JP5808141B2 - Job control apparatus, job control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a job control apparatus, a job control method, and a program for controlling a job for printing and binding a photobook.

  There is a photobook ordering service that allows a user to place an order for creating a booklet in which image data is freely arranged for a layout having a plurality of pages on a personal computer. In the photo book service, the user can select photo books finished in various sizes.

  On the other hand, orders by photobooks are often ordered by a small number of individual users, and a large number of jobs of a plurality of sizes are submitted at the printing work site.

  In the conventional printing field, for a plurality of types of orders, a fixed-size paper that can handle all of the plurality of sizes is used. In this case, since the paper sizes are unified, a large amount of paper is wasted when ordering a small photo book.

  As a method for suppressing the waste of paper, the paper to be used is switched according to the paper size of the photo book, or a plurality of sheets are imprinted on one paper and printed at the same time. In the conventional bookbinding technology, in order to print a plurality of copies of one input data (one type of job), a plurality of image data of the same document are arranged on the same sheet and subjected to a printing process (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-208573

  However, in the conventional technology, since the image data of the same manuscript is arranged on the same paper, a user who wants only one book such as a photo book can print a plurality of copies of one submission data. The submission data for was not considered. That is, if a plurality of orders for only one book are collected and a plurality of pages of submitted data are arranged side by side on the same sheet, the work of adjusting how the pages are arranged increases.

  Also, in the work of creating a photo book, not only printing but also processing in the subsequent process such as cutting is necessary, so it is necessary to decide how to arrange it in consideration of the post-processing device, This may increase the labor for the operator. Specifically, in order to suppress the waste of paper at a printing place that prints a photo book, a paper replacement work of the printing device has occurred to switch the paper to be used, and further adjustment of the post-process There was a problem that work was generated and the work efficiency was lowered.

  Further, even in the case of performing a plurality of impositions, there is a problem in that work for adjusting the post-process and determining how to arrange them occurs, resulting in a reduction in work efficiency.

  The present invention provides a means that can suppress a decrease in work efficiency in order to solve the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems, a job control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a job control apparatus that controls a plurality of jobs for creating a booklet in the job processing apparatus, and is usable by job information acquisition means for acquiring job information of each of the plurality of jobs, and the job processing apparatus A booklet of the plurality of jobs, comprising device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including information on a plurality of types of paper sizes, and a combination of a plurality of types of paper sizes that can be used by the job processing apparatus using the job information. Determining means for determining a combination pattern of jobs capable of imposing, load information acquiring means for acquiring a plurality of load information designated by a user and indicating a load required in the job processing apparatus to execute the job, the a plurality of respective load information, among the determined combination pattern by the determination means, most load Determining means for determining a lower combination patterns, have a display means for displaying a plurality of combination patterns that are determined by the determination unit, wherein the load information, the load required for the work of users involved in performing the job Contains information .

  According to the present invention, when a photo book is created, it is possible to proceed with work without reducing paper waste and reducing work efficiency.

The figure which shows the system whole structure of a photobook creation system. The block diagram of the hardware constitutions of information processing apparatus. The flowchart figure which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a submitted job group and a required paper size. The figure which showed the detail of the pattern determination process. The figure which showed an example of the paper size used in a pattern determination process. The figure which shows an example of the result of pattern determination. The figure which shows an example of a user interface. The figure which shows an example of the user interface which changes a feature-value. The figure which shows an example of the process which determines the optimal pattern from a feature-value.

<System configuration diagram of photobook creation system>
The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a photobook creation system according to the present invention. This system is roughly composed of a client 1, an information processing device 2, a printing device 3, and a post-processing device 4.

  The client 1 is mainly an environment in which a user edits / creates a photobook layout. Examples of the client 1 include a general personal computer and a portable terminal. When the user completes the photobook layout editing and confirms the order, the client 1 generates a plurality of jobs related to the photobook created by the user. Here, the job is a combination of content information and / or a job ticket processed by the printing apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 4 which are job processing apparatuses. One or more clients 1 may exist. The client 1 is connected to the information processing apparatus 2 via a network, and performs communication via a predetermined medium such as the Internet.

  The information processing apparatus 2 that is a job control apparatus receives a job from the client 1 and controls output to the printing apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 4. The information processing apparatus 2 includes a job reception unit 5, a workflow management unit 6, a job analysis unit 7, a job control unit 8, a device management unit 9, post-processing process information 10, post-processing device feeding / discharging information 11, and a job editing unit 12 is comprised. The printing apparatus 3 interprets the print job transmitted via the device management unit 9, rasterizes it, and prints it. The post-processing apparatus 4 interprets the post-processing job transmitted via the device management unit 9, sets post-processing parameters, and performs post-processing of the printed material at the timing when the printed material is set. Examples of the type of the post-processing device 4 include a case binding machine, a cutting machine, a creasing machine, and a laminator. Further, the post-processing device 4 may be a device that is integrated with the functions of each post-processing.

  The job receiving unit 5 receives print job and post-processing job data from the client 1. The workflow management unit 6 manages data related to a post-processing workflow preset by the user. The received data is stored and managed in the post-processing process information 10. The job analysis unit 7 has a function of analyzing a job received via the job reception unit 5 and acquiring detailed content information and detailed print setting information. The job analysis unit 7 analyzes the job and stores the print setting information or the post-processing setting information for the content information in the memory.

  The job control unit 8 performs post-processing process information 10 managed by the workflow management unit 6 and post-processing apparatus supply / discharge information managed by the device management unit 9 for the job analyzed by the job analysis unit 7. 11 is used to control the output. The device management unit 9 manages the printing apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 4. Further, the device management unit 9 obtains capability information, configuration information, and printer connection information from the printing device 3 and the post-processing device 4, print jobs to the printing device 3, and the post-processing device 4. A function of transmitting a post-processing job is provided.

  Further, the information processing apparatus 2 holds post-processing process information 10 and post-processing apparatus feeding / discharging information 11 in the storage unit, and the post-processing apparatus feeding / discharging information 11 includes, for example, the paper size and paper size in the post-processing apparatus. Includes inventory status.

<Internal configuration of information processing apparatus>
FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 2. The CPU 21 executes a program stored in a program area inside the ROM 26 or a program such as an OS or general-purpose application loaded from the hard disk 23 to the RAM 22. The RAM 22 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 21. The hard disk 23 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, electronic document files, and the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 2 can also acquire various data stored in the medium 28 via the external storage drive 27.

  All jobs received by the information processing apparatus 2 are sent to the hard disk 23. The display controller 24 controls display on the display. The network controller 25 executes communication control processing with other devices connected to a network (not shown). The keyboard controller 29 controls key input from a keyboard or a pointing device (not shown). The CPU 21 is connected to each block constituting the information processing apparatus 2 by the internal bus 2a.

<Processing flow>
An example of the overall flow in the photobook creation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, this process is realized by the CPU 21 of the information processing apparatus 2 reading and executing a program stored in the RAM 22 or the like that is a storage unit. This processing flow starts when the job receiving unit 5 of the information processing apparatus 2 receives a job from the client 1.

  When the job receiving unit 5 receives the job, the job analyzing unit 7 analyzes and collects job information from the submitted job group (FIG. 4A) (S301). The information collected here is information necessary for generating a photo book such as the size of a job product and the number of printed pages. In the present embodiment, the job information is acquired from the contents described in the job ticket. Thereby, a job information acquisition unit is realized.

  After collecting the job information, the workflow management unit 6 determines a job combination pattern (S302). Details of the processing flow for determining the combination pattern will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  After determining the combination pattern in S302, the device management unit 9 acquires information on a device that processes the job (S303). The device information acquired here is information on jobs that can be processed and performance information for processing the jobs. Specifically, the job information that can be processed is, for example, information on a usable paper size, a paper stock status, and whether or not a cutting function is held in a printing apparatus. For example, in the case of a finisher device (nearline finisher), the information is information such as a paper size that can be cut. The performance information for processing a job is, for example, a unit time required for printing one sheet in the case of a printing apparatus, and a unit time required for one cutting in the case of a finisher apparatus. Is mentioned. Thereby, a device information acquisition unit is realized.

  After acquiring the device information, the device management unit 9 determines whether there is a combination pattern applied to the unusable paper size among the plurality of combination patterns determined in S302 based on the printing device information. Is determined (S304). If there is a combination pattern that cannot be applied (YES in S304), the device management unit 9 excludes the corresponding combination pattern from the combination patterns determined in S302 (S305).

  Subsequently, the device management unit 9 determines whether there is a combination pattern that requires a cutting pattern that cannot be used by the finisher apparatus among the plurality of combination patterns determined in S302 based on the information on the finisher apparatus. (S306). If there is a combination pattern that cannot be applied (YES in S306), the device management unit 9 excludes the corresponding combination pattern from the combination patterns determined in S302 (S307).

  Subsequently, the device management unit 9 acquires the history information of the information on the device to be used, and acquires setting information on the device after the job executed immediately before (S308). Then, based on the device information acquired in S303, the workflow management unit 6 uses the total work time required for each pattern calculated using the feature value of the work time in each work, and the current setting information acquired in S308. The optimum pattern is determined (S309). In the present embodiment, the feature amount is, for example, a printing time for job printing, a work time required for replacing a sheet in the printing apparatus, a time for setting a cutting sheet in the finisher apparatus, or a time for cutting a job. Is mentioned. This is a value that defines the load of each work required for creating a photobook in terms of time. The specific optimum pattern determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Then, according to the determination result of the optimum pattern in S309, the job editing unit 12 performs job imposition processing and job ticket merging / changing (S310). Then, the device management unit 9 sends the job and job ticket changed in S310 to the printing apparatus and the finisher apparatus (S311). Thus, the present process is terminated.

<Example of submission job group and pattern output>
An example of the submitted job group in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In a photobook creation system, a user selects a favorite one from a plurality of finished sizes and orders a photobook.

  The diagram shown in FIG. 4A shows seven job groups 401 submitted to this system, and JOB1 to JOB7 are designated as job names for each job. Each job is assigned a job ticket 402 for instructing a print format.

  Each job includes printing-related information corresponding to the finished size (Type) of the photo book selected by the user as desired, and each job ticket is used for finishing each job into a photo book. Contains information.

  Based on these pieces of information, for example, in the case of a job of type 1 such as JOB1, A4 size paper is necessary as a general paper size for printing (FIG. 4B). It can be determined that the size is cut to the size of Type1.

  For example, if the job is a type 2 job such as JOB2, A5 size paper is necessary as a general paper size for printing (FIG. 4C). It can be determined that the sheet is cut to the size of.

<Example of processing for determining combination pattern>
An example of processing for determining a combination pattern of a submitted job group will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the details of the combination pattern determination processing to be processed in S302 for the seven submitted jobs shown in FIG.

First, the system acquires information on the paper size used in combination with the submitted job (S501). The sizes that can be acquired here are the following four types.
A4 paper for printing one type 1 job (FIG. 4B)
A3 paper for printing Type 1 + Type 1 jobs together (FIG. 6A)
B4 paper when printing Type 1 + Type 2 jobs together (FIG. 6B)
A5 paper for printing one Type 2 job (FIG. 6C)

  Note that when printing a job of Type2 + Type2 together, A4 paper (FIG. 6D) is required as in FIG. 4B.

  The system first determines a pattern set applicable to the largest paper size A3 from the paper sizes used in each combination (S502). Then, the system determines a set that can be applied to the second largest paper size B4 from the paper sizes used in the combination for the remaining jobs (S503). The system further determines a set applicable to the third largest paper size A4 for the remaining jobs (S504).

  If there are remaining jobs, the system determines that the smallest paper size A5 is suitable (S505). Then, the system sets this combination pattern as the first pattern (S506).

  Subsequently, the system determines a set that can be applied to the largest paper size (A3) from the paper sizes used in the combination, and then selects the third paper size to be used for the remaining jobs. A set applicable to the large paper size A4 is determined (S507). If there is a remaining job, the system determines to apply the smallest paper size A5 (S508). Then, the system sets this combination pattern as the second pattern (S509).

  Subsequently, after acquiring the paper size to be used by combining jobs, the system determines a set that can be applied to the second largest paper size B4 (S510). Then, the system determines a set applicable to the third largest paper size A4 for the remaining jobs (S511). If there are more remaining jobs, the system determines to apply the smallest paper size A5 (S512). Then, the system sets this combination pattern as the third pattern 603 (S513).

  Subsequently, after acquiring the paper size to be used by combining jobs, the system determines a set that can be applied to the third largest paper size A4 (S514). If there are more remaining jobs, the system determines to apply the smallest paper size A5 (S515). Then, the system sets this combination pattern as the fourth pattern (S516).

  Then, the system optimizes the job processing order according to the determined combination pattern (S517). Then, the system determines all combination patterns and ends this process.

  As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, applicable combination patterns are determined in order from the largest size paper. Note that the present invention is not limited to this flow, and other methods may be used when determining the combination pattern.

<Example of combination pattern>
A pattern derived by each determination in the processing flow shown in FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. Patterns 601, 602, 603, and 604 are four patterns of combinations determined in S506, S509, S513, and S515, respectively.

  In this embodiment, the size of the photobook included in the job group is two types, Type 1 and Type 2. However, in the combination pattern determination process, three or more types of jobs are processed by increasing the paper size to be used. Is possible. In this case, the combination pattern also increases. Further, the determination shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the number of times of printing, the number of times of paper replacement, and the number of times of cutting are specified for each combination pattern. The number of times of printing indicates the number of times of printing for each imposed sheet. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the patterns 601, 602, and 603 are four times, and the pattern 604 is five times. The number of times of paper replacement is the number of times of changing to a different paper size. The pattern 601 is 3 times, the patterns 602 and 603 are 2 times, and the pattern 604 is 0 times. The number of cuts is the number of cuts for each impositioned job. The patterns 601, 602, and 603 are four times, and the pattern 604 is five times.

<Example of application UI>
An example of a user interface that displays pattern determination by the pattern determination application of this embodiment is shown in FIGS.

  In FIG. 8, the user interface 701 is displayed by display means (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 2 and displays information on the job optimized by the present embodiment, and information on the original submission job. Is displayed.

  In addition, the user interface 701 includes a button 704 for displaying a job ticket of an optimized job, and a button 705 for displaying job information optimized for the condition when the optimization condition is changed. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, job information corresponding to the condition defined as “recommended” is displayed on the display unit 702. Furthermore, the user interface 701 includes a menu 706 for calling a setting dialog 801 (FIG. 9) for changing the feature amount and changing the optimization condition.

  In the setting dialog 801 shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, initial values are defined in advance, and different values can be assigned to the setting items in accordance with user setting changes. This implements a receiving means. The workflow management unit 6 acquires each information set here, thereby realizing a load information acquisition unit.

  Note that the screen configurations shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are examples, and other configurations may be used.

<Optimum pattern determination process>
An example of processing for determining the optimal combination from the plurality of combination patterns determined by the processing described with reference to FIG. 5 in consideration of the above-described feature amounts will be described with reference to FIG. In this determination process, the total work time in each pattern is calculated based on the feature amount, and an optimal combination pattern is determined. Here, the pattern with the smallest processing load (total work time) is determined as the optimum pattern. This process corresponds to the process of S309 in FIG. In the present embodiment, this processing flow is realized by the CPU 21 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 26 or the like that is a storage unit.

  The workflow management unit 6 sets the order of the combination patterns to be determined as a variable P, and sets the maximum number of combination patterns determined by this processing as a constant Pmax. The workflow management unit 6 first determines the first combination pattern (S901).

  The workflow management unit 6 calculates the number of printed sheets from the number of pages of the photobook and the number of copies to be printed for the pattern P (S902). The workflow management unit 6 calculates the time required for printing from the printing speed of the printing apparatus 3 (S903).

  Then, based on the information determined in S308 of FIG. 3, the workflow management unit 6 determines whether or not the sheet used in the pattern is already set in the printing apparatus 3 (S904). If a sheet has already been set (YES in S904), the workflow management unit 6 decreases the number of sheet replacements in the combination pattern of interest by one (S905). The workflow management unit 6 calculates the time required for paper replacement as the number of paper replacement times the paper replacement work time (minutes / once) (S906).

  Then, the workflow management unit 6 determines the number of times to perform the cutting setting from the imposition in the pattern P job (S907). The workflow management unit 6 calculates the time for the cutting setting as the number of cutting settings × the cutting operation time (minutes / once) (S908). The workflow management unit 6 calculates the time related to the cutting work as the number of cutting jobs × the cutting work time (minutes / 1 job) (S909).

  The sheet replacement work time, the cutting work time, and the cutting work time described above are the above-described feature amounts, and the system retains the initial value. In the present embodiment, these numerical values can be changed by the interface of the setting dialog 801 shown in FIG.

  Then, the workflow management unit 6 calculates the total work time from the time required for each work in consideration of the feature amount (S910). Thereafter, the workflow management unit 6 identifies the pattern to be processed next (S911), and returns to S901.

  When the pattern P is equal to or greater than Pmax (YES in S901), it is assumed that the calculation of the work time for all the patterns determined in S302 is completed. Therefore, the workflow management unit 6 determines the pattern with the smallest calculated total work time (processing load) as the optimum pattern (S912). Then, this processing flow ends.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, in the system, the job editing unit 12 edits the job and the job ticket according to the optimum pattern (S310), and the device management unit 9 sends the job and job to the printing apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 4. A ticket is sent (S311).

<Process result>
Here, in the present embodiment, each job is a 30-page photo book, and the determination is made using the following set values for the pattern determined in S302.
Printing speed (20 pages / min)
Paper replacement (2 minutes / time)
Finisher device setting work (5 minutes / time)
Cutting work (1 minute / job)

In this case, the following calculation result is derived. Here, only the calculation result of the pattern 603 with the smallest total work time (processing load) is shown.
B4 printing: number of printed sheets (30 pages × 3 jobs) ÷ printing speed (20 pages / minute) = 4.5 minutes A5 printing: number of printed sheets (30 pages × 1 job) ÷ printing speed (20 pages / minute) = 1. 5 minutes Paper replacement: B4 to A5 (1 time) x paper replacement work (2 minutes / 1 time) = 2 minutes Finisher device setting work (5 minutes / 1 time) x type of job to be cut (1 time) = 5 minutes Cutting operation (1 minute / 1 job) x number of print jobs (4 jobs) = 4 minutes

  As described above, it is determined that the pattern 603 is optimal among the four patterns shown in FIG. 7 from the total work time.

In the feature amount of the present embodiment, for example, when the print speed is changed to the feature amount of (60 pages / minute), the following calculation result is derived. Here, only the calculation result of the pattern 604 with the smallest total work time (processing load) is shown.
A4 printing: Number of printed sheets (30 pages x 5 jobs) ÷ Printing speed (60 pages / minute) = 2.5 minutes Paper replacement: 0 times x Paper replacement work (2 minutes / 1 time) = 0 minutes Finisher device setting work ( 5 minutes / once) x type of job to be cut (once) = 5 minutes cutting operation (1 minute / one job) x number of print jobs (5 jobs) = 5 minutes

  As described above, it is determined that the pattern 604 is optimal among the four patterns shown in FIG. 7 from the total work time.

  In the present embodiment, only feature quantities (load information) related to the printing apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 4 are picked up. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is applied not only to a photo book but also to other booklet jobs by increasing the feature amount from information of another post-processing device such as a laminator device. Is possible. In the present embodiment, the feature amount is handled as time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the feature amount may be handled by a weighting factor considering work load.

  Also in the printing apparatus and the post-processing apparatus, other feature amounts that are caused by the work process may be set. For example, the printing speed is a constant value regardless of the size of the photo book, but may be set for each size of the photo book.

  Further, the processing order of jobs may be rearranged according to the combination pattern, and the processing speed of the entire system may be improved.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (9)

A job control device that controls a plurality of jobs for creating a booklet in a job processing device,
Job information acquisition means for acquiring job information for each of the plurality of jobs;
Device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including information on a plurality of types of paper sizes usable by the job processing device;
A determination unit that determines a combination pattern of jobs that can be used to impose a booklet of the plurality of jobs, the job information using a combination of a plurality of types of paper sizes that can be used by the job processing apparatus;
Load information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of load information designated by the user and indicating a load required in the job processing apparatus to execute the job;
In each of the plurality of load information, a determination unit that determines a combination pattern having the lowest load among the combination patterns determined by the determination unit;
Display means for displaying a plurality of combination patterns determined by the determination means;
The job control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load information includes information on a load required for an operation related to a user when executing a job.   The job control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job information includes a paper size and a page number of a booklet.   The job control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job processing apparatus is a printing apparatus and a cutting apparatus.   The load information includes at least one of a unit time required for printing by the printing apparatus, a unit time required for paper replacement in the printing apparatus, and a unit time required for cutting by the cutting apparatus. 4. The job control apparatus according to 3. The device information further includes at least one of the status of the job processing device, the stock status of the paper, and a cutting pattern that can be cut,
The job control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines a combination pattern using the apparatus information. Imposition means for performing imposition processing for the plurality of jobs according to the combination pattern determined by the determination means;
The job control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit that changes the job information corresponding to a job that has been impositioned by the imposition unit.   The job according to claim 6, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit the job subjected to the imposition process by the imposition unit and the job information changed by the change unit to the job processing apparatus. Control device. A job control method for controlling a plurality of jobs for creating a booklet in a job processing apparatus,
A job information acquisition unit that acquires job information of each of the plurality of jobs;
A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information including information on a plurality of types of paper sizes that can be used by the job processing device; and
A determination step of determining a combination pattern of jobs capable of imposing a booklet of the plurality of jobs, the determination unit using the job information and including a combination of a plurality of types of paper sizes usable by the job processing apparatus;
A load information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of load information designated by a user and indicating a load required by the job processing apparatus to execute the job;
A determining unit determines a combination pattern having the lowest load among the combination patterns determined in the determination step in each of the plurality of load information;
Viewing means, and a display step of displaying a plurality of combination patterns that are determined in the determining step,
The job control method according to claim 1, wherein the load information includes information on a load required for an operation related to a user when executing the job. Computer
Job information acquisition means for acquiring job information for each of a plurality of jobs;
Job processing apparatus device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including information of a plurality of types of paper sizes available,
Wherein using the job information, the job processing apparatus comprising a combination of a plurality of types of paper sizes available, determining means for determining combination patterns of the booklet imposition possible job of the plurality of jobs,
Load information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of load information designated by a user and indicating a load required in the job processing apparatus to execute the job;
In each of the plurality of load information, a determination unit that determines a combination pattern having the lowest load among the combination patterns determined by the determination unit;
Function as a display means for displaying a plurality of combination patterns determined by the determination means;
The load information includes information on a load required for work related to a user when executing a job.

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