JP4128762B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that forms a network with a plurality of user terminals, and an image processing system that includes a plurality of user terminals and an image processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image processing system configured to include an image processing apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral and a plurality of user terminals, when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus is left unattended for a long time without being canceled. In order to prevent a decrease in operating efficiency, there is one in which the occurrence of an error is notified from the image processing apparatus to each user terminal.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-8727 discloses a configuration in which when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, the error occurrence is notified to all the senders of the job affected by the error that has occurred. Has been. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-99221 notifies an error cancel request to a client (user terminal) that has registered a job that uses a device in which an error has occurred in an image processing apparatus having a plurality of devices. A configuration is disclosed. Further, JP-A-11-194918 discloses a failure recovery request only to a single user terminal randomly selected from user terminals connected to an image processing apparatus when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus. A configuration is disclosed that notifies (error release request).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the configurations disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 11-8727 and 2000-99221, there is a high possibility that there are a plurality of user terminals that should be notified of error occurrence information and error release requests from the image processing apparatus. A plurality of users go to the image processing apparatus for error canceling work for one image processing apparatus, and the user's labor is wasted.
[0005]
In this regard, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-194918, an error cancellation request is notified only to a single selected user terminal, and thus a plurality of error cancellation processes are performed for a single error cancellation process. There is no waste of the user's labor due to the user visiting the image processing apparatus. However, since the user terminal to which the error cancellation request should be transmitted is randomly selected from all the user terminals connected to the image processing apparatus, a user who is not related to the occurrence of the error contacts the image processing apparatus and makes an error. An unreasonable situation may arise where the release work must be done.
[0006]
Further, in the conventional image processing system, the error processing information and the error cancellation request are notified from the image processing apparatus in which an error has occurred to the user terminal, and waiting for the error cancellation work to be executed. The release operation cannot be performed early and reliably, and the image processing apparatus becomes unusable for a long period of time, resulting in a reduction in operating efficiency. In other words, there are cases where there is no user terminal user who has received notification of error occurrence information or error cancellation request, or there is a shortage of skill of the user who went to error cancellation work for the error situation that occurred. In such a case, the error canceling work cannot be performed.
[0007]
Sure, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194918 discloses a configuration for notifying an error cancel request to other user terminals when an error cancel operation is not performed even after a certain time has passed after the error cancel request is notified. However, even with this configuration, there is a problem in that the completion of the error canceling operation is delayed because it is necessary to wait for a certain period of time after notification of the first error canceling request.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to request a single user who can execute an error clearing operation from among a plurality of user terminals, so that the error clearing operation of a single image processing apparatus is performed for a plurality of users. Image processing that can complete error-cancelling work quickly and reliably without causing waste of user effort due to the fact that the user goes to the image processing apparatus and the unreasonable concentration of the error-carrying work burden on a single user To provide a system.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above problems.
[0010]
  (1) In an image processing apparatus that forms a network with a plurality of user terminals that output image processing jobs,
  When an error occurs,Contains error information about the error,Send error cancellation solicitation notices to recruit error cancelers to multiple user terminals,
  In response to the error cancellation notificationRefer to the error information related to the error included in the application notification sent by the user terminal.Of the user terminal that sent the application notificationDecide a single user terminal from the inside,
  Were determinedA control unit that transmits an error cancellation request notification to only a single user terminal is provided.
[0011]
In this configuration, when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, error information is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the user terminal, and response information is transmitted from the user terminal to the image processing apparatus in response to the error information. Based on the contents, a single user terminal to which an error cancellation work should be requested is determined. Therefore, a single user who should execute the error cancellation work is surely determined by negotiation between the image processing apparatus and the user terminal.
[0013]
  AlsoWhen an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, an error cancellation solicitation notification is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to a plurality of user terminals, and an application notification is transmitted from any user terminal to the image processing apparatus in response to the error cancellation solicitation notification Then, the error cancellation request notification is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to a single user terminal among the user terminals that transmitted the application notification. Therefore, a single user who should execute the error cancellation work is surely determined from among a plurality of users by transmitting and receiving the error cancellation solicitation notification, the application notification, and the error cancellation request notification between the image processing apparatus and the user terminal. .
[0014]
  (2) Other than the single user terminal determined as the transmission target of the error release request notification among the plurality of user terminals that transmitted the application notification when the control unit receives the application notification transmitted from the plurality of user terminals. An error cancellation unnecessary notification is transmitted to the user terminal.
[0015]
In this configuration, when a plurality of user terminals transmit an application notification for an error cancellation solicitation notification, an error cancellation unnecessary notification is transmitted to a user terminal other than the single user terminal to which the error cancellation request notification is transmitted. Is done. Therefore, only a single user who has received an error cancellation request notification from the image processing apparatus goes to the image processing apparatus for error cancellation work, and a plurality of users do not go to the image processing apparatus.
[0016]
  (3) The control unit stores the user terminal that has transmitted the error cancellation request notification in the storage unit, and at least excludes the user terminal stored in the storage unit from the transmission destination of the error cancellation recruitment notification when the next error occurs. Features.
[0017]
In this configuration, the error cancellation solicitation notification is not transmitted at least when the next error occurs to the user terminal to which the error cancellation request notification is transmitted for the error that has occurred this time. Therefore, a single user does not continuously perform error cancellation work, and the burden on the user is reduced.
[0018]
  (4) When the re-recruitment request notification is transmitted from the user terminal that transmitted the error cancellation request notification, the control unit transmits the error cancellation solicitation notification again to the user terminals other than the user terminal that transmitted the re-recruitment request notification. It is characterized by doing.
[0019]
In this configuration, when the re-recruitment request notification is transmitted from the user terminal that has received the error cancellation request notification to the image processing apparatus, the error cancellation solicitation notification is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to another user terminal. Therefore, when the user who received the error cancellation request notification cannot execute the error cancellation work due to lack of skills, etc., the error cancellation work is executed by sending a re-recruitment request notification from the user terminal to the image processing apparatus. Another user to be determined is determined, and the error clearing operation is performed reliably.
[0020]
  (5) In an image processing system including a plurality of user terminals that output an image processing job and an image processing apparatus that executes the image processing job,
  When an error occurs in the image processing device,Contains error information about the error,Send error cancellation solicitation notices to recruit error cancelers to multiple user terminals,
  In response to the error cancellation notificationRefer to the error information related to the error included in the application notification sent by the user terminal.Of the user terminal that sent the application notificationDecide a single user terminal from the inside,
  Were determinedAn error cancellation request notification is transmitted only to a single user terminal.
[0021]
  In this configuration, when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, error information is transmitted to the user terminal, and response information is transmitted from the user terminal to the error information, and error cancellation work is performed based on the content of the response information. A single user terminal to be requested is determined. Therefore, the single user who should perform the error cancellation work is surely determined by bidirectional communication with the user terminal in the image processing system.
  In addition, when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, an error cancellation solicitation notice is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to a plurality of user terminals, and an application notice is transmitted from any of the user terminals to the image processing apparatus in response to the error cancellation solicitation notification. Then, an error cancellation request notification is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to a single user terminal among the user terminals that transmitted the application notification. Therefore, a single user who should execute the error cancellation work is surely determined from among a plurality of users by transmitting and receiving the error cancellation solicitation notification, the application notification, and the error cancellation request notification between the image processing apparatus and the user terminal. .
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. An image processing apparatus 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a plurality of user terminals 3 (3a, 3b,...) Via a network cable 2 to constitute an image processing system 1. As a topology of the image processing system 1, a bus-type network is configured in FIG. 1, but the topology is not limited to this. Further, the image processing device 4 executes image forming processing based on image data included in an image processing job input from each user terminal 3 via the network cable 2. Note that the image processing apparatus is a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions.
[0023]
The image processing apparatus 4 includes a control unit 41, a display operation unit 42, an image forming unit 43, a storage unit 44, and a network interface 45. The display operation unit 42 includes a key switch that receives an input operation by a user, and a display that displays the state of the image processing apparatus 4 and an operation guide. The image forming unit 43 forms an image on a sheet based on image data relating to an image processing job input from the terminal device 3. The storage unit 44 includes image data related to an image processing job, a program that defines the processing operation of the control unit 41, various data that are input and output in the processing operation of the control unit 41, and information that should be notified to the user terminal 3 Memorize etc. The network interface 45 connects the control unit 41 to the network cable 2.
[0024]
The control unit 41 includes an image processing unit 41a, a job management unit 41b, an error determination unit 41c, and a notification unit 41d, and controls the display operation unit 42, the image forming unit 43, and the storage unit 44 in an integrated manner. The image processing unit 41 a performs analysis processing and image processing on the image data, stores the processed image data in the storage unit 44, converts the image data read from the recording unit 44 into drawing data, and converts the image data to the image forming unit 43. To supply. The job management unit 41b receives an image processing job input via the network interface 45, stores it in a queue in a FIFO state, and specifies each user terminal 3 that outputs an image processing job in the image system 1. User information such as an address is stored. The error determination unit 41 c determines whether an error has occurred in the image forming unit 43 based on the detection data of the sensor group provided in the image forming unit 43.
[0025]
Each user terminal 3 basically has the same configuration, and includes a control unit 31, a display operation unit 32, and a network interface 33. The display operation unit 32 receives an input operation by the user and performs display based on the application program. The network interface 33 connects the control unit 31 to the network cable 2. The control unit 31 outputs the image data created via the display operation unit 42 to the printer 3 via the network table 2 as an image processing job.
[0026]
2 and 3 are flowcharts showing processing procedures of the control unit of the image processing apparatus and the control unit of the user terminal when an error occurs in the image processing system. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a notification transmission / reception state between the image processing apparatus and the user terminal when an error occurs in the image processing system.
[0027]
When the control unit 41 of the image processing apparatus 4 executes an image processing job, the error determination unit 41c generates an error in the image forming unit 43 based on the detection data of the sensor group provided in the image forming unit 43. When the determination is made, the determination result is sent from the error determination unit 41 c to the job management unit 41 b, and the job management unit 41 b receives the notification information stored in the storage unit 44 in advance according to the program stored in the storage unit 44 in advance. To perform error notification processing.
[0028]
That is, when detecting the occurrence of an error in the image forming unit 43, the control unit 41 of the image processing apparatus 4 reads out an error release solicitation notification from the storage unit 44 and, as shown in FIG. An error release solicitation notice is transmitted to the user terminals 3 that satisfy a predetermined condition among the included user terminals 3 (s1). This error cancellation solicitation notification includes an error ID for identifying an error that has occurred in the image forming unit 43, an error code indicating the content of the error, and data indicating the error occurrence time.
[0029]
Here, the conditions required for the user terminal 3 to which the error cancellation solicitation notification should be transmitted include the system administrator, the user who transmitted the image processing job being executed when the error occurred, and the unprocessed that is affected by the error that has occurred The user who sent the image processing job, the user who sent the processed image processing job for which the processing result has not been received, and the user who is registered as the user who should send the error release solicitation notification, the error that occurred last time For example, a user who did not perform the release work (excluding a user who sent a re-recruitment notice to be described later) is considered, and an error release solicitation notice is given to a user who satisfies any one or any of a plurality of conditions. Is sent. In the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment, as will be described later, the user terminal 3 to which the error release solicitation notification is to be transmitted is determined with reference to the non notification user table.
[0030]
When receiving the error cancellation solicitation notification transmitted from the image processing device 4, the control unit 31 of the user terminal 3 displays an error cancellation soliciting screen on the display of the display operation unit 32 (s21). This error cancellation solicitation screen is a screen that displays input means for accepting a selection input indicating that an error has occurred in the image processing apparatus 4, the content of the error, and the execution of the error cancellation operation.
[0031]
The display data of the error cancellation solicitation screen can be included in the error cancellation solicitation notification transmitted from the image processing device 4, but can also be stored in advance in each user terminal 3. That is, in order to display the error cancellation solicitation screen when each user terminal 3 receives the error cancellation solicitation notification, each user terminal 3 stores a monitor program for monitoring the transmission of the error cancellation solicitation notification. At the same time, this monitor program must be activated. Therefore, the display data of the error cancellation recruitment screen can be included in this program and stored in each user terminal 3 in advance.
[0032]
The control unit 31 receives a selection input as to whether or not to perform an error canceling operation in the operation display unit 32 (s22), and when the user operates the input means in the screen by operating a key switch or the like, the control unit 31 displays FIG. As shown, an input application notification indicating that the execution of the error canceling operation is permitted is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 4 (s23). In addition to the user ID for specifying each user terminal 3, the error ID included in the error cancellation solicitation notification is added to the application notification in order to specify the corresponding error.
[0033]
  The control unit 41 of the image processing device 4 waits for transmission of an application notification from the user terminal 3 (s2), and when receiving an application notification transmitted by any user terminal 3, refers to the error ID included in the application notification. For errors that are occurringApplyIt is determined whether or not the notification is made (s3).
[0034]
  This is because, when the error release solicitation notice is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 4, the user immediately displays the content after the error cancel solicitation screen is displayed on the display operation unit 32 of the user terminal 3 due to the absence of the user at the user terminal 3. The user who has returned to the user terminal 3 does not necessarily recognize, but on the error cancellation recruitment screen related to the previous error for which the error cancellation operation has already been completed, an input operation that allows execution of the error cancellation operation for the error that has occurred this time This is because it is possible to carry out by mistake. However, when an error recovery notification (to be described later) is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 4 to each user terminal 3 after completion of the error cancellation work, the corresponding error cancellation recruitment screen is displayed on the display operation unit 32 of each user terminal 3. If the error is canceled, the error corresponding to the previous error that has already been clearedApplySince it is unlikely that the notification is transmitted from the user terminal 3, the process of s3 is unnecessary.
[0035]
When the received application notification corresponds to the current error cancellation solicitation notification, the control unit 41 determines whether the application notification is the first application notification received with respect to the current error cancellation solicitation notification. Is determined (s4). When the received application notification is the first application notification for the current error cancellation solicitation notification, the control unit 41 determines that the user associated with the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the application notification is to execute the current error cancellation operation Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, a work request notification for requesting execution of the error canceling work is transmitted to the user terminal 3 (s5).
[0036]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4D, an application notification is transmitted from the other user terminal 3 after the user who should execute the current error canceling operation is determined, and the received application notification is the current error cancel recruitment notification. If the notification is not the first application notification, the control unit 41 notifies the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the application notification, as shown in FIG. Transmit (s6). In this work unnecessary notification, for example, a phrase such as “Another user is currently performing a release work” can be included as display data.
[0037]
If the application notification is for an error different from the current error in s3, the control unit 41 applies to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the application notification that the transmitted application notification is invalid. An invalid notice is transmitted (s7). In the application invalidation notice, for example, a phrase such as “The error has already been canceled” can be included as display data.
[0038]
After transmitting the application notification, the control unit 31 of the user terminal 3 waits for transmission of a work request notification, work unnecessary notification, or invalidity notification from the image processing device 4 (s24 to s26). When receiving the work request notification, the control unit 31 displays on the display operation unit 32 that the error canceling work should be performed (s27), and when receiving the work unnecessary notification, the control unit 31 cancels the error on the display operating unit 32. The fact that it is not necessary to perform the operation is displayed (s28), and when the invalid notice is received, the display operation unit 32 is displayed that the application notice is not appropriate (s29).
[0039]
The control unit 31 receives the work request notification and displays on the display / operation unit 32 that the error canceling work should be executed, and then receives the recovery notification transmitted from the image processing apparatus 4 (s30) or by the user. It waits for the input of a re-recruitment request notification transmission instruction based on the operation of the display operation unit (s31). This re-recruitment request notification is sent to other users who perform error-removal work when the user who went to the image processing apparatus 4 for error-relief work cannot perform the error-relief work due to lack of skills. In this case, the image processing apparatus 4 is requested to retransmit the error cancellation solicitation notification to the user terminal apparatus 3. For this reason, when the control unit 31 receives the work request notification, the control unit 31 newly displays the input means for the re-recruitment request notification transmission instruction on the error release recruitment screen being displayed on the display operation unit 32, or The input means displayed in the disabled state is made operable. When the user inputs a re-recruitment request notification transmission instruction, the control unit 31 transmits a re-recruitment request notification to the image processing apparatus 4 (s32).
[0040]
The control unit 41 of the image processing apparatus 4 transmits one of the work request notification, the work unnecessary notification, and the invalidity notification, and then waits for the reception of the re-recruitment request notification or the completion of the error cancellation work (s8, s9). When receiving the re-recruitment request notification transmitted from the user terminal, the control unit 41 performs the processes from s1 to s7 again in order to determine another user who executes the error cancellation work (s8 → s1). .
[0041]
On the other hand, when the error cancellation work is completed, the control unit 41 transmits a recovery notification to all the user terminals 3 that have transmitted the error cancellation solicitation notification (s10). Thereafter, the control unit 41 updates the contents of the non-notification user table managed as user information in the job management unit 41b (s11).
[0042]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing stored contents and changes in the job management unit constituting the control unit of the image processing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5A, the job management unit 41b that constitutes a part of the control unit 41 of the image processing apparatus 4 includes a non-notification user table 51 and a notification as user information related to the transmission destination of the error cancellation solicitation notification. A registered user table 52 is stored, and a job queue table 53 is stored as queue information. In these tables 51 to 53, a user ID for specifying the user terminal 3 of each user is used to specify the user.
[0043]
The non-notification user table 51 shows the error about the current error for the user who executed the error cancellation work when the previous error occurred, and the user who sent the re-recruitment request notification without completing the error cancellation work when the previous error occurred. As a non-notification user who does not transmit the cancellation solicitation notification, the user who has transmitted the re-recruitment request notification for the currently occurring error is stored as a non-notification user who does not transmit the error cancellation solicitation notification for the next error. In addition, the non-notification user table 51 stores users who are currently performing error cancellation work.
[0044]
If there are a large number of user terminals 3 included in the image processing system 1, the users who have performed error cancellation work up to several times are stored by FIFO processing, and the error that has occurred this time for these multiple users is stored. It may be configured not to send an error cancellation work notification for. Thereby, an increase in traffic in the network of the image processing system 1 can be prevented.
[0045]
Of the plurality of user terminals 3 included in the image processing system 1, the notification registration user table 52 is often absent from a user who has little skill in error cancellation work for the image processing apparatus 4 or the installation location of the user terminal 3. If a user other than a user or the like, that is, a user who does not correspond to a non-notification user, is stored, a user who should be a transmission target of an error cancellation recruitment notification is stored.
[0046]
The job queue table 53 stores, for a job being executed in the image processing apparatus 4 and a plurality of waiting jobs, a job ID attached to the user ID of the user who output each job and the paper size to be used. To do.
[0047]
As an example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the image processing system 1 includes user terminals 3 a to 3 g relating to the users AAA to GGG, and an error cancellation solicitation notification should be transmitted to the notification registration user table 52. The users AAA to FFF are stored as notification registered users, and the user AAA, user BBB, and user CCC that performed the error cancellation work when the previous three errors occurred are stored in the non notification user table 51, and the job queue In the table 53, the currently executed job (0123) output by the user BBB and the waiting jobs (0124 to 0127) output by the user CCC, the user DDD, the user EEE, and the user GGG are stored. Consider a case where an error occurs in the image processing apparatus 4.
[0048]
In this case, the image processing apparatus 4 includes the users AAA to CCC stored as the user who performed the previous error cancellation work in the non-notification user table 51 among the users AAA to FFF stored in the notification registration user table 52. The error cancellation solicitation notice is transmitted to the user terminals 3d to 3f of the users DDD to FFF except for.
[0049]
Note that for the user BBB, even if the previous error canceling work was performed, the user terminal 3b is forcibly notified of the error canceling request because it is the user who has output the job being executed that has generated the current error. May be transmitted.
[0050]
In addition, among the users stored in the notification registration user table 52, only the user who has output a waiting job, or a job that uses a paper of the same size as a job that is in standby and has an error An error cancellation solicitation notice may be transmitted only to the user who has made the request.
[0051]
In response to the error cancellation solicitation notification transmitted by the image processing device 4, the user DDD and the user FFF transmit an application notification, and the image processing device 4 receives the application notification from the user DDD first. 4 transmits an error cancellation request notification to the user terminal 3d of the user DDD, and transmits an error cancellation unnecessary notification to the user terminal 3e of the user EEE. Accordingly, the image processing apparatus 4 stores the user DDD as the user who is currently executing the error cancellation work in the non-notification user table 51, as shown in FIG.
[0052]
Here, when the user DDD cannot cancel the error that has occurred in the image processing apparatus 4 and transmits a re-recruitment request notification from the user terminal 3d to the image processing apparatus 4, the image processing apparatus 4 As shown in FIG. 5C, the user DDD is stored as the user who transmitted the re-recruitment request notification to the non-notification user table 51, and the user DDD is deleted as the user who is currently executing the error canceling work, and the notification registered user Among the users AAA to FFF stored in the table 52, the users AAA to CCC stored as the user who performed the previous error cancellation work in the non-notification user table 51 and the user who transmitted the re-recruitment request notification Send error cancellation solicitation notices to user terminals 3e and 3f of user EEE and FFF, excluding stored user DDD That.
[0053]
In response to the error cancellation solicitation notification transmitted again by the image processing device 4, only the user EEE transmits an application notification, and when the image processing device 4 receives an application notification from the user EEE, the image processing device 4 An error cancellation request notification is transmitted to the EEE user terminal 3d, and an error cancellation unnecessary notification is transmitted to the user EEE user terminal 3e. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5D, the image processing apparatus 4 stores the user EEE as the user who is currently executing the error cancellation work in the non-notification user table 51.
[0054]
When the error is canceled by the error cancellation work of the user EEE, the image processing apparatus 4 is stored in the non notification user table 51 as the user who performed the previous error cancellation work, as shown in FIG. The user AAA to CCC, the user DDD stored as the user who sent the re-recruitment request notification, and the user EEE stored as the user currently executing the error canceling operation are deleted, and the previous error canceling operation is performed. The users DDD and EEE are stored as the performed users.
[0055]
With the above processing, according to the image processing system 1 including the image processing device 4 according to this embodiment, when an error occurs in the image processing device 4, various processing is performed between the image processing device 4 and the user terminal 3. By sending and receiving notifications in both directions, it is possible to determine a single user who should perform the error clearing operation, and waste of user's labor due to multiple users going to a single image processing apparatus in which an error has occurred. Can be reliably prevented.
[0056]
In addition, for the user who executed the error cancellation processing when the previous error occurred, it is excluded from the target of error cancellation so that a single user does not perform error cancellation work continuously, It is possible to prevent the error canceling work from being concentrated on a specific user.
[0057]
Note that even in an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus is connected to a network including a plurality of user terminals via a printer server, the printer server executes the process executed by the control unit in the image processing apparatus according to the above embodiment. By doing so, the same effect can be produced.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0059]
(1) When an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, error information is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the user terminal, and response information is transmitted from the user terminal to the image processing apparatus in response to the error information, based on the content of the response information. By determining the single user terminal that should request the error cancellation work, it is possible to reliably determine the single user that should perform the error cancellation work by negotiation between the image processing apparatus and the user terminal. . As a result, it is possible to request only a single user who can execute the error canceling operation among the plurality of user terminals, and a plurality of users can image the error canceling operation of the single image processing apparatus. The error clearing operation can be completed quickly and reliably without waste of the user's labor due to going to the processing apparatus and the unreasonableness that the same user must continuously execute the error clearing operation.
[0060]
(2) When an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, an error release solicitation notice is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to a plurality of user terminals, and an application notice is transmitted from any of the user terminals to the image processing apparatus in response to the error cancel solicitation notice The error cancellation request notification between the image processing apparatus and the user terminal by applying the error cancellation request notification from the image processing apparatus to a single user terminal among the user terminals that have transmitted the application notification. By transmitting and receiving notifications and error cancellation request notifications, it is possible to reliably determine a single user from among a plurality of users who should perform error cancellation work.
[0061]
(3) When a plurality of user terminals have sent an application notification for an error cancellation solicitation notification, by sending an error cancellation unnecessary notification to a user terminal other than the single user terminal that transmits the error cancellation request notification Only a single user who has received an error cancellation request notification from the image processing apparatus can go to the image processing apparatus for error cancellation work, and a plurality of users can be prevented from visiting the image processing apparatus. Thereby, a plurality of users do not go to the image processing apparatus at the same time, and waste of user's labor can be prevented.
[0062]
(4) A single user continuously performs error cancellation work by not transmitting an error cancellation solicitation notification to the user terminal that has transmitted an error cancellation request notification for the error that has occurred this time at least when the next error occurs. Can be prevented, and it is possible to prevent the error canceling work from being concentrated on a specific user.
[0063]
(5) When the re-recruitment request notification is transmitted from the user terminal that has received the error cancellation request to the image processing apparatus, the error cancellation request notification is transmitted by transmitting the error cancellation solicitation notification from the image processing apparatus to another user terminal. Even if the user who received the error cannot execute the error canceling work due to lack of skills or the like, another user who should execute the error canceling work is sent by sending a re-recruitment request notification from the user terminal to the image processing apparatus. It is possible to make a decision and to ensure that the error clearing operation is performed.
[0064]
(6) When an error occurs in the image processing apparatus, error information is transmitted to the user terminal, and a single error release operation should be requested based on the content of response information transmitted from the user terminal to the error information. By determining the user terminal, it is possible to reliably determine a single user who should execute the error cancellation work by bidirectional communication with the user terminal in the image processing system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a control unit of the image processing apparatus when an error occurs in the image processing system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a control unit of a user terminal when an error occurs in the image processing system.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a transmission / reception state of a notification between an image processing apparatus and a user terminal when an error occurs in the image processing system.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating stored contents and transitions in a job management unit constituting a control unit of the image processing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1-Image processing system
2-Network cable
3 (3a, 3b, ...)-user terminal
4-Image processing device
41-control unit

Claims (5)

In an image processing apparatus that configures a network with a plurality of user terminals that output image processing jobs,
When an error occurs, it includes error information related to the error and sends an error cancellation solicitation notice that recruits performers of error cancellation work to multiple user terminals.
Determine a single user terminal from among the user terminals that sent the application notification with reference to the error information related to the error included in the application notification sent by the user terminal for the error release solicitation notification ,
An image processing apparatus comprising a control unit that transmits an error cancellation request notification only to a determined single user terminal. The control unit, when receiving an application notification transmitted from a plurality of user terminals, out of a plurality of user terminals that transmitted the application notification, other than a single user terminal determined as a transmission target of an error release request notification The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an error cancellation unnecessary notification is transmitted to the user terminal. The control unit stores the user terminal that has transmitted the error cancellation request notification in the storage unit, and excludes the user terminal stored in the storage unit at least when the next error occurs from the transmission destination of the recruitment notification. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. When the re-recruitment request is transmitted from the user terminal that transmitted the error cancellation request notification, the control unit transmits an error cancellation re-recruitment notification to user terminals other than the user terminal that transmitted the re-recruitment request. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. In an image processing system including a plurality of user terminals that output an image processing job and an image processing apparatus that executes the image processing job,
When an error occurs in the image processing apparatus , it includes error information related to the error , and sends an error cancellation solicitation notice that recruits performers of error cancellation work to a plurality of user terminals.
Determine a single user terminal from among the user terminals that sent the application notification with reference to the error information related to the error included in the application notification sent by the user terminal for the error release solicitation notification ,
An image processing system that transmits an error cancellation request notification only to a determined single user terminal.

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