JP2012221334A - Image formation system and method for processing the same, image forming apparatus, printing management server, print server, control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for canceling only an appropriate job in the case of accepting a cancellation instruction to a print job under printing in a pull print system.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus transmits the stop instruction of a job to a printing management server, and stores the number of items of jobs under printing. The printing management server stops the job whose printing has not been instructed to a print server, transmits the stop instruction of the job to the printer queue of the print server, and notifies the image forming apparatus of the number of items of the stopped jobs and the total number of the jobs whose printing has been instructed to the printer queue. The print server stops the printer queue on the basis of the stop instruction, and notifies the printing management server of the number of items of the stopped jobs. The image forming apparatus compares the total number of the jobs of which it has been notified with the stored number of items of the jobs under printing, determines whether or not the stop of all the jobs under printing has been instructed, and stops the jobs whose stop has been instructed.

Description

  The present invention relates to canceling a printing job in pull printing (accumulation printing) in an image forming apparatus having an authentication function.

  Conventionally, a so-called “pull print (accumulation printing)” that enables a user to output print data from the image forming apparatus by making a print request to the print data temporarily accumulated on the server from the image forming apparatus. A printing system has been proposed. Thus, the user can output print data from a desired image forming apparatus instead of outputting to a specific image forming apparatus when printing from an application (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also in the pull print system, a system having a function of canceling a print job being printed has been devised. In order to cancel a job being printed in the pull printing system, the job in the spooler on the image forming apparatus is canceled.

JP 2006-99714 A

  By the way, in the pull print system, in order to completely cancel the print job, not only the print job that is being printed by the image forming apparatus is canceled but also stored on the server side before being sent to the image forming apparatus. It is necessary to cancel a print job stored in a managed printer queue, and there is a problem that a job cannot be completely canceled only by a job stored in the spooler of the image forming apparatus.

  Also, when a job cancel instruction is issued, the job being sent that has already been submitted to the print server's printer queue spooler cannot be canceled by either the image forming device or the server, so the target job is output. There is a problem of being done.

  In addition, when canceling a job included in the server's printer queue spooler, the service program of the pull print system server starts the printer driver and prints. There is a problem that the account is fixed to the activated account, and there is a problem that the job cannot be canceled for each user.

  In addition, in the unlikely event that an application operating on the image forming apparatus fails to detect a print completion event of the image forming apparatus, there is a problem that the server cannot determine the completion of printing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for canceling only an appropriate job when a cancel instruction is received for a print job being printed by a pull print system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for updating the status of a print job without delay even if the event of the print job cannot be detected for some reason by an application operating on the image forming apparatus. .

  That is, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus, the print server that stores the job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal, the bibliographic information of the print job are stored and managed, and the print instructed from the image forming apparatus An image forming system including a print management server that holds a job as a print management queue, wherein the image forming apparatus instructs to stop a print job being printed by the image forming apparatus in response to a user operation. A first stop instruction means for transmitting to the print management server and the print job being printed held in the storage area of the image forming apparatus when stopped by the first stop instruction means. The first storage means for storing the number of cases and the print management server receive a stop instruction for the print job being printed by the stop instruction means, A print management queue stopping means for stopping a print job for which a print instruction has not been transmitted to the print server among print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue; A second stop instruction means for transmitting to the print server a stop instruction for a print job that has issued a print instruction to a print queue of the print server, and the print management queue stop A job stop number notifying unit for notifying the image forming apparatus of a total number of the number of the print jobs stopped by the unit and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server. The server is configured to execute the printer queue based on the stop instruction received by the second stop instruction unit of the print management server. A printer queue stop unit for stopping, and a printer queue stop number notifying unit for notifying the number of the print jobs stopped by the printer queue stop unit to the print management server, and the image forming apparatus further includes the print management The total number of the print management server and the number of print jobs stopped at the print server notified by the job stop number notification unit of the server, and the storage area of the image forming apparatus stored in the first storage unit A determination unit that determines whether all print jobs being printed are instructed to be stopped by the image forming apparatus by comparing the number of print jobs being printed held by the image forming apparatus; When it is determined that all the print jobs being printed are instructed to be stopped by the image forming apparatus, the stop instruction is issued by the first stop instructing unit. And a stop means for stopping the printed job.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism for canceling only an appropriate job when a cancel instruction is received for a print job being printed by the pull print system.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism for updating the status of a print job without delay even if the event of the print job cannot be detected for some reason by an application operating on the image forming apparatus. become.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structure of the various terminals in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structure of the various terminals in embodiment of this invention. It is a basic functional block diagram in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the job file in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the bibliographic information in embodiment of this invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a print management queue in the embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of a screen which shows the basic user interface in the embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of a screen which shows the basic user interface in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic processing flow in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic processing flow in embodiment of this invention. It is an example of a screen which shows the basic user interface in the embodiment of the present invention. . It is a figure which shows an example of the basic processing flow in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic processing flow in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic processing flow in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic processing flow in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a print job queue according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a print job queue according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a print job queue according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a print job queue according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a print job queue according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print system to which a pull printer can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the print system according to the present embodiment includes one or a plurality of client terminals 500 (for example, for each user), a print management server 100, a print server 200, an image forming apparatus 300, and an authentication server 600. (LAN) 1 is connected to transmit and receive information.

  The print management server 100 stores the print data received from the client terminal 500 as bibliographic information and a print job, and stores them in the internal memory and the bibliographic information database held on the print management server. Further, when a pull print instruction is issued from the image forming apparatus 300 based on this information, print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300 based on an output instruction from the image forming apparatus 300.

  The print management server 100 includes a job management DB (shown in FIG. 6), and bibliographic information extracted from a print job stored in the print server 200 (bibliographic information corresponding to print data accumulated in the print server 200). Received and stored and managed by the job management DB.

  Further, the print management server 100 responds to the print request from the image forming apparatus 300 (print data print request corresponding to the bibliographic information managed by the job management DB) at the storage location of the print data requested for printing. A print server 200 is specified, and a print instruction for the print data is given to the print server 200.

  The print server 200 receives print data received from the client terminal 500 and stores it in a predetermined storage area. In addition, bibliographic information data corresponding to the received print data can be generated, transmitted to the print management server 100, and stored in a predetermined storage location of the print management server 100.

  The print server 200 controls transfer of print data stored in the predetermined storage area to the image forming apparatus 300 based on an LPR command (command for instructing LPR printing) received from the outside.

  The print server has a virtual printer driver (printer object) for receiving an intermediate file from the client terminal, and a printer driver (printer object) for printing to the image forming apparatus 300.

  General software (application program) is installed in the client terminal 500. This software generates a print job (job file) using a print driver. The job file generated by the client terminal 500 is stored (saved) in a predetermined storage area (spooler) of the print server 200. Also, the login information logged in the client terminal 500, the number of pages of the printed material, the number of copies, the document name, Nup information (assignment print information), and the side setting (double side / single side) are added as attribute information to the job file. The print data is transmitted to the print management server 100.

  Further, a printer object for outputting an intermediate file is created in the client terminal 500, and the present system is executed through the printer object. The client terminal 500 preferably installs the printer driver stored in the print server 200 using Point & Print (generates a printer object).

  The authentication server 600 stores a user authentication table, and an authentication request made by receiving a storage medium (for example, an IC card) to a storage medium reader (card reader) attached to the image forming apparatus 300. Accordingly, authentication processing is performed using the user authentication table.

  Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus applicable to the print management server 100, the print server 200, the client terminal 500, and the authentication server 600 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU that comprehensively controls devices and controllers connected to the system bus 204. Further, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 is necessary to realize a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS), which is a control program of the CPU 201, or a function executed by each server or each PC. Various programs to be described later are stored.

  A RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 203 and executing the loaded program.

  An input controller 205 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). A video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 210. In FIG. 2, although described as CRT 210, the display device is not limited to the CRT, but may be another display device such as a liquid crystal display. These are used by the administrator as needed.

  A memory controller 207 is connected via an adapter to a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or PCMCIA card slot for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. The access to the external memory 211 such as a compact flash (registered trademark) memory is controlled.

  A communication I / F controller 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network (for example, the LAN 600 shown in FIG. 1), and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210.

  Various programs to be described later for realizing the present invention are recorded in the external memory 211 and executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used when executing the program are also stored in the external memory 211, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 316 denotes a controller unit which is connected to a scanner 314 functioning as an image input device and a printer unit 312 functioning as an image output device, while being connected to a LAN (for example, the LAN 600 shown in FIG. 1) or a public line (WAN). ) (For example, PSTN or ISDN) to input / output image data and device information.

  In the controller unit 316, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, which is a processor that controls the entire system. A RAM 302 is a system work memory for the CPU 301 to operate, and is also a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data.

  A ROM 303 stores a system boot program and various control programs. A hard disk drive (HDD) 304 stores various programs for controlling the system, image data, and the like.

  An operation unit interface (operation unit I / F) 307 is an interface unit with the operation unit (keyboard) 308. Further, the operation unit I / F 307 serves to transmit the key information (for example, pressing of the start button) input from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301.

  A network interface (Network I / F) 305 is connected to the network (LAN) 600 and inputs / outputs data. A modem (MODEM) 306 is connected to a public line and inputs / outputs data such as FAX transmission / reception.

  Reference numeral 318 denotes an external interface (external I / F), which is an I / F unit that accepts external inputs such as USB, IEEE 1394, printer port, RS-232C, etc. In this embodiment, an IC card for a portable terminal required for authentication A card reader 319 for reading (storage medium) is connected to the external I / F unit 318. The CPU 301 can control reading of information from the IC card of the mobile terminal by the card reader 319 via the external I / F 318, and can acquire information read from the IC card of the mobile terminal. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 309.

  Reference numeral 320 denotes an image bus interface (IMAGE BUS I / F), which is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and an image bus 315 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure.

  The image bus 315 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 315.

  A raster image processor (RIP) 310 develops vector data such as a PDL code into a bitmap image. A printer interface (printer I / F) 311 connects the printer unit 312 and the controller unit 316 and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner interface (scanner I / F) 313 connects the scanner 314 and the controller unit 316 and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  An image processing unit 317 performs correction, processing, and editing on input image data, and performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. In addition to this, the image processing unit 317 performs image data rotation and compression / decompression processing such as JPEG for multi-valued image data and JBIG, MMR, MH for binary image data.

  The scanner 314 illuminates an image on paper as a document and scans it with a CCD line sensor, thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The original paper is set on the tray of the original feeder, and when the apparatus user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 308, the CPU 301 gives an instruction to the scanner 314, and the feeder feeds the original paper one by one to read the original image. I do.

  The printer unit 312 is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array directly on the paper. There is an inkjet method for printing an image, but any method may be used. The activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU 301. The printer unit 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has a paper cassette corresponding thereto.

  The operation unit 308 has an LCD display unit, and a touch panel sheet is pasted on the LCD. The operation unit 308 displays an operation screen of the system. When a displayed key is pressed, the position information is displayed on the operation unit I / F 307. To the CPU 301 via The operation unit 308 includes, for example, a start key, a stop key, an ID key, a reset key, and the like as various operation keys.

  Note that the display unit has different display performance depending on the printer, and a printer that can be operated via a touch panel, a printer that simply has a liquid crystal screen and displays a character string (displays the print status and the name of the document being printed). Is structured.

  Here, the start key of the operation unit 308 is used when starting a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key, there are two color LEDs, green and red, which indicate whether or not the start key can be used. Further, the stop key of the operation unit 308 functions to stop the operation in operation. The ID key of the operation unit 308 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. The reset key is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  The card reader 319 reads information stored in an IC card provided in the mobile terminal under the control of the CPU 301 and notifies the CPU 301 of the read information via the external I / F 318.

  With the configuration described above, the image forming apparatus 300 can transmit the image data read from the scanner 314 to the LAN 600 and print out the print data received from the LAN 600 by the printer unit 312.

  Further, the image data read from the scanner 314 can be faxed to the public line by the modem 306, and the image data received by fax from the public line can be output by the printer unit 312.

  Next, the functional configuration of each device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for specifying a job being printed by the pull print system according to the present embodiment.

  First, the print management server 100 includes a bibliographic information transmission unit 151, an instruction reception unit 152, a print instruction unit 153, a cancel instruction unit 154, and a job status management unit 155.

  Next, a functional configuration of the print server 200 will be described. Bibliographic information transmission unit 251, instruction reception unit 252, print instruction unit 253, cancel instruction unit 254, printer queue spooler status detection unit 255, job status management unit 256, job holding unit 257, printer queue spooler unit 258, printer queue job generation Part 259. The printer queue job generation unit 259 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 203, a ROM 202, a communication I / F controller, and the like.

  Next, a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 300 will be described. The image forming apparatus spooler unit includes a user information acquisition unit 351, an instruction transmission unit 352, an image forming apparatus spooler status detection unit 353, a job status management unit 354, a job reception unit 355, and an image forming apparatus spooler unit 356. Reference numeral 356 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, a network I / F 306, and the like included in the controller unit 316 of the image forming apparatus 300. The display unit 358 includes the operation unit 308 of the image forming apparatus 300. The paper discharge unit 357 includes a printer unit 312.

  Next, print job generation processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 illustrates a process of generating a print job by the printer driver of the client terminal 500 by a user operation and transmitting the print job to the print server 200.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure in the print system of the present invention, and corresponds to the pull print processing in the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 201 of the client terminal 500, the print management server 100, and the print server 200 executing a program read from the ROM 202 or a program read from the HDD 204 to the RAM 203. . In the figure, S1001 to S1005 indicate each step.

  In step S1001, when a print instruction is issued from the PC application of the client terminal 500, a job file of intermediate data (EMF format) is created using a preinstalled printer driver. In the client terminal 500, a general PC application and a printer driver are operating.

  A job file in the intermediate data state cannot be printed as it is, and needs to be converted again into a printable PDL format using a printer driver. However, by holding it in the EMF file state, image formation is possible. Regardless of the specific settings of the device or printer device, print jobs for any printer can be handled in the same way, and job files can be retained without distinguishing job status or format. Is possible.

  FIG. 5 shows information included in the EMF format jib file (intermediate file). The job file (intermediate file) has an identifier, time stamp, document name, user name (job owner name) domain name, client IP address, Mac address, print settings (number of copies, number of pages, paper size, color / monochrome, Nup setting) , Surface settings (single / double-sided, etc.).

  In step S <b> 1002, the job receiving unit 166 of the print server 200 receives the job file transmitted from the printer driver of the client terminal 500. The received job file is held by the job holding unit 167 of the print server 200 (S1003). Specifically, it is stored in a predetermined storage area (spooler).

  In step S1004, the print server 200 analyzes the bibliographic information (identifier, user name etc) included in the header portion 501 of the held job file (intermediate file), and converts the job file (intermediate file) to the bibliography. The bibliographic information is generated by decomposing the information part and the entity data part (EMF data). Thereafter, the bibliographic information transmission unit 251 of the print server 200 transmits the bibliographic information to the print management server 100 and registers it in the bibliographic information storage area of the print server 200. For example, when the print data is described in PostScript, the bibliographic information may be extracted from the PostScript tag information and a bibliographic information file may be generated based on the bibliographic information.

  In step S1005, the print management server 100 receives the bibliographic information file transmitted from the print server 200, saves it in the job management database (DB) in FIG. 6, and ends the print job generation processing in this figure.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a job file (intermediate file) generated in the client terminal 500 in step S1001.

  The intermediate file includes a header portion 501 and a body portion 502. The header portion 501 includes a print job identifier, a print job identifier, a time stamp at the time of print job generation (transmission), a job name, and a job owner name. , Domain name, client IP address, Mac address, and other information. The body portion 502 is EMF data entity data (binary data). As described above, when receiving the intermediate file, the print server 200 analyzes the bibliographic information, but extracts the bibliographic information from the information provided in the header portion 501 of the intermediate file.

  FIG. 6 is an example of information provided as bibliographic information stored in the job management DB in the print management server 100. Information extracted as bibliographic information includes print job identifier, time stamp, job name, job owner name, print settings (double-sided / single-sided printing, Nup setting, monochrome / color setting, number of copies, output model, etc.) and print server It is assumed that information on the IP address of (intermediate file storage destination) is provided.

  Further, it is assumed that the “time stamp” in the bibliographic information file shown in FIG. 6 is added by the print management server 100 when it is registered in the job management DB of the print management server 100.

  Next, processing related to a print instruction operation in which a user issues a print instruction using the operation panel of the image forming apparatus after the job has been held in the server will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure in the print system of the present invention, and corresponds to the pull print processing in the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU of each device executing a program read from the ROM or a program read from the HDD onto the RAM. In the figure, S1101 to S1122 indicate steps.

  First, the CPU 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 controls to display the default display screen (FIG. 9) on the display unit of the operation unit 308, and determines whether or not the authentication card (IC card) is detected by the card reader 319. To do.

  Next, when the CPU 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 determines that the card reader 319 has detected the authentication card (IC card), the card reader 319 reads the data in the authentication card (IC card) as an identification ID. The card manufacturing number stored in the authentication card is acquired, and a login request is transmitted to the authentication server 600. A user authentication table (not shown) is stored in the external memory of the authentication server 600. The authentication server 600 is based on user identification information (for example, a card manufacturing number of an IC card) received from the image forming apparatus 300. Authentication processing can be performed.

  For logging in to the image forming apparatus, input of a user ID and password, reading of a storage medium (for example, an IC card) storing such information with a card reader 319, and biometric authentication such as fingerprint authentication are used. After login authentication is performed by the user by any method, the authentication information acquisition unit of the print application 400 holds the user ID information.

  Next, the CPU 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 determines an authentication result returned from the authentication server 600, and if it is determined that an authentication result indicating an authentication error has been returned, an authentication error screen (not shown) is displayed. Control is performed to display on the display unit of the operation unit 308, and when the OK button is pressed on the error display screen, the default screen is displayed again.

  On the other hand, when the login user ID of the client terminal 500 is acquired as the authentication result, it is determined that the authentication is successful (authentication OK), and the process proceeds.

  Next, in step S1101, the print application 400 includes a command identifier of a print data list request command and a user ID (a user ID returned from the authentication server 600 during the authentication process) to the print management server 100. Send print data list request command.

  Next, in step S1102, the print management server 100 uses the user ID and the type of image forming apparatus notified in step S1101, and prints the bibliography of the print job of the target user from the print job stored in the job management DB in FIG. The information is searched, and a print job that matches the user ID is extracted. As an extraction method, a print job having the same user ID transmitted in step S1101 and the job owner name in FIG. 6 is extracted.

  The job owner name is usually given to the print job by an identification character such as the user name (owner name) or user ID of the user who has logged in to the client terminal 500 that has sent the print job. Obtain a list of print jobs by checking the match between the user ID stored in the storage medium such as an IC card used when logging in to the image forming apparatus 300 and the job owner name attached to the bibliographic information. It becomes.

  In step S <b> 1104, the print management server 100 responds to the print application 400 with a print job list associated with the user ID of the user who has logged into the image forming apparatus.

  In step S1105, the print application 400 receives the print job list transmitted from the print management server 100 in step S1104, and displays the document name, the number of copies, the number of pages, the color / number of print jobs on the display unit 358 of the image forming apparatus 300. Monochrome, Nup, and paper size are displayed.

  FIG. 12 is a UI diagram illustrating a display example of the print job list screen 353 developed by the print application 400 and displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 300. The print job list screen shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to a user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus 300, and print data that can be printed by the multifunction device 300 (specifically, printing by the image forming apparatus 300). This is a screen for displaying a list of processable (or bibliographic information data corresponding to print data permitted to be printed).

  Returning to FIG. 11, in step S <b> 1106, the print application 400 receives the user's desired print job selection from the print job list screen displayed on the display unit 358, and accepts the press of the print instruction (print start) button. Execute printing with.

  When a print instruction is given, in step S1106, the print application 400 notifies the print management server 100 of the identifier of the print job that has received the print instruction. In step S1106, it is possible to change the print settings set when the print job is generated.

  When the print instruction is changed and the print instruction is given, the specification of the image forming apparatus 300 that issued the print instruction indicates whether or not the output with the print setting at the time when the print instruction is given is possible in step S1108 described later. Confirm by.

  In step S1107, the print management server 100 adds the print job instructed to be printed to the print management queue shown in FIG. The print management queue in FIG. 7 includes items of a job GUID 701, a job name (document name) 702, a user name 703, and an IP address 704 of the print server.

  In step S1108, the print management server 100 sets the print setting contents (print side setting (single side, double side, bookbinding), number of copies, Nup setting, poster, color / monochrome) included in the content of the print job instructed to print in step S1107. , Etc) and the print setting designated when printing from the client terminal is performed, and if the print setting has been changed, the print server 200 is checked whether the print setting can be changed. .

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the state of the print management queue when the print application 400 receives a print job selection from the print application 400 and issues a print instruction in steps S1106 to S1106. At this time, the print job instructed to print by the print application 400 has a status of [WAIT_EXEC (waiting for printing)], and the queue of the print management server 100 has a status of [WAIT_PRINT (waiting for printing instructions)].

  Returning to FIG. 11, in step S <b> 1109, the print server 200 receives a print setting confirmation notification and uses the printer driver installed in the print server 200 to check whether the designated print setting can be performed. If the designated print setting is instructed to the printer driver and the set print setting is not reflected, a response indicating that the print setting cannot be changed is returned to the print management server. If printing is possible with the instructed print settings, a response indicating that the print settings can be made is sent to the print management server 100 (step S1109).

  Next, in step S1110, the print management server 100 receives a print setting confirmation response from the print server 200, and transmits a result to the print application 400 in step S1111.

  In step S <b> 1112, the print application 400 receives the print setting confirmation result from the print management server 100.

  The print management server 100 holds the print management queue (print job list) shown in FIG. 7 for printing in the image forming apparatus 300, and manages the user name of the print job being printed (see FIG. 7). 703). It is determined whether or not the user name of the print job (print job being printed) for which the previous print instruction has been issued matches the user name of the print job for which the current print instruction has been issued.

  If the user name of the print job being printed (the user name of the print job that issued the previous print instruction) matches the user name of the print job that issued the print instruction this time (YES in step S1113), it is input to the print server. Since the user name matches the current user name, the process advances to step S1116 to instruct the print server 200 to print the selected print job.

  For example, in FIG. 7, when a print job “JOB1” in the first list is being printed by the image forming apparatus 300, “JOB2” (second in the list of FIG. 7) is instructed to be printed in step S1106. Suppose. When the print setting confirmation in steps S1108 to S1111 is completed, in step S1113, the user name of the print job (“JOB1”) being printed is matched with the user name “JOB2”. The process proceeds to step S1116. If there is no print job being printed by the image forming apparatus 300, the process advances to step S1116 to execute a normal print instruction.

  If the user name of the print job that issued the previous print instruction (print job being printed) does not match the user name of the print job that issued the print instruction this time (NO in step S1113), the printer driver of the print server 200 It is checked whether a print job is included in the spooler (whether there is a print job waiting for printing) (step S1114). If one or more print jobs are included in the spool of the print server 200 (YES in step S1114), the user of the previously submitted print job is printing, so the user name is different from the previous print job. If no jobs are submitted and there are no print jobs included in the spooler (NO in step S1114), the process advances to step S1115, and it is confirmed that there are no jobs included in the spooler of the print server 200. The print server 200 notifies the print management server 100 that there is no print job in the spooler.

  In FIG. 18, a print instruction for a print job of the first user is transmitted from the print management server 100 to the print server 200, print data is generated by the printer driver of the print server 200, and printing is executed by the image forming apparatus 300. This is the state of the queue at the stage of performing. Since [JOB1] to [JOB3] are print jobs of the same user (USER1), the print instruction is simultaneously sent to the print server 200 at the timing when the print instruction is given, and printing is executed.

  FIG. 19 illustrates a queue state at a stage where a print instruction for a print job of the second user is transmitted from the print application 400 to the print management server 100. In FIG. 19, when printing of USER1 is being executed, a print instruction for a print job of USER2 is accepted (1 is JOB4 4 of USER2 is input). The print management server 100 adds a print job to the print management queue. In this case, since it is determined in step S1113 that the user is different from the user of the job being printed (NO), the print server in step S1114 200 spooler confirmation processes are performed. Since the USER1 job still remains in the spooler, it is still impossible to issue a print instruction in this case, and the printer is waiting in the print management queue in the state of [WAIT_PRINT]. The JOB2 JOBs 4 and 5 are inserted only when all the USER1 JOBs stored in the spooler of the print server 200 are exhausted.

  Returning to FIG. 11, in step S <b> 1116, the print management server 100 determines that the user name of the print job instructed to print last time (the print job currently being printed) is changed from the user name of the print job instructed this time. Alternatively, when there is no print job waiting for printing in the spooler of the print server, the print server 200 is instructed to input the print job for which the print instruction has been accepted to the printer driver.

  In step S <b> 1117, when the print server 200 receives a print job submission instruction from the print management server 100, the print server 200 in the print server 200 receives the print job for which the print instruction has been issued, with the specified print settings (print job generation). At the time of print setting or the print setting changed at the time of selection by the image forming apparatus 300). The printer driver generates print data in PDL format with the specified print settings, and transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus 300.

  In step S1118, the controller of the image forming apparatus 300 receives the print data in the PDL format generated by the printer driver of the print server 200, expands and outputs the print data, and after the output of the print job is completed, The print application 400 is notified of the completion of printing (step S1119).

  In step S 1120, the print application 400 acquires a print completion event of the image forming apparatus 300 and notifies the print management server 100 of the completion of printing.

  In step S1121, upon receiving a print completion notification from the print application 400, the print management server 100 deletes the print job that has been printed from the record in the print management queue in FIG. Exit.

  Next, a processing method for temporarily stopping a print job by accepting a user's stop key press will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure in the print system of the present invention, and corresponds to the pull print processing in the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU of each device executing a program read from the ROM or a program read from the HDD onto the RAM. In the figure, S1301 to S1311 indicate steps.

  First, the processing is started by accepting pressing of a stop (printing stop) button displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 300. In step S <b> 1301, the print application 400 performs a print pause process by accepting a user operation. Here, “printing” refers to a state during which the print application transmits a print instruction to the print management server (S1106) and receives a print completion status (S1119). The print management server 100 holds the number of jobs being printed as the print management queue of FIG.

  In step S <b> 1302, the print application 400 transmits an instruction to pause printing (pause) to the print management server 100. When receiving the command in the previous step, the print management server 100 notifies the print server of a stop instruction in order to start suspension of the print management queue (step S1302). At this time, the image forming apparatus 300 transmits the model and IP address of the image forming apparatus 300, the virtual IP address of the print server, and the like to the print management server 100 together with a command for temporarily stopping printing.

  In step S1303, when the print management server 100 receives a print suspension instruction from the print application 400, the print management server 100 spools the print job stored in the print management queue to start the suspension of the print management queue in FIG. The print server 200 is instructed to pause the print job. At this time, the print job that pauses printing is the print job of the user who executed the pause instruction in the image forming apparatus 300.

  When receiving the print job stop instruction, the print server 200 instructs the target print job to stop (step S1304). In this state, the print job is not deleted but is in a “pause” state.

  In step S1305, when the print server 200 executes the pause of the printer queue of the image forming apparatus 300 that has been instructed to pause printing, the print server 200 acquires the number of print jobs that have been paused, and sends them to the print management server 100. Notice.

  Next, in step S1306, the print management server 100 determines the number of print jobs temporarily stopped in the printer queue notified in step S1305 and the printer of the print server in the state managed in the print management queue of FIG. The total number of jobs in a state before the job is still submitted to the queue is acquired and notified to the print application 400.

  In step S1307, the print application 400 receives a server-side stop notification, notifies the controller of the image forming apparatus 300 of the stop of the print engine, and the image forming apparatus 300 stops the engine (step S1307). S1308).

  In step S1309, the controller of the image forming apparatus 300 acquires the number of print jobs that are included in the spooler of the image forming apparatus (the print data has already been transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300).

  In step S <b> 1310, the print application 400 adds the number of print jobs stopped by the image forming apparatus controller 300 and the number notified by the print management application 100 as the stop number of the job being printed by the print application 400. Judge whether the number matches.

  As a result of the determination, when the number of print jobs stopped by the image forming apparatus controller 300 and the number of print jobs that the print management application 100 has notified as the number of stops are not equal to the number of jobs being printed. Returns to step S1309. If they match, the print application 400 determines that the stop has been completed, and a print completion dialog (FIG. 8) is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 300 to notify the user. Ends the print job pause processing by the operation.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a queue state when receiving a print job suspension instruction from the user, and corresponds to the flowchart of FIG. 13. First, when the image forming apparatus 300 receives a USER1 print job suspension instruction (1), the print management server 100 once sets the statuses of all print jobs stored in the print management queue to [PAUSE]. To do. At this point, a print job with a status of [PRINTED] for which a print instruction has been issued from the print management server 100 to the print server 200 is out of scope (2). Next, a printer queue temporary stop instruction is transmitted to the print server 200 that is executing printing of the print job in the status of [PRINTED] (3), and the print server 200 stores the print queue in the print queue. Set the print job to [PAUSE] (4).

  The print server 200 acquires the number of print jobs set to [PAUSE] in the print queue and notifies the print management server 100 of the number (5). In this figure, since the number of cases temporarily suspended in the print queue of the print server 200 is one, one value is notified. The print management server 100 acquires (6) the number of print jobs that have been paused [PAUSE] by the print server 200 and the number of print jobs that have been [PAUSE] by the print management queue of the print management server 100 (6). The total number of both is notified to the image forming apparatus 300 instructed to pause (7), and a stop instruction is sent to the engine of the image forming apparatus. In this figure, the number of print jobs suspended by the print management server 100 is two. The print management server 100 notifies that a total of three print jobs are suspended.

  The print application 400 compares the number of print jobs in the status of [WAIT_EXECUTE] waiting for print execution by the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300 with the number of notifications received earlier. Since the print job is paused, printing is paused.

  Subsequently, the user issues a job cancel instruction from the dialog screen (FIG. 8). Processing for canceling (deleting) a print job will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth control processing procedure in the print system of the present invention, and corresponds to the pull print processing in the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU of each device executing a program read from the ROM or a program read from the HDD onto the RAM. In the figure, S1401 to S1410 indicate steps.

  First, according to the processing procedure described in the flowchart of FIG. 13 described above, the print application 400 executes a cancel process in a state where the suspension of the print job is completed. That is, the process proceeds from step S1311 to the process of FIG. If the pause has not been completed, the process returns to the pause process flow of FIG.

  In step S1402, the print application 400 accepts pressing of the [Cancel Print] button on the dialog screen in FIG. 8 by a user operation, and transmits a print job cancel (delete) instruction to the print management server 100.

  In step S1403, the print management server 100 is printing with the print job of the user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus 300 that has been instructed to print and the device (image forming apparatus 300) that is the target of the cancel instruction. Cancel (delete) the status of the print job. The printer queue of the print server 200 in which the print job of the user performing the cancel process is stored can specify the printer driver of the target print server using the print management queue information. When print jobs are stored in the respective printer queues across a plurality of print servers 200, cancel processing is performed on all print servers 200.

  In step S <b> 1404, when a print cancel instruction is received from the print management server 100, the print server 200 cancels all jobs included in the spooler of the printer queue. This is because the target printer queue includes only the job of the user to be deleted, and the job being printed can always be the target of deletion.

  In step S <b> 1405, the print server 200 notifies the print management server 100 that the cancel processing has been completed after the cancel processing of the print job for which the cancel instruction has been received is completed.

  In step S <b> 1406, the print management server 100 receives cancellation completion notifications from all the print servers 200 that have transmitted cancellation instructions, and notifies the printing application 400 of cancellation completions. At this time, a user other than the user who issued the print cancel instruction changes the print job that has been input to the print management queue from the paused state to the print instruction waiting state.

  In step S <b> 1407, the print application 400 transmits an instruction to delete the print job stored in the spooler to the image forming apparatus controller 300. When the image forming apparatus controller 300 receives the job deletion instruction from the print application 400, The printing job of the target user stored in the spooler of the forming apparatus is deleted (S1408).

  In step S1409, the image forming apparatus controller 300 transmits a job deletion completion notification to the print application 400, and the print application 400 receives a deletion completion notification from the image forming apparatus 300 (step S1410).

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a queue state when the user issues a print job cancel instruction in FIG. 14, and corresponds to the flowchart in FIG. 14. First, when the image forming apparatus 300 receives a cancel (delete) instruction for a USER1 print job (1), the print management server 100 prints a print job that is in a status of [PRINTED]. A printer queue cancel instruction is transmitted to the server 200 (2) (3), and the print server 200 sets the print job in the print queue to [CANCEL] (4).

  The print server 200 acquires the number of print jobs set to [CANCEL] in the print queue and notifies the print management server 100 of the number (5). In this figure, since the number of cases canceled in the print queue of the print server 200 is one, the value of one case is notified (5). The print management server 100 sets all USER1 print jobs stored in the print management queue to [CANCEL] (6). In this figure, the print management server 100 deletes the status of JOB2 that has not received the print completion notification [COMPLETED] and the status of JOB3. Thereafter, the status of the print job of a job owner other than USER1 stored in the print management queue is changed from [PAUSE] to [WAIT_PRINT], and a print instruction wait state is set (7).

  Thereafter, the print management server 100 notifies the print application 400 that the USER1 print job stored in the print management queue has been deleted, and issues an instruction to delete the print job stored in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300. (8). The print application 400 receives the notification from the print management server 100 and deletes the USER1 print job stored in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300 (9).

  The above is the processing when a print job cancel instruction is received by a user operation. A series of these processes is called user cancellation in this embodiment. According to the user cancel processing, conventionally, when printing is executed from a service program when canceling a job after being put in the printer queue, the job is handled as one user of the service program in the printer queue, and the cancel is executed. In this case, there is a problem that the job owner cannot be distinguished and a print job other than the print job of the designated user is canceled. However, the print job is input from the print management queue of the print management server 100 to the print server 200. By checking the user name at the same time, the job owner of the job that has always been submitted to the printer queue is used as one user, and when submitting to the print queue, the job owner of the job that was previously submitted was submitted this time. Whether the job owner of the job matches or has changed Check and unnecessary it is possible to prevent that the job of others is canceled.

[Second Embodiment]
In contrast to the first embodiment (user cancellation), a specification for canceling a job when printing cannot be completed normally such as no paper or running out of toner during printing is called system cancellation. Next, FIG. 15 illustrates a system cancellation processing procedure in the pull print system.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth control processing procedure in the printing system of the present invention, and corresponds to the pull print processing in the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU of each device executing a program read from the ROM or a program read from the HDD onto the RAM. In the figure, S1501 to S1521 indicate steps.

  In this process, “printing” refers to a state during which the print application 400 transmits a print instruction to the print management server (S1105) and receives a print completion status (S1119).

  In step S1501, the print application 400 holds the number of print jobs being printed as the print management queue in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1502, the image forming apparatus controller 300 detects an error incapable of continuing printing such as no paper or out of toner, and notifies the print application 400 of the error. The print application 400 detects an error in the event notified from the image forming apparatus controller 300, and transmits a print job suspension instruction to the print management server 100 (step S1504).

  In step S1505, when the print management server 100 receives a pause instruction from the print application 400, the print management server 100 pauses the job being printed in the print management queue of FIG. In addition, the print management server 100 transmits a printer queue stop instruction to all print servers 200 that are printing.

  In step S <b> 1506, the print server 200 performs queue suspension processing on the printer queue that has been instructed to stop, acquires the number of print jobs stopped in the printer queue, and sends the print management server 100 to the print queue using the printer queue. The number of stopped jobs is transmitted (step S1507).

  In step S <b> 1508, the print management server 100 receives a notification of the number of print jobs that have been paused from the print server 200. Further, the print management server 100 is notified of the total number of stops including the number of print jobs that have not yet started printing, to the print application 400.

  In step S1509, the print application 400 receives the number of print suspensions from the print management server 100. In step S1510, the number of print jobs suspended on the print management server 100 and the print server 200 notified from the print management server 100. The number of jobs stopped in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300 is acquired, and it is determined whether the print application matches the number of jobs being printed.

  If the total number of print jobs being printed by the print application 400 and the total number of print jobs paused on both servers do not match the number of print jobs on the spool of the image forming apparatus 300, the printer driver of the print server 200 sends the image forming apparatus. The number of print jobs stored in the printer queue of the print server 200 cannot be acquired, and the number of jobs for which the controller of the image forming apparatus is stopped until it is included in the spool can be changed. There is sex. Therefore, the acquisition is continued until the number of jobs being spooled in the image forming apparatus matches the number of jobs being printed (step S1511).

  In step S1511, the controller 300 of the image forming apparatus notifies the print application 400 of the number of jobs stopped in the spool of the image forming apparatus.

  After determining that the number of print jobs being printed matches the number of jobs stopped in the image forming apparatus and server, the print application cancels the print job to the print management server 100 in step S1512. Send instructions.

  In step S1513, the print management server 100 deletes the job being printed included in the print management queue of FIG. 7, and sends the printer to the print server 200 holding the target print job being printed. Instructs the driver to delete the spool.

  In step S1514, after the print server 200 completes canceling all the jobs included in the print spooler of the printer queue instructed to print, the print server notifies the print management server of the completion of cancellation (step S1515).

  In step S <b> 1516, the print management server 100 notifies the print application 400 of cancellation completion when responses of cancellation completion are returned from all the print servers 200 that have notified the cancellation instruction.

  In step S <b> 1517, the print application 400 receives a cancellation completion notification from the print management server 100 and issues an instruction to delete a print job included in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300.

  In step S1518, the controller of the image forming apparatus 300 deletes the print job included in the spooler.

  In step S1519, after the deletion of the job is completed, the controller of the image forming apparatus 300 notifies the print application 400 of the completion, and the print application 400 receives the print completion and ends this processing.

  According to the system cancel processing, when a paper jam error occurs and a predetermined time elapses, the job list of the bibliographic information server, the print job spooled by the print server, and the print job of the image forming apparatus 300 are paused, and the print application All jobs paused from 400 can be canceled.

[Third embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 16, a description will be given of a process in which the printing application 400 determines that printing is completed when the printing application 400 cannot receive the printing process printing completion status notification (S1119) due to some problem. In the present embodiment, this is called “print job deemed end” processing.

  Ending only a print job means that job status monitoring detects the status based on an event notified from the main unit, but the event notification from the main unit may not be performed, such as when the main unit is under heavy load. In 400, in consideration of a case where event notification is not performed (event missing), processing for acquiring the job status itself at regular intervals is performed. Also, a print job that satisfies a specific condition is considered to have completed printing normally, and a print completion notification is sent to the server.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth control processing procedure in the print system of the present invention, and corresponds to the pull print processing in the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU of each device executing a program read from the ROM or a program read from the HDD onto the RAM. In the figure, S1601 to S1704 indicate steps.

  First, in step S1601, the print application 400 enters a standby state in which a print completion notification for a job being printed is received from the controller of the image forming apparatus 300. If there is no print job status notification from the controller of the image forming apparatus 300 in step S1601, it is confirmed whether the status of the target print job has been notified in the past. If the status has been notified once in the past, such as “Processing”, it can be considered that the job has already reached the image forming apparatus, and the process advances to step S1603.

  If the status of the target job has never been notified in the past in step S1602, it is considered that the print job has not reached the image forming apparatus 300 from the print server 200, so the unknown job determination process (steps S1701 to S1701). S1704) is executed.

  If it is determined in step S1602 that the status of the target print job has been notified even once, the print application 400 checks whether the target print job exists in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300. If there is a job in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300, the printing is not completed, and only the printing completion notification is not made. Therefore, the process returns to S1601, and enters the standby state again. If the target job does not exist in the spool of the image forming apparatus 300, it is considered that the printing has been completed, and the target print job is set as the printing completion.

  The print application 400 proceeds to the unknown job determination process in steps S <b> 1701 to S <b> 1704 when the event of the target print job job has never been received in the process for determining the end of only FIG. 16.

  If the print application 400 does not receive a print completion event from the controller 300 of the image forming apparatus for a certain period of time after transmitting a print instruction to the print management server 100 (S1105), the print application 400 proceeds to S4102, and the job is stored in the spool of the image forming apparatus 300. Check if it exists. If no print job exists in the spool of the image forming apparatus 300, the process advances to step S1703.

  If print jobs are accumulated for the number of items that can be stored in the spooler of the image forming apparatus 300 (for example, a maximum of 10 items), it is considered that the print job is accumulated in the print server. The job is determined to be in the print spooler of the print server 200, and the process returns to S4101 without making the job unknown.

  If the number of jobs held on the spool of the image forming apparatus is smaller than the number of jobs that can be held on the image forming apparatus, in step S1704, the job has been sent even though the job can be sent from the server. Since the job is considered lost in the server or network path, the target job is set as an unknown job.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the event notification is not performed, such as when the image forming apparatus 300 is under a heavy load, the print application 400 does not perform the event notification (event missing), and is constant. A process of acquiring the job status itself at intervals is performed, and a print job that satisfies a specific condition can be regarded as a normal print end, and a print end notification can be sent to the server.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism for canceling only an appropriate job when a cancel instruction is received for a print job being printed by the pull print system.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism for updating the status of a print job without delay even if the event of the print job cannot be detected for some reason by an application operating on the image forming apparatus. become.

  That is, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus, the print server that stores the job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal, the bibliographic information of the print job are stored and managed, and the print instructed from the image forming apparatus An image forming system including a print management server that holds a job as a print management queue, wherein the image forming apparatus instructs to stop a print job being printed by the image forming apparatus in response to a user operation. A first stop instruction means for transmitting to the print management server and the print job being printed held in the storage area of the image forming apparatus when stopped by the first stop instruction means. The first storage means for storing the number of cases and the print management server receive a stop instruction for the print job being printed by the stop instruction means, A print management queue stopping means for stopping a print job for which a print instruction has not been transmitted to the print server among print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue; A second stop instruction means for transmitting to the print server a stop instruction for a print job that has issued a print instruction to a print queue of the print server, and the print management queue stop A job stop number notifying unit for notifying the image forming apparatus of a total number of the number of the print jobs stopped by the unit and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server. The server is configured to execute the printer queue based on the stop instruction received by the second stop instruction unit of the print management server. A printer queue stop unit for stopping, and a printer queue stop number notifying unit for notifying the number of the print jobs stopped by the printer queue stop unit to the print management server, and the image forming apparatus further includes the print management The total number of the print management server and the number of print jobs stopped at the print server notified by the job stop number notification unit of the server, and the storage area of the image forming apparatus stored in the first storage unit A determination unit that determines whether all print jobs being printed are instructed to be stopped by the image forming apparatus by comparing the number of print jobs being printed held by the image forming apparatus; When it is determined that all the print jobs being printed are instructed to be stopped by the image forming apparatus, the stop instruction is issued by the first stop instructing unit. And a stop means for stopping the printed job.

  As described above, the program according to the present invention can be executed by a computer as the print management server 100, the print server 200, the image forming apparatus 300, and the print application 400 according to the processing of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13 to 16. The recording medium of the present invention stores a program that can be executed by the print management server 100, the print server 200, the image forming apparatus 300, and the print application 400 according to the processing methods of FIGS. 10, 11, and 13 to 16. ing. Note that the program in the present invention may be a separate independent program for each processing method of each apparatus in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13 to 16.

  As described above, a recording medium that records a program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the reading.

  In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon A disk or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program read by the print management server 100, the print server 200, the image forming apparatus 300, and the print application 400, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on instructions of the program. It goes without saying that a case where an OS (operating system) or the like running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.
In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

  In addition, each process realized by the above-described software can be realized as firmware or hardware configuration, and each process can be realized as each means. The technical scope of the present invention is realized by such firmware or hardware configuration. Is also included.

1 Local Area Network (LAN)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Print management server 200 Print server 300 Image forming apparatus 400 Print application 500 Client terminal 600 Authentication server

Claims (14)

An image forming apparatus, a print server that stores a job file of a print job transmitted from a client terminal, and bibliographic information of the print job are stored and managed, and a print job for which a print instruction is issued from the image forming apparatus is used as a print management queue An image forming system configured with a print management server to hold,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A first stop instruction means for transmitting a stop instruction for a print job being printed by the image forming apparatus to the print management server in response to a user operation;
First storage means for storing the number of print jobs being printed held in a storage area of the image forming apparatus when stopped by the first stop instruction means;
The print management server
By accepting a stop instruction for the print job being printed by the stop instruction means, a print instruction is not transmitted to the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue. A print management queue stop means for stopping a print job;
A second stop instruction for transmitting, to the print server, a stop instruction for the print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue Means,
Job stop count notifying means for notifying the image forming apparatus of the total number of the print job stopped by the print management queue stop means and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server; With
The print server
Printer queue stop means for stopping the printer queue based on the stop instruction received by the second stop instruction means of the print management server;
Printer queue stop count notification means for notifying the print management server of the number of print jobs stopped by the printer queue stop means,
The image forming apparatus further includes:
The total number of the print management server and the number of print jobs stopped at the print server notified by the job stop number notification means of the print management server, and the image forming apparatus stored in the first storage means Determining means for determining whether or not an instruction to stop all print jobs being printed in the image forming apparatus is made by comparing the number of print jobs being printed held in the storage area of
Stop means for stopping a print job instructed to stop by the first stop instruction means when it is determined by the determination means that stop of all print jobs being printed by the image forming apparatus has been issued. An image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes:
A cancel receiving unit that receives a cancel instruction for the print job when all the print jobs being printed on the image forming apparatus are stopped by the stop unit;
The print server
A printer queue deleting means for deleting the print job stored in the printer queue of the print server;
The print management server
A print management queue deleting unit that deletes the print job from which the user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus as a job owner when receiving a cancel instruction by the cancel receiving unit from the print management queue;
Deleting a print job stored in the printer queue deleted by the printer queue deletion unit and a print job whose job owner is the user stored in the print management queue deleted by the print management queue deletion unit Delete notification means for notifying that the
The image forming apparatus includes:
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cancel execution unit that cancels all print jobs being printed on the image forming apparatus when the deletion notification unit receives the print job deletion management notification. The image forming system described in 1. The image forming apparatus includes:
Device error detection means for detecting a device error during printing in the image forming apparatus;
3. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a third stop instruction unit that gives an instruction to stop the print job being printed when a device error is detected by the device error detection unit. . A print server that accumulates job files of print jobs transmitted from the client terminal, and a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of the print jobs, and holds a print job instructed by the image forming apparatus as a print management queue In an image forming apparatus connectable with
Status monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job executed by the image forming apparatus;
A transition detection means that the status of the print job monitored by the status monitoring means has changed;
A first confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the status of the print job has been acquired up to a certain status value when the transition detection unit does not detect the transition of the status of the print job for a certain period of time;
When the first confirmation unit confirms that the status of the print job has reached a certain status value, the print job monitored by the status monitoring unit is stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus. A second confirmation means for confirming whether or not
And a deemed completion execution means for judging that the print job has been completed when the second confirmation means confirms that the print job is not stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus. Bibliographic information of the print job that can be connected to the image forming apparatus and the print server that stores the job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal is stored and managed, and the print job instructed by the image forming apparatus is printed. In the print management server held as a management queue,
By accepting an instruction to stop the print job being printed transmitted from the image forming apparatus, a print instruction is transmitted to the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue. A print management queue stop means for stopping print jobs that have not been executed,
A second stop instruction for transmitting, to the print server, a stop instruction for the print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue Means,
Job stop count notifying means for notifying the image forming apparatus of the total number of the print job stopped by the print management queue stop means and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server; ,
A print management server comprising: The image forming apparatus can be connected to a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of a print job transmitted from a client terminal and holds a print job instructed to print from the image forming apparatus as a print management queue. A print server for storing a job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal;
Printer queue stop that stops the printer queue based on a print job stop instruction that issued a print instruction to the printer queue of the print server among print jobs held in the print management queue transmitted from the print management server Means,
Printer queue stop count notification means for notifying the print management server of the number of print jobs stopped by the printer queue stop means;
A print server comprising: An image forming apparatus including a first storage unit that stores the number of print jobs being printed held in the storage area when a print job stop instruction is received, and a print job job transmitted from a client terminal Processing of an image forming system comprising: a print server that accumulates files; and a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of the print job and holds a print job for which a print instruction has been issued from the image forming apparatus as a print management queue A method,
In the image forming apparatus,
A first stop instruction step in which the first stop instruction means of the image forming apparatus transmits a stop instruction of a print job being printed by the image forming apparatus to the print management server in response to a user operation; Including
In the print management server,
The print management queue stop means of the print management server receives the print job stop instruction for the print job being printed in the first stop instruction step, and thereby the print having the print instruction held in the print management queue A print management queue stop step for stopping a print job that has not sent a print instruction to the print server among the jobs;
The second stop unit of the print management server issues a stop instruction for a print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue. A second stop instruction step transmitted to the print server;
The job stop number notifying means of the print management server is configured to calculate a total number of the number of the print jobs stopped in the print management queue stop step and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server. A job stop count notification step for notifying the image forming apparatus,
In the print server,
A printer queue stop step of stopping the printer queue based on the stop instruction received by the print management server in a second stop instruction step;
A printer queue stop number notifying unit of the print server including a printer queue stop number notifying step of notifying the print management server of the number of print jobs stopped in the printer queue stop step;
The image forming apparatus further includes:
The determination unit of the image forming apparatus includes a total number of the print management server and the number of print jobs stopped at the print server notified in the job stop number notification step of the print management server, and the first storage unit. Whether or not an instruction to stop all print jobs being printed by the image forming apparatus was made by comparing the number of print jobs being printed held in the storage area of the image forming apparatus stored in A determination step for determining whether or not;
Stop to stop the print job instructed to stop in the first stop instruction step when it is determined in the determination step of the image forming apparatus that all print jobs being printed in the image forming apparatus are instructed to stop And a processing method for an image forming system. An image forming apparatus including a first storage unit that stores the number of print jobs being printed held in the storage area when a print job stop instruction is received, and a print job job transmitted from a client terminal Control as an image forming system comprising a print server for storing files and a print management server for storing and managing bibliographic information of the print job and holding a print job for which a print instruction has been issued from the image forming apparatus as a print management queue A program to
The image forming apparatus;
In response to a user operation, the image forming apparatus functions as a first stop instruction unit that transmits a stop instruction for a print job being printed to the print management server,
The print management server;
By accepting a stop instruction for the print job being printed by the stop instruction means, a print instruction is not transmitted to the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue. A print management queue stop means for stopping a print job;
A second stop instruction for transmitting, to the print server, a stop instruction for the print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue Means,
Job stop count notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus of the total number of the print jobs stopped by the print management queue stop means and the number of print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server. Make it work
The print server,
Printer queue stop means for stopping the printer queue based on the stop instruction received by the second stop instruction means of the print management server;
Function as printer queue stop count notification means for notifying the print management server of the number of print jobs stopped by the printer queue stop means;
The image forming apparatus;
The total number of the print management server and the number of print jobs stopped at the print server notified by the job stop number notification means of the print management server, and the image forming apparatus stored in the first storage means Determining means for determining whether or not an instruction to stop all print jobs being printed in the image forming apparatus is made by comparing the number of print jobs being printed held in the storage area of
When it is determined by the determination means that all print jobs being printed by the image forming apparatus are instructed to stop, the first stop instruction means functions as a stop means for stopping the print job instructed to stop. A program readable and executable by a computer. A print server that accumulates job files of print jobs transmitted from the client terminal, and a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of the print jobs, and holds a print job instructed by the image forming apparatus as a print management queue A method of controlling an image forming apparatus connectable to
In the image forming apparatus,
A status monitoring step in which the status monitoring unit of the image forming apparatus monitors the status of a print job executed by the image forming apparatus;
A transition detection step in which a transition detection unit of the image forming apparatus transitions the status of the print job monitored in the status monitoring step;
If the first confirmation unit of the image forming apparatus does not detect the transition of the status of the print job for a certain period of time in the transition detection step, whether or not the status of the print job has been acquired up to a certain status value A first confirmation step to confirm,
When the second confirmation unit of the image forming apparatus confirms that the status of the print job has reached a certain status value in the first confirmation step, the status is stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus. A second confirmation step for confirming whether the print job monitored in the monitoring step is stored;
When the second confirmation step confirms that the print job is not stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus none end execution unit determines that the print job has ended. A control method comprising a deemed end execution step. A print server that accumulates job files of print jobs transmitted from the client terminal, and a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of the print jobs, and holds a print job instructed by the image forming apparatus as a print management queue A program to be controlled as an image forming apparatus connectable to
The image forming apparatus;
Status monitoring means for monitoring the status of a print job executed by the image forming apparatus;
A transition detection means that the status of the print job monitored by the status monitoring means has changed;
A first confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the status of the print job has been acquired up to a certain status value when the transition detection unit does not detect the transition of the status of the print job for a certain period of time;
When the first confirmation unit confirms that the status of the print job has reached a certain status value, the print job monitored by the status monitoring unit is stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus. A second confirmation means for confirming whether or not
When the second confirmation unit confirms that the print job is not stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus, the second confirmation unit functions as an assumed end execution unit that determines that the print job has ended. A program that can be read and executed by a computer. Bibliographic information of the print job that can be connected to the image forming apparatus and the print server that stores the job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal is stored and managed, and the print job instructed by the image forming apparatus is printed. A method of controlling a print management server held as a management queue,
In the print management server,
The print management queue stop unit of the print management server receives the print instruction stop instruction for the print job being printed transmitted from the image forming apparatus, so that the print with the print instruction held in the print management queue is received. A print management queue stop step for stopping a print job that has not sent a print instruction to the print server among the jobs;
The second stop unit of the print management server issues a stop instruction for a print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue. A second stop instruction step transmitted to the print server;
The job stop number notifying means of the print management server is configured to calculate a total number of the number of the print jobs stopped in the print management queue stop step and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server. And a step of notifying the number of job stops to be notified to the image forming apparatus. Bibliographic information of the print job that can be connected to the image forming apparatus and the print server that stores the job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal is stored and managed, and the print job instructed by the image forming apparatus is printed. A program that functions as a print management server held as a management queue,
The print management server;
By accepting an instruction to stop the print job being printed transmitted from the image forming apparatus, a print instruction is transmitted to the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue. A print management queue stop means for stopping print jobs that have not been executed,
A second stop instruction for transmitting, to the print server, a stop instruction for the print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs having the print instruction held in the print management queue Means,
As a job stop count notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus of the total number of the print jobs stopped by the print management queue stop means and the number of the print jobs instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server. A computer-readable program that can be read and executed. The image forming apparatus can be connected to a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of a print job transmitted from a client terminal and holds a print job instructed to print from the image forming apparatus as a print management queue. A method for controlling a print server for storing a job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal,
In the print server,
The print queue stop unit of the print server is based on an instruction to stop the print job instructed to print to the printer queue of the print server among the print jobs held in the print management queue transmitted from the print management server. A printer queue stop step for stopping the printer queue;
A control method comprising: a printer queue stop count notifying unit of the print server including a printer queue stop count notifying step of notifying the print management server of the number of print jobs stopped in the printer queue stop step. The image forming apparatus can be connected to a print management server that stores and manages bibliographic information of a print job transmitted from a client terminal and holds a print job instructed to print from the image forming apparatus as a print management queue. A program for controlling a print server that stores a job file of the print job transmitted from the client terminal,
Printer queue stop that stops the printer queue based on a print job stop instruction that issued a print instruction to the printer queue of the print server among print jobs held in the print management queue transmitted from the print management server Means,
A computer-readable and executable program that functions as printer queue stop count notification means for notifying the print management server of the number of print jobs stopped by the printer queue stop means.

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