JP5353411B2 - Image formation control apparatus, image formation control system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily store, when a plurality of different image formation configurations are properly used, instruction information in a hot folder in which necessary image formation configurations are set. <P>SOLUTION: Even when the configurations of image formation corresponding to configuration information included in instruction information stored in a hot folder are different from the stored configurations of image formation set in the hot folder, a server device moves, when it is set in a movement mode, the instruction information to a hot folder in which the configurations of the image formation corresponding to the configuration information are set, and instructs image formation to the image forming apparatus, and makes the image forming apparatus form an image related to the instruction information in the configurations of the image formation corresponding to the configuration information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image formation control device, an image formation control system, and a program.

  In a server device connected to an image forming apparatus such as a network printer, a folder called a hot folder is created, and a job ticket described in XML (Extensible Markup Language) such as JDF (Job Definition Format) is created in the hot folder If the information called is stored, the document, image, etc. instructed by the job ticket are output from the network printer by combining the image formation mode set in the job ticket and the image formation mode set in the hot folder. There is technology to let you.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses a technique for performing exception setting in hot folder setting using an XPS (XML Paper Specification) document.

JP 2008-242661 A

  An object of the present invention is to facilitate storage in a hot folder in which a required image forming mode is set when using a plurality of different image forming modes.

  The image formation control apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a plurality of storage units that each receive instruction information including specific information for specifying an image to be formed and store the instruction information. An image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information stored in the storage unit is set in the storage unit by controlling the storage unit in which the form of formation is set and the image forming unit that forms the image. When the instruction information stored in the storage means includes aspect information corresponding to the image formation aspect, the instruction information stored in the storage means is And a control unit that controls the image forming unit after the image forming mode is moved to the storage unit in which the mode of image formation corresponding to the mode information is set.

  An image forming control apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming control apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control means stores instruction information in a preset one of the plurality of storage means. When the instruction information includes the aspect information, the instruction information stored in the storage unit is moved to the storage unit in which the image forming aspect corresponding to the aspect information is set, and then the The image forming means is controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming control apparatus according to the first or second aspect , wherein the control means includes: when the mode information is not included in the instruction information stored in the storage means; A predetermined process is performed without forming an image by the image forming unit.

Image formation control apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the construction of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a mode setting means for setting either the first mode and the second mode, the When the mode setting unit is set to the first mode, the control unit is configured to perform the image formation regardless of whether the instruction information stored in the storage unit includes mode information indicating an image formation mode. The image processing apparatus is controlled to form an image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information stored in the storage unit in an image forming mode set in the storage unit.

An image formation control system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes the image formation control device according to the second aspect and an instruction device that outputs the instruction information, and the instruction information output by the instruction device includes the instruction information It is characterized in that it is received and stored in one preset storage means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program comprising a plurality of storage units for receiving instruction information including specific information for specifying an image to be formed and storing the instruction information. An image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information stored in the storage unit is set in the storage unit by controlling the storage unit in which the form of formation is set and the image forming unit that forms the image. When the instruction information stored in the storage means includes aspect information corresponding to the image formation aspect, the instruction information stored in the storage means is The image forming mode corresponding to the mode information is moved to a storage unit in which the mode forming mode is set, and then functions as a control unit that controls the image forming unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, compared with a case where a hot folder storing instruction information is not moved to a corresponding hot folder, an image required when using a plurality of different image forming modes is used. Storage in a hot folder in which the formation mode is set can be easily performed.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to selectively use the case where the hot folder storing the instruction information is moved to the corresponding hot folder and the case where the hot folder is not moved.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an erroneous image formation mode from being applied when the mode information is not included in the instruction information.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the mode cannot be set, the switching for applying the image forming mode already set to the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored can be easily performed. It can be carried out.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, selection of a hot folder can be facilitated as compared with a case where instruction information from a client is not limited to one hot folder.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored is not moved to the corresponding hot folder, an image required when using a plurality of different image forming modes is used. Storage in a hot folder in which the formation mode is set can be easily performed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the hot folder information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the server apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a client apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the display part of a client apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the whole process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the normal mode process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the movement mode process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the template information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the server apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the mode setting process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the movement mode process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the hot folder monitoring function which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the entire system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10, the server apparatus 20, the server apparatus 20, and the client apparatus 30 are connected to a communication line 40 and communicate with each other. The image forming apparatus, the server apparatus 20, and the client apparatus 30 are each one in FIG. 1, but a plurality of apparatuses may be connected to the communication line 40.

  The image forming apparatus 10 has a copying function of an image (including a document, the same applies hereinafter), a function of reading an image, a function of generating image information of the read image, and forming an image indicated by the image information on a recording medium such as paper. It has a function to print. The server device 20 accepts and responds to requests from the client device 30 to provide services to the client device 30, and in response to requests, the server device 20 can provide various types of image forming instructions to the image forming device 10. It also functions as an image formation control apparatus that gives instructions and controls image formation in the image forming apparatus 10. The client device 30 is a computer device or the like that realizes various functions by executing a program, and an instruction device that instructs the image forming device 10 to form an image by using a service provided from the server device 20. Also works.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 101, a storage unit 102, an operation unit 103, a display unit 104, an image reading unit 105, an image processing unit 106, an image forming unit 107, and a communication unit 108, each connected via a bus. Has been.

  The control unit 101 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The CPU reads out a control program stored in the ROM and executes the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 via the bus. Thereby, the various functions described above are realized. Further, the control unit 101 controls the processing contents of each unit such as the image processing unit 106 in accordance with an instruction from the server device 20 connected by the communication unit 108.

  The storage unit 102 includes a storage device such as a hard disk and a nonvolatile memory, and stores information generated by the control unit 101, information received by the communication unit 108, and the like.

  The operation unit 103 includes a plurality of operators for operating the image forming apparatus 10, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation when the operator is operated by a user of the image forming apparatus 10. When the operation signal is acquired by the control unit 101, the control unit 101 executes processing according to the operation signal.

  The display unit 104 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays an image on a display screen, and the display content is controlled by the control unit 101. For example, a menu screen for operating the image forming apparatus 10, information about the device, and the like Is displayed.

  The image reading unit 105 includes an image reading device that generates image information indicating an image read and read by the control of the control unit 101, and outputs the generated image information.

  The image processing unit 106 performs image processing such as color correction and gradation correction on the image indicated by the input image information, and from the image subjected to the image processing, Yellow (Y), Magenta (M), and Cyan (C). , Black (K) image information indicating each color image is generated and output. Further, the image processing unit 106 performs processing on the input image information so that the image is printed in the image forming mode instructed from the server device 20 by the control information described later under the control of the control unit 101. Do.

  The image forming unit 107 has an image forming mechanism for forming a toner image on a recording medium such as paper by an electrophotographic method. Specifically, the image forming mechanism corresponding to Yellow (Y), the image forming mechanism corresponding to Magenta (M), the image forming mechanism corresponding to Cyan (C), and the image forming mechanism in Black (K) are provided. . Each color image forming mechanism forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor according to the image information of each color generated in the image processing unit 106, and then attaches toner to the photoconductor to form a toner image. This toner image is transferred to a recording medium. After the toner image transferred to the recording medium is fixed by applying heat and pressure, the recording medium on which the toner image is formed, that is, the paper on which the image is formed is discharged out of the image forming apparatus 10. Note that the present invention is not limited to the formation of an image on a recording medium using toner, and ink may be used.

  The communication unit 108 is a communication interface that is connected to the server device 20 and exchanges various information. For example, control information indicating an instruction to the image forming apparatus 10 and image information indicating an image to be formed are received from the server device 20. The above is the description of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server device 20 according to the first embodiment. The server device 20 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, an operation unit 203, a display unit 204, and a communication unit 208, which are connected via a bus.

  The control unit 201 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The CPU reads out a control program stored in the ROM and executes the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling each unit of the server device 20 via the bus. Accordingly, various functions such as an image formation control function for the image forming apparatus 10 and a service providing function for the client apparatus 30 are realized. In addition, a hot folder monitoring function to be described later is realized by the control unit 201 executing a monitoring program. The monitoring program is executed when the power of the server device 20 is turned on. However, when the operation is operated by the operation unit 203 at another timing, for example, an execution request is issued from the image forming apparatus 10 or the client device 30. It may be executed when there is a problem.

  The storage unit 202 includes a storage device such as a hard disk and a nonvolatile memory, and stores information generated by the control unit 201, information received by the communication unit 208, and the like. The storage unit 202 is assigned a storage area corresponding to storage means (hereinafter referred to as a hot folder) that receives and stores instruction information output from the client device 30. A plurality of hot folders are provided, each of which forms an image formation mode, and is set in accordance with hot folder information described below. The image forming mode indicates a mode when the image forming apparatus 10 forms an image. In this example, a plurality of pages of images are formed in one sheet, and the image is formed on one side of paper. Or forms on both sides. Note that the image forming mode is not limited to these modes, and may be a mode related to the content of the image such as color adjustment, image quality, watermark image superimposition, page number insertion, or paper size selection. Alternatively, a mode in which an image is output, such as a paper output tray, may be used. That is, the image forming mode includes any mode as long as it indicates the processing content related to image formation performed by the image forming apparatus 10.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining hot folder information stored in the storage unit 202. The hot folder information is information in which the name of the hot folder (HF name) is associated with setting information indicating the image formation mode set in the hot folder. In this example, the hot folder information is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. That is, there are five hot folders, which are named “default”, “two sheets / single side”, “four sheets / single side”, “two sheets / both sides”, and “four sheets / both sides”, respectively. ”,“ Setting information A ”,“ setting information B ”,“ setting information C ”, and“ setting information D ”.

  As described above, the image forming mode indicated by the setting information is a mode in which a plurality of pages are formed as a single sheet when an image is formed on paper as a recording medium (1 page, 2 pages, 4 pages, 3 pages). Aspect) and a mode of forming on one side or on both sides (two modes of single side and double side) are shown. “Setting information P” corresponding to the HF name “default” indicates “one page is formed on one sheet, single-sided formation”, and “setting information A” corresponding to the HF name “two sheets on one side” is “two pages”. "Set to 1 sheet, single sided formation", and "Setting information B" corresponding to the HF name "4 sheets single sided" indicates "Form 4 pages on one sheet, single sided formation" and HF name "2 sheets double sided" "Setting information C" corresponding to "" indicates that two pages are formed on one sheet, duplex formation ", and" setting information D "corresponding to the HF name" four sheets on both sides "is" four pages on one sheet ". Formation, double-sided formation ". In this way, each HF name and the image forming mode are associated with each other.

  With this hot folder information, for example, in the hot folder with the name “two-sided and double-sided”, the image forming mode “form two pages on one sheet and double-sided” indicated by “setting information C” is set. Become.

  The storage unit 202 stores mode setting information. The mode setting information includes information for realizing a movement mode process to be described later and selection information indicating selection of the movement mode process or a normal mode process to be described later during execution of the monitoring program. The mode indicated by the selection information is set in advance by a request from the client device 30, an operation of the operation unit 203, or the like.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the description will be continued. The operation unit 203 includes a plurality of operators for operating the server device 20 such as a keyboard and a mouse. When the operator is operated by a user of the server device 20, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output. . When the operation signal is acquired by the control unit 201, the control unit 201 executes processing according to the operation signal.

  The display unit 204 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays an image on a display screen. The display content is controlled by the control unit 201. For example, the server device 20 includes a menu screen for operating the server device 20. Display information.

  A communication unit 208 is a communication interface that is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 and the client apparatus 30 to exchange various information. The above is the description of the configuration of the server device 20.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the client device 30 according to the first embodiment. The client device 30 includes a control unit 301, a storage unit 302, an operation unit 303, a display unit 304, and a communication unit 308, which are connected via a bus.

  The control unit 301 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The CPU reads out a control program stored in the ROM and executes the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling each unit of the client device 30 via the bus. Thereby, various functions such as a function of receiving a service from the server device 20 are realized. As will be described later, various functions are also realized by executing application programs stored in the storage unit 302.

  The storage unit 302 has a storage device such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile memory, and stores information generated by the control unit 301, information received by the communication unit 308, and the like. The storage unit 302 stores application programs such as application programs A and B. In this example, the application program A is executed by the CPU of the control unit 301 to realize a word processor function, generate image information indicating the created document, and store the image information in the storage unit 302. Further, another application program B is executed by the CPU of the control unit 301, thereby realizing a function of exchanging with the server device 20 that controls the image forming apparatus 10, operation of the operation unit 303, and other application programs. In response to an instruction or the like, the instruction information is generated, and the instruction information is output and accepted by any of the hot folders provided in the server device 20 and stored.

  The instruction information indicates, for example, a job ticket such as JDF, and includes specific information for specifying an image to be formed. The specific information is formed by, for example, an address (for example, URL = “file.xxx/xxx.xxx.xxx/abc/xyz.pdf”) indicating a location where image information indicating an image is stored. Identify the image that should be. Since the identification information only needs to identify an image to be formed, it may be an image indicating the image instead of an address, that is, image information itself.

  Further, when an image formation mode is designated by the operation of the operation unit 303, the instruction information further includes mode information. The mode information indicates information corresponding to the mode of image formation. In this example, the name indicating the mode of image formation (for example, “two-sided”) is associated with the mode of image formation. Yes. Note that the image formation mode corresponding to the mode information is not specified by the name indicating the image formation mode, but by the setting information name (for example, “setting information C”) indicating the image formation mode. It may be done.

  The operation unit 303 includes a plurality of operators such as a keyboard and a mouse for operating the client device 30, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation when the user operates the client device 30. . When the operation signal is acquired by the control unit 301, the control unit 301 executes processing according to the operation signal.

  The display unit 304 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays an image on a display screen, and the display content is controlled by the control unit 301. For example, the client device 30 includes a menu screen for operating the client device 30. Display information.

  The communication unit 308 is a communication interface that is connected to the server device 20 and exchanges various information.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 304 of the client device 30 by communicating with the server device 20 when the application program B is executed by the control unit 301. As shown in FIG. 6, on the display screen of the display unit 304, the client device 30 refers to hot folder information stored in the server device 20 via the communication line 40, so that the hot folder corresponding to each name is displayed. Icons F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, and an icon J1 indicating instruction information generated in the client device 30 are displayed. Each icon of the hot folder is displayed in a hierarchical manner, but may not be hierarchical.

  When the user of the client device 30 operates the operation unit 303 to move the icon J1 to the icon F1 (for example, drag and drop the icon J1 to the icon F1 using a mouse), the user is connected via the communication line 40. The instruction information is transmitted, the instruction information is received in the hot folder “default” corresponding to the icon F1, and stored in the storage area assigned to the hot folder “default” in the storage unit 202 of the server device 20. The above is the description of the configuration of the client device 30.

  Next, the operation of the server device 20 in the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, processing performed in the hot folder monitoring function realized by the CPU of the control unit 201 executing the monitoring program will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the entire hot folder monitoring function. When the monitoring program is executed by the control unit 201, the control unit 201 confirms whether the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202, and if it is stored, the mode setting information is included in the mode setting information. The selected information is confirmed (step S100). The control unit 201 determines whether or not the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202 and whether to set the normal mode or the movement mode from the content indicated by the selection information included in the mode setting information (step S200).

  When the mode setting information is not stored in the storage unit 202 or when the selection information indicates selection of the normal mode processing even if the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202, the control unit 201 determines that the mode is normal mode (step S200; Yes), Normal mode processing is performed (step S300). On the other hand, when the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202 and the selection information indicates selection of movement mode processing, the control unit 201 determines that the movement mode is not the normal mode (step S200; No), and the movement mode Processing is performed (step S400). Then, when the respective processes are finished, the hot folder monitoring function is finished.

  It should be noted that both the normal mode processing (step S300) and the movement mode processing (step S400) may be repeated after the processing is completed until an end instruction is given. For example, when the movement mode process (step S400) is completed, the movement mode process (step S400) is performed again until there is a termination instruction request from the client device 30 or a termination instruction by the operation of the operation unit 203. May be. Subsequently, processing contents of the normal mode process (step S300) and the movement mode process (step S400) will be described in order.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of normal mode processing in the hot folder monitoring function. When the normal mode process is started, the control unit 201 monitors all hot folders provided according to the hot folder information (may be a part set in advance; the same applies hereinafter) (step S310). Then, it waits for the instruction information from the client device 30 to be received and stored in one of the hot folders (step S320; No). When the instruction information is stored in one of the hot folders (step S320; Yes), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step S360) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends the process.

  This image formation instruction is an instruction to form an image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information in the image formation mode set in the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored. For example, when the instruction information is stored in the hot folder “4-sided”, the control unit 201 acquires the image information in the address indicated by the specific information (for example, the storage unit 302 of the client device 30) via the communication unit 208. The image information is acquired and output to the image forming apparatus 10, and the image indicated by the image information is formed in the form of image formation set in the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored (four pages are combined into one sheet). , Control information indicating an instruction to form in (double-sided formation) is output to the image forming apparatus 10.

  Then, the image forming apparatus 10 converts the image indicated by the image information output from the server apparatus 20 as described above into an image in which four pages are combined into one image in the image processing unit 106, and the image forming unit 107. The converted image is output so as to be formed on both sides of the paper as the recording medium.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of movement mode processing in the hot folder monitoring function. When the movement mode process is started, the control unit 201 monitors all hot folders provided according to the hot folder information (step S410), and the instruction information from the client device 30 is received in any hot folder. Waiting to be stored (step S420; No). When the instruction information is stored in any one of the hot folders (step S420; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether or not the aspect information is included in the instruction information (step S430).

  When the mode information is not included in the instruction information (step S430; No), the control unit 201 performs error processing (step S470) and ends. Error processing means that the image forming apparatus 10 does not form an image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information, and does not form an image specified in advance, for example, to the user of the client device 30. This is a process for performing notification (for example, displaying on the display unit 304). On the other hand, when the mode information is included in the instruction information (step S430; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether there is an HF name corresponding to the mode information (step S440). Specifically, the storage unit 202 stores whether the HF names of all the hot folders have a name corresponding to the name of the image formation mode indicated by the mode information (in this example, a matching name). Judging by referring to the hot folder information.

  Note that the names do not have to be completely coincident, and may be anything that matches (such as partial coincidence) to the extent that the correspondence can be recognized. When the mode information is indicated by the name of the setting information, the hot folder information is referred to and the name of the setting information indicated by the mode information corresponds to the name of the setting information defined in the hot folder information. If there is something to do, it may be determined that there is something corresponding to the HF name.

  If there is no HF name corresponding to the mode information (step S440; No), the control unit 201 performs error processing (step S470) and ends. On the other hand, when there is an HF name corresponding to the aspect information (step S440; Yes), the control unit 201 moves the instruction information to the hot folder with the corresponding HF name and stores it (step S450). Then, the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step S460) to the image forming apparatus 10, and the process ends. As described above, this image formation instruction is an image formation mode in which the image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information is set in the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored when the image formation instruction is performed. This is an instruction to form.

  The operation in the movement mode process will be described with a specific example. When the instruction information including the mode information indicating “two sheets / single side” is stored in the hot folder “four sheets / double side”, the control unit 201 sets the hot folder “two sheets” corresponding to “two sheets / single side” indicated by the mode information. The instruction information is moved and stored in “one side”. Then, the control unit 201 acquires the image information at the address indicated by the specific information included in the instruction information via the communication unit 208, outputs this image information to the image forming apparatus 10, and stores the instruction information. Control information indicating an instruction to form in the form of image formation set in the hot folder (formation of two pages into one sheet, formation on one side) is output to the image forming apparatus 10.

  Then, the image forming apparatus 10 converts the image indicated by the image information output from the server apparatus 20 as described above into an image in which two pages are combined into one image in the image processing unit 106, and the image forming unit 107. The printed image is printed so as to be formed on one side of paper as a recording medium. This completes the description of the processing performed in the hot folder monitoring function.

  As described above, when the server apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is set in the movement mode, the image forming mode corresponding to the mode information included in the instruction information stored in the hot folder and the storage are stored. Even if the image formation mode set for the selected hot folder is different, the image forming apparatus 10 is instructed to perform image formation after moving to the hot folder for which the image formation mode corresponding to the mode information is set. By doing so, the image forming apparatus 10 is caused to form an image related to the instruction information in an image forming mode corresponding to the mode information. On the other hand, when the normal mode is set, the server apparatus 20 uses the image forming mode set in the hot folder storing the instruction information regardless of the mode of image formation corresponding to the mode information. 10 forms an image related to the instruction information.

Second Embodiment
The image forming apparatus 10, the server apparatus 20, and the client apparatus 30 in the second embodiment have the same configuration as that in the first embodiment, but the hot folder monitoring function in the server apparatus 20 is different. Further, the hot folder information stored in the storage unit 202 of the server device 20 further includes information for specifying one hot folder, and this information is used to specify one specific hot folder (hereinafter, in the second embodiment). , A specific hot folder (referred to as a specific HF) is preset. On the other hand, mode setting information is not stored in the storage unit 202. In this example, the specific hot folder is set as the hot folder “default”. Hereinafter, processing performed in the hot folder monitoring function in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the hot folder monitoring function according to the second embodiment. When the monitoring program is executed by the control unit 201, the control unit 201 monitors all hot folders provided in accordance with the hot folder information (step S510), and the client device 30 receives any instruction information. Waiting to be received and stored in the hot folder (step S520; No). When the instruction information is stored in one of the hot folders (step S520; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether or not the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored is a specific hot folder (specific HF) ( Step S525).

  If it is determined that it is not the specific hot folder (step S525; No), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step S560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends. As described in the first embodiment, the image formation instruction is performed by setting an image specified by the specification information included in the instruction information to a hot folder in which the instruction information is stored when the image formation instruction is performed. This is an instruction to form in the image forming mode.

  On the other hand, if it determines with it being a specific hot folder (step S525; Yes), the control part 201 will determine whether the mode information is contained in the instruction information stored in the specific hot folder (step S530).

  When the mode information is not included in the instruction information (step S530; No), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step S560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends. On the other hand, when the mode information is included in the instruction information (step S530; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether there is an HF name corresponding to the mode information (step S540).

  If there is no HF name corresponding to the mode information (step S540; No), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step S560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends. On the other hand, when there is an HF name corresponding to the mode information (step S540; Yes), the control unit 201 moves the instruction information to the hot folder with the corresponding HF name and stores it (step S550). Then, the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step S560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends the process.

  As described above, in the hot folder monitoring function according to the second embodiment, when the instruction information is stored in a hot folder other than the specific hot folder, and even if stored in the specific hot folder, the instruction information includes the mode information. If not, processing corresponding to the normal mode processing in the first embodiment is performed. On the other hand, when the instruction information including the mode information is stored in the specific hot folder, a process corresponding to the movement mode process in the first embodiment is performed.

<Third Embodiment>
The image forming apparatus 10, the server apparatus 20, and the client apparatus 30 in the third embodiment have the same configuration as that in the first embodiment, but the hot folder monitoring function in the server apparatus 20 is different. Further, the storage unit 202 of the server device 20 stores template information together with hot folder information. In the third embodiment, the number of hot folders may not be plural, and the hot folder information may be defined for one hot folder, or the hot folder information is stored in the storage unit 202. It does not have to be.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining template information stored in the storage unit 202. The template information is information in which setting information is associated with its name (setting name). In this example, the template information is as shown in FIG. That is, there are five types of setting information, which are named “default”, “two sheets / single side”, “four sheets / single side”, “two sheets / both sides”, and “four sheets / both sides”, respectively. “Information P”, “Setting information A”, “Setting information B”, “Setting information C”, and “Setting information D” correspond to each other. The mode of image formation indicated by the setting information is as described in the first embodiment.

  The mode setting information stored in the storage unit 202 includes information for realizing a switching mode process to be described later instead of the movement mode process during execution of the monitoring program, and selection of the switching mode process or the normal mode process. The selection information indicating is included. Hereinafter, processing performed in the hot folder monitoring function according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the entire hot folder monitoring function. When the monitoring program is executed by the control unit 201, the control unit 201 confirms whether the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202, and if it is stored, the mode setting information is included in the mode setting information. The selected information is confirmed (step SA100). The control unit 201 determines whether or not the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202 and whether to set the normal mode or the switching mode from the content indicated by the selection information included in the mode setting information (step SA200).

  When the mode setting information is not stored in the storage unit 202 or when the selection information indicates selection of the normal mode processing even if the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202, the control unit 201 determines that the mode is normal mode (step SA200; Yes), Normal mode processing is performed (step SA300). On the other hand, when the mode setting information is stored in the storage unit 202 and the selection information indicates selection of the switching mode process, the control unit 201 determines that the mode is not the normal mode but the switching mode (step SA200; No), and the movement mode Processing is performed (step SA400). Then, when the respective processes are finished, the hot folder monitoring function is finished. It should be noted that both the normal mode process (step SA300) and the switching mode process (step SA400) may be repeated after the process is completed until a termination instruction is given.

  Since the normal mode process (step SA300) is the same as the normal mode process (step S300) in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the processing content of the switching mode processing (step SA400) will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching mode process in the hot folder monitoring function. When the switching mode process is started, the control unit 201 monitors all hot folders provided according to the hot folder information (step SA410), and the instruction information from the client device 30 is received by any hot folder. And waiting for storage (step SA420; No). When the instruction information is stored in one of the hot folders (step SA420; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether the instruction information includes the mode information (step SA430).

  If the mode information is not included in the instruction information (step SA430; No), the control unit 201 performs error processing (step SA470) and ends. The error process is a process common to the error process in the first embodiment. On the other hand, when the instruction information includes the aspect information (step SA430; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether there is a setting name corresponding to the aspect information (step SA440). Specifically, with reference to the template information, it is determined whether or not all setting names have a corresponding name (in this example, a matching name) indicated by the mode information. Note that, as extended in the first embodiment, the names may not be completely coincident with each other as long as they coincide with each other so that the correspondence can be recognized (partial coincidence, etc.).

  If there is no setting name corresponding to the mode information (step SA440; No), the control unit 201 performs error processing (step SA470) and ends. On the other hand, if there is a setting name corresponding to the mode information (step SA440; Yes), the control unit 201 sets an image formation mode corresponding to this setting name for the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored. Set (step SA450). Then, the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (Step SA460) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends the process. As described in the first embodiment, the image formation instruction is performed by setting an image specified by the specification information included in the instruction information to a hot folder in which the instruction information is stored when the image formation instruction is performed. This is an instruction to form in the image forming mode.

  As described above, when the server apparatus 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is set to the switching mode, the image forming mode corresponding to the mode information included in the instruction information stored in the hot folder and the storage mode are stored. Even if the image forming mode set for the selected hot folder is different, the image forming apparatus 10 is instructed to form an image after setting the image forming mode corresponding to the mode information for the hot folder. Thus, the image forming apparatus 10 is caused to form an image related to the instruction information in an image forming mode corresponding to the mode information. On the other hand, when the normal mode is set, the server apparatus 20 uses the image forming mode set in the hot folder storing the instruction information regardless of the mode of image formation corresponding to the mode information. 10 forms an image related to the instruction information.

<Fourth embodiment>
The image forming apparatus 10, the server apparatus 20, and the client apparatus 30 in the fourth embodiment have the same configuration as that in the third embodiment, but the hot folder monitoring function in the server apparatus 20 is different. Further, the hot folder information stored in the storage unit 202 of the server device 20 further includes information for specifying one hot folder, and this information is used to specify one specific hot folder (hereinafter, in the fourth embodiment). , A specific hot folder (referred to as a specific HF) is preset. If there is only one hot folder, that hot folder becomes a specific hot folder.

  On the other hand, mode setting information is not stored in the storage unit 202. In this example, the specific hot folder is set as the hot folder “default”. Hereinafter, processing performed in the hot folder monitoring function according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the hot folder monitoring function according to the fourth embodiment. When the monitoring program is executed by the control unit 201, the control unit 201 monitors all hot folders provided in accordance with the hot folder information (step SA510), and any instruction information is received from the client device 30. Waiting to be received and stored in the hot folder (step SA520; No). When the instruction information is stored in one of the hot folders (step SA520; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether or not the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored is a specific hot folder (specific HF) ( Step SA525).

  If it is determined that it is not the specific hot folder (step SA525; No), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step SA560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends. As described in the first embodiment, the image formation instruction is performed by setting an image specified by the specification information included in the instruction information to a hot folder in which the instruction information is stored when the image formation instruction is performed. This is an instruction to form in the image forming mode.

  On the other hand, if it determines with it being a specific hot folder (step SA525; Yes), the control part 201 will determine whether the mode information is contained in the instruction information stored in the specific hot folder (step SA530).

  If the mode information is not included in the instruction information (step SA530; No), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step SA560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends. On the other hand, when the instruction information includes the aspect information (step SA530; Yes), the control unit 201 determines whether there is a setting name corresponding to the aspect information (step SA540).

  If there is no setting name corresponding to the mode information (step SA540; No), the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (step SA560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends. On the other hand, when there is a setting name corresponding to the mode information (step SA540; Yes), the control unit 201 sets an image formation mode corresponding to this setting name for the hot folder in which the instruction information is stored. Set (step SA550). Then, the control unit 201 issues an image formation instruction (Step SA560) to the image forming apparatus 10 and ends the process.

  As described above, in the hot folder monitoring function according to the fourth embodiment, when the instruction information is stored in a hot folder other than the specific hot folder, and even if stored in the specific hot folder, the instruction information includes the mode information. If not, processing corresponding to the normal mode processing in the first embodiment is performed. On the other hand, when the instruction information including the mode information is stored in the specific hot folder, a process corresponding to the switching mode process in the third embodiment is performed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can be implemented with a various form as follows.

<Modification 1>
In the first embodiment described above, when the instruction information is stored in the hot folder from the client device 30, the hot folder to be stored is the target for all the hot folders indicated by the hot folder information. A single hot folder may be targeted. In addition, one hot folder may be targeted when the server apparatus 20 is performing the movement mode process.

  Here, when one hot folder is targeted, when the application program B is executed by the control unit 301 in the client device 30, the one hot folder to be targeted is displayed on the display unit 304, and the hot folder is displayed. The instruction information may be stored only in the. Also, when all hot folders are displayed and instruction information is stored in one preset hot folder, move mode processing is performed, and when instruction information is stored in other hot folders Even in the movement mode, normal mode processing may be performed. This is also applicable in the third embodiment.

  When applied to the second and fourth embodiments, the target hot folder may be a specific hot folder.

<Modification 2>
In each of the above-described embodiments, image information indicating an image to be formed may be stored in a hot folder together with instruction information. In this case, the specific information included in the instruction information may indicate an address indicating a location where the image information is stored with a relative path. Further, when the hot folder storing the instruction information moves, the image information indicating the image specified by the specifying information may be moved together.

<Modification 3>
In the process of moving the instruction information to the hot folder with the corresponding HF name (step S550 in FIG. 10) in the second embodiment described above, the setting information set in the hot folder with the corresponding HF name is used as the instruction information. The instruction information may be moved by setting it to a specific hot folder in which is stored.

<Modification 4>
Each program in each embodiment described above is a computer such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD, FD), etc.), optical recording medium (optical disk (CD, DVD), etc.), magneto-optical recording medium, semiconductor memory, etc. It may be provided in a state stored in a readable recording medium and installed in each device. Further, it may be downloaded and installed in each device via a communication line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 20 ... Server apparatus, 30 ... Client apparatus, 40 ... Communication line, 101, 201, 301 ... Control part, 102, 202, 302 ... Storage part, 103, 203, 303 ... Operation part, 104, 204, 304 ... display unit, 105 ... image reading unit, 106 ... image processing unit, 107 ... image forming unit, 108, 208, 308 ... communication unit

Claims (6)

A plurality of storage means each for receiving instruction information including identification information for specifying an image to be formed and storing the instruction information, each of which is configured with an image formation mode;
A control unit that controls an image forming unit that forms an image and forms an image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information stored in the storage unit in an image forming mode set in the storage unit; When the instruction information stored in the storage unit includes the mode information corresponding to the image formation mode, the instruction information stored in the storage unit is used as the image formation mode corresponding to the mode information. An image forming control apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the image forming means after being moved to a set storage means. The control means stores the instruction information in the storage means when the instruction information is stored in one preset storage means among the plurality of storage means, and the instruction information includes the mode information. The image forming control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction forming information is moved to a storing unit in which an image forming mode corresponding to the mode information is set, and then the image forming unit is controlled. . The control unit performs a preset process without forming an image by the image forming unit when the mode information is not included in the instruction information stored in the storage unit. image formation control apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2. Further comprising mode setting means for setting either the first mode or the second mode,
When the control unit is set to the first mode by the mode setting unit, the control unit stores the image regardless of whether or not the instruction information stored in the storage unit includes mode information indicating a mode of image formation. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to control the forming unit to form an image specified by the specifying information included in the instruction information stored in the storing unit in an image forming mode set in the storing unit. The image formation control apparatus according to claim 3 . An image formation control device according to claim 2 ;
An instruction device for outputting the instruction information,
The instruction information output from the instruction device is received and stored in the one storage unit set in advance. Computer
A plurality of storage means each for receiving instruction information including identification information for specifying an image to be formed and storing the instruction information, each of which is configured with an image formation mode;
A control unit that controls an image forming unit that forms an image and forms an image specified by the specific information included in the instruction information stored in the storage unit in an image forming mode set in the storage unit; When the instruction information stored in the storage unit includes the mode information corresponding to the image formation mode, the instruction information stored in the storage unit is used as the image formation mode corresponding to the mode information. A program for functioning as a control means for controlling the image forming means after being moved to a set storage means.

Images