JPH0937011A - Copy system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exactly detect the existence of failure in a mode before the start of copy when the combination of unoperable modes is set. SOLUTION: Terminal equipment 120 is provided with an input part 125 for inputting the print modes of a copy job copy machine managing part 122 for managing functions provided for a copy machine 110, and display part 124 for displaying various kinds of information and the copy machine 110 is provided with an operation part 116 for inputting and displaying various kinds of commands, ID managing part 115 for storing the copy mode, mode evaluation part 117 for evaluating the propriety of the copy mode set from the input part 125 of the terminal equipment 120, and main control part 114 for controlling the execution of the copy job by storing the data set by the terminal equipment 120 in the ID managing part 115 when the evaluated result due to the mode evaluation part 117 is correct.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying system in which at least one copying machine and at least one terminal device (workstation, personal computer) are networked by a communication line such as LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of terminal devices such as workstations and personal computers, and a plurality of copying machines for printing data output from the terminal devices on recording paper have been connected via a communication line such as a LAN. A so-called networked copying system is known. In such a copying system, the operator selects a copying machine capable of outputting a copy job from the copying machine group connected to the network from the terminal device, and directly transfers the output data or the like from the terminal device. .

Further, as a reference technical document related to such a conventional example, for example, a print server that supports a plurality of printers is provided, and the print server has a print condition by an operator and a priority order for each output request item. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-67823 discloses a "print server" that selects and outputs a printer based on an added print output request.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 274098/1993, a host computer sends a presentation signal containing print information to each printer, and when the printer receives the presentation signal, the present operating status and ability for the presentation signal are reported. A "print control system" is disclosed in which the computer selects one of the printers by making a judgment and transmitting a response signal to the computer. Furthermore, JP-A-5756
Japanese Patent Publication No. 67 discloses a "communication processing system" that sends the status of a printer to a client process during printing and allows the status of the printer during printing to be confirmed at a remote location.

[0005]

However, in the conventional technique as described above, the combination of the copy modes set in the copy machine from the terminal device on the network cannot be operated. If
The malfunction of the copy mode cannot be detected until the corresponding copying machine actually starts operating, and the operator must know the malfunction of the copying mode only when he / she moves to the copying machine. Due to this, job stagnation and resetting work delay occur, and there is a problem that work efficiency is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when a combination of inoperable copy modes is set, it is necessary to accurately detect a defect in the copy modes before starting copying. The purpose of 1.

When a combination of inoperable copy modes is set, the terminal device side set by the operator does not have to be moved to the copy machine side to indicate that there is a problem in the copy mode before the copy is started. The second purpose is to make it possible to quickly perform work such as resetting by enabling confirmation.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the copying system according to claim 1, at least one copying machine having a unique ID (identification code),
In a copying system having a unique ID and at least one terminal device that requests the copying machine to execute a copy job, and the copying machine and the terminal device are connected by a network, the terminal device is An input unit for inputting multiple modes of the copy job, a copying machine management unit for managing functions of the copying machine, and a display unit for displaying various information. The operation means for inputting and displaying, the storage means for storing the copy mode, the mode evaluation means for evaluating the quality of the copy mode set from the input means of the terminal device, and the evaluation result of the mode evaluation means When it is correct, the control unit stores the setting data by the terminal device in the storage unit and controls the execution of the copy job.

Further, in the copying system according to the second aspect, when the control means evaluates that the evaluation result of the mode evaluating means is incorrect, it sends the evaluation result to the terminal device and the terminal device. Displays the evaluation result on the display means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Embodiment] of a copying system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment] (Arrangement of Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a copying system according to this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a LAN cable, which is a copying machine 110 and a terminal device 120.
And are connected via the respective communication control units 111 and 121. Further, an ADF (automatic document feeder) 130 and a sorter 140 are connected to the copying machine 110. Note that, in FIG. 1, for convenience, the copying machine 110 and the terminal device 120 are shown one by one, but in the present embodiment, a plurality of copying machines and terminal devices having the same configuration are connected to the LAN cable 100. Be present.

The copying machine 110 includes a communication control section 111, a scanner 112 for optically reading a document to be copied, a printer 113 for printing image data on recording paper, and a main control means for controlling the entire copying machine. Control unit 11
4. Setting from the ID management unit 115 as a storage unit for managing the job and storing the copy mode corresponding to the job, the operation unit 116 as an operation unit for inputting and displaying the copy mode, and the terminal device 120 Each device of the mode evaluation unit 117 as a mode evaluation unit that evaluates whether or not the setting mode of the job and the combination thereof are performed.

Further, the terminal device 120 includes a communication control unit 11
2. A copying machine management unit 122 as a copying machine management unit that manages the copying machine (in this case, the copying machine 110) connected to the LAN cable 100, and a job that manages copying conditions for each job set in the copying machine 110. A management unit 123, a display unit 124 as a display unit for performing various displays, an input unit 125 as an input unit for performing various inputs, a CPU 126 for controlling these devices, a ROM 127 storing a control program, and a RAM 1 used as a work memory.
28.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing an internal state of the job management section 123 including job management. The job ID issued to the terminal device, the machine ID of the terminal device that has set the job, and the copy condition (mode) set for the job are managed in association with each other. Moreover, FIG.
6 is a chart showing an internal state of a copying machine management unit 122. The machine ID of a copying machine existing on the network and the function of the copying machine are managed in association with each other.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing the internal state of the ID management unit 115 of the copying machine 110 when the job management function is not included. FIG. 5 is a chart showing an internal state of the job management unit 123 of the terminal device 120 for the copying machine 110 when the job management function is not included. Here, the job ID set by the copying machine 110, the machine ID of the copying machine that set the job, and the mode set for the job are managed in association with each other.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, the operation of the copying machine system according to this embodiment having the above-described structure will be described separately for the terminal device 120 and the copying machine 110.

(1) Operation of Terminal Device The operation of the terminal device 120 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device 120 when the power is turned on. Figure 6
When the terminal device 120 is turned on while the copying machine 110 is already turned on,
The terminal device 120 transmits a detection signal to notify the copying machine 110 that it can be connected (S601). After that, communication initialization processing (S602), mode setting processing (S603), mode data transmission processing (S60)
4), the job transmission process (S605) is sequentially executed. These processes will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the communication initialization processing of the terminal device 120. In the figure, first, it is determined whether or not there is a detection signal indicating that the copying machine 110 is powered on and is connectable (S701).
If it is determined that there is a detection signal, an ID transmission request is issued to the copying machine 110 (S702). When the presence of the copying machine 110 cannot be confirmed, the copying machine 110 is not connected and waits until the power of the copying machine 110 is turned on.

Next, it is judged whether or not the ID is received from the copying machine 110 (S703). If it is determined that the ID is received, the ID is stored in the copying machine management unit 122 of the terminal device 120 (S704). After that, copy machine 1
10 is requested to send the functions and statuses of the copying machine 110 (S705), and it is determined whether or not the functions and the like have been received (S706). When it is determined that the function or the like has been received, the received information is registered by storing it in association with the ID of the copying machine 110 managed by the copying machine management unit 122 (S707). The information on the above functions includes, for example, the presence / absence of the sorter 140 and the ADF 130.
Presence or absence, recording paper size, etc.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the mode setting process of the terminal device 120. In the figure, first, it is determined whether or not mode setting (copy condition setting) is performed (S
801). If it is determined that the mode is set, it is further determined whether or not a copying machine to execute the copying process is designated (S802). If it is determined that the copier is designated, the input screen is displayed (S803) and the mode is input (S).
804). Then, it is determined whether or not the input is completed (S80
5) When the input is completed, the machine I
D + setting end is transmitted (S806).

Here, the mode setting process described above will be further described. First, the operator determines whether to set the mode for the copying machine 110 by using the input unit 1 of the terminal device 120.
Enter from 25. The terminal device 120 is a copy machine management unit 1.
The input screen in which the mode that cannot be set for the copying machine 110 is erased from the data managed by 22 or is shaded so that the input screen cannot be input is output to the display unit 124 of the terminal device 120. To do.

Next, the copy mode is set on the input screen from the input unit 125 such as a mouse or a keyboard.
For example, copy conditions such as a copy magnification of 50%, recording paper-A4 length, repeat 10 and sort mode are designated. Alternatively, when the mode is first set on the input screen where all the modes can be set, and then the copy machine to which the setting is made is specified, the copy machine can be specified. Alternatively, only the copying machines having the set function may be listed up and selected from the list.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the mode data transmission process of the terminal device 120. In the figure, first, it is determined whether or not a mode data transmission request has been received (S901). If it is determined that the mode data transmission request has been received, the job is transmitted to the copying machine 110 (S902), and it is determined whether the job ID has been received (S903). If it is determined that the job ID is received, the job ID and the job are registered (S90
4), the job ID is displayed on the display unit 124 (S90).
5).

If it is determined in step S903 that the job ID has not been received, it is further determined whether job NG has been received from the copying machine 110 (S906). If it is determined that the job NG is received, the content of the defect is displayed on the display unit 124 (S90
7) Prompt to reset the mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the job transmission process of the terminal device 120. In the figure, copy machine 1
It is determined whether a job transmission request has been received from 10 (S1001). If it is determined that the job transmission request is received, the job is transmitted to the copying machine 110 (S10).
02).

(2) Operation of Copying Machine 110 Next, the operation of the copying machine 110 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 11 shows a copying machine 110.
3 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of FIG. First, a detection signal indicating the connection state is transmitted to the terminal device 120 (S1101). After that, communication initialization processing (S
1102), the job ID issuing process (S1103), and the copy start process (S1104) are sequentially executed. These processes will be described below with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the communication initialization process of the copying machine 110. In the figure, first, it is judged whether or not there is the above-mentioned detection signal (S120).
1). If it is determined that there is a detection signal, the detection signal is transmitted to the terminal device 120 (S1202). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the ID transmission request is received from the terminal device 120 (S1203), and when it is determined that the ID transmission request is received, the ID is transmitted (S1204).

Next, it is determined whether or not a function transmission request has been received from the terminal device 120 (S1205). If it is determined that the function transmission request has been received, the function possessed by the device itself is transmitted to the terminal device 120 (S1206). Therefore, as described above, the terminal device 120 and the copying machine 11
The synchronization is established even when any one of the power supplies of 0 is turned on.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the job ID issuing process of the copying machine 110. In the figure, first,
It is determined whether or not the end of the mode setting from the terminal device 120 is received (S1301). When it is determined that the mode setting is completed, the machine ID is set to the ID management unit 1
15 is registered (S1302). Furthermore, a mode data transmission request is transmitted (S1303), and it is determined whether a job has been received (S1304). When it is determined that the job has been received, the quality of the setting data relating to the copy mode is further evaluated by the mode evaluation unit 117, and it is determined whether the setting data is correct (S1305). If it is determined that the setting data is correct, the ID management unit 1
An empty job ID is searched by 15 (S1306), and the corresponding job ID is transmitted to the terminal device 120 (S13).
07). If it is determined in step S1305 that the setting data is incorrect, the job NG and the details of the defect are transmitted to the terminal device 120 (S130).
8).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the copy start processing of the copying machine 110. In the figure, first,
Enter the job ID (S1401), then machine ID
Is input (S1402). Then, the start key is O
If it is determined to be ON (S1403), and if it is determined to be ON, it is further determined whether the machine ID and the job ID are correct (S1404). Where machine I
If it is determined that D and the job ID are correct, the job ID
And a job transmission request are transmitted to the terminal device 120 (S1).
405).

Next, it is determined whether or not a job is received from the terminal device 120 (S1406). If it is determined that the job is received, the mode is set (S140
7) The copy operation is started (S1408).

Next, among the operations described above, the operation of managing and copying the setting data will be further described.

(Management of Setting Data) Here, the interaction between the copying machine 110 and the terminal device 120 will be further described with respect to the processing of the above flow chart. There are the following two methods depending on whether the copying machine 110 or the terminal device 120 manages the copy mode (copying condition) for each job set by the terminal device 120. First, copy machine 11
A method of managing on the 0 side will be described.

When the setting end key (not shown) is pressed, the terminal device 120 transmits the machine ID of the terminal device 120 and the completion of the setting to the designated copying machine 110. Upon receiving the setting completion of the terminal device 120, the copying machine 110 transmits a mode data transmission request to the terminal device 120. Then, the terminal device 120 transmits the set copy mode to the copy machine 110. Upon receiving the mode data from the terminal device 120, the copying machine 110 determines whether or not the setting of the mode data received by the mode evaluation section 117 is correct. If it is determined that the settings are correct, the corresponding mode data is stored in the ID management unit 115 in association with the machine ID transmitted in advance.

Then, the ID management unit 115 searches for an empty job ID and sends the ID to the terminal device 120. The ID management unit 115 is a machine ID of the terminal device 120.
The issued job ID and the mode set for the job are managed in association with each other. The terminal device 120 receiving the job ID displays the ID on the display unit 124.
Is displayed, for example, "Your setting was registered with ID number XXXX".

On the other hand, in the above, the mode evaluation section 117
When it is determined that the setting of the mode data is incorrect as a result of the evaluation, the copying machine 110 issues the job NG and its defect content to the terminal device 120 instead of issuing the job ID.
The machine ID, job ID, and job are not managed. The terminal device 120 that received the job NG and the defect
Displays the details of the defect on the display unit 124 and again notifies the operator to set the mode.

Next, a method of managing the mode for each job on the terminal device 120 side will be described. In this case, the copying machine 110 causes the mode evaluation unit 117 to evaluate the setting data. If the setting data is correct, the ID management unit 11
5, an empty job ID is searched for, and the ID is stored in the ID management unit 115 in association with the received machine ID.
After that, the terminal device 1 that has transmitted the job ID transmission request
The job ID is transmitted to 20. Upon receiving the job ID, the terminal device 120 stores the ID in the job management unit 115 in association with the set mode. Further, the job ID is displayed on the display unit 124, for example, "Your setting is ID
It has been registered with the number XXXX. "

On the other hand, in the above, the mode evaluation section 117
When it is determined that the setting of the mode data is incorrect as a result of the evaluation, the copying machine 110 issues the job NG and its defect content to the terminal device 120 instead of issuing the job ID.
The machine ID, job ID, and job are not managed. The terminal device 120 that received the job NG and the defect
Displays the content of the defect on the display unit 124, and does not manage the job ID, machine ID, and job.

(Start of Copy) To execute the copy in the actually set mode, the display unit 124 of the terminal device 120 is used.
After inputting the ID displayed on the operating unit 116 of the copying machine 110 and setting the original on the scanner 112, the start key is pressed. As a result, the copying machine 110 executes the following two operations.

The first operation is an operation when the copying machine 110 manages the mode for each job. In this case, when the start key is pressed, the mode of the job corresponding to the input job ID is read from the job management unit 123 and copying is started.

The second operation is an operation when the terminal device 120 manages the mode for each job. in this case,
When the start key is pressed, the machine ID corresponding to the job ID input by the ID management unit 123 is searched, and the job ID and the job transmission request are transmitted to the terminal device 120 that has made the setting. After that, the terminal device 120 starts the copy operation for setting the mode based on the job received by the job management unit 123.

Also in the method of starting copying, the data input to the operation unit 116 of the copying machine 110 is changed to the job ID.
Not only the machine ID of the terminal device 120 that made the setting
May be further input. In this case, the data of the ID management unit 115 is used to confirm whether the input job ID is for the input machine ID. Then, by making it possible to copy in the setting mode when they match, security can be improved.

(Effect of Embodiment) According to this embodiment described above, since the copying machine 110 is equipped with the mode evaluation section 117 for evaluating the quality of the set mode, the operator selects the wrong mode from the network. When the setting is performed and the copying is executed, the operator can be notified in advance that the setting is incorrect before starting the copy operation.

When the operator inputs an incorrect mode setting from the network, the terminal device 1 which has made the setting
Since the occurrence of the mode setting error and its contents are displayed on the display unit 124 of 20, it is found that the setting which cannot be copied is made at the place where the setting is made. In addition, it realizes quick operation.

[0045]

As described above, according to the copying system (Claim 1) of the present invention, the quality of the copying mode set by the terminal device is evaluated by the mode evaluation means, and the evaluation result is correct. Since the setting data by the terminal device is stored in the storage means and the execution of the copy job is controlled, if a combination of inoperable copy modes is set, it is possible to accurately confirm that there is a problem in the copy mode before starting the copy. Can be detected.

A copying system of the present invention (claim 2)
According to this, when the copy mode set in the terminal device is judged to be incorrect by the mode evaluation means, the evaluation result is sent to the terminal device and the evaluation result is displayed on the display means. When a combination of modes is set, the operator can know that there is a defect in the copy mode before starting copying, without having to move to the copier side. Can be done quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a copying system according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a table showing an internal state of a job management unit including job management according to this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing an internal state of a copying machine management unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal state of an ID management unit of the copying machine when the job management function according to the present embodiment is not included.

FIG. 5 is a table showing an internal state of a job management unit of the terminal device for the copying machine when the job management function according to the present embodiment is not included.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the terminal device when the power source is turned on according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a communication initialization process of the terminal device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a mode setting process of the terminal device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a mode data transmission process of the terminal device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a job transmission process of the terminal device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a communication initialization process of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a job ID issuing process of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing copy start processing of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 LAN cable 110 Copy machine 114 Main control section 115 ID management section 116 Operation section 117 Mode evaluation section 120 Terminal device 122 Copy machine management means 124 Display section 125 Input section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takao Tagawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. At least one copying machine having a unique ID (identification code), and at least one terminal device having a unique ID and requesting the copying machine to execute a copy job. In a copying system having a structure in which the copying machine and a terminal device are connected via a network, the terminal device has an input means for inputting a copy mode of the copy job, and a copying machine management means for managing the function of the copying machine. , A display unit for displaying various kinds of information, the copying machine includes an operating unit for inputting and displaying various commands, and a storage unit for storing the copy mode,
A mode evaluation means for evaluating the quality of the copy mode set from the input means of the terminal device, and setting data by the terminal device stored in the storage means when the evaluation result of the mode evaluation means is correct, and the copy job And a control means for controlling the execution of the copying system. 2. When the control means evaluates that the evaluation result of the mode evaluating means is incorrect, the control means sends the evaluation result to the terminal device, and the terminal device displays the evaluation result on the display means. The copying system according to claim 1, wherein: