JP5246055B2 - Printing apparatus, printing method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for executing a print job received from a personal computer or the like.

  In recent years, NICs (Network Interface Cards) have been provided in printing apparatuses. As a result, a single printing apparatus can be shared by a plurality of personal computers, and hardware resources can be used efficiently and costs can be reduced.

  If one printer is assigned to each personal computer and both devices are connected by a cable of about 1 to 2 m (for example, a USB cable), the user uses the personal computer. Occupies the printing device while Therefore, there is little possibility that other users will take the printed matter of the document that the user has printed on the printing apparatus. However, if the printing apparatus is shared by a plurality of personal computers, there is a high risk that the printed product will be accidentally taken by another user.

  Therefore, functions called “security print”, “confidential print”, or “secure print” have been proposed and implemented. According to this function, even if the printing apparatus receives a printing command from the personal computer, the printing apparatus does not print immediately. After the printing command, the user touches the IC card on a card reader connected to the printing apparatus or inputs a user ID and password on the liquid crystal panel of the printing apparatus. Then, the printing apparatus starts printing after confirming that the user is an authorized person.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose apparatuses that employ a security print function. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 starts measuring elapsed time when a print job is received, and if user authentication is performed before the set execution standby time elapses, When the job is executed and the execution waiting time elapses before the user authentication is performed, the print job data is stored in the user box.

  When the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 2 measures the holding time of the printing process with the clock unit and determines that the counting time exceeds the holding time, the print job management unit starts the printing process requested for printing. A signal is output, and cover data is created by the identification pattern forming unit to print the user identification data at a position where it can be recognized from the outside. In response to the activation signal, the printing unit performs a printing process including the cover data, and the enclosing unit encloses the cover data in an envelope that can be recognized from the outside, and discharges it to the paper discharge unit.

JP 2008-73973 A JP 2001-63179 A

  Incidentally, the conventional printing apparatus and image forming apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have the following problems. When a user visits the printing apparatus after giving a printing instruction to which the security printing function is applied to the printing apparatus (image forming apparatus), the printed matter may not be obtained immediately. This is because the printing apparatus may perform processing based on commands from other users. In particular, this problem may occur as the number of users sharing one printing apparatus increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to enable a user to obtain a printed matter with a shorter waiting time than before when applying a security print function to perform printing.

A printing system according to an aspect of the present invention is a printing system that executes a print job that is a job for printing an image on paper, and receives an input unit that inputs authentication data; and the print job; and As one of the print jobs, a security print job that can be executed when user authentication is successful based on the data input from the input unit and is requested by a user operating another device And a receiving unit that records, for each user, a time from when the security print job requested by the user is received by the receiving unit until the user is successfully authenticated as a second moving time. and time recording means, for each of the print job received by said receiving means For each security print job accepted by the accepting means, a required time predicting means for predicting the time required for executing the print job, and for each security print job accepted by the user who requested the security print job, the other a first movement time for moving from the device to the place of the printing system, for the user to predict based on the recorded second movement time by the movement time recording means, a moving time predicting means, said security One or a plurality of the print jobs other than the security print job during the first movement time related to the security print job after the print job is received by the reception unit based on the required times. Execute and execute the print job or jobs After the, executes the security print job has a print job execution means.

Alternatively, the travel time predicting means classifies the second travel time of the user as the requester into a plurality of different time zones, and sets the second travel time as the most classified time zone. The time to which the user belongs is predicted to be the first travel time of the user.

Alternatively, the travel time predicting means classifies the second travel time of the user as the requester into a plurality of different time zones, and the second travel time is classified into a plurality of top two or more the time respectively belonging to the time zone of a predetermined number, and predicted to be the first movement time of the user, the print job execution means according the said security print job is accepted in the security printing job the One or more of the print jobs other than the security print job are executed during the shortest first movement time of the predetermined number of the first movement times, and the one or more print jobs are after running, but executes the security print job, Naka the shortest the user authentication between the first movement time is successful If the next the shortest first movement time from not short the first movement time among the security print job is the predetermined number of the first movement time related to the security print jobs from being accepted After executing the one or a plurality of unexecuted print jobs other than the security print job, and executing the one or a plurality of unexecuted print jobs, the security print job Run.

  According to the present invention, a user can obtain a printed matter with a shorter waiting time than before even when printing is performed by applying the security printing function.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a printing system. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration and transition of a print job table. It is a figure which shows the example of a movement time performance table. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job reception history and a command source user authentication history. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of job registration processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of job execution processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of transition of a print job table. It is a flowchart explaining the modification of the flow of a job execution process.

  1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the printing system PSY, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. It is.

  The printing system PSY is a system for printing a document created by a personal computer or reading a document written on a sheet to convert it into electronic data. The printing system PSY is used in an organization such as a company, a government office, or a school.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system PSY includes an image forming apparatus 1, one or a plurality of terminal devices 2, a communication line 3, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal device 2 can be connected to each other via the communication line 3. As the communication line 3, a so-called LAN (Local Area Network) line, a public line, a dedicated line, or the like is used.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus generally called a multifunction peripheral or an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals), and is an apparatus in which functions such as copying, faxing, network printing, and scanning are integrated.

  The network printing function is a function for receiving image data from the terminal device 2 and printing an image on paper. Sometimes called a “network printer function” or a “PC print function”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10a, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10b, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 10c, a hard disk 10d, a scanner 10e, a printing unit 10f, and a network interface 10g. In addition to the touch panel 10h and the modem 10i, various control circuits are used.

  The scanner 10e is an apparatus that generates image data by reading an image such as a photograph, a character, a picture, or a chart on a sheet.

  The printing unit 10f prints an image read by the scanner 10e or an image indicated by image data received from another device.

  The touch panel 10h displays a screen for giving a message or an instruction to the user, a screen for the user to input processing commands and conditions, a screen showing the processing result of the CPU 10a, and the like. Moreover, the position which the user touched with the finger | toe is detected, and the signal which shows a detection result is transmitted to CPU10a.

  The network interface 10g is a NIC (Network Interface Card) for communicating with other devices such as the terminal device 2 via the communication line 3 using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

  The modem 10i is a device for exchanging image data with another fax terminal using a G3 protocol via a fixed telephone network.

  The ROM 10c or the hard disk 10d includes a user authentication unit 101, a print job reception unit 102, a movement time prediction unit 103, an execution order determination unit 104, a movement time measurement unit 105, a job execution control unit 106, and a user data storage unit illustrated in FIG. 121, a program and data for realizing the job data storage unit 122, the travel time record storage unit 123, and the like are stored. These programs and data are called to the RAM 10b as necessary, and the programs are executed by the CPU 10a.

  Each unit shown in FIG. 3 mainly performs processing for providing a user with a network printing service. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a security print function.

  According to the security print function, even when the image forming apparatus 1 receives a print command from the terminal device 2, the image forming apparatus 1 does not print immediately. After the printing instruction, the user inputs his / her user ID and password on the touch panel 10h. The image forming apparatus 1 performs authentication processing based on the input user ID and password, and starts printing when it is confirmed that the user is a legitimate user. This function is sometimes referred to as “secure print function” or “security print function”. It is also possible to connect the IC card reader to the image forming apparatus 1 and read the user ID from the IC card touched by the user on the IC card reader to perform the authentication process.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the terminal device 2 is a client that receives a network printing service from the image forming apparatus 1. The terminal device 2 is installed with a driver for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to execute an image printing process. As the terminal device 2, a personal computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is used.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration and transition of the print job table TB1, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the travel time result table TB2, and FIG. 6 is an example of print job acceptance and command source user authentication history. 7 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining an example of the flow of job registration processing.

  Next, the processing contents of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be broadly described as processing when a print job is received and processing when a print job is executed.

[Process when accepting print jobs]
In FIG. 3, the user data storage unit 121 stores a user ID and a password for each user who uses the image forming apparatus 1. The user ID and password are stored in the user data storage unit 121 by the operation of the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 every time a new user increases. However, the password can be arbitrarily changed by the user.

  The user authentication unit 101 performs user authentication processing of the user who operates the touch panel 10h as follows. When the user inputs a user ID and password to the touch panel 10h, the user authentication unit 101 compares the input user ID and password with the user ID and password stored in the user data storage unit 121. If there is a combination of user ID and password that matches the input user ID and password, it is determined that the user is valid.

  A user who applies a security print function and gives a print command from the terminal device 2 cannot obtain a printed matter without receiving authentication from the user authentication unit 101. This mechanism will be described later.

  The print job receiving unit 102 receives a print job command (hereinafter referred to as “print job”) and data necessary for executing the print job from the terminal device 2, and receives data related to the print job as job data. The data is stored in the storage unit 122. Here, processing of the print job reception unit 102 and the terminal device 2, operations by the user, data stored in the job data storage unit 122, and the like will be described.

  The user prepares image data of an image to be printed in the terminal device 2. The user may prepare the image data by creating a document with an application such as word processing software or drawing software installed in the terminal device 2. Or you may prepare by downloading the data of a WEB page with a WEB browser from the server on the internet. Then, the user activates the driver of the image forming apparatus 1 and gives a print command.

  The user can select whether or not to apply the security print function when giving a print job to the image forming apparatus 1. In the case of applying, an operation of turning on the option of the security print function may be performed when inputting a print command.

  When these operations are performed, the terminal device 2 transmits a print command to the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the prepared image data, the user ID of the user who gave the command (hereinafter referred to as “command source user”), and the confidential attribute information indicating whether the security print function is on, It transmits to the image forming apparatus 1. The image data is converted into page description language data corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1 as necessary, and is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The print job reception unit 102 receives a print job by receiving a print command, image data, user ID, and confidential attribute information from the terminal device 2. Then, a unique name is given to this print job. Hereinafter, this name is referred to as “job name”. Further, based on the received image data, a time required from the start to the end of the print job (hereinafter referred to as “prediction processing time”) is predicted. Specifically, the print job reception unit 102 determines the conditions for executing this print job (such as whether the image to be printed is color or monochrome, single-sided printing or monochrome printing, the number of pages, the number of copies, and the like) Based on one's own specifications (printing speed, etc.), the predicted processing time is calculated.

  Then, the print job reception unit 102 stores the received image data in the job data storage unit 122 in association with the job name of this print job. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a record indicating the job name of this print job, the user ID of the command source user (command source user ID), and the estimated processing time is generated and added to the print job table TB1. In addition, the record includes a waiting order, an estimated travel time, and an authenticated flag. Each time a print job is received, a record is stored in the print job table TB1. Therefore, a record of each print job is accumulated in the print job table TB1 as shown in FIG.

  The print job table TB1 is stored and managed by the job data storage unit 122. Also, the print job record and image data that have been executed are deleted from the print job table TB 1 and the job data storage unit 122.

  In a record of a certain print job, “waiting order” indicates the number of print jobs waiting to be executed in the future in the order of execution of this print job. That is, the priority of execution. The default waiting order is the number of other print jobs waiting for the execution order to be added plus “1”. That is, the default priority of this print job is the lowest. However, the waiting order is variable as will be described later. Note that the waiting order is determined by the execution order determination unit 104. Details will be described later.

  The “authenticated flag” is a flag indicating whether or not the command source user has been authenticated by the user authentication unit 101 after the print job is given to the image forming apparatus 1. If the user is authenticated (determined) as a legitimate user, “1” is indicated; otherwise, “0” is indicated. The default is “0”. The authenticated flag is used when the security print function is applied to this print job, that is, when “ON” is indicated in the confidential attribute information of this print job. The authenticated flag of the print job to which the security print function is not applied is not used, and neither “0” nor “1” is indicated. That is, it is a state in which a so-called Null value is stored.

  The “estimated travel time” is the time that is expected to be taken from the time when the command source user gives this print job to the image forming apparatus 1 until the user visits the image forming apparatus 1. It can also be called “walking time”. The estimated travel time is used when the security print function is applied to this print job, as with the authenticated flag. The predicted travel time is calculated by the travel time prediction unit 103 described later.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the travel time measuring unit 105 is the time (travel time, walking) actually taken from the time when the command source user gave the print job to the image forming apparatus 1 until it visited the image forming apparatus 1. Time).

  Specifically, the movement time measuring unit 105 starts measuring time when a print job indicated as “ON” in the confidential attribute information is received by the print job receiving unit 102. When the user authentication unit 101 successfully authenticates the user (that is, the command source user) of the user ID of the print job, the time measurement is stopped. That is, the time from when the print job is received until the command source user is authenticated is measured. The measurement result is stored in the travel time result storage unit 123 as follows.

  The travel time record storage unit 123 stores a travel time record table TB2. One travel time record table TB2 is provided for each user. In the travel time record table TB2, as shown in FIG. 5, the user having the travel time record table TB2 gives a print job to the image forming apparatus 1 for each time length range (travel time range). After that, a record indicating the number of visits to the image forming apparatus 1 during the travel time corresponding to the range is provided. The travel time record table TB2 is associated with the user ID of the owner user.

  The default number of times for each record in the travel time record table TB2 is “0”. For example, when a user is authenticated by the user authentication unit 101 after 3 minutes and 30 seconds from when the user gave a print job to the image forming apparatus 1, “1” is added to the number of records whose travel time range is “3 minutes <T ≦ 5 minutes”. However, when a print job to which the security print function is not applied is given, the travel time is not measured.

  The “representative time” is a specific time that belongs to the travel time range and represents the travel time range, and is used for calculating the predicted travel time by the travel time prediction unit 103 described later.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, for each user, the date and time when the print job command is received (print command reception date and time) and the date and time when the user is authenticated (user authentication date and time) are recorded as histories, and these histories are aggregated. By doing so, you may make it obtain the representative time of each movement time range shown in FIG.

  Here, a processing procedure performed by each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 when one print job is received will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when the print job receiving unit 102 receives image data of a certain print job, the user ID of the command source user, confidential attribute information, and the like, the print job receiving unit 102 calculates a predicted processing time based on the image data (# 501). .

  If “ON” is not indicated in the confidential attribute information (No in # 502), the execution order determination unit 104 assumes that the security print function is not applied to the print job and waits for the print job. The ranking is determined to be the lowest (# 503). Then, the print job reception unit 102 issues the job name of the print job, determines the waiting order determined, the issued job name, the predicted processing time calculated in step # 501, and the received user ID (command source user ID). Are generated and stored at the end of the print job table TB1 (# 504). Further, the received image data is stored in the job data storage unit 122 in association with the issued job name.

  On the other hand, when the confidential attribute information indicates “ON” (Yes in # 502), the travel time prediction unit 103 predicts based on the travel time result table TB2 (see FIG. 5) of the command source user. The travel time is obtained (# 505). In this example, the representative time indicated in the record of the travel time range with the largest number of times is set as the predicted travel time. In the example of FIG. 5, the representative time “3 minutes 00 seconds” in the travel time range of “1 minute <T ≦ 3 minutes”, which is the maximum number of times “15”, is set as the predicted travel time.

  The execution order determination unit 104 determines the waiting order of this print job as follows (# 506 to # 510).

  The execution order determination unit 104 changes the value of X to 1, 2, 3,... In order # 506, # 509), and the waiting order currently stored in the print job table TB1 is from No. 1 to X. The total time of the estimated processing time for the other print jobs is calculated (# 507). When the total time becomes equal to or longer than the estimated travel time of the command source user of the print job accepted this time (No in # 508), X at that time is determined as the waiting order of the print job accepted this time (# 510). ).

  For example, it is assumed that the records of the other five print jobs are stored in the print job table TB1 immediately before receiving the current print job, as shown in FIG. Then, it is assumed that “3 minutes 00 seconds” is obtained by the travel time prediction unit 103 as the predicted travel time of the command source user.

  The estimated processing time of the print job with the first waiting order is “50 seconds”. That is, the total time when X = 1 is 50 seconds, which is shorter than the predicted travel time. The estimated processing time of the print job with the second waiting order is “1 minute 30 seconds”. That is, the total time in the case of X = 2 is 50 seconds + 1 minute 30 seconds = 2 minutes 20 seconds, which is still shorter than the predicted travel time. The estimated processing time of the print job with the third waiting order is “3 minutes 30 seconds”. That is, the total time when X = 3 is 50 seconds + 1 minute 30 seconds + 3 minutes 30 seconds = 5 minutes 50 seconds, which is equal to or longer than the predicted travel time.

  Therefore, the execution order determination unit 104 determines the value of the waiting time for the current print job to be the X value at this time, that is, “3”.

  Returning to the flowchart, the print job receiving unit 102 inserts (stores) the record of the current print job into the print job table TB1 so that the determined order becomes the waiting order as shown in FIG. 4B. (# 511). The contents of the record are as described above. Further, with this insertion, the records of other print jobs whose waiting ranks are X and later are shifted down one by one.

[Processing when a print job is executed]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the flow of job execution processing.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in the image forming apparatus 1, incomplete print jobs are executed according to the waiting order in parallel with the above-described processing related to reception of print jobs (print jobs).

  The job execution control unit 106 always checks whether or not the printing unit 10f is printing. When it is detected that printing is not being performed, the print unit 10f or the like is caused to execute a print job whose record is stored in the print job table TB1 (see FIG. 5) according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the job execution control unit 106 checks whether a record is stored in the print job table TB1 (see FIG. 4) (# 521). If it is stored (Yes in # 522), if the print job with the first waiting order is not the one to which the security print function is applied (No in # 523), the print job is executed (# 525). ). That is, processing such as bitmap development is performed based on the image data of the print job, and the printing unit 10f is caused to execute processing for printing an image on paper. Whether or not the security print function is applied can be determined by checking whether or not the authenticated flag of the record of the print job is used. After execution, the waiting order of the remaining print jobs is incremented by one (# 526).

  On the other hand, if the print job with the first waiting order is the one to which the security print function is applied (Yes in # 523), if the authenticated flag of the record of the print job is “1”, that is, If the user (command source user) who commanded the print job has been authenticated (Yes in # 524), the print job is executed (# 525), and the waiting order of the remaining print jobs is incremented one by one (# 526).

  If the authenticated flag of the record of the print job is “0”, that is, if it has not been authenticated yet (No in # 524), the print job wait order is lowered without executing the print job. Lower (for example, second) (# 527). Note that even when the command source user is unauthenticated when the print job is checked in step # 521, the command source user may soon visit the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, the job execution control unit 106 has a predetermined time Ta (for example, about several seconds to several minutes) after the order in which the print jobs are executed (that is, after the print job is checked in step # 521). ) As long as the command source user is authenticated.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the overall processing flow of the image forming apparatus 1. Next, overall processing relating to a print job in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  Each time an event occurs, the image forming apparatus 1 executes the following process accordingly.

  In FIG. 9, when a print job command and image data are received (Yes in # 11), the image forming apparatus 1 performs a process of registering the print job record in the print job table TB1 (see FIG. 4) (see FIG. 4). # 12). This process is as described above with reference to FIG.

  Alternatively, when the user visiting the image forming apparatus 1 inputs the user ID and password (Yes in # 13), the image forming apparatus 1 performs user authentication processing (# 14). When it is confirmed that the user is a regular user (Yes in # 15), a record in which the user ID is indicated as the command source user ID is searched from the print job table TB1 (# 16), and the record that can be searched Is updated to "1" (# 17).

  Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 1 ends the printing process that has been executed, or when a new print job is registered in the job data storage unit 122 while the printing process is not being executed (Yes in # 18). Then, the execution of the print job with the highest waiting order is attempted (# 19). The procedure for executing this print job is as described above with reference to FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, when a print job to which the security print function is applied is received, the travel time from the point in time until the user (command source user) visits is predicted. Then, the existing print job is executed as much as it can be executed within the movement time, and it waits for the command source user to visit. Therefore, the command source user can obtain a printed matter with a shorter waiting time than before.

[Modified example using multiple predicted travel times]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of transition of the print job table TB1, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a modified example of the flow of job execution processing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 determines only one predicted movement time for one print job. Then, after registering the print job in the print job table TB1 based on one predicted travel time, if the command source user is not authenticated even in the order in which the print job is executed, based on another predicted travel time The print job may be registered again in the print job table TB1. Here, the content of the process when a plurality of predicted travel times are determined and used will be described focusing on the differences from the above-described embodiment. The description overlapping with the above embodiment is omitted.

  The flow of processing when a print job is received is basically the same as that shown in the flowchart of FIG. However, the following points are different.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 accepts the print job, the image forming apparatus 1 obtains a predetermined number of predicted movement times that are two or more instead of one in step # 505 of FIG. For example, the representative travel time indicated in the records of the top three travel time ranges from the travel time record table TB2 (see FIG. 5) is the predicted travel time. In the example of FIG. 5, “3 minutes 00 seconds”, “10 minutes 00 seconds”, and “30 minutes 00 seconds” are set as the predicted movement times. In the record, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10C, all of these predicted travel times are shown.

  In steps # 507 to # 510, the image forming apparatus 1 determines the waiting order of the received print job using the shortest predicted movement time among these predicted movement times. Note that the predicted travel time represented by bold italics in FIGS. 10A and 10C is the predicted travel time that has been used to determine the waiting order.

  The processing procedure when executing a print job is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, the print job of the first record stored in the print job table TB1 (see FIG. 4) is not applied with the security print function (No in # 533), or If the print job has the security print function applied and the command source user has been successfully authenticated (Yes in # 533, Yes in # 534), the print job is executed (# 525). . As can be seen from comparison with the flowchart of FIG. 8, these cases are common to the above-described embodiment.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10A, if the print job is one to which the security print function is applied but the command source user has not been authenticated yet (Yes in # 533, No in # 534), the image The forming apparatus 1 recalculates the waiting order of the print job as follows without executing the print job, and lowers it to the lower order (# 537 to # 543).

  First, as shown in FIG. 10B, the image forming apparatus 1 temporarily removes the print job from the print job table TB1, and increments the waiting order of the second and subsequent print jobs one by one (# 537).

  A new waiting order of the removed print job is determined using the shortest predicted moving time among the predicted moving times that have not yet been used for determining the waiting order (# 538 to # 542). However, at this time point, the predicted travel time (or predicted travel time plus a predetermined time Ta) used in the previous determination has already passed since the time when this print job was given. Therefore, the predicted travel time used in the previous determination (or the predicted travel time plus the predetermined time Ta) is the shortest predicted travel out of the predicted travel times that have not yet been used to determine the waiting order. Make this decision using the time minus the time. In the example of FIG. 10, a new waiting order is determined using a time obtained by subtracting 3 minutes (or 3 minutes plus a predetermined time Ta) from 10 minutes. The method of determination is as described in steps # 506 to # 510 in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10C, the record of the print job is inserted into a new waiting order in the print job table TB1 (# 543).

[Modification of calculation method of predicted travel time]
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the representative time of the travel time range is set in common for all users, but according to the actual travel time results (see FIG. 6) for each user. It may be different. In this case, for example, an average value of actual travel times may be obtained.

  For example, a user has moved 4 times within the range of more than 5 minutes and within 10 minutes, and the actual movement time of each user is “5 minutes 10 seconds”, “8 minutes 30 seconds”, “6 minutes 20”. In the case of “second” and “9 minutes 20 seconds”, the representative time when the moving time range is “5 minutes <T ≦ 10 minutes” is set to “(5 minutes 10 seconds + 8 minutes 30 seconds + 6 minutes 20 seconds + 9 minutes 20”. Sec) / 4 = 7 minutes 20 ".

  Alternatively, when there is a travel time that is significantly different from other travel times, the travel time may be excluded from the results shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. For example, when a certain travel time is equal to or greater than a predetermined multiple (for example, 10 times) of the average value of other travel times, the travel time may be excluded.

[Other variations]
In the above-described embodiment, the waiting order of a newly received print job is obtained based on the predicted processing time of another print job waiting for the execution order, but there is a print job currently being executed. In this case, it may be determined in view of the time taken from the present time until the print job is completed. Further, not only network printing print jobs but also other types of print jobs including print processing such as reception and copying of faxes may be considered.

  The user who uses the security print function for the first time does not have the travel time recorded in the travel time result table TB2. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot calculate the predicted movement time. Therefore, in such a case, the predicted travel time may be calculated using the travel time of other users in the seats near the user. Alternatively, a default predicted travel time may be determined.

  4 and 10 show an example in which only other print jobs to which the security function is not applied are registered in the print job table TB1 at the time when the print job to which the security function is applied is received. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a part of the print job is a print job to which a security function is applied. However, there are a plurality of print jobs to which the security function is applied, but if it is not possible to determine the waiting order for all of them according to the rules described above, the one that has been accepted first may be given higher priority. . Alternatively, the shorter prediction processing time may be given higher priority.

  If the image forming apparatus 1 can execute the latter within the estimated travel time related to the former even after receiving another print job after receiving a print job to which the security print function is applied, the latter waits for the latter. The rank may be determined higher than the former waiting rank.

  In addition, the configuration of the printing system PSY, the entire image forming apparatus 1 or each unit, processing contents, processing order, table configuration, and the like can be appropriately changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

1 Image forming device (printing system)
2 Terminal devices (other devices)
10h Touch panel (input means)
102 Print job reception unit (reception unit, required time prediction unit)
103 Travel time prediction unit (travel time prediction means)
106 Job execution control unit (print job execution means)
105 Travel time measuring unit (travel time recording means)
123 Travel time record storage unit (travel time recording means)

Claims (8)

A printing system that executes a print job, which is a job for printing an image on paper,
An input means for inputting authentication data;
The print job is received and requested as a print job that can be executed when the user is successfully authenticated based on the data input from the input unit and is operated by another user who operates another device. Accepting means for accepting a security print job that is a registered job;
A travel time recording unit that records, for each user, a time from when the security print job requested by the user is received by the reception unit until the user is successfully authenticated as a second travel time;
For each print job accepted by the accepting means, a required time predicting means for predicting the time required to execute the print job;
For each security print job accepted by the accepting means, the first travel time for the user who is the requester of the security print job to move from the other device to the printing system after the request is given by the user. , it predicted based on the recorded second movement time by the movement time recording means, and travel time prediction unit,
One or a plurality of the print jobs other than the security print job are set at each required time during the first movement time related to the security print job after the security print job is received by the receiving unit. A print job execution means for executing the security print job after executing the one or more print jobs,
A printing system comprising: The travel time predicting means classifies the second travel time of the user who is the requester into a plurality of different time zones, and the second travel time belongs to the time zone most classified. Is predicted to be the first travel time of the user,
The printing system according to claim 1 . The travel time predicting means classifies the second travel time of the user as the requester into a plurality of different time zones, and the two or more predetermined second travel times are classified in a large number. Predicting each time belonging to a number of time zones as the first travel time of the user,
The print job execution means includes the security print job during the shortest first movement time of the predetermined number of the first movement times related to the security print job after the security print job is received. One or more of the print jobs other than, and after executing the one or more print jobs, the security print job is executed, but during the shortest first travel time, the user's If the authentication is not successful, the shortest from then short has a first movement time among the security print job is the predetermined number of the first movement time related to the security print jobs from being accepted during the time obtained by subtracting the first movement time, one other than the security print job Other executes the print job of the plurality of unexecuted, after performing the print job of the one or more unexecuted, executes the security printing job,
The printing system according to claim 1 . An image forming apparatus that executes a print job, which is a job for printing an image on paper,
An input means for inputting authentication data;
Receiving means for receiving the print job;
For each print job accepted by the accepting means, a required time predicting means for predicting the time required to execute the print job;
The print job received by the receiving unit is a print job requested by a user who operates another device, and is executed based on the authentication data input from the user via the input unit. In the case of a security print job that can be executed by successful authentication, the user who is the requester of the security print job can change the movement time from the other apparatus to the image forming apparatus after the request. A travel time prediction means for predicting;
One or more print jobs other than the security print job that can be executed within the estimated travel time of the security print job are identified based on the estimated required time of each received print job. Determining means for determining the waiting order of the security print job as the order immediately after the specified print job;
Print job execution means for executing the security print job based on the determined waiting order if the authentication is successful;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A printing method for causing a printing system to execute a print job, which is a job for printing an image on paper,
An input means for inputting authentication data is provided in the printing system,
In the printing system,
The print job is received and requested as a print job that can be executed when the user is successfully authenticated based on the data input from the input unit and is operated by another user who operates another device. Execute the acceptance process to accept the security print job that is
For each user, a recording process for recording a time from when the security print job requested by the user is received in the reception process until the authentication of the user is successful as a second travel time is executed,
For each print job received in the reception process, a required time prediction process for predicting a required time required to execute the print job is executed.
For each security print job received in the reception process, the first travel time for the user who is the requester of the security print job to move from the other device to the printing system after requesting the user, Causing the travel time prediction process to be predicted based on the second travel time recorded in the recording process ;
During the first movement time related to the security print job after receiving the security print job, one or more print jobs other than the security print job are executed based on each required time, Causing the security print job to be executed after executing the one or more print jobs;
A printing method characterized by the above. A printing method for causing an image forming apparatus to execute a print job, which is a job for printing an image on paper,
An input unit for inputting authentication data is provided in the image forming apparatus,
In the image forming apparatus,
A process of accepting the print job,
For each received print job, execute a process for predicting the time required to execute the print job,
The received print job is a print job requested by a user who operates another apparatus, and the authentication executed based on the authentication data input from the user via the input unit is successful. If the security print job can be executed, the user who requests the security print job executes a process for predicting the movement time from the other apparatus to the image forming apparatus after the request. Let
One or more print jobs other than the security print job that can be executed within the estimated travel time of the security print job are identified based on the estimated required time of each received print job. , Causing the security print job wait order to be determined as the order immediately after the specified print job,
If the authentication is successful, the security print job is executed based on the determined waiting order.
A printing method characterized by the above. A computer program for controlling a printing system capable of connecting an input means for inputting authentication data and executing a print job, which is a job for printing an image on paper,
In the printing system,
The print job is received and requested as a print job that can be executed when the user is successfully authenticated based on the data input from the input unit and is operated by another user who operates another device. Execute the acceptance process to accept the security print job that is
For each user, a recording process for recording a time from when the security print job requested by the user is received in the reception process until the authentication of the user is successful as a second travel time is executed,
For each print job received in the reception process, a required time prediction process for predicting a required time required to execute the print job is executed.
For each security print job received in the reception process, the first travel time for the user who is the requester of the security print job to move from the other device to the printing system after requesting the user, Causing the travel time prediction process to be predicted based on the second travel time recorded in the recording process ;
During the first movement time related to the security print job after receiving the security print job, one or more print jobs other than the security print job are executed based on each required time, Causing the security print job to be executed after executing the one or more print jobs;
A computer program characterized by the above. A computer program for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of connecting an input means for inputting authentication data and executing a print job, which is a job for printing an image on paper,
In the image forming apparatus,
A process of accepting the print job,
For each received print job, execute a process for predicting the time required to execute the print job,
The received print job is a print job requested by a user who operates another apparatus, and the authentication executed based on the authentication data input from the user via the input unit is successful. If the security print job can be executed, the user who requests the security print job executes a process for predicting the movement time from the other apparatus to the image forming apparatus after the request. Let
One or more print jobs other than the security print job that can be executed within the estimated travel time of the security print job are identified based on the estimated required time of each received print job. , Causing the security print job wait order to be determined as the order immediately after the specified print job,
If the authentication is successful, the security print job is executed based on the determined waiting order.
A computer program characterized by the above.

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