JPH06178037A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obstruct shifting to a remote state operating as an input/output device of an external apparatus at the time when an image processor is used as a copying machine being in a local state in the image processing system in which the image processor and the external apparatus are connected to a network. CONSTITUTION:In the image processing system consisting of an image processor 1 consisting of an image reading means 11, an image storage means 12, an image forming means 13, and a timer means 14, and information processing means 2 to 4 of a computer, etc., connected to the image processor 1, the timer means is actuated at the time when a state of the image processor is switched from a remote state to a local state, and until the timer means finishes an operation of a prescribed time, control is performed so as not to comply with a request for shifting to a remote state generated from the information processing means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system which can be operated as a single copying machine and also as an output device or an image input device of external equipment such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image processing device such as an electronic copying machine and a scanner, which is an input device of an external device such as a facsimile, a word processor, and a computer, or a printer, which is an output device, have similar image reading means and image storage means. Since the image forming means is provided and each means can be shared, these devices are integrated into a function-combined device for the purpose of cost reduction and space efficiency, and a facsimile or computer It has been proposed to use it as an image processing system by connecting it to.

When such an image processing apparatus is used as a copying machine and a large amount of copying is performed, an external device such as a computer cannot use the image processing system, and an external device such as a computer outputs a large amount of data as a printer. In order to solve the problem that it cannot be used as a copying machine when printing a sheet,
No. 4667, the state of the image processing system is classified into a system remote state, an image storage device remote state, a local state, and a copying machine remote state, as shown in "Image forming system". A control method has been proposed in which, by receiving an arbitrary command while in the state, the state transitions to the arbitrary state. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-4666, a user who intends to use a copying machine in the above-described multifunctional device is currently using it as a printer or an image input device of an external device. The method of displaying the message which conveys is proposed.

However, in the former method, if the local state used as a copying machine is set as a state having a higher priority than the remote state used as an input / output device of an external device, some operation is performed during the remote state, for example, image forming means. It is possible to shift to the local state by pressing the local button placed on the device equipped with, but this local state is the method that can be shifted to the remote state again immediately upon request of the system remote. If you press the button to make it a local state, and at the moment you try to use it as a local state copier, the remote state may occur again and you may not be able to make copies. I don't know when the user tries to use it or how to use it. And it is conceivable that suddenly become a remote state when are. At this time, depending on the timing of the system transfer request from the external device and the construction of the control device that processes it, the image processing device cannot be used as a copier in the local state until all the work from the external device is completed. There is a risk that Also, in the latter method, since it only informs that the image processing device is being used as a printer or an image input device, it is difficult to understand the situation before it can be used as a copying machine. There is a problem that it may not work even if you visit the copying machine many times, because it may hinder the work or you do not know the time to finish the printing work.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to use an image processing apparatus as a local copying machine in an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus and an external device such as a computer are connected to a network. The present invention provides an image processing system in which the user who uses the image processing apparatus does not have to wait longer than the user who uses the image processing apparatus as a remote printer or an image input unit as a part of the work. Further, the present invention provides a method for reusing an external device such as a computer when the image processing apparatus is used as a printer by interrupting the interrupt button as a copying machine or when the all clear button is pressed as a copying machine. This is to cope with a situation where a person who wants to use a copying machine as a copying machine for the time being will be kept waiting if it becomes a printer immediately by a request to shift to a remote state.

[0006]

The first invention of the present application is
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an image processing system comprising an image processing device including an image reading means, an image storage means, and an image forming means, and an external device such as a computer connected to the image processing device, the image processing device. Is provided with a timer means, and the timer means is activated when the state of the image forming means is switched from the remote state to the local state, and is issued from the external device until the timer means finishes the operation for a predetermined time. The request to shift the image processing apparatus to the remote state is rejected.

The second invention of the present application is an image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus comprising image reading means, image storage means and image forming means, and an external device such as a computer connected to the image processing apparatus. A timer means is provided in the image processing apparatus, and the state of the image forming means is set to local until the timer means is started after the work in the local state is finished and the timer means finishes the operation for a predetermined time. Controls to reject the request to switch from the remote status to the remote status.

Further, a third invention of the present application is an external device such as an image processing device comprising an image reading means, an image storage means, an image forming means, and a display means for displaying data, and a computer connected to the image processing apparatus. An image processing system including a device is characterized in that the image processing apparatus has a dedicated screen for notifying a user that the image processing apparatus is being used in a remote state and a scheduled occupation time in the remote state.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image processing system according to the present invention. The image processing system includes an image processing device 1 and an ordinary image reading device and an image forming device as an input device and an output device, respectively. Computers 2-1 to 2
-2 ..., an ordinary word processor 3, and an external device 19 such as an ordinary facsimile line 4 are organically connected by a common bus 5. Further, the image processing device 1 is
An image reading unit 11 including an optical scanning unit that reads image information, an image storage unit 12 including a RAM that stores image information, and an image forming unit 1 using an electrophotographic method or the like.
3, a timer means 14 of an arbitrary format, a display means 15 for displaying various information, and a microprocessor for processing information and commands from or to each of these means and controlling the operation of each means. Arithmetic / control means 16 including
Composed of and.

According to the present invention, in view of the state of the image processing apparatus in this image processing system in relation to external equipment such as a computer, the remote state in which the image processing apparatus can be controlled from the external equipment such as a computer, and the image processing The apparatus is classified into two states, that is, a state in which it cannot be controlled by an external device such as a computer and is used as a copying machine. Furthermore, the priority of each state is such that the local state has priority over the remote state. Therefore, a function of interrupting the remote state in the middle (for example, if the image processing apparatus is outputting a 100-page image from a computer as a printer, it is interrupted at page 50, the processing of the local state is terminated, and the remote state is restored. Output the remaining 50 pages). Further, since the operation time of the timer means can be arbitrarily set by the time setting means, the re-switching prohibition time can be arbitrarily set.

The operation of each device in such a system will be described with reference to FIG. The image processing apparatus 1 is in a remote state, and any of the external devices 2 to 4 controls the image processing apparatus 1. At this time, a user who wants to use the image processing apparatus 1 in a local state, that is, as a copying machine, presses an interrupt button or an all clear button provided in the image processing apparatus to interrupt the remote state midway and switch to the local state. At this timing, the timer means that uses the re-switching prohibition time as the count value of the timer means is started, and until the operation of this timer means ends, even if the external device requests the image processing apparatus to switch to the remote state, it is rejected. To configure. As described above, according to the present invention, an image processing device in a remote state used as an output device or an input device of an external device,
Since the local state can be maintained for a predetermined time from the time when the local state is used as a copying machine, the copying operation which should be prioritized can be surely executed.

Next, the second invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second invention also has the same configuration as the image processing system shown in FIG. The present invention, when the image processing apparatus 1 is in a local state and functions as a copying machine,
The present invention is characterized in that a state switching prohibition time is provided for a fixed time after the end of the copying work or from the last key operation. In FIG. 3, the timer means starts operating when the copying operation of the copying operation of the image processing apparatus 1 in the local state used as the copying machine is completed or the last key operation of the copying operation is executed. . When there is a request from an external device to shift the image processing device to the remote state while this timer is operating, the image processing device rejects the request to shift to the remote state and the copy operation command in the local state is input. Wait to be done. When the copying operation command is not input by the time the operation of the timer means ends, and when there is a request to change to the remote state from any external device after the time when the timer operation ends, the image processing apparatus issues this request. Accept and transition to remote state. When a copy operation command is input before the operation of the timer ends, the image processing apparatus maintains the local state and executes the operation as the copying machine. Even if there is a request from the external device to shift to the remote state during execution of the copying operation, the image processing apparatus rejects this request and maintains the local state and continues the copying operation. As described above, according to the present invention, is there any user who continuously uses the image processing apparatus as a copying machine at the time when the work relating to copying is completed or after the last key operation by the user? It is possible to make a judgment, and since the state of the copying machine is maintained when there are subsequent users, the copying operation can be executed reliably.

The third invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A third aspect of the present invention is intended to make the use of a copying machine smoother, and includes an image reading unit, an image storage unit, an image forming unit,
In an image processing system comprising an image processing device comprising display means for displaying data and an external device such as a computer connected to the image processing device, the image processing device is being used in a remote state. Also, it has a special screen for notifying the user of the scheduled occupation time in the remote state. First, when the image processing device is used as an input / output device of an external device such as a computer, the dedicated screen displays a screen as shown in FIG. 4A, and the image processing device displays the input / output device of the external device. Is displayed to inform the current state of the image processing apparatus. When the image processing apparatus is used as a printer for printing out image data from an external device such as a computer, the dedicated screen is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), it is configured to display that printing is being performed by an external device, the total number of prints, the current number of prints, and the time required until completion.

The structure for displaying the picture of FIG. 4 on the dedicated screen will be described with reference to FIG. The calculation / control means 16 is
When a request for shifting to the remote state is received from the external device 19, the frame ID of the screen indicating the remote state is searched from the frame data ROM 17, and screen information is created in the RAM area 18. When the creation is completed, the calculation / control means transmits the screen information to the display means 15.

FIG. 6 is a display control flow for the local / remote state of the data display portion 15 in the screen processing device. First, it is determined in R1 whether a state transition command has been received from an external device such as a computer, and if received, it is determined in R2 whether it is a state switching request or a print control command for transition / cancellation to the remote state. If it is a request for state transition, it is determined in R3 whether or not the request is accepted based on the current state of the image processing apparatus, and if it is permitted, the state switching process of R4 is performed.
In step 5, a screen showing the remote state as shown in FIG. 4 (A) is displayed. Next, in R7, a response command to the migration request is issued to the host. If the state transition is rejected, the error processing of R6 is performed and the command in the current local state is issued. On the other hand, if the command received from the external device is a command related to print control, R
If the command is analyzed in 8 and the print start command is issued, R9
The print work process is performed and the screen during printing, FIG. 4B, is displayed at R10. For other commands, the command execution processing of R11 is executed. Also, R1
If it is not a command from the host in R, local processing is executed in R12.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of the screen display process of FIG. 4 (B). First, in S1, it is determined whether a print start command is received from the external device. If it is received, in S2 the total number of prints is calculated from the image information,
The set number is displayed on the display means. Next, in S3, it is determined whether the print mode is color or monochrome.
When in the color mode, the contents of the copy JOB are analyzed in S4, and it is determined in S5 whether or not the editing function is set. When the edit mode is set, in S6, the time required to finish printing is calculated and displayed from the image information and the paper size information (time required for one color copy + time required for editing processing) × remaining number of prints. Display on the means. Then, in S7, the remaining number of prints is displayed on the display means. When the editing function is not set, the process proceeds from S5 to S8, and the time required to finish printing is calculated by calculating the time required for one color copy × the remaining number of prints and displayed on the display means. Then, in S7, the remaining number of prints is displayed on the display means. When the color mode is not set in S3,
In step S9, the time required until the end of printing is calculated by calculating the time required for one black-and-white copy x the remaining number of prints and displayed on the display means. Then, in S7, the remaining number of prints is displayed on the display means. If it is not the print start command, local processing is executed in S10.

[0017]

According to the present invention, since the user who uses the image processing apparatus in the local state is prioritized, the work rate of the user who takes the copying work is not lowered. Since it is possible to prevent a user who intends to use the image processing apparatus in the local state for a while from returning to the remote state again before using the image forming apparatus for a certain period of time (for example, 2 minutes), it is possible to prevent the remote state from being interrupted. The operability of the user who came to use the image processing apparatus in the state in the local state is improved. In addition, a delay of a fixed time is set even when multiple users continuously use it as a copier, so that the user can be interrupted and shift to the remote state as the user uses one after another. It is also possible to eliminate unnecessary time for a user to end up using an external device, and it is possible to save unnecessary time for many people to finish using the external device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is easier to understand by displaying a picture on the screen that the state of the image processing apparatus is currently used as an input / output device of an external device.
Further, since the waiting time can be known, it is not necessary to open the platen cover while the image data is being output from the external device, and it is possible to prevent the trouble that the image cannot be output accurately. Further, since the waiting time for using the copying machine is easy to understand, the copying machine can be used smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings] [Explanation of symbols]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an image processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mode of state transition of the image processing system according to the first invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state transition state of an image processing system according to a second invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing display contents of a dedicated screen of the image processing system according to the third invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram for displaying a state of the image processing apparatus on a dedicated screen of a third invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of displaying a local / remote state on a dedicated screen of the third invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of displaying the remaining time on the dedicated screen of the third invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image processing device, 2 computer, 3 word processor, 4 facsimile line, 5 common bus, 11 image reading means, 12 image storage means, 1
3 image forming means, 14 timer means, 15 display means, 16 arithmetic / control means, 17 frame data memory (ROM), 18 memory (RAM), 19 external equipment.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image processing system comprising an image processing device comprising image reading means, image storage means, and image forming means and an external device such as a computer connected to the image processing device, wherein the image processing device includes a timer. Means is provided, and when the state of the image processing apparatus is switched from the remote state to the local state, the timer means is started, and is issued from the external device until the timer means finishes the operation for a predetermined time. An image processing system, wherein the image processing apparatus is controlled so as to reject a request for shifting the image processing apparatus to a remote state. 2. An image processing system comprising an image processing device comprising image reading means, image storage means and image forming means, and an external device such as a computer connected to the image processing device, wherein the image processing device includes a timer. With the provision of means, the timer means is started from the time when the work in the local state is finished, and the state of the image processing apparatus is changed from the local state to the remote state until the timer means finishes the operation for a predetermined time. An image processing system characterized by controlling so as to reject the request. 3. An image processing system comprising an image processing device comprising an image reading device, an image storage device, an image forming device and a display device for displaying data, and an external device such as a computer connected to the image processing device. An image processing system, wherein the image processing apparatus has a dedicated screen for notifying a user of the fact that the image processing apparatus is being used in a remote state and a scheduled occupied time in the remote state.