JP3870011B2 - Image forming system, control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to an image forming system.,Control method,And an image forming system suitable for selecting a desired image forming apparatus from among a plurality of image forming apparatuses in an image forming system including a document server, a client, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses.,Control method,And a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is an image forming system composed of a plurality of computers and a plurality of printers. In forming an image in the image forming system, a user selects a desired printer using a driver from a desired application on each computer. However, printing is performed via a public line such as a LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK) or a dedicated interface. Also known as a server / client method, a method in which a client user's job is sent to a printer via a document server is also widely known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above prior art has the following problems. That is, in recent years, in the market called print-on-demand, there are increasing cases of printing a large number of pages of documents such as manuals and instruction manuals and a large number of copies. There is an increasing demand for an office image forming apparatus that cannot be fully managed even if a printer is prepared but not collectively managed. Therefore, there is a demand for a high-speed and efficient image forming system capable of printing in large quantities.
[0004]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above points,To prevent the occurrence of new problems such as causing distributed printing to be executed using a distribution method specified from among a plurality of types of distribution methods and producing an inappropriate output result in the result of distributed printing.Image forming system,Control method,And providing a storage mediumEyesTarget.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  To achieve the above objective,BookThe inventionAn image forming system configured to be capable of distributed printing of a job to be printed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, wherein 1 Instructing means, receiving means for accepting processing conditions for executing distributed printing of the job by the image forming apparatus instructed by the first instructing means, and instructing the job distribution method from a plurality of types of distribution methods Using the second instruction means and the image forming apparatus instructed by the first instruction means, in accordance with the processing conditions accepted by the accepting means with the type of distribution method instructed by the second instruction means. Control means for executing distributed printing, wherein the control means indicates the processing conditions of the job that can be received by the receiving means when receiving the processing conditions for executing the distributed printing; Restrict according to the type of distribution method indicated inIt is characterized by that.
[0068]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(1) First embodiment
[System overview]
1 and 2 are conceptual diagrams showing the overall configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a document server 102, computers 103a, 103b, 103c, MFPs 104, 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, scanners 106a, 106b, and a printer 107.
[0069]
In FIG. 1, in order to give priority to performance, the network 101 in FIG. 2 is only divided into two systems, and can be realized by both configurations. Also, the two networks in FIG. 2 are referred to as a public network 101A and a private network 101B.
[0070]
The document server 102 has two network interface cards (NICs) on the hardware, one connected to the NIC 111 connected to the public network 101A side, and the other connected to the private network 101B side connected to the printer side. NIC112.
[0071]
The computers 103A, 103B, and 103C are clients that send jobs to the document server 102. Although not shown, many other clients are connected. Hereinafter, the client is represented as 103.
[0072]
Furthermore, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 105 and a printer 107 are connected to the private network 101B. The MFP 105 performs monochrome scanning, printing, low-resolution or binary simple color scanning, color printing, and the like. Although not shown, other devices such as an MFP other than the above, a scanner, a printer, and a FAX are also connected to the private network 101B.
[0073]
The MFP 104 is a full-color MFP that can scan or print in full color with high resolution and high gradation. The MFP 104 may be connected to the private network 101B to send and receive data. Then, it is assumed that a plurality of bits can be simultaneously transmitted and received through independent interfaces, and the document server 102 is connected by a unique interface card 113.
[0074]
The scanner 106 is a device that captures an image from a paper document, and there are two types: 106B connected by a SCSI interface and 106A connected to the public network 101A (or the private network 101B).
[0075]
Next, the hardware configuration of the document server 102 is the above-described NIC (Network Interface Card) 111, 112, which is an interface called a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus in a part called a motherboard 110 on which a CPU, a memory, and the like are mounted. Also, a dedicated I / F card 113 or a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) card 114 is connected.
[0076]
Here, on the client computer 103, application software that executes so-called DTP (Desk Top Publishing) is operated to create / edit various documents / graphics. The client computer 103 converts the created document / figure into a page description language, and is sent to the MFP 104 or the MFP 105 via the network 101A and printed out.
[0077]
Each of the MFPs 104 and 105 has communication means capable of exchanging information with the document server 102 via the network 101B or the dedicated interface 109, and the information and status of the MFPs 104 and 105 are transmitted to the document server 102 or the client via the same. This is a mechanism for sequentially informing the computer 103 side. Further, the document server 102 (or client 103) has utility software that operates in response to the information, and the MFPs 104 and 105 are managed by the computer 102 (or client 103).
[0078]
[Configuration of MFPs 104 and 105]
Next, the configuration of the MFPs 104 and 105 will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the difference between the MFP 104 and the MFP 105 is a difference between full color and monochrome, and in many parts other than color processing, the full color device often includes the configuration of a monochrome device. Therefore, a description of the monochrome device will be added as needed.
[0079]
The MFPs 104 and 105 include a scanner unit 201 that reads an image, a scanner IP unit 202 that performs image processing on the image data, a FAX unit 203 that transmits and receives an image using a telephone line typified by a facsimile, and a network. Then, a NIC (NETWORK INTERFACE CARD: network interface card) unit 204 for exchanging image data and device information, and a dedicated I / F unit 205 for exchanging information with the full-color MFP 104 are provided. Then, the core unit 206 temporarily stores an image signal and determines a route according to how the MFPs 104 and 105 are used.
[0080]
Next, the image data output from the core unit 206 is sent to the printer unit 209 that performs image formation via the printer IP unit 207 and the PWM unit 208. The sheet printed out by the printer unit 209 is sent to the finisher unit 210, where sheet sorting processing and sheet finishing processing are performed.
[0081]
[Configuration of Scanner Unit 201]
The configuration of the scanner unit 201 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 301 denotes an original platen glass on which an original 302 to be read is placed. The original 302 is irradiated with an illumination lamp 303, and the reflected light passes through mirrors 304, 305 and 306, and is imaged on a CCD 308 by a lens 307. The first mirror unit 310 including the mirror 304 and the illumination lamp 303 moves at a speed V, and the second mirror unit 311 including the mirrors 305 and 306 moves at a speed of 1/2 V, thereby scanning the entire surface of the document 302. The first mirror unit 310 and the second mirror unit 311 are driven by a motor 309.
[0082]
[Configuration of Scanner IP Unit 202]
The scanner IP unit 202 will be described with reference to FIG. The input optical signal is converted into an electrical signal by the CCD sensor 308. The CCD sensor 308 is an RGB 3-line color sensor and is input to the A / D conversion unit 401 as RGB image signals. After performing gain adjustment and offset adjustment here, each color signal is converted into 8-bit digital image signals R0, G0, and B0 by the A / D converter. Thereafter, a known shading correction using a read signal of the reference white plate is performed for each color in the shading correction 402. Further, since the color line sensors of the CCD sensor 308 are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, the line delay adjustment circuit (line interpolation unit) 403 corrects the spatial deviation in the sub-scanning direction.
[0083]
Next, the input masking unit 404 converts the reading color space determined by the spectral characteristics of the R, G, and B filters of the CCD sensor 308 into a standard color space of NTSC (National Television System Committee). 3 × 3 matrix calculation using device-specific constants taking into account various characteristics such as sensitivity characteristics of the lamp / spectrum characteristics of the illumination lamp, and the input (R0, G0, B0) signals are converted into standard (R, G, B) are converted into signals.
[0084]
Further, the luminance / density conversion unit (LOG conversion unit) 405 is configured by a look-up table (LUT) RAM, and converts the RGB luminance signals into C1, M1, and Y1 density signals.
[0085]
When monochrome image processing is performed by the MFP 105, the A / D conversion 401 and the shading 402 are performed in a single color using the single color one-line CCD sensor 308 according to FIG. 6, and then sent to the core unit 206.
[0086]
[Configuration of FAX unit 203]
The FAX unit 203 will be described with reference to FIG. First, at the time of reception, data received from the telephone line is received by the NCU unit 501 and converted in voltage, A / D conversion and demodulation operations are performed by the demodulator 504 in the modem unit 502, and then rasterized by the decompression unit 506. Expand to data. In general, a run-length method or the like is used for FAX compression / expansion. The image converted into the raster data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 507, and is sent to the core unit 206 after confirming that there is no transfer error in the image data.
[0087]
Next, at the time of transmission, compression such as a run length method is performed on the image signal of the raster image sent from the core unit 206 by the compression unit 505, and D / A conversion is performed by the modulation unit 503 in the modem unit 502. Then, after performing the modulation operation, it is sent to the telephone line via the NCU unit 501.
[0088]
[Configuration of NIC unit 204]
The NIC unit 204 will be described with reference to FIG. This NIC unit 204 has an interface function with respect to the network 101, for example, Ethernet such as 10Base-T / 100Base-TX (a LAN having a bus structure developed by three companies of US Xerox, DEC, and Intel). It plays the role of obtaining information from the outside using a cable or the like and flowing information to the outside.
[0089]
When obtaining information from the outside, first, the voltage is converted by the transformer unit 601 and sent to the LAN controller unit 602. The LAN controller unit 602 has a first buffer memory (not shown) therein, and after determining whether or not the information is necessary information, the LAN controller unit 602 sends it to the second buffer memory (not shown). A signal is passed through the core unit 206.
[0090]
Next, when providing information to the outside, the data sent from the core unit 206 is added with necessary information by the LAN controller unit 602 and connected to the network 101 via the transformer unit 601. .
[0091]
[Configuration of dedicated I / F unit 205]
The dedicated I / F unit 205 is an interface through which multi-value bits are sent in parallel in C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) at the interface with the full-color MFP 104. It consists of image data of 4 colors x 8 bits and a communication line. If transmission is performed using an Ethernet cable, such a dedicated parallel interface is used because output cannot be performed at a speed suitable for the MFP 104 and performance of other devices connected to the network is sacrificed.
[0092]
[Configuration of Core Unit 206]
The core unit 206 will be described with reference to FIG. The bus selector unit 611 of the core unit 206 plays a role of traffic control in using the MFPs 104 and 105. That is, the bus is switched in accordance with various functions in the MFPs 104 and 105 such as a copying function, network scanning, network printing, facsimile transmission / reception, or display display.
[0093]
The path switching pattern for executing each function is shown below.
Copy function: scanner 201 → core 206 → printer 209
Network scan: scanner 201 → core 206 → NIC unit 204
Network print: NIC unit 204 → core 206 → printer 209
Facsimile transmission function: scanner 201 → core 206 → FAX unit 203
Facsimile reception function: FAX unit 203 → core 206 → printer 209
Next, the image data output from the bus selector unit 611 is sent to the printer unit 209 via a compression unit 612, a memory unit 613 including a large capacity memory such as a hard disk (HDD), and an expansion unit 614. The compression method used in the compression unit 612 may be a general method such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), JBIG (Joint Bi-Level Inage Experts Group), or ZIP. The compressed image data is managed for each job and stored together with additional data such as a file name, a creator, a creation date and time, and a file size.
[0094]
Furthermore, if a job number and password are provided and stored together, the personal box function can be supported. This is a function for temporarily storing data and allowing only a specific person to print out (read from the HDD). When an instruction to print out a stored job is issued, authentication is performed using a password, and then a call is made from the memory unit 613, the image is decompressed, returned to a raster image, and sent to the printer unit 207.
[0095]
[Configuration of Printer IP Unit 207]
The printer IP unit 207 will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 701 denotes an output masking / UCR circuit unit that converts the M1, C1, and Y1 signals into Y, M, C, and K signals that are toner colors of the image forming apparatus using matrix calculation. The C1, M1, Y1, and K1 signals based on the read RGB signals are corrected to C, M, Y, and K signals based on the spectral distribution characteristics of the toner and output.
Next, the gamma correction unit 702 converts the data into C, M, Y, and K data for image output using a look-up table (LUT) RAM that takes into account the color characteristics of the toner, and the spatial filter 703. Then, after sharpness or smoothing is performed, the image signal is sent to the core unit 206.
[0096]
[Configuration of PWM unit 208]
The PWM unit 208 will be described with reference to FIGS. Image data output from the printer IP unit 207 and color-separated into four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) (in the case of the MFP 105, a single color) Each image is formed through the PWM unit 208. Reference numeral 801 denotes a triangular wave generator, and 802 denotes a D / A converter (D / A converter) that converts an input digital image signal into an analog signal. The signal from the triangular wave generator 801 (a in FIG. 13) and the signal from the D / A converter 802 (b in FIG. 13) are compared in magnitude by the comparator 803 to become a signal as shown in c in FIG. Each of the CMYKs is sent to the drive unit 804 and converted into a laser beam by each of the CMYK lasers 805.
[0097]
The polygon scanner 913 scans the respective laser beams and irradiates the photosensitive drums 917, 921, 925, and 929.
[0098]
[Configuration of Printer 209 (for Color MFP 104)]
FIG. 14 shows an overview of the color printer unit. A polygon mirror 913 receives four laser beams emitted from the four semiconductor lasers 805. One of them scans the photosensitive drum 917 through the mirrors 914, 915, and 916, the next one scans the photosensitive drum 921 through the mirrors 918, 919, and 920, and the next one scans the mirrors 922, 923. 924, the photosensitive drum 925 is scanned, and the next one scans the photosensitive drum 929 via mirrors 926, 927, 928.
[0099]
On the other hand, 930 is a developing device that supplies yellow (Y) toner, forms a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 917 in accordance with the laser beam, and 931 is a developing device that supplies magenta (M) toner. , A magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 921 in accordance with the laser beam, and a developing device 932 supplies cyan (C) to the toner, and a cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 925 in accordance with the laser beam. , 933 is a developing device for supplying black (K) toner, and forms a magenta toner image on the photosensitive drum 929 in accordance with the laser beam. The toner images of the four colors (Y, M, C, K) are transferred onto the sheet, and a full color output image can be obtained.
[0100]
A sheet fed from any one of the sheet cassettes 934 and 935 and the manual feed tray 936 is attracted onto the transfer belt 938 through a registration roller 937 and conveyed. In synchronism with the sheet feeding timing, toner of each color is developed in advance on the photosensitive drums 917, 921, 925, and 929, and the toner is transferred to the sheet as the sheet is conveyed. The sheet on which the toner of each color is transferred is separated and conveyed by the conveyance belt 939, and the toner is fixed to the sheet by the fixing device 940. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 940 is once guided downward by the flapper 950, and after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the flapper 950, the sheet is switched back and discharged. As a result, the sheets are ejected in the face-down state, and the correct page order is obtained when printing is performed in order from the first page.
[0101]
The four photosensitive drums 917, 921, 925, and 929 are arranged at equal intervals with a distance D, and the sheet is conveyed at a constant speed V by the conveying belt 939, and this timing synchronization is made. Thus, the four semiconductor lasers 805 are driven.
[0102]
[Configuration of Printer Unit 209 (for Monochrome MFP 105)]
FIG. 15 shows an overview of the monochrome printer unit. A polygon mirror 1013 receives laser light emitted from the four semiconductor lasers 805. The laser beam scans the photosensitive drum 1017 through the mirrors 1014, 1015, and 1016. On the other hand, reference numeral 1030 denotes a developing device for supplying black toner, which forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1017 in accordance with the laser beam and transfers the toner image onto a sheet, thereby obtaining an output image.
[0103]
A sheet fed from one of the sheet cassettes 1034 and 1035 and the manual feed tray 1036 is adsorbed onto the transfer belt 1038 via a registration roller 1037 and conveyed. The toner is developed on the photosensitive drum 1017 in advance in synchronization with the paper feeding timing, and the toner is transferred to the sheet as the sheet is conveyed. The sheet to which the toner has been transferred is separated, and the toner is fixed to the sheet by the fixing device 1040. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 1040 is once guided downward by the flapper 1050, and after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the flapper 1050, the sheet is switched back and discharged. As a result, the sheets are ejected in the face-down state, and the correct page order is obtained when printing is performed in order from the first page.
[0104]
[Configuration of Finisher 209]
FIG. 16 shows an overview of the finisher unit 209. The sheet exiting the fixing unit 940 (or 1040) of the printer unit 209 enters the finisher unit 209. The finisher unit 209 includes a sample tray 1101 and a stack tray 1102, which are switched and discharged according to the type of job and the number of discharged sheets.
[0105]
There are two sort methods: a bin sort method that has a plurality of bins and sorts each bin, and a shift that sorts the output sheet for each job by shifting the electronic sort function and bin (or tray) described later to the back. Sorting can be performed by the sorting method. The electronic sort function is called collate. If you have the large-capacity memory described in the core section above, you can use this buffer memory to change the buffered page order and discharge order. It can also support electronic sorting functions. Next, the group function is a function for sorting by page, while sorting is sorted by job.
[0106]
Further, when the sheets are discharged to the stack tray 1102, it is possible to store the sheets before being discharged for each job and bind them by the stapler 1105 immediately before the discharge.
[0107]
In addition to the above two trays, there are a Z-folder 1104 for folding paper into a Z-shape and a puncher 1106 for punching two (or three) holes for files, depending on the type of job. Each process.
[0108]
Further, the saddle stitcher 1107 binds the central portion of the sheet at two places, and then folds the sheet in half by engaging the central portion of the sheet with a roller, and performs a process of creating a booklet such as a weekly magazine or a pamphlet. . The sheets bound by the saddle stitcher 1107 are discharged to the booklet tray 1108.
[0109]
In addition, although not shown in the drawing, it is possible to add binding by glue (gluing) for bookbinding, or trim (cutting) for aligning the end surface opposite to the binding side after binding.
[0110]
The inserter 1103 is for sending a sheet set on the tray 1110 to one of the trays 1101, 1102, and 1108 without passing it through the printer. Thus, the sheet set on the inserter 1103 can be inserted (inserted) between the sheets sent to the finisher 209.
[0111]
It is assumed that the user sets the tray 1110 of the inserter 1103 face up, and the pickup roller 1111 sequentially feeds the sheets from the uppermost sheet. Accordingly, the sheet from the inserter 1103 is conveyed to the trays 1101 and 1102 as it is, and is discharged in a face-down state. When sending to the saddle stitcher 1107, the face is aligned by sending it back to the puncher 1106 and then switching back.
[0112]
[Configuration of Document Server 102]
Next, the document server 102 will be described with reference to FIG. A job input from the NIC 111 or the SCSI 114 enters the server from the input device control unit 1201 and plays a role in connecting with various client applications to the server. PDL data and JCL data are accepted as input. It corresponds to various clients with status information about the printer and server, and the output of this module is responsible for combining all the appropriate PDL and JCL components.
[0113]
Next, the input job control unit 1202 manages the requested list of jobs and creates a job list for accessing individual jobs submitted to the server. Furthermore, this module has three functions: job routing for determining a job route, job split for determining whether to divide and RIP, and job scheduling for determining the job order.
[0114]
There are a plurality of rasterization processing (RIP) units 1203. 1203-a, 1203-b, 1203-c (not shown) or can be further increased as necessary, but here is collectively referred to as 1203. The RIP module performs RIP processing of PDLs of various jobs, and creates bitmaps with appropriate sizes and resolutions. Regarding RIP processing, various formats such as PostScript (registered trademark of Adobe), PCL, TIFF (Tag Inage File Format), JPEG, and PDF (Portable Document Format) can be rasterized.
[0115]
The data conversion unit 1204 plays a role of compressing a bitmap image created by the RIP and performing format conversion, and selects an optimal image type that matches each printer. For example, when a job is to be handled in units of pages, processing such as adding a PDF header to bitmap data after rasterizing TIFF or JPEG in the RIP portion and editing the data as PDF data is performed.
[0116]
The output job control unit 1205 takes page images of jobs and manages how they are handled based on command settings. The page is printed on the printer or saved on the hard disk 1207. Whether or not to leave the job after printing in the hard server 1207 can be selected. If the job is saved, it can be recalled. Further, this module manages the interaction between the hard disk 1207 and the RAM 1208.
[0117]
The output device control unit 1206 controls which device outputs data and which devices are clustered (multiple devices are connected and printed simultaneously), and is sent to the interface card 112 or 113 of the selected device. This module also plays a role of monitoring the status of the devices 104 and 105 and transmitting the device status to the document server 102.
[0118]
[Page Description Language (hereinafter abbreviated as PDL)]
Next, PDL data will be described. PDLs typified by Adobe's PostScript (registered trademark) language are classified into the following three elements.
[0119]
(A) Image description by character code
(B) Image description by graphic code
(C) Image description using raster image data
In other words, PDL is a language for describing an image composed of a combination of the above elements, and the data described with this is called PDL data.
[0120]
FIG. 18 shows an example in which character information R1301 is described. L1311 is a description for designating the color of the character, and the parentheses indicate the density of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black in order. The minimum is 0.0 and the maximum is 1.0. L1311 specifies that the character is black. Next, L1312 assigns the character string “IC” to the variable STRING1. Next, in L1313, the first and second parameters indicate the X and Y coordinates of the start position coordinates on the paper on which the character string is laid out, the third parameter is the character size, and the fourth parameter is the character spacing. The fifth parameter indicates a character string to be laid out. In short, L1313 is an instruction to lay out the character string “IC” from the coordinates (0.0, 0.0) with a size of 0.3 and an interval of 0.1.
[0121]
Next, in the example in which the graphic information R1302 is described, L1321 designates a line color as in L1311, and here, Cyan is designated. Next, L1322 is used to specify that a line is to be drawn. The first and second parameters are the start coordinate of the line, and the third and fourth parameters are the X and Y coordinates of the end coordinate, respectively. The fifth parameter indicates the thickness of the line.
[0122]
Further, in the example in which the raster image information is described, L1331 substitutes the raster image for the variable image1. Here, the first parameter represents the image type and the number of color components of the raster image, the second parameter represents the number of bits per color component, and the third and fourth parameters are the X direction and Y direction of the raster image. Represents the image size. The fifth and subsequent parameters are raster image data. The number of raster image data is the product of the number of color components constituting one pixel and the image sizes in the X and Y directions. In L1331, since the CMYK image is composed of four color components (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black), the number of raster image data is (4 × 5 × 5 =) 100. Next, L1332 indicates that Image1 is laid out in the size of 0.5 × 0.5 from the coordinates (0.0, 0.5).
[0123]
FIG. 19 shows how the above three image descriptions are interpreted in one page and developed into raster image data. R1301, R1302, and R1303 are developed PDL data. The raster image data is actually developed in the RAM 1208 (or ImageDisk 1207) for each CMYK color component. For example, the R1301 portion is stored in each CMYK RAM 1208 with C = 0, M = 0, Y = 0. , K = 255 is written, and C = 255, M = 0, Y = 0, and K = 0 are written in the portion of R1302, respectively.
[0124]
In the document server 102, the PDL data sent from the client 103 (or the document server itself) is written in the RAM 1208 (or ImageDisk 1207) as the PDL data or expanded into a raster image as described above. Saved as needed.
[0125]
[Network 101]
Next, the network 101 will be described. As shown in FIG. 20, the network 101 is connected by a device that interconnects networks called routers as described above, and constitutes a further network called LAN (Local Area Network).
[0126]
The LAN 1406 is connected to a router 1405 inside another LAN 1407 through a dedicated line 1408 via an internal router 1401, and these network networks are spread several times to construct a vast connection form. Yes.
[0127]
Next, the data flowing through it will be described with reference to FIG. There is data 1421 existing in the transmission source device A (1420a), and the data may be image data, PDL data, or a program. When this is transferred to the receiving device B (1420 B) via the network 101, the data 1421 is subdivided and divided like an image 1422.
[0128]
To the divided data 1423, 1424, 1426, etc., a destination address called a header 1425 (IP address of the destination when using the TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol) is added. Packets are sequentially sent on the network 101 as the packet 1427. When the address of the device B and the header 1431 of the packet 1430 match, the data 1432 is separated and reproduced in the data state suitable for the device A.
[0129]
[Scanner Driver]
Next, the scanner driver will be described. FIG. 22 shows a GUI (Graphic User Interface) of a scanner driver for instructing a scan operation on the computer 102 (or 103). By instructing this, the user instructs a desired setting parameter. Thus, a desired image can be converted into data.
[0130]
First, reference numeral 1501 denotes a scanner driver window, and as a setting item therein, 1502 denotes a source device selection column for selecting a target transmission source. Generally, it is like the above-mentioned scanner 201, but it is also possible to bring in an image from the memory 108 or from a thing like a digital camera. 1503 is used to make detailed settings for the selected source device. Click here to enter the device-specific setting information on a separate screen and perform special image processing (for example, character mode / photo mode). It is possible to select and input an image in a processing mode suitable for it.
[0131]
Next, reference numeral 1504 is a selection of a scanning method, and here, it is possible to select capturing from a flat bed or ADF. Reference numeral 1505 denotes a portion for instructing a reading surface of the original, and can specify whether the original is a single-side original or a double-side original. An image size column 1506 for determining an image size is input. A resolution is input in 1507. A halftone mode can be selected in 1508. Simple binary, dither method, error diffusion, or multi-value (8 bits) can be selected. .
[0132]
Furthermore, 1509 and 1510 can be selected from the two, and it is possible to set whether to scan all pages or only specified pages when using ADF. Reference numerals 1511 to 1513 are portions for determining the size of the image area, and a unit and length and width are input respectively.
[0133]
When the pre-scan key 1516 is pressed after making these designations, the computer 102 (or 103) instructs the device selected in the source device selection column 1502, and starts image input. Here, since pre-scanning, image reading is performed coarser than the actual resolution, and the obtained image is displayed on the display unit 1515 as a preview image 1514. In the display, the scale is displayed according to the unit 1511 of the image area.
[0134]
If it is determined that the preview image is OK, a scan operation is started by clicking a scan key 1517. At the start, a dialog for inputting a file name and a directory name for saving the scan file appears. After the input, pressing the OK key saves the scan image. If the preview image is NG, the pre-scan is performed again for confirmation, and if the preview image is canceled, the cancel key 1518 is clicked.
[0135]
[Printer Driver]
Next, the process of transmitting image data from the computer 102 (or 103) to the printer using the printer driver will be described with reference to FIG. The printer driver is a GUI for instructing a print operation. By instructing this, the user can instruct a desired setting parameter and send a desired image image to a transmission destination such as a printer.
[0136]
Here, reference numeral 1601 denotes a printer driver window, and 1602 is a transmission destination selection column for selecting a target output destination as a setting item therein. Generally, it is the above-described MFP 104, 105 or printer 107. Reference numeral 1603 denotes a page setting column for selecting an output page from the job, and determines which page of the image image created by the application software operating on the computer 102 (or 103) is to be output. 1604 is a number setting column for designating the number of copies. Reference numeral 1607 denotes a property key for performing detailed settings related to the transmission destination device selected in the transmission destination selection column 1602. Click here to enter setting information unique to the device on a separate screen and display a special image. By processing, for example, changing the parameters of the gamma conversion unit 702 and the spatial filter unit 703 in the printer IP unit 207, finer color reproduction and sharpness adjustment can be performed.
[0137]
When the desired setting is completed, printing is started by an OK key 1605. When canceling, the cancel key 1606 cancels printing.
[0138]
[Operation by web browser]
FIG. 24 is a main screen of the web service provided in the document server 102. When the IP address of the server (here, 192.168.100.11) is input to the URL address portion, this service screen is read. Is set in advance.
[0139]
This service tool includes a job status (1701), a device status (1702), a job submission (1703), a scanning (1704), a configuration (1705), and a help (1706) including a manual of the service. Each tab is configured, and will be described in order from the job status.
[0140]
[Job Status]
The job status tab in FIG. 24 includes a device display unit 1707, a job status display unit 1708 and 1709 for active jobs, and a job history display unit 1710 and 1711, and all displays 1709 and 1711 are displayed. Therefore, if the 1708 key is pressed as necessary, all active jobs are displayed, and if 1710 is pressed, the entire job history can be referred to. 27.
[0141]
First, the device display unit 1707 displays device names 1721 to 1724, device icons 1725 to 1728 (the icons change like 1727 and 1728 depending on the status), and further, these statuses 1729 to 1732 can be seen in characters. Is possible.
[0142]
Next, the job status 1709 can monitor the status of each job inside the server, and can be used for spooling (receiving data before RIP), Ripping (during RIP), Wait to Print (waiting for Print), or Printing ( (In print). In addition, jobs that are instructed to stand by inside the server at the time of job submission are held as “Hold” before being RIPed. If an error or jam occurs, it is displayed to that effect and notified to the user, and then handed over to the next finished job.
[0143]
In the job history 1711, the job history can be viewed, and “Printed” is displayed when the job ends normally, and “Canceled” is displayed when canceling.
[0144]
In addition, a job name, target printer, job priority, and the like (1741-1748) are displayed in the job 1709 being executed, and a job name, target printer, job ID, and the like (1761-1768) are displayed in the job history 1711. ) Is displayed, and the operator can handle the server based on this information.
[0145]
[Device status]
A standardized database called MIB (Management Information Base) is built in the network interface portion of the MFPs 104 and 105 or the printer 107, and communicates with computers on the network via a network management protocol called SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). Then, necessary information can be exchanged with the computer 102 (or 103) for the state of devices connected to the network such as the MFPs 104 and 105.
[0146]
For example, it is detected what kind of function the finisher 210 is connected to as the equipment information of the MFPs 104 and 105, status information such as whether an error or jam is currently occurring, whether printing or idling, etc. , 105, equipment information, device status, network settings, job history, usage status management, control, and other static information can be obtained.
[0147]
FIG. 28 is a tab showing the device status. The paper size installed in the device managed by the server and its replenishment status (1801 to 1806) can be confirmed, and the status of accessories such as the finisher installed in each device (1807). Can be confirmed in advance.
[0148]
[Job Submit]
The job submission tab will be described with reference to FIG. The usage method is the same as that of the print driver described above, but this is for throwing the file on the client 103 directly into the document server 102 without opening the application. The print driver starts up the data with the application on the client 103. In contrast to converting the data into a format such as PS (or PCL) and throwing it into the document server 102, the job submit directly converts data in various formats (for example, PDF, TIF, JPG, etc.) directly into the document server 102. It is for sending to.
[0149]
As a setting item, 1901 is a transmission destination selection column for selecting a target output destination. Generally, it is the above-described MFP 104, 105 or printer 107, but a cluster printer described later can be set. In the column 1902 for selecting a file, the file name may be directly specified together with the directory, but in general, a job file in the computer (or in the network) can be selected with a browse button below.
[0150]
[Job Ticket]
Next, reference numeral 1904 in FIG. 29 denotes a column called a job ticket, which means a file in which setting items other than job image data are collected together with the job. Specifically, as shown in 1908, in addition to general job settings such as paper size, image orientation, and number of copies, finishing processing such as presence / absence of both sides, stapling, and in the case of a color image, an image Various settings relating to the job, such as color adjustment by processing and instructing the priority of the job for the operator, can be set by this job ticket.
[0151]
This job ticket has not only the setting items unique to each device but also the advantage that the operation can be carried out smoothly if prepared in advance. There are a save key 1905 for saving the job ticket set to “1”, a save as key 1906 that can be saved with a new name, and a job ticket reset key 1907 so that the job ticket can be returned to the default state.
[0152]
For example, ON and OFF are prepared in the Duplex setting column, and printing is performed by duplex printing if turned ON, and printing is performed by simplex printing if turned OFF. However, when a printer that does not have the duplex function is selected, this item itself is not displayed. In addition, since the default setting items are frequently set in advance, and Duplex is frequently used for single-sided printing, OFF is selected as the default.
[0153]
In addition to the finishing function, the items set here can select and change basic functions of the printer such as image processing parameters, the number of copies, and paper size.
[0154]
When the desired setting is completed, the print submitter 1909 is used to return to the job submitter screen. When canceling, the cancel key 1910 is used.
[0155]
[Scanning]
FIG. 30 is a scanning tab for performing a scanning operation. In FIG. 30, the available scanner states are displayed. Reference numeral 2002 denotes a scanning key. When the key is pressed, the above-described scanner driver is called. Reference numeral 2003 denotes a quick copy key, which prints in a continuous operation on a printer designated in advance after a scanning operation.
[0156]
[configuration]
The configuration tab in FIG. 31 includes a printer configuration key 2101, a cluster configuration key 2102, a queue configuration key 2103, an archive key 2104, and a job merge tool key 2105.
[0157]
[Printer Configuration]
When the printer configuration key is pressed, the flowcharts of FIGS. 32 and 33 are entered. There are three modes for adding, modifying, and deleting printers. In addition mode, select the desired printer type (for example, color or black and white), and if it is less than the limit allowed by the server, further setting is possible. Etc.) and register it with a printer name.
[0158]
The printer correction mode is a mode in which the printer information such as the IP address or accessory is corrected and then re-saved, and the printer erasing mode is for removing unnecessary printers from the server management. Mode.
[0159]
[Cluster Configuration]
When a plurality of printers are registered, it is possible to register these printers as a cluster printer by combining them. The procedure will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0160]
First, two or more printers are selected from the registered printer group (step S2301). For example, if there are three printers A, B, C, four combinations of A & B, A & C, B & C, and A & B & C are possible. In addition, even in the case of the same printer combination, it is possible to register as a different cluster printer if the mode described below is different.
[0161]
Next, when the selected combination is a different type of printer such as a color printer and a monochrome printer (Yes in step S2302), a color / monochrome page separation mode (step S2305) and a color / monochrome automatic routing mode (step S2302). S2306) can be selected.
[0162]
The color / monochrome page separation mode is a mode in which, for a job in which color pages and monochrome pages are mixed, the job is separated into color pages and monochrome pages in units of pages and output to the respective printers.
[0163]
Similarly, in the color / monochrome automatic routing mode, after distinguishing between color pages and monochrome pages in advance, if even one color page is mixed, all jobs are output to the color printer, and all jobs are made up of monochrome pages. If so, it is automatically routed to the monochrome printer. These functions are intended to reduce costs and simplify operability because there is a gap in the per-print costs of color pages and monochrome pages.
[0164]
Further, when the selected combination is a color printer and a color printer, or a printer of the same type such as a black and white printer and a black and white printer (No in step S2302), the job cluster mode (step S2307), the copy cluster mode ( Three modes are prepared: step S2308) and page cluster mode (step S2309).
[0165]
The job cluster mode is a mode in which optimization of load balance is considered in order to sequentially distribute jobs to printers that are available among printers that have jobs set, or printers that are expected to become idle first, and for example, , Printers A, B, and C, there are three distribution destinations, and the job distribution order is a plurality of such as A, B, C, A, B, C, A, B, C. The printer has a plurality of modes such as a mode for sequentially distributing jobs to the printer, and the operator can select a desired mode.
[0166]
The number of copies cluster mode is a mode in which, for example, a job set to 100 copies is allocated to three printers having the same capability, such as 33 copies, 33 copies, and 34 copies, so that the job is completed early.
[0167]
The page cluster mode is a mode in which a job of 1000 pages is allocated 500 pages to two printers.
[0168]
Each cluster printer can be pre-named and registered in different types of modes even in the same printer combination (step S2315, step S2316, step S2317, step S2318, step S2319). Similarly, it can be handled as a virtual high-speed printer.
[0169]
Also, depending on the mode, the minimum page per unit and the minimum number of copies can be preset for each mode (step S2311, step S2313, step S2314). If one unit goes down due to a jam or error The waiting time for job rerouting for automatically allocating the job to other printers can be set (step S2320).
[0170]
[Queue Configuration]
Next, when 2103 in FIG. 31 is clicked, the flowcharts in FIGS. 36 and 37 are entered. The queue configuration has three modes of adding, modifying, and deleting a spool queue (step S2402, step S2408, step S2414), and one can be selected (step S2401). When adding a spool queue, first, a hot folder must be created (step S2403). The hot folder is, for example, sharing the folder on the document server (server computer) 102 with a computer in the network, and freely releasing the folder from the client computer 103. A folder that constantly monitors (polls) a job in the folder and guides the job to print if the job is thrown.
[0171]
Then, the added spool queue is associated with the created hot folder (step S2404). Next, either the printer created in the printer configuration or the cluster printer created in the cluster configuration is selected. Associate (step S2405), and associate the last associated printer or cluster job ticket (step S2406). The job ticket in this case is a default value to be referred to by the client side only, and the job ticket can be changed when the job is issued on the client side according to preference.
[0172]
Here, the associated spool queue is stored as a spool queue table in the server as shown in FIG.
[0173]
[Job submission and hot folder]
FIG. 39 and FIG. 40 explain these series of flows. FIG. 39 and FIG. 40 show the flow at the time of job submission. When the client 103 throws a file from the above-mentioned job submission, it first selects a printer or a cluster (step S2603). Next, the client 103 refers to the spool queue table in the server 102 and informs the client of a default job ticket and a hot folder corresponding to the spool queue table. The user selects a favorite file, changes to a favorite job ticket at the same time (step S2605), and transmits the job to the designated hot folder (step S2606).
[0174]
On the other hand, the server sequentially monitors a plurality of hot folders. When a job thrown from the client side (or the server itself) is found, the job is immediately scheduled by the input job control unit 1202 (step S2611), and the RIP processing 1203 is performed. (Step S2612) The output job control unit 1205 schedules the job order (Step S2613), and the output device control unit 1206 determines which printer or cluster to output by referring to the spool queue table (Step S2607). Step S2614), printing is performed (Step S2615).
[0175]
[Job ticket setting items and their initial values]
With respect to the setting items of job tickets, their choices, and their initial values, the cluster printer gives different items from the setting items of each printer. For example, when the MFP 105a and the printer MFP 106 have a cluster configuration as shown in FIG. 52, a new cluster setting item 3403 is created from the setting item 3401 possessed by the MFP 105a and the setting item 3402 possessed by the MFP 106.
[0176]
In the creation, the simplest one is a union (OR) or a set (AND) of setting items. In the case of union, it is effective to show more functions to the user and show them to the high-function MFP. However, even if the function is selected, only one printer is actually used, so the cluster function cannot be used. It will also happen. Conversely, in the case of a product set, since a common function is always displayed, it seems that the function is scarce, but since a cluster operation is always possible, it can be operated as a high-speed printer.
[0177]
[Job Merge Tool]
When 2105 in FIG. 31 is clicked, the job merge tool 2801 in FIG. 43 is entered. Here, the Open key 2802 opens the original file, and the Import key 2803 adds another file to the currently opened original file. The delete key 2805 is used to delete a page, and the print key is used to print a currently opened file. When this is clicked, the above-mentioned job submission screen is called up. A save key 2807 is for saving a currently opened file.
[0178]
Next, in the book 2812, the structure of the chapter / page of the currently opened file can be understood at a glance. The structure of the file (File-A) is arranged for each chapter, and the-mark indicates the chapter. Indicates that the chapter is closed. The + symbol means that the chapter is closed. Clicking here will display the page in an expanded form, replacing the symbol with-.
[0179]
Further, the preview 2813 on the right side can preview the page of the indicated page (Index / Page 1 in this case), and can display a plurality of pages depending on the mode.
[0180]
44 and 45 are flowcharts of the job merge tool. This tool is provided with edit, import, scan, print, and save modes. The edit mode performs movement, duplication, deletion, etc. in chapters or pages. In the print mode, the currently submitted file is printed by calling the above-mentioned job submit screen. The save mode is for literally saving a file by specifying a directory and a file name.
[0181]
Merge jobs
In order to merge jobs, it is necessary to convert them into a PDL format that can be edited in units of pages in advance. In order to create a page unit format, the PDF (Portable Document Format) format is well known, and it is ideal to convert it using Adobe Acrobat Writer. However, here, for the sake of simple explanation, the description will be made using the formats shown in FIG. 46, FIG. 47 and FIG.
[0182]
FIGS. 46 and 47 show the Index and Chapter 1 previewed in FIG. 43 in PDL, which are converted into PDL that can be edited in units of pages.
[0183]
If data in a format that is not in units of pages is input, after rasterization is performed in advance by the RIP processing unit 1203 in FIG. 17, the image compression / data conversion unit 1204 stores the data in units of pages in R1303 in FIG. Each page is described in the PDL so that it can be handled in units of pages by processing in a manner and compressing the raster image as necessary.
[0184]
Next, FIG. 48 shows the file and PDL after merging FIGS. 46 and 47, and the Index part is converted to correspond to Page1 and Page2, and Chapter1 is converted to correspond to Page3 and Page4. This flow is shown in the import mode of FIG. 41, in which the PDL file of the original file (FIG. 46) is read using the job merge tool 2801, and the PDL of the file to be imported next (FIG. 47) is also read. (Step S2908), the insertion position of the import file is designated (Step S2909), and the import file is inserted at the designated position of the original file (Step S2910). The completed PDL data is shown in FIG. 48 and converted into one PDL data.
[0185]
Further, the input / output data to / from the job merge tool is handled by the editing I / F unit 115 in FIG. 17, and this interface operates with a unified PDL previously converted by the image compression / data conversion unit 1204. .
[0186]
[Merging scanned image data and electronic data]
A scan key 2804 in FIG. 43 is for reading a paper original from the scanner 106, converting it into electronic data and adding it. When this key is clicked, the above-mentioned scan driver appears, and the scan modes in FIGS. (Step S2911) is entered.
[0187]
The scan image interface in the flow of FIG. 17 is the SCSI interface 114 in the SCSI scanner 106a and the NIC 111 in charge of the network scanner 106b. These are input to the image compression / data conversion unit 1204 via the input device control unit 1201 and the input job control unit 1202, where they are converted into PDL data in page units, and then stored in the image disk 1207.
[0188]
44 and 45, the insertion position of the file to be scanned is instructed (step S2912), the scanner driver is called to perform scanning (step S2913), and the data is saved (step S2914). Here, the data is saved in the above-described PDL format in page units. This means that even when an ADF (automatic paper feeder) is used, the image is compressed in units of pages and saved in a PDL format that can be handled in units of pages.
[0189]
[Job merging between different formats]
Next, consider a method that enables merging between various image formats. 49 is provided with a plurality of RIP processing units 1203 as compared with FIG. For example, RIP-A (1203a) is a rasterizer for PostScript data, RIP-B (1203b) is a rasterizer for PCL data, and RIP-C (1203c) is a rasterizer for JPEG or TIFF format data. .
[0190]
At this time, the input job control unit 1202 determines which rasterizer to pass according to what the format of the input data is, and performs rasterization for each. Next, the rasterized image data is converted again into PDL data in page units by the image compression / data conversion unit 1204 and temporarily stored in the image disk 1207. Then, it is read out from the job merge tool as the converted PDL data in page units, merged, and can be printed or saved.
[0191]
When page unit PDL data handling the job merge tool is directly input, the RIP processing unit 1203 and the image compression / data conversion unit 1204 are passed through from the input job control unit 1202 and stored in the image disk 1207 as they are. May be.
[0192]
[Job merge between different OS]
If this is used, job merging between different types of OSs becomes possible. In general, it is possible to print each of image data created by a WINDOWS client and a job created by Macintosh, but it is difficult to print by merging them.
[0193]
However, with this method, if the network interface of the server 102 is cross-platform compatible, if the input data is PDL data in units of pages or can be rasterized, jobs can be merged and printed.
[0194]
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a desired printer is selected from a plurality of printers to form one cluster printer, and the user selects the cluster printer and prints it. When printing, it is possible to perform cluster printing by displaying the setting items and initial values for job control of each printer in the same way as normal printers, and allowing the user to change desired setting items. The effect which becomes.
[0195]
When a cluster is composed of different types of printers, the cluster printer can be handled as a new high-speed, high-function printer by creating a setting item unique to the cluster printer from each setting item. There is an effect.
[0196]
(2) Second embodiment
As in the first embodiment, the image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a document server 102, computers 103a, 103b, 103c, MFPs 104, 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, and a scanner 106a. 106b and a printer 107 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Since the entire configuration of the image forming system and the detailed configuration of each apparatus constituting the image forming system have been described in detail in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
[0197]
[Print from driver]
41 and 42 are flowcharts when a job is thrown from the driver. When the client 103 throws a file using a driver, it first selects a printer or cluster. However, at this time, the driver generally prepares setting items and their initial values in advance using PPD or the like, and is provided as a separate PPD for each printer or cluster. Then, the user must prepare in advance as a driver linked to the PPD in his / her computer for each printer or cluster.
[0198]
After the user selects a desired printer or cluster in the driver, the user can change the initial value from the initial value for each setting item, and set the value set there together with the job selected in advance. It will be sent to each hot folder. Each hot folder is linked to a printer or cluster in advance, and is processed in the same way as when submitting a job according to the table of FIG.
[0199]
As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, a desired printer is selected from a plurality of printers to form one cluster printer. When the user selects and prints the cluster printer, it is possible to perform cluster printing, and when a cluster is configured with different types of printers, the cluster printer is replaced with a new high-speed, high-function printer. The effect that can be handled as.
[0200]
(3) Third embodiment
Similar to the first embodiment, the image forming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a document server 102, computers 103a, 103b, 103c, MFPs 104, 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, and a scanner 106a. 106b and a printer 107 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Since the entire configuration of the image forming system and the detailed configuration of each apparatus constituting the image forming system have been described in detail in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
[0201]
Some drivers have a so-called auto configuration function that communicates with the printer side by using SNMP (Simple Network Monitoring Protocol) / MIB (Management Information Base).
[0202]
That is, functions supported in advance on the printer side and their initial values are registered in the MIB, and when the driver is opened from the client side via the network, an inquiry is made as to what functions the printer supports. For example, if a sorter with a stapling function is attached, the stapling function is disclosed, the support setting item list is shown to the user side driver (step S3304), and the desired setting item is changed (step S3305). Yes (see FIGS. 50 and 51).
[0203]
As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, a desired printer is selected from a plurality of printers to form one cluster printer. When the user selects and prints the cluster printer, it is possible to perform cluster printing, and when a cluster is configured with different types of printers, the cluster printer is replaced with a new high-speed, high-function printer. The effect that can be handled as.
[0204]
(4) Fourth embodiment
Similar to the first embodiment, the image forming system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a document server 102, computers 103a, 103b, 103c, MFPs 104, 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, and a scanner 106a. 106b and a printer 107 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Since the entire configuration of the image forming system and the detailed configuration of each apparatus constituting the image forming system have been described in detail in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
[0205]
Also, another job ticket can be created according to the above-described cluster mode or the like. For example, in FIG. 53, it is assumed that MFPs having different configurations of A, B, C, and D are prepared. Configuration A supports both sides only, Configuration B supports both sides and staples, Configuration C supports both sides, staples, booklets, and hole punches, Configuration D includes all functions of duplex, staples, booklets, hole punches, inserters, and Z-folds Suppose you have a supported finisher.
[0206]
Here, when forming a cluster with four units, when all are in the configuration A, in the configuration A, A, B, C, in the configuration A, B, C, D, the configuration B, C, D , D, configurations C, C, D, D, and all configurations D are considered in FIG. 54 to FIG. 56, respectively, in which the number of copies (Copy Split) and page split ( It means each mode of Page Split) and Job Load Balance (Distribute Job).
[0207]
In the case of a cluster of copies, it is sufficient to match the one with the least support function like the intersection set described in the embodiment, and in the case of job load balance, a printer that prints according to the set function is used. Since it is sufficient to make a selection, the union of the first embodiment may be matched with the one having the most support functions.
[0208]
However, in the page split, even if the setting items for staples and booklets are prepared, if the setting of staple = ON is performed to output the divided pages substantially, the staples are removed later and staples are performed again. Therefore, it can be said that it is a kind design not to prepare staple items in advance to prevent erroneous operation.
[0209]
As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, a desired printer is selected from a plurality of printers to form one cluster printer. When the user selects and prints the cluster printer, it is possible to perform cluster printing, and when a cluster is configured with different types of printers, the cluster printer is replaced with a new high-speed, high-function printer. The effect that can be handled as.
[0210]
[Other embodiments]
In the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention described above, the image forming system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is limited to the configuration of FIGS. However, the number of computers, MFPs, printers, scanners connected, and the network configuration may be arbitrary.
[0211]
FIG. 58 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data according to each embodiment of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to the apparatus. The program and related data are supplied by inserting a storage medium 541 such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM into an insertion port 543 of a storage medium drive installed in a device 542 such as a computer. After that, the program and related data are temporarily installed from the storage medium to the hard disk and loaded from the hard disk into the RAM, or directly loaded into the RAM without being installed in the hard disk, so that the program and related data can be executed. .
[0212]
In this case, when the program is executed in the image forming system according to each embodiment of the present invention, for example, the program and related data are supplied to each device of the image forming system according to the procedure shown in FIG. Alternatively, the program can be executed by storing the program and related data in advance in each device of the image forming system.
[0213]
FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data according to each embodiment of the present invention. The storage medium includes storage contents such as volume information 531, directory information 532, program execution file 533, and program related data file 534. The program is a program code based on the above-described flowcharts.
[0215]
The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing 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 reads the program codes stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, it can also be achieved through implementation.
[0216]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0217]
Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is included.
[0218]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or 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.
[0219]
【The invention's effect】
  As explained above, according to the present invention,Even when the combination of the same image forming apparatuses is instructed as an image forming apparatus that performs distributed printing, distributed printing can be executed by the distribution method instructed from among a plurality of types of distribution methods. In addition, for the same combination of image forming apparatuses, it is possible to specify a job distribution method from among a plurality of types of distribution methods. It is possible to prevent a new problem such as a result from occurring.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration in a case where an image forming system according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention is a two-system network.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a scanner unit of an image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an IP unit (in the case of a color scanner) of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an IP unit (in the case of a monochrome scanner) of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a FAX unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a NIC unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a core part of an image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a printer IP unit of a color image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a printer IP unit of a monochrome image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a PWM unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram of various signals in a PWM unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a printer unit of a color image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a printer unit of a black and white image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a finisher unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a job flow inside the document server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a description example of PDL data according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the PDL data after raster development according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a network environment according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing network data transfer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen example of the scanner driver according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen example of the printer driver according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen example of a job status tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a screen example of a job status tab according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a screen example of a job status tab according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a screen example of a job status tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen example of a device status tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen example of a job submit tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a scanning tab screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen example of a configuration tab according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a flowchart of printer configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 33 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 32;
FIG. 34 is a flowchart of cluster configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 35 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 34;
FIG. 36 is a flowchart of queue configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 37 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 36;
FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a spool queue table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 39 is a flowchart at the time of printing from a job submit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 40 is a flowchart at the time of printing from a job submit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 41 is a flowchart at the time of printing from the driver according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 42 is a flowchart at the time of printing from the driver according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen example of the job merge tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 44 is a flowchart of the job merge tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 45 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 44;
FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram illustrating PDL data in units of pages before merging according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram showing PDL data in units of pages before merging according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram showing PDL data in units of pages after merging according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram showing a job flow inside the document server according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a print flow from a driver with an autoconfiguration function according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing a print flow from a driver with an autoconfiguration function according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 52 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example 1 of setting items at the time of clustering between devices having different configurations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example 2 of setting items at the time of clustering between devices having different configurations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example 2 of setting items at the time of clustering between devices having different configurations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example 2 of setting items at the time of clustering between devices having different configurations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 56 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example 2 of setting items at the time of clustering between devices having different configurations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 58 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to an apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 network
102 Document server computer
103a to 103c client computer
104 color MFP
105a-105d Monochrome MFP
107 Printer
1201 Input device controller
1202 Input job control unit
1205 Output job control unit
1206 Output device controller

Claims (9)

An image forming system configured such that a job to be printed can be distributed and printed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
First instruction means for instructing an image forming apparatus required for distributed printing of a job to be printed;
Receiving means for receiving processing conditions for executing distributed printing of the job by the image forming apparatus instructed by the first instruction means;
Second instruction means for instructing the job distribution method from among a plurality of types of distribution methods;
Control means for executing distributed printing in accordance with the processing conditions received by the receiving means, using the image forming apparatus instructed by the first instructing means, with the type of distribution method instructed by the second instructing means. Have
The control means includes
When accepting the processing conditions for executing the distributed printing, the job processing conditions that can be accepted by the accepting means are limited according to the type of the distribution method instructed by the second instructing means. A featured image forming system. The second instruction means includes
A first distribution method for distributing a plurality of copies of a job to a plurality of image forming apparatuses in units of copies;
A distribution method including at least a second distribution method that distributes a job of a plurality of pages to a plurality of image forming apparatuses in units of pages;
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing condition of the job that can be accepted when the first distribution method is instructed cannot be accepted when the second distribution method is instructed. The image forming system described in 1. The accepting means is a accepting means for accepting processing conditions relating to post-processing when the image forming apparatus instructed by the first instructing means executes distributed printing of the job;
3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit limits processing conditions related to post-processing that can be received by the receiving unit according to a type of distribution method instructed by the second instruction unit. The image forming system according to any one of the above. The accepting unit includes at least a stapling process, a saddle stitch binding process, or an insert process as a processing condition related to post-processing when the image forming apparatus instructed by the first instruction unit executes distributed printing of the job. Can accept any of the
The control means cannot accept any one of the stapling process, saddle stitch bookbinding process, and insert process that can be accepted by the accepting means, depending on the type of distribution method instructed by the second instruction means. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein: A method for controlling an image forming system configured to be capable of distributed printing of a job to be printed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
The image forming apparatus required for distributed printing of jobs to be printed can be specified,
The image forming apparatus required for the distributed printing can accept processing conditions when the distributed printing of the job is executed,
The job distribution method can be instructed from a plurality of distribution methods,
Using the image forming apparatus required for the distributed printing, it is possible to execute distributed printing according to the processing condition received by the receiving unit with the specified type of distribution method,
A control method for an image forming system, wherein when accepting a processing condition for executing the distributed printing, the processing condition of the job that can be accepted is limited according to the type of the instructed distribution method.   Among the plurality of types of dispersion methods,
A first distribution method for distributing a plurality of copies of a job to a plurality of image forming apparatuses in units of copies;
A distribution method including at least a second distribution method that distributes a job of a plurality of pages to a plurality of image forming apparatuses in units of pages;
The processing conditions of the job that can be accepted when the first distribution method is instructed are the second 6. The method of controlling an image forming system according to claim 5, wherein accepting is not allowed when a scattering method is instructed. Processing conditions relating to post-processing when the distributed printing of the job is executed by the image forming apparatus required for the distributed printing can be received;
6. The processing condition relating to the post-processing of the job that can be accepted when receiving the processing condition for executing the distributed printing is limited according to the type of the instructed distribution method. The method for controlling an image forming system according to claim 6. At least one of staple processing, saddle stitch bookbinding processing, and insert processing can be accepted as a processing condition related to post-processing when executing distributed printing of the job by the image forming apparatus required for the distributed printing,
When accepting the processing conditions for executing the distributed printing, any of the acceptable stapling, saddle stitching or insert processing is not accepted depending on the type of distribution method instructed. 8. The method of controlling an image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the control method is enabled. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the image forming system control method according to claim 5.

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