511 may be omitted and the process may proceed from S510 to S512. Since the print job is canceled in S408 in this way, for example, when a print job that has run out of paper is canceled, the error is resolved, and the process proceeds to S410 based on the judgment of S405. Then, the next print job is started in a state in which the error has been resolved and the timer has been released, so if an error occurs in printing this print job, the countdown timer will run again. If the error remains unresolved for the set period of time, the print job will be canceled.

In the above embodiment, all jobs are subject to cancellation, but it is also possible to exclude certain jobs from being subject to cancellation depending on the type of job. For example, jobs such as facsimiles, where it is difficult to identify the sender and it is difficult to resubmit the job, may be excluded from being subject to cancellation. Jobs that are stored in memory and require user operation to print (held prints, memory reception of facsimiles) may be excluded from being subject to cancellation.

In the above embodiment, when the timer time elapses, the print jobs that had been accepted up to that point and any print jobs that were accepted thereafter are canceled. However, as described above, instead of canceling, the print job may be prevented from being automatically executed after the cause of the interruption is resolved. For example, the print job may be retained in the printing device so that it can be executed at the user's instruction after the cause of the interruption is resolved.

The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (1)

A reception unit for receiving a print job;
an execution means capable of executing printing of the print job accepted by the acceptance means, the execution means having a function of automatically canceling the printing of the print job accepted by the acceptance means when a set time or more has elapsed without a specific factor preventing the printing of the print job being resolved;
A printing device having:
A printing device characterized by further having a notification means for at least notifying a user or an external device communicating with the printing device of information indicating that the current state of the printing device, in which the specific cause has not been resolved, is a state in which a new print job accepted by the acceptance means will be automatically canceled by the cancellation function.

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