JP2002094722A - Image-forming apparatus and control method for the image-forming apparatus and image-forming system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus that can relieve load on a user by a large extent, caused in the case of distribution processing and remote copy, and to provide a control method for the image-forming apparatus, an image-forming system and a storage medium. SOLUTION: A display device of an MFP(multi-function peripheral) 201 displays operating modes of MFPs 202-205 and of their image forming, a desired operating mode is selected from among the displayed operating modes, function information of the MFPs 202-205 is acquired in response to the setting, and an MFP that can form an image according to the desired operating mode is retrieved, on the basis of the acquired function information. The display device updates and displays display contents on the basis of the result of retrieval, each time the desired operating mode is set. Thus, even while confirming the function state of the MFPs, the distribution processing can be set quickly and easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, an image forming apparatus control method, an image forming system including the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of the control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as a digital multifunction peripheral having a copying function, a printer function, an image scanning function and the like are connected to a network to enable distributed processing of image formation. . In such an image forming system, for example, by using an output function of a plurality of image forming apparatuses called a cascade copy, even when copying with a large number of copies, the image is more compared with the case where the digital MFP alone performs the copy. The productivity of formation can be improved.

[0005] Here, a processing procedure for performing a cascade copy will be briefly described. First, in a digital multifunction peripheral that reads an image, a user sets an original on an original platen and selects a cascade mode from an operation unit. Next, an image forming apparatus capable of performing distributed processing according to the purpose and a number of copies and a paper size to be output by the image processing apparatus are selected and set from a digital multifunction peripheral or a printer connected to the network. Then, by issuing an image reading start command in the digital multifunction peripheral, a distributed processing request is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus forms an image by holding jobs input based on the received distributed processing request and sequentially executing the jobs.

In the above-described image forming system, a remote copy function of outputting an image read by one image forming apparatus to another image forming apparatus via a network can be realized. Output processing using a function not provided in the apparatus and image output to a remote place can be performed.

When performing the above-described distributed processing or remote copy, an operation mode relating to image formation, such as selection of an image forming apparatus for forming an image and selection of functions such as double-sided copy, sort, and color output, is used. You need to make a choice. Conventionally, when an operation mode is selected, a selection screen is displayed on a touch panel of an image forming apparatus of a request source, and is selected and set by a user together with other items such as the number of output copies.

[0006]

However, the other image forming apparatuses connected to the network do not always have the same image forming function as the requesting image forming apparatus. Therefore, for example, when performing the continuous copy, the user himself / herself checks the functions of a plurality of other image forming apparatuses and performs image forming while confirming whether or not a desired operation mode can be realized for each image forming apparatus. Equipment must be selected. Such confirmation and selection work must be performed not only when performing continuous copying but also when performing remote copying.
Although there is an advantage that the user can grasp the state of the image forming system, there is a problem that it is extremely troublesome and the use efficiency and convenience of the image forming system are reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and when performing image formation using another image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus capable of communication and an operation mode of image formation are displayed on a display apparatus. Displaying, setting a desired operation mode from the displayed operation modes, acquiring function information of an image forming apparatus capable of communication according to the setting, and forming an image capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode The apparatus is searched based on the acquired function information, and the display on the display device is updated and displayed based on the search result every time a desired operation mode is set, thereby displaying the image forming apparatus. The user can quickly and easily set the distributed processing while confirming the function status of the image forming apparatus, thus greatly reducing the burden on the user during distributed processing and remote copying. Another object of the invention is to provide a control method and an image forming system and a storage medium of the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium. When performing image formation using the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of communication and a display means for displaying an operation mode of image formation, and a desired operation mode from the operation modes displayed by the display means Setting means for setting the image forming apparatus; acquiring means for acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting by the setting means; and acquiring the image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode. Search means for searching based on the function information obtained by the means, wherein the display means displays a search result by the search means every time the setting means sets a desired operation mode. Characterized in that it displays and updates the display contents Zui.

Further, according to a method of controlling an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a method of controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, wherein the other image forming apparatus is used. A display step of displaying an image forming apparatus capable of communication and an operation mode of image formation on a display device when performing an image forming operation, and setting a desired operation mode from the operation modes displayed by the display step A setting step, an acquiring step of acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting in the setting step, and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode in the acquiring step A search step for searching based on the obtained function information, wherein the display step is based on a search result by the search step each time an operation mode desired by the setting step is set. Characterized in that it updates the display contents of the display.

Further, in the image forming system according to the present invention, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, wherein the image forming apparatus includes the other image forming apparatus. When performing image formation using a forming device, an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus and a display unit that displays an operation mode of image formation, and a desired one of the operation modes displayed by the display unit. Setting means for setting an operation mode to be performed, acquisition means for acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting by the setting means, and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode Searching means for searching based on the function information obtained by the obtaining means, wherein the display means sets a desired operation mode each time the setting means sets a desired operation mode. Based on the search result by the search means to update the display and displaying.

The storage medium of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of a control method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium. When performing image formation using another image forming apparatus, a display code for displaying a communicable image forming apparatus and an operation mode of image formation on a display device, and a desired operation mode selected from the operation modes displayed by the display code. A setting code for setting an operation mode to be set, an acquisition code for acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting by the setting code, and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode And a search code for searching for a device based on the function information acquired by the acquisition code, and the display code is used for the operation desired by the setting code. Each time to set the mode, wherein the update to display the display contents based on the search result by the search code.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an MFP (MF) to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a Multi-Function Peripheral (P: hereinafter MFP).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a controller for controlling the MFP.
The laser beam printer engine 103 and the finisher 104 are controlled.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a scanner engine, which illuminates an image on a sheet of paper as a document and scans a CCD line sensor to convert it into an electrical signal as raster image data, and transmits the obtained image data to the controller 101. . The scanner engine 102 may be provided with a document feeder capable of reading a plurality of documents with a single instruction. Reference numeral 103 denotes a laser beam printer engine, which forms an image by an electrophotographic method.
The printer engine is not limited to the laser beam printer engine, but may be a printer engine of another system such as an ink jet system.

The finisher 104 is connected to the laser beam printer engine 103, and can perform stapling (stapling) on a plurality of recording media, such as paper, output from the laser beam printer engine 103. Reference numeral 105 denotes a network (Ethernet) interface.
1 provides two-way communication through the same interface.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a user interface, which includes an LCD display and a keyboard, displays information from the controller 101 and transmits instructions from the user to the controller 101. Also, by inquiring a supervisor described later through the user interface 106, the provided function overview (what kind of job can be issued, etc.), the subaddress used for job issuance, and detailed information of each function (maximum number of copies, The type of finisher supported PDL, the number of output BINs that can be specified, etc.) can be acquired. Here, the operation instruction to the controller 101 is not limited to being able to be performed only by the user interface 106, but may be performed by a network (Ethern).
All functions can be used from an external device via an interface such as ET, (registered trademark) TCP / IP) or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system including the MFP according to the present invention described above. 20
MFPs 1 to 205 have the configuration shown in FIG.
The MFP 201 is connected to the MFPs 202 to 205 via a network interface cable 207. The MFPs 201 to 205 can connect to a network by designating an IP address and a port number, and can mutually output IP packet data.

As described in the example of the distributed processing described below,
In the present embodiment, the MFP 201 reads an image, issues a distributed processing instruction via a network, and performs local image formation. The MFPs 202 to 205 perform image formation in accordance with a distributed processing instruction instructed via the network. It is assumed that the remote printer 1 to the remote printer 5 are used.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the controller 101. Inside the controller 101, a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 30
3. The DISK 304 is connected to the bus 305. Further, the bus 305 includes the above-described scanner engine 10.
2. Laser beam printer engine 103, finisher 104, network interface 105,
An LCD display 306 and a keyboard 307 constituting the user interface 106 are connected.

A CPU 301 controls a controller 101, a scanner engine 102, a laser beam printer engine 103, and the like.
Performs engine operation such as scanning and obtains various statuses. The RAM 302 is used as a work area of the CPU 301, and temporarily stores job information executed by the MFP, image data, and the like. ROM 303 stores M
An operation program of the FP and the like are stored, and are read and executed as needed.

The DISK 304 is an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or a floppy (registered trademark) disk.
Various programs and data are stored, and these are sequentially read out to the RAM 302 as needed, and
01. In the present embodiment, DISK3
04 is built in the controller 101, but is not limited to this, and may be detachable. Further, the program is executed by the network interface 105.
DISK3 downloaded from another MFP via
04 may be used.

The LCD display 306 displays the status of the MFP and the MFP that can perform distributed processing when performing distributed processing.
Display information, etc. LCD display is CPU 30
1 performs display by writing data to the LCD display 306. The keyboard 307 is used to input various commands and parameters when operating the MFP, and may be realized as a touch panel on the LCD display 306 or may be separately provided. C
When the PU 301 reads data from the keyboard 307, an instruction from a user is input to the controller 101.

A scanner engine 102, a laser beam printer engine 103, a finisher 104
May exist as individual peripheral devices on a network instead of inside the MFP, and may be controlled by the controller 101 of the MFP.

FIG. 4 shows the state of the DISK in the controller 101.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software (control program) configuration of the control unit. These software are CPU 301
Runs. In FIG. 4, a solid line indicates data and control, and a dotted line indicates setting and capability acquisition.

A user interface driver 401 controls the LCD display 306 and the keyboard 307. A user interface manager (control program) 403 is a UI driver 4
Interpret the input information from the user input from 01,
A command packet is generated and output to the interpreter (control program) 405. The details of the command packet structure will be described later with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 402 denotes a network interface driver (control program) which controls the network interface 105 and processes the network packet at the physical layer, that is, extracts a transport packet from the physical packet and extracts a physical packet from the transport packet. Generate. 404 is TCP / IP.
The UDP / IP processing module processes a transport packet output from the network interface driver 402, extracts a command packet, and outputs the command packet to the interpreter 405. Further, a transport packet is generated from the command packet output from the interpreter 405 and output to the network interface driver 402.

An interpreter 405 sends and receives command packets and controls the provision of a job service in each connection mode. Reference numeral 406 denotes a supervisor attribute table shown in FIG. 5 described later, and various data shown by a service ID (SID): task type correspondence table shown in FIG. 9 are stored in the DISK 304 to supervise the operation of the controller 101 (supervisor manager). It is. The supervisor 406 includes various data held by itself, and each manager (the print job manager 409, the scan job manager 408, and the copy job manager 41).
0) and various controllers (printer controller 412, scanner controller 41)
The various data held in 1) is referenced and changed according to the instruction of the input command.

Reference numeral 407 denotes a dispatcher, which distributes a command packet to a print job manager (control program) 409, a copy job manager (control program) 410, and a scanner job manager (control program) 408.

A scanner job manager 408 controls the management of scanner resources and the execution of jobs. A print job manager 409 controls management of printer resources and execution of a job. The print job manager 409 is a printer controller 412
And the print engine connected to it are determined, and which printer controller (control program) to use is described in the data indicated by the attribute ID 2001 in FIG. 10 (print manager attribute table).
In this embodiment, there is only one controller. The print job manager 409 displays the input print jobs and
The data shown in FIG. 11 (job table) and FIG. 12 (job request table), which indicates what kind of job is being executed, are stored in the DISK 304. The printer controller 412 has in the DISK 304 data as shown in FIG. 15 (attribute table) indicating the function / state and performance of the corresponding printer engine. FIG. 16 shows the state of the input print job.
The data as shown in (job queue table) is stored in DISK30.
4 is held.

A copy job manager 410 manages copy resources and copy jobs. The copy job manager has data as shown in FIG. 14 (copy manager attribute table) in the disk 304 respectively. The copy job manager 410 determines a printer controller, a scanner controller, and a print engine and a scanner engine connected thereto for processing a copy job, and determines which printer controller and scanner controller to use in FIG. Copy manager attribute table) (attribute ID 2001). In this embodiment, there is only one controller. As shown in FIG. 11 (job table) and FIG. 12 (job request table), the copy job manager 410 indicates the input copy jobs and what kind of jobs these printers and scanner controllers are executing. Data is stored in the disk 304.

Reference numeral 411 denotes a scanner controller for operating the scanner device in response to a request from the scanner job manager. Reference numeral 412 denotes a printer controller, which operates a printer device in response to a request from the printer job manager.

FIG. 5 shows that the supervisor 406 has DISK
4 is a supervisor attribute table representing data held and managed in 304. The attribute table indicates an outline of functions of the MFP 201, connection information, security information, and the like.
In the attribute table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records. Each record is composed of an attribute ID 501, a type ID 502, and a value 503, and represents an attribute of a supervisor. The attribute ID 501 indicates the type of information, and indicates the meaning of what the value 503 indicates. Attribute ID 50
Numeral 1 is unique inside the device, and those having the same attribute ID represent the same information type. The type ID 502 indicates what data type the value 503 has, and is used when interpreting the value 503. The type ID is uniquely determined by the attribute ID, and is uniquely defined inside the device. In the present embodiment, the attribute ID 501 and the type ID are included in the attribute table.
Although both 502 are included, the correspondence table between the attribute ID and the type ID is held as data different from the attribute table, and the attribute table may include only the attribute ID and the value. Good. The value 503 indicates an attribute value according to the attribute ID 501.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing details of the attribute ID 501 and the type ID 502 in the attribute table of FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table).

FIG. 7 is a subaddress: service ID correspondence table. This table has an attribute ID “1001” (subaddress: S) of the attribute table shown in FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table).
It is held in the DISK 304 as attribute values of the (ID correspondence table). The subaddress: SID correspondence table indicates which service (for example, printing) can be obtained by inputting a command packet to which subaddress. In addition, the interpreter 405 controls whether to provide a job service for each connection mode according to the valid flag and the like in this table. In the table, each row is one information unit (record)
, And the data is configured as a set of a plurality of records. Each record has a connection type ID 701, a sub address 702, a service ID 703, and a valid flag 7
04, a list 705 of valid users and a list 706 of invalid users. The connection type ID 701 indicates an identifier indicating the connection type.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the meaning of the connection type ID, where “0” indicates Internal (user interface),
“1” is TCP / IP (network), “2”,
“3” indicates that other IEEE1284.4 (IEEE12
84), SBP-2 (IEEE1394) and the like.

FIG. 9 is a service ID: task type correspondence table. This table has an attribute ID “1002” (SID: Tas) of the attribute table shown in FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table).
(k Type table) are stored in the DISK 304 as attribute values. The service ID: task type table indicates what kind of service the service ID provides. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

Each record is composed of a service ID "901" and a task type "902". The task type “902” indicates what kind of service it is. “903” is a diagram showing the meaning of the value of the task type “902”. “0” is the service provided by the supervisor, “1” is print, “2” is scan,
“3” represents a copy. The service ID has a one-to-one correspondence with the service providing manager. For this reason, the service ID is also used to access the function table of each manager.

Since the function table also includes a printer controller and a scanner controller, the printer controller and the scanner controller also have a controller ID corresponding to the service ID for accessing these functions.
(CID) is assigned, and what kind of controller the controller ID is is managed in a service ID: task type correspondence table. Task type "20
“1” represents a printer controller, “202” represents a scanner controller, and controller IDs correspond one-to-one with each controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a print manager attribute table representing data (attribute table) held in the DISK 304 by each print job manager (control program) 409. This table shows print job performance and functions that can be handled by the print job manager. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

FIG. 11 is a job table showing the data held by the print job manager, and shows the correspondence between the file name holding the job entity managed by the print manager and the job ID. This table has the attribute ID “20” of the attribute table shown in FIG. 10 (print manager attribute table).
03 "(job table) is stored in the RAM 302 as an attribute value.
The above job table is dynamically changed and DISK30 as required.
Save to 4. In the table, each row is one information unit (record)
, And the data is configured as a set of a plurality of records. Each record is composed of a job ID 1101 and a file name 1102 in which the actual job is held. The job ID 1101 is an identifier for a job assigned by the print job manager when the job is input to the print job manager. The job file name 1102 is the name of a file in which the job entity is held. As shown in FIG. 20 (structure of job data), the entity of a job is configured by having a plurality of sets of attribute IDs, attribute value sizes, and attribute values.

FIG. 12 (job request table) is a diagram showing a job request table held by the print job manager, and shows the relationship between jobs managed by the print manager and jobs executed by the controller. This table is held in the DISK 304 as attribute values of the attribute ID “2004” (job request table) of the attribute table shown in FIG. 10 (print manager attribute table). The job request table is
This indicates that the job managed by the print job manager is being executed by which controller as which job. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records. Each record is composed of a job ID 1201, a controller ID 1202, and a job ID 1203 assigned in the controller.
A job ID 1201 is an identifier for a job assigned by the print job manager when the job is input to the print job manager, and is stored in a job table (FIG. 1).
This corresponds to the job ID 1101 in 1). The controller ID 1202 indicates the ID of the controller executing the job. The job ID 1203 is an identifier of a job assigned by a controller that executes the job.

FIG. 13 shows the scan job manager 408.
6 is a scan job manager attribute table, which is data held by. This table shows the performance and functions of the scan job that can be handled by the scan job manager. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

FIG. 14 is a copy job manager attribute table representing data held by the copy job manager. This table shows the performance and functions of the copy job that can be handled by the copy job manager. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record),
The data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

FIG. 15 shows that the printer controller 412
6 is a printer controller attribute table representing data (attribute table) held in the ISK 304. This table shows the performance / function of the print engine and finisher controlled by the printer controller, and the values relating to the performance / function cannot be rewritten. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

FIG. 16 is a job queue table showing a job queue held by the printer controller 412. This table is held in the DISK 304 as attribute values of the attribute ID 5005 (job queue table) of the attribute table shown in FIG. 15 (printer controller attribute table). The job queue table indicates the status of the job managed and executed by the printer controller. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records. Each record has a job ID 1601, a job status 160
2 and the file name 16 holding the job entity
03. The job ID 1601 is an identifier for a job assigned by the printer controller when the job is input to the printer controller.

Reference numeral 1604 denotes the job status 1602 (job status) in FIG. 16 (job queue table). “1” indicates that the job is being completed, “2” indicates that the job is being executed by the engine, and “3” indicates that the job is waiting for execution. The job file name 1603 is the name of a file in which the job entity is stored. As shown in FIG. 20 (structure of job data), the entity of the job is an attribute ID,
It is configured by having a plurality of sets of attribute value size and attribute value.

FIG. 17 shows that the scanner controller 411
6 is a scanner controller attribute table representing data held in the ISK 304. This table indicates the scanner engine performance / function controlled by the scanner controller, and the value relating to the performance / function cannot be rewritten.
In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a structure of a command packet output from the user interface manager 403 and the TCP / IP / UDP / IP processing module 404 to the interpreter 405. This command packet is sent from the interpreter 405 to the user interface manager 403, TCP / IP / UD.
The structure of the reply packet and the event packet output to the P / IP processing module 404 is also shown. The packet has a packet header 180 representing the beginning of the packet.
1, a packet version 1802 indicating the structure version of the packet, and a flag 180 indicating the character of the packet
3, an operation code 1804 indicating what kind of operation is to be performed, a block number 1805 used by the client (PC) to recognize the return packet, a parameter length 1806 indicating the length of the parameter 1810,
It consists of a user ID 1807 and password 1808 used for user authentication, a status code 1809 used only for a reply packet and indicating a general state of reply, and a parameter 1810 having a format determined for each operation code 1805.

The parameter 1810 includes an access target service ID, an access target attribute ID, and the like. Flag 1
Reference numeral 804 denotes a packet 1811 indicating whether the packet is a command packet / event packet or a return packet, and data to be transmitted is not included in the parameter 1810, and subsequent data includes the subsequent data. And a continuous flag 1812 indicating that the

FIG. 19 shows a processing flow of a command packet in MFP 201. First, the data input from the network interface driver 402
The P / IP / UDP / IP processing module 404 processes and extracts a command packet shown in FIG. 18 (command packet structure). The extracted command packet is input to the interpreter 405 from the TCP / IP / UDP / IP processing module 402 together with the connection type information (connection type ID) and the subaddress to which the data was input (S1901). The interpreter 405 refers to FIG. 9 (service ID: task type correspondence table) held by the supervisor 410 and compares the input connection type ID with the subaddress to obtain the service ID and determine whether the data input is valid. Check (S19
02).

If the result of the check in step S1902 is that the data input is not valid (No), the command packet is discarded and the process ends (S1904). Step S
As a result of the check in 1902, if the data input is valid (Yes), the command packet is analyzed based on the packet structure of FIG. 18 (command packet structure).
As a result of the packet analysis, each item shown in FIG. 18 (command packet structure) is output as independent and separate information (S1903), and the security level is acquired based on the service ID (S1905).

Next, it is checked whether the security level acquired in step S1905 is "0" or "1" (S1906). In step S1906,
When the security level is “0” or “1” (Ye
s), input to the dispatcher 407 without checking the security level, and the processing after step S1912 is performed. In step S1906, when the security level is other than “0” or “1” (No),
It is checked whether the security level is “2” (S1907).

If the security level is "2" in step S1907 (Yes), it is checked whether or not the user ID included in the command packet exists (S1909). In step S1909,
If the user ID is not included (No), it is determined that the user does not have the authority and error reply information is generated.
05 (status code “1909”)
Is generated and transmitted to the command packet transmission source (S1910), and the process ends. In step S1909, if the user ID is included (Yes), the user ID is input to the dispatcher 407, and the processing from step S1912 is performed. The source address is extracted from the transport packet (Header).

In step S1907, if the security level is other than "2" (No), it is checked whether a user ID: password pair included in the command packet exists (S1908).

In step S1908, the user I
D: If the password pair is not included (No), error reply information is generated as having no authority, a packet is generated by the interpreter 405 and transmitted to the command packet transmission source (S1911), and the process ends. If the user ID is included in step S1908, the user ID is input to the dispatcher 407, and step S19
The processing after step 12 is performed. After input to the dispatcher 407, in step S1912, the dispatcher 40
Reference numeral 7 designates a distribution destination manager based on the service ID, and a connection type ID and a sub address, to which data is input for the determined manager, a transmission source address, an operation code, a block number, flag information, and a user ID. Distribute, password, parameter length and parameters. Then, each manager processes the information (S1913), and the packet processing ends.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a file (job file) holding the job entity managed by each manager, that is, the structure of job data. The file name of the job file is held as the file name 1102 in FIG. 11 (job table). The structure of this file also indicates the internal structure of a file that holds the job entity managed by each controller. This file name is held as the file name 1603 in FIG. 16 (job queue table). The job entity is represented by having a plurality of consecutive sets of an attribute ID 2001, an attribute value size 2002, and an attribute value 2003. In FIG. 20, 2004 to 2006, 2007 to 2009, 201
0 to 2012 form a set. When the job includes data, as shown in 2007, 2008, and 2009, a value representing the data as the attribute ID, the size of the file name as the attribute value, and the file name of the file holding the document data as the attribute value (data File 2013). The attributes include data transmission method and data format (PD used
L, etc.), information such as the type of event and the destination to which an event notification is transmitted when the event occurs, and information dependent on the type of job (for a print job, the number of copies, finishing process designation, etc.). .

FIG. 21 (job input processing 1) and FIG. 22 (job input processing 2) show the processing flow of the job script in each manager. Figure 1 shows the job script.
8 (command packet structure), which is defined as starting with a “Job Start” operation code and ending with a “Job End” operation code. Each packet constituting the job script is shown in FIG.
D: task type correspondence table) is entered into the subaddress indicated by the service ID correspondence table, and distributed to each manager by the command packet processing flow shown in FIG. 19 (packet processing).

The processing flow shown in FIG. 21 and FIG.
21 is a processing flow in the case of processing a command packet distributed to each manager to create a job file and a data file shown in FIG. 20 (structure of job data).

First, the operation distributed to each manager checks whether the operation code is a supported operation code.
The check is based on the “supported operations” attribute (attribute ID) that each manager holds in the attribute table.
This is performed by comparing with the value of “101”) (S210).
1). In step S2101, as a result of the check,
If the operation is not supported (No), an error reply packet is created, transmitted, and the process ends (S2116). In step 2101, if the operation code is a supported one (Yes), it is checked whether or not the job is currently being submitted. The check is for a job submission flag (step S
This is performed by checking whether the flag set in step 2106) is true (S2102).

In step S2102, as a result of the inspection, if the job input flag is false and the job is not input (No), the operation code is "Job Star".
In step S2104, if the operation code is not “Job Start” (No), an error reply packet is created, transmitted, and the process ends (S2116). If it is determined in step S2104 that the operation code is "Job Start" (Yes), a job ID is assigned, an item is added to FIG. 11 (job table), and a new job file is created (S2105). Thereafter, the job input flag is set to true, and the processing of the command packet ends (S210).
6).

In the check in step S2102,
If the job submission flag is true (Yes), it is checked whether the operation code is “Send” (S2103). The operation code “Send” instructs the manager that the parameters include data constituting the job.

If the operation code is "Send" in step S2103 (Yes), the continuation flag input together with the command is checked (S2107).
If the continuation flag is true (Yes), a new area is added to the existing data file 2013 (S21).
08), the parameters are written in the area, and the process is terminated (S2109).

In step S2107, if the continuation flag is false (No), a new data file 2013 is created (S2110), and parameters are written to the data file (S2111). Then, an area is added to the job file (S2112), and an attribute ID 200 representing data is added.
7. The size 2008 of the file name and the file name 2009 of the newly created file are written in this area, and the process ends (S2113).

If the operation code is not "Send" in step S2103 (No), it is checked whether the operation code is "Job End" (S2114). If the operation code is “Job End” in step S2103, job generation end processing is performed and the processing ends (S2115). The job generation end processing includes processing such as closing a job file, and differs depending on the type of manager (print job, scan job, copy job).

If the operation code is not "Job End" in step S2114 (No), it is checked whether the operation code is "Set Job" (S2117). Operation code "Set Jo
b ”is an attribute (attribute ID) constituting the job as a parameter.
And the attribute value) are included. If the operation code of the job is “Set Job” in step S2117 (Yes
s), an area is added to the job file (S2118),
The writing is completed in the area to which the attribute ID, the attribute value size, and the attribute value are added (S2119).

If the operation code is not "Set Job" in step S2117 (No), it is checked whether the operation code is "Send Request" (S2120). The operation code “Send Request” instructs the manager to transmit data, and includes a data transmission method as a parameter.

If the operation code is "Send Request" in step S2120 (Yes),
Perform processing dependent on each manager and end (S212)
1). In the case of the scan job manager, the process in step S2121 instructs the scanner controller to scan a document according to the attribute values held in the job file, and transmits the obtained data by a specified method. included. If the operation code is not “Send Request” in step S2120 (Yes), the processing of the other operation codes is performed and the processing ends (S2122).

FIG. 23 shows a job processing flow in the print job manager 409 shown in FIG. 4 (software block diagram). The print job manager 409 operates a task that constantly monitors the job table. The print job manager 409 executes the processing flow of the job script shown in FIG. 21 (job input processing 1) and FIG.
When it is detected that a new item has been added to the job table by inputting the “Start” operation code, this monitoring task operates a task having the processing flow shown in FIG. 23 (job processing of the print manager). First, an attribute indicating the type of an image (PDL or bitmap) used for expressing data (document data) is added to the job file. When the type of image is determined, the process waits until the image to be used can be developed (S23).
01). If image development becomes possible in step S2301 (Yes), the process waits for an attribute indicating a data receiving method to be added to the job file (S2302).

In step S2302, an attribute indicating the data receiving method is added to the job file, and when the receiving method is determined (Yes), the data receiving method is checked (S2303). In step S2303, the data receiving method is set outside the MFP 201 (for example,
In the case of the method of accessing a client PC on a network, a task for reading the designated data is generated to access the outside (S2304). Then, it waits for the start of data reading (S230).
5). If the data is included in the job in step S2303 (in the case of data reception by the “Send” operation code in FIGS. 21 and 22), the process waits for the start of data reception (S2306). Step S2
In step 305 or S2306, when reading or receiving of data is started (Yes), data input to the image developing unit is started (S2307). Thereafter, image data is received from the image developing unit (S2308).
Then, a printer controller to be used is determined (S2
309), the image data is input to the printer controller, and the job ID is received from the printer controller (S2310). FIG. 12 (job request table) shows the job I
D, the printer controller ID, and the job ID received from the printer controller are recorded as separate records for each printer controller (S2311).

The print job manager waits for the end of the job in each printer controller (S2312). When the end of the job is notified from the printer controller, the corresponding record is deleted from the job request table (S231).
3). Then, it is checked whether all the jobs requested to the printer controller have been completed (S231).
4) If there is still a job in the printer controller (No), the process returns to step S2312 to wait for the job to be completed in the printer controller.

If the jobs in all the requested printer controllers are completed in step S2314 (Yes), the record of the job is deleted from FIG. 11 (job table) (S2315). At this time, FIG.
An event transmission process indicated by (event transmission) is performed.
Then, the job file is inspected (S2316),
It is checked whether or not there is an attribute value for instructing the event transmission regarding the job end (S2317).

In step S2317, if there is no attribute value, the process ends (No), but if there is, the process returns to (Y).
es), the transmission method and the transmission destination are acquired by reading the attribute value (S2318). Then, an event transmission packet is created, and the event is transmitted to the specified transmission method and transmission destination (S2319). Further, end processing such as deletion of the job file / data file is performed, and the job processing ends (S2320).

FIG. 24 shows the scan job manager 40.
8 illustrates a processing flow of the job in FIG. The scan job manager 408 starts processing the job after the job submission is completed. Therefore, the scan job manager 408 executes step S211 in FIG. 21 (job input process 1) and FIG. 22 (job input process 2).
The job processing of FIG. 24 (job processing of the scan manager) is started as the end processing of the job No. 5.

First, a job is input to the scanner controller 411 and a job ID is received (S2401). Next, the job ID, the scanner controller ID, and the job ID received from the scanner controller 411 are recorded in FIG. 12 (job request table) (S2402). Then, the process waits for the job end from the scanner controller 411 (S2403). When the job end is notified from the scanner controller 411, the scanned image data is received from the scanner controller 411.
Delete the record of the job from (job table).

At this time, an event transmission process shown in FIG. 27 (event transmission) is performed (S2404). Then, a search is made for attributes instructing the data transmission method from among the attributes in the job (S2405). Next, the data reception method is determined (S2406). If the data transmission method is an instruction to transmit the data as a script in step 2406, the data is transmitted as a script together with other attribute information (S2408). Details of the data transmission process from the device are shown in FIG. 28 (access to attribute table).

If it is determined in step S2406 that the instruction is to transmit data as a reference, the data is stored in the device, and reference information for the data is transmitted as a script together with other attribute information (S2407). Next, the job file is inspected (S2410), and it is checked whether or not there is an attribute value instructing the event transmission regarding the job end (S2411).

In step S2411, if there is no attribute value, the process ends (No).
es), the transmission method and the transmission destination are acquired by reading the attribute value (S2412). Then, an event transmission packet is created, and the event is transmitted to the designated transmission method and transmission destination (S2413). Further, end processing such as deletion of the job file / data file is performed, and the job processing ends (S2414).

FIG. 25 shows a copy job manager 410.
3 shows the processing flow of the job in FIG. The copy job manager 410 starts processing the job after the job input is completed. For this reason, the copy job manager 410 executes the job end process in step S2115 in FIG. 21 (job input process 1) in FIG.
The job processing of (copy manager job processing) is started.

First, a job is input to the scanner controller 411 and a job ID is received (S2501). Next, the job ID, the scanner controller ID, and the job ID received from the scanner controller 411 are recorded in FIG. 12 (job request table) (S2502).

Then, the process waits for the job completion from the scanner controller 411 (S2503). When the job completion is notified from the scanner controller 411, the scanned image data is received from the scanner controller 411, and the job data is obtained from FIG. Is deleted (S2504). Next, a printer controller to be used is determined (S2505). When the printer controller is determined, the image data received from the scanner controller 411 is input to each printer controller, and a job ID is received from the printer controller (S2505).
2506). Further, in FIG. 12 (job request table), the job ID, the printer controller ID, and the job ID received from the printer controller are recorded as separate records for each printer controller (S250).
7).

Thereafter, the process waits for the job completion in the printer controller (S2508). When the job completion is notified from the printer controller, the record corresponding to the completed job is deleted from the job request table (S2509).

Then, it is checked whether all the jobs requested to the printer controller have been completed (S25).
10) If it is determined in step S2510 that a job still remains in the printer controller (No), the process returns to step S2508 and waits for the end of the job in the printer controller. In step S2510, if the job in all the requested printer controllers is completed (Yes), the record of the job is deleted from FIG. 11 (job table). At this time, an event transmission process shown in FIG. 27 (event transmission) is performed (S2511). Next, the job file is inspected (S2512), and it is checked whether or not there is an attribute value instructing the event transmission regarding the job end (S2513).

In step S2513, if there is no attribute value, the process ends (No).
s) The transmission method and the transmission destination are acquired by reading the attribute value (S2514). Then, an event transmission packet is created, and the event is transmitted to the designated transmission method and transmission destination (S2515). Further, end processing such as deletion of the job file / data file is performed, and the job processing ends (S2516).

FIG. 26 shows an event setting table and an event format table held by the supervisor. This table is stored in the DISK 304 as the attribute value of the attribute ID 502 (event setting table) of the attribute table shown in FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table). The event setting table holds, for each type of event, a method and destination for sending an event notification when a specified event occurs in the device. In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records.

The event format table of FIG. 26 is shown in FIG.
Attribute ID of attribute table indicated by (supervisor attribute table)
DI as the attribute value of 503 (event format table)
It is held in the SK 304. The event format table holds the format of additional data transmitted as an event notification for each event ID uniquely defined in the device.

In the table, each row represents one information unit (record), and data is configured as a set of a plurality of records. Each record is composed of an event ID 2604 and an event format 2605.
The event format 2605 is a format of additional data transmitted as an event notification, and is represented as a list of attribute IDs. The attribute ID is uniquely defined in the device, and its type is also uniquely determined by the attribute ID. Therefore, by specifying the attribute ID, the format of the additional data can be represented. For example, the attribute ID “676” of the event format 2605 is the paper size, the ID “756” is the paper type, the ID “666” is the toner type, the ID “698” is the ink type, and the ID “60”.
“0” indicates the position of the cover. The transmission method and destination of the event are set in data (attribute table) held by each manager and controller, and it is possible to notify an event that has occurred in each manager and controller. When a specified event occurs, the contents defined in the event format are notified together with data predetermined for each event ID.

FIG. 27 shows a processing flow of event transmission in each manager. The manager has an event setting table as shown in FIG. 26 (event) as a value of an attribute table held by each manager. As shown in the description of FIG. 26 (event), this table describes the connection type and destination for transmitting the event when the event occurs. When an event occurs, each manager recognizes an event ID for the event.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the event ID is registered with reference to the event setting table (S270).
1). Next, it is determined whether an event ID has been registered (S2702). If no event ID has been registered (No), the process ends. In step 2702, if at least one event ID is registered (Y
es), and proceed to the repetition processing for each record (S270)
3). In the repetitive processing of step S2703 and subsequent steps, first, the connection format used when transmitting the event and the destination to which the event is transmitted are obtained from the first record (S27).
04), an event transmission packet is created (S270).
5). In this packet, a parameter defined for each event ID and a parameter according to a format for each event ID registered in FIG. 26 (event) held by the supervisor 406 are added. next,
This event transmission packet is transmitted to the transmission destination of the connection format acquired in step S2704 (S2706).

From step S2704 to step S270
After performing the processes up to 6, it is determined in step S2707 whether or not all the records having the event ID have been performed. If not, the process proceeds to step S2703.
And the process is repeated, and if all records have been processed, the process is terminated.

FIG. 28 shows a process of reading and writing the attribute table of each manager and each controller held by the MFP 201. Reading and writing from the attribute table held by each manager and each controller are performed by transmitting an appropriate command packet to the subaddress of the supervisor 406. The command packet for reading the attribute table includes an access target service ID and an access target attribute ID as parameters. The attribute table write command packet includes, as parameters, an access target service ID, an access target attribute ID, and an attribute value corresponding to the attribute ID. The packet data sent from the client to the MFP 201 is processed according to the flow shown in FIG. 19 (packet processing) and distributed to the supervisor.

First, the operation code 1804 is
It is checked whether it is an attribute value reading code (“Get”) (S2801). If the operation code is “Get”, the entire attribute table to be accessed is acquired based on the service ID (S2802). Service I
When D is "0", the attribute table of the supervisor 406 shown in FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table), and when the service ID is "1", the attribute table of the print job manager as shown in FIG. 10 (print manager attribute table). If the service ID is "10", the scan job manager 4 as shown in FIG. 13 (scan job manager attribute table)
FIG. 14 when the service ID is “11” in the attribute table 08
When the service ID is "21", the attribute table of the printer controller as shown in FIG. 15 is obtained.

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the designated attribute value can be obtained (S2803). Inspection is performed on the "Attribute ID list that can be obtained only by the administrator" in the target attribute table
This is performed by acquiring the value of (attribute ID = 105) and checking whether or not the value includes the attribute ID instructed to be acquired. In step S2803, if the attribute ID is included (Yes), the value cannot be acquired, so that an error reply packet is created (S2805), this is transmitted, and the process ends.

In step S2803, if the attribute ID is not included (No), the attribute table is searched based on the designated attribute ID, and the type ID and the attribute value having the corresponding attribute ID are obtained (S2804). . Then, a reply packet is generated based on the type ID (S2806), and the reply packet is transmitted and the process ends (S2807).

If it is determined in step S2801 that the operation code is not “Get” (No), it is checked whether the operation code is an attribute value writing code “Set”. If the operation code is “Set” in step S2808, (Y
es), the entire attribute table to be accessed is acquired based on the service ID (S2809). Then, it checks whether the specified attribute value can be set. Inspection is performed on the attribute list "Attribute ID list that can be set only by the administrator" in the target attribute table
This is performed by acquiring the value of (attribute ID = 104) and checking whether or not it contains the attribute ID instructed to be set (S2810).

In step S2810, if the attribute ID is included (Yes), the value cannot be obtained, so that an error reply packet is created in step 2814, and the packet is transmitted and terminated (S2814). In step S2810, if the attribute ID is not included (No), the attribute table is searched based on the specified attribute ID, and the type ID having the corresponding attribute ID and the attribute value are acquired (S2811). Then, the designated attribute value is set based on the type ID, a reply packet notifying that the setting was successful is generated (S2812), and the reply packet is transmitted and the process ends (S2813). If the operation code is not “Set” in step S2808, other processing according to the operation code is performed, and the process ends (S2815).

FIG. 29 is a flow chart of a cascade copy process which is an example of the distributed process. In the cascade copy according to the present embodiment, an image read by a certain MFP (MFP 201) is read by a plurality of MFPs including itself (MFP 201, MFP).
202). The MFP for which the cascade copy has been designated simultaneously executes two flows as shown in FIG. 29 (distributed copy sequence). The cascade task 1 is a flow for copying by the MFP using the scanner function and the print function. The cascade task 2 is a flow for transmitting the scanned data to another MFP connected by the communication unit to perform printing.
When the execution of the cascade copy is determined, the cascade tasks 1 and 2 are executed. First, the case of the cascade task 1 will be described.

First, a command "Job Start" for starting copy processing is notified to the copy job manager. The command notified here is processed according to the flow shown in FIG. 21 (job input processing 1) and FIG. 22 (job input processing 2) (S2901).

Next, a "Set Job" command is notified to notify information necessary for this job. Along with this command, information such as the number of copies and whether or not the copy is a cascade copy is stored in the job file shown in FIG. 20 (job data structure) and notified to the copy job manager (S2902).

Steps S2903 and S2904 are commands for setting document information included in the job. When different resolutions or different paper sizes are used in one job, the information is notified to the manager. If there is only one image information generated by the job, it notifies the controller once. If they include different ones, they will be notified multiple times. In this example of the cascade task 1, it is issued only once (S2903, S2904). And
“Send Request” is notified to the copy job manager. When this command is notified, the copy job manager starts a copy process while storing the scanned image. Each time one image is stored, a scan data generation event is notified to the cascade task 2 (S290).
5).

Further, it is notified that the document and job settings have been completed (S2906, S2907), and waits for a copy processing end event (S2908).
After confirming the event, the process ends.

In the cascade task 2, the command notification destination is the print manager of another MFP connected by the communication means. The processing up to steps S2951 to S2953 is the same as in the multitask task 1. Step S2953
Is completed, the process waits for a scan data generation event from the manager performing the copy job (S29).
04).

When the event comes, the "Send" command is notified to the print manager. This command includes the generated image information, and the image information is registered in the data file shown in FIG. 20 (job data structure). Then, according to this information, the printer designated by the print manager outputs an image (S29).
55, S2956). Then, the end of one document is notified to the print manager (S2957).
In step S2957, this command still has
If the image information includes information of “coming” and “coming” and image information is still generated, step S29
Returning to step 54, the processing is continued. If the image information is no longer generated, the end of the job is notified to the print manager (S2958). Then, a print job end event is waited, and if there is an event, this process ends (S2959). By performing the processing according to this flow, it is possible to use two MFPs to realize the continuous copy.

Next, as an example of the distributed processing which is a feature of the present invention, a multiple copy in the image forming system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, an image read by MFP 201 in FIG. 2 is copied between MFP 201 itself (local printer) and other MFPs 202 to MF.
P205 (remote printers 1 to 4) is intended to be distributed and output, and it is assumed that multiple copy is started.

FIG. 30 is a processing flow showing a procedure for selecting a distributed processing destination. First, in order to select a distributed processing destination, the attribute ID 20 in FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table) is used.
MFP2 based on the information of 02 (connectable MFP list)
01 is displayed on the LCD display 306 (S3001). FIG. 31 shows an operation screen for selecting a distributed processing destination. In the present embodiment, the printer selection button 31 on the operation unit initial screen 3101
02 is pressed, the distribution destination selection screen 3103 becomes L
It is displayed on the CD display 306.

In the distribution destination selection screen 3103, in addition to the manual selection of the output destination by the user, the automatic selection of the output destination by checking the "automatic selection" button is possible, and then "automatic selection" is pressed. It is determined whether or not (S3002).

When "automatic selection" is selected (Yes),
A setting screen for the operation mode and a display of the multiple destinations are displayed (S30).
04). On the LCD display 306, an application mode screen 3104 is displayed. Application mode screen 3104
In this example, the operation mode is not set, and the local printer (MFP 201) and the remote printers 1 to 4 (MFP 202
To MFP 205) are displayed.

Next, it is determined whether the operation mode is set or the close button for terminating the setting is pressed (S300).
5) When the operation mode is set, the set operation mode is sequentially stored in the form as shown in FIG. 20 (job data structure). The application mode setting screen 3105 indicates that the “duplex” button has been pressed and the duplex mode has been selected.

Then, the “Get” operation shown in FIG. 28 (access to the attribute table) is executed on the MFPs listed in the attribute ID 2002 (connectable MFP list) in FIG. 5 (supervisor attribute table). 14 (copy manager attribute table) to obtain information on the attribute ID 1306, determine whether double-sided printing is possible, and display an MFP capable of double-sided printing on the LCD display 306 (S30).
07). The application mode setting screen 3105 is displayed in step S30.
07 is an operation screen after execution of step 07, and displays multiple destinations (local printer, remote printer 3, and remote printer 4) capable of performing duplex printing.

After the multiple destinations are displayed, the process returns to step S3005, and this process is repeated until the “close” button is pressed, so that only the multiple destinations capable of executing all the specified operation modes are displayed. Select a distributed processing destination from
The “close” button is pressed to execute the cascade process using the selected cascade destination (S3003). The screen after operation unit setting 3107 is a screen after the user selects the remote printer 3 on the application mode screen 3105 and presses “close”.

For example, if the local printer and the remote printer 4 have a sort function and the "sort" button is pressed in the state of the application mode screen 3105, the state shown in the application mode screen 3106 is obtained. Even if the “close” button is pressed in the state, the screen shown in the screen 3107 after the setting of the operation unit is displayed. If the automatic selection has not been performed in step S3002 (No), the cascade process is executed using the cascade destination specified by the user (S3003).

In the present embodiment, an application example of the present invention in the cascade mode using a plurality of MFPs has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A desired operation mode can be set on the operation screen shown in the embodiment, and an image forming apparatus to be output can be selected from the displayed image forming apparatuses.
Further, the application example of the present invention in the cascade mode using a plurality of MFPs having an image reading function has been described. However, other distributed processing such as a distributed print request from a host computer using a plurality of printers is performed. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system.

In the present embodiment, the operation mode is selected and set from movement, double-sided, sort, and layout. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that another operation mode such as color output may be used. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when selecting a distribution destination in a cascade copy,
An automatic selection mode for an operation mode is provided, and after setting a desired operation mode on the distribution destination selection screen, the function information of the MFP connected to the network is obtained, and the function mode is set based on the obtained function information. Displaying only MFPs capable of forming an image has the effect of greatly reducing the user's trouble of selecting a distribution destination.

Also, on the distribution destination selection screen, the display contents are updated and displayed each time the operation mode is set, so that
Not only the quick distribution destination is selected and displayed, but also which MF
There is an effect that it is possible to confirm which operation mode can be realized by P. The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out the program code stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that it will be completed by execution.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. The functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS running on the computer performs the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided on the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is transferred to the instruction of the next program code. Based on the above, a case may be included in which a CPU or the like provided in an expansion board or an expansion unit processes the extended function and performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say.

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an image is formed using another image forming apparatus,
An image forming apparatus capable of communication and an operation mode of image formation are displayed on the display device, a desired operation mode is set from the displayed operation modes, and function information of the image forming apparatus capable of communication is set according to the setting. An image forming apparatus that can acquire and form an image in a desired operation mode is searched based on the acquired function information. With respect to display on a display device, each time a desired operation mode is set, a search result is obtained. By updating and displaying the display contents based on the information, it is possible to quickly and easily set the distributed processing while confirming the functional state of the image forming apparatus, thereby reducing the burden on the user during the distributed processing and the remote copy. There is an effect that a significant reduction can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a controller 101.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of a disk 304 in the controller 101.

FIG. 5 is a supervisor attribute table showing data that the supervisor 406 holds and manages in the DISK 304;

6 is an attribute ID 5 of the supervisor attribute table shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the detail of 01 and a model ID502.

FIG. 7 is a subaddress: service ID correspondence table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the meaning of a connection type ID.

FIG. 9 is a service ID: task type correspondence table.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where each print job manager 409 is DIS.
9 is a print manager attribute table representing data held in K304.

FIG. 11 is a job table showing data held by a print job manager.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a job request table held by a print job manager.

FIG. 13 is a scan job manager attribute table which is data held by the scan job manager 408.

FIG. 14 is a copy job manager attribute table representing data held by the copy job manager.

FIG. 15 illustrates a case where the printer controller 412 is the DISK 30.
4 is a printer controller attribute table representing data held in the printer controller 4;

FIG. 16 is a job queue table representing a job queue held by the printer controller 412.

FIG. 17 shows a state in which the scanner controller 411 is DISK30.
4 is a scanner controller attribute table showing data stored in the scanner controller attribute table.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a command packet output to an interpreter 405.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a command packet in the MFP.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a structure of a file (job data) holding a job entity managed by each manager.

FIG. 21 shows job submission processing 1 in each manager.

FIG. 22 shows job submission processing 2 in each manager.

FIG. 23 illustrates a job processing flow in the print job manager 409.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a job in a scan job manager 408.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of a job in the copy job manager 410.

FIG. 26 is an event setting table and an event format table held by a supervisor.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a process flow of event transmission in each manager.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a process of reading and writing the attribute table of each manager and each controller.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a flow of a cascade copy process.

FIG. 30 is a processing flow showing a procedure for selecting a distributed processing destination when performing cascade copying in the present embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an operation screen when selecting a distributed processing destination in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Controller 102 Scanner Engine 103 Laser Beam Printer Engine 104 Finisher 105 Network Interface 106 User Interface 201 MFP (Local Printer) 202-205 MFP (Remote Printer 1-4) 206 Network Interface Cable 301 CPU 302 RAM 303 ROM 304 DISK 305 Bus 306 LCD display 307 Keyboard

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 3/12 B41J 29/00 TF term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP07 AR03 BB10 CQ03 CQ24 CQ34 HJ08 HK11 HN04 HN05 HN15 HQ03 HQ14 5B021 BB02 BB08 EE02 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB23 AB38 AB53 AC05 AC41 AC42 AC51 AF00 BA04 5E501 AA06 AA15 AB04 BA05 EA05 EA10 FA05 FA08

Claims (13)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, wherein the image forming apparatus performs image formation using the other image forming apparatus.
An image forming apparatus capable of communication and a display unit for displaying an operation mode of image formation; a setting unit for setting a desired operation mode from the operation modes displayed by the display unit; Acquiring means for acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus, and searching means for searching for an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode based on the function information acquired by the acquiring means. An image forming apparatus, wherein the display unit updates and displays the display content based on a search result by the search unit each time the setting unit sets a desired operation mode. 2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image can be selected from among the image forming apparatuses displayed by the display means, and a print processing request is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode includes a movement mode, a duplex mode, a sort mode, and a layout mode. 4. An image reading device for reading an original and generating image data, wherein the display device displays an image forming apparatus and an operation mode for forming an image on the image data generated by the image reading device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, the method comprising:
A display step of displaying an image forming apparatus capable of communication and an operation mode of image formation on a display device; a setting step of setting a desired operation mode from the operation modes displayed in the display step; An acquiring step of acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting; and searching for an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode based on the function information acquired in the acquiring step. Image forming, wherein the display step updates and displays display contents based on a search result of the search step each time an operation mode desired by the setting step is set. How to control the device. 6. An image forming apparatus for performing image formation can be selected from among the image forming apparatuses displayed in the display step, and a print processing request is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus. The control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 5. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the operation mode includes a movement mode, a duplex mode, a sort mode, and a layout mode. 8. An image reading step for reading a document and generating image data, wherein the displaying step displays an image forming apparatus and an operation mode for forming an image relating to the image data generated in the image reading step. The method according to claim 5, wherein 9. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, wherein the image forming apparatus performs image forming using the other image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus and a display means for displaying an operation mode of image formation, and a setting means for setting a desired operation mode from the operation modes displayed by the display means Acquiring means for acquiring the function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting by the setting means, and a function of acquiring the image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode by the acquiring means Search means for searching based on information, wherein the display means sets a desired operation mode by the setting means based on a search result by the search means. An image forming system for updating and displaying display contents. 10. An image forming apparatus for forming an image can be selected from among the image forming apparatuses displayed by the display means, and a print processing request is transmitted to the selected image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 9. 11. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the operation mode includes a movement mode, a duplex mode, a sort mode, and a layout mode. 12. An image reading device for reading an original and generating image data, wherein the display device displays an image forming apparatus and an operation mode for forming an image on the image data generated by the image reading device. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein: 13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of a control method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a communication medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores the program code. When performing image formation
A display code for displaying a communicable image forming apparatus and an operation mode of image formation on a display device, a setting code for setting a desired operation mode from the operation modes displayed by the display code, An acquisition code for acquiring function information of the communicable image forming apparatus according to the setting and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in the desired operation mode are searched based on the function information acquired with the acquisition code. A storage medium, comprising: a search code, wherein the display code updates and displays display contents based on a search result by the search code every time an operation mode desired by the setting code is set. .