JP2007058293A - Image reader, image forming apparatus, and job managing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader, an image forming apparatus, and a job managing method such that a job of forming an image on a form by the image forming apparatus can easily be specified based upon image data generated by reading a document through the image reader. <P>SOLUTION: A reduced image generation section 16 generates reduced image data based upon image data generated by an image generation section 11 and a job management section 17 relates and manages job identification information imparted to the job and the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generating means based upon the image data corresponding to the job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a job management method, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus capable of managing a job for executing image formation based on image data obtained by reading an original, Further, the present invention relates to the job management method.

  In recent years, image reading apparatuses such as scanners and image forming apparatuses such as printers have become widespread, and along with this, their utilization methods tend to be diversified. For example, there is a utilization method in which printing is performed by a printer based on image data obtained by reading a document with a scanner, thereby realizing a copy process of the document. When printing is performed based on the image data obtained by the scanner, a job including the image data is issued from the scanner to the printer.

  Incidentally, some printers can accept the next job before the completion of the accepted job. Since the next job received during the execution of the job cannot be executed immediately as a matter of course, the next job is in a waiting state. A job waiting for execution can be canceled, but in order to cancel the job, it is necessary to specify the job to be canceled.

In general, a job is specified by using a document name, a user name, a job issuance date, etc. In addition to this, a job can be canceled by using a job ID that is unique within the printer. Such a technique (see, for example, Patent Document 1) has been proposed. Further, as a technique for specifying a job in order to edit a job, there is a technique for displaying thumbnails using thumbnail information corresponding to a page to be printed of a job selected from a list by a user ( For example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-196909 A JP 2001-282476 A

  As described above, when canceling a job being executed or waiting to be executed by the printer, it is necessary to specify the job to be canceled using the document name, user name, job issuance date / time, job ID, etc. was there.

  However, a job based on image data obtained by reading an original with an image reading device such as a scanner is often unsuitable for job identification, such as a mechanical job automatically assigned a document name. In many cases, it was not possible to accurately identify a job even when using.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a job that can easily specify a job for forming an image on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on image data generated by the image reading apparatus reading a document. The purpose is to provide a management method.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image reading apparatus including an image generation unit that reads a document and generates image data, and forms an image as a print job using the image data generated by the image generation unit. Job generation means for outputting to the apparatus, reduced image generation means for generating reduced image data based on the image data generated by the image generation means, and job identification information given to the job output by the job generation means And the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation means is managed in association with the job identification information, and at least a reduced image based on the reduced image data is presented to the user to manage the corresponding job. A job management unit that controls the corresponding job using the job identification information for the image forming apparatus; Characterized by comprising.

  The invention of claim 2 further comprises job name input means for assigning an arbitrary name to the job generated by the job generation means in the invention of claim 1, wherein the job management means The job name input by the name input unit is managed in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the reduced image generating means generates a first page included in the image data when the image generating means generates image data including an image of a plurality of pages. The method is characterized in that reduced image data obtained by reducing the image is generated.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the reduced image generation means generates all the image data included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including an image of a plurality of pages. Reduced image data including a reduced image of a page is generated.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on image data received as a job, a job receiving unit that receives a job, and an image included in the job received by the job receiving unit Reduced image generation means for generating reduced image data based on data, and reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation means are managed in association with job identification information given to a job received by the job reception means. And a job management means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the reduced image generating unit is configured such that the job received by the job receiving unit is a job generated by an image reading device that reads a document and generates image data. If the job management unit receives a job confirmation request from the image reading apparatus, the job management unit outputs the reduced image data and the job identification information to the image reading apparatus. It is characterized by that.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the job receiving unit receives user identification information for identifying a user who issued the job together with the job, and the job management unit includes the job receiving unit. The received user identification information is managed in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein, when the job receiving unit receives image data including a plurality of pages of images, the reduced image generating unit includes a first page included in the image data. The method is characterized in that reduced image data obtained by reducing the image is generated.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein when the job receiving means receives image data including a plurality of pages of images, the reduced image generating means receives all of the image data included in the image data. Reduced image data including a reduced image of a page is generated.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job management method for managing a job for forming an image on a sheet by an image forming apparatus based on image data generated by reading an original by an image reading apparatus, the reduced image generating means Generates reduced image data based on the image data generated by the image reading device, and a job management unit generates the reduced image based on job identification information given to the job and image data corresponding to the job. The reduced image data generated by the means is managed in association with each other.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, in the tenth aspect of the invention, the reduced image generating means and the job management means are arranged in the image reading device, and the job management means sends job information to a user. When presenting, job information including at least a reduced image based on the reduced image data is presented.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, in the eleventh aspect of the invention, the job management means manages the job name input by the job name input means in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information. And

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the reduced image generation means and the job management means are arranged in the image forming apparatus, and the job management means receives a job from the image reading apparatus. When the confirmation request is received, the reduced image data and the job identification information are output to the image reading apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to claim 13, wherein the job management means manages user identification information for identifying a user who has issued a job in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information. Features.

  The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the reduced image generation means generates a first page included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including an image of a plurality of pages. The method is characterized in that reduced image data obtained by reducing the image is generated.

  The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the reduced image generation means generates all the image data included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including an image of a plurality of pages. Reduced image data including a reduced image of a page is generated.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily specify a job for forming an image on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on image data generated by the image reading apparatus reading a document.

  Hereinafter, an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a job management method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration example of an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 1 is connected to an image forming apparatus 2. The connection between the two may be performed by local connection via a communication interface or may be performed by network connection. When both are connected by network connection, other devices such as an information processing device can also be connected to the network.

  The image reading apparatus 1 applies the present invention, and outputs image data obtained by reading a document to the image forming apparatus 2. The image forming apparatus 2 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data input from the image reading apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image reading apparatus 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 1 includes an image generation unit 11, an image processing unit 12, a job generation unit 13, a transmission / reception unit 14, a UI control unit 15, a reduced image generation unit 16, and a job management unit 17. Configured.

  The image generation unit 11 optically reads a document and generates image data expressed by an electrical signal. The image processing unit 12 performs image processing such as various corrections on the image data generated by the image generation unit 11. The job generation unit 13 generates a print job that uses the image data subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit 12 as print data. The transmission / reception unit 14 sends a job, an instruction, and the like generated by the job generation unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 2 and receives a response, a notification, and the like from the image forming apparatus 2.

  The UI control unit 15 controls a user interface (not shown). Based on the image data input to the image processing unit 12, the reduced image generation unit 16 generates reduced image data that represents a reduced image of the image indicated by the image data. The job management unit 17 acquires a job ID notified from the image forming apparatus 2 to the job sent from the transmission / reception unit 14, and associates and manages the job ID and the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation unit 16. To do.

  Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus 1 will be described together with the operation of the image forming apparatus 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of operations of the image reading apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2.

  In the image reading apparatus 1, when a scan execution instruction is input to a user interface (not shown), the UI control unit 15 receives the instruction and executes a scan process, and the image generation unit 11 reads a document to obtain image data. Generate (step 51). Next, the reduced image generation unit 16 generates reduced image data (thumbnail) based on the image data (step 52).

  On the other hand, the job generation unit 13 generates a job based on the image data generated by the image generation unit 11, and sends the generated job to the image forming apparatus 2 via the transmission / reception unit 14 (step 53). When the image forming apparatus 2 returns a job ID according to the job sent to the image forming apparatus 2, the job management unit 17 acquires the job ID and the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generating unit 16. The job ID is associated and stored (step 55).

  Thereafter, when a job confirmation instruction is input to a user interface (not shown), the UI control unit 15 receives the instruction and executes job confirmation processing, and the job management unit 17 performs the image forming apparatus 2 via the transmission / reception unit 14. A job list acquisition request is sent to (step 61). When the image forming apparatus 2 returns a job list in response to the job list acquisition request (step 62), the job management unit 17 acquires the job list and uses the reduced image data based on the job ID to perform UI control. The job list is displayed as a thumbnail via the section 15 (step 63). The job list displayed as thumbnails is displayed as shown in FIG. 4, for example. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a job list on the user interface. As shown in the figure, thumbnails 71, 72, 73, and 74 are displayed on the screen 70 as job lists.

  When any thumbnail, for example, thumbnail 71 is selected from this screen 70, the job management unit 17 receives the operation input via the UI control unit 15, and includes a job including a job ID corresponding to the thumbnail 71. A cancel request is sent to the image forming apparatus 2 (step 64), and the process ends.

  Incidentally, a job list displayed on a user interface (not shown) may display a document name in addition to a thumbnail. The job list including the document name is displayed by arranging the document name 82 in the vicinity of the thumbnail 81 as in a screen 80 shown in FIG. The document name 82 is input by the user from a user interface (not shown), and the input is performed when the scan parameter is set before the scan execution instruction is input (before step 51 in FIG. 3). Become.

  In the above description, the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation unit 16 is for displaying the thumbnail of the first page of the document. However, when the document has a plurality of pages, all pages are displayed. Reduced image data for displaying the thumbnails may be generated. In this case, the page interface symbols 92 and 93 for instructing the switching of the page to be displayed are arranged in the vicinity of the thumbnail 91 shown in FIG. By selecting the switching symbol 92 or the like, the page displayed on the thumbnail 91 is switched.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration example of the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatuses 101 (101-1 to 101-3) are connected to an image forming apparatus 102 and an information processing apparatus 103 via a network 104. Note that the number of image reading apparatuses 101 connected to the network 104 is not limited, and the information processing apparatus 103 is not necessarily required. Further, the image reading apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 102 can be connected locally instead of connected to the network.

  The image reading apparatus 101 reads a document to generate image data, and sends the generated image data to the image forming apparatus 102 or the information processing apparatus 103. The image forming apparatus 102 is an application of the present invention, and forms an image on a sheet based on image data input from the image reading apparatus 101 or the information processing apparatus 103. The information processing apparatus 103 edits the image data input from the image reading apparatus 101, creates and edits a document, and issues a print instruction to the image forming apparatus 102.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 102. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 102 includes a transmission / reception unit 121, a job management unit 122, an image processing unit 123, an image forming unit 124, and a reduced image generation unit 125.

  The transmission / reception unit 121 receives jobs from the image reading apparatus 101, the information processing apparatus 103, and the like, and transmits responses to various requests, notifications, and the like. The job management unit 122 receives the job received by the transmission / reception unit 121 and manages the received job. In managing the job, the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation unit 125 is managed in association with the job.

  The image processing unit 123 performs image processing such as correction of image data included in a job and development of print data into image data. The image forming unit 124 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data processed by the image processing unit 123. The reduced image generation unit 125 generates reduced image data based on the image data included in the job received by the job management unit 122, and returns the generated reduced image data to the job management unit 122.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 102 will be described together with the operation of the image reading apparatus 101. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of operations of the image reading apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 102. Here, the image reading apparatus 101-1 is described as issuing a job and canceling the job from the image reading apparatus 101-2, but similar processing is executed from other image reading apparatuses 101. It is possible to issue a job and issue a cancel instruction from the same image reading apparatus 101.

  When the user tries to input a scan instruction, the image reading apparatus 101-1 prompts the user to input authentication information such as a user ID prior to receiving the scan instruction, and executes user authentication (step 151). . If the user authentication is successful, the image reading apparatus 101-1 receives a scan execution instruction from the user and executes a scan process (step 152). When the scan process is executed, the image reading apparatus 101-1 generates a job including the image data generated by the scan process and the user ID input by the user authentication, and sends the generated job to the image forming apparatus 102 (step). 153).

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 102, when the transmission / reception unit 121 receives a job sent from the image reading apparatus 101, the job management unit 122 accepts the job, and the reduced image generation unit 125 is based on the image data included in the job. Generates reduced image data (thumbnail), and the job management unit 122 manages the job together with the generated reduced image data (step 154).

  Thereafter, when the user tries to cancel the job issued from the image reading apparatus 101-2 first, the image reading apparatus 101-2 gives the user authentication information such as a user ID prior to accepting the cancel instruction. , And user authentication is executed (step 161). If the user authentication is successful, the image reading apparatus 101-2 receives a cancel execution instruction from the user, and sends a job list acquisition request to the image forming apparatus 102 (step 162). This job list acquisition request includes a user ID input by user authentication.

  On the other hand, when the job management unit 122 receives a job list acquisition request via the transmission / reception unit 121, the image forming apparatus 102 displays a job issued by the corresponding user based on the user ID included in the job list acquisition request. The identified job list is returned to the image reading apparatus 101-2 together with the reduced image data managed in association with the job (step 163).

  The image reading apparatus 101-2 that has received the job list displays the job list on a user interface (not shown), and the job list also displays thumbnails based on the reduced image data. The job list displayed by the image reading apparatus 101-2 is similar to the screen 70 shown in FIG. 4 as in the case described in the first embodiment. Further, in the same way as the image reading apparatus 1 described in the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 102 generates reduced image data that can display thumbnails of each page for a job of a plurality of pages. Good.

1 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration example of an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image reading apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of operations of the image reading apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job list on a user interface. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job list on a user interface. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job list on a user interface. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection configuration between an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 102. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of operations of the image reading apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 102.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reader 2 Image forming apparatus 11 Image generation part 12 Image processing part 13 Job generation part 14 Transmission / reception part 15 UI control part 16 Reduced image generation part 17 Job management part 70 Screen 71 Thumbnail 72 Thumbnail 73 Thumbnail 74 Thumbnail 80 Thumbnail 80 Screen 81 Thumbnail 82 Document name 91 Thumbnail 92 Page switching symbol 93 Page switching symbol 101-1 to 101-3 Image reading device 102 Image forming device 103 Information processing device 104 Network 121 Transmission / reception unit 122 Job management unit 123 Image processing unit 124 Image forming unit 125 Reduction Image generator

Claims (16)

In an image reading apparatus comprising an image generating means for reading a document and generating image data,
Job generation means for outputting the image data generated by the image generation means to the image forming apparatus as a print job;
Reduced image generation means for generating reduced image data based on the image data generated by the image generation means;
Acquires job identification information given to the job output by the job generation means, manages the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation means in association with the job identification information, and Job management means for presenting a reduced image based on the reduced image data and managing a corresponding job, and controlling the corresponding job using the job identification information for the image forming apparatus. A featured image reading apparatus. A job name input unit that gives an arbitrary name to the job generated by the job generation unit;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job management unit manages the job name input by the job name input unit in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information.   The reduced image generation means generates reduced image data obtained by reducing the image of the first page included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including an image of a plurality of pages. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1.   The reduced image generation means generates reduced image data including reduced images of all pages included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including images of a plurality of pages. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper based on image data received as a job,
Job accepting means for accepting a job;
Reduced image generating means for generating reduced image data based on image data included in the job received by the job receiving means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: job management means for managing the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation means in association with job identification information given to a job received by the job reception means. The reduced image generating unit generates reduced image data when the job received by the job receiving unit is a job generated by an image reading apparatus that reads a document and generates image data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the job management unit outputs the reduced image data and the job identification information to the image reading device when receiving a job confirmation request from the image reading device. apparatus. The job receiving means receives user identification information for identifying a user who issued the job together with the job,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the job management unit manages the user identification information received by the job reception unit in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information.   The reduced image generation unit generates reduced image data obtained by reducing the image of the first page included in the image data when the job reception unit receives image data including a plurality of pages of images. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.   The reduced image generating unit generates reduced image data including reduced images of all pages included in the image data when the job receiving unit receives image data including images of a plurality of pages. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. A job management method for managing a job for forming an image on a sheet by an image forming apparatus based on image data generated by an image reading apparatus reading a document,
The reduced image generating means generates reduced image data based on the image data generated by the image reading device, and the job management means is based on the job identification information given to the job and the image data corresponding to the job. A job management method, wherein the reduced image data generated by the reduced image generation means is managed in association with each other.   The reduced image generation means and the job management means are disposed in the image reading device, and the job management means includes at least a reduced image based on the reduced image data when presenting job information to a user. The job management method according to claim 10, wherein job information is presented.   12. The job management method according to claim 11, wherein the job management unit manages the job name input by the job name input unit in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information.   The reduced image generation means and the job management means are disposed in the image forming apparatus, and the job management means receives the job confirmation request from the image reading apparatus and receives the reduced image data and the job identification. The job management method according to claim 10, wherein the information is output to the image reading apparatus.   14. The job management method according to claim 13, wherein the job management means manages user identification information for identifying a user who has issued a job in association with the reduced image data and the job identification information.   The reduced image generation means generates reduced image data obtained by reducing the image of the first page included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including an image of a plurality of pages. The job management method according to claim 10.   The reduced image generation means generates reduced image data including reduced images of all pages included in the image data when the image generation means generates image data including images of a plurality of pages. The job management method according to claim 10.

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